Chargers' Ladd McConkey Eyes 2028 Olympics in Flag Football, 'I'm Ready for It

Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey threw his hat in the ring for flag football's Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. "Bring it on," he told Jordan Schultz. "I'm ready for it. Man, sign me up. If I have a chance to go compete for the country, win a gold medal? C'mon, who would turn that down? That'd be sick." In May, NFL team owners voted to allow NFL players to try out for and participate in the event, so McConkey's dream could become a reality. Only one player per NFL team will be eligible, however. "I think this news represents a great opportunity for the sport, for the NFL," commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters at the time. "It's truly the next step in making NFL football and football a global sport for men and women of all ages and all opportunities across the globe. We think that's the right thing to do, and this is a big step in accomplishing that." It remains to be seen if NFL players will make the cut though, given that the United States has a well-established flag football team that has won "eight consecutive International Federation of American Football events, five world championships, three continental championships and the 2022 World Games," per Tim Graham of The Athletic. So McConkey may want in, but the competition will be stiff.