The NFL will go forward with permitting players to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics’ flag football event. Owners have approved a previously reported measure involving the new Olympic sport, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports.
In a development that will certainly make other countries’ efforts to claim gold in flag football more difficult, the NFL voted unanimously to approve the measure (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Although this will not greenlight unlimited participation among players, a formidable collection will be in line to take part in July 2028.
As referenced recently, the proposal will allow only one player per NFL team to participate for his country. A separate player in the league’s international pathway program could participate for his home nation, however. Seeing as the majority of NFL players are Americans, Tuesday’s approval vote primarily impacts the host country’s approach to the new noncontact event at the Los Angeles Games.
This will not exactly rival the NBA’s famed Dream Team from the 1992 Games. Football is not a global game (the NFL’s increased international forays notwithstanding) and no restrictions on who could participate existed involving the NBA in 1992. The Bulls (Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen) and Jazz (Karl Malone, John Stockton) each sent multiple players as part of Team USA.
Though, the flag format will present a five-on-five event. Six men’s and women’s teams will be part of the new discipline. Rosters will include 10 players in total, limiting the spots available to a flood of qualified performers. Games will take place on a 70-yard field, 9News’ Mike Klis notes.
The L.A. Games are set to run from July 14-30, which is on the earlier side for a Summer Olympics. That will help NFL players return on time — or soon after — to training camps. Marquise Goodwin was on rosters while he made bids to make Olympic teams, but his efforts never conflicted with training camp. A 2012 Olympian in the long jump while he was still at Texas, Goodwin did not qualify for the 2016 or 2021 Games. Sprinter Jeff Demps joined Goodwin as a London Olympian, being part of the 4×100-meter team. But the 2012 UDFA did not sign with a team — the Patriots — until after the Games concluded.
Teams will see some players arrive late to camp come 2028. Though, padded 11-on-11 work will not be slated to commence — for teams not involved in the Hall of Fame Game, that is — while the flag football event is being contested. That said, players will need to be present for tryouts; it will be interesting to when those will take place ahead of the ’28 Games.
A salary cap credit will be put into place for any injured player, according to ESPN; this would presumably cover teams in the event of missed games only. A leaguewide insurance policy providing injury protection for players is also expected to be included in this agreement, a buildup our Adam La Rose has covered for over a year here.
Generations of NFL players, barring select track and field standouts (and brief bobsledder Herschel Walker), have been unable to do compete in the Olympics. Jockeying for spots at tryouts will be interesting when that time comes.
Justin Jefferson will be one of the players, in all likelihood, in play to represent Team USA. The Vikings wideout has not decided if he will do so (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor), though he has called it “a dream” to represent his nation in the Olympics. Patrick Mahomes, Mike Evans and Tyreek Hill have also expressed interest, though the two wideouts may have an uphill battle due to their respective ages. How this approval impacts NFL secondaries will also be something to watch. Considering Travis Hunter‘s skillset, he would stand to be an obvious choice — assuming the Jaguars draftee stays on his present course.
How other countries’ rosters look will be an interesting storyline to monitor, though with NFL players likely to comprise all of Team USA’s 10-man squad, the host nation will undoubtedly enter as the gold-medal favorite. Flag football, on the men’s and women’s side, has made notable inroads into the world’s sports lexicon in recent years; the revamped Pro Bowl Games provide perhaps the most notable example. Although this team is three years away from being assembled, the flag football event will be a regular talking point within the league until those Summer Games commence.
Who was the NE RB that blew out his knee in Hawaii getting a pro bowl nod and ending his career after 1-2 seasons? That was 90’s money; today’s money, I’d stay home. Too much risk.
Robert Edwards. Hurt during a beach flag football game. Don’t know who thought that was a good idea?
So lame.
link to patspulpit.com
Edwards had not only torn three ligaments in his left knee — the ACL, MCL and PCL — and partially tore his LCL tendon as well, he had also suffered major nerve damage. On top of all this, and most serious of all his injuries, he had sliced the artery in his left leg. That is when the then 24-year old was told that his leg might have to be amputated if the blood flow was not sufficiently stopped or the sutures in his artery did not hold.
I forgot it was that damaging of an injury. I understand pro athletes are competitive, hence their careers(!), but the millions at stake in a short career simply would be much of a risk for me. To be fair, I’m 52 and happy to sit on my butt!
Don’t want active players doing it. I think they can pull FA/PS and still be fine. The rest of the world will be so behind anyways, this isn’t the flex they want it to be.
They should be using high school or JUCO kids. Help expand the horizons of those who will likely never be in the NFL. Nope. The NFL has to be everywhere.
The other competing countries will be at a clear disadvantage so they should insist that Hue Jackson is named HC of the American squad to level the playing field.
Personally, I’m looking forward to some good, solid Olympic Tee-Ball… Also some good street hockey with a tennis ball. Some good, non-contact wrestling would be good; they can just do rock/paper/scissors to determine winners. In fact, I think a rock/paper/scissors Dream Team could give Competition Bingo a good run for it’s popularity money!
All better than watching the WBNA.
Owners green light it. Cool…what about the NFLPA?
This will be thrilling.