NFL flag vote sees Olympic 'Dream Team' move closer

BBC News

21-05-2025

The prospect of an American football 'Dream Team' has moved a big step closer with NFL players given permission to compete in flag football at the 2028 Olympics.Flag football was added to the programme for LA 2028 in October 2023, sparking speculation the NFL will emulate basketball's Dream Team at the Barcelona 1992 Games.The league has since been working with its teams, the NFL Players Association and national federations for NFL players to be available.And at the NFL's spring league meeting in Minnesota on Tuesday, team owners unanimously passed a resolution that will allow NFL players to participate in flag football's Olympic debut.A maximum of one player from each team will be allowed to participate, plus any team's designated international player.All 32 teams are permitted an additional spot on their practice squad roster for an international player, such as Louis Rees-Zammit at the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2024 season."Players have expressed to us a great desire for the honour 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 NFLPA's executive director Lloyd Howell Jr.
What is flag football?
Flag is the most inclusive and accessible form of American football. It is a fast, non-contact version of the game watched by millions worldwide.Instead of tackling, defenders must pull a 'flag' from the waist of the attacking player with the ball.It is one of the world's fastest-growing sports and the rapid growth of the women's game was key to flag earning the Olympic vote for 2028.Flag is governed by the International Federation of American Football (Ifaf), which has 75 national federations as members.According to the NFL, there are now 20 million players around the world with a record 31 nations taking part in last year's Flag Football World Championships."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," said Ifaf president Pierre Trochet.
How will Olympic selection work?
The Olympic flag football format will be five-on-five, with a team's defence and offence on the field at different teams.The competition will consist of six men's teams and six women's teams, featuring 10 players per team.Olympic rosters will be selected by each countries' national Olympic committee, based on proposals by the respective national federations, such as USA Football.The NFL will now work with the NFLPA, Ifaf and relevant Olympic authorities to implement rules governing the participation of NFL players, which will begin with a try-out or qualification process with their countries' national flag football team.USA Football's chief executive Scott Hallenbeck said NFL players will compete for a place with established flag players and "talent-transfer athletes from other sports"."We have a tremendous responsibility ahead of us - selecting, training and leading the US men's and women's national teams for LA28," Hallenbeck added."We're fortunate to have a talent pool that already features prominent flag football stars who have helped USA Football establish a gold-medal standard in international competition. Including players from the NFL only strengthens our ability to build the best US men's national team possible."Minnesota Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah is interested in playing at LA 2028 but told BBC Sport: "You can't just count out the guys that play flag football."I think that's the tricky thing right there. Just because you're good at American football doesn't mean you're good at flag football, so you have to share that respect."
Who could play for Team USA?
Many NFL players honed their skills in flag before moving to tackle football, but since 2023 the NFL's Pro Bowl has switched from an end-of-season all-star game to a week-long series of skill contests culminating in a game of flag football."To think about the chances of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal is a dream," said Vikings' star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who played in 2023 and 2025."That's a decision I definitely have to weigh in. It's three years from now, the body is going to be different, but that's something I've always wanted to do - compete for your country."Another star receiver Tyreek Hill has reiterated his interest in playing, while two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes has previously said he "definitely wants to".But Asamoah, who has Ghanaian heritage, stressed it is not just the prospect of representing Team USA that makes the 2028 Olympics so appealing, given the increasing number and calibre of international players."There's 10 or 11 Ghanaian players now and I've put them all in a group chat, to share the news," he said. "The word is definitely getting spread around and all the guys are excited."Asamoah attended a football camp in Ghana earlier this year, one of many programmes looking to grow flag football around the world, and he warned that 2028 will not just be a procession to gold for Team USA, as it was for their NBA stars at Barcelona 1992."The talent for Team USA will be kind of crazy, if you just stack our league's stars. I think that would be somewhat like a Dream Team," Asamoah added."But then you've got to face a team like Ghana, who could have a guy that's 6ft 1in, 240lb and fast, then you put him on the football field and he's just doing some crazy things."So I think you have to weigh the talents on a scale then just put them on the field and be like, 'OK, go compete'."