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NFL Launches Flag Football League Ahead of 2028 Olympics

3/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The NFL partnered with TMRW Sports to launch a professional flag football league for men and women ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Billie Jean King are among investors.
The league will create a pathway for elite athletes, especially women, from youth to professional, while the NFL invests up to $32 million to grow flag football, a sport with about 20 million players worldwide.

History

Historical Context

The Women's Professional Football League (WPFL), founded in 1965 by Sid Friedman, was the first women's American football league, operating until 1973. In 1974, the National Women's Football League (NWFL) emerged, highlighting the growing interest in women's sports. Today, initiatives like the NFL's $32 million investment in flag football, supported by Tom Brady and Billie Jean King, aim to enhance opportunities for female athletes globally.

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Story summary

The NFL partnered with TMRW Sports to launch a professional flag football league for men and women ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Billie Jean King are among investors.
The league will create a pathway for elite athletes, especially women, from youth to professional, while the NFL invests up to $32 million to grow flag football, a sport with about 20 million players worldwide.

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