Baltimore’s annual Unity Bowl flag football game took place on Dec. 4, 2021 for its seventh straight year, bringing police officers and community members together on the football field to strengthen the community.

The tradition began in 2015 to build trust and strengthen relationships between officers and residents.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also played in the game, calling the Unity Bowl one of his favorite events of the year and a great way to bring people from different sides together.

“Every year, it’s one of my favorite things to do. But this is about the community, the Unity Bowl brings police and community together and brotherhood and fellowship of football, showing people that we can work together in Baltimore collaboratively to build relationships that impact what happens in the street every day. That’s what this is all about,” Scott said.

In addition to the mayor, ex-NFL player and educator Aaron Maybin was also present.

After an intensely competitive game, the Baltimore Police Department avenged the previous year’s loss to bring home the trophy.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Harrison said the event demonstrates what a community is all about – unity and enjoying common ground.

“It’s about unity. There’s a narrative out there that we can’t work together, we can’t get along, it’s police and the community. It’s actually the same, it’s a part of the community, and this is one of the greatest examples of what community really is — we get to see the human side of each other,” he told WBALTV.