USA flag football QB says NFL stars won't be handed 2028 Olympics spots: 'Disrespectful'

Flag football will make its debut as an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in 2028, and numerous NFL players have expressed their desire to join Team USA.

Those who are currently on the United States flag football team – which has won each of the last four IFAF Flag Football World Championships and will defend that title later this month – didn't take too kindly to a commercial shown during the Paris Olympics that showed Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts promoting the sport.

Darrell "Housh" Doucette, the quarterback of the U.S. flag football team, said he isn't going to give up his job without a fight.

“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 said to The Guardian. “Give the guys who helped this game get to where it’s at their respect.”

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Chicago Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams have both expressed interest in playing in the Olympics.

2024 Paris Olympics: Follow USA TODAY’s coverage of the biggest names and stories of the Games.

Doucette said he and his current teammates could handle their business on the world stage and against the best the NFL has to offer because there is a difference between 11-on-11 in pads and trying to stop a player with a flag attached to their hips.

“Some of the things that they do in the NFL that they call trick plays? We’re accustomed to seeing them on an every day basis,” Doucette said.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.