LOS ANGELES (AP) — The U.S. Men’s National Flag Football Team left little doubt about the gap between traditional tackle football stars and the sport’s elite specialists, rolling to a championship at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on Saturday at BMO Stadium.
Team USA defeated the Wildcats FFC 24-14 in the title game after earlier dominating both NFL star-led squads, showcasing the speed, timing and precision that have made the Americans the standard in international flag football.
“It’s a different game — angles, spacing, timing — and we play it every day,” Team USA quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette III said. “Those guys are incredible athletes, but this is our sport. We knew if we executed, we’d come out on top.”
The championship game was competitive early, with Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels splitting time at quarterback for the Wildcats. Burrow threw for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Daniels added 48 yards and a score as the Wildcats kept pace through the first half.
But Team USA’s efficiency proved decisive. Quarterback Chad Casares completed 7 of 8 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, while Doucette added a scoring pass and ran for two touchdowns, finishing with 46 rushing yards. The Americans also controlled possession for nearly 19 minutes and capitalized on defensive stops to pull away late.
Earlier in the day, Team USA set the tone with a 39-14 victory over the Wildcats in the opening game. Casares threw three touchdown passes, and the offense spread the ball efficiently, totaling 200 yards. The Wildcats showed flashes behind Burrow (133 yards, one touchdown) and a deep receiving corps that included Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins, but struggled to match the pace.
Team USA followed with a dominant 43-16 win over the Founders FFC, led by Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts. Casares was nearly perfect, completing all 14 of his passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns, while Doucette accounted for two more scores through the air.
Brady threw two touchdown passes in the loss, but the Founders were unable to generate consistent offense against Team USA’s disciplined defense.
In the third game, the Wildcats defeated the Founders 34-26 behind a balanced offensive effort. Burrow was flawless, completing all seven of his passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns, while Daniels and Saquon Barkley combined for more than 100 rushing yards. Beckham added two touchdown receptions in the win.
Despite the star power on the NFL-led rosters, the tournament ultimately underscored the unique demands of flag football — a point emphasized by Tom Brady after the championship.
“You can see how specialized this game is,” Brady said. “The quickness, the decision-making, the way these guys move — it’s different than what we’re used to. That team earned it.”
The event, produced by Fanatics Studios and televised by FOX Sports, served as a preview of flag football’s Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028 — on the same field where Team USA celebrated its latest statement victory.
For one night, at least, the future of football belonged to the specialists.
