NFL Backs New Professional Flag Football League Ahead of 2028 Olympics
Premier Flag is set to launch in summer 2027, bringing men's and women's professional competition to a sport preparing for its Olympic debut in Los Angeles.
A new professional competition is set to reshape the landscape of flag football in the United States, as the National Football League (NFL) joins forces with TMRW Sports to establish Premier Flag, a league designed to bring the sport to a wider audience and create new opportunities for elite athletes.
The organizers announced that the league will begin in summer 2027, with competitions for both men and women. The launch comes as flag football prepares to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, giving the new competition a significant role in building interest ahead of the international event.
Unlike traditional American football, flag football is a non-tackle format in which players stop opponents by removing a flag attached to their clothing. Its format offers a different style of play while retaining the speed, strategy and competitive elements associated with the sport.
The NFL sees Premier Flag as part of a broader effort to develop the game internationally and strengthen its commercial appeal. Brian Flinn, the league's senior vice president for global flag football, said the project would provide a platform to showcase leading players and create professional opportunities for athletes.
TMRW Sports, a company backed by golf star Tiger Woods, will act as the league's operational partner. Organizers said the location of the U.S. host city would be announced in the coming weeks.
The project also has substantial backing from the NFL's ownership network, with an investor group that includes the owners of all 32 teams. Plans also include building what organizers describe as the first stadium specifically designed for flag football.
The timing of the league reflects the growing importance of the sport's Olympic debut. Establishing a professional structure before the Los Angeles Games could help attract more players, audiences and commercial partners, while giving the competition a foundation beyond the Olympic event itself.
Source: Reuters, reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; editing by Ken Ferris.
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