Darrell Doucette III, a quarterback for the men's national flag football team representing the United States, is confident that the current roster is best suited to lead the American team at the 2028 Summer Olympics. This marks a significant moment as flag football will be introduced at the Games. Doucette expressed his conviction, stating, 'This is a sport that we’ve played for a long time, and we feel like we are the best at it and we don’t need other guys.' He emphasized the objective of the team: to represent their country. While he welcomes the possibility of other athletes joining, Doucette believes that if those competitors can outperform the current squad, they deserve the opportunity to secure a gold medal for the United States.

Doucette articulated concerns related to the recent decision made by NFL owners, which allows professional football players to try out for the Olympic flag football team. He indicated that the presence of NFL athletes could overshadow the efforts of established flag football players. 'The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That’s all we want,' Doucette stated, highlighting the dedication and work the current team members have put into elevating the sport. He feels as if they are being overlooked, adding, 'I felt like I was the guy who could speak out for my peers, for my brothers that have been working hard to get to this level, for us not to be forgotten.'

Doucette has been vocal about his capability to lead Team USA, even asserting that he is a stronger candidate than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl MVP. He noted, 'I feel like I'm better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game.' While he respects Mahomes's accomplishments and abilities in professional football, Doucette believes his expertise in flag football gives him an edge. Chad Palmer, who coached Canada’s national flag football team, weighed in on the topic, expressing a preference for competing against NFL players rather than seasoned flag football athletes, asserting, 'Even in Canada, we will be made up of mostly NFLers, I would think.' He suggested that the skill set and experience of NFL players would likely outmatch those of traditional flag football competitors. Ultimately, while Doucette advocates for him and his teammates' chance to represent their country and potentially contend for gold in Los Angeles 2028, the competition from elite NFL talent poses a significant challenge.