Team USA Flag Football Dominates NFL Stars, Proves Olympic Gold Is Already in Reach
At the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, Team USA beat squads featuring Brady, Burrow, and Hurts — scoring a touchdown on nearly every possession.
FANATICS FLAG FOOTBALL CLASSIC: USA DOMINATES
LOS ANGELES, USA – Team USA doesn't need NFL players to win gold when flag football debuts at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles on March 21, 2026, proved that beyond any doubt.
The U.S. men's national team dominated games against squads made up of current and former NFL stars — including Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels. Team USA's offense, led by Darrell "Housh" Doucette III, Nico Casares, Velton Brown Jr., and Pablo Smith, was unstoppable, scoring a touchdown on every possession except for a kneel-down to end one victory.
The team is also undefeated in International Federation of American Football games since 2018, winning by an average score of 50-17, and has captured five straight world titles.
KUECHLY STUNNED BY NATIONAL TEAM'S SKILLSET
Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly, who played in the showcase, was stunned by the skillset of the U.S. national team. "Their skillset was very different than anything we've seen in the NFL — the speed, the quickness, the ability to create," Kuechly said. "Our inability to put our hands on those guys made this game very difficult. The scheme is very different. The concepts are very different."
Flag football requires a unique set of skills: exceptional speed, quickness, and elusiveness in a 5-on-5 setting. Traditional NFL size and power can actually work against players. Tom Brady, who went 0-2 in the tournament, has already taken his name out of consideration for Team USA.
BRADY ACKNOWLEDGES THE DIFFERENCE
"LA '28 will be a lot of guys like you saw out there on the field who make a big commitment to trying to be their best and showcase their skillset to a global audience," Brady said. "Whoever gives the team the best chance to win should be out there. Clearly, right now, that's Team USA."
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Devin Mallonee
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