NFL, NFLPA negotiating framework for player participation in 2028 Olympic flag football

The NFL and NFLPA are in active discussions to finalize the terms under which interested players will be permitted to compete in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Per a source familiar with the state of negotiations cited by Front Office Sports, the final policy details have not yet been determined, but talks are ongoing. NFL team owners unanimously approved a resolution last year authorizing the league's management council and other committees to negotiate suitable arrangements with the NFLPA, Olympic authorities, and national governing bodies for player participation. The resolution established guardrails: participation schedules could not "unreasonably conflict" with team and league commitments, per Front Office Sports. The league and union must also reach agreements on standards for field surfaces and medical care for players. Unresolved issues include establishing injury protections for players via 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. The flag football competition at the 2028 Games is scheduled for July 15-22, per Front Office Sports. The event creates limited, if any, conflict with NFL training camps under the current offseason structure. The competition includes men's and women's tournaments consisting of six teams each, with games to be played at BMO Stadium, home to Los Angeles FC of MLS and Angel City FC of the NWSL. More than 200 players have expressed interest in participating, according to NFL officials cited by 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. Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson attended the announcement of the resolution in May 2025 and said he would consider playing. The NFLPA said in the week before the 2025 owners' meeting that it fully supported "our player members participating in the Olympics and taking this opportunity to represent their country on the highest international stage." The union added then that it looked forward to discussing the players' participation with the NFL "to ensure players who choose to compete can do so without detrimental impacts to their health, safety and job." Veteran U.S. flag football players have expressed concern that they want a fair chance to vie for roster spots, creating potential tension between NFL and non-NFL flag football talent. The timing of a final agreement remains unclear, meaning players and teams may not have clarity well in advance of the Games. The NFL has leaned heavily into flag football expansion, viewing the non-tackle version as a vehicle to boost youth participation and broaden global appeal. The league is launching professional flag football leagues for men and women, established an ambitious youth flag football tournament, and promoted growth at high school and collegiate levels. The NFL played its Pro Bowl as a flag football game in recent years before announcing Wednesday that it was eliminating the postseason all-star game.