Could Cowboys Be Headed to the Olympics?

It wasn’t long ago that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James led Team USA into the 2024 Summer Olympics and ultimately came away with a gold medal. In February, the best American and Canadian NHL players on the planet faced off in one of the most-watched hockey games of all time. Months later, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge and Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes, the faces of American baseball, announced that they’d lead the nation into the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The NFL is attempting to grow its game across borders, fostering international relationships and playing several games every year, hours away from league headquarters in New York. But that kind of worldwide acclaim – international best-on-best competition – has been impossible.

The 2028 Summer Olympics might change that with the introduction of flag football.

Subsequently, the Dallas Cowboys could be headed to the 2028 Olympics after a key schedule update and a resolution from the NFL was revealed on Thursday.

According to Tom Pelissero, scheduling conflicts shouldn’t be a factor in the league getting its stars to the international stage.

“Assuming this resolution passes, scheduling conflicts with the 2028 Summer Olympics should be relatively minimal,” he wrote. “The games are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles from July 14-30, putting the Gold Medal game the same week teams report to training camp.”

If the resolution passes and the NFL approves Olympic play, fans around the league will get to see the game’s biggest stars in action. However, only one player per team would be sent to the event, held in Los Angeles, along with a designated international player from each team.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott might not get to throw to receiver CeeDee Lamb, but Dallas has plenty of names to choose from. Flag football’s demand for speed and well-rounded athleticism makes Lamb a safe bet to be the nominee, but dynamic defensive backs Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland make sense, too.

If there’s a market for more than just ball carriers and defensive backs, we wouldn’t rule out edge rusher Micah Parsons, either.

In fact, Micah is already on the record as wanting to participate. Of course.

While not a direct translation from NFL rules, five-on-five flag football would be a sport the United States is expected to win, lending itself to a special moment in front of the home crowd. Like the country’s leg up in basketball, a big enough showing can grow the game internationally and – with the league’s investment – foster real competition for future generations of footballers at home and abroad.