At the end of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it was announced that flag football would be included as part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games
This led to a big question around the world: Would NFL players be allowed to participate? According to a recent report, this issue is causing some tension between the league and its owners.
NFL and team owners have mixed opinions
There had been growing momentum in recent years for flag football to be included in the Summer Olympics, and it will now make its Olympic debut in 2028. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was named global ambassador for flag football, and players from around the league expressed their excitement at the possibility of participating in the Olympic Games.
“As we celebrate the successes of Paris 2024 and the ball is thrown to LA28, we have no doubt that flag football will light up the Games when it makes its debut in four years’ time,” said Pierre Trochet, president of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), shortly after the announcement.
Not everyone is excited about the possibility of NFL players participating in the 2028 Olympic Games, as team owners fear their players will get injured or not be ready for the start of the next campaign. With the league open to players participating in the Games, there is some internal tension.
“Several NFL players have expressed interest in playing. We understand that the league office wants that to happen. However, the owners are being more cautious. This has created tension between the NFL and the team owners,” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported Monday.
“During last week’s annual meeting in Florida, we sensed the push and pull. The league sees an opportunity to market the brand on a global scale. The owners see the possibility of key players getting injured. And even if they don’t, they will lose preparation time for the 2028 season.”
The 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled from July 14-30, which would cause participating players to miss the start of training camp for their respective teams.
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