NFL Canada’s Forward Pass initiative is back for a second year, providing three community football programs a $25,000 boost to help more kids play tackle or flag football.
Its goal is to make football more accessible, inclusive, remove barriers, and encourage more participation in programs across the country.
Last season, three recipients were chosen from Western Canada, Ontario and Quebec/Eastern Canada to receive funding to grow the game in their local communities. Each NFL Forward Pass grant will also include an on-the-ground visit from the NFL, including a tailgate, cheque presentation, and giveaways.
Coaches, players and community members are invited to nominate their program here.
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback and Montreal native Benjamin St-Juste couldn’t be happier that the program is returning for a second year.
“I think it’s an awesome initiative that NFL Canada has put together,” said St-Juste in an interview with TSN.
“For me growing up 10-15 years ago, youth football in Canada was slowly just starting to make some waves. There weren’t as many camps, showcases, or just leagues in general. So the fact that NFL Canada is able to financially help some communities and local organizations across Canada to put together a foundation to help young players learn the game of football and compete at a high level is great.”
The former four-star was the No.1 recruit coming out of Quebec in 2017, but it wasn’t easy to get recognized at Cégep du Vieux Montréal, the school he attended.
“Back in the day, there weren’t enough Canadian players making waves in the recruiting circuit,” said St-Juste. “So, for you to get recruited or even get a chance to get seen by colleges, you have to travel, you have to go attend a camp, you have to go showcase your skill. My issue was that I had the physicals, but recruiters would see my film and be like, ‘You play in Canada, you don’t play no one, there’s no competition there compared to the U.S.’”
Now, with programs like the Forward Pass initiative and NFL Way to Play – which awards one Canadian high school or CEGEP tackle football program a $3,000 equipment grant through Football Canada during the first 10 weeks of the season – the resources available to young Canadian football players has never been better.
“Now it’s not the same thing because a whole bunch of players from Canada have made it to the NFL,” St-Juste said. “Now kids are getting recruited, kids are leaving high school early, going to prep schools in the states and the best schools in the nation. So it’s nice to see it because we have a lot of talent back home.”
More than 30 Canadians began the 2025 NFL regular season on teams in one way or another, while 18 players – including St-Juste – have been taken in the NFL Draft within the past five years. At least one Canadian has been selected in the process for the past 15 seasons dating back 2011, while a record five Canadians were selected in the same draft in 2023.
Players are even being drafted out of Canadian universities, as former UBC offensive linemen Giovanni Manu was selected in the fourth round by the Detroit Lions in 2024, becoming the 15th U Sports player ever to hear their name called and first since 2016 (David Onyemata).
“With programs like NFL Canada with the Forward Pass initiative and a whole bunch of programs that are popping up now, Canadian guys are starting to get the spotlight,” said St-Juste.
“We’re not just trying to break into the door now and compete with the U.S. or other countries. We have a good number of Canadians that are in the league, and it shows we have the talent. We just need the platform and the foundation. That’s what this program has given. So, I’m all in for it, I support it. I encourage any organization or community that’s looking to push their kids to play football or learn football to sign up for it. It’s free resources that can be used for something good.”
Last year’s Western Canada recipient, the North Winnipeg Nomads Football Club, used their grant to expand access to the sport and ensure more young athletes could participate regardless of financial barriers.
“There are so many ways this grant has helped the North Winnipeg Nomads flourish,” said Stacey Keown, president of the North Winnipeg Nomads. “The club provides out-of-pocket expenses replacing football equipment and covering fees for those who cannot afford them. We have upgraded our field, hosted more free camps and provided even more opportunities across the board.”
Through NFL Forward Pass and NFL Way to Play, NFL Canada has invested more than $200,000 in Canadian grassroots football, and it won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
“We’re excited to bring back the NFL Forward Pass program for a second year,” said Gavin Kemp, general manager at NFL Canada. “Our goal is to continue investing in the growth of football in Canada and help remove barriers, making the sport more accessible to youth across the country.”