Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson couldn’t hide his excitement at the NFL’s spring meeting on Tuesday. As he walked off stage, he broke into an “Olympic Griddy,” celebrating news that NFL players will be allowed to compete in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Jefferson, one of the NFL’s global flag football ambassadors, played a key role in pushing for the league’s support. The NFL’s 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve the move, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“I’m just at a loss of words,” Jefferson said. “Just to think about the chances of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal is a dream, just reverting back to being a kid and watching the track and field meets, watching basketball win the gold medal.
“That’s something that as a kid I always wanted to be a part of, but football wasn’t global. So now that we’re expanding the game and we’re going more global, it’s pretty cool.”
NFL Embraces Olympic Opportunity
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said the vote opens the door for players around the world to compete at the highest level — and possibly recreate moments like the 1992 Olympic basketball “Dream Team.”
“I think it’s going to be phenomenal,” Vincent said. The world will finally has an opportunity to see the greatest athletes in the world participate, both men and women. … I think the membership vote today, allowing the young fellas to put their hand up and be that Dream Team that we all saw that I grew up watching in ’92.
“Hey, I’m looking forward to seeing Justin play. He’s going to get his; we can’t wait to smash.”
Jefferson has already played flag football at the Pro Bowl Games. He said the new format reminded players of their childhoods.
“For them to change the rules up and for us to go from a regular game to now [a flag football] game, honestly, it was way more fun,” he said. “We felt like kids out there just kind of having fun, just being around each other, the best athletes in the league.”
Will Jefferson Play in 2028?
Although Jefferson is thrilled about the opportunity, he hasn’t yet committed to joining the 2028 Olympic team.
“That’s the decision I’ll definitely have to weigh in a little bit,” he said. “It’s three years from now, it’s three whole seasons that I’m going to have to go through. Of course, getting older, body is going to be different, but that’s definitely always been a dream. It’s always been something I always wanted to do, compete for your country versus all of the other countries in the rest of the world.
“I definitely would look forward to it if it came down to it, but that’s definitely something to ask myself and see what’s right.”
What’s Next for NFL Olympic Flag Football?
Even though the resolution passed, there are still steps ahead. The NFL needs to work with the NFL Players Association, the Olympics, and national sports organizations to finalize details. Some NFL players with international ties might also have the chance to represent other countries.
“We want to make sure the players and clubs have the insurance protections they need so the players can raise their hands and compete for their countries and that gold,” Vincent said. “So, I think the toughest part was today. The NFLPA executive Lloyd Howell Jr. and commissioner Roger Goodell led the way and passed the resolution.” They’ll iron all those things out, allow the athletes to showcase their talents.”
Timing Is Key
NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said the league wants to make sure Olympic flag football doesn’t conflict with training camp or the regular season. Ideally, Olympic games would happen during the NFL offseason or “dead periods” in the calendar.
If the flag football tournament happens during the first week of the 2028 Olympics, players would likely have enough time to return before training camps start.
Respect for Flag Football Pros
While NFL stars will grab headlines, Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II — also a flag football ambassador — reminded everyone that many athletes have been training for this moment for years.
“It requires a lot of different abilities that football, in general, doesn’t require, but you definitely have to have speed, elusiveness and being able to get away from people,” Asamoah said.
He added that no matter how the selection process works, bringing more attention to flag football helps the sport grow.
“It’s a completely different game. You have to really give your respect to the players that have been training for this already and feel like they deserve the opportunity to play. But however this selection process goes, I think just everyone getting an opportunity to play flag football will definitely push this whole growth of the game forward. That’s what we’re all here for,” he said.
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This report used information from ESPN.
