Premier Flag League Will Pay Elite Athletes Ahead of 2028 Olympics
The NFL and TMRW Sports are launching a professional circuit for men and women that aims to support players financially before the sport debuts at the Los Angeles Games.
By Andrew Bennett ·
Flag football players have long relied on amateur status while training for international competitions. Starting in the summer of 2027, that dynamic will change with the launch of Premier Flag, a new professional league announced on Monday by the NFL and TMRW Sports.
The league will feature both men's and women's teams competing in a U.S. city that has not yet been named. While the exact number of franchises is still being finalized, the organization aims to create a structure where elite athletes can earn full-time salaries. This financial support is designed to allow top players to leave their day jobs and focus entirely on the sport year-round.
The timing places the league directly in the path of flag football's Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The NFL views this as a way to establish a professional standard before the sport becomes a medal event in the summer of 2028. By creating a paid professional circuit now, the league hopes to provide a clear pathway for athletes who are currently competing without guaranteed income.
Several high-profile athletes have already committed to the new organization as ambassadors. The group includes Darrell "Housh" Doucette III, a versatile player on the men's national team, alongside Ashlea Klam and Izzy Geraci, who star for the USA Football women's national team. Doucette described the move as a validation of the years of financial and personal sacrifice required to reach the top of the sport. He noted that the ability to be paid for their investment in the game represents a major shift for players who had to balance other employment to survive.
TMRW Sports, the company behind the league, is applying its experience from the TGL indoor golf league to flag football. The organization is working with the International Federation of American Football, known as IFAF, to test specific rules, game formats, and equipment. This collaborative process is intended to define what constitutes a professional standard in the sport. The league describes its approach as data-driven, aiming to refine the game for professional play.
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 Premier Flag as the pinnacle of the sport's growing global pathway. Brendan Donohue, president of flag football for TMRW Sports, stated that the brand represents the elite and global direction of the game while setting a professional standard for its ecosystem.
Talent identification for the league is already underway. Last month, TMRW Sports and the NFL held a combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where top athletes advanced to a Premier Flag Combine scheduled for next year. Another talent identification event is planned for November in Mexico City. Additionally, a Premier Flag Showcase will take place during Super Bowl week in Los Angeles.
Scott Hallenbeck, CEO and executive director of USA Football, called the pro league a welcome addition to the sport. He said the opportunity benefits everyone from national team athletes to young players dreaming of the highest level. Hallenbeck viewed the league as a sign that flag football has arrived at the pinnacle of global sport, alongside its upcoming Olympic inclusion.
