Professional football players in the NFL aspire for Olympic participation, while German soccer enthusiasts aim for a World Cup victory.
Football is gaining traction in the Olympic schedule this summer, focusing on its flag variation. Top NFL players are considering participating, which isn't sitting well with everyone, particularly in the USA. Contrarily, the Germans are preoccupied with different matters.
NFL's standout quarterback Patrick Mahomes, often hailed as the best, isn't to be trifled with. He's renowned for outsmarting his enemies. However, Darrell Doucette had the audacity to contest him, claiming, "By the end of the day, I surpass Patrick Mahomes' skills," attributing it to his "strategic understanding of the game." Mahomes, champion quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, retorted with a 50 Cent meme, querying, "Why's he targeting me now?"
Wonder why? It's because Doucette is the QB for the USA's national flag football team. This version of football will debut at the Olympics in 2028, with LA as the host city. Consequently, NFL stars like Mahomes, Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles), and Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins) have shown interest in participating. Not in the current World Cup, though.
The concept of a "Dream Team" for LA2028 unsettles Doucette. "Certainly, he's undeniably the best in the NFL now, possesses an extraordinary arm, and throws outstanding passes," says Doucette of Mahomes, preparing with the Chiefs for their NFL season opener versus the Baltimore Ravens (September 6). "I'm not claiming I'm a better quarterback than him." Yet in flag football, "I'm superior," he argues, as it's "an entirely distinct game."
Swift Advancements
The distinction of flag football as a separate game is clear with the astounding fact that the German men's team is favored this week at the World Cup in Finland. They are the European champions and rank third globally. The women's team finished third in the 2023 European Championships and rank eighth globally. "We've seen significant improvements lately," states team director Torsten Grom.
Flag football is played on a 50 by 25-yard field between the end zones. Teams feature five players wearing belts adorned with three flags. If a flag is pulled off, it counts as a tackle. And the Germans excel at it. "If we can carry forward our recent performances onto the field, we will secure a place among the top teams," asserts Grom.
Within four years, they might face the heavyweights. "I'd definitely give it a go," Mahomes has said, while also adding a caveat: "Flag football gamers are much quicker than me, I'd lack linemen to shield me, and I'd be past thirty by then. But if I still can move, I'll surely give it a shot!"
NFL stars, such as Mahomes, Burrow, Hurts, and Hill, are considering participating in flag football at the 2028 Olympics in LA, following the sport's inclusion in the Olympic schedule. The potential participation of top NFL players in the flag football event has sparked debates, especially in the USA, due to the high caliber of these players in the traditional NFL.
