Former NFL cornerback Darrell Green, who played his entire 20-year career with the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002, is taking part in trials for the U.S. men's flag football national team in Chula Vista, California.[1][2]

Green, born February 15, 1960, qualified for the trials via USA Football's digital combine, where his results impressed staff despite being older than other participants.[2][3] USA Football senior director of high performance and national teams Callie Brownson said: "He’s a rare athlete who has stayed in shape and is ready to compete this week."[3]

The 64-year-old Hall of Famer, inducted in 2008, hopes to earn an invitation to national team training camp next month and a roster spot on the squad for the 2026 IFAF Flag World Championships in Amberg, Germany, scheduled for late August to early September.[1][3][4]

Flag football will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the International Olympic Committee added it in October 2023.[5]

The U.S. men's flag football team has won every world championship since 2010, including the 2023 edition in Tampa, Florida.[3][6]

During his NFL career, Green was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft (28th overall) out of Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville).[1][2] He recorded 54 interceptions, six of which he returned for touchdowns, more than 1,100 tackles, won Super Bowls XXII and XXVI, earned seven Pro Bowl selections and one first-team All-Pro honor.[1][2]

"I’m going to give it my best and I’ll walk away with my head up, either way," Green said.[3]

About 100 men and women athletes are competing in the trials, including former WNBA player Loryn Goodwin and ex-Florida State quarterback O’Mariah Gordon.[3]

Sources

1. Pro Football Hall of Fame, "Darrell Green", accessed October 25, 2024, https://www.profootballhof.com/players/darrell-green/
2. Pro-Football-Reference.com, "Darrell Green Stats", accessed October 25, 2024, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeDa20.htm
3. Fox News Digital, "Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green may end up pursuing new route back to gridiron thanks to flag football", October 25, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pro-football-hall-famer-darrell-green-66-may-end-up-pursuing-new-route-back-gridiron-thanks-flag-football
4. International Federation of American Football (IFAF), "Flag World Championship 2026 awarded to Germany", February 20, 2024, https://ifaf.org/news/flag-world-championship-2026-awarded-to-germany/
5. Olympics.com, "Flag football confirmed among five new sports for LA28 Olympics", October 17, 2023, https://olympics.com/en/news/la28-new-sports-flag-football
6. USA Football, "U.S. Men’s Flag Football Wins Gold at 2023 IFAF World Championships", August 3, 2023, https://www.usafootball.com/news/2023/08/03/us-mens-flag-football-wins-gold-at-2023-ifaf-world-championships