Flag football's inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics is poised to significantly boost the sport's global popularity, with strong backing from the NFL, which has approved NFL players' participation following a unanimous owners' vote.

The Olympic flag football event will include both men's and women's teams, each capped at 10 players, with qualification possibly through the IFAF World Championships, and six nations are expected to qualify for both tournaments in Los Angeles.

Several NFL stars, including Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, Joe Burrow, and Kyler Murray, have expressed interest in competing, with some like Chuba Hubbard eager to represent their countries in Olympic flag football.

This historic addition was achieved through lobbying efforts by the IFAF and NFL as part of the Vision28 initiative, and the IOC approved flag football alongside sports like squash, cricket, baseball-softball, and lacrosse, though its future inclusion will depend on the success of the 2028 event.

The NFL is working on establishing a governance structure for player participation, including restrictions such as one player per NFL team per national team, and ongoing negotiations with the NFLPA and other bodies focus on injury protection and insurance for participating players.

Olympic flag football will feature rules different from the Pro Bowl format, including a 5-on-5 game on a narrower 25-yard wide field, with two 20-minute halves, but maintaining similar scoring and play mechanics like four downs and no blocking.

While the NFL has studied flag football's role in the Pro Bowl, noting increased player participation and competitiveness despite declining TV ratings, the league is also developing its own men's and women's flag football leagues with media rights ambitions.