With each passing year, there are more foreign-born players in the NFL, and there were more than 100 last season.
Many US-born players also qualify for other nations through their family’s heritage, such as Amon-Ra St Brown, whose mother is German.
“To be part of the Olympics, whether it’s USA or Germany, and to play the sport that I love most would be a dream come true,” said the Detroit Lions receiver.
The national football federations for Germany, Great Britain and Nigeria all say they would consider current and former professional players, if they demonstrate they are worthy of selection.
The same goes for athletes from other sports. Gridiron Australia chief executive Wade Kelly says that more than 100 professionals from ball-carrying sports have asked about playing in LA.
“Many of them are NFL fans and they’ve realised they could play against Patrick Mahomes or Tyreek Hill,” Kelly told BBC Sport.
Record seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady said that the US are “going to have a bit of an advantage, but it will be fun to watch other teams fight for the gold medal”.
Their men’s team will aim to win a fifth straight gold at the World Championships in Finland later this month (27-30 August) while the women’s team is going for a third straight title.
But when flag football featured at the 2022 World Games in Alabama, US women were beaten 39-6 in the final by a Mexico team led by quarterback Diana Flores, who last year became the first flag player to be featured in the pro football Hall of Fame.
