Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) greets Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) following Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The best quarterback in the NFL right now will not be representing the United States when flag football is introduced at the Olympics in 2028.
“I’ll probably leave that to the younger guys,” Patrick Mahomes said, via Henry McKenna of FOX Sports. “I’ll be a little older by the time that comes around.”
When the 2028 Olympics arrive, Mahomes will be 32 years old. It’s not like he’ll be a fossil. He’ll be gearing up for his 12th NFL season, but some fans have pointed out that the Summer Games will likely overlap and interfere with training camp.
Earlier in May, NFL owners voted unanimously to allow players to participate in the Olympics. The NBA has long allowed its players to represent the United States, and Major League Baseball props up the World Baseball Classic.
Having already played in five Super Bowls and winning three of them, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Mahomes as the face of American football—even three years from now. He’s already a two-time MVP and would be getting fitted for a gold jacket if he decided to walk away today.
That’s what will make his absence from the 2028 Olympic Games feel a bit strange. LeBron James has represented the United States at the Olympics for years, as did Michael Jordan and the famous Dream Team in decades of dominance prior. They were the faces of basketball and represented their country tremendously well.
To be fair, James did sit out the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. We all know how seriously he takes his training, rehabilitation and conditioning—it’s believable that skipping some of those Games is part of the reason he still has tread on his tires at 40 years old.
Could Mahomes be following that same script? Preserving his body with extra time inside the Kansas City Chiefs’ facility while his peers try to win a gold medal in Los Angeles?
Perhaps. But it’s still difficult to comprehend exactly what “younger player” Mahomes is leaving with the responsibility of quarterbacking our great nation.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be the same age as Mahomes—32. But he’s already had some injuries. Reigning MVP Josh Allen will also be 32. Lamar Jackson, who could be really fun on a flag football field, will be 31. Reigning Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts won’t even be 30 yet.
If Mahomes doesn’t want to carry the flag for our great country, maybe it could be fun to call 50-year-old Tom Brady to see what he has left in that arm.
