NFL players are expected to get the go-ahead Tuesday to compete in the new Olympic sport of flag football at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
A resolution on player participation is expected to be approved at a National Football League meeting underway in Minneapolis, according to ESPN, which cited unnamed sources, including one quoted as saying, “Olympics should be easy.”
At least 24 of the 32 team owners would have to vote for the resolution for it to pass.
ESPN sources: A vote to allow NFL players to participate in flag football for the first time during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles is expected to pass at today’s league meeting in Minneapolis. Nothing is official yet, but as one source said about today’s vote, “Olympics… pic.twitter.com/SiV8ut3IyZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2025
Even if the league does sign off, the details of pro athletes being part of the world’s next Summer Games still have to be worked out with the NFL Players Association and Olympic organizations.
According to ESPN, here’s what the flag football resolution would do, subject to negotiations:
• Allow any player under an NFL contract to try out for the Olympics.
• Set a limit of one player per NFL team on each national team participating.
• Also allow a team’s designated international player to play for his home country.
• Require the purchase of league-wide insurance policies to cover players injured while participating in an authorized flag football activity related to the Olympics.
• Give a salary cap credit for any player who is injured.
• Set the expectation that Olympic flag football teams will establish medical staffs and field surfaces that comply with NFL minimum standards.
• Call for a schedule that “does not unreasonably conflict with an NFL player’s league and club commitments.”
The International Olympic Committee added flag football to the LA Games in October 2023, along with baseball, softball, lacrosse, squash and cricket. Both flag football and squash, described by IOC leaders as “iconic American sports,” are making their Olympic debut.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has called the inclusion of flag football “a great opportunity” for what’s considered America’s most popular sport to grow internationally. Teams already play regularly overseas to attract new audiences.
There’s at least one big-name NFL player ready to sign up for the Olympics: Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones.
“Flag football players may be upset at me for this, but yes, I would absolutely love it,” Jones told ESPN. “Every other sport gets an opportunity to win a gold medal, and if you’re not serving your country in the military, I feel like that’s the other highest honor that you can represent your country in.”