Meet the NFL Flag Football Dream Team | Plus Picks From Coaches, Scouts, and Executives

Flag Football is Set to Make its Olympic Debut in 2028

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL owners unanimously voted to allow players from across the league to participate in Flag Football at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, showcasing the sport and some of its brightest stars on the grandest stage in sports.

There are some caveats, such as only one player can be chosen from each team, and the players will be trying out for their spot on the roster, up against some of the best flag football players across the country.

But, much like the 1992 Dream Team barnstormed its way to winning the Gold in Barcelona, some of the NFL’s brightest stars will look to not only show off their speed and agility while representing their country but take a big step towards advancing the game globally.

Following the announcement, that got us thinking, what would be the ideal roster that would make the kind of statement that Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and company made when they went 8-0 en route to standing on the podium with the “Star Spangled Banner” blaring?

To get the conversation started, I put together my version of the ideal Olympic flag football lineup. It’s focused on speed, versatility, and playmaking, built to dominate the international field in 2028.

After checking out my team, and the picks from three top front office types across the league, let me know your ideal starting five in the comments!

Matt Lombardo’s Team USA Flag Football Dream Team

Jayden Daniels

Flag football is all about speed, which you’ll realize as we put this roster together, and Daniels has plenty of it, running the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.32 seconds at LSU’s pro day last spring. The Offensive Rookie of The Year rushed for 891 yards, setting the record for most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback while sprinting to the end zone six times.

Daniels passed for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions, and given how critical ball security is and the reflexes to quickly lateral to your teammates to keep the play alive, the 24-year-old’s elusiveness and instincts in the open field may be his best assets.

Tyreek Hill

Noticing a pattern here?

Unofficially, Hill was clocked with an explosive 4.29-second 40-yard dash, and has made a career of showcasing that his straight line speed translates into being one of the most difficult receivers to contain across the NFL.

One year removed from averaging 15.1 yards per reception, Hill posted one of the best average depth of targets last season, at 11.8 yards, showcasing his ability to stretch the field.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jahmyr Gibbs

We’re loading up on offensive playmakers, especially explosive athletes who make people miss in the open field and defenders pay for those missed tackles with elite breakaway speed. Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs checks all of those boxes.

Gibbs, according to Pro Football Focus, was third in the NFL in explosive runs of 10 yards or more, with 41, forced 10 missed tackles, and his 517 receiving yards were third among running backs. There are so many reasons Gibbs would be a nightmare in flag football, but the ability to get the ball in his hands in space, in the passing game, and watching him spin, juke, and leave defenders’ ankles in his wake might be the most important.

Brock Bowers

While he was only a rookie, Brock Bowers might already have planted his flag as the premier tight end across the league and his combination of size, athleticism, explosiveness, and reliable hands could make him a nightmare to cover in flag football.

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, there aren’t many defenders worldwide who would be able to body up against Bowers in a jump-ball situation in the end zone or be able to stop him from pulling down contested passes, especially from a quarterback with Daniels’ accuracy and arm strength.

Patrick Surtain II

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year might also be the ideal candidate to anchor the defense in Olympic Flag Football.

After all, Surtain has the ability to erase even the most agile of receivers, and last season Surtain didn’t just intercept five passes but he held opposing quarterbacks to an absurdly low 61.1 passer rating when throwing his direction. Most importantly, impressively, and critically for his success in flag football, Surtain didn’t miss a tackle all season, according to Pro Football Focus. I’m pretty sure he’ll be able to snag his share of flags when he isn’t pulling down interceptions.

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NFL Decision-Makers Reveal Their Flag Football Cornerstones

Now, I wanted to reach out to hear what actual-decision makers across the NFL thought.

So I reached out to one NFL executive, one longtime NFL scout, and one current NFL coach with a simple question:

“If you could pick one player to build the 2028 Team USA Flag Football roster around, who would it be?”

Their answers, and reasoning, might surprise you.

Read on for their picks, and why they’d build around them:

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