Flag football is making its long-awaited debut at the 2028 Olympics, and some NFL players will likely be headlining some of the teams. Team USA will have a plethora of options between its current flag football team and all the best NFL players who will be lining up to represent their country at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase isn’t sold on the idea of competing for Team USA in flag football during the Olympics.
Ja’Marr Chase Talks About Potential Participation at 2028 Olympics
Chase has apprehensions about playing in the Olympics for Team USA. He wants to know the exact details, including recovery time before the season, potential compensation, and the duration of this event. Chase isn’t shutting down playing a part for Team USA, but also is not committing to the team yet.
“I don’t know how I feel about it, to be completely honest. I don’t know. I want to hear more. I want to hear more information about it. I want to know the timing for us, offseason, in-season. I want to know if we getting paid. I want to know where we traveling every other week or every day. All that plays a part. We have an offseason. We have a life,” said Chase about potentially suiting up for Team USA.
Ja’Marr Chase on playing in the Olympics flag football, NFL pro bowl, playing in the preseason to get ready for the regular season. Chase spent 19 minutes talking with reporters on a wide range of topics Tuesday following OTA’s. pic.twitter.com/o1INFk366P
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 27, 2025
Chase is one of the best receivers in the NFL and will have no problem getting a spot on the team if he decides that he wants it. He terrorized the best athletes in the NFL on his way to the receiving Triple Crown, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting and was a First-Team All-Pro.
Chase acknowledged that flag football is a different game and that the Pro Bowl flag football game is also different because the Pro Bowlers are playing against each other. In the Olympics, Chase acknowledges that he won’t be going against the same caliber of athletes that he sees every day in the NFL. Chase is confident they would kill the flag football teams, and he doesn’t want their love for the game to interfere with each other.
“Flag football teams, we taking they love of the game, bashing it with our love of the game. And now we taking their love away, if we killing them,” said Chase.
Chase thinks the idea of the tournament is cool, but is confident that the US would steamroll all the competition. He will probably think that it is even cooler if he is standing with a gold medal around his neck as a world champion. While unwilling to commit at this moment, Chase could very well be one of the headliners of the Team USA flag football roster when the Olympics roll around in 2028.
Once the team begins to take shape, there will be more clarity on how the competition works and who is playing, which will help Chase make his decision. There is also an injury risk for these players, and whether NFL franchises will want their stars playing remains to be seen. Chase will be a story to watch as the Olympics get closer, but for now, Chase will be focused on winning a championship with the Bengals.