Joe Burrow quarterbacking Team USA to a gold medal? It’s on the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback’s mind at the very least. The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will feature flag football for the first time. Team USA showed over the weekend that it is already a force in the sport with non-NFL players.
However, NFL players will have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the 10-man Olympics roster. League owners approved the inclusion for its players last spring.
Burrow got a taste of the 5-on-5 Olympic-style game Saturday during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. The event was dominated by Team USA, which went 3-0 en route to the championship. The NFL players looked out of sorts at times, especially early, as it became clear it is simply a different game.
The Bengals’ quarterback was one of the few NFL players giving it his all throughout the day, however. In an event that featured influencers like Logan Paul and IShowSpeed, Burrow was taking the games seriously. He completed 30 of his 41 pass attempts for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns across three games Saturday. He also caught 3 passes for 47 yards.
It didn’t seem like the former No. 1 pick was treating the event like a gimmick.
“Guys are taking it seriously,” he said in the pre-event press conference. “We wanna win. … If you’re gonna do it, then go out and give it your all. If you don’t want to do it, then you just shouldn’t be out there.”
He was one of the players who spoke openly about his desire to play in the Los Angeles Olympics two years from now.
Burrow Has Olympic Dreams
Burrow acknowledged that winning a Super Bowl is the “pinnacle” of his profession. However, the desire to compete in the Olympics and win a gold medal is something that goes beyond just his NFL dreams.
“I’ve always wanted to play in the Olympics,” Burrow said. “I’ve never necessarily played an Olympic sport before, so when this got announced I was pretty excited about it. The opportunity to win a gold medal, that’s something that I’ve thought about a moment like that for a long time. Since I was a kid. I think it would be something very special.”
The former LSU star is now heading into his seventh season in the NFL. He missed time with injury in 2025 and was limited to eight appearances in Year 6. Burrow will be 31 and still in his prime by the time the 2028 Olympics roll around.
Challenges Facing Joe Burrow And Other NFL Players Looking To Compete In 2028
Still, it won’t be as easy as simply claiming a spot on the team. That was evidenced by Saturday’s dominant performance from Team USA. How many NFL players and who will even attempt make the roster remains a question. Los Angeles Rams receiver Davante Adams was one player who said last week he was not ready to commit to being a participant.
Former star linebacker Luke Kuechly acknowledged the skillset required to play the 5-on-5 flag game simply doesn’t suit many players at his position.
There are still some things that need to be ironed out before it reaches the point of deciphering which NFL players would be in position to make the roster. Saturday’s event helped bring some clarity to the picture, but there are many elements in play.
Brady was a co-promoter of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic and has worked to be at the forefront of bringing the emerging sport to a wider audience. He was clear throughout the week that he has no intention of playing in the Olympics. But, he also acknowledged all that will be required for players who will decide to make it part of their future plans.
“I’d love to see the American team win it all,” Brady said. “It’s gonna be a lot of hard work that goes into it. I think everybody realizes today that the way the game is being played, there’s different body types and so forth. But, that’s what you do. You kind of learn as you go.”
The NFL players will be playing catchup. Team USA’s players have dedicated years to learning the game. It showed Saturday.
“You gotta take the time to actually learn it,” Team USA receiver and defensive back Ja’Deion High said. “It took me two years to actually adapt to flag football, because I played tackle my whole life — at [Texas] Tech, little league. It took me two years completely to adjust, it takes time.”
Burrow and the other NFL players will eventually find out how they stack up, but the Olympic dream remains intact for some.
