The NFL has signed up a series of funds as early investors in its new pro flag league it is launching with TMRW Sports, including Ariel Investments/Project Level, Bessemer Venture Partners, Blue Pool Capital, Dynasty Equity, Silver Lake and Sixth Street.
Also involved are 776/Alexis Ohanian, APEX Capital, Arctos Partners, Bolt Ventures, Next Legacy Partners, Trenches Capital and Trybe Ventures.
The league details were formally shared with NFL owners at their annual meeting in Phoenix. 49ers owner Jed York said the league needed the right investors, more venture-oriented capital funds that understand the long-term nature of the project.
“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,” York said.
In 2025, Bessemer partner Byron Deeter invested in the 49ers, and York pointed to him as the kind of investor the pro flag league needs.
“You need people with a venture style mindset who can help build and grow a league. Capital’s not capital,” York said. “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. If you have the right investors, and product I think is a pretty cool product, I hink you have a good chance of success.”
Also joining as investors and ambassadors: Pro Football HOFers Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Larry Fitzgerald; former NFLers Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, Ryan Nece and Dhani Jones; and current players Arik Armstead, Bobby Wagner, and Russell Wilson.
Also several prominent names from outside football are involved: Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Alex Morgan and Serena Williams.
It’s not clear how much the new backers are contributing. In December, NFL owners approved a $32M commitment from the league itself, via its 32 Equity investment platform.
