EAGAN, Minn. — Justin Jefferson and Brian Asamoah II have lived out their dreams of making it to the NFL.

The Vikings receiver and linebacker on Tuesday took a step toward another dream — becoming an Olympian.

NFL owners at the Spring League Meeting at Omni Viking Lakes approved a resolution to allow NFL players to participate in flag football during the 2028 Olympics, which will introduces the sport to its lineup in Los Angeles. Negotiations with the NFL Players Association will follow and need to be finalized, but Tuesday was a major step toward teams competing for a gold medal.

Jefferson, Asamoah, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL EVP of Football Operations Troy Vincent and EVP of Club Business and League Events Peter O'Reilly shared their excitement for the news during a press conference.

"The membership today made a bold move," Vincent said. "America's game is now on the world stage.

Jefferson was announced as a Global Flag Ambassador in June 2023 and has been sharing his electrifying enthusiasm for growing the game.

"To be honest, I'm just at a loss of words," Jefferson began. "Seeing the amount of kids that are really involved in the sport, seeing the women and men being involved, seeing it now, being on the global stage is something that's so special. Even though it's three years down the line, they're still planning who's going to be on the team and all but, just thinking about the chances of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal, is a dream.

"Reverting back to being a kid and watching the track and field meets, watching basketball win the gold medal, so that's something that as a kid I always wanted to be a part of, but football wasn't global, so now we're expanding the game, it's pretty cool," Jefferson added. "Seeing all the different countries involved and seeing athletes like B.A. and so many different athletes that come from different areas of this world. The talent is out there. This game needs to be expanded and played around the world. I'm just honored to be an ambassador. To see it expand to what it is, I'm honored to be a part of it and to have the space I have. It's something I'll carry in my heart."

The four-time Pro Bowler said he's enjoyed the NFL's shifting the Pro Bowl Games from padded football to flag football.

"We felt like kids out there," Jefferson said.

Asamoah has been sponsoring youth flag teams in Ghana through his BA Foundation (Be Authentic), further connecting with his heritage. This spring, he traveled there with Vikings running back Aaron Jones, Sr., and receiver Jordan Addison, to support the "Road to LA28" program in Accra. Nearly 100 athletes tried out at the University of Ghana's Rugby Field to be selected for the 50-player pool that will begin training to represent Ghana at the Olympics.

Asamoah's parents moved to the United States in 2000, shortly before he was born in Newark, New Jersey. Asamoah then grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He visited Ghana when he was 10 years old and tried to explain American football to his peers.

"They were like, 'What's that?' That's American football. That's what we call it back home," Asamoah recalled. "So just being able to go back home now and say, 'OK, you have the opportunity to represent your country playing flag football,' and the excitement, the joy and the appreciation of just the work that has been put down so that they get the opportunity to one day represent their country, but not only represent the country, but have an opportunity to play football at the highest level, like Justin and I, it's a wonderful privilege.

"I just can't wait to see the excitement and joy that everybody's going to be able to see out of the players, the fans and each country being able to say I have an opportunity to compete in the highest games, LA28, and an opportunity to bring the gold back to the Gold Coast," Asamoah added.

The Olympic flag football competition will consist of six men's teams and six women's teams composed of 10 players per team. The games will be played with a five-on-five format.

As per the terms agreed to Tuesday, NFL player participation with their countries' national flag football teams will begin with a tryout or qualification process in advance of the Olympic competition.

Thanks to Tuesday's approved resolution, the NFL, NFLPA and national governing bodies and Olympic authorities can proceed with developing rules for players' participation that include the following:

Permitting players under an NFL contract to try out for a flag football team participating in the 2028 Olympics;

Limiting NFL player participation to "no more than one from the roster of each NFL club for each team participating" (in addition to any designated International Player Pathway participant who will suit up for his home country);

Providing "appropriate injury protection, and salary cap credit, for any NFL player who is injured while authorized to participate in flag football activities related to the 2028 Olympic Games;"

An agreement that Olympic flag football teams will implement "certain minimum standards for medical staff and field surfaces" to be eligible for an NFL player to participate for a team;

A schedule for flag football games and related events in such a way that "does not unreasonably conflict with an NFL player's league and club commitments."