Bengals' Joe Burrow Eyes Olympic Glory in Flag Football

The Cincinnati quarterback wants to add an Olympic gold medal to his growing list of achievements.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:34pm

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed his desire to compete in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Burrow, who has already won a Super Bowl and a national championship, sees the opportunity to win an Olympic gold medal as a lifelong dream. He showcased his skills at the recent Fanatics Flag Football Classic, where he made several impressive plays despite an early interception. While current and former NFL players are expected to vie for spots on the U.S. Olympic flag football team, the selection process will be overseen by USA Football, not the NFL, ensuring that flag football specialists also have a fair chance to make the roster.

Why it matters

The inclusion of flag football as an official Olympic sport in 2028 has generated excitement among both NFL players and dedicated flag football athletes. This development presents an opportunity for high-profile athletes like Joe Burrow to add an Olympic gold medal to their list of accomplishments, while also providing a platform for flag football specialists to showcase their skills on the global stage.

The details

Burrow, who has already achieved success in the NFL and college football, is now setting his sights on the Olympics. He participated in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, where he showcased his competitive edge and playmaking ability, recovering from an early interception to make several standout plays. The 29-year-old quarterback nearly sprinted the full length of the field for a touchdown, dodging contact and spinning away from a flag grab near the end zone.

  • Burrow participated in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21, 2026.
  • Flag football is set to make its debut as an official Olympic sport at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The players

Joe Burrow

The quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, who has already won a Super Bowl and a national championship, and now has his sights set on an Olympic gold medal in flag football.

Darrell 'Housh' Doucette

A quarterback for USA Football's men's national team since 2021, who has expressed concerns that flag football specialists may be overlooked in the Olympic selection process in favor of professional athletes.

Roger Goodell

The commissioner of the National Football League, who has confirmed that USA Football, not the NFL, will oversee the roster selection for the U.S. Olympic flag football team.

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What they’re saying

“I've always wanted to play in the Olympics. I've never necessarily played an Olympic sport before, so when this got announced, I was pretty excited about it.”

— Joe Burrow

“The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That's all we want. We felt like we worked hard to get the sport to where it's at, and then when the NFL guys spoke about it, it was like we were getting kicked to the side.”

— Darrell 'Housh' Doucette, Quarterback, USA Football's men's national team

What’s next

With almost two years left to finalize Team USA's 10-man roster for the 2028 Olympics, the selection process will be closely watched to ensure that both NFL stars and dedicated flag football players have a fair chance to make the team.

The takeaway

The inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Olympics presents a unique opportunity for athletes like Joe Burrow to add an Olympic gold medal to their list of accomplishments, while also providing a platform for flag football specialists to showcase their skills on the global stage. The selection process will be a delicate balance, ensuring that both professional and dedicated flag football players have a fair chance to represent the United States.