For the more traditional fan, the topic of NFL Flag football is a new one that brings mixed reactions and much debate. As we all know, there has been a push in recent years to grow the version of the game that doesn’t involve tackling. For many, it makes much more sense due to the non-contact nature of simply needing to ‘own’ the player flag during plays, but the prospect of an American football ‘Dream Team’ under the banner of this sport has now taken another step forward.
As fans know, back in May of this year, it was confirmed that NFL players and franchises had been given permission to compete in the sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and this step had finally come on the back of Flag football being added to the LA 2028 program of events way back in October 2023. The expectation was that the NFL would finally achieve its dream of emulating basketball’s Dream Team setup, which took part in the Barcelona 1992 Games. The New York Jets would absolutely want to play their part in helping to set such a piece of history.
Since the original confirmation, the league has been working with franchises, the NFL Players Association, and the national federations to enable NFL stars to be available for selection. In the spring meeting in Minnesota, a resolution was unanimously passed by the owners, securing participation in Flag football’s Olympic debut. Each participating nation will be able to select one player per NFL team, plus each team’s designated international player may also be selected. For those fans who have betting on NFL in their blood, they will be watching the odds on who could be involved as the time gets closer.
All 32 NFL franchises are permitted an additional spot on their practice squad roster for an international player, as Louis Rees-Zammit benefited from at the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2024 campaign. NFL’s involvement naturally hopes to drive the league further when it comes to global eyes and recognition, but Flag football itself is already watched by millions worldwide and has undergone rapid growth in recent years, and the NFL’s own stats suggest that there are now 20 million players worldwide, with a record number of 31 nations having taken part in last year’s Flag Football World Championships, and of course, the flag variant has now become a staple of the Pro Bowl since 2023.
Those plans took a further giant step forward this week as it was confirmed that seven-time Super Bowl-winning legend Tom Brady would be dusting off his quarterback gloves and following his retirement back in 2023, he would now be returning to the field of play for a Saudi Arabian-held tournament next year. The 48-year-old will now join current and former NFL stars for a Flag football competition in Riyadh on March 21, and it will feature three teams in a round robin format in what will be a warm-up for the debut in LA 2028.
The three teams will be coached by Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan. It has already been confirmed that current stars Saquon Barkley and Tyreek Hill will be joined by Odell Beckham Jnr and Rob Gronkowski, and those in the Jet Nation will simply have to see if we have any representation here, as additional participants will be confirmed in due course. Then we see what part we will play when 2028 is here.
