Flag football is celebrating its premiere at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Various NFL players are hoping to take part in the Olympics thanks to the revolution – but not everyone is happy about it

Fittingly, flag football will be one of five new sports to be played at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The modified version of American football received the blessing of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and President Thomas Bach this year.

In NFL circles, the inclusion of flag football in the Olympic Games catalog has met with broad approval and support, with some of the league’s stars hoping to take part in the Olympics.

However, the interest of the much better paid NFL athletes is far from pleasing everyone. Darrell Doucette, a flag football player, has now been extremely critical of the NFL players’ ambitions in an interview.

NFL pros are “disrespectful ”

“I think it’s disrespectful that they automatically assume they want to be on the Olympic team just because of who they are – they didn’t help develop this sport to get it to the Olympics,” Doucette, the quarterback of the US flag football team, indignantly told the Guardian.

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Doucette also sees no need to bring the NFL stars on board: “It’s not like we need these guys. Because we’re already good with the players we have. “

It goes without saying that the NFL is interested in including (former) players in the Olympic squad for marketing reasons. However, whether this is also in the interests of the NFL teams is doubtful.

If they take part in Los Angeles 2028, the NFL footballers would not be with their teams from July 14 to 30, meaning they would miss a considerable amount of training camp. There is also the risk of injury

Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes and Rob Gronkowski interested

Tyreek Hill is among the most recognizable NFL players to express their support for the Olympic initiative. The Dolphins’ wide receiver took to social media to call on the NFL’s best players to stand up for their respective countries.

But various other NFL stars have also already expressed their interest in taking part – with Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa among the notable contenders for a place in the Olympic squad.

Even four-time Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski would give up his retirement for the US team and hopes for an invitation from the flag footballers on TMZ: “Hopefully there won’t be any tryouts and they’ll just take me on. I’m fine, the body is healed, I train all the time. I’m in.”

Amon-Ra St. Brown has also already thought about participating. The Detroit Lions star receiver would also be eligible to play for the German team.