As a youngster growing up in Louisiana, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson dreamed of competing in the Olympics, specifically stating on several occasions that he paid special attention to track & field and basketball.
As he got older and shifted the majority of his focus to football, those dreams had to fade away, as his sport of choice wasn't an option in that regard. That's now changed, of course, as flag football was added to the slate of summer sports for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles back in October 2023. Just a few months earlier, Jefferson had been named a Global Flag Football Ambassador, so this news naturally excited him.
As USA Basketball began using NBA players in 1992 with the first edition of the Dream Team, football fans immediately wondered if NFL players would be allowed to compete for USA Football.
It took some time, but just this past May at the league's annual spring meeting, NFL owners unanimously approved a resolution that will allow each team to send one player to the Olympics. There's no guarantee every player will make the roster, as USA Football is expected to send a mixture of NFL players and flag football specialists to Los Angeles.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson still dreams about playing football in the Olympics
Soon after the vote, Jefferson, who was instrumental in getting the resolution passed, said he was "at a loss for words" about the possibility of living out his lifelong dream of winning a gold medal before exiting his press conference with what he called an "Olympic Griddy."
With Vikings training camp set to get underway in a matter of days, Jefferson recently sat down with Yahoo Sports' Jason Fitz to discuss several topics, including what to expect from Minnesota in 2025 and his thoughts on young Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
In addition, the four-time All-Pro doubled down on his dream to participate in the Olympics, telling Fitz that 2028 may be the only chance he ever gets.
"That's always been a dream and something that I've always wanted to accomplish, standing on that stage and getting that gold medal. To be an Olympian, that's something I've always dreamt of, but football was never in the Olympics. Now we finally have a chance, and it probably will be my only chance that I can get, so I feel like, why not?" said Jefferson.
Having just turned 26 on June 16, Jefferson is completely aware that his body still has to endure three more seasons of NFL action before the Olympics roll around, which will obviously take a toll. But he's extremely determined to make this happen, saying, "If everything goes well and everything goes right for me, of course I'd love to compete for a gold medal."
Justin Jefferson on a global stage with a gold-medal griddy? Yes, please.