At the NFL Spring League Meeting in Eagan, Minnesota, league owners voted to allow NFL players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The decision marks a major milestone as flag football makes its Olympic debut.
“It’s an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country in the Olympics, which is the pinnacle of global sport,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “I know first-hand that the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics has sparked a tremendous amount of excitement among NFL players interested in the chance to compete for their country on the world stage. We are thrilled that they will now have that chance.”
The resolution enables collaboration between the NFL, NFL Players Association, International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and Olympic authorities to set guidelines for player involvement. Each nation’s Olympic Committee will select Olympic flag football rosters based on recommendations from national federations.
“I warmly welcome the outcome of this vote, which promises to add another dimension to what is already shaping up to be a game-changing debut for flag football at the Olympic Games,” said IFAF President Pierre Trochet. “The National Football League is home to the biggest stars in American football, who come from more and more countries, and now have the opportunity to shine on the greatest stage in world sport, showcasing everything that makes flag football a genuine worldwide phenomenon. IFAF’s 75 national federations join me in thanking our NFL partners for this further demonstration of their commitment to flag football in the Olympic movement. We will work together to ensure our sport contributes a defining element of LA28’s success.”
The format will feature six men’s and six women’s teams, each consisting of 10 players, competing in a five-on-five structure. NFL players aiming to represent their countries will go through a tryout or qualification process ahead of the Games.
“Players have expressed to us a great desire for the honor of competing in the Olympics, and we’re excited that our members will be able to represent their country on the highest international stage,” said NFL Players Association Executive Director Lloyd Howell, Jr. “We look forward to working with the league, IFAF, and Olympic authorities on the terms of their participation to ensure players who compete will do so with protections to their health, safety, and job.”
The move reflects flag football’s rapid international rise. The IOC-recognized IFAF currently includes 75 national member federations, with 31 nations competing in the last Flag Football World Championships. With over 20 million participants worldwide, the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics signals a new global stage for American football—and now, potentially, its biggest stars.
“There is no question that the 2028 Flag Football tournament at the LA28 Games will be one of the most exciting competitions in Olympic history, and the inclusion of NFL players will bring it to new heights,” said LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman. “This milestone would not have been possible without the support of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL Players Association, its club owners and most importantly, the athletes, who we’ll look forward to watching on the field in 2028.”