Josh Allen said he would be “very honored” to play flag football for Team USA at the 2028 Summer Olympics, putting one of the NFL’s biggest names squarely in the conversation for an Olympic debut still three years away. The Buffalo Bills quarterback made clear he is interested, even as he stopped short of saying he belongs on the roster.
Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, said he has always thought it would be “really cool” to compete for his country. He said he watched flag football on TV not long ago and came away impressed by how differently the players move, describing a game built on hips, cuts and quick evasion. “I can throw with the best of them,” he said, “but I’m better at usually running through people than spinning and getting around them.”
That distinction matters because flag football is expected to be played before NFL training camps open at the 2028 Olympics, and the door is already open enough to draw real interest from active players. Allen told News Digital on behalf of Natrol that he is interested in playing for Team USA, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said last Thursday on ’s “Women's Sports Now” that he has heard from many players who want in. Goodell said players love the big stage and would treasure the chance to win a medal, adding that he absolutely believes the Olympics will have NFL players.
The appeal is obvious, but the selection problem is not. Allen’s interest does not guarantee a spot, and he said as much when he added, “if I have the skillset, that’s a different story.” That leaves the real question in the hands of whatever Olympic flag football roster process emerges: whether the format will reward the best pure football talent, the best flag football specialists, or some mix of both.
Goodell has already suggested active NFL players and possibly recently retired stars could be in the mix when the sport makes its Olympic debut. The idea has enough star power that a separate example has already circulated involving Tom Brady, Stefon Diggs and Rob Gronkowski in flag football, a sign of how quickly the sport’s Olympic version could become a showcase for familiar names. For Allen, the line between curiosity and commitment is still there, but he has put himself in the frame. If Team USA wants the 2024 NFL MVP, the next test is whether flag football asks for his arm more than his style.
