Darrell Green, a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback who played his entire 20-year NFL career with the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002, is participating in trials for the U.S. men's flag football national team.[1][2] Selected 28th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M-Kingsville, Green recorded 54 career interceptions, including six returned for touchdowns, and was part of Super Bowl-winning teams in 1987 (XXII) and 1991 (XXVI).[1][3] He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and one first-team All-Pro honor in 1991, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]
The trials are taking place at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, where around 100 men and women athletes are competing for national team consideration.[4] Green, now 64, qualified through USA Football's digital combine, impressing evaluators despite being older than most participants.[4]
USA Football senior director of high performance and national teams Callie Brownson said of Green: "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."[4]
Green is aiming for an invitation to training camp next month and a potential roster spot on the 2026 U.S. men's national team, which will compete at the IFAF Flag World Championships in Germany over the summer.[4] Flag football is set to debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.[5]
The U.S. men's flag football team has dominated internationally, winning six of the last seven world championships since 2010.[4] Other notable trial participants include former WNBA player Loryn Goodwin and ex-Florida State quarterback O'Mariah Gordon.[4]
Green recently attended his jersey retirement ceremony during halftime of a Washington Commanders game against the Carolina Panthers on October 20, 2024, in Landover, Maryland.[6]
Sources
- Pro-Football-Reference, "Darrell Green Career Stats", accessed November 2024, https://www.profootballreference.com/players/G/GreeDa20.htm
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, "Darrell Green", accessed November 2024, https://www.profootballhof.com/players/darrell-green/
- Washington Commanders, "Darrell Green", accessed November 2024, https://www.commanders.com/team/players-roster/darrell-green/
- Fox News, "Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green to compete for U.S. flag football team ahead of LA Olympics", November 5, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pro-football-hall-famer-darrell-green-compete-u-s-flag-football-team-la-olympics
- Olympics.com, "Flag football at LA28 Olympics", accessed November 2024, https://olympics.com/en/sports/flag-football/
- Associated Press, Washington Commanders vs. Carolina Panthers game report, October 20, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/nfl-commanders-panthers-score-10-20-2024
