The National Football League (NFL) is looking to start a professional flag football league very soon. In response to their request for proposals, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian have reportedly submitted a bid to become potential investors in this ground-breaking league.
Ohanian, the co-founder and former executive chairman of Reddit, has made numerous successful investments in the past. Meanwhile, Williams is conquering the business world ever since she called it quits in tennis. Widely regarded as one of the greatest sportswomen to have lived, the former World No. 1 is the highest earning female athlete of all-time.
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian Make Big Bid for NFL’s Newest Idea
As revealed by Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have submitted their bid in response to the request by the NFL. The proposed flag football league is receiving a lot of “interest and enthusiasm” from potential backers of the planned event, said an NFL spokesperson. Media packages will be sold by the NFL to partners for the men’s and women’s leagues.
A women’s sports panel was held in Florida during the NFL Owners Meet – which was attended by Williams and WNBA legend Caitlin Clark. Alongside sister Venus, Serena is a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins. It is safe to say the 43-year-old may not have been the happiest when Miami Open runner-up Jessica Pegula threw some cheeky jabs at the franchise this past week.
Meanwhile, Alexis Ohanian did not wish to comment about the league or the bid just yet.
Pro Flag Football League Initiative By NFL Receiving ‘Lot of Interest’
“It’s clear there’s a lot of interest in a pro flag football league,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We have been getting bids from people who want to invest in that, either financially, or invest in the operation of that. We’re hard at work, and I expect there will be progress soon.”
Flag football is set to be an Olympic sport for the first time in Los Angeles 2028, and the NFL is doing everything in its power to popularise the game in advance. Although there is no timeline for the start of the league, there is considerable progress being made. Yet, there is a criticism that the league may prompt more young athletes to join flag over tackle, reducing the NFL’s talent pool in the process.
