Team USA Dominates NFL Stars at Fanatics Flag Football Classic

Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, and other NFL players were no match for Team USA's flag football expertise.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:53pm

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In the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic, Team USA went 3-0 and outscored their NFL star opponents 106-44 across three games. Led by MVP quarterback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette, Team USA proved to be on a different level than the NFL players, who struggled with the unique demands of flag football. Tom Brady and Joe Burrow's teams were no match for Team USA's lateral quickness, route running, and flag-pulling instincts honed through years of flag football experience.

Why it matters

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic highlighted the growing popularity and competitiveness of flag football, a sport that rewards different athletic skills than traditional tackle football. The dominant performance by Team USA over high-profile NFL stars suggests flag football may be poised to gain more mainstream attention and respect as a sport in its own right, beyond just being a recreational activity.

The details

In the round-robin tournament, Team USA defeated Tom Brady's Founders 43-16 and Joe Burrow's Wildcats 39-14. In the championship game, they beat the Founders again 24-14. Team USA quarterback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette was named MVP after scoring 6 touchdowns. The NFL players struggled with the compressed 50-yard field, which favored lateral quickness and route running over linear speed. Odell Beckham Jr. had one of the day's highlights with a one-handed touchdown catch, but it wasn't enough to overcome Team USA's dominance.

  • The Fanatics Flag Football Classic took place on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • Team USA went 3-0 in the round-robin tournament and championship game.

The players

Darrell 'Housh' Doucette

The Team USA quarterback who was named MVP after scoring 6 touchdowns and leading his team to a dominant performance over the NFL stars.

Tom Brady

The 48-year-old NFL legend whose Founders team went 0-2 against Team USA, despite Brady completing touchdown passes and looking sharp.

Joe Burrow

The NFL quarterback whose Wildcats team was also defeated by Team USA, losing 39-14 in the opening round-robin game.

Odell Beckham Jr.

The NFL wide receiver who played for the Wildcats and made a highlight-reel one-handed touchdown catch, but it wasn't enough to overcome Team USA's dominance.

Team USA

The flag football team that went 3-0 and outscored the NFL stars 106-44, proving to be on a different level of expertise in the sport.

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What they’re saying

“Those guys that we competed against, they didn't know what they were getting themselves into. They just thought that they were going to come out and play. But I think we gained a lot of respect from those guys.”

— Darrell 'Housh' Doucette, Team USA Quarterback

“With that 5-vs-5 field, it's not as big as a natural football field. You can't get into the deep balls like they're accustomed to. A 40-yard dash doesn't mean anything. It's 50 yards. You're only going to run 40 yards when you run down the field to the end zone.”

— Darrell 'Housh' Doucette, Team USA Quarterback

“I would love to play some role in USA flag football, but it won't be on the field.”

— Tom Brady

What’s next

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is expected to return in 2027, with the potential for more NFL stars to participate and try to dethrone the dominant Team USA squad.

The takeaway

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic demonstrated that flag football requires a unique set of skills beyond just traditional football talent, and that Team USA has developed a level of expertise in the sport that the NFL's best players have yet to match. This event could help elevate flag football's profile and recognition as a sport in its own right.