Last week the NFL voted to allow NFL players to compete in the 2028 Olympics set to take place in Los Angeles in the first ever flag football event. This is the first time any type of football (the American style at least) will be offered as an event, and for most of the players in the NFL, it will be the first time ever they will be able to showcase their skills to the world and possibly bring home a gold medal for their country.
Players like Justin Jefferson have already spoken out about what it would mean to him to represent his country in the Olympics.
“To think about the chance of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal, it’s a dream.”@NFLFLAG ambassador Justin Jefferson shares his excitement for Flag Football joining the 2028 Olympics in LA! @jjettas2 pic.twitter.com/v0gUfZtNRP
— NFL (@NFL) May 20, 2025
For the New York Jets, there are several members of the team that I think would be a huge asset to a flag football squad and I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them made the team. Keep in mind, only one player per NFL team is allowed to participate in the Olympics per the newly passed NFL rule. So only one Jets player can be on the Olympics.
With that in mind, here are my three most likely candidates to be on the 2028 Olympic team.
Garrett Wilson
You would be hard pressed to find too many wide receivers in the NFL who are better suited for a flag football match than Wilson. He is a spectacular route runner with excellent hands and is shifty after the catch. He may not do one thing better than everyone else in the NFL at his position, but he is above average in everything.
I can’t imagine too many countries have a corner back who could run with Wilson.
Sauce Gardner
If you are going to have receivers running all over with no real running game to speak of in flag football, why not take one of the best shut down corners in the game. Especially when he doesn’t have to worry about tackling.
While I think the gold medal is all but assured for the United States in any type of football competition, it would be naïve to believe that other countries won’t at least pose some sort of threat on the field. Sauce is a threat neutralizer. He was only thrown at 45 times in 490 coverage snaps last season, in a down year for the player. Imagine what he could do against amateur players.
Justin Fields
I know, I know. I think Justin Fields was a terrible signing for the Jets, so how can I put him on the list? Simply put, playing QB in flag football is not the same as playing flag football in the NFL. Justin Fields is a top five flag football quarterback in the NFL. The things he shines at are suited for the flag game and can be a detriment in the pro game.
He would be a weapon for the United States in a flag game and opposing teams would have no shot at grabbing his flag if he ever got out in the open field. He can also make the school-yard throws that will be a huge asset.
