TMRW Sports announced today that Brendan Donohue will serve as the inaugural president of its newly formed professional flag football league, a venture developed in partnership with the NFL and designed to bridge the gap between school‑level play and elite competition.
A Strategic Appointment
Donohue arrives after a 28‑year career that includes stints with multiple NBA franchises, the NBA league office, and a leadership role in the NBA’s 2K esports division. Most recently he headed Elevate Talent, a consultancy that TMRW engaged to identify candidates for the league’s top post, a process in which Donohue himself participated after expressing interest.
Mike McCarley, founder and chief executive of TMRW Sports, praised Donohue’s résumé as an ideal match for the challenge, highlighting his proven ability to build NBA teams and launch pioneering professional basketball initiatives.
Industry Support and Vision
The league enjoys financial backing from NFL owners, TMRW, and a broad group of investors who share a vision of creating a comprehensive pipeline that stretches from scholastic tournaments through to a professional platform, aligning with the NFL’s broader goal of embedding flag football within the Olympic and collegiate sports landscape.
Executives say the league is positioned at a transformational moment for the sport, with plans to launch next year and to leverage the growing popularity of flag football as a vehicle for inclusive, high‑impact competition.