Why Patrick Mahomes Is Stepping Away from Olympic Flag Football—And What It Means for the Future
Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ phenomenal quarterback, has recently put the brakes on the idea of suiting up for flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite the NFL owners greenlighting player participation in flag football’s Olympic debut last week—a move that’s got many buzzing about the potential for a new kind of ‘Dream Team’—Mahomes, now 29 and already a three-time Super Bowl champ, is opting to pass the torch to the younger generation. It’s a fascinating development as the NFL’s MVP hinted that by the time the Games roll around, he’ll be cruising past his early 30s, leaving the global showcase to fresh faces eager to represent the United States. The stage is set for an exciting new chapter in the sport, with six nations competing and Team USA potentially fielding a roster of NFL stars from across the league. But for now, Mahomes is content to watch and cheer from the sidelines as flag football takes its shot on the Olympic stage. LEARN MORE
Speaking during the Chiefs’ off-season organised team activities (OTAs), Mahomes said: “I’ll probably leave that to the younger guys. I’ll be a little older by the time that comes around.Reuters
Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist
4 hours ago
The six qualifying nations for flag football at LA 2028 will feature 10 players per team.The Barcelona Olympics were the first to feature NBA players and Team USA’s gold-medal winners are still regarded as one of the best teams ever.NFL team owners agreed last week to allow NFL players to participate in flag football’s Olympic debut.The three-time Super Bowl winner would turn 33 shortly after the LA Games take place in July 2028.
“It’s awesome. Honestly, just to be able to showcase the NFL to the whole world through flag football.”Mahomes, 29, had previously said he “definitely wants to” play but this week the NFL’s two-time Most Valuable Player said he will leave representing the United States to “the younger guys”.Last week’s vote opened up the possibility of there being another ‘Dream Team’, like the US men’s basketball team at the 1992 Games.Each nation may select one player per NFL team so, in theory, Team USA could be made up of 10 NFL players from 10 different teams.
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