NFL players will be able to participate in the Olympic Games

American Football League players will be eligible to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, following a vote by team owners on Tuesday, the NFL confirmed.

A resolution allowing players to participate in the 2028 Games, where the non-contact version of American football called flag football will be a new sport, was approved by NFL team owners at a meeting in Minnesota.

This decision could pave the way for the establishment of an NFL "dream team" in Los Angeles 2028, bringing together some of the sport's biggest stars. Several high-profile players have already expressed interest, including Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts and Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

"It's an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country at the Olympic Games, which are the pinnacle of world sport," said NFL executive Roger Goodell.

Flag football, most often played 5-on-5 (sometimes 7-on-7), involves stopping a player by grabbing one of the two strips of fabric attached to their hips, and prohibits physical obstruction, which drastically reduces the risk of injury and concussions, a scourge in American football.

Six men's and six women's teams will participate in the 2028 Olympic tournament, with each team consisting of 10 players.

Goodell said allowing NFL players to compete in the Olympics was consistent with the league's desire to increase global interest in the sport.