Ideal Fantasy Football Lineup for 2028 Olympics Using NFL, College Football Players
Football is America's game, but it's getting more international every year. The NFL will be playing games in three countries (Brazil, England and Germany) outside of the United States during the 2024 season, and Spain will be joining the rotation in 2025.
The game's global expansion should only be helped by flag football coming to the Olympics in 2028.
The five-on-five variation of the game is growing rapidly. Creating the opportunity for athletes to compete on the global stage is only going to grow the game. Of course, the United States will have a deep pool of talent to choose from in four years.
USA Football will be the organization in charge of putting together a roster. NFL players have already shown interest in competing, although it is unclear if they will be allowed to compete.
That's not fun, so we're going to assume that something will be worked out and we can put together a team of NFL and college players that would be able to dominate the 2028 Games.
How Does Flag Football Work?
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Before we dive into the hypothetical roster, let's break down some of the key differences between flag football and its full-contact counterpart. That will shed some light into the selection process that would look to pick the 12 best players for the flag football format.
According to the Olympics website, the games will consist of two 20-minute halves. The field measures 70x25 yards, per USA Football. Rosters have 12 players, but only five are on the field at a time.
"Play starts at a team's own five-yard line with the centre snapping the ball back to the quarterback who either passes the ball forward to try and find a receiver, or hands off to a running back."
"The play is over when either a flag is removed, the ball-carrier goes out of bounds, or a forward pass hits the ground."
The site also notes that run plays are not permitted when a team is within five yards of the end zone. You only have four plays to get the ball to the halfway mark, so chunk plays are key, and a rock-solid passing game is a must.
With those details in mind, let's take a look at a 12-man roster that would bring home the gold.
Quarterbacks (2)
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Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes has established that he's going to be chasing the all-time greats in his career. You know what Tom Brady doesn't have? An Olympic gold medal. Maybe we're talking about Caleb Williams four years from now or another one of the rookie quarterbacks who will be entering their fifth season ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
But for now, Mahomes is still king. His ability to evade pressure and deliver the ball with accuracy to all areas of the field would make him difficult to stop, and it would be fun to watch him operate with the best receivers the American team has to offer.
Jayden Daniels
This backup spot was much more difficult to project. Jalen Hurts has been named the global ambassador for flag football in the 2028 Games, but his game isn't necessarily the best fit. Designed quarterback runs are not allowed, and he has some accuracy limitations that make him a questionable fit. Joe Burrow has already been vocal about representing the United States, but he doesn't necessarily have the functional mobility to extend plays in a flag football setting.
Jayden Daniels could be an intriguing option based on his athleticism and arm talent. Quarterbacks can go out for passes after handoffs, so his open-field elusiveness could come into play as a secondary option behind Mahomes.
Receivers (4)
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Justin Jefferson
In a survey conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Justin Jefferson was widely considered to be the No. 1 receiver in the league for the second year in a row. His route running, hands and ability to do just about everything you would ask a receiver to do would make him dangerous in a flag football setting. He's the receiver to build around, and he will still be in his prime at 29 years old.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
There are a lot of accomplished wide receivers that the league could go with Jefferson, but this is a bet that Harrison will be a superstar by 2028. B/R scout Derrik Klassen compared Marvin Harrison Jr. to a "thinner A.J. Green" in his scouting report. His ability to go up and get contested footballs would pair with Jefferson's route-running prowess.
CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb spends about 50 percent of his snaps in the slot and is dominant just about everywhere he is lined up on the field. He's another excellent route-runner who could be really tough to cover in a flag football setting. He'd also be hard to deal with after the catch. He led the league in yards after the catch last season.
Travis Hunter
We don't know what Travis Hunter will play when he comes to the NFL (presumably in the 2025 draft), but the cornerback/wide receiver is a perfect fit for flag football. He came in at No. 2 on Bruce Feldman's annual list of exceptional athletes in college football. He's proved to be a dynamic talent as both a cornerback and wide receiver at both Jackson State and Colorado. That versatility could help as you only get 12 players on a roster and Hunter could provide depth on defense.
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Center (1)
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Sam LaPorta
The center's job in flag football is to snap the ball, but then they immediately break into a route. The image of Jason Kelce running fades like his brother is fun, but this job would be more fitting for a tight end. Travis Kelce will be nearing 40 in 2028, so it's time to call on the new generation.
Sam LaPorta just put together one of the best rookie tight end seasons ever with 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. He would be a red-zone monster and a menace up the seam.
Rusher (1)
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Micah Parsons
The rusher is a specialized flag football position resembling something between a linebacker and edge-rusher. They must line up seven yards off the ball but get a free pass to rush the quarterback. Who better to fill that role than Micah Parsons? Parsons bearing down on opposing quarterbacks with 4.5 speed from seven yards away is a terrifying proposition. He'd also have the change-of-direction skills to track down any quarterback.
Secondary (4)
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With only 12 roster spots to play with, the cut for defensive backs is difficult. Fortunately, Hunter's inclusion would give Team USA a versatile player who could pull some double duty, even if he isn't likely to be a two-way player in the NFL.
Sauce Gardner
Gardner is one of the preeminent corners in the game today. He has the length to play press on anyone, the recovery speed to make up for miscues and the ball skills to compete in the air. He'll only be 27 in 2028, giving him plenty of juice to make the secondary.
Will Johnson
The Michigan Wolverine is in the driver's seat to be the first cornerback taken and could even make the case to be the first defensive player off the board in 2025. Max Chadwick of PFF ranked him as the top returning cornerback in college football while also staking his claim that Johnson would have been the first corner taken in the 2023 and 2024 drafts if he were eligible.
Kyle Hamilton
With Gardner and Johnson giving Team USA two lengthy corners who could play press, the defense would need a safety who can play multiple alignments and roles. That's Kyle Hamilton's game in a nutshell.
Trevon Diggs
Diggs will be a bit old for this spot at 29, but his ball skills are undeniable. The 25-year-old leads the league in interceptions over the last three years with 15 despite playing in just 35 games during that span. Maybe he will have lost a step by 2028, but his ball-tracking and hands are rare in the secondary.
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