Sportsnaut
Olympic flag football is coming to the 2028 Summer Games, and NFL players will be a part of it. On Tuesday, ESPN reported that NFL owners unanimously agreed to allow their players to compete for their country in the Olympics. Only one player from each team will be allowed to compete in the 2028 event.
However, only 10 spots will be available on the US Olympic flag football team. That’s because that is all that is needed for the 5 vs. 5 sport. Furthermore, for those unfamiliar with the game, flag football players often play offense and defense. With that in mind, we offer up 10 players for a dream US flag football team.
Sure, Travis Hunter hasn’t even played a down yet in the NFL. But when it comes to flag football, where players can compete on both sides of the ball, there is no better option than the former Colorado star. He can be an impact player on offense and defense for the US Olympic flag football team, and allow them to strengthen other areas on the roster since he is a dual-threat stud.
With flag football only having a single lineman going one-on-one with a potential rusher. So you need a quarterback who is outstanding at scrambling or can put the ball down and take off. There is no better player in the league at doing that than Lamar Jackson. Are Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen better NFL QBs? Maybe, but in flag football, Jackson’s speed and athleticism would make him a beast.
Flag football calls for three wide receivers on offense. Ja’Marr Chase is, arguably, the best pass catcher on the planet. So he should be a lock for the US Olympic flag football team. If top cornerbacks in the NFL can’t really stop him, imagine lesser players from other countries trying to slow him down at the summer Olympics.
Flag football allows for a rusher. However, that person must start at least seven yards away from the line of scrimmage. It means you need a rusher with impressive speed, but also the athleticism to go and make “tackles” in the open field. So it automatically excludes a lot of talented but slower sack masters. That is why Micah Parsons is perfectly made for flag football. He would be terrifying with just one person to block him, but he is the sort of athlete who can go run down a tackle in the open field.
In a sport where catching, shiftiness, and, of course, speed are so important, Tyreek Hill feels like another great fit for the US Olympic flag football squad. While the man who is one of the fastest players in NFL history may not be in his prime in 2028, that might boost his availability. Because there will certainly be teams that try and talk certain younger players on the list out of competing in 2028.
Fred Warner...
