The National Football League is setting the stage for a seismic shift in the world of American sports, announcing on October 2, 2025, its bold plan to launch professional flag football leagues for both men and women. The announcement came straight from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at the Leaders in Sport conference held at London’s historic Twickenham Stadium, signaling a new era of inclusivity and global reach for the sport. With the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles poised to feature flag football for the very first time, the NFL’s timing couldn’t be more strategic—or more exciting for fans and aspiring athletes alike.
"We’re committed to creating a women’s professional league, and a men’s professional flag league. We’ve had a great deal of interest in that and I expect that we’ll be able to do that, launch that, in the next couple of years," Goodell declared, as reported by the Associated Press. His words echoed throughout the sports world, sparking immediate buzz among players, coaches, sponsors, and fans. The NFL’s vision is clear: establish a structured pathway from youth flag football leagues, through high school and collegiate play, all the way to the professional level. If all goes according to plan, these new leagues will take the field before the Olympic torch is lit in Los Angeles.
Flag football, a non-contact and gender-inclusive version of the classic American game, has been on a meteoric rise in recent years. According to USA Football, nearly 1.6 million athletes aged 6 to 17 played the sport in the U.S. in 2023 alone. The surge is especially pronounced among girls and young women, who have been championed by both grassroots organizers and the NFL itself. The league has invested heavily in making flag football a girls’ varsity sport in high schools across all 50 states and has backed the establishment of varsity women’s flag football at the NCAA level. This push for gender equality is not just lip service—it’s a deliberate effort to shatter barriers and open doors for athletes who might never have considered football as a viable path.
The NFL’s history with flag football runs deep. The league kicked off its youth flag football initiative in the early 1990s, with the inaugural camp held in 1994 at Foxboro Stadium, then home to the New England Patriots. Since then, the program has blossomed, now sponsoring leagues for boys and girls ages 4 to 17 in cities across the United States. The Pro Bowl, once a full-contact showcase, has been transformed into a flag football event, further cementing the sport’s place in the NFL’s future.
Goodell’s vision for the new professional leagues is ambitious but grounded in reality. "The demand is there. We’re seeing colleges in the states and universities internationally also that want to make it a part of their program," he explained. "If you set that structure up where there’s youth leagues, going into high school, into college and then professional, I think you can develop a system of scale. That’s an important infrastructure that we need to create." The NFL’s commitment to building this infrastructure is evident in its efforts to create a seamless pipeline for athletes, ensuring that talent can be nurtured at every level.
Globally, flag football’s popularity is exploding. The NFL estimates that approximately 20 million people now participate in the sport across more than 100 countries. With the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and USA Football working alongside the league, flag football’s Olympic debut in 2028 is expected to be a watershed moment. The Olympic spotlight will not only elevate the sport’s profile but is also likely to inspire millions of young athletes worldwide to pick up a flag and join the action.
The commercial potential for the professional leagues is already drawing the attention of major sponsors. Companies like Nike, Visa, and Toyota have been active supporters of NFL youth flag football championships, and industry insiders expect their involvement to deepen as the professional leagues take shape. The NFL plans to leverage the fast-paced, skill-centric style of flag football to create a broadcast product that appeals to younger fans, families, and women—demographics that have traditionally been underserved by the league’s core offerings.
This initiative is more than just a business move. Goodell and other league officials have repeatedly emphasized the unifying power of sports in a divided world. "Football—and sports in general—I do think bring communities together. That’s a positive thing that we need a little more of," Goodell remarked at the London conference. Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam echoed the sentiment, saying, "The great thing about sports is, no matter who I voted for or who you voted for … for the three hours or two hours we’re watching that game, we’re rooting for our team, and that’s all we care about." It’s a reminder that, at its best, football transcends politics and social divides, offering a common ground for fans from all walks of life.
The NFL’s international ambitions extend beyond flag football. Goodell also announced that Mexico City will return to the league’s international game rotation in 2026 after renovations at Azteca Stadium are completed. This season, the NFL is playing a record seven international games—six in Europe and one in Brazil—and the league has set its sights on expanding to 16 international games in the near future. Australia is already scheduled to host a game next season, and plans are underway to bring NFL action to Asia shortly thereafter. "If you’re going to be global, you have to do it beyond Europe, beyond the Americas," Goodell said. "You need to reach into other areas and territories, and next year we’re going to Australia. We have plans to go to Asia shortly thereafter."
As the NFL prepares to launch its new professional flag football leagues, the excitement is palpable. The move represents a major leap forward for inclusivity, innovation, and international engagement in American football. With the Olympic Games on the horizon and a robust global infrastructure taking shape, flag football is poised to capture the imagination of a new generation of athletes and fans. The NFL’s gamble on flag football could very well redefine the future of the sport, making it more accessible, more diverse, and more thrilling than ever before.
For now, the world watches and waits as the NFL puts its ambitious plan into action. If the league’s track record is any indication, flag football’s ascent to the global stage is just getting started—and the next few years promise to be nothing short of historic.
