The Fanatics Flag Football Classic had a ton of hype. A public, months-long feud between Tom Brady and Logan Paul gave the exhibition enough juice to begin with. However, with a superstar cast around them, it turned out to be premium viewing.
Why NFL Players Might Struggle in Olympic Flag Football
Unfortunately, it also turned into a spectacular showcase for the U.S. men’s national flag football team. After their thorough domination of the competition, which included NFL superstars like Joe Burrow, veteran analyst Albert Breer has some reservations about the Olympics.
After years of dreaming, the hope for a ton of football players became a reality when flag football was officially included as an Olympic sport. Thanks to the country’s one-sided dominance in the NFL, the immediate expectation was that they would dominate here, too.
However, the Fanatics event may have raised eyebrows across the country. Spread across two teams, alongside a few celebrities, the two NFL squads were completely outclassed by the U.S. men’s national team.
From Burrow to Jalen Hurts, no quarterback could get it going against them, as both players registered demoralizing pick-6s in their time on the field. Eventually, the national team won all three of its games, combining to outscore its opponents 106-46, while scoring on every possession except a kneel-down.
The sheer one-sidedness of the final score has given many people pause about what the best strategy for the Olympics might be. Breer of Sports Illustrated was among the biggest names to voice that concern.
Taking to X, he voiced his opinion rather directly. He started with the obvious.
“Update: The actual flag football players are pretty impressive.” Then, he expanded on what the Fanatics game could imply for the league as a whole moving forward.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the US team for the Olympics is actually picked. Because what’s best for the NFL — putting the biggest names in the competition — might conflict with assembling the best roster.”
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Names like Tyreek Hill and Patrick Mahomes showcased their interest in showing out for the Olympics. But the Fanatics games have showcased that the national team, which specializes in this variation, is light-years ahead of the NFL talent on the field.
As a result, it might be a smarter idea to let them develop and continue to improve on that side, rather than sabotaging victory in lieu of name value and recognition.
