— Published on May 21, 2025

NFL says yes to Los Angeles : show ahead !

Los Angeles 2028 Focus

What if Patrick Mahomes showed off his passing skills at the Los Angeles Olympics? The Chiefs quarterback might get his chance: on Tuesday, the 32 NFL franchise owners voted unanimously to allow their players to participate in the 2028 Olympic flag football tournament. This is a huge boost for the sport, which will make its debut at the Games, and excellent news for the athletes, who will have a unique opportunity to take part in the biggest sporting event on the planet. Although there will be conditions.

Making American Football Truly Global

Convincing major leagues to "loan" their players is no easy task, as the absence of NHL players at Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022 reminds us. The NFL, for its part, has decided to play the game for these home Olympics. "This represents a great opportunity for the sport, for the NFL", Commissioner Roger Goodell said after the announcement. "This is truly the next step in making the NFL and football a global sport for men and women of all ages around the world." Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson has already started to plan ahead. "It's something I've always wanted to do, to represent my country against all the other countries in the world. " he confided on Tuesday.

“Thinking about the possibility of participating in the Olympic Games and getting a gold medal is a dream, added the Louisiana-born player. It's something I always wanted to be a part of as a kid, but football wasn't a global sport." However, the situation is changing, as evidenced by the NFL games being relocated to the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, and soon to Ireland, Spain and Australia, or the organization of the very first edition of the African Flag Football Championships this year in EgyptAnd this dynamic promises to be further strengthened with Los Angeles 2028.

Another dimension

The Olympic flag football competition will feature six men's and six women's teams, each with 10 players per team. One player from each NFL team—no more—would be allowed to participate in the Games, according to the resolution passed Tuesday. The next step: negotiations with the NFL Players' Association, national governing bodies, and Olympic authorities. These will include injury safeguards and minimum standards for medical supervision and field surfaces. The Games won't clash with the NFL season, but July typically coincides with team training camps. While the precise framework is defined, the door is already open, and that's no small feat. Pierre Trochet, president of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), shares the general enthusiasm, saying the decision promises to add " another dimension to what is already emerging as a turning point for flag football ».

The IOC also reacted to welcome the result of the vote. The IOC greatly appreciates the comprehensive support the NFL is providing to flag football and the LA28 Olympic Games., explains the published press release. This historic decision will allow the world's best American football players to compete in the Olympic Games. Everyone who made this happen, including NFL team owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell, deserves a round of applause. We also applaud the enthusiastic response from the players, many of whom have already expressed their desire to compete in the Olympic Games and take advantage of this rare and prestigious opportunity to become Olympians. "The presence of some of the best players on the planet already brings Los Angeles closer to fulfilling its promise: to impress the entire world.