SouthernWorldwide.com – While the FIFA World Cup captures significant attention across the Americas, a new wave of football excitement is building.
With the 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon, flag football is rapidly emerging as a highly anticipated addition to the Games.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament, revealing that many players are keen to represent their nations on the Olympic stage.
Goodell shared with ESPN’s “Women’s Sports Now,” “I’ve had a lot of players that have said, ‘We want to participate in that.’”
He further elaborated, “These players are competitors, and they love the big stage. To win a gold medal or any medal is something I think they would all treasure. They talk about it all the time.”
“So, I absolutely believe we’re going to have players in the Olympics.”
Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, has indicated that he is among the active NFL players interested in representing the United States in the Summer Games in two years.
Allen acknowledged that observing flag football has provided him with a deeper understanding of the sport’s unique demands.
He stated, “I’ve always thought it would be really cool to compete for my country. Now, if I have the skill set, that’s a different story. I watched (flag football) not too long ago when it was on TV. Those guys just kind of move different. Their hips are dipping a foot down and they’re able to evade. I can throw with the best of them. But I’m better at usually running through people than spinning and getting around them.”
Allen believes that earning an opportunity to compete for a gold medal and play for Team USA at the Summer Games would be a significant milestone in his athletic career.
“We will see. I’d be very honored to do it,” he remarked.
Goodell noted that the Olympic schedule offers a convenient timeframe for NFL players to participate, as flag football is scheduled to take place before training camps commence.
He anticipates that both active players and potentially recently retired stars will be considered for the sport’s Olympic debut.
The 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled to commence in mid-July.
In May 2025, a proposal was presented to NFL team owners that would permit one player from each NFL roster to compete in the 2028 Games.
An exemption would be provided for each team’s designated international player who would be representing their home country.
