Rob Gronkowski Eyes Potential U.S. Olympic Flag Football Team in 2028

The future Hall of Famer said he’s interested in representing the U.S. if flag football is adopted as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski often gets asked what circumstances could convince him to unretire and return to football. Normally, he says nothing would get him to come back to the sport at this point in his life.

However, Gronkowski seemingly has changed his tune this week, sharing a scenario in which he’d considering returning to the gridiron: as a member of Team USA’s flag football team in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Although flag football hasn’t yet been approved as an Olympic sport for 2028, Gronkowski told TMZ Sports to “Count me in already!” if the sport gets approved for inclusion. 

“Hopefully there’s no tryouts and they just accept me,” Gronkowski said. “But I’m in. I’m going for that if there is flag football in the Olympics in 2028. USA going all the way!”

It sounds as if the future Pro Football Hall of Famer is interested in flag football in general, whether it’s played in the Olympics or not.

“I can tell you this, if there was a flag football league—an NFL flag football league—I would be playing in that currently as we speak,” Gronkowski added.

Gronkowski retired from the Patriots initially in 2019, but then returned for two seasons with the Buccaneers before retiring a second time in 2022. He’s made it clear many times that he doesn’t intend to return to the NFL again.

The International Olympic Committee is expected to vote on the potential addition of flag football and other sports Monday.