With an eye to the future, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba called on Tom Brady to come out of retirement to represent Team USA at the Olympics.
The Summer Olympics are returning to Los Angeles in 2028, which will see American flag football make its debut at the games.
NFL fans have long wondered who might be called up to represent the United States at the games – with hypothetical rosters being drawn up since it was announced that the sport would be included.
Players have done the same and this week, ahead of Super Bowl LX, Smith-Njigba was asked who he might be interested in sharing a field with.
‘I think playing with Garrett Wilson would be fun, a lot of my Ohio State Buckeyes would be cool,’ Smith-Njigba said – envisioning a reunion with some of his college teammates.
But he also added, ‘I think Tom Brady, you know, him coming back… that would be awesome.’
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba indicated that he wants to play in the Olympics
Smith-Njigba, who is set to play in Super Bowl LX, is looking forward to the introduction of flag football into the Olympic games when they arrive in Los Angeles in 2028
Speculation about Brady playing in the Olympics has permeated since he announced that he’d take part in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
The event, put on by Fanatics and featuring the likes of Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Saquon Barkley and Tyreek Hill, will be held in mid-March in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The tournament-style event will be televised by Fox Sports and is hosted by comedian Kevin Hart.
The star pass catcher shouted out Tom Brady as a potential future teammate for Team USA
It will be the first football that Brady suits up for since he officially retired from the NFL in 2023. While he did not indicate that this is a sign of his return to play in the Olympics, Brady did mention the event would be a gateway for athletes in the full-contact sport to get into the flag version of the game.
‘It’s a multi-year commitment,’ said Brady, who is also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
‘Obviously, we’re getting off to a good start. The first year will be kind of where everyone’s attention and energy is at. It’s the first time we’ve ever done something like this, but all the players that I’ve talked to are excited about playing.
‘With the Olympics coming up in 2028, I think it’s all the NFL players’ first exposure to it, and I didn’t want to miss out on being a part of it.’
