NFL stars not guaranteed a place in Team USA’s Flag Football team at the Los Angeles Olympic Games

Flag football will be one of five sports added to the Olympic program for the next Games in Los Angeles in 2028 and several NFL players have shown an interest or desire to be part of the team that will be taking part.

However, not everyone is happy about that. Darrell Housh Doucette, the US national Flag Football team’s quarterback, insists that everyone will have to earn their place in the Olympic team - including any NFL stars. Doucette feels that some of the league’s players are arrogant to presume that they can automatically take the places that he and his teammates have worked hard to win.

“We’re the ones who promoted this sport”

In an interview with The Guardian, Doucette said he interpreted the promotional video for the upcoming Olympics in which Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws a ball into the cauldron at the Los Angeles Coliseum as a threat.

“I think it’s disrespectful that they just automatically assume that they’re able to just join the Olympic team because of the person that they are – they didn’t help grow this game to get to the Olympics. Give the guys who helped this game get to where it’s at their respect,” Doucette said. “We just don’t think they’re going to be able to walk on the field and make the Olympic team because of the name, right? They still have to go out there and compete.”

The US men’s flag football team won the gold medal at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, largely thanks to Doucette. The team dominated the tournament, with comprehensive wins over Denmark, Panama and France in the group stage, then breezed past Germany and Austria before beating Italy 46-36 in the final.

Which NFL players want to be part of Team USA’s flag football team?

The NFL has been one of the biggest proponents of flag football, and the Pro Bowl’s format change is a testament to that. In October 2023, NFL Vice President Peter O’Reilly stated that he would look into working with the Players Union to have the league’s all-stars play in the Olympics. Active stars who have expressed interest in playing flag football in Los Angeles include Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Caleb Williams.

What is flag football?

Flag Football is a non-contact sport in which ‘tackles’ are made by removing one of two vinyl ‘flags’ attached to the ball-carrier’s waist - one on each side. Each team has four attempts - known as downs - to reach the halfway line. If successful, they have another four downs to reach the endzone and score a touchdown. If unsuccessful on either count, the ball is turned over to the opposition who start on their own five-yard line.

Turnovers also occur due to interceptions - when a defender catches a ball intended for a receiver - and fumbles, when the ball-carrier drops the ball and a defender collects. No running plays are permitted when the offensive team is five yards or less from the endzone.

After a touchdown, which is worth six points, teams go for an extra point - by running or passing - from the five-yard line, or two extra points from the 10-yard line.

Flag football debuted as an invitational sport at the 40th anniversary of The World Games in 2022, which featured eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams from around the world competing at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama.