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Adam Schefter explains why NFL wants players in flag football at 2028 LA Olympics

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko05/26/25nickkosko59
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Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Adam Schefter explained why the NFL wanted its players in the 2028 LA Olympics, playing flag football. It’s about the league’s attempts to broaden its international appeal, which it has been doing for years at this point.

Commissioner Roger Goodell already said the NFL won’t be involved in the roster selection process three years from now. Things can change, but as of right now, it’s in the hands of USA Football.

There could be some apprehension to playing, considering the injury risk. But as Schefter pointed out, injuries can happen in the Olympics playing flag football just as easily as organized team workouts.

“When we look at what has become one of the most important issues to the National Football League today, I think we all would agree that it is international expansion,” Schefter said on 97.5 The Fanatic. “Growing the game, we’re seeing seven regular season games played internationally this year, on the international schedule. You’re seeing teams claim markets. The Olympics are an international sport. They want to get football involved in an international sport. The players want to do it. The commissioner wants it. 

“We have all these factors. What is working to go against that happening? To (the injury) point, I think I would say you’re right. I mean, there’s risk in anything, but you know what, there’s as much risk in a player getting hurt in a flag football game as there would be, maybe, in an offseason training program regimen.”

One would think, logically, that NFL players would give Team USA a significant advantage in flag football. Will USA Football want to maintain some sort of amateurism in the Olympics against the rest of the world? That remains to be seen as we countdown to the 2028 Summer Olympics.

ESPN’s Peter Schrager recently shared what the NFL would require for players to compete in flag football in 2028. Like other sports, such as hockey and basketball, it’s commonplace to see NHL or NBA players represent their countries on the Olympic stage.

“I was very flippant on this as well, and I heard from folks at both the players union and the league office saying, don’t laugh at the idea of this getting passed,” Schrager said on Get Up. “It might happen as soon as today that NFL players will have the ability to play in the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 in flag football. 

“There are going to be guardrails in place, things such as only one player per country, per NFL team, that the training and the medical staff has to be up to snuff, that the playing surface has to be approved by the NFL, and there will be salary cap rewards if a player, God forbid, got hurt, competing in the Olympics before training camp. But this looks like this might pass today. We might have NFL players in the Olympics as soon as 2028.”