NFL Gives Green Light for Players to Join Flag Football at 2028 Olympics, Sparking Debate Among Players

In a surprising move, the NFL has unanimously decided to allow its players to participate in flag football when the sport makes its debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics. This has sparked excitement among NFL stars and their fans. However, not everyone is thrilled about the prospect of NFL players showing up at the Olympics. Some seasoned flag football players, like quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette, feel that this could overshadow their hard work and dedication.

Doucette has led the U.S. national flag football team to four global championships and sees himself as a voice for his teammates. “The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That’s all we want,” Doucette expressed to reporters. He added, “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 wants his fellow flag football players to be remembered and included.

While Doucette may not be as big as Josh Allen or as fast as Lamar Jackson, he points out that flag football is a completely different game compared to what fans see on Sundays. Doucette likens the difference to the comparison between tennis and table tennis. In flag football, there’s a shorter field, a different downs system, and various penalties that do not exist in traditional tackle football. “It’s entirely two different games,” he explained.

Doucette believes that the U.S. could perform well even without NFL players on the roster, but he remains open to competition. “This is a sport that we’ve played for a long time, and we feel like we are the best at it and we don’t need other guys,” he stated. Nonetheless, he wishes for anyone representing the country to excel, saying, “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.”

During a recent NFL ownership meeting, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the selection process for the Olympic team will be managed by USA Football and not the NFL. As the clock ticks down to 2028, plenty of discussions will be needed regarding how the roster will eventually take shape, making this an intriguing and evolving story to watch.