Former CFL quarterback Michael O’Connor is pursuing an Olympic dream with Canada's men's flag football team. After going unsigned as a CFL free agent in 2023, O'Connor, now 30, has helped Canada reach the brink of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where flag football will debut.
"It's something I never thought would be possible," O'Connor stated, reflecting on the potential to play in the Olympics. Canada can secure a spot with a top-two finish at the upcoming world championships in Germany. If the U.S. reaches the final, the second and third-place finishers will earn berths.
Canada qualified for the world event by winning bronze at the IFAF Americas Flag Football Continental Championship in Panama, where O'Connor threw five touchdown passes in the bronze medal game. He believes significant strides have been made in preparation for Germany.
O'Connor's football journey includes a college career at Penn State and the University of British Columbia, where he won a Vanier Cup in 2015. He was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2019 and played in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions, appearing in 40 regular-season games.
Flag football, played with five players per side on a smaller field without blocking or contact, demands quicker reactions and precise execution. "Everything happens much quicker," O'Connor noted about the condensed gameplay.
Should Canada qualify, O'Connor will face intense competition for a roster spot. The CFL and NFL are permitting their players to participate, potentially including top Canadian quarterbacks like Nathan Rourke. Despite the challenges, O'Connor expressed his commitment to the national team's success. "It's not about me and my feelings, it's about what's best for the country," he said.