Flag Football at the 2028 Olympics: Could the NFL Create Its Very Own ‘Dream Team’?

This month, the International Olympic Committee announced that Flag Football will be one of 5 sports added to the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. The NFL has long seen this once- ‘backyard’ style of the game as a platform to showcase the best aspects of their sport on a worldwide stage.

This commitment to global expansion dates back over two decades, where the NFL first began to set up various youth flag football programs overseas. Presently, the sport boasts participation of 700,000 individuals across a dozen nations such as Ghana, China, Britain and Australia. 

Nevertheless, this modest success is incomparable in comparison to the potential which the 2028 Games pose in regards to the global expansion of American Football. 

Looking back to 1992, the Barcelona Olympic Games presented a similarly golden opportunity for basketball’s growth, and was a chance that was masterfully seized by a US’ ‘Dream Team led by stars such as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. 

This superstar ensemble orchestrated a dazzling display that ignited the aspirations of an entire generation of global basketball talent.  As we look ahead to 2028, a similarly star-studded US Flag Football team would stand with similarly transformative potential.

Speaking in the popular documentary ‘The Last Dance’, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon described the 1992 Dream Team as the primary catalyst for the sport’s massive international jump forward in the subsequent decades. 

Prior to 1992, the NBA only had 25 non-US players in the league. Fast-forward 30 years and the 2023-24 season is currently playing host to a remarkable 125 foreign players, underscoring an expansion that unmistakably carries the influence of the Dream Team.

The heritage of recent NBA stars speak volumes on the impact of the Dream Team. After his induction into the Hall of Fame this year, legendary Centre Pau Gasol made sure to emphasise the direct impact the 1992 Games had on his love for basketball. Esteemed NBA writer Marc Spears echoed these sentiments, asserting that figures like Dirk Nowitzki and Yao Ming might not have found their inspiration in basketball had it not been for the Dream Team’s efforts.

It is hard to ignore the potential of flag football at the 2028 games offering an opportunity for the NFL to create their own ‘Dream Team’, and use it as a catalyst to spark similar international growth.

The potential for the USA to assemble their own Dream Team in 2028’s flag football competition is simply too compelling to overlook.

Gameplay wise, unlike 1992, a 2028 Dream Team wouldn’t be playing the same format of the sport they are trying to promote. Nevertheless, flag football is in a lot of ways, a perfect advert for American Football on the global stage. The backyard style of the game promotes much of what makes football great: Athleticism, speed, creativity and most importantly touchdowns. Notably, it maintains these core values whilst steering clear of the violence, brutality and contact injuries that can at times turn new audiences off from the game.

Some would also suggest that the inevitable US dominance in 2028 would stand as a barrier to a successful sporting showcase. Given their abundance of NFL talent at their disposal, the US is likely to dominate any opposition they face. This has led to a recent collection of memes which play on the idea of NFL athletes coming up against countries with significantly lesser football reputations. 

Whilst US dominance is likely guaranteed, this does not lessen the ability to influence and importantly, entertain. In 1992, the Dream Team left a trail of destruction, winning every game by over 30 points and maintaining an impressive average margin of +44 over the course of the tournament. Although close games were noticeably lacking, their performances did the opposite of harming their popularity.

The 1992 Dream Team’s captivating allure wasn’t solely derived from their victories; it was their style of play that truly mesmerised audiences. Icons like Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, and Magic Johnson showcased a brand of basketball that transcended mere competition, instead showcasing how beautiful basketball can be. 

Already, various players including Tyreke Hill, Micah Parsons and Travis Kelce have already stated their commitment to partake in the games. Who’s to say a team with similarly star-studded talent wouldn’t have equal impact on worldwide audiences.

Olympic Flag Football would also pose the opportunity to blow up NFL stars’ international reputations. Whilst figures such as Patrick Mahomes or Nick Bosa are widely recognised within American homes, their international stardom is yet to match that of a lot of basketball players such as LeBron James.

A triumphant Olympic campaign could propel them into the realm of worldwide recognition – this is a notion exemplified by the widespread fame of the Dream Team during the 1992 Olympics, where opposing players sought photos with the likes of Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan during pre-game warmups.

There is no reason why NFL stars couldn’t come together in 5 years time and do the same thing. Just imagine the spectacle the league stars would be able to create, visions of a reunited Mahomes and Hill running rampant or a defensive line of Myles Garratt Nick Bosa and TJ Watt is a salivating prospect.

Football in the Olympics would not only aid the growth of current NFL playing staff, but could also inspire an entire new generation of talent. Foreign talent is already beginning to pop up on NFL rosters thanks to schemes such as the International Player Programme, which has given us notable figures such as Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata, a key part of the now infamous ‘Tush-Push’. 

A Dream-Team style football showcase on the Olympic level would likely inspire whole new generations, springboarding the sport to an entirely new status.

While the NFL does feature a modest presence of international talent, it remains significantly distant from the NBA, where foreign stars have assumed a dominant role. The last five MVP awards in the NBA have all been claimed by non-American players, a stark contrast to the NFL equivalent, which has exclusively seen American players crowned as winners. 

2028 poses the opportunity to captivate whole nations, sparking the potential for a new generation of non-American players which would create a more diverse, and likely more entertaining NFL. More diversity within any sport can so often lead to the creation of a more enthralling spectacle. 

For example, FIFA World Cups bring so much excitement due to the variety of playstyles, techniques and personalities. Italian teams often bring style and defensive solidity,  Spanish outfits frequently arrive with quick passing and efficiency, whilst Brazilians teams never fail to dazzle viewers with a flamboyant display of dramatic flair and colour. 

In the aftermath of the 1992 Olympics, the NBA experienced the emergence of a variety of playing styles in the league. This included the shifty playmaking of Frenchman Tony Parker, the imposing physicality of Yao Ming, and more recently, the strategic brilliance of Serbian talent Nikola Jokic. The potential impact of global football participation on future strategies, playstyles, and positional gameplay could undoubtedly enhance the NFL’s overall appeal and product quality.

Importantly, global participation would also mean a global audience. Football is undeniably king within America, evident when analysing last year’s most watched sports broadcasts. However the NFL still has a way to go in achieving similar dominance worldwide.

The NFL is beginning to have success abroad, mainly in Europe. This weekend Dusseldorf, Germany will play host to the final instalment of the international series which has drawn hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic European fans to NFL games. Nevertheless the league is still a fair distance from achieving the global viewership they desire. Perhaps the Olympics could change this, much like it did for basketball in 1992.