Darrell Green, a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback who played for the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002, is among approximately 100 athletes attending national team trials for U.S. men's flag football in Chula Vista, California.^[1][2]

Born on February 15, 1960, Green turned 64 this year.^[3] Selected by the Redskins in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft out of Texas A&M-Kingsville, he appeared in 295 games, recording 54 interceptions including six returned for touchdowns, and contributing to victories in Super Bowls XXII and XXVI.^[3][4] He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team All-Pro four times.^[3]

Green's No. 28 jersey was retired by the franchise, now known as the Washington Commanders, during halftime of their game against the Carolina Panthers on October 20, 2024, in Landover, Maryland.^[5]

USA Football senior director of high performance and national teams Callie Brownson said Green qualified through a digital combine and impressed with his testing results. "He’s later in his career than the other trials participants, but his testing results were impressive," Brownson said. "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."^[1]

Green hopes to earn an invitation to training camp next month and a roster spot on the U.S. team for the 2026 IFAF Flag World Championships in Germany.^[1][6] Flag football will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.^[7]

The U.S. men's team has won six of the last seven Flag World Championships dating back to 2010.^[1] Other trial participants include former WNBA player Loryn Goodwin and ex-Florida State quarterback O'Mariah Gordon.^[1]

Green said on USA Football's Instagram page: "I’m going to give it my best and I’ll walk away with my head up, either way."^[1]

Sources

1. Fox News, "Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green, 64, on trials for U.S. flag football team", October 22, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/hall-fame-cornerback-darrell-green-64-trials-u-s-flag-football-team
2. USA Football, Flag National Team Trials page, accessed October 2024, https://www.usafootball.com/flag-national-team-trials
3. Pro-Football-Reference.com, "Darrell Green", accessed October 2024, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeDa00.htm
4. Pro Football Hall of Fame, "Darrell Green", accessed October 2024, https://www.profootballhof.com/players/darrell-green/
5. Washington Commanders, "Darrell Green Jersey Retirement", October 20, 2024, https://www.commanders.com/news/darrell-green-jersey-retirement-oct-20
6. International Federation of American Football (IFAF), "2026 Flag World Championship awarded to Germany", April 2024, https://www.ifaf.org/index.php/news/2026-flag-world-championship-awarded-to-germany
7. Olympics.com, "Flag football at LA28 Olympics", accessed October 2024, https://olympics.com/en/sports/flag-football/