NFL and TMRW Sports unveil pro league for men and women launching ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics

The NFL and TMRW Sports announced the creation of Premier Flag, a new professional league for elite men and women flag football players, set to launch in 2027. This league will provide a platform for top athletes to earn salaries and compete year-round, aiming to make the sport lucrative enough for players to leave their day jobs.

The league will be held in a U.S. city yet to be determined. Premier Flag is seen as a precursor to flag football's Olympic debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, with several top players already signing on as ambassadors, including Ashlea Klam and Izzy Geraci from the USA women's national team, and Darrell "Housh" Doucette III. The league aims to offer coaching, conditioning, and health benefits, with the salary structure still being determined.

Women's flag football is already a sanctioned varsity sport in over 20 states and may become a championship sport in the NCAA by spring 2028. Brian Flinn, NFL senior vice president of global flag football, sees this as a significant step for the sport's global pathway. TMRW Sports, known for its innovative high-tech indoor golf league TGL, is spearheading the development of Premier Flag, describing it as a "data-driven approach to determine the pro standard for flag."

The league will collaborate with the international governing body for flag football, the IFAF, to test rules, formats, and equipment. TMRW Sports and the NFL recently held a combine in London, with athletes advancing to a Premier Flag Combine in 2024. Another talent identification event is planned for November in Mexico City, and a Premier Flag Showcase will take place during Super Bowl week in Los Angeles.

Scott Hallenbeck, CEO & executive director of USA Football, views this development as a major opportunity for national team athletes and aspiring players aiming for the highest level of the sport.