Joe Burrow Wants to Be Team USA's Flag Football QB in 2028 Olympics

Bengals quarterback sees Olympic gold as a lifelong dream

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:51am

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has expressed his desire to represent Team USA as the flag football quarterback at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Burrow, who participated in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, believes the opportunity to win an Olympic gold medal is a longtime aspiration he is eager to pursue.

Why it matters

The inclusion of flag football as an Olympic sport for the first time in 2028 has piqued the interest of high-profile athletes like Burrow, who see it as a chance to compete on the world's biggest athletic stage. However, the transition from traditional football to the specialized skills of flag football may prove challenging for NFL players, raising questions about whether experienced flag football players will ultimately make up the U.S. Olympic roster.

The details

Burrow said he has "always wanted to play in the Olympics" and that the announcement of flag football's Olympic debut has made participating in the Games a "realistic possibility" for the first time. While Burrow and other NFL players struggled to match the flag football expertise of seasoned players at the Fanatics event, the Bengals QB believes his athletic abilities could translate to success on the Olympic stage.

  • Flag football will be an Olympic sport for the first time at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
  • Burrow participated in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Joe Burrow

The starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL, who has expressed a desire to represent Team USA as the flag football quarterback at the 2028 Olympics.

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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 opportunity to win a gold medal [is] something that I've thought about - a moment like that - for a long time, since I was a kid. I think it would be something very special.”

— Joe Burrow

What’s next

It remains unclear whether NFL players will ultimately make the U.S. Olympic flag football team in 2028, as the specialized skills required may favor experienced flag football players over traditional football stars.

The takeaway

Burrow's Olympic aspirations highlight the growing interest in flag football as it makes its debut on the world's biggest athletic stage. However, the transition from the NFL to the unique demands of flag football may prove challenging, raising questions about the final U.S. roster composition for the 2028 Games.