Flag football, an alternative version of American football where physical contact between players is not allowed, is making its Olympic debut for the 2028 Summer Olympics, commonly known as LA28. It is among the five new sports that will take on the most prestigious stage in the athletic world four years from now.
The sport has come a long way since World War II, when it first started out as a means of recreation for American soldiers. Now, players have a chance to represent their countries and compete for an Olympic gold. Annenberg Media spoke with USC redshirt sophomore quarterback Miller Moss and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kyron Hudson about their thoughts on the matter.
Many football players started out playing flag football during elementary and middle school recess and in their family backyard.
“My first football memories ever come from flag football. [It is a] special foundation to teach young kids the game of football in a way that doesn’t involve as much risk,” Moss said as he recalled his past experience with flag football. “It provided an opportunity for me to just learn how to really compete. So, I have a ton of love for flag football.”
When asked what his initial reaction to the news was, Hudson also mentioned that he grew up playing flag football. “I think it’s just a good opportunity for everyone to go out, support and just have fun, watch something that is new in this Olympics,” he said.
The NFL has welcomed the idea of bringing flag football into the Games. Flag football has experienced a recent rise in popularity, both domestically and internationally, thanks to the league’s serious promotional efforts. This February marked the second consecutive time that the NFL included flag football in its Pro Bowl event. Prior to that, the league had hosted the International NFL Flag Championships as well, a contest featuring participants from 12 countries.
On the significance of this decision, both Hudson and Moss shed light on how it will positively impact the global influence of American football and potentially bring more inclusivity to the sport. Hudson pointed out that the decision will benefit “people having the interest but not having the opportunity to showcase their talent in other countries.”
“Hopefully, this will have a great impact on spreading our game across the world. I know the NFL has started to put more of an emphasis on having international games, so I know that we’re trying to make the game more global. And, hopefully, this can aid in doing that,” Moss added.
For years, numbers have shown positive signs for a potentially large audience for flag football. The new flag football format at the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl drew 6.28 million viewers. Even though the L.A. Games are still four years from now, Moss and Hudson both expressed optimism about the viewership of flag football’s Olympic debut.
“Just because it is so new, people will be curious about what it is,” Moss said. “It’s something that obviously is so popular within the United States, and we’re getting to share it with the rest of the world. So, I think people will be really excited to see what format it takes on the Olympic stage. Hopefully, [it will] get a ton of viewership, so they continue to do it.”
So far, some high-profile NFL players have demonstrated strong interest in returning to flag football in LA28 and going for an Olympic gold. Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback who just led the Kansas City Chiefs to a second consecutive Super Bowl title this year, has stated that he is “definitely” interested in representing the United States in 2028. Other potential players include Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill.
Moss commented on if the decision will affect his career. “If they asked me to play, I would definitely think about it. But as of now, I don’t think it’ll have a huge impact,” Moss said. He also went on to explain why including flag football in LA28 is important for the city: “L.A. obviously loves competitions and teams that do well. So, hopefully, America can do pretty well and we’ll support that because L.A. loves a winner.”
This article is part of Annenberg Media’s Olympic Newsletter. If you like the content, please subscribe here!