New gold dream for Mahomes as door to huge new tournament opens

A new chapter in Olympic history. At Los Angeles 2028 — the Hollywood Games — the stars will shine brighter than ever. In the early hours of Wednesday, NFL franchises approved a move allowing their players to compete in the upcoming Olympics, which will feature flag football for the first time. In this fast-paced, contact-free version of American football, defenders pull flags from opponents’ waists instead of tackling.

“The NFL clubs today voted at the Spring League Meeting in Eagan, Minnesota, to permit NFL players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA28),” the league announced shortly after midnight in Spain. It’s the beginning of a new Dream Team, this time, outside the NBA.

Since flag football was accepted as an Olympic sport in October 2023, the idea of NFL stars suiting up for Team USA has gained serious momentum. Several of the league’s biggest names quickly voiced their interest. “I definitely want to do it, but I’ve seen some of the guys who play flag football — they’re a little faster than me,” said Patrick Mahomes, the three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, soon after the news broke. “I’ll be 31 or 32. If I can still move, I’m going to try to get out there and throw the football.” Now, the path is clear.

Under the agreement reached between NFL franchises, the league, the NFL Players Association, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and LA28 Olympic officials, any NFL player hoping to compete must first pass a selection process. Each participating country — the Olympic flag football tournament will include six men’s and six women’s teams, each made up of 10 players competing in a five-on-five format — will be allowed to call up just one player from any given NFL franchise. That means if the U.S. selects Mahomes, no other Chiefs player would be eligible.

ESPN reports the agreement also includes financial protections for franchises in case of injury, along with a calendar that prevents conflicts between Olympic duties and NFL obligations.

NFL stars lining up for a shot at gold

“It’s an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country at the Olympic Games, which are the pinnacle of global sport,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell following the announcement. “We know firsthand that the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics has generated tremendous excitement among NFL players who are eager to compete for their country on a global stage. We’re thrilled they now have that opportunity.”

NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. added, “Players have expressed a strong desire to have the honor of competing at the Olympics. We look forward to working with the league, IFAF, and Olympic officials to ensure that players who participate do so with all necessary protections for their health, safety, and careers.”

Beyond Mahomes, other NFL stars have already expressed interest in representing the U.S. at the LA Games. Tyreek Hill, who will play for the Miami Dolphins at the Santiago Bernabéu later this year, is all in. “Yes, absolutely. It’s not until 2028, but if the NFL allows it — and if I’m still running a 4.2 [in the 40-yard dash] — I’m definitely playing flag football in Los Angeles,” he told this newspaper. “I’m open to it, for sure. I think bringing in pro athletes at that level only helps this sport grow even faster.”

Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys even sketched out a dream team of his own on his podcast The Edge — a gold medal lineup with himself in it. As of now, that dream is very much in play.

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