Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown has made it clear where his priorities lie when it comes to the 2028 Olympics. With flag football set to make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles, many NFL stars have expressed excitement about the opportunity to represent their country on the world's biggest stage. However, Brown has firmly ruled himself out of consideration, citing his commitment to the Eagles and the timing conflict with training camp.
"I heard the Olympics is during camp. Yeah, so, no. So that would be tough," Brown said to reporters on Tuesday. "That would be fun just to compete. Me personally, no, because of camp. [The media] would be complaining, 'A.J. Brown is not in camp.' So would the fans. So I'm going to keep the main thing the main thing."
The flag football competition will run from July 14-21 in 2028, ending just before most veteran reporting dates for training camp. For Brown, this timing creates an unacceptable conflict with his professional obligations to the Eagles. The three-time Pro Bowler has been instrumental in Philadelphia's recent success, helping the team reach two Super Bowls in the past three seasons and capturing one Lombardi Trophy. In his three seasons with Philadelphia after being traded from Tennessee, Brown has compiled impressive numbers: 261 catches for 4,031 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 15.4 yards per reception.
The irony of Brown's decision is particularly notable given that his teammate and quarterback, Jalen Hurts, has been front and center in promoting Olympic flag football. Hurts was named the Olympic flag football ambassador in August 2024 and starred in a promotional commercial that debuted during the Paris Olympics handover to Los Angeles.
The NFL owners officially voted to allow players to participate in the 2028 Olympics just this week, clearing a major hurdle for those interested in competing. The U.S. team will have 10 players for the five-on-five Olympic format, with only six total teams in the Olympic tournament, meaning competition for spots will be fierce among interested NFL players.
While Brown has made his position clear, the 2028 Olympics are still three years away, and circumstances could change. For now, Eagles fans can rest assured that their star receiver's focus remains squarely on bringing another Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia. As Brown put it, he's committed to keeping "the main thing the main thing" – and for him, that's football in Philadelphia.