On Tuesday, May 20, every single NFL owner passed a resolution at the Spring League Meeting that will allow NFL players to participate in flag football in the 2028 Summer Olympic games. There is a maximum of one player per team that is allowed to participate. Football will now be on a global stage, which is a great thing for the NFL, and a great opportunity for millions of people around the world to fall in love with the sport. The 2028 Olympic games will be taking place in Los Angeles, as it is the first time since 2002 where the United States will host an Olympic games.
The Game: Although the basics of the game are similar, the game of flag football varies from actual football. In standard football, players wear full pads, tackle each other, block each other, and use all their strength with full-contact hitting. But the game of flag football is a little bit different. In flag football, players wear no pads, and play a more fast-paced non-contact game. This means that shoulder pads, helmets, and other protective gear are not required.
Instead, the main piece of equipment that the players wear is on their waist. Players wear flags that hang along their sides by a belt. To “tackle” the person in possession of the ball, the opposing team needs to pull one or both of their flags off. Once that is done, the play is dead right where the flag was first pulled. This lack of contact allows NFL players to participate in this game during their off-season, as there is a low risk of injury when playing flag football compared to standardized football.
The Dream Team: Many NFL players around the league are already sharing their opinions regarding their ability to participate in the 2028 Olympics. Players are static about this opportunity, as winning a gold medal in the Olympics is a major achievement, and even a life-long dream for some NFL players as well. But, not everyone in the NFL can play on a flag football team, as each team will only consist of ten players. Out of those ten, only five players from each team will be on the field, as the game will be played in a five-on-five format, with the remaining players serving as substitutes.
Ten players isn’t a lot, and it may be hard to narrow it down and pick and choose which NFL players will be participating for team USA when the time comes. But, I do have an idea of the best ten players that I think should be playing for team USA in order to win a gold medal. These Olympic games will be played in July, 2028, which is about three years from now, meaning that elite younger players in today’s game will be more likely to compete for team USA in 2028, rather than older players.
To start off the roster, I think that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will be a perfect fit to lead the team to a gold medal. Daniels’ accuracy when throwing the football and his speed in the pocket will allow him to avoid getting his flag pulled while still delivering perfect passes down the field. Daniels will be 27 in 2028, meaning that he will likely be playing for team USA at his absolute best, while still being young. To round out the offensive side of the ball, the four remaining players that I think will be best fit for the team are Jahmyr Gibbs, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and De’Von Achane. I think these players will be a great fit for the offense due to their speed, elusiveness, and their athleticism, as you need all of those attributes in order to succeed in flag football. To add, these players are some of the best of the best at their respective positions today, and they will all be 28 or younger in 2028.
Moving on to the defensive side of the ball, I think that Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is the best possible player to lead the defense for team USA. Parsons is on the bigger side, as he is very strong, but also very quick as well, which will allow him to cover a lot of ground in order to deflect passes over the middle. Parsons will also be 28 during the Olympics, which adds to the trend of elite young athletes. The next four players to round out the defense should be Patrick Surtain II, Travis Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr, and Kyle Hamilton. These young stars will all be 28 years old or younger during the Olympic games.
Even though the 2028 Summer Olympics is still 3 years away, it’s never too early to predict the upcoming rosters and players participating in flag football. The addition of flag football in the olympics should result in a major increase in people playing flag football world wide. Also, the NFL can see a spike in viewership as well, as a good amount of NFL players will be taking the stage, as the overall sport of football would be viewed in a bigger perspective moving forward.