The first addition of the Flag Football Classic, originally scheduled for Saudi Arabia and later moved to Los Angeles, was played on Saturday. For months, we’ve been hearing that NFL players would beat Team USA if the two were ever met face-to-face, a point of contention for both sides, as both groups believe they should represent the United States in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will be an event for the first time.
Before we get into the results of these matchups, let’s go over the two teams that were comprised of mostly NFL players (either current or former) at this event.
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Founders
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RB Ashton Jeanty (Raiders)
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WR DeVonta Smith (Eagles)
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WR Stefon Diggs (free agent)
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TE Rob Gronkowski (retired)
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EDGE Von Miller (free agent)
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CB Patrick Peterson (retired)
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S Antoine Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers)
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S Damar Hamlin (free agent)
Wildcats
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QB Jayden Daniels (Commanders)
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RB Saquon Barkley (Eagles)
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WR Odell Beckham Jr. (free agent)
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WR DeAndre Hopkins (free agent)
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LB Luke Keuchly (retired)
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CB Jalen Ramsey (Steelers)
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S Derwin James Jr. (Chargers)
Originally, free agent receiver Deebo Samuel, Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett and former safety Tyrann Mathieu were supposed to participate in the event, but they dropped out. The Denver Broncos’ Sean Payton coached the Founders, while the Wildcats were coached by the San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan. Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh was a defensive specialist for both the Founders and Wildcats.
The first matchup of the day was between Team USA and the Wildcats, a game that Team USA won 39-14. Early on, it became apparent that the biggest skill gap on the field was Team USA’s ability to rip out flags, this version of the sport’s substitution for tackling. After beating the Wildcats, Team USA took on the Founders, whom they out-scored 43-16.
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In the final, Team USA got a rematch with the Wildcats, which Team USA won 24-14. Over these three games, the only drives that Team USA didn’t score a touchdown on were drives where they kneeled out a half.
After all the talk about how Team USA wasn’t going to be able to hang with NFL players, they won all three games by a combined score of 106-44. The event wasn’t even supposed to include Team USA until it was moved stateside earlier this month. Previously, the round robin tournament was going to be between three teams of eight current or former pros, but rosters were expanded to 12 players per team after the event was moved from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles. With the expanded rosters, the tournament needed another team, which ultimately went to Team USA on short notice.
If the merits of this game matter at all, it sure hurts the idea of an NFL “Dream Team” playing in the Olympics in 2028. At this point, Team USA seems a tier (or two) above their NFL counterparts in this version of the sport. I’m sure the league, which didn’t sponsor this event and doesn’t seem too pleased about losing players during training camp in 2028, got what they wished for out of the Flag Football Classic.
