WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The idea is so far into the future – when he will be much older – that he couldn't help but chuckle.
The NFL, at its spring owners meetings in Minneapolis last week, approved a resolution allowing players to participate in flag football in the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles.
Would Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford be interested?
As the reporter was asking his question, Stafford laughed, glanced at his watch and smiled.
"You talking about coaching or what?" Stafford said. "Sure (I'd be interested in playing). I mean, nobody's going to want me to, but yeah, sure, it'd be fun. I'll coach."
By the time the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles arrive, Stafford will be 40, so you can understand the reaction. Even players like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes – who will be in his early 30s by that point – plan to let the younger players go for it. On the other hand, players like Vikings running back Aaron Jones and Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill have expressed interest in playing.
Besides age, another factor in players' decisions is the possible scheduling conflict with training camp and their other commitments to their respective teams around that time. Reporting dates for training camp have historically been in late July; the 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled to run July 14-30 that year.
According to the resolution passed by NFL owners, one player on each NFL roster can try out for a given country's Olympic team. There will be six countries competing in men's flag football in 2028.
Rams head coach Sean McVay likewise sees that as being too far into the future to think about in the moment, but he'd be supportive of players who chose to participate.
"Yeah, I think it's great," McVay said of flag football being part of the 2028 Olympic games. "I think that is so far away from me. Coaching years are dog years, you know that. You hear (Vikings WR) Justin Jefferson come out and talk about, man, that would be really cool. That's awesome. Like I think you give guys the opportunity to say, 'Alright, well what's your preference on it?' And I think whatever our guys are…there's going to be the availability for maybe one guy on each team to be able to do that. And if that's something that players say they want to be able to do, then I think it's a really cool experience for them to be able to be a part of while also acknowledging that man, there are some other guys that have been doing it. I'm not going to pretend to understand the nuances tactically and what that game entails, but I think it's good. I think it's great."
