Throughout the 2026 Illinois high school girls flag football season, the Bears will recognize standout student-athletes through the Player of the Week Award, brought to you by Dunkin'. Each week, one player will be recognized for her outstanding performance on the field as well as her sportsmanship and community involvement off the field.
Highland Park sophomore Lexie Hoobler, who is a true three-phase impact player as a quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and punt returner, received Week 1 player of the week honors. In the first week of play, Hoobler accounted for 12 total touchdowns and 341 all-purpose yards, led the Giants with 17 flag pulls and three interceptions, including a pick-six, and added a 40-yard punt return.
Hoobler spoke with ChicagoBears.com about her passion for both flag and tackle football, her Bears fandom and her future in the sport.
What does winning the first Player of the Week Award of the 2026 season mean to you?
It was really a shock because no one had told me it was happening. But it was really cool, and it's really important to me. It made me feel very happy that I was able to win and that I had all my teammates there, too, because they're the people who obviously helped me get the award, just them playing with me. They're also just so nice, and it's just such a great team environment to be around.
When did you start playing flag football?
It's my first year playing with the high school, but I've played flag for three or four years. I started off playing tackle, and through that, I played flag as well. Last year, I played tackle football instead of flag, and then I transitioned into flag football.
If you had to pick one, flag football or tackle football?
I really like the physical aspect of tackle football, and that's partly the reason I did it last year, but if I were to choose — I don't know, because I obviously want to pursue flag football, especially as it's getting bigger. So I'd probably choose flag football just because it has so many more options in the future.
What has girls flag football, specifically being on the high school team this year, meant to you?
it's been really good, and it's meant a lot to me because it's just such a good team environment that we have. We're all friends with each other, and we all joke with each other. On the field and off the field, we're all just such good friends, and that really adds to the chemistry of our team, and that helps us win games. Even if we have a bad game, it helps us build off of that and continue growing as a team.
You play offense, defense and special teams — which phase of the game is your favorite?
I really like offense, mostly because I feel like getting to control an offense as a quarterback is just such a different thing. On my club team, I play wide receiver. So having that leadership now is very special to me. I'm really enjoying having that and being able to help my teammates grow and control a lot of what's happening on the field.
Do you have any football idols?
Well, I started playing football because of my cousins. They aren't famous people, but they played tackle football in Glenview, and that made me want to start playing, so they're really important to me. They all still play in high school, and that's kind of how I started. So when I was younger, I definitely idolized them as my older cousins who basically taught me how to play.
Who are your favorite Bears players?
Right now, probably Caleb Williams. I like Rome Odunze, too.
How did you become a Bears fan?
I grew up here in Illinois, but my dad was from Nebraska. But being in Chicago when I was younger — we lived in the Lincoln Park area when I was little — and then being in Highland Park most of my life, I just became a Bears fan.
Do you have any gameday superstitions?
I always eat pasta before a game. It's almost like a carb-loading thing, but I also just really like pasta. It's normally just plain pasta with parmesan cheese on top.
How would you describe your playing style?
I think being physical is a big part of my playing style, especially when I'm playing receiver. When I'm going up for the ball, having to come down with it is a big physical thing, and you have to be able to go up there and fight for the ball. I think that's one thing that I do really well. I also have been working on my speed and agility moves and things like that, so I'm adding that to my skill set too.
What was your favorite touchdown from the first week of games?
My receivers are normally really tall, and we run a lot of slants down the middle. My favorite is when I throw a short slant, and they end up making it like an 80-yard play just from the slant. And that happened, like, three times that week. Those are my favorites because I get to see my teammate scoring 80-yard touchdowns on such a short play. I like seeing them do their moves, get past all the defenders, run that straightaway on the sideline and just be so excited, looking behind them for defenders.
What are you most excited about for the rest of the girls flag football season?
I'm really excited to keep getting to know my teammates, because it's only been two weeks into the season. But I'm really excited to play more games with them – play harder, more competitive games and to see how much we can really do. And I really want to see our team grow. We have our senior night coming up, which is also really fun – we'll get to celebrate all our seniors.
What is your ideal future in flag football?
For me, it's probably getting to play in college and also getting a good education. And then also striving for the USA national team, or trying to get on their radar to possibly participate in the Olympics or other tournaments like that.
