By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

The NFL’s dedication to expanding flag football starts at the top. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been fully invested in growing the non-contact version of the most popular sport in the United States. Flag football introduces more people, including folks around the world, to the NFL so it’s a wise commitment for a league that wants to become a global powerhouse. The league says 20 million people in 100 different countries are playing flag football. It’s the fastest-growing sport globally and will debut in the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The NFL led the charge to make it happen and that was just the start.