Although he's committed a precious few infractions that resulted in flags being thrown by officials in his three seasons with the Jets, CB Sauce Gardner is itching to drop some flags of his own and play flag football when the sport makes its debut in the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Players from the biggest league in North America are eligible to compete in one of the biggest sporting events on the planet and Gardner wants his piece of the action.
"I like it," Gardner said during the Jets' recent mandatory minicamp. "I definitely would be interested in it, being able to play for my country. I think it's a big deal because every time it's the Olympics, I'm always watching, I'm always tuned in."
In May, owners of NFL teams approved a resolution at a meeting in Eagan, MN, that will allow NFL players to try out for the five-a-side competition, which will be played on a 70-by-25-yard field in 40-minute games. The 10-player rosters cannot draw more than one player from an NFL squad. It will be the first time American football, in any format, will be featured in the Olympics.
"I think this news represents a great opportunity for the sport, for the NFL," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement after the resolution was approved. "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."
Coupled with a record seven NFL regular-season games to be played overseas this coming season (including the Jets hosting Denver at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London on Oct. 12), a growing number of flag football competitions in Africa, Australia and elsewhere help the league expand its footprint around the globe.
According to Olympics.com, "flag football started out as a means of recreation for American soldiers during World War II who then brought the game back home with them. Fort Meade in Maryland is said to have hosted the first games of flag football."
For the past several years, NFL players have participated in a 7-on-7 flag football competition in the Pro Bowl Games. For the Olympics, flag football is one of five new sports in the Games, the others are: baseball/softball, lacrosse, squash and cricket. In addition to the six-team men's competition there will also be a six-team women's competition with both being played at 22,000-seat BMO Stadium (the home of LAFC of Major League Soccer) when the Games begin on July 14, 2028.
Among NFL teams, the Jets have been aggressive in promoting flag football competitions for girls in high school in New York and New Jersey. The Empire State sanctioned flag as an official state championship in the spring of 2024. This past May, the Jets launched the Jets Flag Elite travel team that is competing in the high school division of local, regional and national 5-on-5 tournaments. The Green & White hosted tryouts for the team at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center (where the team also practices) while assuming the cost of uniforms, equipment and tournament fees.
"The Jets are honored to play a role in the growth and development of girls flag football in New Jersey and New York," VP of Community Relations Jesse Linder said. "It has been an organization-wide effort to make this team a reality and we can't wait to see what the future holds for these athletes and coaches."
