Olympics-bound flag football takes centre stage ahead of Super Bowl LX

Flag football continues to reach new heights as it prepares for its Olympic debut at LA28. The momentum is building across all levels of the sport, from youth leagues to college and even at the professional level.

Throughout this week's Super Bowl activities in San Francisco, the National Football League has prominently integrated flag football events and continued with the NFL’s version of an all-star game, the Pro Bowl, in a flag-football format. As the sport continues to grow and gain popularity, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told Olympics.com that the timing could not be better.

“I think this is the hottest sport going and we are proud of it,” Goodell said. Speaking during Pro Bowl festivities on Tuesday (3 February), Goodell pointed out how impactful the newest Olympic sport will be on the NFL. “It is the world’s biggest stage and we are thrilled about the Olympics, but there is so much more happening around football for men and women around the world.”

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Women's flag football on the rise

Both men and women will compete when the sport makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles. The focus on women's flag football has been one of the biggest growth and opportunities for expansion in the sport.

"For women to be able to have the opportunity to play this game is special,” Goodell said.

In January, the National Collegiate Athletic Association officially added women’s flag football as an Emerging Sport, defined as a women's sport that “is intended to help schools provide more athletics opportunities for women and more sport-sponsorship options for institutions, while helping that sport achieve NCAA championship status,” according to the NCAA website.

NFL Pro Bowl 2026

At the professional level, NFL players are still adjusting to the rules of flag. Since 2023, the league has transitioned the Pro Bowl to flag football, replacing traditional tackle play. On Tuesday (3 February) in San Francisco, the NFL hosted a full day of flag-football events leading into the Pro Bowl, which included a women's youth competition with some of the country's best athletes.

For players like Jalen Hurts, the 2025 Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, the potential to compete for a gold medal is already generating smiles and excitement.

“I think this is a great deal, to bring more awareness to the game and to spread the game of football,” Hurts told Olympics.com.

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