Recently, the NFL approved its teams to allow one player from each to play Flag Football in the 2028 Olympic Games, where the sport will make its debut in Los Angeles.
But Team USA’s quarterback for the last five years, Darrell Doucette, made some comments about the NFL players that didn’t sit well with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelceand now he’s fired back.
What did Kelce say about flag football QB Darrell Doucette?
While the NFL’s new rule to allow players the chance for a spot on the Olympic team is great news for them, it’s left those who already play Flag Football feeling “kicked to the side”and maybe even a little threatened as they now face competition from players like Patrick Mahomes and Christian McCaffrey.
“This is a sport that we’ve played for a long time,” Doucette said. “And we feel like we are the best at it and we don’t need other guys.”
: 5″8, 140 lbs US flag football QB Darrell Doucette thinks it’s “disrespectful” that NFL players think they will take Olympic team spots when the sport debuts in 2028.
“I think it’s disrespectful that they just automatically assume that they’re able to just join… pic.twitter.com/stpkvILCsB
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 25, 2025
Doucette also went viral last year after saying, “I feel like I’m better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game.” Mahomes responded on social media with a meme of 50 Cent looking confused.
Doucette’s latest comments prompted a response from Mahomes’ teammate, Travis Kelce. Kelce’s not been known to keep his opinions to himself, and he was quick to call out the Flag Football quarterback on his “New Heights” podcast.
“Is this guy afraid of competition?” Kelce asked. “Have a tryout and the best players make the team. He’s just boxing out other people from joining the sport because they haven’t played this specific style of football?”
Travis’ brother and co-host Jason Kelce clarified that there are no open tryouts and that the coaches familiar with Flag Football should choose “an NFL-represented team” and that team should play the current Flag Football team to see who wins.
Doucette has brought the U.S. national flag football team to their last four global championships and has won every single international game he’s played. The now 35-year-old has been playing flag football since he was eight years old, but has never played tackle football. And now his job is being threatened by the likes of Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Jayden Daniels.
But as Doucette reminds us, tackle and flag football are two entirely different gamesand the physicality that benefits you in tackle is strictly prohibited in flag.
For now, we don’t yet know if any NFL players will make the roster for the USA Flag Football team. The Olympic Games will begin in July 2028.
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