Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton expressed doubt that many NFL players will compete in flag football when it debuts at the 2028 Olympics. Payton recently coached Founders FFC, an exhibition team featuring NFL alumni, which suffered a heavy 43-16 defeat against the established USA squad.

Payton admitted the experience was humbling, comparing his team’s struggles to the *Home Alone* movies. He suggested that while NFL players possess talent, the time commitment required to acclimate to the sport—a month or two—conflicts with their primary NFL training regimen.

NFL owners had previously agreed to allow players to try out, setting a limit of one representative per team. Despite initial interest from several players, the mismatch demonstrated during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic appears to have sobered expectations regarding immediate NFL involvement.

His primary takeaway focused on the benefit for the international game and, especially, the women’s side of the sport, which gains a clear competitive pathway. Payton believes the current structure is suitable without significant immediate NFL integration.