NFL executives believe flag football is the "future" of the sport. That'll soon be reality, with American football set to make its Olympics debut at the 2028 Summer Games in the form of a flag competition.
Naturally, NFL players have already chimed in to tease participation, and the league is doing the same, suggesting current players could eventually represent both Team USA and other countries.
It's only 2024, so 2028 is a long way off in terms of "NFL years." Consider that just five years ago, Jameis Winston led the league in passing yards, Michael Thomas led the league in receiving, and Shaquil Barrett had an NFL-best 19.5 sacks. Even so, there's no shortage of world-class athletes headlining the NFL.
So here's our forecast of some potential 5-on-5 starters and substitutes for a 2028 Olympic flag team, using the official NFL Flag guidelines for assigning positions:
2028 Olympic flag football candidates
Speed and agility take precedence over physicality in flag football, and the Baltimore Ravens star has long set the standard for dual-threat signal-callers. He'll be 31 in 2028, but like Michael Vick before him, Jackson's also got unteachably effortless arm strength. There isn't a more dynamic prospect to man the starting quarterback spot, even looking a half-decade ahead.
Projected role: Starting quarterback
Can the NFL go international without arguably its greatest player of all time? By 2028, the twice-retired Brady will be 51, but the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend always relied on smarts to offset any physical decline. And if he's got elite speed at his disposal out wide, he could make for a pinpoint quarterback substitute and quasi-captain/coach.
Projected role: Substitute quarterback
The young Miami Dolphins running back has an injury history with a smaller frame (5-9, 188), but he's a perfect candidate for a non-contact version of the game thanks to his track-star speed. Blazing to almost eight yards per carry as a rookie, he's likely to be preserved through a rotation in Miami's backfield, and he'll still be just 26 by the time the Olympics roll around in 2028.
Projected role: Starting wide receiver / back
Hill is already 30, so will his own track speed hold up? It's a fair question. But the Dolphins' No. 1 wideout has been a physical freak ever since he entered the NFL, shredding deep secondaries for two very different teams and offenses. Besides his downfield electricity, Hill is also one of the best at playing bigger than his frame suggests on jump balls, giving him a well-rounded profile.
Projected role: Starting wide receiver / back
Whereas Tyreek Hill straight-up outraces anyone defending him, Jefferson has an unmatched ability to find wide-open grass with his silky stride and polished routes. The Minnesota Vikings star will be 29 in 2028, and if his early-career start is an indication, he'll still be dominating at that point. Not even a lingering injury could prevent him from eclipsing 1,000 yards in his 2023 campaign.
Projected role: Starting wide receiver / back
There may be skill weapons with splashier upside, but St. Brown has been Mr. Reliable while racking up increasingly explosive numbers for the Detroit Lions, and he might only be approaching his prime at 24. Volume is also an important consideration here; his 315 receptions in just three NFL seasons suggest he's an ideal fit as an over-the-middle safety valve in a flag lineup.
Projected role: Starting center
Injuries have beset the former LSU star before, but at 24, Chase still offers more long-term juice than all but a few skill weapons in the NFL. He's nearly unmatched in space, which bodes well for a future transition from the Cincinnati Bengals offense to the flag field.
Projected role: Substitute wide receiver / back
If there's a non-Dolphins weapon built for the international stage, it's probably Metcalf, who despite a supersized frame (6-4, 236) has already tried his hand at legit track and field competition. The Seattle Seahawks wideout will be 30 in 2028, but like Tyreek Hill, he's already proven to be a physical anomaly. His combo of size, physicality and raw speed could be particularly dangerous along the line in flag.
Projected role: Substitute center
Is there anything Parsons can't do? The three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher is the heart and soul of the Dallas Cowboys defense with a mind-bending combo of size, speed and strength, making him a shoo-in to headline a defensive front in flag. He'll be 29 in 2028, but his traits should survive at his position.
Projected role: Starting rusher
If there's one young corner in today's game capable of blanketing wideouts on an island, it's probably Gardner, who will only be 27 in 2028. His closing speed and physicality at the catch point would make him an asset lined up against pass catchers in open space, and the fact he also wouldn't be required to put his body on the line as a tackler would only aid in his stamina.
Projected role: Starting defensive back
Cover skills are especially important in the open field of flag, and Witherspoon has shown them early in his career with the Seattle Seahawks. He's also got top-end speed, as showcased on a 97-yard pick return. The best part: The scrappy Illinois product will only be 27 when the Olympics are underway in 2028.
Projected role: Starting defensive back
Flag safeties are deemed the "quarterback" of the defense, and Hamilton did it all at the heart of the Baltimore Ravens' stingy defense in 2023, working alongside Pro Bowlers like Roquan Smith to stay around the ball in multiple roles, be it nickel corner, quasi-linebacker and deep patroller. At just 23, he's only now emerging at the NFL level, which bodes well for a future Olympic bid.
Projected role: Starting safety
Speed is perhaps the top priority across all these positions, but instincts and awareness are arguably just as important on the back end, and Winfield has shown he knows how to be in the right place at the right time as the headliner of Todd Bowles' tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. He'll be approaching 30 in 2028, but his dad notably made it as an NFL starter until he was 35.
Projected role: Starting safety
