As flag football gears up for its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, the NFL is staring down a major opportunity to elevate the sport on a global stage.
But whether current NFL players will take part in the historic moment remains uncertain – and the league’s owners may be the biggest roadblock.
According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, enthusiasm is building among players and the league office alike, but ownership is pumping the brakes.
“Various NFL players have expressed interest in playing. The league office, as we understand, wants that to happen. The owners, however, are being more cautious,” Florio wrote on ProFootballTalk.com
The debate boils down to a familiar tension: growth versus risk.
For players and league executives, the Olympics represent prestige, international visibility, and major marketing potential. For owners, it’s a different calculation entirely.
“The owners see a chance to have key players suffer injuries,” Florio added.
In other words, while the Olympics could serve as a springboard for globalizing American football – much like what happened with basketball after the Dream Team captivated the world in 1992 – NFL teams aren’t ready to risk their multimillion-dollar stars in a non-league competition.
Still, the International Olympic Committee has already confirmed that flag football will make its official debut in the 2028 Games, with opening ceremonies set for July 14 in Los Angeles.
Whether the sport’s brightest stars will be on the field remains to be seen.
For now, the NFL finds itself at a crossroads – balancing the global potential of Olympic exposure with the financial and physical realities.
What are your thoughts on the issue? … Should NFL players be allowed to compete in the Olympics???
