NFL and TMRW Sports Launch Premier Flag for 2027

The NFL and TMRW Sports announced the creation of a new professional flag football league on Monday.

Premier Flag will launch in the summer of 2027, providing paid contracts to elite athletes in both men's and women's divisions. The league aims to allow top players to leave their day jobs and focus entirely on the sport. It will include coaching, conditioning, and health benefits, though the specific salary structure is currently being finalized.

The organization is still determining the number of teams and the host city for the inaugural season. The league plans to operate as a data-driven entity to establish professional standards for the game. It is collaborating with the International Federation of American Football, or IFAF, to test rules, formats, and equipment.

Brian Flinn, the NFL's senior vice president of global flag football, said the launch creates a new professional opportunity for the world's best players. He described the league as the pinnacle of the sport's growing global pathway.

TMRW Sports brings experience from its previous ventures to this new project. The company formed TGL, an indoor golf league backed by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and sports executive Mike McCarley. Brendan Donohue, president of flag football for TMRW Sports, stated that the brand represents where the sport is heading. He noted that the league aims to set a professional standard for the growing ecosystem.

Several high-profile athletes have signed on as ambassadors for the new league. Ashlea Klam and Izzy Geraci, stars of the USA Football women's national team, have joined. Darrell Doucette III, a men's athlete, is also an ambassador. Doucette described the development as a major milestone for players. He said, "We can finally be paid for the sport we invested so much money and time in."

Flag football is expanding rapidly at the collegiate and state levels. The sport is a sanctioned varsity activity in more than 20 states. The NCAA will vote in January on making it a championship sport. If approved, the first title game would be held in spring 2028. This aligns with the Olympic debut of flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Scott Hallenbeck, CEO of USA Football, called the pro league an exciting opportunity for national team athletes and young players. He said the development signals that the sport has arrived at the pinnacle of global sport. TMRW Sports and the NFL held a combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London last month. Top athletes will advance to a Premier Flag Combine next year. Additional talent identification events are scheduled for November in Mexico City and during Super Bowl week in Los Angeles.