On Tuesday, the NFL announced that NFL players will be permitted to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. NFL owners passed a resolution 32-0 that will give players the opportunity to play flag football at the next Olympics. Each team can send one player maximum and a designated international player to the Olympics in 2028. Each flag football team at the Olympics can have up to 10 players. As the country with the most NFL players, most football fans expect the United States to put together a team that is filled with NFL talent. But with only 10 players per team, which Green Bay Packers, if any, have a shot at being on the US team in three years?
It’s a quarterback’s game
The most obvious choice is quarterback Jordan Love. Love is only 26 years old and already recognized as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. Love’s age and experience should make him an ideal candidate for the US team. Love will be 29 when the Olympics start in 2028. Love showed that he could be one of the better passers in the league over the last two NFL seasons. In 2023 he threw 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns. Last season, he threw 3,389 and 25 touchdowns in 15 games. With three years left until the Olympics, Love has a lot of time left to get even better and establish himself as one of the two or three best quarterbacks in the NFL.
But Love should have a lot of competition. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, and Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen are quarterbacks who look like they have a good shot at winning the job right now. All three have won the NFL’s MVP award and are recognized as elite quarterbacks. Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow is another player to watch. Burrow led the league in passing yards and touchdowns last season with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns. If Love doesn’t make the team, it will likely be more about the amount of talent the US has at the position rather than Love’s abilities. Love does have time to prove himself, so you might not want to bet against him. With an injury or two, Love should have a great shot if he continues to improve.
The rookie
The Packers picked wide receiver Matthew Golden with the 23rd pick in the first round of the draft this year. Golden ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Draft Combine before being selected in the first round by the Packers. Golden, like Love, is another young player with a ton of potential and time to get better. Right now, Golden is a rookie who is entering his first season in the NFL. In three years, Golden could be one of the best receivers in the league.
His 4.29 40-yard dash time at the combine proved that he is one of the fastest players in the league. That kind of speed will help any flag football team. Golden will be 24 when the Olympics start. His age works in his favor. Will older receivers be willing to compete with young players like Golden for a spot on the roster? That question will be answered in a few years. If not, Golden will have an even better chance at landing a roster spot.
There is a lot of competition at the wide receiver position. Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson are likely the two betting favourites at the moment. Jefferson and Chase would have good odds if the sportsbooks started taking bets on which NFL receivers would make the US team. Most of the betting sites aren’t taking any bets on the event yet. But some of the best sports betting bonuses will provide funds to get bettors started with their bets for the upcoming 2025-2026 NFL season.
They say defense wins gold medals
Defensive players around the league are also eligible to play flag football at the upcoming Olympics. Defense is half of the game, so which Packer is in a good position to put himself in contention for a spot? How about Xavier McKinney? The 26-year-old safety was second in the NFL in interceptions last season with eight. There is no tackling in flag football, so the US team will need a couple of players on defense who can catch the ball and make plays. McKinney was also tied for 25th in passes defended with 11. At 26 years old, McKinney should still be in his prime when the Olympics start.