The NFL is launching a professional flag football league for men and women through a partnership with TMRW Sports, the company behind golf's TGL. Announced at the NFL's annual meetings in Phoenix, the league will be backed by all 32 NFL teams and a star-studded group of investors including Peyton Manning, Serena Williams, and Billie Jean King.

This initiative comes as flag football experiences explosive global growth, with the NFL reporting 20 million players across 100 countries. The sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has accelerated interest, creating what TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley calls a missing pathway for athletes to pursue flag football professionally. The NFL's investment arm, 32 Equity, authorized up to $32 million in initial funding.

The league structure remains under development, with discussions ongoing about whether to feature five-on-five or seven-on-seven formats and whether teams will be geographically dispersed or centrally located. Current players Arik Armstead, Bobby Wagner, and Russell Wilson have also invested, joining a roster that includes Hall of Famers Larry Fitzgerald, Joe Montana, and Steve Young. The goal is to create a summer schedule that capitalizes on the Olympic momentum and provides athletes a professional platform to compete year-round.