Flag Football star feels ‘kicked to the side’ with NFL players being backed for 2028 Olympics

NFL stars could be a part of Team USA's Los Angeles Olympics roster in 2028 after all 32 league owners voted on the matter

Published on: May 27, 2025, 11:37:12 IST

Edited by Yash Nitish Bajaj

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NFL stars could be a part of Team USA's Los Angeles Olympics roster in 2028 after all 32 league owners voted on the matter. While tackle football veterans like Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill are eyeing to represent the American team, flag football legend Darrell ‘Housh’ Doucette has lobbied for equal opportunity and approval for those who made the sport what it is today.

NFL players have been allowed to participate in the 2028 LA Olympics (REUTERS)

Having led the US national team to four global championships, Doucette has emerged as one of the biggest names and supporters of flag football in recent years. "The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That's all we want," said Doucette to The Washington Post while rallying for equal representation for traditional flag football players when compiling the 10-man roster. "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. I felt like I was the guy who could speak out for my peers, for my brothers that's been working hard to get to this level, for us not to be forgotten,” he added.

Highlighting the differences between the two sports, Doucette remarked that the field size, system of downs, and penalties were poles apart for flag football as compared to regular tackle football. Comparing the two would be like pitting tennis against table tennis, according to him.

On the other hand, Doucette is also ready to support the inclusion of NFL players in the roster if they're able to prove their abilities over traditional flag footballers, but also asks for a fair opportunity for both sides in the race to do so. "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 said. “But we all have one goal in mind, and that's to represent our country. We're definitely open to all competition. 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.”

According to the Commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, the selection process for who will represent Team USA at the international level during the 2028 Olympics will be taken by USA Football and not the NFL.

By Stuti Gupta

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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