2028 Olympics flag football selection procedures are coming later this year
Interest form will soon be distributed to active NFL players.
Saturday's inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic opened plenty of eyes regarding the fundamental differences between tackle football and flag football. And it raises interesting questions about how USA Football will determine the players on the U. S.
men's national flag football team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Scott Hallenbeck, the CEO and executive director of USA Football, has provided some information as to the pending task of narrowing the various interested players to a final roster that will seek, and likely win, gold medals. "For the Olympics in 2028, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) must approve our process," Hallenbeck said via email to PFT.
"USA Football is currently building the selection procedures for 2028 — a process that would involve select NFL players as well as the best of the elite flag players, like what all saw on display in Los Angeles on Saturday. Additionally, we will be seeking to identify and invite athletes from other sports — what is referred to in the Olympic movement as 'talent transfer. ' For example, we’ve seen several athletes from basketball and track and field be successful in that transition.
"Within this process, we’re working with the NFL to determine how best to incorporate active NFL players — how they qualify for selection, ultimately how they’re selected and so forth. You may have seen some mention of 'acclimation camps' previously and essentially, we’re working to develop opportunities throughout 2027 for NFL players to have the chance to immerse themselves in the flag discipline, so they better understand the strategy, rules, nuance and skillset required for international flag football. " As Saturday's event showed, acclimation of NFL players will be critical.