Darrell “Housh” Doucette had an army of internet trolls ready to shove his own words down his throat after he publicly stated that he and the rest of the U.S. national flag football team expected to keep their spots on the roster even if challenged by NFL stars looking to join the roster for their sport’s debut as an Olympic sport in 2028.
Those trolls will have to wait a little longer after Doucette fired six touchdown passes to four different receivers to help the US advance to a 53-21 victory over Austria and thus won the flag football world championship for the fifth time in a row.
“This is our sport – we feel like we are the pros,” Doucette said at the end of the televised broadcast of Friday’s final at Finland’s Lahti Stadium.
Doucette aimed a verbal attack directly at NFL players who have expressed interest in switching, at least temporarily, from their 11-on-11 tackle football game to the younger five-on-five, non-contact format that will debut in four years at the Olympics in Los Angeles. He added: “And whoever wants to come with competition, [for the reigning champions]we are looking forward to it.”
Doucette’s comments capped a four-day tournament that confirmed the U.S.’s dominance in flag football, even without including NFL big names like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Tyreek Hill, all of whom—along with others of their ilk—have spoken openly about their dreams of adding an Olympic gold medal to their resumes at the next Summer Mames.
The U.S. men went 7-0 in Finland, outscoring their opponents 370-111. Their average margin of victory was 34.9 points per game, giving the U.S. its sixth of the last seven world flag titles.
Against Austria, Doucette—now a two-time world champion—successfully targeted teammates Pablo Smith (twice), Ja’Deion High (twice), Laval Davis and Bruce Mapp for scoring throws. The NFL’s own Instagram account shared footage of one of Doucette’s TD passes—a 45-yard toss from his own end zone—to High, who once played on the tackle football team at Texas Tech University next to Mahomes.
But those plays were just a fraction of the contributions from Doucette, who didn’t throw an interception during the U.S. standout in Finland. He also caught and ran for touchdowns earlier in the tournament. And on defense, he also intercepted a pass, demonstrating why the executives ultimately responsible for selecting the Olympic roster have made it clear their intention to give Doucette and his teammates every consideration to represent the U.S. at the 2028 Games, even if the NFL’s stars ultimately opt to handle the team’s tryout process.
Still, those involved in the U.S. scoring plays on offense Friday weren’t the only ones doing damage to Austria. Defenders Johnluis “Lulu” Hernandez and Mike Daniels both intercepted passes and ran them back for touchdowns. Hernandez’s return covered the length of the 50-yard field.
Additionally, pass rusher Michael Better grabbed the opposing quarterback’s flag in the Austrian end zone for a safety, adding two points to the U.S. haul. It was his best fourth sack of the tournament.
“It wasn’t about me — it was a ‘we,’ and it was great for us to win as a team,” Doucette said.
But he acknowledged the controversy that arose over his comments about him and his teammates being confident they could retain their spots on Team USA during the upcoming Olympic cycle, even as Mahomes and others in the NFL’s elite quarterback fraternity eye his position — a prospect that remains to be seen. And he admitted that this World Cup was even more special than it otherwise would have been with “everything that’s happened in the background.”
“We … showed what we can do,” Doucette said during a television interview.
In statements released by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the sports governing body that organised the match in Finland, he added: “We had a lot of eyes on our sport that we never had before. And we need to make people appreciate how much time and work we put into our game.”
US women repeat title as champions
The United States women’s flag football team defeated Mexico 31-18 on Friday to reclaim the world title.
American quarterback Vanita Krouch threw three touchdown passes and Maci Joncich threw a fourth score. American receivers Madison Fulford, Ashlea Klam, Izzy Geraci and Kennedy Foster each had scoring receptions.
While their tournament didn’t get as much attention as the men’s, the women’s final between the U.S. and Mexico was intriguing. Mexico stunned the U.S. at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. But the U.S. had defeated Mexico in the finals of the 2021 World Cup and the 2023 U.S. Continental Championship prior to Friday’s grudge match.