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NFL owners gave players the green light to chase Olympic glory on Tuesday. In a unanimous vote at their spring meeting, all 32 owners approved a proposal allowing NFL stars to represent their countries in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson – who serves as a global flag football ambassador – was on hand to make his case for NFL players getting a shot at Olympic gold.
“I’m just at a loss of words,” Jefferson told reporters at the press conference, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “Just to think about the chances of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal is a dream, just reverting back to being a kid and watching the track and field meets, watching basketball win the gold medal. That’s something that as a kid I always wanted to be a part of, but football wasn’t global. So now that we’re expanding the game and we’re going more global, it’s pretty cool.”
Justin Jefferson lobbied for NFL players to participate in 2028 Olympics
Jefferson got a taste of competitive flag football during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. While many fans weren’t thrilled with the revamped Pro Bowl format, Jefferson found it “way more fun” than the traditional exhibition. Despite his enthusiasm for Olympic flag football, the Vikings wideout hasn’t committed to joining Team USA when the Games arrive in 2028.
“That’s the decision I’ll definitely have to weigh in a little bit,” he explained. “It’s three years from now, it’s three whole seasons that I’m going to have to go through. Of course, getting older, body is going to be different, but that’s definitely always been a dream. It’s always been something I always wanted to do, compete for your country versus all of the other countries in the rest of the world. I definitely would look forward to it if it came down to it, but that’s definitely something to ask myself and see what’s right.”
This historic move puts football players in position to experience what basketball stars have enjoyed for decades. NBA players have created unforgettable Olympic moments – none bigger than the legendary 1992 Dream Team. Football has never before appeared in the Olympics for several reasons: limited global popularity (outside the US), the physical nature of tackle football, and massive roster requirements.
Flag football changes all that.
The timing couldn’t be better for the NFL, which continues pushing international growth through games in London, Germany, and Mexico. The Olympics offer a perfect showcase for football on the world stage – just as the league hopes to win over new fans globally.
While owners have approved the concept, there’s still work to be done. According to ESPN, the league must negotiate specifics with the NFL Players Association, Olympic officials, and national governing bodies before NFL players can officially compete. Questions about insurance, compensation, and how Olympic participation might affect NFL contracts will need to be resolved over the coming months.
