The Athletic Club and the Chicago Bears will host youth flag football training sessions at Lezama on Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27, athletic-club.eus reported. The initiative brings a delegation from the NFL franchise—led by former offensive lineman and franchise legend Roberto Garza—to Biscay to introduce non-contact American football to local schoolchildren and the club’s youth academy players.
International Strategy Brings NFL Flag Football to Lezama
The upcoming training sessions form part of Athletic Club’s ongoing internationalization strategy. The Basque club aims to expand its global brand presence, share its distinct sporting philosophy, and build new cultural and commercial bridges through its relationship with the NFL. Athletic Club and the Chicago Bears have cultivated ties over recent years, including defensive end Cam Jordan’s visit to Bilbao in 2023 and a Thanksgiving watch party hosted at San Mamés.
Roberto Garza Leads Non-Contact Sessions for Biscay Youth
Roberto Garza, who played nine seasons for the Chicago Bears from 2005 to 2014, will direct the on-field instruction at the club’s Lezama training facilities. Participants will include students from various schools across Biscay alongside young prospects from the rojiblancos’ academy. The curriculum focuses on flag football, a non-contact variant of American football where defenders stop ball-carriers by pulling flags fastened around their waists rather than tackling.
Chicago Bears Delegation Attends LaLiga Match at San Mamés
Before the training camp opens in Lezama, members of the Bears delegation will attend a LaLiga fixture from the presidential box at San Mamés. Athletic Club faces Getafe CF on Sunday, October 25. The Chicago franchise, founded in 1920 and currently playing home games at Soldier Field in front of 61,500 spectators, holds nine NFL championships and one Super Bowl title in its history.
Future Collaborations Between Bilbao and the NFL
The partnership between Athletic Club and the Chicago Bears remains active as both organizations look toward additional joint projects. While specific dates for future programming beyond the October visit have not yet been announced, officials from both clubs intend to continue developing cultural and sporting exchanges in Bilbao.
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