The NFL recently made a unanimous decision allowing its players to participate in flag football when the sport makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games.
This landmark move has been met with excitement from many fans and NFL stars, who see it as an opportunity to showcase their skills on a new international platform. However, not everyone in the flag football community is celebrating.
Longtime flag football players, who have dedicated years to growing the sport, are voicing concerns about being overshadowed and sidelined as NFL stars enter the scene.
One of the most vocal advocates for veteran flag football players is quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette.
A dominant force in the flag football world, Doucette has led the U.S. national team to four global championships and has become a key ambassador for the sport.
He hopes the flag football community gets a fair chance to compete for spots on the Olympic team’s 10-man roster.
“The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That’s all we want,” Doucette told the Washington Post.
“We have worked hard to get the sport to where it is today. When the NFL players started speaking about joining, it felt like we were being pushed to the side.
“I want to speak up for my peers-those who have worked tirelessly to reach this level-and make sure we aren’t forgotten.”
Flag football and tackle football aren’t the same sport
Doucette emphasized that flag football and tackle football are fundamentally different sports, each requiring unique skill sets and strategies.
He compared the difference to tennis and table tennis-similar in some ways but distinct in gameplay and pace.
Flag football features a shorter field, a different system of downs, and penalties that don’t exist in the NFL’s tackle game.
“You can’t really compare flag football and tackle football,” Doucette said. “They are two different games, and that means the athletes’ strengths and styles can differ significantly.”
Despite the NFL’s entry into the Olympic flag football competition, Doucette believes that the U.S. team can remain competitive without NFL players.
Yet, he remains open to competition from the league’s stars, confident that the best players will rise to the top.
“We’ve played this sport a long time and believe we’re the best at it,” he said.
“But ultimately, we all have the same goal-to represent our country. If NFL players come in and perform better than us, hats off to them. We want whoever can win the gold medal for the U.S. to do it.”
At the recent NFL ownership meeting, Commissioner Roger Goodell clarified that the team selection process will be managed by USA Football, not the NFL itself.
This decision leaves many questions about how the roster will be constructed, especially regarding the balance between seasoned flag football athletes and NFL stars making their debut in the sport.
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