Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rashad Colvin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rashad, appreciate you joining us today. Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

Whenever I’m asked a question about an amazing boss, I always bring up my time working with Colonel Jan DeMartini in the Military. My unit could not have had a more caring, dedicated, and loving leader. Even though it was the military, she truly cared about her Soldiers.

In my entire military and civilian career, no one has even come close. She was everything you could ever want in a boss. She was a problem solver, she believed in her Soldiers, she pushed us for advancement, and she always had our backs.

All these years later, we’re still very good friends, and that says it all about the kind of leader and person she is.

Rashad, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Rashad, and I’m the founder of the Pittsburgh National League, hands down the best youth flag football league on the planet. My journey into this world started with a simple love for football and a bigger love for giving kids a positive, competitive space to shine. Years ago, I saw an opportunity to bring NFL FLAG to Pittsburgh in a way that was organized, exciting, and community driven, and I have been running full speed with it ever since.

We run youth NFL FLAG leagues for boys and girls of all ages, including one of the fastest growing all girls divisions in the country. We create more than just games. We create experiences. From our live player drafts where kids walk the stage like pros, to All Star Weekend, to travel teams competing across the country, our players as co-captains during college and NFL games, we are giving young athletes opportunities they will remember for life.

What sets us apart is that we do not just roll the ball out and play. We record every game, track stats, run challenges like QB competitions and fastest man races, and make the players feel like NFL stars. We even have our own podcast called Flag Talk where we interview players, coaches, and special guests, and give people an inside look at the flag football world. I bring the energy and my co host Coop brings the business mind, and together we make it something people want to tune into every episode.

The problems we solve go beyond football. We give kids a safe place to compete, grow, and be part of a team. We connect families. We help other leagues get started and train their staff. We have been recognized nationally, won championships, and partnered with organizations like RCX Sports and the Pittsburgh Steelers. What I am most proud of is seeing the growth in these kids on and off the field.

At the end of the day, we are building something that is bigger than sports. We are building a movement. Saying all this is why we call it the best league on the planet.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first started running NFL FLAG in Pittsburgh, it was through the YMCA. That was our home base, and it was where the league began. Then the YMCA closed, and we had a choice to make. Either let everything we built disappear or find a way to keep it alive.

I decided we were not letting it die. We took everything over, started a non-profit from the ground up, and built the entire operation ourselves. We had to create our own systems, locate our own fields, get our own sponsors, recruit new families, and make it work without the safety net we started with. It was a grind, but it forced us to take ownership of every single piece of the league.

That pivot turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to us. We went from being part of someone else’s program to becoming one of the best NFL FLAG leagues on the planet. We are now nationally recognized, have hosted the largest tournaments in Pittsburgh, traveled across the country, and built something our players, parents, and community are proud to be part of.

Sometimes the toughest pivots create the biggest wins.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my favorite marketing stories was when I stepped into a pitch competition for a $2,500 grant back in 2018. I wasn’t nervous because I knew what we were doing mattered. We were giving kids a safe outlet, keeping them away from injuries, and building something real in the community. That type of mission speaks for itself.

I laid it out plain and simple. Flag football gives kids the same competition, the teamwork, and the excitement of the game without the same risks of tackle football. I wanted to make sure I had the judges and the audience locked in as soon as I delivered my first line.

I didn’t walk out with the check that day but I walked out with something just as valuable. More people knew about our league, more people wanted to be part of it, and it confirmed what I already believed. When you are making a difference, people are going to pay attention.

What really made an impact on me was standing in front of that room and owning the moment. I wasn’t nervous at all. I realized this is what leadership looks like, being able to talk about something you built and make other people feel the importance of it. That day I proved to myself that I can speak with confidence in any room, no matter who is sitting in the audience.

I also learned what it takes to deliver a message in front of a crowd. It’s not just about the facts, it’s about the passion behind them. People connected with my energy and my belief in what we were doing. Even though I didn’t win the prize, I left that room knowing that I left an impression, and that’s what keeps the momentum going for our league.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pittsburghnflleague.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pittsburghnflleague
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rashad.colvin
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashadcolvin
• Twitter: https://x.com/nfl_pittsburgh
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pittsburghnflleague
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pittsburgh-nfl-league-pittsburgh-6
• Other: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fi2eon99e24m3awgwvmsd/ADnHbF5x1rzd2UMTjfhsZKI?rlkey=6eyq8rq9d1srqx8mpdig38ade&e=1&st=z3rluo1p&dl=0

Image Credits

Pic 6 Media, Josh Caso, 21 Solutions