NFL and TMRW Sports Announce New Professional Flag Football League

This new professional league establishes a pathway for players from youth and high school programs through collegiate and professional competition, ultimately leading to the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Partnership Details and League Establishment

The National Football League (NFL) and TMRW Sports announced on Monday a partnership to establish a professional flag football league for both men and women. This new venture marks a significant step for the sport's professional landscape.

TMRW Sports was selected to co-establish the league following a thorough evaluation process.

Financial Backing and Diverse Investor Pool

The new league will receive substantial financial backing from a diverse investor pool. This includes NFL clubs, institutional and strategic investors, and a notable group of current and former NFL players.

Individual investors include former NFL players Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Larry Fitzgerald, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, Ryan Nece, and Dhani Jones. Current players Arik Armstead, Bobby Wagner, and Russell Wilson are also among the investors. Furthermore, prominent figures such as Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Alex Morgan, and Serena Williams have invested in the league.

NFL clubs authorized 32 Equity, their investment vehicle, to approve an investment of up to $32 million to support the league's launch and ongoing operations.

Flag Football's Global Growth and Olympic Pathway

Flag football is recognized as one of the fastest-growing sports globally, with approximately 20 million participants worldwide.

This new professional league aims to establish a clear pathway for players, from youth and high school programs through collegiate and professional competition. This trajectory is designed to ultimately lead to the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, highlighting its growing international significance.

Surging Youth and High School Participation

The sport is experiencing rapid growth at grassroots levels. Youth flag football in the U.S. currently has around 4.1 million players, marking an impressive increase of over 50% since 2020.

Flag football is now offered at the high school level in 39 states. Projections indicate that the number of young women participating on high school teams is set to rise by nearly 60% from 2024 to 2025, underscoring its expanding appeal among female athletes.

Future Plans and Launch Timeline

The NFL and TMRW Sports plan to continue developing the league's design and operational plans in the coming months.

A launch timeline for the league is anticipated to coincide strategically with the period leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games.