USA Football has announced its national flag football teams for the current season, but the composition of the squads, notably the men’s team, remains uncertain as the sport prepares for its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles games.

NFL Owners Consider Olympic Participation

NFL team owners are currently deliberating a proposal that could pave the way for contracted players to compete in flag football at the Olympics. The discussions are taking place during their spring meetings in Minnesota.

The resolution requires approval from at least 24 of the 32 team owners.If passed, the league would then engage in negotiations with the NFL Players Association, Olympic officials, and national governing bodies to establish the specific terms for NFL player participation.

USA Football’s Stance

Scott hallenbeck, CEO and executive director of USA Football, expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing discussions. thrilled that the topic will be discussed.

If participation is approved, we stand ready to provide opportunities for NFL players to be part of Team USA and compete alongside established flag football stars and talent-transfer athletes from other sports.We will field the best team possible in pursuit of our ultimate goal of earning two gold medals for the United States in flag football.

Scott Hallenbeck, CEO and executive director of USA Football

USA Football is responsible for the selection and training of national teams for international competitions.

2025 National Teams Announced

USA Football officially unveiled the 12-athlete rosters for the 2025 men’s and women’s flag football national teams on Monday.

• The teams will participate in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Panama in September.
• The women’s team is also scheduled to compete at the World Games in Chengdu, China, in August.

Currently, the men’s roster does not include any active NFL players, although several players have a background in college tackle football.

NFL’s Investment in Flag Football

The NFL has been actively promoting flag football to boost youth participation and create more opportunities for women in the sport. the league played a significant role in advocating for flag football’s inclusion in the Los Angeles Olympics.

Recent Successes

Both the U.S. men’s and women’s squads secured gold medals at the IFAF flag football world championships in Lahti, Finland, last season. The men’s team has won five consecutive IFAF flag football world championships, while the women’s team has achieved three consecutive victories.

The depth of talent in our athlete pool is the best it’s ever been.

eric Mayes, managing director of high performance and national teams for USA Football