The National Football League is taking a major step into professional flag football with a new partnership with TMRW Sports, aimed at creating a league for both men and women. The initiative comes as flag football gains international traction, boosted by increasing participation and its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The league will feature investment from prominent sports figures and institutional backers. Hall of Fame quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, and Steve Young, along with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, are among the football legends involved.
The group also includes current NFL players such as Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, and Arik Armstead. Global sports stars Serena Williams, Alex Morgan, and Billie Jean King are also part of the project, highlighting the league’s focus on both men’s and women’s competition. Several major investment firms have contributed funding, indicating strong confidence in the league’s growth potential.
TMRW Sports Selected to Operate League
After a competitive selection process, the NFL chose TMRW Sports to operate the league. Co-founded by media executive Mike McCarley, the company previously launched TGL, a tech-driven golf league in partnership with the PGA TOUR. TMRW Sports is recognized for combining sports with modern media platforms to engage fans.
“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,”McCarley said.
“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 emphasized the league fills a critical gap in the sport’s development pipeline. “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,” Vincent said.
Growing Participation and Women’s Expansion
Flag football participation has risen sharply, with more than four million young athletes playing in the US alone. Globally, the sport counts approximately 20 million players across 100 countries. Growth is particularly notable among women, with dozens of states sanctioning the sport at the high school level and over 100 colleges offering programs. The NCAA recently added flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women category.
The league’s organizers aim to capitalize on the sport’s Olympic exposure and growing international interest. While specific league details—including team structure, locations, and scheduling—are still being finalized, the rollout is expected to coincide with the lead-up to the 2028 Games, potentially including a summer schedule.
“This is still in its early stages, but that’s really exciting to be able to know you’re at the beginning stages of it,” Fitzgerald said. “And what’s cool is this game is going to be here and it’s going to be here for a long time.”
Source:
“NFL Partners With TMRW Sports To Launch Professional Flag Football League“, barrettmedia.com, March 31, 2026
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