Since the announcement that the NFL’s ownership group would allow active NFL players to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics’ flag football event, there’s been plenty of speculation on which players might find themselves representing the US of A. While Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made it known that he had no intentions of playing, and Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill claimed he’d rather do track, there have been some players who have expressed interest. 
If Team USA is looking for a quarterback, it needn’t look past last year’s MVP. According to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, Bills quarterback Josh Allen is prepared to throw his hat in the ring. In a quote to the media, Allen made sure not to disrespect the current quarterbacks of the flag football community but claimed that he “would absolutely love to” play if the opportunity presented itself.
While we haven’t seen any other offensive weapons volunteer themselves to potentially play with Allen, Team USA has a few offers on defense. If they play their cards right, the country’s national flag football team could land the two cornerbacks that topped Pro Football Focus’s positional rankings in 2022.
The Jets released a video this week of star cornerback Sauce Gardner expressing his interest in playing. Gardner told reporters that he “definitely would be interested in…being able to play for (his) country.” The third-year cornerback had a relatively down year after two first-team All-Pro seasons to open his career, but I imagine Team USA would at least do their homework to see how he’d fit on the team.
If the Olympic team really wants to create a shutdown cornerback tandem, Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain has also offered his services. According to Luca Evans of The Denver Post, Surtain spoke at an event for his foundation earlier this month and told the media he has “definitely high interest” in playing, calling the possibility a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Ultimately, it’ll be a couple years before we truly know who all could be participating. Each team will be able to send one player to the flag football tryouts whenever they take place. At the moment, it sounds like Allen, Gardner, and Surtain are making bids to be the representatives from Buffalo, New York, and Denver.
Can’t see ANY owner allowing an NFL player to be anywhere near this mess. I can see Burrow, Allen, Chase, Jefferson tearing an ACL and missing the season and and costing the team the playoffs or even a Super Bowl.
Maybe this is what all the crap that’s going on with Shemar Stewart is about. If a player decides to play in something like this and gets hurt the team may want the option to cancel their contract, especially if it’s not sanctioned by the NFL. Could be a test case for the Olympics.
They already voted unanimously to allow it lol
If basketball and hockey do the Olympics and baseball has the WBC, this point makes absolutely no sense. Hockey also has world championships, 4 nation too. World competition is nothing but a boon that helps promote the sport worldwide.
There are apparently a number of flag football leagues in the U.S. with players are familiar with the “tricks of the trade”, so to speak. Put a team together along with qualified coaches who actually know the sport…let ‘em represent Merica.
Or even recruit Arena Players. How hard could it be to beat Zimbabwe or Bolivia in a flag football game.
😂😂😂
Can the Olympics get any sillier?
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
-Robert Edwards
Take away the first ‘L’.