Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the latest NFL star to express interest in participating in football in the 2028 Summer Olympics, telling reporters Friday in Frankfurt, Germany, that he “definitely” wants to play. . Here’s what you need to know:
- Mahomes, who will be 32 when the sport makes its Olympic debut, said he wants to play but realizes that football requires quarterbacks to be extremely mobile. “I’ve seen some of these guys play football,” Mahomes said, according to the Associated Press. “They’re a little faster than me. I know there’s no like linemen blocking you. … So, if I can still move at that time, I’ll try to get out there and throw the football maybe in L.A.
- Regarding his comments, the midfielder joked to reporters: “Don’t tell coach (Andy) Reid or (general manager Brett) Veach.”
- The International Olympic Committee officially approved football last month and added it to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
- The five-a-side version of the sport does not feature any offensive or defensive linemen, and tackles are made when the defender pulls the flag from the attacking player’s belt.
Will Mahomes be a good fit for the team?
when The athlete Football experts were polled last month, seeking to find the perfect NFL fit for a potential Olympic football team, and Mahomes’ name was one of the first to come up at quarterback. This is not only because he is the best quarterback in football, but also because his ability to escape pressure inside the pocket and his ability to throw from a variety of arm angles make him a perfect fit in the flag game.
The biggest question among people who were considering what the 2028 roster might look like was whether or not current NFL players had outgrown the ideal demographic by then. — Josh Kendall, Falcons writer
what are they saying
Mahomes will be the He was selected for the Olympic team “because of his creativity.
He said Reese was not surprised that several NFL players expressed interest in making the team. So many, in fact, that he’s already imagining what tryouts might look like for the team.
“When you think about the tests, the media attention you’re going to get is amazing,” Reese said. “They have to find out.”
Reese cited the impact of the 1992 Dream Team in basketball in talking about how the addition of NFL players to the Olympics could lead to increased popularity of flag and tackle football around the world.
“Look at basketball, we have guys in the NBA but you have these other teams that give Team USA a run for their money,” Reese said. “I think that adds to the intrigue of it.”
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(Photo: Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
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