Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Downplays Possibility of Playing Flag Football at LA Olympics

NFL players have received clearance to participate in flag football when the sport makes its debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics, but it doesn't appear that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be making an appearance, per comments relayed by Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com.

NFL owners unanimously approved players to participate in the Olympics during their spring meetings in Minneapolis last week, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Mahomes has previously noted that he may not be throwing his name into the ring for the Team USA flag football squad at the Olympics.

It's certainly understandable to see Mahomes' reasoning here. Plus, there's also the risk of him getting hurt at the Games as he continues his Chiefs career.

So while Mahomes may not be in the talent pool, Team USA could certainly have its pick of elite quarterbacks elsewhere in the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and reigning Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts, who was featured in an advertisement announcing flag football's debut at the LA Games, is up for the task, per comments made at a press conference leading up to the Super Bowl.

"I don't know if there's anything official. If we'd be able to participate but I know it'd be a great honor to be able to represent and have the opportunity to have a gold medal," Hurts said, per Lena Smirnova for olympics.com.

"A lot of other sports have that opportunity. I think it'd be great for us to have that same chance as well."

Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow is also interested.

"That's an exciting opportunity. I'm not entirely sure how that would work out with training camp and all of our obligations here," Burrow said, per Chris Roling of Bengals Wire. "But that's something I would like to do for sure."

So while Mahomes appears out, Hurts and Burrow (among others) could be in as flag football nears its Olympic debut.