Commissioner Roger Goodell says he “absolutely” expects to see both active and retired NFL players in the 2028 Olympic flag football tournament, after the NFL approved the idea a year ago and expects Olympic selection procedures later this year.
Flag football is set to step onto the Olympic stage in two years, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is already imagining NFL jerseys in the mix.
Goodell. speaking to Suzy Schuster during a recent interview on Women’s Sports Now. said he expects players from the league to compete in the 2028 Olympics. “Absolutely,” Goodell told Schuster. “We approved it a year ago. and I’ve had a lot of players that have said. ‘We want to participate in that.’”.
He pointed to timing as one reason the NFL model could fit. “It sets up really well because it’s before [training] camps. It’ll be the first week of the Olympics . . . .”
Goodell also framed it as more than a novelty for athletes who already know what it takes to chase something bigger than a regular-season win. “Listen, these players are competitors, and they love the big stage,” he said. “And to win a gold medal. or any medal. is something I think they would all treasure. and they talk about it all the time. So I absolutely believe we’re gonna have players in the Olympics — active players and probably some retired players.”.
The NFL’s plan is structured. The league has decided to make up to one active player per franchise available to participate. But before any NFL player can even think about roster cuts and Olympic schedules, they would first have to be selected for the U.S. men’s national flag football team.
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic has already shown, in a tangible way, how different the path is from tackle football to the Olympic format. In flag football, there’s an emphasis on shiftiness and speed, and versatility is described as a must.
For players willing to take the leap, there’s still a practical hurdle: the time commitment. The extent to which the qualification process or eventual training sessions could conflict with offseason NFL workouts isn’t known. USA Football is expected to announce the Olympic selection procedures later this year. at which point active NFL players will be able to judge whether they’re willing and able to “moonlight” as flag football players.
Even once the question of availability is addressed. another debate is waiting behind it: whether NFL players will outperform the current group built for flag football. Flag standout Darrell “Housh” Doucette recently estimated that, eventually, one or two NFL players could make the 10-man Olympic roster.
Still, Goodell and the NFL see the larger picture clearly. With or without active (or retired) NFL players. the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics is expected to accelerate the sport’s global growth. That is also why the NFL is “firmly behind it. ” and why the NFL is planning to launch men’s and women’s professional flag football leagues.
Roger Goodell NFL Olympics 2028 flag football USA Football Fanatics Flag Football Classic Darrell Housh Doucette U.S. men's national flag football team Olympic selection procedures professional flag football leagues
So wait flag football is basically NFL-lite now? Kinda sounds fake but I guess.
I don’t get why Goodell cares, like are they gonna let regular Olympic athletes just not play? Also retired players like… would they even be in shape? Sounds like a marketing thing more than sports.
“Before training camps” means everyone just dodges preseason stuff right? I mean if it’s the first week of the Olympics then teams can just rotate the dudes in and out… right? Idk it feels like the NFL is writing the Olympics schedule.
Flag football in the Olympics is wild to me. I swear I read somewhere it was already picked, like last year? And now they’re saying “active and probably retired” like it’s guaranteed. Also Goodell always talks like everything is his idea so… yeah we’ll see.