NFL Owners to Discuss Resolution Allowing Flag Football Participation at 2028 Olympics

With several NFL players having expressed interest in participating in flag football when it debuts as an Olympic sport in 2028, the league is considering a resolution that could allow them to do so.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, NFL owners will discuss the resolution at next week's league meeting that would permit no more than one player from each team, plus their designated international player, to participate in Olympic flag football.

Pelissero added that if the resolution passes, any potential scheduling conflicts with NFL team activities should be minimal since the Olympics will take place between July 14-30, and training camps would open the same week as the Gold Medal game.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters during the previous league meeting in April that he was in discussions with both players and owners about Olympic participation in flag football:

"I’ve heard directly from a lot of players who want to participate and represent their country, whether it’s United States or the country that they came from. I think that’s something that we’ll continue to discuss with, not just the union, but also the clubs. I think both of those are things that we’ll probably resolve sometime in the next 60 days."

The NFL has taken a huge role in promoting flag football in recent years, including having a dedicated page for it on the league's official website.

Per a March 31 report from Eric Fisher of Front Office Sports, the NFL is "fielding inbound interest" from multiple potential business partners about funding a professional flag football league.

Several high-profile players, including Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Tyreek Hill and Caleb Williams, have publicly stated their interest in participating in flag football at the Los Angeles Games.

The International Olympic Committee voted to add five sports to the 2028 Olympics, including flag football. It will mark the first time in 96 years that American football will be played at the Olympics.

Back in 1932, the Olympics featured football as a demonstration sport used to promote the game rather than being part of the official competition. The game featured players from three east coast colleges (Harvard, Yale and Princeton) against a team comprised of players from three west coast colleges (USC, Stanford and California).

The West team won 7-6 when USC's Gus Shaver scored a touchdown and Cal kicker Ed Kirwan made the extra point in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.