NFL Plans Olympic Flag Football Team with Limited Prep Time

NFL owners are poised to vote on a proposal that would allow active NFL players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, potentially elevating the sport's global profile. While USA Football has already named its 2025 national flag football teams, these rosters currently do not feature active NFL players, and questions remain about how future Olympic squads will be selected if NFL stars are permitted to compete. The inclusion of NFL athletes is expected to create a talent gap, but concerns linger about their limited preparation time and lack of flag football experience, which could impact team chemistry and performance. The move is seen as a strategic win for the NFL to showcase its athletes internationally, but individual players could face pressure, as a loss would be seen as a major embarrassment. Additionally, there is debate over whether long-time flag football athletes should have a fair shot to compete alongside or against NFL players for Olympic spots. As the league and USA Football prepare for these changes, the process for team selection and integration of NFL and flag football talent remains to be decided.