Up to 5 NFL players could compete in Rio Olympics

A handful of current and former NFL players could be headed to Rio in August to take part in the Olympics.

The only known player to take regular-season snaps in the NFL prior to competing in the Olympics is Herschel Walker. That number could soon balloon, as five players are looking to make the jump from football to Olympic glory.

Jahvid Best, Marquise Goodwin, Nate Ebner, Jarryd Hayne, and Jeff Demps are all looking to compete in various events, with Goodwin - a world-class long jumper - the most likely to qualify.

Best, a former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions, is looking to make the Saint Lucia track and field team in the 100-meter dash. The speedy running back was forced to retire after a series of concussions, and last played in an NFL game in 2011.

Ebner and Hayne are both rugby hopefuls. Demps is a former kick-return specialist with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, and is looking to make the U.S. 4x100 meter relay team.

Several NFL players - including Hall of Famer "Bullet" Bob Hayes - competed in the Olympics prior to entering the NFL, with a record four future NFLers competing in the 1960 games. However, five representatives at Rio would set a new record.