NFL owners discussing new proposal to let players participate in flag football at 2028 Olympics

NFL stars might be headed for Olympic glory in just a few years' time.

With flag football officially joining the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the NFL is now weighing the possibility of allowing its players to represent Team USA on the world stage. According to Tom Pelissero, league owners will hash out the details during next week's annual meeting.

Pelissero posted the full resolution on X (formerly Twitter), which outlines the framework: each NFL team could send a maximum of one player to the Olympic squad, plus their designated international player, if eligible.

If approved, we could see some of the league's biggest names trading helmets for gold medals in what would be a ground-breaking moment for the sport.

The league's stance is clear: letting NFL players take part in Olympic flag football could be a win on multiple fronts.

According to the document, "The membership believes that participation by NFL Players in flag football during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif. will support such growth and advance several League interests," including a boost in interest around flag football, stronger global visibility for the NFL brand, and fresh opportunities to engage fans and deepen ties with league sponsors.

The proposed resolution offers some significant safeguards and structure for NFL players eyeing a shot at Olympic flag football in 2028.

Among the key protections: any player injured while competing in the Games would be covered by injury protection and their team would receive a salary cap credit. The NFL is also pushing for strict standards regarding medical personnel and playing surfaces to ensure athlete safety. Additionally, Olympic events must be scheduled in a way that doesn't cause unreasonable clashes with a player's NFL duties.

The plan would let contracted players try out for Olympic squads, but limits each NFL team to just one representative per national team. The lone exception? International pathway players would be eligible to suit up for their home countries.

While several players have reportedly expressed interest in representing the U.S. or their nations, it remains to be seen whether team owners are willing to green-light the idea. That said, with the 2028 Olympics set for July 14–30—just ahead of training camps—any potential scheduling overlap might be minimal, if not entirely avoidable.

Mark your calendars — the 2028 Summer Olympics are slated to run from July 14 through July 30, giving athletes just over two weeks to shine on the world’s biggest stage.