As the Paris Olympics wrap up, all eyes are now turning to Los Angeles 2028, where flag football will make its Olympic debut—a moment eagerly anticipated by the NFL.
The NFL has been laying the groundwork for this moment for years, investing in flag football as a way to broaden the sport’s appeal and ultimately draw more fans to the NFL. This includes funding girls’ leagues and promoting the sport internationally. With the upcoming Olympics, the NFL hopes to catapult flag football into the global spotlight and expand its international fan base.
Stephanie Kwok, recently appointed as the NFL’s first head of flag football, sees enormous potential in the Olympics. According to her, the Games offer a unique opportunity to introduce football to international audiences through a format that’s accessible and exciting. Kwok is also optimistic about the possibility of launching a professional women’s league, driven by the momentum from the Olympic exposure—an idea that has already sparked interest among NFL owners.
As flag football grows in popularity, the NFL and USA Football are working to make it a sanctioned high school and collegiate sport across the United States. Already, several states and college conferences have embraced it. The natural progression, according to Scott Hallenbeck, CEO and Executive Director of USA Football, is the establishment of a professional women’s league, supported by both fan interest and business potential.
Flag football’s Olympic version will differ from the traditional NFL game. With teams of five players on a 50-yard field, the sport will showcase a faster-paced, more dynamic version of football. The NFL’s partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), which governs the sport globally, has already seen the introduction of youth camps and world championships, further boosting the sport’s popularity. IFAF now boasts 75 member countries and an estimated 20 million players worldwide.
On the men’s side, the prospect of NFL stars representing Team USA in flag football is particularly exciting. Imagine an NFL Dream Team, led by top players like Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, vying for Olympic gold. Mahomes has expressed interest in participating, and Hill has talked about assembling a “super team” for the Games. However, there are logistical challenges to overcome, such as how playing in the Olympics would affect players’ contracts and insurance.
Despite these hurdles, the idea of NFL stars competing in the Olympics is tantalizing. Unlike in the NFL, where players are hidden behind helmets, the Olympics would offer them unprecedented global exposure. As Adriene Bueno, an athlete and brand consultant, points out, the Olympics could put NFL players in a global spotlight like never before.
The NFL is betting that flag football in the Olympics will transform the sport’s international reach and bring the league closer to its dream of global expansion.
