Imagine watching Patrick Mahomes, Justin Jefferson or Davante Adams playing football in the Olympics.
That scenario is a possibility, according to organizers for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Reuters reported Wednesday that organizers are considering nine sports for possible addition to the Los Angeles games. That includes flag football, which has grown in popularity in recent years.
The prospect of NFL players being able to compete is a driving force behind the bid to add flag football.
“When we first questioned … to see if the players will be released by the NFL to play it was clear that it would interest many players,” Brett Gosper, head of NFL Europe, said (via Reuters).
“That’s an exciting prospect, to see some NFL superstars at the Olympics.”
LA 2028 organizers are expected to vote in the next few weeks on which sports to add. The other possible additions include baseball-softball, cricket, lacrosse, karate, kickboxing, breakdancing, squash and motorsports.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) would then need to approve that decision in a meeting this fall.
Even if Olympics officials approve flag football, there’s no guarantee the NFL’s top stars will even be allowed to play. One look back at high-profile injuries to MLB stars José Altuve and Edwin Díaz in the World Baseball Classic this spring might be enough to make an NFL GM pump the brakes on allowing their players to participate.
Still, it’s a fun thought.
[Reuters]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.