Goodell expects active, retired NFL players in LA 2028 flag football

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he expects both active and retired NFL players to appear in the Olympic flag football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The league has a policy that allows each of its 32 teams to make up to one active player available for Olympic participation, subject to the sport’s national-team selection process.

Goodell said the calendar was central to the league’s willingness to allow participation. He indicated the tournament is expected to be held before NFL training camps and to take place during the first week of the Olympics, a structure designed to limit conflicts for players and clubs.

The league approved its framework for potential Olympic involvement about a year ago, and Goodell said he has heard from players interested in competing. Any eventual roster, however, will depend on who is selected for the U.S. men’s national flag football team.

The policy does not guarantee any specific player a place in the Olympic field. Even if an NFL club makes an active player available, that athlete would still need to advance through the relevant selection pathway to represent the United States.

Goodell said he also expects interest from former players. With the Games being hosted in Los Angeles, the Olympic debut of flag football is expected to put additional attention on the sport and on the U.S. roster decisions.

League participation rules and national-team selection

Under the NFL policy, each franchise can make up to one active player available for Olympic participation, but final selection remains separate from league approval. The national-team process will determine which athletes make the roster for the 2028 tournament.

That separation means the pool of candidates could include current NFL players, retired players and other flag football specialists, depending on eligibility and selection criteria set by the national program.

Why the flag format favors different traits

Flag football emphasizes quickness, change of direction, speed and open-field skills rather than contact and blocking. Recent events have highlighted how those differences can reshape positional value and put a premium on versatility in the non-contact game.

Attention now turns to how the U.S. men’s national-team selection process will be organized and which players choose to pursue a roster spot as the Los Angeles Games approach.