Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown is making it clear he won’t be swapping shoulder pads for flags anytime soon.
With flag football set to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, many NFL players are weighing whether to participate. Brown, however, is firmly focused on his NFL responsibilities.
A.J. Brown won’t sacrifice camp for Olympics experience
While the NFL recently approved player participation in the Olympic Games, questions remain about how many will actually step away from training camp to represent Team USA.
The Olympic flag football tournament is scheduled from July 14 through July 30, which directly overlaps with NFL training camps.
Brown addressed the issue during a media session on Tuesday, offering a straightforward take on where his priorities lie.
“I heard the Olympics is during camp,”Brown said, via All Phly’s Zach Berman.
“So, yeah, that would be tough. 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.’ So would the fans. So I’m going to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Brown isn’t alone in his thinking.
Although only one NFL player per team is allowed to join the Olympic roster, with up to six alternates, many top-tier players may hesitate due to timing conflicts and the physical risk involved.
The NFL has indicated that insurance and scheduling considerations are being addressed, but details remain unclear.
“I think that would be fun just to compete,” Brown reiterated.
“But me personally, no, because of camp and, you know, you guys would be complaining about ‘A.J. Brown is not at camp’ and so would the fans. So, I’m gonna keep the main thing the main thing as J (Jalen Hurts) says.”
Despite Brown’s stance, excitement is growing around the possibility of NFL talent competing on the international stage.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently acknowledged the enthusiasm among players, calling Olympic participation “an incredible honor.”
Still, for many, like Brown, the NFL season remains the priority.
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