NFL Hall of Famer, 66, Tries Out for Olympic Flag Football

At 66 years old, Darrell Green is proving that retirement from professional sports doesn't mean you stop competing.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer is taking part in national team trials in Chula Vista, California, with hopes of making the U.S. flag football squad. Flag football will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, and Green wants to be there.

Green qualified for the trials through a digital combine, submitting testing results that caught the attention of USA Football's coaching staff. "He's later in his career than the other trials participants, but his testing results were impressive," said Callie Brownson, USA Football's senior director of high performance and national teams.

The legendary cornerback spent his entire 20-year NFL career with the Washington Redskins after being drafted in 1983. He racked up 1,202 tackles, 54 interceptions, and two Super Bowl rings before retiring in 2002.

Now he's competing against roughly 100 other athletes for a chance to represent Team USA. If he earns an invitation to training camp next month, he could land a roster spot on the 2026 national squad heading to the world championships in Germany.

Why This Inspires

Green's willingness to compete alongside athletes decades younger shows what staying in shape and keeping your competitive fire alive can look like. He's not resting on his Hall of Fame laurels or his seven Pro Bowl selections.

The U.S. men's flag football team dominates internationally, winning six of the last seven world championships since 2010. Making this squad won't be easy, even for someone with Green's pedigree.

But Green isn't fazed by the challenge. "I'm going to give it my best and I'll walk away with my head up, either way," he said.

His journey reminds us that age is just a number when you've maintained your athletic edge and refuse to let others define your limits. Whether he makes the team or not, Green is already winning by showing up and competing.