Last May, owners voted to allow NFL players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. That has been followed by interest shown on the part of several notable players, leading to the expectation they will indeed be taking part in the Games.
Particulars have yet to worked out regarding NFL participation, but the remaining issues on that front are not likely to prove to be too much of a hurdle. Meanwhile, the success of Team USA in the recent Fanatics Flag Football Classic has led to renewed skepticism about pro football players being the best suited for flag football’s Olympic debut. Nevertheless, commissioner Roger Goodell remains confident NFLers will be taking part.
[RELATED: Robert Griffin III Joins American Flag Football Roster]
“I think we’ll see NFL players in the Olympics,” Goodell said (via Fox Sports’ Eric Williams) during a press conference following the recent league meeting. “They want to play. We just had a player here who wants to compete in the Olympics… I think it will be great for football. I think it will be great for the fans.”
Goodell’s comments come in the wake of an important update regarding the creation of new professional men’s and women’s flag football leagues. TMRW Sports has been selected as the NFL’s partner for launching the leagues, and a notable list of investors has already been generated. Growing flag football has long been a major priority for the NFL, including its push to have that version of the game granted Olympic status. The new pro leagues are set to begin before the Los Angeles Games.
Logistics will no doubt be a talking point regarding NFL participation. The Olympics – and the preparation which will precede it – will take place around the time of training camps around the league. Accommodations will need to be made on that front, and concerns related to injuries and other factors will of course remain in place. Confidence clearly remains high that the goal of NFL participation will be realized, however.
Just no.
Who freakin cares? Doesn’t he have something even remotely useful he should be doing? Then get rid of him.
Flag football…..because hahahah
What do NFL players have to gain by playing flag football? Nothing. What do NFL players have to lose by playing flag football? Arrogance, for one thing…
This is all going to be fun and games until the first NFL player gets hurt.
They really should let this go and letter actual flag talent play. The US team is actually best and flag is a different sport than tackle. The team should be almost all the US team and maybe a few end of roster guys for NFL as ambassadors like Biles husband.
NFL is only pushing this to get more international traffic, but flag football and NFL is not the same so it does not mean interest translates.
We’ve seen what NFL players can do so why not just have a team comprised of Goodell, owners and team executives? Nobody is going to take flag football seriously, so trying to capitalize on it as comic entertainment makes more sense.