Eagles

It’s Official! NFL Owners to Allow NFL Players to Participate in Flag Football at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics

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Mike Lipinski
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Mike Lipinski Sports Editor

Mike Lipinski has been covering Philadelphia sports since 2005. Previous stops include Section 247 Sports, My MMA News, and more. He has been a part of the Sports Talk Philly team since 2019. He is the editor of Philadelphia Phillies content, co-editor for college football covering mainly the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and dabbles in all other sports. Follow him on social media channels -Twitter & Threads- @TheMikeLipinski

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Sports Editor

Published20 May 2025

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Hurts Olympics (1)

Game on! The National Football League (NFL) owners voted unanimously on Monday afternoon to allow league players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. As expected, there are conditions to the player’s participation in the LA Games.

Only one NFL player on each roster can “try out” for any given country’s Olympic flag football team. Simply, only one Philadelphia Eagles player will be eligible to participate on the United States flag football team at the games. However, the Eagles could have someone like offensive lineman Jordan Mailata playing for his native Australia. Additionally, players that have been added to their respective NFL roster via the league’s International Player Pathway program don’t count towards a roster spot.

 

About Flag Football at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics

 

In a surprise move, flag football at the ‘28 Summer Olympiad will be the five-on-five version of the game. Traditionally, flag football at the higher levels is played in the seven-on-seven format. Here’s what else we know about the debut of flag football in the Olympics:

  • The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) will govern participation in the games
  • Six nations as chosen by the IFAF will participate in LA
  • “Minimum standards” will need to be meet for medical staff and field surfaces in order for NFL players to participate

About the 2028 Summer Olympics

The 2028 Los Angeles games are set to begin on July 14, 2028, with simultaneous opening ceremonies from the famous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. The Games will run from mid-July through July 30. The flag football competition is set to take place at BMO Stadium, home of the MLS’s Los Angeles FC, in the Exposition Park section of the city. In addition to flag football, squash will make its Olympic debut. The LA Games will also feature the return of baseball, softball, cricket, and lacrosse.