Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst concerned about NFL players competing in 2028 Olympics

The NFL has turned its draft into a year-long, big-business bonanza.

Imagine what it could do with the global money machine also known as the Olympics.

League owners signaled they are ready to push their chips all in on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics when they voted yes May 20 to giving the players the opportunity to compete in flag football.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is ready to throw a red flag at the idea as he is concerned about possible injuries.

“I think overall, [flag football as an Olympic event is] a great thing,” Gutekunst told ESPN. “I’d love it if we kept the NFL players out of it.”

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin also is hesitant seeing an NFL shield on any Team USA jerseys.

“There’s some subtle differences between tackle football and flag football, and I’m not going to assume that tackle football players are the very best option, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said.

In 1999, Pro Bowl running back Robert Edwards tore all three knee ligaments, suffered nerve damage and ruptured an artery during a beach flag football game. He was never again the same impact player for the New England Patriots.

But former Packers running back Aaron Jones said in the ESPN same story that he would be more than ready to don a red, white and blue uniform with stars and stripes for obvious reasons.

“I would absolutely love it,” Jones said. “Every other sport gets an opportunity to win a gold medal, and if you’re not serving your country in the military, I feel like that’s the other highest honor that you can represent your country in.”

Jones’ teammate, Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson said about the Olympics: “It’s a dream.”

While owners have taken the initial step of approving its players for the 2028 games, both the players union and the Olympic governing body will have to agree on a proposal, which currently is six participating countries (which are not yet determined) to include one NFL player on a 10-man roster.

The Packers are at the center of the other hot topic this week at the owners meetings. The team has submitted a revised proposal to basically ban the popular short-yardage formation known as the “tush-push.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Packers GM Brian Gutekunst concerned about Olympic flag football