NFL Stars Can Chase Olympic Gold in 2028 Flag Football

NFL superstars will soon have a shot at something money can't buy: an Olympic gold medal.

The league officially announced it will allow players to compete in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It's a historic first that has pros like Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow already dreaming big.

"When this got announced, I was pretty excited about it," Burrow told TMZ Sports at the 2026 Fanatics Flag Football Classic press conference. "The opportunity to win a gold medal is something that I've thought about since I was a kid."

Burrow and other NFL stars competed in a round-robin flag football tournament on March 21, serving as a warm-up for Olympic tryouts. The event gave fans a preview of what these elite athletes might bring to the global stage in two years.

When asked where an Olympic gold would rank among his career achievements, Burrow didn't hesitate. While he stopped short of putting it above a Super Bowl win, he made it clear the Olympics hold special meaning.

"I think it will be something very special," the quarterback said.

Why This Inspires

Flag football's Olympic debut represents more than just another trophy case addition for wealthy athletes. It's about childhood dreams that transcend professional success.

Burrow grew up watching Olympic Games like millions of other kids, imagining what it would feel like to stand on that podium with a gold medal around his neck. Now, thanks to flag football's inclusion and the NFL's blessing, that dream is actually possible.

Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, who won't compete but plans to cheer from the sidelines, celebrated the opportunity for younger players. "I love to see this event, how it amplifies and shows just how talented some of these young people are," he said.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will give the world's best football players something no Super Bowl ring can provide: the chance to represent their country on sports' biggest stage.