10 Oregon Ducks who'd be instant stars in Olympic Flag Football
We've known for a while that flag football was coming to the Olympics in 2028 for the Los Angeles Games, but on Tuesday, it was officially approved to allow current NFL players to participate in the games as well. This means that the top football players in the world, from Justin Jefferson and Christian McCaffrey to Tyreek Hill and Patrick Surtain, can all compete for a gold medal in a couple of years.
This got us thinking about which Oregon Ducks could be in the mix. There are dozens of former Ducks on NFL rosters after the 2025 NFL draft, and by the time 2028 is here, that number should only grow. So, will any of them be in the mix? What about former Ducks who are no longer in the NFL?
It's a fun thought experiment to go through, so let's break it all down. Here are the 10 current or former Oregon Ducks who we believe would excel on the Olympic stage in flag football.
De'Anthony Thomas
This feels like the most straightforward answer on the board. While DAT may be small, it doesn't matter much when nobody can touch you. In his years at Oregon, Thomas revolutionized the offense. He became one of the biggest highlight-makers in the nation, and his legacy lives on to this day, with videos of him juking defenders out of their shoes circulating every year. While his NFL career didn't pan out, you can't convince me that De'Anthony, in his prime, would not be a dominant force on the Olympic flag football team.
Devon Allen
Devon Allen is often in the mix to participate in the Olympics on the track, but I think he could also make a run at things — no pun intended — on the gridiron. With his elite speed out wide, Allen could separate from defenders and act as the home-run threat needed to get over the top.
Christian Gonzalez
This list doesn't just feature offensive players. When playing defense in the Olympics, you'll need some elite cornerbacks who can be put on an island and cover some twitchy athletes. Christian Gonzalez is widely regarded as one of the most talented cornerbacks in the NFL right now, and he is someone who I could legitimately see being in the mix in 2028.
Tez Johnson
Much like De'Anthony Thomas, if you want to talk about people who can make a defender miss in open space, there are few better in the world than Tez Johnson. While his measurables and size caused him to drop in the 2025 NFL draft, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who believes he is not an elite playmaker with the ball in his hands. His skill set would also be perfect for flag football, where he doesn't have to be physical or sustain hits but can just let his quickness and agility do the talking.
LaMichael James
When it comes to flag football, the ability to make a defender miss is one of the most valuable assets, and few people were better at this than LaMichael James. With his quick-twitch steps and ability to stick his foot in the ground and get vertical, LaMike was a nightmare for defenders in the open field.
Josh Huff
Josh Huff gets overlooked in the history of Oregon receivers, but that shouldn't be the case, as he had a remarkable ability to get upfield and make catches in traffic. While one of his best skills was surviving contact and keeping plays alive, something that isn't as important in flag football, I think that Huff would prove valuable at the Olympics in his prime with his ability to get open and make the tough catches.
Marcus Mariota
Many NFL quarterbacks have the arm talent to be elite in flag football, but if you want the mobility required to escape the pocket, throw on the run, and pick up yards downfield, then Marcus Mariota, in his prime, might be the answer. As the Heisman Trophy winner in 2014, Mariota displayed an incredible ability to get out of the pocket and use his feet while also delivering strikes downfield. Man, wouldn't it be fun to see him do that again?
Jevon Holland
Again on the defensive side of the ball, elite safety play is needed in flag football, with a coverage safety who can be rangy and dynamic at the catch point. Jevon Holland fits the billing there. Holland got paid this offseason in free agency and is one of the more successful Pro Ducks in the NFL. He would be a fun addition to the Olympic team.
Bucky Irving
While the running back position isn't quite as important in flag football, having a shifty back who can catch passes out of the backfield is very valuable. Bucky Irving has proven that he can do that as well as anyone, using elite jump-cuts and short-area agility to make guys miss in the open field.
Kenyon Sadiq
Let's close it out with a current Duck. Would anyone be surprised if Kenyon Sadiq is actually in the running for a spot on the Olympic team by the time 2028 rolls around? He is one of the most athletic tight ends in the nation and is expected to have a career year in 2025 as one of the top options on Oregon's offense. We've seen his catching ability, and his knack for hurdling defenders has left jaws on the floor. With a big frame, Sadiq still has the agility and athleticism necessary to thrive in a flag football environment where he can make defenders miss and be a big-time weapon over the middle.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL holdouts, contract negotiation tracker: Are Cowboys, Micah Parsons really headed for 'divorce?'
