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≡ FLAG FOOTBALL ≡
The National Football League owners voted 32-0 at the Spring League Meeting on Tuesday in Eagen, Minnesota, to allow NFL players to participate in the 2028 Olympic Flag Football tournament, subject to conditions to be worked out with the NFL Players’ Association and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF):
● “The approved resolution authorizes the league to work with the NFL Players Association, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and the relevant Olympic authorities to implement rules governing the participation of NFL players in flag football, which makes its Olympic debut in 2028.”
● “As per the terms agreed to today, NFL player participation with their countries’ national flag football teams will begin with a tryout or qualification process in advance of the Olympic competition.”
● “A maximum of one player from each team will be allowed to participate and each club’s designated international player is also permitted to take part for his country.”
● Issues to be worked out include “injury protection and salary cap credit should a player get injured while engaged in flag football activities,” “certain minimum standards for medical staff and field surfaces” for NFL players, and scheduling so that flag football programming “does not unreasonably conflict” with NFL commitments.
The announcement included an enthusiastic endorsement from NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell, Jr.:
“Players have expressed to us a great desire for the honor of competing in the Olympics, and we’re excited that our members will be able to represent their country on the highest international stage.
“We look forward to working with the league, IFAF, and Olympic authorities on the terms of their participation to ensure players who compete will do so with protections to their health, safety, and job.”
Naturally, the IFAF was thrilled, with President Pierre Trochet (FRA) saying:
“I warmly welcome the outcome of this vote, which promises to add another dimension to what is already shaping up to be a game-changing debut for flag football at the Olympic Games.
“The National Football League is home to the biggest stars in American football, who come from more and more countries, and now have the opportunity to shine on the greatest stage in world sport, showcasing everything that makes flag football a genuine worldwide phenomenon. IFAF’s 75 national federations join me in thanking our NFL partners for this further demonstration of their commitment to flag football in the Olympic Movement.”
But the three biggest winners on Tuesday: the NFL, LA28 and NBC:
● Seeing the impact that soccer has had in the U.S., especially in terms of youth participation and the commercial growth of not only Major League Soccer, but by foreign clubs touring in the U.S., and FIFA, which has its 2025 Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the U.S. in part of whole, the NFL has identified flag football as a way to grow American Football globally, especially for women. The Olympic exposure will be key to this, and the NFL (men’s) stars are the publicity key.
Said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:
“It’s truly the next step in making NFL football and football a global sport for men and women of all ages and all opportunities across the globe. We think that’s the right thing to do, and this is a big step in accomplishing that.”
● The LA28 organizers now have NFL players in the Olympic Games, a long-treasured goal of Chair Casey Wasserman.
But the inclusion raises new questions as well. Flag Football has been targeted for the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as well as lacrosse sixes.
But for the U.S. flag matches, is a 22,000-seater really the right size? Could the American men’s games be transferred to a larger stadium … say the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which will seat about 85,000 in 2028? Perhaps the semis and finals as well?
This could work if the flag tournament is held during the first week of the 2028 Games, as the Rose Bowl is slated for the men’s and women’s football (soccer) semifinals and finals, which will be during the second week. And if only the U.S. matches are played there, it won’t chew up the field too badly.
And earlier is better for the NFL as well, which will open its training camps on 16 July in 2025, and the 2028 Olympic Games will be held from 14-30 July. Since most teams barely play their starters in the pre-season anyway, an earlier schedule for flag football helps everyone.
● NBC might be the biggest winner of all, with a way to tie its strong NFL audience into its 2028 Olympic Games and expand the impact of its Games broadcasts even further.
Scheduling will be key, with track & field moved to the first week in 2028 and the swimming in the second week and artistic gymnastics also in the mix. It will be fascinating to see how these bedrock Olympic sports are treated by NBC with NFL stars playing flag football during the same time.
There are potential losers, of course, and first on the list are the American players who won their fifth straight IFAF World Championships gold in 2024, in Finland, led by quarterback Darrell Doucette, who completed 71 of 91 passes for 1,069 yards, 25 touchdowns and no interceptions in seven games. He said last year:
“I think it’s disrespectful that they just automatically assume that they’re able to just join the Olympic team because of the person that they are; they didn’t help grow this game to get to the Olympics. Give the guys who helped this game get to where it’s at their respect.”
Game on.
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