The National Football League (NFL) is taking a major step into the future of flag football. The league announced a partnership with TMRW Sports to build and operate a new professional flag football league for both men and women.
The venture arrives as the sport continues to gain traction worldwide, fueled by increased participation, investment interest and upcoming Olympic exposure.
The new league will be backed by a high-profile group of investors that blends football royalty with global sports icons. Among those involved are Hall of Fame quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Joe Montana and Steve Young, along with star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. They are joined by former and current NFL standouts, including Tom Brady, Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner.
The investment group also features prominent names from outside football. Tennis legend Serena Williams, soccer star Alex Morgan and trailblazer Billie Jean King are part of the effort, underscoring the league’s dual focus on men’s and women’s competition.
In addition, several major institutional firms have committed funding, signaling confidence in the sport’s long-term potential. League officials said conversations with media and sponsorship partners remain ongoing as momentum builds.
The NFL selected TMRW Sports after a competitive review process. Team owners authorized up to $32 million in funding through 32 Equity, the league’s investment arm, to help launch and operate the venture.
TMRW Sports, co-founded by media executive Mike McCarley, previously developed TGL, a tech-driven golf league in partnership with the PGA TOUR. The company has positioned itself as a leader in blending sports with modern media and technology platforms.
“For more than three decades, the NFL has made a significant investment in flag football at the grassroots levels. Including youth, high school and college. Now with the inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, TMRW Sports shares a vision with the NFL. To further fuel fandom and participation worldwide with the development of a professional flag football league,” said McCarley. “As the elite competitive tier of flag football, this league will mark a new era for the sport. As the world’s best compete in a fast-paced format that aligns with the evolving media consumption of today’s sports fans.”
NFL Executive Vice President Troy Vincent said the league fills a key gap in the sport’s development system. He noted that flag football now offers a pathway from youth participation to the professional level.
“Selecting TMRW Sports represents an important step in our long-term commitment to growing flag football and supporting the world-class athletes driving its momentum,” said Vincent.
That pathway has expanded rapidly in recent years. Participation numbers continue to climb, with millions of players globally and steady growth across youth, high school and college programs. In the United States alone, more than four million young athletes play the sport, a sharp increase since 2020.
The rise of women’s flag football has been particularly notable. Dozens of states now sanction the sport at the high school level, while more than 100 colleges have introduced programs. The NCAA recently added flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women category, a key step toward broader varsity adoption.
The sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics has only accelerated interest. The new professional league is expected to complement that momentum by creating a global stage for elite athletes.
A formal launch timeline has not been announced. However, organizers indicated the rollout will align with the lead-up to the Los Angeles Games. Positioning the league to capitalize on growing international attention.
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