NFL and TMRW Sports Launch Professional Flag Football League with Elite Investor Pool

The NFL has announced a partnership with TMRW Sports to develop and operate a new professional flag football league for both women and men. The venture arrives amid a period of explosive growth for the format, which is set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

The league is backed by a powerhouse investment group, including NFL clubs through their investment vehicle 32 Equity, which has authorised up to USD32 million (AUD36 million) to support the launch.

TMRW Sports, the firm founded by Mike McCarley in partnership with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, was selected following a competitive process, leveraging its success with the technology-focused TGL presented by SoFi.

Completing the Professional Pathway

For the NFL, this league represents the “final piece” of the flag football ecosystem. With 4.1 million youth players in the U.S. alone, a 50% increase since 2020, and the recent addition of women’s flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, the professional league provides a legitimate career destination for elite athletes.

Commenting on the launch, NFL executive vice president of Football Operations, Troy Vincent Sr, said: “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.” 

He also noted the particular impact on girls and young women, who saw a 60% increase in high school participation from 2024 to 2025.

Emphasising the creative potential of the format, key stakeholder and ambassador and NFL legend, Tom Brady, added: “Flag football represents so much of what makes this game special—the skill, creativity, and competitiveness.”

“I’m excited to help take this sport to even greater heights,” Brady noted.

An Unprecedented “Who’s Who” of Investors

The league’s cap table features an extraordinary mix of sporting legends, institutional giants, and champions of women’s sport:

• NFL Legends: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Larry Fitzgerald, and Eli Manning.
• Active NFL Stars: Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, and Arik Armstead.
• Women’s Sport Icons: Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, Alex Morgan, and Ilana Kloss.
• Institutional Heavyweights: Silver Lake, Sixth Street, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Blue Pool Capital.
• Strategic Partners: Alexis Ohanian (776), Arctos Partners, and Bolt Ventures.

Commercial and Media Strategy

The league will be operated by TMRW Sports, focusing on a fast-paced, high-tech format tailored for modern media consumption.

The operational timeline is expected to align with the lead-up to the LA28 Olympics, maximising global visibility and sponsorship “stickiness.”

With 20 million players worldwide, the NFL and TMRW Sports are already in talks with potential media partners to broadcast the league internationally.

TMRW Sports CEO, Mike McCarley, noted that the league will mirror the “fandom and participation” vision established by the NFL over three decades of grassroots investment.

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