Bengals' Joe Burrow Struggles in Flag Football Game Against Team USA

The Cincinnati quarterback had some nightmare moments in the exhibition match.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:22pm

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow participated in a flag football showcase game against the Team USA national team, but he did not look entirely comfortable. Burrow threw an early pick-six and also took a hard hit, raising concerns for Bengals fans about his safety in the non-traditional football format.

Why it matters

With flag football set to debut at the 2028 Olympics, this exhibition game was meant to showcase the sport and its top players. Burrow's struggles highlight the challenges NFL stars may face in transitioning to the flag game, where the rules and gameplay differ significantly from traditional tackle football.

The details

In the first score of the game, Burrow threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by a non-NFL player on the Team USA squad. Later, Burrow took a hard hit, something that is uncommon in flag football but can happen when players converge on the ball at the same time. The exhibition match proved that the Team USA players are skilled in their own right and won't simply be outmatched by NFL talent.

  • The flag football showcase game took place on March 21, 2026.
  • Flag football will make its debut at the 2028 Olympics.

The players

Joe Burrow

The starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL.

Team USA

The national flag football team representing the United States.

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What they’re saying

“If I am a Bengals fan I am having a stroke watching Joe Burrow in this game”

— Justin Penik

What’s next

The flag football exhibition game was a one-time event, but the 2028 Olympics will feature the sport as a new event, with the Team USA squad looking to compete for a gold medal.

The takeaway

This game showed that the transition from traditional tackle football to flag football will not be easy for even the best NFL players. The Team USA squad proved they have the skills to compete at a high level, and Burrow's struggles highlighted the need for NFL stars to adapt their game if they want to succeed in the Olympic flag football competition.