NFL Expected to Allow Players to Participate in ’28 Olympics Flag Football Event

• The 2028 Olympics in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will feature flag football as an event for the first time.
• In March 2025, the NFL and the Players Association started talking about a path to allowing players to take part in the event.
• On Tuesday, the NFL is expected to pass a vote, letting the players participate in the flag football event.

The Olympics have allowed more new sports, or reinstated old sports, in the most recent editions of the event than ever before. In Paris, we saw breakdancing step into the spotlight (for better or worse).

Flag football was on the agenda, but didn’t make it in time for Paris 2024. However, it will be on the program for 2028, and NFL players are expected to be able to participate!

Flag Football Likely to Feature NFL Players in the 2028 Olympics

ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported the news on Tuesday morning that it was likely the league’s owners would pass a vote on NFL players playing flag football at the 2028 Olympics.

The players would have to receive 24 of 32 votes to pass the plan, but it seems like the owners are going to agree to the proposal. Schefter was told that it, “should be easy”. If this passes, the NFL and NFLPA still have to sort out, along with the Olympics, such factors as:

• Limiting NFL teams to have just one player per team
• Insurance policies to protect the teams in case of injury.
• Players are still fine to attend any NFL team-related commitments.

Flag Football at the Olympics First Proposed in 2023

Flag football was put forth in October 2023, but there wasn’t enough time to get it on the Paris 2024 schedule. However, it makes more sense to do it in the United States, and North America as a whole. Football is most popular in North America, so attendance will likely be increased on this side of the Atlantic.

There are no odds yet at NFL betting sites, but you can expect the United States to be heavily favored in flag football’s debut. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts was named the ambassador for flag football, and he’ll probably be one of many NFL players on the team.

What Are the Rule Differences for Flag Football?

Nothing is official yet, but you can expect there to be, at the very least, fewer players on the field. In 2022 at the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, there were rosters of 12 players for each country. We could see 5-on-5, or 7-on-7, but that is one of the many aspects still to be worked out.

The Americans won gold there, with many team members who only played flag football. However, the allure of having NFL players on the roster will be too much for the Olympic Committee to overlook.

It could also be similar to the Pro Bowl, which is essentially a two-hand touch game now. However, the Pro Bowl still has 11-on-11, which isn’t likely for the Olympics.

We’ll update with more rules when details are announced. The important part is that we will have the opportunity to watch NFL players playing flag football in the Olympics in 2028!