A new era for flag football
Flag football has emerged as one of the world’s fastest‑growing sports, drawing more than 20 million participants across 100 countries. Its rise has been underscored by the announcement that the first Olympic flag football tournament will take place in 2028, a milestone that promises to cement the discipline on the global stage.
Building on that momentum, the NFL revealed that it will launch two professional leagues — one for men and one for women — by late spring or early summer of 2027. Each league will incorporate a player combine and a draft, mirroring the structure of the league’s traditional football operations. Executives Peter O'Reilly and Jayna Bardahl highlighted the initiative as both a developmental pipeline for the NFL and a standalone sport that can showcase elite talent.
Women’s competition set to shine
The women’s division will bring together the sport’s top athletes from around the globe, offering a platform that could rival traditional football in visibility and competitiveness. League organizers emphasized that the roster will feature the best players from every continent, aiming to elevate the standard of play and inspire the next generation.
While the exact schedule and team locations remain under discussion, the NFL’s foray into flag football reflects a broader strategy to diversify its portfolio and tap into a sport that is gaining traction at the grassroots level. If successful, the leagues could provide a new avenue for athlete development and expand the NFL’s influence beyond traditional tackle football.