In the first week of May, Vikings star Justin Jefferson had the flashbulbs popping as he strutted down the MET Gala carpet. The four-time Pro Bowler rocked a grey suit by Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne. Jefferson casually showed everyone that he’s got style off the gridiron as well. After his MET appearance, the wideout will soon join his team to prepare for the upcoming battle with the Vikings’ new signal-caller, J.J. McCarthy. A fresh connection needs to be built, chemistry has to spark, and the grind is about to begin.

Still, amid all the on-field buzz and off-field drip, Jefferson found himself opening up about something else as well. A childhood dream of his that’s finally coming true. On Tuesday, Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson took the stage at the NFL’s spring meeting as the league shared a major update about the future of flag football. The 25-year-old star was front and center, not just as one of the NFL’s biggest names. But as a global ambassador for the sport. Flag football will officially make its Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles. And Jefferson couldn’t hide his excitement. “To be honest, I’m just at a loss for words,” he said. 

Jefferson shared that as a kid watching Olympic basketball and track stars chase gold, he dreamed of football being on that same stage someday. “So now that we’re, you know, expanding the game. And, you know, we’re going more globally… It’s pretty cool,” Jefferson said.

The 25-year-old has officially been the ambassador for flag football since June 29, 2023. The Vikings star has since joined an all-star group of athletes and legends working to promote the sport’s growth worldwide. For Jefferson, flag football’s rise feels personal. “When I was a little kid, it wasn’t that big. To see it expanded to be what it is today… I’m honored to be a part of it,” he shared. “And to have this space that I have, and to expand it more, it’s my job. It’s something that I carry in my heart.“

The exciting part is, Jefferson now might not just be working for flag football’s expansion but playing in it too.

Justin Jefferson’s Olympic dream just got real

They announced another exciting update at the NFL’s spring meeting. The owners of the 32 franchises unanimously voted on Tuesday. That to allow NFL players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympics. Commissioner Roger Goodell shared, “It’s an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country in the Olympics, which is the pinnacle of global sport.” The NFL owners agreed to let the players take part in the sport. “I know first-hand that the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics has sparked a tremendous amount of excitement among NFL players interested in the chance to compete for their country on the world stage. We are thrilled that they will now have that chance,” Goodell announced.

Justin Jefferson, thrilled to see his childhood dream coming to life, is also open to getting in on the action himself. While it’s still uncertain whether he’ll actually play, the Vikings star shared his thoughts on the possibility, saying, “I definitely would look forward to it if it came down to it. But that’s something I have to ask myself.”

Jefferson is not the only NFL star who might be playing in the Olympics. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Miami WR Tyreek Hill have also shown interest in joining the Olympic flag football team. “I think the world finally has an opportunity to see the greatest athletes in the world participate, both men and women. I think the membership vote today, allowing the young fellas to put their hand up and be that Dream Team that we all saw and I grew up watching in ’92,” shared NFL’s EVP of Football Operations, Troy Vincent.

“Hey, I’m looking forward to seeing Justin play. He’s going to get his; we can’t wait to smash,” said Vincent. With stars like Jefferson potentially joining in, flag football’s Olympic debut is set to bring fresh energy and star power to the sport. Fans are eager to see how it all plays out.