"We were getting kicked": Team USA's flag football QB does not want NFL players' dominance at 2028 Olympic
Team USA flag football star Darrell Doucette challenges NFL players, insisting Olympic spots must be earned, not assumed, for 2028 Games. (Getty Images)
The NFL recently gave the green light for its players to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its official debut. This groundbreaking decision has sparked excitement and speculation, especially around the potential involvement of NFL superstars in the Team USA lineup.
However, not everyone in the flag football community is celebrating just yet.
Olympic dreams clash as flag football star tells NFL players to prove they belong in 2028
Darrell Doucette III, the seasoned quarterback of the U.S. men's national flag football team and two-time IFAF world champion, has stepped up as the voice of a community that's long fought to legitimize the sport. Despite the glamour and global appeal NFL players bring, Doucette is standing firm in his belief that flag football athletes have already earned their spot on the Olympic stage.
'This is a sport that we've played for a long time, and we feel like we are the best at it… We don't need other guys,' Doucette told The Washington Post, signaling a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface of this celebratory announcement.
The U.S. men's national team has not just competed, but dominated, with five consecutive world championships to their name. That record didn't come with million-dollar contracts or massive fanbases—it came through grit, chemistry, and relentless effort.
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Doucette's statements aren't about resisting competition; they're about respect.
'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,' he added. 'The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That's all we want.'
To his credit, Doucette isn't drawing a hard line. He's well aware of the talent NFL athletes bring and even welcomes the challenge.
'We're definitely open to all competition. If those guys come in and ball out and they're better than us, hats off to them. Go win that gold medal for our country.' It's not an anti-NFL stance—it's a call for fair competition.
What makes this dialogue even more compelling is Doucette's confident comparison to one of the league's greatest. 'At the end of the day, I feel like I'm better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game,' he told TMZ Sports last year.
'I know he's right now the best in the league, I know he's more accurate, I know he has all these intangibles – but when it comes to flag football, I feel like I know more than him.'
That statement might raise eyebrows, but it underscores the uniqueness of flag football—a game where precision, agility, and football intellect are often more valuable than raw power. Doucette isn't claiming superiority over Mahomes as a quarterback in the NFL, but in the flag format, where the rules and pace shift dramatically, he believes his experience gives him the edge.
As per the rules approved by the NFL, only one player per NFL team, including designated international players, can represent their country in the Olympic flag football event. That limitation alone suggests a fierce selection process lies ahead—one where national pride and personal legacy will collide.
With Los Angeles set to host the 2028 Olympics, all eyes will be on how this roster takes shape. Will NFL names headline the event, or will veterans like Doucette continue leading the charge? Either way, one thing is clear—the battle for Team USA's flag football roster is about more than medals. It's about identity, recognition, and preserving the spirit of a sport that has finally found its global spotlight.
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