NFL vs. flag football: Team USA captain sends direct message to stars about the Olympics

NFL players have been given the green light to represent Team USA in the flag football event when the sport makes its debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

But Darrell Doucette, the national team’s QB for the past five years, has stressed that NFL’s established stars will have to earn their place and won’t be able to simply stroll into the team without proving themselves first.

NFL clubs vote in favor of waiving players to take part in LA28 flag football event

At a meeting in Minneapolis last week, NFL clubs unanimously approved a resolution permitting its players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Games.

“It’s an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country in the Olympics, which is the pinnacle of global sport,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “I know first-hand that the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics has sparked a tremendous amount of excitement among NFL players interested in the chance to compete for their country on the world stage. We are thrilled that they will now have that chance.”

Six men’s teams and six women’s teams of 10 players per team will take part in the five-on-five flag football event at LA28. NFL teams will be limited to supply a maximum of one player each to Team USA’s 10-player Olympic rosters.

However, being eligible for the US flag football team is one thing, and taking the place of someone who is already in the team on merit is another, says the current national team QB, Darrell Doucette.

“The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That’s all we want,” Doucette told The Washington Post. “We felt like we worked hard to get the sport to where it’s at, and then when the NFL guys spoke about it, it was like we were getting kicked to the side.”

NFL stars eyeing a place at the Olympics

Several NFL stars, such as Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones and New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs have been vocal in their support of taking part in flag football at LA28.

But Doucette, who has spoken on the issue in the past, insists that he will continue to defend his position and those of his teammates. “I felt like I was the guy who could speak out for my peers, for my brothers that’s been working hard to get to this level, for us not to be forgotten,” he concluded.

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