USA Football offered insight into how they plan to assemble the men's flag football team for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The Olympics are introducing flag football in Los Angeles, and the NFL will allow players to participate. However, USA Football may not want to build a roster solely featuring NFL stars after the U.S. flag football squad dominated at Saturday's Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
Scott Hallenbeck, the CEO and executive director of USA Football, told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio that selection protocols are expected to be approved and announced by the end of 2026. They currently plan to pursue NFL and flag football players.
"For the Olympics in 2028, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) must approve our process," Hallenbeck said. "USA Football is currently building the selection procedures for 2028 — a process that would involve select NFL players as well as the best of the elite flag players, like what all saw on display in Los Angeles on Saturday."
Hallenbeck said they will also monitor athletes from other sports, such as basketball and track and field, for a possible "talent transfer" to flag football.
USA Football must acclimate NFL stars to flag football
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Hallenbeck told Florio that USA Football plans to soon send out a form to NFL players to gauge their interest in participating in the 2028 Olympics. Yet the Fanatics Flag Football Classic showed that it's not as easy as choosing the most notable NFL names.
USA Football will also take steps to acclimate NFL players to a different form of football.
"We’re working to develop opportunities throughout 2027 for NFL players to have the chance to immerse themselves in the flag discipline, so they better understand the strategy, rules, nuance and skillset required for international flag football," Hallenbeck said.
Last year, the NFL approved measures allowing one player per team to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Team USA can pick up to 10 NFL talents for the five-on-five format.