NFL training camp season is upon us, which means holdout/hold-in season is too as players seek new contracts. The biggest saga of the summer has been between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened training camp with a wild, meandering media conference that took shots at Parsons' health, and Parsons has not been shy about voicing his displeasure with both that day and the entire process of trying to get a new deal. Parsons is arguably the NFL's best defender, and he's only 26 years old, so you'd think the Cowboys wouldn't mess around too much with this negotiation. You thought wrong! While the franchise has a history of leaving it late with star player contracts like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, to its credit, the deals get done. ESPN's Adam Schefter doesn't sound so optimistic about this one. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] "You caan't get a deal done if you're not even talking, and the two sides haven't had any negotiations since late March or early April," he said Tuesday. "It sounds like at this point it's personal. It sounds like each side is dug in." There are, of course, plenty of instances in NFL history where negotiating acrimony was swept aside to get a deal done. Schefter, however, doesn't see that happening here. "I see these two sides headed towards a divorce in time," he said. "The only question is, when is that divorce going to happen, and how is it going to happen? Are they going to trade him now? Are they going to trade him after this year?" There's still over two weeks before the Cowboys open the regular season in Philadelphia against the Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4. Who knows, maybe Jones wants to steal some thunder from Dallas' bitter rival opening the season as defending Super Bowl champion by getting the Parsons deal across the line a day or two before kickoff. Given the way this is trending, however, it doesn't feel like Parsons will be a Cowboy much longer. That's gloomy. How about the other contract seekers? Is there more gloom, or will there soon be reason to say "boom"? Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: Boom Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson spoke last week on the gulf between McLaurin and the Commanders, and what a deal might look like. "I think if it can get to $27 million to $28 million in annual average value," Robinson said, "if you're getting somewhere between $50 and $60 million in guaranteed money, I don't think either side would be happy, but I think it is the middle ground that gets those two together." Robinson believes the negotiation has gotten to a point where McLaurin's asking for $33 million in average annual value and $60 million guaranteed, similar to DK Metcalf's deal with the Steelers. The Commanders and GM Adam Peters might not be willing to go there, since the history of age-30 receivers delivering after signing a deal like that is short (McLaurin turns 30 in September). Plus, teams reportedly haven't been hammering Washington's phone lines with trade offers, and Jayden Daniels has publicly spoken about wanting McLaurin back in the fold. All told, the momentum here seems to be headed toward a compromise deal, so we'll go boom. Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson: Gloom This situation has heated up again the past couple days. First there were reports over the weekend that the Bengals were listening to trade offers for Hendrickson. Then, the NFL's reigning sack king spoke to ESPN on Monday and said that while he and the Bengals are close on annual salary and the length of his next contract, the team's unwillingness to give him more than one year of guaranteed money remains the sticking point. The Bengals already amended their preferences with regard to guarantee structure twice this offseason, first with All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and then first-round pick Shemar Stewart. They really, really sound like they don't want to do it again, and even though teams know Cincinnati's back is against the wall at the negotiating table, all it might take is one reasonably sweet offer to get a trade done. We're going gloom here. San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings: Boom Jennings still hasn't practiced since reportedly aggravating a calf injury on July 27, but he did attend the 49ers' preseason game against the Raiders over the weekend, and he's done at least one light workout. We're not going to debate whether the injury is real or not, or if Jennings is maximizing his missed time in an effort to get a deal done. We're simply going to note that this doesn't seem to be a particularly acrimonious situation, and headlines have been sparse on it for weeks. That's usually a good sign. Boom.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Titans' Simmons says his shove of Ward was simply flared tempers and blown out of proportion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons defended shoving the Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cameron Ward at the end of practice Monday and accused outsiders of blowing up tempers flaring at a hot training camp practice. The No. 1 overall draft pick, wearing a red non-contact jersey, was celebrating a touchdown throw in a red-zone drill when he put a hand on Simmons, who reacted by shoving Ward. Simmons was escorted off the practice field, not talking to reporters until the end of Tuesday's practice. 'At the end of the day, you know can't touch a quarterback," Simmons said. "We at a joint practice and somebody touch our quarterback, trust me I'm going to be the first one in. So I respect the (expletive) out of the offense for having ... our quarterback back.' Simmons said it was all left on the field and that he would take only football questions. Ward is scheduled to talk after Wednesday's practice. Titans coach Brian Callahan said assistant coaches are asked to take a player off the field if tempers get hot and cool them down. Practice ended two plays later, and Callahan said his conversations with Simmons and Ward were between them. 'It was a training camp push and shove and a little bit of loud barking, and that was pretty much it for me,' Callahan said. "It's late August, and we're ready to go play some real football.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Giants injury updates: Andrew Thomas, Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo healthy
The New York Giants are getting some star power back in action this week. The team announced via social media Tuesday that offensive tackle Andrew Thomas had passed his physical and would return to practice. In addition, the G-Men will also see second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers (back) and rookie running back Cam Skattebo (hamstring) return to the practice field Tuesday. It's big news for a Giants squad that has managed to go 2-0 in preseason games without any of the three available. Thomas and Nabers are both starters and two of the team's biggest stars on offense. Skattebo, a fourth-round pick by New York this year, is projected to split carries with sophomore back Tyrone Tracy Jr. Here are the latest Giants injury updates from Tuesday: JAXSON DART: How New York Giants QB played vs Jets Andrew Thomas injury update Thomas suffered a Lisfranc injury in a Week 6 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals last year. The injury ended his season prematurely and marked a second straight season missing seven or more games after he signed a five-year extension in 2023. The five-year veteran spent all of the spring and start of training camp on the PUP list while rehabbing from his Lisfranc injury, which required a surgery last fall. The Giants announced on social media Tuesday that Thomas had passed his physical and would return to practice. Malik Nabers injury update Nabers has been battling a couple of injuries this offseason. He first missed all of the Giants' spring activities while the team elected to let Nabers rest and recovery from a lingering toe injury he's had since college. More recently, the rising star wideout suffered a back injury that caused him to miss the last two weeks of practice and both of New York's preseason games so far. On Tuesday, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters that Nabers would be returning to practice. That opens the door for him to make his 2025 preseason debut when the Giants host the New England Patriots on Thursday night. Provided everything goes well, Nabers should remain available to start in Week 1 of the regular season as well. FANTASY FOOTBALL: WR tiers for 2025: Ranking best fantasy options Cam Skattebo injury update Skattebo suffered a minor hamstring injury in early August then missed the last two and a half weeks of practice when a setback kept him out for extra time. The injury caused Skattebo to miss both of the Giants' first two preseason games and robbed him of a chance to poach more first-team snaps from Tracy, New York's presumed lead back. Daboll said Tuesday that Skattebo would be returning to practice this week, which, like Nabers, opens the door for him to make his 2025 preseason debut later this week. If and when Skattebo takes the field on Thursday night, it will also be his professional debut for the Giants after New York nabbed him with a fourth-round pick in April. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants injury updates: Thomas, Nabers, Skattebo return to practice
