Sean Payton Weighs In On NFL Players' Chances of Making USA's Flag Football Roster for 2026 Olympics

After getting a taste of flag football, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made an interesting prediction.

Payton, who coached one of the teams during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic earlier this month, told reporters on Tuesday that he'd "be surprised" if any NFL players make the Team USA flag football roster for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"I think when this first was announced, there was this feeling there would be 10 NFL players on that roster," Payton told reporters. "And I'll be surprised if there's one. I think we have plenty of players that can acclimate, but it's going to take a month or two. And then if you're one of those players, do you have that month or two? And if you're training for that, you're not training [for NFL football]? And so I just think it's in a good spot. I thought it was great for our international team, and more importantly, great for the women's side of it, because there's an avenue where they can play football."

Team USA's flag football team dominated two teams made up of NFL stars and celebrities over three games in a round-robin tournament. Payton's Founders team, which featured legendary quarterback Tom Brady, lost both its round-robin games and failed to make it to the championship matchup.

While Payton feels that NFL players won't excel in flag football, veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. impressed enough that Team USA coach Jorge Cascudo said that he could see Beckham earning a spot on the roster.

"I was, like, 'Whoa, if Odell wants a spot, we may have one for him,'" Cascudo said, per The Athletic's Tim Graham and Vic Tarfur.

Still, it's clear that there's a lot to be learned if NFL players want to earn their chance to compete for an Olympic gold medal in flag football.