The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles is surely going to be one for the history books. Not only because of the International Olympic Committee’s recent addition of flag football to the program but also because it might feature one of the biggest NFL stars of all time, not amongst the galleries- but on the field.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes recently expressed his keen interest in participating in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics which has sent the football world into a frenzy. While fans and analysts alike have been sharing their own two bits on the possibility, the GOAT rests his case by alluding to a reassuring “advantage.”
Tom Brady is positive about the “American advantage”
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The 25th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards was held in Madrid on the 22nd of April and saw numerous icons from the realm of sports, both past and present, convened to recognize the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, and sportswomen from 2023. In addition to recognizing athletic achievements, the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards also highlights the remarkable impact of sports in changing lives, especially through initiatives like Laureus Sport for Good.
Amongst its celebrity attendees, the NFL’s biggest star, Tom Brady took a minute to share his perspective on a topic that has gained considerable momentum across the world of American football. On being asked about what the inclusion of Flag Football in the upcoming Olympic games might have on the NFL, Brady promptly replied, “I’m excited. The Americans are obviously going to have a bit of an advantage, but it will be fun to watch other teams fight for the gold medal.”
During last year’s World Games, the US men secured the gold medal, while the women faced a tough defeat against Mexico in the final match. In a concerted effort to broaden its fan base, the NFL has actively championed flag football, implementing aggressive promotional campaigns both at home and abroad. The similarities between American football and flag football can prove advantageous for the Americans as a nation and if professional American football players are inducted into the national team, the “American advantage” becomes evident.
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Addressing the abilities of Chief’s Patrick Mahomes, Brady further stated that Mahomes has begun his NFL journey with remarkable success and appears to be charting a course to create his own unique legacy in the league. Mahomes can indeed make “history” if he decides to take part in the 2028 Olympics.
Patrick Mahomes might play flag football in the 2028 Olympics
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The Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback is up for playing flag football for his nation at the 2028 Olympics but there is one concern- he will be 32 years old when the games begin and feels he might not be as fast as the other players. “I definitely want to. But I’ve seen some of those guys play the flag football. They’re a little faster than I am,” Mahomes said in a recent interview. In flag football, tackles involve pulling a flag off a belt worn by each player, and the game is played 5-on-5 on a 50-yard field, without offensive and defensive linemen. Due to the similarities between flag football and traditional football, numerous NFL players have expressed keen interest in participating.
Among them is Tyreek Hill, the All-Pro wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, who desires to transition to flag football for a summer and compete on the Olympic stage. Hill even took to social media to rally his fellow NFL players, urging them to strive for victory at the Olympics. The NFL has been actively promoting flag football, and its inclusion in the Olympics serves as a significant catalyst for the sport’s global expansion. The league is committed to enabling current and former players to partake in flag football at the Games, collaborating closely with the NFL Players Association and USA Football to facilitate their participation. This presents an exhilarating opportunity for NFL stars to exhibit their talents in a new format on the international stage.