Who will quarterback Team USA in Flag Football at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles? The idea of NFL stars like Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes stepping into that role has sparked plenty of debate, but it seems Jackson isn’t looking to compete for a spot on the Olympic roster.
In the midst of an ongoing controversy involving national flag football team quarterback Darrell Doucette and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, Jackson made it clear that he’s content letting flag football players shine in their own arena.
Responding to the buzz, Jackson tweeted, “? I was just messing around, let the flag players have their league. But if they ever feel like us NFL players aren’t that good, let me assemble the squad. ?”
Jackson’s comment came after a video surfaced showing him effortlessly evading a group of kids while playing flag football in Germany. The clip reignited discussions about the potential for NFL stars to dominate the sport at the Olympic level.
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Doucette, who has been vocal about the issue, took offense at the idea that NFL players could easily join the Olympic team without putting in the work to help grow the sport. “I think it’s disrespectful that they just automatically assume that they’re able to just join the Olympic team because of the person that they are – they didn’t help grow this game to get to the Olympics,” Doucette told The Guardian. “Give the guys who helped this game get to where it’s at their respect. We just don’t think they’re going to be able to walk on the field and make the Olympic team because of the name, right? They still have to go out there and compete.”
Doucette didn’t stop there. He went on to claim that, due to his extensive experience and understanding of flag football, he’d be a better option for Team USA than Mahomes, despite the quarterback’s NFL accolades.
“At the end of the day, I feel like I’m better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game,” Doucette said. “I know, right now, he’s 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.”
Doucette’s bold statements have added fuel to the debate over whether NFL stars should transition into the flag football arena for the Olympics. While Jackson and Mahomes playing at the Olympics would undoubtedly draw massive attention and excitement, Doucette’s comments remind us that flag football has its own dedicated athletes who’ve worked hard to bring the sport to the global stage.
For now, it seems Jackson is happy to watch from the sidelines, but if Team USA ever decides it needs a roster of NFL superstars, fans would be in for a treat. However, Doucette and his fellow flag football players are determined to prove that their game requires more than just star power—it demands skill, dedication, and an intimate knowledge of the sport.
As the 2028 Olympics approach, it will be interesting to see how this debate unfolds and who ultimately takes the field for Team USA.
