NFL news: Team USA’s dominance in Flag Football Classic shakes up expectations

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic gave the world a taste of what is to come at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and saw Team USA take on teams made up of athletes, mainly current and former NFL stars.

There had been a lot of talk from a handful of NFL players that they would easily be part of the USA team at the 2028 Olympics, but the current team proved that they would not necessarily be at the top of the depth chart.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer and NFL fan Luca Salmasi reports on the Flag Football Classic and what it means for the future of the sport.

Team USA dominates

The United States, five-time IFAF world champions, certainly lived up to their reputation as the top flag football team in the world at the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Team USA defeated a mix of current and former NFL players, including former New England Patriots duo Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

USA swept the tournament, beating Sean Payton’s team, Brady’s Founders, 43-16 and Kyle Shanahan's Wildcats FFC 39-16.

Fearless playmakers

While the main highlight for most was seeing Brady complete touchdown passes to Jalen Hurts or Odell Beckham Jr., including another impressive one-handed catch, the main focus should be on USA’s quarterback, Darrell Housh Doucette III.

Doucette was the standout player, leading the world champions to near-routine success on the IFAF stage and earning tournament MVP honours by completing 100% of his passes for 63 yards. This was complemented by an elusive running game that included a touchdown on the ground.

Fellow team-mate Nico Casares also starred, throwing three touchdowns in each game, while USA defensive backs Isaiah Calhoun and Aamir Brown made a name for themselves, both claiming pick-sixes off star NFL quarterback Joe Burrow.

Defending champions

Team USA will defend its IFAF World Championship at the IFAF World Flag 2026, when 16 men’s and women’s teams will travel to Düsseldorf, Germany, in mid-August.

This will be the largest and most important global flag football event between now and the 2028 Olympic Games.

This marks a new era for the World Championships, as they are being supported and organised by the NFL and will serve as the first official qualifying tournament, with two men’s and two women’s teams securing their tickets to Los Angeles.

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Future of the sport

The Classic gave the world a taste of flag football and everything the sport will bring to the Olympic stage, mixing athleticism, entertainment, and the skills of some of the greatest players in the game.

Flag football is preparing for its Olympic debut in 2028, and how the sport grows over the next two years will be key.

Its inclusion is the biggest moment in the sport’s history, with the Olympic format featuring a condensed field, no linemen, and strict rules on contact.

Tom Brady has ambitious plans for his involvement, including the potential idea for an AFC and an NFC conference, with elite-level flag players on each team.

Such a format could help boost visibility for the sport and create a clear pathway between tackle football and the growing global community of flag football. It has also been positioned by the NFL as a safer and more accessible route into the sport.

NFL stars or flag football specialists

When it was announced that flag football would be an official sport at the upcoming Olympics, excitement grew within the NFL at the prospect that their superstars might be involved in the quest to win gold on the largest international stage.

It was not a question of whether NFL stars would participate, but rather an assumption that spots would already be available for them on the national team.

While these initial conversations were taking place, the official flag football team was left watching from the sidelines, despite many players having dedicated their lives to this format of the sport.

However, after Saturday’s statement victory against two teams full of NFL talent, it is no longer a question of how many NFL players will be on the Olympic roster, but rather whether any of them can make the team at all.

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