NFL Selects TMRW Sports to Operate Flag Football League
The National Football League announced it is partnering with TMRW Sports as the operator for its future professional flag football league. The NFL is planning to launch the league in 2028 before the start of the Los Angeles Olympics. From Troy Vincent Sr., NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations:
"As the flag football movement continues its explosive global growth, a professional flag league completes the pathway for elite athletes to compete at every level of the game, from youth to high school and college, to the Olympic stage, and now professionally. This is especially meaningful for girls and young women who are helping drive the sport's growth worldwide and who can now see their dreams in this game extend all the way 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."
In December 2025, the NFL authorized investment into a new flag football league via its collective investment vehicle, 32 Equity. At the time, TMRW Sports was one of two operators being vetted by the NFL to serve as the operator for the new league. In February, Sportico reported that TMRW Sports was selected, but the NFL did not confirm it at the time.
The NFL noted a long list of financial backers for the flag football league, including no shortage of former and current players. Arik Armstead, Bobby Wagner, Dhani Jones, Eli Manning, Joe Montana, Justin Tuck, Larry Fitzgerald, Peyton Manning, Ryan Nece, Russell Wilson, Steve Young, and Russell Wilson are listed among the investors. Notable women's sports legends Alex Morgan, Billie Jean King, and Serena Williams are also investors.
The NFL has built flag football up from the youth level with NFL FLAG. The league has seen 22 high school associations sanction flag football at the varsity level, which is beginning to influence the college landscape. In January 2026, all three NCAA Divisions added flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program. The NCAA is on target to see flag football become a championship sport as soon as 2028. Over 225 varsity teams are expected to compete across all collegiate governing bodies in the 2026-27 academic year. The NCAA and NAIA are expected to have over 100 varsity programs next season.