Tyreek Hill Explains Why He'd Play Flag Football in 2028 Summer Olympics

Flag football could soon be an Olympic sport, and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill would be all-in on pairing a gold medal with his Super Bowl ring.

The organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Los Angeles Games announced Monday it will propose adding flag football, among other sports, to its program. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) is expected to consider the addition during its session in Mumbai, India, over the next week. Hill, a seven-time Pro Bowler, reacted on X, formerly Twitter, by calling on NFL players to participate and bring a medal home.

"Calling all NFL guys," Hill said, "let's bring one home."

Hill double-downed on his flag football interest during the latest episode of his podcast, which was released Thursday morning. Why is Hill so interested in flag football? And what would flag football look like in the Olympics?

Here's what to know.

Sign Hill Up for Olympics

Hill was a world-class sprinter in high school. The four-time All-Pro ran the 200 meters in 20.14 seconds at age 18, which ranked sixth in the U.S. in 2012, according to NBC. In early 2020, as a Kansas City Chiefs receiver, Hill said he was serious about trying to qualify for the U.S. Olympic track and field team.

Then the pandemic hit, the Tokyo Games were pushed back a year and Hill never raced. But flag football could be the 29-year-old's avenue to winning gold.

"You know how amazing it would be to assemble a super-team to play in the Olympics?" Hill said on his It Needed To Be Said podcast. "That would be crazy. To be able to go to the Olympics and actually win a medal."

Hill went on to mention that he was a fan of the 1992 Dream Team, which saw Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and all the other top American basketball stars come together and dominate on an international level. Football is such a U.S.-centric sport, and the top NFL players gathering on one team could lead to similar superiority.

No player has been as public as Hill with their allegiance to compete in the Olympics if flag football is approved. But that hasn't stopped people from trying to piece together an unstoppable Team USA lineup. USA Today columnist Mike Freeman included Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson on his ideal team.

Whether other stars show as much enthusiasm for flag football remains to be seen. But at least one Pro Bowler is completely on board.

"Just being able to say, 'Hey, I was able to play on the Olympic level and compete for a medal for the U.S.' That would be special," Hill said. "Who wouldn't want to do that? Travel to L.A. and compete in a flag championship. I think it would be so dope if other NFL players buy into that.

"If they're serious about bringing flag football, sign me up. Sign the Cheetah up."

How Flag Football Would Work in Olympics

Going from professional football to flag football might take some getting used to.

The standard style of flag football, according to the International Federation of American Football, is played five-on-five. That is the format the ICO is considering, according to USA Today.

There are no offensive or defensive lines in this format. Tackling opposing players is replaced by pulling a flag, which is roughly 15 inches long and two inches wide, off of a belt. Games are played on a field that is 50 yards long and 25 yards wide. Each team gets four downs in an attempt to cross midfield. If it does, it receives a new set of downs. An unsuccessful set of downs results in the defense getting the ball back on its own 5-yard line. An interception, like in American football, gives the defense the ball at the spot where the intercepting player is stopped.

Ball-carriers are prohibited from jumping or diving in this standard format.

Scoring in this version of flag football is similar to what is seen in the NFL. A touchdown is worth six points, then the offense can elect for a one-point try (from the 5-yard line) or a two-point try (from the 10). A safety is worth two points. There are no kicks of any kind in flag football.

Adjusting to flag football may take some time for NFL players, Hill said. But so many professionals on one team could overcome that.

"There's obviously talent all across the world, Hill said. "I just feel like a Team USA [flag] football team featuring some of the great talent from the NFL would be a complete, brutal beating for anyone."

Other Sports That Could Be Added

The Summer Games will return to the United States for the first time since 1996 when Los Angeles serves as host in 2028. And bringing flag football to the Games could serve as another way for the NFL to push the sport to an international audience.

The NFL has been playing games in London annually (except during the 2020 COVID season) since 2007. In more recent years, the league has expanded its International Series to include games in Mexico and Germany. Flag football being approved would bring athletes from all over the world closer to the game. Casey Wasserman, chairperson of the LA28 organizing committee, said in a release this week that flag football and the other new sports "ignite the imagination on the field of play and drive the culture off it."

"They will bring new athletes to the Games, engage diverse fanbases and expand the Games' presence in digital spaces, further amplifying LA28's mission to deliver an unparalleled experience," Wasserman's statement read.

Lacrosse, squash and cricket are the other "new" sports the IOC is considering adding to the games. Baseball and softball, which have been on-and-off inclusions in past Summer Games, are also on the table.