The National Football League is officially putting its financial and operational weight behind the expansion of flag football, laying the groundwork for a new professional league. Club owners voted during a virtual league meeting to authorize a capital investment of up to US$ 32 milhões through the league’s collective investment arm, 32 Equity, to support the development and launch of the professional competition, according to reports from sports outlets covering the initiative.
The league is making a strategic pivot toward non-contact football formats ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
Financial Backing and Strategic Partnerships
The decision by NFL owners unlocks up to US$ 32 milhões in funding to establish a top-tier professional circuit featuring both men’s and women’s divisions. The capital will allow 32 Equity to finalize agreements with operating partners capable of turning the professional vision into a global reality.
Further structural backing comes through a partnership with TMRW Sports to build the new professional competition. The initiative has attracted high-profile backing from institutional investors and sports figures, including NFL legends Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Larry Fitzgerald, alongside active players like Russell Wilson. Prominent figures from women’s sports, including Serena Williams and Alex Morgan, have also joined the investor group alongside venture firms such as Bessemer Venture Partners, Silver Lake, and Dynasty Equity.
“The vote today represents a crucial step to cement flag football as a premier global sport,” Troy Vincent Sr., executive vice president of football operations for the NFL, told reporters. “We are building the infrastructure to accelerate the game’s growth to new heights, creating a clear pathway for rising athletes to progress from grassroots and high school programs through college and now into the professional level.”
Global Growth and the Road to Los Angeles 2028
The professional league arrives as flag football experiences rapid expansion worldwide. The sport has reached approximately 20 milhões de praticantes participants globally. In the United States alone, youth participation has surpassed 4,1 milhões de jovens praticantes players, marking an increase of more than 50% since 2020.
The momentum is heavily tied to the decision to include flag football on the sports program for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. The new professional league is structured to act as the pinnacle of a complete competitive ecosystem, giving elite athletes a clear destination after college programs.
“This league will mark a new moment, with the best athletes in the world competing in a dynamic format aligned with modern sports consumption,” said Mike McCarley, CEO of TMRW Sports.
Creating Pathways for Female Athletes
League officials emphasize that the professional infrastructure is designed to provide equal opportunities for women. High school flag football participation among girls grew by nearly 60% between 2024 and 2025 across the United States, with the sport now active in high schools across 39 states. More than 100 universities currently offer varsity or club flag football programs for women, and the NCAA has recognized the discipline as an emerging sport.
“This is especially meaningful for girls and young women who now can see a pathway all the way to the professional level,” Vincent stated.
When asked about potential international recruitment pipelines similar to the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, league representatives indicated that various global operational strategies remain under review and will be announced as development progresses.
Next Operational Checkpoints
The NFL and its operational partners will continue defining competition formats, team rosters, venue agreements, and media rights ahead of the league’s official rollout. Further announcements regarding team locations, coaching staffs, and broadcast partnerships are expected from the league office in the coming months.
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