Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Patrick Mahomes Reportedly Leaning One Way On Olympics

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 20, 2025 6:09 PM ET

The NFL will let players participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics. Everyone must now see whether stars like Patrick Mahomes want to play flag football.

On Tuesday, NFL owners approved a resolution allowing players to play flag football in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Each country can select one player per NFL roster, in addition to a designated international player.

Mahomes is one of several players to previously indicate interest in representing the United States. Discussing the development on Kevin Clark's This is Football, ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington said the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback could have a legitimate desire to play Olympic flag football.

"Talking to Patrick Mahomes about it, for instance, I think there will be players that want the gold medal," Darlington said. "I think it adds something to a resume that maybe the average American doesn't understand."

Darlington believes people will be "surprised" by the level of interest among NFL players. That includes the three-time Super Bowl champion, who will be 32 during the 2028 Games.

"Mahomes, I think, wants to do it," Darlington said. "I really do. The question becomes, is he the right quarterback? I think he is."

Clark joked that Mahomes would be "OK" playing football against Belarus. That led him and Darlington to note that the United States probably doesn't require the best NFL superstars to win gold in Los Angeles.

Darlington suggested that Team USA would win behind a retired Rex Grossman, and Clark pitched giving Dan Marino a chance to get a ring. However, Darlington "100 percent" wants a Dream Team akin to the 1992 Olympic men's basketball team that dominated the first year NBA players were allowed to compete.

"You want Patrick Mahomes throwing touchdowns to Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson," Darlington said. "It is our chance to have a true All-Star team."

Last year, Mahomes hinted that he'd want to play Olympic flag football. However, he'd need to receive an opportunity from Team USA and permission from Kansas City to compete.

"I definitely want to, but I've seen some of those guys play the flag football and they’re a little faster than I am," Mahomes said in Germany in November. "I know there’s not, like, linemen blocking for you. I'll be 31, 32 years old, so if I can still move around then, I'm going to try to get out there and throw the football around maybe in LA. Just don't tell Coach [Andy] Reid or [general manager Brett] Veach or anybody."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: