Former Washington Commanders cornerback Darrell Green, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, is participating in trials for the U.S. men's flag football national team in Chula Vista, California.[1][2]
Green, 64, qualified for the trials through USA Football's digital combine. Callie Brownson, USA Football's senior director of high performance and national teams, noted his impressive testing results despite his age compared to other participants.[1][3] The trials, held November 7-10, 2024, at the Olympic Training Center, feature around 100 athletes vying for coaches' attention, including former WNBA player Loryn Goodwin and ex-Florida State guard O'Mariah Gordon.[1]
Green, who played his entire 20-year NFL career (1983-2002) with Washington after being selected in the first round (No. 28 overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M-Kingsville, hopes to earn an invitation to training camp next month and a roster spot for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Germany.[2][4][5]
During his NFL tenure, Green recorded 54 interceptions, including six returned for touchdowns, and was a two-time Super Bowl champion (1988, 1992) and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.[2][4]
Flag football will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The U.S. men's team has dominated internationally, winning six of the last seven IFAF World Championships since 2010.[1][6]
"I’m going to give it my best and I’ll walk away with my head up, either way," Green said on USA Football’s Instagram.[1]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green, 64, hopes to make US flag football team for LA Olympics," November 11, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pro-football-hall-famer-darrell-green-64-hopes-make-us-flag-football-team-la-olympics
- USA Football, "Flag National Team Trials Underway in Chula Vista," November 7, 2024, https://usafootball.com/news/2024/november/flag-national-team-trials-underway/
- USA Football Instagram, Video post featuring Callie Brownson quote, November 2024, https://www.instagram.com/usafootball/
- Pro-Football-Reference.com, "Darrell Green Stats," accessed November 2024, https://www.profootball-reference.com/players/G/GreeDa20.htm
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, "Darrell Green," accessed November 2024, https://www.profootballhof.com/players/darrell-green/
- International Federation of American Football (IFAF), "Flag Football World Championships History," accessed November 2024, https://www.ifaf.org/flag-football-world-championships/
