Lions player likely to be tapped for Olympic flag football is painfully clear

The NFL is expected to vote to allow players to participate in the 2028 Olympic games set to be hosted in Los Angeles, and specifically allowing them to take part in flag football as it makes its debut during the games that year.

Flag football, a non-contact form of the sport that involves a lot more finesse than brute force, will definitely end up being a draw for many of the league's fastest and savviest athletes, many of which call the Detroit Lions home. That's what makes this afternoon's vote just a bit anxiety inducing if you are a Lions fan.

The chance for injury during something like this might not as high as it is in the NFL, but it's still a huge risk to take for a player who might be crucial to a teams' offense and gameplanning. It's why so many professional contracts feature add-ons requiring players don't, for example, participate in any pick up games or anything recreational that isn't under the purview of their team - it's risky.

That's what makes this vote a little grey for the Lions, and specifically for the most obvious option for flag football on the team: Jahmyr Gibbs.

Gibbs feels like most obvious target for Team USA's flag football team

Keep in mind that flag football has leagues across the country that will obviously have players trying out and vying for spots to play in the sport they've known for much longer than any NFL player has. But, if you had a choice between an NFL-level athlete and - respectfully - a flag football player, you're like to take a much harder look at what the NFL player has to offer.

Gibbs, who finished up his 2024 season with the Lions with 1,412 rushing yards, a league-high 16 touchdowns, and no fumbles. That came with 250 carries and with an extra workload under his belt after the injury to David Montgomery, his backfield teammate.

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He's the perfect running back to insert into a flag football environment because he's so shifty, and he's smaller for a running back with the type of numbers that he posts for the Lions. He's one of the best in the league, so it might be difficult for him to convince the Lions to allow him to train for this in a few years - or, for Team USA to convince him to risk his offseason health for a medal.

We'll see what happens a few years down the line - we're still three whole years away from the Summer Games in LA - but, as of now, it sure feels like Gibbs is going to be a big target for Team USA for this flag football venture.

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