The NFL has officially signed off on allowing its players to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics, where flag football will debut as a medal event. It’s a historic moment that gives football fans a new reason to watch the Games and sparks an entirely different kind of roster debate. But it’s also forcing players to make a tough decision: Chase Olympic gold or stay focused on football’s ultimate prize.
With the Games set to begin in mid-July and NFL training camps nearing, players must choose between two competing priorities. For younger stars with fewer team responsibilities, the opportunity might be worth the disruption. For established veterans with playoff expectations and leadership roles, it’s a harder sell. Just ask A.J. Brown.
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Why Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown Says Olympic Flag Football Is a Hard Pass
Speaking to reporters on May 20, the Eagles wideout didn’t hesitate when asked if he’d consider playing flag football at the Olympics.
“I heard the Olympics is during camp. Yeah, so, no. So, yeah, that would be tough,” Brown said. “I think that would be fun just to compete. Me personally, no, because of camp. [The media] would be complaining, ‘A.J. Brown is not in camp.’ And so would the fans. So I’m gonna focus. I’m going to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Plenty of players will have to answer that question. Are they willing to miss camp time — and possibly parts of the offseason program — to prepare for and play a very different version of football? The Olympic format is five-on-five, played on a smaller field, and centered more on agility, spacing, and speed than traditional physicality.
NFL owners approved participation for players in flag football in the 2028 Olympics.
A.J. Brown earlier today on competing in the Olympics: “I heard the Olympics is during camp. So, yeah, that would be tough. …That would be fun just to compete. Me personally, no, because of…
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) May 20, 2025
Ultimately, only 12 NFL players will suit up for Team USA in 2028, with six more serving as alternates. Despite the small roster size, the league and USA Football won’t have any trouble finding players willing to make the leap. There’s already buzz surrounding names like Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Travis Hunter, CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Matthew Golden — explosive playmakers who are well-suited to the flag format and may still be early in their careers by the time the Games roll around.
Still, not everyone will be interested in taking on what amounts to a second offseason job, especially when the NFL season looms. It’s not just a matter of being chosen to play, as preparing for tryouts will be long and hard. Not that NFL athletes aren’t used to training, of course.
According to USA Flag, the tryout process will be strict. National teams will be selected through rigorous qualifying events and talent identification camps. The organization prepares American athletes through structured national tournaments and player development programs. And let’s not forget that NFL players will compete for a spot against top-ranked flag football athletes.
For NFL players like Brown and others, skipping camp — even for Olympic gold — could be seen as a distraction from the more important task: Preparing for a Super Bowl run.
As much as fans may want to see NFL stars on the world stage, not every star wants to juggle two commitments. For some, the “main thing” will always be football.