APRIL 7: Tension appears to exist between the NFL and owners on the matter of Olympic participation, as noted by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Members of the latter group are understandably hesitant about players getting injured in a non-NFL environment and missing offseason time with their respective teams in the process. It will be interesting to see if progress toward an agreement addressing this matter comes about in the near future.
APRIL 6: 2028 will mark the debut of flag football as an Olympic event. The prospect of NFL players taking part has been raised on several occasions, so to no surprise it was a topic of discussion at the recent league meetings. 
When speaking to the media on the subject, commissioner Roger Goodell said he has heard from several players (American and otherwise) expressing a desire to play at the Olympics. Several matters related to insurance and timing will need to be worked out for that to be feasible, since the Games are scheduled for July 14-30. Discussions related to moving training camp and other issues have taken place, and further progress could be coming soon.
“I think that’s something that we’ll continue to discuss with, not just the union, but also the clubs,” Goodell said, via ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “I think both of those [injuries and scheduling] are things that we’ll probably resolve sometime in the next 60 days.”
Clarity for all parties involved would be welcomed as NFL players look ahead to playing on the international stage. It was clear last February a mutual interest existed between the league and the NFLPA for an agreement paving the way for participation to be made possible. Wideouts Tyreek Hill and Mike Evans are among the active players who have publicly stated a desire to take part in the Olympics.
The NFL played a central role in making flag football an Olympic event, and having strong representation from the league could help lead to further interest in the sport on a global level. The NFL’s continued exploration of international venues for regular season contests marks another sign of its willingness to grow football in general and flag in particular. On that note, it was reported around the time of the Super Bowl that work was taking place for the creation of a professional flag football league.
Goodell said at the league meetings (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) bids are coming in with respect to a flag league getting off the ground. On that front as well, Goodell expects progress to be made in the near future. Provided things go according to plan, flag football will – in more than one capacity – remain a key priority for the league now and for several years to come.
