The NFL and TMRW Sports plan to launch Premier Flag, a professional flag football league for women and men, in summer 2027, creating a new professional tier ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut.
The partners unveiled the league’s name and branding in a Nov. 3 announcement carried by the Buffalo Bills. They said the inaugural competition would be based in a U.S. host city, with the location to be announced in the weeks following the launch announcement.
A professional pathway for flag football players
Premier Flag is being developed as a full-time career opportunity for elite players. Brendan Donohue, TMRW Sports’ president of flag football, said athletes would receive training, strength and conditioning, nutrition and coaching support.
The investor group includes all 32 NFL club owners, institutional and strategic investors, current and former NFL players, and women athletes, according to the announcement.
The partners said architecture firm Populous is working on an inaugural venue intended to become the first purpose-built flag football stadium. Transwestern is leading the selection process for the host city and league hub.
Combines and a Super Bowl week showcase
Talent identification began with a London combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 6. The event brought together women and men representing 10 countries across Europe, Australia and the United States, the announcement said. Top performers will advance to a Premier Flag combine in 2027.
Additional identification events are planned in U.S. and international cities, including a Mexico City event scheduled for Nov. 22-23.
The NFL and TMRW Sports also plan an inaugural Premier Flag Showcase during Super Bowl LXI week in Los Angeles. The event is intended to introduce leading players through competition and athlete storytelling at a custom-built venue. NFL Pro Bowl players, Hall of Famers and other former players are expected to support the showcase as advocates.
National team players advising the league
Four ambassadors are advising TMRW Sports on training camps, facilities, uniforms, rules and other aspects of the player experience: Ashlea Klam, Isabella “Izzy” Geraci, Vanita Krouch and Darrell “Housh” Doucette III.
Klam and Geraci helped the U.S. women win gold at the 2024 International Federation of American Football World Championships and silver in 2026. Klam was also named the 2026 NAIA Women’s Flag Football Player of the Year at Keiser University before continuing her collegiate career at Cal Poly.
Krouch, a former U.S. captain and quarterback, led teams that won world titles in 2018, 2021 and 2024. Doucette, the U.S. men’s quarterback, won world championship gold in 2021, 2024 and 2026 and was named MVP of the 2026 gold medal game.
Building toward the 2028 Olympics
Flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. TMRW Sports has formed a strategic partnership with IFAF, the international governing body responsible for Olympic flag football competition.
According to the announcement, the U.S. and Canadian women’s and men’s teams, Italy’s men and Mexico’s women secured the first Olympic berths at the 2026 world championships.
The league’s developers cited more than 20 million flag football participants worldwide and more than 250 U.S. colleges and universities with women’s programs. They also said high school flag football is offered in 40 states, with 25 sanctioning it as a varsity sport.
Premier Flag has launched a website at PremierFlagFootball.com and social accounts for league announcements, player stories and future information about schedules and tickets.
Source: NFL and TMRW Sports announcement published by the Buffalo Bills.
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