USA Flag Football Team Dominates NFL Stars in Exhibition

Smaller, more experienced flag football players embarrass the likes of Joe Burrow and Tom Brady

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:04pm

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In a surprising exhibition match, the USA national flag football team handily defeated teams made up of current and former NFL stars, including quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Tom Brady. The flag football players, who have dedicated their lives to the sport, showcased their superior skills and agility on the smaller field, easily evading the larger and less experienced NFL players.

Why it matters

The dominant performance by the USA flag football team raises questions about whether NFL stars will be able to make the Olympic roster when flag football debuts at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. The exhibition highlighted the skill gap between professional tackle football players and dedicated flag football athletes, challenging the assumption that NFL players will automatically excel at the Olympic event.

The details

The flag football team took advantage of the NFL players' traditional tackle football approach, making quick cuts and dodging tackles with ease. When the NFL stars tried to use more force to stop the flag football players, they were quickly penalized for illegal contact. Joe Burrow, in particular, struggled, with one of his passes being taken back for a touchdown.

  • The exhibition match took place on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

USA Flag Football Team

The national flag football team of the United States, made up of players who have dedicated their lives to the sport.

Joe Burrow

The starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tom Brady

A former NFL quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champion.

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What’s next

The USA flag football team's dominant performance has raised doubts about whether NFL stars will be able to make the Olympic roster when flag football debuts at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. The next step will be to see how the NFL players adapt and improve their flag football skills in the lead-up to the Olympics.

The takeaway

The exhibition match has challenged the assumption that NFL players will automatically excel at the Olympic flag football event. It has highlighted the skill and dedication of the USA flag football team, who have proven they can outperform even the best professional tackle football players. This could lead to a shift in how the Olympic flag football competition is viewed and who is selected to represent the United States.