Who on the Steelers could be at the next olympics?

You might’ve missed it, but there was some big news coming out of the NFL today—and it had nothing to do with transactions, OTA reports, or even the league itself. Instead, the buzz came from the announcement that NFL-contracted players will be allowed to put their name forward to represent their country in flag football at the Olympics, making the sport’s debut on the world stage way more intriguing.

Now official: NFL owners voted today to permit players to participate in flag football at the 2028 summer Olympics in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/KiZoq1QdRn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2025

Now, the big question becomes—will NFL players actually feel compelled to throw their names into the pool of athletes hoping to compete? It’s still way too early to tell, but I figured it’d be fun to take a look at a few names on the Steelers roster who could bring the kind of skill sets that translate perfectly to the flag football format.

DK Metcalf WR

One name that might raise some eyebrows—and maybe even some blood pressure—from a Steelers standpoint is DK Metcalf. It would definitely be nerve-racking to watch the team’s top wideout suit up and risk injury in the Olympics. But from a pure football standpoint, he’d bring serious excitement to the flag format. His rare blend of size and speed would make him a nightmare matchup for anyone unfortunate enough to line up across from him. At 6’4″, 235 pounds, with elite straight-line speed, just tossing it up to DK might feel like using a cheat code.

How he’d fare on defense is another question. He’s not the most fluid mover laterally, but with his raw physical gifts, it’d be hard not to find a spot for him on both sides of the ball.

Calvin Austin WR

Flag football tends to favor the smaller, shiftier athletes—players who can make sudden cuts at high speeds—and that’s exactly where Calvin Austin would shine. One of the fastest guys in the league, Austin routinely outruns NFL-caliber defenders and is steadily growing into a more polished and savvy route runner. Offensively, he’d be a nightmare to contain in space. But what makes him especially intriguing is his potential two-way value. His smaller frame and quick-twitch agility could allow him to hold his own defensively in a way a bigger body like Metcalf might struggle with.

Minkah Fitzpatrick FS

Even though his personal production has dipped in recent seasons, I think Minkah Fitzpatrick would be a dominant player in a flag football environment. On defense, his instincts and athleticism would be on full display—constantly making plays on the ball and generating turnovers in coverage. However, as we know, Minkah is a football savant, and he could easily use his high-level understanding of the game, paired with his solid ball skills, to make an impact on offense as well. He has all the tools to be a dominant two-way player.

Donte Kent CB

Obviously, we’ve never seen Kent at the NFL level, but his profile and college production scream “flag football weapon” to me. While he may lack the high-end technical ability that saw him fall to the 7th round of the draft, he certainly makes up for it with his raw athleticism. A sub-4.4 40 time and a 38.5-inch vertical clearly highlight the type of explosive athlete Kent is. Pair that with his solid coverage ability on the defensive side and his punt return background, and you’ve got a guy who could be a serious threat with the ball in his hands. He’s definitely a candidate to be a dynamic two-way player.

These are all just hypothetical situations, of course, but it would definitely make for some must-watch TV if any member of the black and gold suited up for the Olympics. With that being said, how do you feel about the names I mentioned? Do you think they’d thrive in a flag football setting, or are there other Steelers you’d rather see rep the team on the world stage? Let us know in the comments below!