NFL announces plans to develop a professional flag football league for men and women
Why it matters: The NFL's investment creates a professional pathway for 20 million flag football players globally by 2028.
- The NFL announced a partnership with TMRW Sports to develop and operate a professional flag football league for men and women, with a launch timeline expected to align with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Troy Vincent Sr., NFL executive VP of football operations, stated that a professional flag league completes the pathway for elite athletes from youth to the Olympic stage, emphasizing its significance for girls and young women driving the sport's growth.
- A broad and influential investor pool, including NFL clubs, current players, and Pro Football Hall of Famers like Joe Montana, Steve Young, Peyton Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, Tom Brady, and Eli Manning, will support the new league.
- Tom Brady highlighted flag football's rapid rise and the strong belief athletes have in its future, noting his excitement to help elevate the sport through the new professional league.
- Flag football is experiencing immense growth, with 20 million players worldwide and a 50%+ increase in youth participation in the U.S. since 2020, now offered in high schools in 39 states.
- Women's participation in flag football is surging, with high school team numbers increasing by nearly 60% from 2024 to 2025, and over 100 colleges offering women's flag football, including the University of Nebraska as the first Power Four Division I program.
- Tennis legend Billie Jean King noted the unprecedented momentum in women's sports and flag football's potential to significantly contribute to that continued growth.
The NFL is partnering with TMRW Sports to launch a professional flag football league for both men and women, aiming for a 2028 debut to coincide with the sport's Olympic inclusion in Los Angeles. This initiative is backed by a powerful investor group including NFL clubs, current and legendary players like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and women's sports champions such as Billie Jean King, reflecting flag football's explosive global growth, particularly among women.
