• Loading stock data...
Friday, May 9, 2025
Join us May 14 at 1 p.m. ET for Future of Sports: Leagues of Their Own Register Now

Chiefs Owner: NFL Flag Teams Possible, Stadium Talks Progressing

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt discusses future NFL flag football leagues and stadium talks.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NEW ORLEANS — Could NFL teams one day each own professional flag football teams, sharing branding and operations between the parent clubs and the new franchises?

That’s a possibility, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told reporters Tuesday at the team hotel in downtown New Orleans. Commissioner Roger Goodell disclosed Monday the league is looking into starting professional men’s and women’s flag leagues.

“I certainly could envision on both the men’s and women’s side, if you wanted to sort of think into the future, every NFL team has their own men’s and women’s flag team that perhaps plays in the offseason and uses some of the branding of the parent team,” Hunt said. 

Over time, the leagues could have NFL in their names, he added. 

“On the domestic side, both men’s and women’s, I think it is a little bit more organic and I think having more players [operators and investors] is a good thing in the short term. … I think long-term, it might make sense to have something that’s NFL branded.”

The NFL is plowing resources into flag football, which is an Olympic sport in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, in part to market to girls and women by helping them play a version of the sport.

Stadium Talks: Kansas Move Possible?

Hunt also said the Chiefs are making progress on their stadium talks with local authorities, which took a hit last year when voters rejected a renewal of the local sales tax to fund venues for the Chiefs and MLB’s Royals.

“We’re having really good discussions on both sides of the state line, and we’re going to have some really good options, and we’re going to have to make a decision on that in the fairly near future, just because we’re now down to six years left on our lease at GEHA Field at Arrowhead.” The comment means a move across the state border to Kansas from Missouri remains a possibility.

Hunt largely ruled out selling stakes in the team to private equity to raise the stadium funds. He spearheaded the NFL approving teams to sell private equity last year, and two teams—the Dolphins and Bills—have sold PE stakes. It’s too small a sample size for the NFL to draw conclusions on how the league’s decision is playing out, Hunt said. But he added he expected the league in years to come to change the number of PE firms allowed to buy into teams and the percentage of ownership allowed. 

On a personal note, Hunt observed that the Chiefs won their last Super Bowl in New Orleans, Super Bowl IV, at Tulane Stadium. Hunt was 5 at the time (his father, Lamar Hunt, founded the team), and he did attend the Chiefs victory, which until Patrick Mahomes came along was the team’s only NFL championship.

Coincidentally, the Chiefs are practicing at Tulane Stadium, though it’s not the one that hosted the Chiefs over five decades ago. That’s been torn down. Still, Hunt is ready to step back into history.

“I’m really looking forward to going to practice later this week and sort of being right there,” he said, “where Super Bowl Four happened.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for the tush push play on the goal line against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome.

Saquon Barkley Defends Tush Push, Tells Opponents to ‘Get Better’

Saquon Barkley makes a passionate defense for the hotly debated play.
Adam Silver

NFL Attempts to Aid NBA in Video Privacy Lawsuit

The NBA is being accused of unlawfully sharing user data with Facebook. 
Aug 26, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Former NFL player Tom Brady on the field before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders at AT&T Stadium.

Tom Brady Denies Role in Raiders Draft, Contradicting Team Leaders

Brady said he wasn’t involved in evaluating Shedeur Sanders.

Featured Today

Fat Perez reacts after hitting his shot on the 16th tee during the WHOOP Shot at Glory on the 16th hole at TPC in Scottsdale on Feb. 5, 2025.

Golf Influencers Are the New Currency for PGA Tour and LIV

YouTube golf is big business. The rival tours are staging formal events.
Feb 8, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson talks with New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11), forward Mikal Bridges (25), and guard Josh Hart (3) during a timeout in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.
May 6, 2025

Before the Villanova Knicks, There Were the Kentucky Celtics

Three decades ago, Boston tried its own version of the college-teammate experiment.
Mar 22, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Joao Fonseca (BRZ) reacts after winning a point against Ugo Humbert (FRA)(not pictured) on day five of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 6, 2025

João Fonseca Is a Teen Tennis Phenom. His Parents Are Overseeing His..

The Brazilian is forgoing a management team in favor of his parents.
Athlos
May 4, 2025

Nike Wants to Pull Off the First Women’s Sub-4:00 Mile

Experts speak on whether Nike’s “moonshot” is realistic or a gimmick.
May 4, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Red Bull driver Max Verstappen (1) and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri (81) during the F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome.
May 7, 2025

F1 Loses Money, but Books $14.2B in Future Revenue

Executives convey optimism despite earnings issues and unresolved media rights.
May 7, 2025

Ladies European Tour Gets Prize Money Boost From Saudi Arabia

A new PIF Global Series will pay out $13 million.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Portfolio Players is our bi-weekly spotlight on the athletes and investors reshaping the business of sports. This week, venture capitalist Kai Cunningham unpacks why athletes land top deals and how the usual investing rules don’t always apply.
Sam Presti
May 6, 2025

Sam Presti Finally Wins NBA Executive of the Year for OKC Juggernaut

Presti has come in second place for the award three times.
May 4, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; McLaren driver Oscar Piastri (right) celebrates with the winners trophy while talking McLaren driver Lando Norris (left) after winning the F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome.
May 6, 2025

F1’s Miami Grand Prix Sees Ratings Slide, Yet Remains a Top U.S...

An average of 2.1 million viewers watched McLaren’s 1–2 finish Sunday.
May 6, 2025

The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery Utilized a Unique Rule for the First..

The Islanders won the first lottery and received the No. 1 pick.
May 6, 2025

NBA Playoffs TV Ratings Up 6%; Warriors-Rockets Sets Game 7 Record

ABC is up 14%, ESPN is up 10%, and TNT is up 3%.