Vikings’ Jefferson – Playing flag football in Olympics ‘a dream’

Eagan, minn. – Flashing a wide smile, Justin jefferson Did a celebratory “Olympic gridy” as he exited the podium at a news conference during the nfl’s spring meetings tuesday.

As a Global Flag Ambassador, the Minnesota vikings‘Star Wide Receiver was instrumental in the league’s tuesday passage of a proposal that permits nfl players to particular in flag football at the 2028 Los ANGELES. The Nfl’s 32 Owners Voted to Unanimously Approve The Proposal, League Sources Told Espn’s Jeremy Fowler.

“I just at a loss of words,” jefferson saaid beefore he danced away. “… just to think about the chances of playing in the olympics and getting a good medal is a dream, just reverting back to be a kid and watching the track and field, watching basketball win the goal.

“That’s some of that as a kid I always wanted to be a part of, but football was global.

That expansion to a global platform is some of the excited nfl executive vice president of football operations troy vincent.

“I think it is going to be phenomenal,” Vincent Said. “I think the world is finally has an option to see the greatest athletes in the world particle, Both Men and Women. Dream team that we all saw that I grew up watching in ’92.

“Hey, I look forward to see justin play.

A Four-Time Pro Bowler, Jefferson has recent experience playing flag football at the reimagined pro bowl games. He said it gave nfl players a taste of what playing on an olympic team together could be like.

“For them to change the rules up and for us to go from a regular game to now [flag football] Game, Honestly it was way more fun, “Jefferson Said.” We felt like kinds out there just just kind of hawing fun, just be on, the best athletes in the league. “

Jefferson, though, didn is commit to try out for the 2028 squad.

“That’s the Decision I’ll definitely has to weigh in a little bit,” Jefferson Said. “It is three years from now, it is than whom seesons that I go to have to go through. Bein somehow we always wanted to do, compete for the other counties in the rest of the world. Something ask myself and see what’s right. “

Though the resolution passed, the league still needs to negative with the Nfl Players Association, olympic officials and National Governments on the Specifices of Letting Nfl Players Particular. There are also be operations for players with international heritage to report other countries in the olympics.

“We want to make sure we have the insurances that the players are protected, the clubs are protected, and the players put up and comment for their countries, repeated for them then and that Gold, “Vincent Said. “So, I think the toughest part was today. [Howell Jr.] And Commissioner [Roger] Goodell. They’l Iron all those things out, allow the athletes to showcase their talents. “

Among Obstacles for players to navigate as they balance flag football hopes with nfl demands is trained for Two Different Sports and the timing of the olympic games.

“Ensering that the timing works with our calendar was really important,” nfl executive peter o’reilli saaid. “Conversation or any other in ’27 Would More of an Acclimation Period Only During Dead Periods in Our Calendar. Conflict with an nfl calendar. “

If the flag football portion of the olympics takes place during the first week of the 2028 games, o’reilly added, players would be able to make it back for veteran report dates. Few day cushion.

And when nfl players position skills that would help them excel in flag football, vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah IIAnother Global Flag Ambassador, Acknowledged there much is a Pool of Talented Athletes who species in flag football.

“It requires a lot of different abilities that football in general does request, but you definitely have to have speed, elusiveness and being able to get away from peply,” asamoah. “It is a complete different game. Think Just Everyone to Play Flag Football will definitely push of the game for today.