Addison Lenhart
ICT

The Native All-American game is returning to where it all began.

After being played in Dallas in 2024, the game featuring Indigenous high school football players from across the country will be played at the Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium in December. 

The event is being held in partnership with the Vikings and the Nation Football League, first took place in Minneapolis in 2021 and 2022. This is the fourth year of partnership between the NFL and Native American Athletic Foundation. In addition to the game and practices, the program will offer a flag football clinic for female native athletes. 

Michael Stopp is Executive Director of the Native American Athletic Foundation and is looking forward to the partnership. 

 “Our organization was founded to use sports as a platform to develop the next generation of leaders in Indian Country,” Stopp said. “We are also proud to expand our programming this year by hosting a Flag Football Clinic for Native girls in conjunction with the All-American Game.”

Brett Taber, Minnesota Vikings Vice President of Social Impact said the organization is proud to bring the game back to Minneapolis.

“The support and partnership with the Native American community in Minnesota and surrounding states has always been important to the Vikings organization,” Taber said. 

Athletes who attend receive mentorship from former athletes on and off the field, participating in practices, clinics and workshops to assist with college preparation and scholarship. 

Stopp emphasized the importance of preparing athletes who attend the event for their futures. 

“Sports is a big part of what we do, it’s kind of the shiny thing we used to get them engaged,” Stopp said. “Really the program is about helping them develop as a whole person.” 

The Athletic Director for the event is former NFL tight end Randy Fine, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Ahman Green, the Packers’ all-time leading rusher and Choctaw nation citizen, will serve as one head coach. Northern Cheyenne Nation citizen and former Washington State tight end and Montana offensive tackle, Levi Horn will be the opposing head coach. 

“Having these guys who’ve gone through the experience of playing in high school, coming from small rural communities, that’s another level of inspiration for the kids to see,” Stopp said. “But then they also bring the skills, the techniques and the opportunity to talk to higher level coaches that the kids don’t get anywhere else.”

The Native All-American game will be played on Dec. 14, 2025 with the flag football clinic taking place on Dec. 13.

To be considered eligible for the game, athletes must be an enrolled citizen of a recognized American Indian Tribe, and must have concluded their final year of high school football. Female native athletes grades 6-12 are eligible for the flag football clinic.