ESPN insider Peter Schrager details what NFL would require for players to compete in 2028 Olympics flag football

If you want NFL players to compete in Flag Football in the 2028 Olympics, you’re in luck, per ESPN’s Peter Schrager. Everything’s leaning towards NFL owners passing a rule allowing their players to compete on the world stage in a few years.

But there are some guardrails to get over, it seems anyway. It’s not just going to be a free-for-all when it comes to players competing in the Olympics.

The most important product for the NFL is, well, the NFL. Schrager broke down where the NFL stood on players playing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“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.”

NFL stars getting their shot at a gold medal was teased last year when Jalen Hurts starred in a commercial advertising the Olympics in Los Angeles, featuring flag football for the first time. He was named the Flag Football ambassador last August.

Details on NFL players in 2028 LA Olympics for Flag Football

While fans might be excited to see Hurts, among others, have a shot at the Olympics and trying to win gold for Team USA, actual flag football players weren’t too thrilled. Darrell Doucette, who was USA Flag Football’s starting quarterback as of 2024, called them out in an interview with The Guardian. Doucette wants NFL guys to compete for their spots on the team instead of automatically being placed on the team.

“We just don’t think they’re going to be able to walk on the field and make the Olympic team because of the name, right?” Doucette said. “They still have to go out there and compete.”

Hurts was not the only player who has expressed a desire to play in the 2028 Olympics. Fellow quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Caleb Williams, and Patrick Mahomes have spoken on the topic. Tyreek Hill is a potential candidate to play as well, bringing some serious speed to the team.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the vote to allow players to participate in Olympic flag football is expected to pass. “Olympics should be easy,” one source told Schefter. At least 24 of the league’s 32 owners must approve the resolution.

The support is echoed by league owners as well. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, “That’s exciting and positive for the NFL. I can see that and identify with that real quick… I’m a fan of what the Olympics can do for interest in your sport.”The current proposal calls for six participating nations (not yet identified) to select a maximum of one NFL player each, per ESPN. Team USA is capped at 10 NFL players.