Qualifying and playing in the Olympic Games is something most people dream of.
Competing against the best athletes in the world in one’s chosen sport can bring immediate glory to not just the athlete but to his or her country.
Until recently, football players could only watch as international athletes starred in almost every major sport on the planet.
That changed when the International Olympic Committee announced in 2023 that flag football would be added to the event during the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Since the announcement, there has been much speculation regarding the possible inclusion of NFL players competing in the Games.
Last week, the sports world got its answer when the NFL’s owners voted unanimously to allow its players to participate.
Some in the media have compared the news to when the NBA allowed the Dream Team to compete in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Despite the opportunity, not all NFL players are intent on representing the U.S., including Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Earlier today, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport shared Mahomes’ response on playing.
#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on potentially playing flag football in the 2028 Olympics: “I’ll probably leave that to the younger guys.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 29, 2025
“I’ll probably leave that to the younger guys,” the quarterback answered.
Mahomes will turn 30 this September and will be almost 33 when the 2028 Summer Games get underway.
There’s pushback that NFL players don’t need to play in the Olympics because football doesn’t currently have the international appeal like basketball.
The thinking goes that if other countries only have rudimentary, at best, football programs, then pro athletes shouldn’t take the spots from collegians or fringe pro prospects who can handle the competition.
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