Will NFL players appear in Olympic flag football? Owners OK proposal

(NEXSTAR) -- We're still a few years away from the 2028 Olympics, which will take place in Los Angeles, but a monumental proposal regarding which athletes can participate has been approved.

Among the five sports coming to the Summer Olympics for the first time is flag football.

While it seems like a sport the U.S. could dominate in, given the prominent pro football scene, there was no immediate clarity on whether NFL players could participate when the February 2024 announcement was made. At the time, league executive Peter O’Reilly said, "Those conversations around eligibility and process have started."

As part of their spring meeting in Minnesota on Tuesday, NFL owners voted in favor of a proposal from the league that would allow players to participate in flag football in Los Angeles.

Under the proposal, released last week, the NFL is allowed to negotiate with the NFL Players Association, Olympic officials, and national governing bodies on the specifics of letting NFL players participate. It also provides for injury protection and salary cap credit in case of any injuries and requires minimum standards for medical staffs and field surfaces.

Not every NFL player could put on flags, however.

Only one player from each NFL team could be selected by the U.S. for the Olympics, in addition to each team's designated international player, who could play for his home country. Olympic rosters are selected by each country's Olympic committee based on a proposal from the respective National Federations. Tryout or qualification processes are expected to take place, the NFL said.

The resolution needed to be approved by at least 24 of the 32 team owners. Citing sources, ESPN's Adam Schefter said Tuesday morning that that seems likely.

While the NFL confirmed the proposal had passed, it did not specify which teams voted in favor of it.

Flag football has been part of the Pro Bowl week festivities for two seasons now, and the NFL has worked to bolster the growth of the non-contact sport throughout the world.

“It’s a long haul, but it’s certainly worth it and we’re seeing that momentum build, particularly with the Olympics coming up," commissioner Roger Goodell told The Associated Press last summer.

Several NFL players, including Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, were quick to express their support for the addition and enthusiasm about pursuing Olympic gold in an offshoot of the sport they already excel at.

USA Football has already selected its national flag football teams for the season. At the moment, the men's roster features no active NFL players.

When Los Angeles hosted the 1932 Olympics, full-contact football was a demonstration sport.

For the 2028 Olympics, the flag football competition will be comprised of six men's teams and six women's teams, each with 10 players per team. Games will be a five-on-five format.

Baseball will also make its Olympic return. Like flag football, it's unclear if the pros in the U.S. will be able to participate.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in April that there were "ongoing conversations" about it. He noted that because "lots of players would be involved," whether for the U.S. or their home countries, which would be "massively disruptive to our season given the timing."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.