66-year-old NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champ coming out of retirement to compete for team
Darrell Green isn’t done yet.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback who retired after a 20-year career with Washington in 2002 is gearing up for a comeback, this time in flag football.
Green is taking to the field once again this weekend at the ripe age of 66.
He’ll compete with athletes with all levels of football experience in the national team trials for USA Football in Chula Vista, California.
Darrell Green coming out of retirement at 66 to play flag football
Should he impress, Green will be invited to training camp next month and will possibly land a roster spot for Team USA on their 2026 national flag football squad that will compete at the world championships in Germany this summer.
The squads will take part in the IFAF flag football championships in Düsseldorf, Germany from August 13-16.
On USA Football’s Instagram page, Green said: “I’m going to give it my best and I’ll walk away with my head up, either way.”
Callie Brownson, senior director of high performance and national teams for USA Football, says Green will be given a legitimate chance like all the others who qualified for the tryouts.
“Darrell qualified through our digital combine. He’s later in his career than the other trials participants, but his testing results were impressive,” Brownson told the Associated Press.
“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.”
“When you see a Hall of Famer, players with high-level tackle football backgrounds, former flag football gold medalists and elite athletes from other sports showing up to compete for a spot on this team, that tells you something,” Brownson went on.
“It speaks to the legitimate level of excitement and interest high-performing athletes have in Olympic flag football. It’s the deepest pool of athletes we’ve ever had at trials.”
He is one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history
Green was drafted by the Redskins with the last pick in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft.
The lockdown corner, widely known for his coverage skills and for being one of the fastest defensive backs in NFL history, played in Washington for all 20 seasons of his career.
He was named the 1996 NFL Man of the Year and was selected to seven Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams (three First-Team).
Green played in 295 games with Washington, winning Super Bowls XXII and XXVI. He had 54 interceptions and another six in the postseason, including a pick of Jim Kelly in Super Bowl XXVI when Washington beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24.
He retired in 2003 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and included on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Despite all he has achieved in the game, making the US men’s flag football squad at 66 might represent Green’s most impressive achievement.
The US has won six of the last seven IFAF world championship tournaments since 2010, and over 100 men and women are expected to try out this weekend.
Should he make Team USA for this summer’s world championships, you wouldn’t be against him making the making the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 at age 68, when flag football makes it Olympics debut.
Tom Brady-led Flag Football event taking in place in LA
Green’s tryouts isn’t the only major flag football event taking place this weekend.
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic begins on Saturday, 21 March at 4pm EST from BMO Stadium and is headlined by NFL legend Tom Brady.
The event was relocated from Saudi Arabia to L.A. amid the war in Iran and Brady will co-captain Founders FFC alongside Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Washington Commanders’ passer Jayden Daniels and Cincinnati Bengals superstar Joe Burrow lead Wildcats FFC together, with both rosters being confirmed this week during a rowdy draft that included Logan Paul.
Brady’s team also includes Devonta Smith, Alvin Kamara, Stefon Diggs, Antoine Winfield Jr., Damar Hamlin, Patrick Peterson, Von Miller and Bud Crawford.
Daniels and Burrow can call upon Saquon Barkley, Davante Adams, Odell Beckham Jr, DeAndre Hopkins, Kyle Juszczyk, Derwin James Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Paul and iShowSpeed.
With Brady taking the field once again, FOX announced that Kevin Burkhardt will be re-united with Greg Olsen in the booth as part of the coverage.
Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for news, exclusive interviews and more.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
