NFL, TMRW Sports Partner to Launch Professional Flag Football League Ahead of 2028 Olympics

The NFL is taking another major step in the growth of flag football.

During the league’s annual meetings on Monday, the NFL announced a new partnership with TMRW Sports to help launch a professional flag football league for both men and women, with plans to have the league in place before the sport makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The new venture has already received strong backing from across the NFL. In December, all 32 NFL teams voted to support the development of a professional flag football league through 32 Equity, the league’s investment arm. Teams also approved an initial investment of up to $32 million to help get the project off the ground.

The league also brings major star power.

A number of high-profile investors are involved, including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning,

Larry Fitzgerald, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, and Arik Armstead. Other notable names supporting the league include Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, Alex Morgan, and Ilana Kloss.

While the partnership marks a significant milestone, several important details are still being finalized. League officials are still determining whether the format will be five-on-five or seven-on-seven, where games will be played, and when the inaugural season will officially begin.

One possibility being discussed is a summer schedule, which would allow the league to operate during the NFL offseason and build momentum heading into the fall football calendar.

TMRW Sports founder and CEO Mike McCarley said the league is arriving at the right time as flag football continues to see rapid growth at every level.

“The momentum behind flag football has been building for decades,” McCarley said. “What’s been missing in that pathway is a professional league.”

That momentum is backed by numbers.

According to the NFL, approximately 4.1 million youth athletes currently play flag football in the United States — a figure that has increased by more than 50 percent since 2020. The sport is now offered at the high school level in 39 states, while participation among young women has also seen significant growth.

Flag football’s rise has helped earn its place on the Olympic stage, where it will officially debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

NFL players are expected to be eligible for Olympic participation, although the process for selecting rosters has not yet been finalized. Meanwhile, Team USA’s current flag football players continue to prove that the sport requires a unique skill set different from traditional tackle football.

As the game continues to grow worldwide, this new league could become a major piece of flag football’s future — creating a professional pathway for athletes while helping elevate one of the fastest-rising sports in the world.

Gateway Sports Take

The NFL’s investment in flag football is another sign that the sport is no longer just developmental or recreational — it is becoming a serious part of football’s future. With Olympic exposure, major athlete backing, and professional infrastructure now in motion, flag football is entering a new era.

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