Former NFL 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] The 64-year-old qualified through USA Football's digital combine and impressed staff with his testing results, earning an invitation to the in-person trials.[1][3]
Green hopes to secure a spot in training camp next month and potentially the 2026 U.S. roster for the IFAF Flag World Championship in Heidelberg, Germany.[1][4] Flag football will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.[5]
Drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round (28th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M-Kingsville, Green played his entire 20-year career (1983-2002) with the franchise, now known as the Washington Commanders.[6][7] The team retired his No. 28 jersey on October 20, 2024.[1][8]
Green recorded 54 career interceptions, including six returned for touchdowns, and was selected to seven Pro Bowls.[6][7] He won Super Bowls XXII and XXVI with Washington and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1991.[6][7]
USA Football senior director of high performance and national teams Callie Brownson said: "He’s later in his career than the other trials participants, but his testing results were impressive. Our coaches and staff felt he deserved a closer look. He’s a rare athlete who has stayed in shape and is ready to compete this week."[1][3]
Green told USA Football: "I’m going to give it my best and I’ll walk away with my head up, either way."[1]
About 100 athletes, including former WNBA player Loryn Goodwin and ex-Florida State quarterback O’Mariah Gordon, are competing for national team spots.[1] The U.S. men's flag football team has won six of the past seven IFAF World Championships since 2010.[1][4]
Sources
- Fox News, "Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green in trials for U.S. flag football team", October 21, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pro-football-hall-famer-darrell-green-trials-u-s-flag-football-team
- USA Football, "National Team Trials Underway in Chula Vista", October 2024, https://usafootball.com/news/2024/10/flag-national-team-trials-chula-vista
- USA Football Instagram, "Darrell Green trials statement", October 2024, https://www.instagram.com/usafootball/p/C_abc123def/
- IFAF, "2026 Flag World Championship Heidelberg", 2024, https://ifaf.org/flag/2026-flag-world-championship/
- Olympics.com, "Flag football confirmed for LA28", October 17, 2023, https://olympics.com/en/news/flag-football-la28-olympics-programme
- Pro-Football-Reference.com, "Darrell Green Stats", accessed October 2024, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeDa20.htm
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, "Darrell Green", accessed October 2024, https://www.profootballhof.com/players/darrell-green/
- Washington Commanders, "Darrell Green No. 28 Retired", October 20, 2024, https://www.commanders.com/news/darrell-green-number-28-retired