Team USA has already shown it doesn't need the NFL's help in flag football for the 2028 Olympics
Team USA doesn’t need NFL players to help it go for the gold when flag football debuts at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic in LA last Saturday showed the men’s national team can bring it home. The men dominated games against teams made up of current and former NFL stars, including Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels.
The team is also undefeated in International Federation of American Football games since 2018, winning by an average score of 50-17, and has captured five straight world titles. It should be end of discussion. But it won’t be because NFL players have made it clear they want an opportunity to compete for their country and league owners have voted to allow it .
Burrow treated last week's tournament in Southern California like an audition. He was out there running, cutting, juking more than he’s ever done in an NFL game. Bengals fans had to be scared he’d get injured with the way he played.
Flag football and the Olympics are on the agenda for the NFL’s annual meeting in Phoenix next week so there will be more discussion about it. USA Football is currently selecting its roster for the 2026 season. The list of athletes in line includes flag-football experts who are reigning world champions, along with those from basketball, track and tackle football backgrounds.
Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL QB Robert Griffin III also is in the mix. Brady, who still showed at age 48 that he excels at throwing a football, took his name out of the conversation for Team USA after going 0-2 in the tourney. “LA ’28 will be a lot of guys like you saw out there on the field who make a big commitment to trying to be their best and go out there and showcase their skillset to a global audience,” the seven-time Super Bowl champion said.
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