At a Glance
- NFL owners voted Tuesday to let active players compete in the 2028 LA Olympics flag football tournament
- Super Bowl week will feature two showcase games: the Pro Bowl flag showdown Feb. 3 and a USA-vs-Mexico exhibition Feb. 5
- USA Football will select and train both the men’s and women’s national squads
- Why it matters: Fans could see household NFL names chasing Olympic medals on home soil
San Francisco’s Super Bowl week is doubling as a coming-out party for Olympic flag football. The NFL’s shift to a flag Pro Bowl three years ago will be joined by a standalone Team USA vs. Mexico exhibition on Feb. 5, creating back-to-back marquee events that organizers hope will turbo-charge interest ahead of the sport’s debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Two Games, One Platform
The schedule is straightforward:
- Feb. 3 – Pro Bowl flag game featuring NFL stars
- Feb. 5 – USA vs. Mexico at the Moscone Center, streamed live on the NFL’s YouTube channel
Both contests will be played inside the Super Bowl Experience fan fest, guaranteeing a football-crazed audience and global media spotlight.
Olympic Roster Wild Card
With the NFL’s new resolution, the 2028 roster could blend active pros, recently retired players and longtime flag specialists. USA Football, the sport’s national governing body, will run trials and training camps before finalizing men’s and women’s teams for LA.
“The opportunity to have NFL players join our elite talent pathway leading up to the LA28 Olympics is exciting for athletes and fans alike,” Scott Hallenbeck, USA Football CEO, said in Tuesday’s announcement. “We have one goal for the Olympics, and that’s to win the men’s and women’s gold medals.”
Unfinished Business
The USA-Mexico clash carries extra edge. The rivals never got to settle last September’s IFAF Americas Continental Championship final in Panama; lightning scrubbed the gold-medal game.
“This matchup is overdue. Our guys want it, and I’m sure Team Mexico does, too,” said Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, Team USA quarterback. “We plan to approach this exhibition with the same preparation and intensity as a regular game.”
Mexico’s camp echoed the sentiment.
“This opportunity that both teams are going to have is incredible,” defensive back Ramón Alonso Gaxiola said. “Playing a final is something we have always dreamed of.”
From Sideline to Center Stage
Flag football’s Olympic inclusion in October 2023 has already accelerated participation numbers, according to Hallenbeck.
“The Olympic announcement in 2023 was rocket fuel for a sport that was already surging in popularity,” he said. “With the league’s leadership and support through opportunities like this exhibition, we’ll ignite even more passion, participation and fandom.”
Toyota is title-sponsoring the Feb. 5 exhibition, underscoring corporate confidence in the sport’s growth trajectory.
Key Takeaways
- NFL players are now officially eligible for Olympic flag football
- Super Bowl week becomes a dual showcase with the Pro Bowl game and a USA-Mexico grudge match
- USA Football controls team selection and is targeting gold in both men’s and women’s tournaments
- The Moscone Center exhibition offers a preview of the fast-paced, skills-heavy format fans will see in LA
