The next Summer Olympics are three years away, but they remain a hot topic in the world of football.
That may seem to be an unusual dynamic. American football has never garnered Olympic praise, but after years of negotiations and posturing, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) permitted flag football to take place in the Summer Games as soon as 2028 in Los Angeles.
The IOC’s announcement inspired excitement among masses of NFL players and fans alike, many of whom believed this would open the door for the league’s best and brightest to compete for an Olympic crown. Those feelings have only intensified in the years since; in May, the NFL approved a proposal allowing players to be selected for Olympic rosters.
Some of the league’s most high-profile talents have already put their hat in the ring for Olympic consideration when the time comes, but that’s not a universal sentiment. Just ask Chiefs icon Patrick Mahomes.
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With that, here’s what you need to know about Mahomes’ latest comments on potentially playing in the 2028 Olympics.
Is Patrick Mahomes playing in the Olympics?
Mahomes doesn’t appear destined to take part in the Olympic Games any time soon. The Kanas City QB said as much during his first media appearance at OTAs, telling reporters he didn’t plan on participating in the flag football festivities when the Olympics wash ashore in Los Angeles in 2028.
“I’ll probably leave that to the younger guys. I’ll be a little older by the time that comes around,” Mahomes said, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The league recently approved a proposal to allow the league’s players to take part in the Games. All 32 owners voted yes on the matter. Multiple players have already made their interest in the spectacle clear, from Vikings standout Justin Jefferson to Dolphins supernova Tyreek Hill.
Mahomes doesn’t appear to harbor the same sentiments. He’s correct that he will be older — the 29-year-old will be fewer than two months away from his 33rd birthday when the 2028 Olympics rolls around. Perhaps he’s better served waiting on the sidelines as younger talents vie for gold and glory.
MORE: Will NFL players play flag football in 2028 Olympics? What to know about L.A. Games
He wasn’t the only player to express skepticism over the venture. Rams QB Matthew Stafford was taken aback when a reporter queried him on his Olympic prospects in 2028.
“You talking about coaching, or what?” the 37-year-old joked.
The reporter doubled down on the question, prompting another humorous response from Stafford.
37 year old Matthew Stafford on potentially playing Flag Football in the 2028 Olympics:
“Nobody’s gonna want me to, but yeah, sure, it’d be fun” 😂
🎥: @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/8Z8Zpz6Brd
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) May 29, 2025
“Sure!” Stafford said. “I mean, nobody’s gonna want me to, but yeah, sure, it’d be fun… to coach.”
Perhaps Stafford can find a buddy to hold the coaching clipboard in Mahomes, who looks to have all but ruled out a chance at donning Olympic colors in 2028.
MORE: Projecting USA Olympic flag football team
Are NFL players going to the Olympics?
On May 20, the league approved a resolution allowing its players to take part in the 2028 Olympics’ flag football competition. The proposal was passed unanimously.
So, are NFL players going to the Olympics? That still remains to be seen. The US men’s national flag football team tops the International Federation of American Football rankings, so it’s not as if the roster needs all that much help. Furthermore, USA Football will oversee the selection process for the 2028 Games.
It’s unclear if their process will include NFL players, although the institution’s CEO, Scott Hallenbeck, did thank the league for its “continued support and belief” in the program after it was formally certified as the country’s flag football governing body.
“Our commitment to this great game and its growing community has never been stronger,” Hallenbeck said in a statement. “Team USA flag football competing in LA 2028 will inspire athletes worldwide to advance and grow the sport — in both flag and tackle football.”
Darrell Doucette III, the starting quarterback for the US men’s national team, told the Washington Post that he’d welcome an open competition for a spot on the Olympic roster.
“The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That’s all we want,” Doucette said. “We felt like we worked hard to get the sport to where it’s at, and then when the NFL guys spoke about it, it was like we were getting kicked to the side.
This is a sport that we’ve played for a long time, and we feel like we are the best at it and we don’t need other guys.”
There’s likely to be a tryout process as Doucette alluded to. A mix of flag football players and NFL talents could represent a happy medium for both parties, although the logistics remain shrouded in mystery.
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