NFL and NFLPA in active negotiations over framework for Olympic flag football player participation

The NFL and NFLPA are engaged in discussions to finalize terms for NFL player participation in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with final policy details still undetermined, per Front Office Sports. The flag football competition runs July 15-22 and includes men's and women's tournaments consisting of six teams each, with games scheduled at BMO Stadium, home to Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC. NFL team owners unanimously approved a resolution last year in support of allowing players to compete in the Games, according to Front Office Sports. That resolution authorized the NFL's management council and other league committees to negotiate arrangements with the NFLPA, Olympic authorities, and national governing bodies. The owners' resolution required the NFL to reach agreements on standards for field surfaces and medical care for players, per the report. The participation schedule could not unreasonably conflict with team and league commitments, according to the owners' framework. Key negotiation points include establishing injury protections for players through insurance policies and ensuring that an NFL team would receive salary-cap credit if any of its players is injured while participating, according to Front Office Sports. The owners' resolution proposed limiting Olympic participation to one player per NFL team on a single country's roster, along with permitting any player in a team's international program to participate for his country. More than 200 players have expressed interest in participating, per Front Office Sports. Star quarterbacks Josh Allen of the Bills and Joe Burrow of the Bengals are among the NFL players to have expressed public interest in playing, according to the report. Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson attended the announcement of the owners' resolution in May 2025 and said he would consider playing, per the outlet. The NFLPA said before the 2025 owners' meeting that it fully supported players' participation and looked forward to discussing the framework with the NFL to ensure competitors can do so without detrimental impacts to their health, safety, and employment. The NFL believes flag football expands the fan base, boosts youth participation, and furthers the league's goal of broadening global appeal, per Front Office Sports. However, veteran U.S. flag football players have expressed concern that they want a fair chance to compete for roster spots, suggesting potential tension between giving priority to NFL stars and allowing established domestic flag football players to compete.