Anticipation is building for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, especially for the debut of flag football. As NFL players express interest in representing the U.S., the big question is: Will their skills translate from tackle football to flag?
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As Football Expands, 2028 Olympics Could Be a Turning Point
Flag football is expected to be one of the most-watched events at the 2028 Olympics. With global intrigue around America’s most popular sport, many are wondering if the Olympics could serve as a launching point for flag football’s international growth.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer joined “The Dan Patrick Show” to share his thoughts on the format and whether NFL players truly belong in it.
"I just wonder if the juice is worth the squeeze. So you'll get a little more attention on it by putting NFL players out there, but are they the best players in the world at that specific sport."
–@AlbertBreer discusses #NFL players participating in the #Olympics pic.twitter.com/7xtxWjEwyX
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 20, 2025
Breer shared a personal story from college, recalling how his fraternity flag football team, made up mostly of former high school players, dominated on campus. But when they entered a more competitive Nike Elite league, reality hit hard.
“We got our freaking doors blown off,” Breer said. “What we found out in doing that was this flag league wasn’t like football — it was a different sport altogether. There were laterals, pitches, and it had nothing to do with size and strength.”
That experience shaped his skepticism about sending NFL players to the Olympics.
“I get the concept of putting NFL players out there,” Breer said. “I just wonder if the juice is worth the squeeze. You’ll get more attention, but are they the best players in the world at that specific thing?”
Breer continued: “If you’re giving people five years to train for this, are you saying an NFL player can be ready in a month? If I’m a team, I’m thinking, ‘that’s when our guy should be preparing for training camp — not doing something completely different.’”
Breer Questions Whether NFL Players Could Turn Olympics Into a ‘Freak Show’
What once seemed like a no-brainer — sending NFL stars to represent Team USA — now looks a bit more complicated.
“I think the risk here would be: Are you just turning this into a freak show?” Breer said. “Like, come watch a 250-pound tight end go play against a bunch of 180-pound guys from France. Is that what we’re doing?”
Breer said the issue isn’t about talent, but about the long-term direction of the sport.
“Is that good for the viability of flag football as a sport?” he asked. “I don’t know. I think those are all fair questions. I don’t have the answers, but I do think it’s worth discussing.”
Flag football requires a different skill set than tackle football. Whether it makes sense to send NFL players to Los Angeles remains to be seen. For now, the questions hang in the air, and the debate will only grow as 2028 gets closer.