NFL reportedly will encourage players to play flag football in 2028 Olympics

The NFL has no plans of stepping in the way of players who want to participate in flag football during the 2028 Olympic games. Instead, the league wants to encourage its athletes to take part in the world event, if at all possible.

Flag football has been an approved addition to the Olympic games for 2028, which will be held in Los Angeles. And the NFL would like to help create a path for players to represent the country on the world’s biggest stage.

NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly said player interest in playing flag football in the Olympics is high. He provided a comment to Front Office Sports on the matter.

“We understand the desire,” O’Reilly said. “We think it’s a great opportunity, because the player interest is real and palpable. There’s a desire to work through with these stakeholders and get to that outcome for July [2028].”

O’Reilly said the NFL plans to work with the NFLPA and USA Football in an effort to make this work.

“Clearly in the lead-up to the announcement, and then [Monday], there was a lot of excitement, as you might expect, from great NFL athletes and NFL legends who love the idea of representing their country on an Olympic stage,” O’Reilly said.

While it’s not the traditional style of football — that would be impossible to incorporate into the games — the NFL has made a recent transition for its Pro Bowl format. Last year, the league switched from a traditional game to a flag football game between the best players from the AFC and NFC.

So, by the time the 2028 Olympics roll around, players will have plenty of experience in that style.

Flag football approved for 2028 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially approved of adding flag football to the 2028 games, voting on the proposal at meetings in Mumbai, India to start the week.

The other sports under consideration for debut at the 2028 Olympics are baseball, softball, lacrosse, cricket and squash. Those sports were also approved to make their debuts.

The 2028 Olympics would be the first to perhaps feature players from the NFL. Flag football would be 5-on-5 and played on a 50-yard field with no offensive or defensive linemen.

Former Patriots and Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski just may, in fact, suit up for the U.S.A. The 34-year-old, who retired from the NFL after the 2021 season, recently told TMZ he wants to play flag football in the Olympics.

“Hopefully there’s no tryouts and they just accept me,” Gronkowski said. “But I’m in. I’m going for that if there is flag football in the Olympics in 2028.”

Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill sounds like he wants to take part.

“Calling all @NFL guys let’s bring one home,” Hill wrote on X.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle contributed to this story.