The flag football revolution is brewing.

Just a week after NFL players and coaches squared off against Team USA in an exhibition, the NFL officially announced plans to launch professional men’s and women’s leagues ahead of the sport’s debut at the 2028 Olympics.

The official announcement of a new league is only the latest news-making flag football event in recent weeks. NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green and former quarterback Robert Griffin III, who both played for Washington, tried out for Team USA, with Griffin being selected for an additional training camp.

Last month’s flag exhibition attracted more than 300 million views on broadcast television and social media platforms, according to Fanatics, which hosted the event.

“Flag football’s rapid rise has been incredible, and the extensive list of current and former players supporting this league shows just how strongly athletes believe in its future,” said former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who played in the Fanatics event and is investing in the NFL’s new league. “I’m excited to help take this sport to even greater heights through the launch of a professional flag football league.”

The NFL’s as-yet-unnamed flag leagues feature a star-studded group of other investors, such as NFL Hall of Famers Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Larry Fitzgerald. Outside investment came from TMRW Sports and firms like Alexis Ohanian’s 776 and Ariel Investments.

“As the elite competitive tier of flag football, this league will mark a new era for the sport as the world’s best compete in a fast-paced format that aligns with the evolving media consumption of today’s sports fans,” Mike McCarley, founder and CEO of TMRW Sports, said in a statement this week.

Flag football’s devotees were ready for their moment in the spotlight. For years, the sport has spread throughout the nation. First, high schools started platforming flag as a varsity sport, especially for female student-athletes. Then, colleges got on board.

The pending Olympics and professional opportunities will complete the pipeline.

The sport is routinely listed as one of the fastest-growing in the nation, with more than 4 million young people playing the sport in 2025, the NFL said.

“It was only a matter of time,” said Sabrina Ootsburg, a former Division I track and field athlete who is training to become a professional flag football player. “To have an entity like the NFL behind you, you know that flag is going to work because you have their backing in your corner.”

The NFL said its member clubs had earmarked $32 million for the new league.

“Seeing the trajectory of the sport, it’s blowing up fast,” Ootsburg said. “And we’re early. Very early. Once the Olympics hit, everyone’s going to want to play flag football because they see it on TV.”

Last month, Ootsburg moved from Tennessee to Texas. The flag scene is stronger there, she reasoned, as she trains with current members of the U.S. women’s flag team.

She was glad to see the Team USA flag football team blow out current NFL players such as Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

The NFL had already passed a resolution that would allow active players to join Olympic rosters. The early showing had analysts questioning whether the NFL athletes could keep up with flag experts.

“The event gave Team USA an incredible opportunity to showcase what a different set and level of athleticism to play and be flexible, it’s quite different,” Ootsburg said. “We saw that as they dominated the NFL teams. On a bigger level, it says, ’Wow, this is pretty legit.’”

The NFL hasn’t announced a potential kickoff date for its flag league, though it is expected to coincide with the momentum from the 2028 Olympics. Team USA, including ex-NFL quarterback Griffin, will take the international stage again in August for the international flag football championships in Germany.