The International Olympic Committee officially added flag football to the list of sports that will be part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley wants to know where to sign up.
“I’d go to the Olympics and try to compete, for sure,” Ridley said Tuesday. “It’s the Olympics. If they want to go ahead and get me a gold medal — if I get on a good team, the U.S., I’d definitely be on the U.S. team, for sure.”
This was funny.
@APMarkLong asked Calvin Ridley about playing in the Olympics as they look to add flag football to the mix.
Ridley was very excited and said he definitely wants to play and get a gold medal: pic.twitter.com/H51QCcKB44
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) October 17, 2023
Ridley isn’t the only NFL player eying an opportunity to compete for gold in five years.
Calling all @NFL guys let’s bring one home 😈 https://t.co/JD2LvZzaaz
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) October 9, 2023
But the question is whether NFL players will be allowed to compete.
“That opportunity for athletes to represent their countries, we understand the desire,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said in a press conference Tuesday, via the Associated Press. “What we will continue to do is work with the players, [the NFL] Players Association, and the clubs in the time ahead to determine the process and then work with USA Football and IFAF on that.”
Ridley, who is 28 and will be 33 during the 2028 Olympics, said Tuesday that he grew up playing flag football and won a national championship in 7-on-7.
When asked if he thought NFL teams would allow players to participate in flag football, he didn’t see much downside.
“Why not? I mean, it’s flag football, it’s the offseason. It’s training, basically. Why not? I think it’d be cool.”
