The American Heart Association and National Football League, in collaboration with its 32 NFL clubs, are integrating the NFL PLAY 60 physical activity and mental wellness program with the Association's Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge school programs. This expanded initiative supports evidence-based guidance that students who are active learn better, focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly, and perform better in the classroom. The collaboration, now in its 19th season, builds on the American Heart Association's physical activity guidelines recommending that children get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.
Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, stated that bringing together these programs represents a milestone in meeting young people where they are and reinforcing the shared commitment to building a world of longer, healthier lives through physical activity, heart health, and safety. New this year is the NFL PLAY 60 Family Challenge, which encourages families to get active together at home by matching quality time with wellness priorities through creative ways for the whole family to move more and sit less. As part of Kids Heart Challenge, students and families will learn Hands-Only CPR to support the chain of survival in their communities, featuring an introduction video by Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety and cardiac arrest survivor.
Each student completing Hands-Only CPR instruction through the Finn's Mission learning module will earn an entry for two tickets to Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium, with five individual winners drawn and five participating schools receiving $10,000 fitness equipment makeovers. The expanded program also includes a $350,000 financial grants program for schools focusing on physical activity, FLAG football, recess, and inclusive physical education, with applications open year-round at heart.org/NFLPLAY60. Returning by popular demand is the NFL PLAY 60 Exercise Library, featuring two-to-three minute on-demand exercise videos from all 32 NFL teams with players, NFL Legends, cheerleaders, and mascots.
These resources help parents, teachers, and caregivers provide physical activity opportunities when outdoor play isn't possible or when students need movement breaks to refocus in the classroom. NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson emphasized the commitment to ensuring children everywhere can lead healthy lifestyles through these expanded resources supporting both physical health and mental wellness. The integration of these programs represents a significant step in addressing youth health through school-based initiatives that combine physical activity with critical life-saving skills like CPR training.
