- NFL. Justin Jefferson makes it clear that Patrick Mahomes plays in a league of his own
- NFL. Michael Strahan: Taylor Swift is one of the best things to happen to the NFL
NFL stars are already preparing to represent the US flag football team at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, but Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown says he won't leave training camp for anything, not even gold.
A.J. Brown has made his priorities clear for the 2028 Olympics. With flag football making its Olympic debut in Los Angeles, many NFL stars have expressed their excitement at the opportunity to represent their country on the world's biggest stage.
AJ Brown doesn't need Olympic gold
However, Brown has emphatically ruled himself out, citing his commitment to the Eagles and the date clash with training camp.
"I heard the Olympics are during camp. Yeah, so no. It would be hard," Brown told reporters Tuesday. "It would be fun to compete. Personally, no, because of camp. [The media] would complain, 'A.J. Brown is not in camp.' And the fans too. So I'm going to keep the main thing as the main thing."
The flag football competition will take place from July 14-21, 2028, finishing just before the date most veterans report for training camp
For Brown, this moment creates an unacceptable conflict with his professional obligations to the Eagles. The three-time Pro Bowler has been instrumental in Philadelphia's recent success, helping the team reach two Super Bowls in the past three seasons and win a Lombardi Trophy
In his three seasons with Philadelphia after being traded from Tennessee, Brown has put up impressive numbers: 261 receptions for 4,031 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 15.4 yards per reception.
The irony of Brown's decision is particularly noteworthy given that his teammate and quarterback, Jalen Hurts, has been in the spotlight in promoting Olympic flag football
Hurts was named an Olympic flag football ambassador in August 2024 and starred in a promotional ad that premiered during the handover of the Olympic Games from Paris to Los Angeles
The NFL owners officially voted this week to allow players to participate in the 2028 Olympics, clearing a major hurdle for those interested in competing
The US team will have 10 players for the Olympic five-on-five format, with only six teams in total in the Olympic tournament, meaning competition for places will be fierce among interested NFL players.
While Brown has made his stance clear, there are still three years to go until the 2028 Olympics and circumstances could change. For now, Eagles fans can rest assured that their star receiver remains focused on bringing another Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia. As Brown said, he is committed to "keeping the main thing the main thing", and for him, that is football in Philadelphia.