NFL Launches New Pro Flag Football League with High-Profile Investors

The league will feature a mix of veteran NFL stars, sports icons, and venture capital funds as early backers.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:36pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a flag football game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the fast-paced action of the sport.The NFL's new pro flag football league aims to bring a fresh, dynamic energy to the sport through innovative investment and star power.Silver Lake Today

The NFL has signed up a series of prominent funds and investors, including Ariel Investments, Bessemer Venture Partners, Blue Pool Capital, and Sixth Street, as early backers of its new pro flag football league launched in partnership with TMRW Sports. The league will also feature a roster of NFL legends, current players, and sports icons as investors and ambassadors.

Why it matters

The NFL's move into pro flag football represents a strategic effort to grow the sport's popularity, especially among younger audiences, and diversify its revenue streams beyond the traditional tackle football model. The involvement of venture capital firms and high-profile athletes signals the league's ambition to develop flag football as a viable professional sport.

The details

The new pro flag football league was formally introduced to NFL owners at their annual meeting in Phoenix. The league has secured investments from a range of funds, including Ariel Investments, Bessemer Venture Partners, Blue Pool Capital, Dynasty Equity, Arctos Partners, and Sixth Street. Several prominent former and current NFL players, such as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Russell Wilson, have also joined as investors and ambassadors, along with sports icons like Billie Jean King and Serena Williams.

  • The 2023 Pro Bowl Games provided an early showcase for the NFL's flag football ambitions.
  • In December 2025, NFL owners approved a $32 million commitment to the new league through the league's 32 Equity investment platform.
  • The new pro flag football league was formally introduced to NFL owners at their annual meeting in Phoenix in March 2026.

The players

Jed York

Owner of the San Francisco 49ers, who emphasized the need for the right venture-oriented investors to support the new league.

Byron Deeter

Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, who invested in the 49ers in 2025 and represents the kind of investor the pro flag league needs.

TMRW Sports

The sports technology and media company partnering with the NFL to launch the new pro flag football league.

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What they’re saying

“I think there's definitely high upside, but any startup league is going to be difficult, and you have to make sure you've got the right investors for those types of things.”

— Jed York, 49ers Owner

“You need people with a venture style mindset who can help build and grow a league. Capital's not capital. VCs understand the nature of growth, the nature of the risk I'm taking here, and a startup league is venture capital, and you need those types of people who will invest in it.”

— Jed York, 49ers Owner

What’s next

The new pro flag football league is expected to launch its inaugural season in 2027, with further details on team locations, player rosters, and broadcast partnerships to be announced in the coming months.

The takeaway

The NFL's move into pro flag football represents a strategic effort to grow the sport's popularity, especially among younger audiences, and diversify its revenue streams beyond the traditional tackle football model. The involvement of venture capital firms and high-profile athletes signals the league's ambition to develop flag football as a viable professional sport.