A possible ground-breaking decision could be on the horizon as soon as next week. NFL owners will talk about and consider a proposal to give players under contract the unique opportunity to participate in flag football when the sport makes its Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles.
The league released a proposed resolution on Thursday on the matter that will be considered next week by owners at the spring meetings in Minnesota.
If the resolution is approved and voted on by at least 24 of the 32 team owners, the league would be allowed to negotiate with the NFL Players Association, Olympic officials and national governing bodies on the specific details of allowing NFL players participation.
“There’s more work to be done there,” NFL executive Jeff Miller said. “It will certainly be an important topic of conversation. … I would expect it to be an engaging and robust conversation on that topic.”
The NFL has been a huge advocate on behalf of flag football, in hopes of growing the sport and increasing youth participation and opportunities for women in the game. The league was a huge proponent and played a major role in making sure the Los Angeles Olympics would be the inaugural stage with flag football, with events for both men and women alike.
Several star players, including Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, who possesses Olympic speed, have expressed interest in the past in participating in the Olympics. Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones could not contain his excitement when asked in April about the possibility.
Embed from Getty Images“I would absolutely love it. Every other sport gets an opportunity to win a gold medal,” Jones said. “And if you’re not serving your country in the military, I feel like that’s the other highest honor.”
However, there are some stipulations, and they include:
Permission for any player under NFL contract to participate in tryouts
A limit of one player per NFL team on each national team participating
Allowing, in addition, a team’s designated international player to play for his home country.
A purchase of leaguewide insurance policies to provide injury protection for any player injured while participating in an authorized flag football activity related to the Olympics
A salary cap credit for any player who is injured
An expectation that Olympic flag football teams will establish medical staffs and field surfaces that comply with NFL minimum standards
A schedule that “does not unreasonably conflict with an NFL player’s league and club commitments.”
The 2028 Games will be held from July 14-30. Training camps would typically open for teams that summer in the final week of July based on the current league schedule.
