At a Glance
- Flag football makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games
- NFL owners approved players to compete for Team USA in 2028
- Super Bowl week in San Francisco hosts USA vs. Mexico exhibition on Feb. 5
- Why it matters: Fans could see active NFL talent chasing Olympic medals on home soil
Flag football’s path to Olympic glory in Los Angeles took a major leap forward as NFL owners cleared the way for league players to suit up for Team USA in 2028. The move sets the stage for a potential roster stocked with familiar faces from Sundays battling for gold medals on the sport’s biggest stage.
The announcement comes as the sport enjoys a spotlight week in San Francisco. Two high-profile games anchor Super Bowl festivities, offering a preview of the Olympic format and a chance for the U.S. and Mexico to renew a rivalry cut short by weather last year.
Double-header spotlights flag football ahead of LA28
Super Bowl week will feature back-to-back showcase games designed to stoke interest in the five-on-five discipline.
- Feb. 3 – NFL’s elite take the field during Pro Bowl festivities
- Feb. 5 – Team USA faces Mexico in an exhibition streamed live on the NFL’s YouTube channel
Both contests will be played inside the Moscone Center, transformed into a fan-fest venue steps from the main Super Bowl experience. Toyota is presenting the Feb. 5 matchup.
USA Football, the national governing body, is using the week to evaluate talent and build buzz. CEO Scott Hallenbeck said the organization will select and train both the men’s and women’s Olympic squads, blending traditional 11-on-11 veterans with specialists who have spent years perfecting the flag version of the game.
NFL door opens for Olympic roster spots
Tuesday’s owner vote removes a key barrier: league personnel can now chase Olympic roster spots without conflicting with NFL contracts. The resolution does not guarantee spots for active players, but it allows USA Football to recruit from the deepest talent pool in the sport.
“The opportunity to have NFL players join our elite talent pathway leading up to the LA28 Olympics is exciting for athletes and fans alike,” Hallenbeck said in a statement. “We have one goal for the Olympics, and that’s to win the men’s and women’s gold medals.”
The decision mirrors the league’s broader embrace of flag football. Three years ago the Pro Bowl itself switched from tackle to flag, and this season the league folded all Pro Bowl events into Super Bowl week to amplify exposure.
USA vs. Mexico: the rivalry resumes
The Feb. 5 exhibition carries extra weight for both countries. Last September the gold-medal clash at the IFAF Americas Continental Championship in Panama was canceled because of severe weather, leaving bragging rights unsettled.
“This matchup is overdue. Our guys want it, and I’m sure Team Mexico does, too,” said Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, Team USA quarterback and one of the sport’s most recognizable figures. “We plan to approach this exhibition with the same preparation and intensity as a regular game.”
Mexico’s captain, defensive back Ramón Alonso Gaxiola, echoed the sentiment. “Playing a final is something we have always dreamed of,” he said.
Coaches on both sides are expected to treat the contest like a de-facto championship, using the full 40-minute clock and international rules that ban contact and require defenders to pull a flag rather than tackle.
Olympic timeline and qualification
Flag football was officially added to the Olympic program in October 2023, part of a push by the International Olympic Committee to attract younger audiences and gender-balanced events. LA28 organizers lobbied hard for the sport’s inclusion, taping into America’s football culture without the injury concerns associated with tackle versions.
USA Football now faces a two-year sprint to finalize rosters. Trials, combines and domestic leagues will feed into selection camps, with the first national-team depth charts expected to emerge later this year. Hallenbeck said support from the NFL “only strengthens our chances of success as we seek to build the best teams possible.”
Key Takeaways
- NFL players are now eligible to compete for Olympic flag football gold in Los Angeles
- A USA vs. Mexico exhibition on Feb. 5 offers an early look at potential roster talent
- The sport’s Olympic debut in 2028 could feature household names from Sundays
- Back-to-back showcase games during Super Bowl week aim to expand the sport’s fan base
