Flag football has been discussed more than ever in the aftermath of the 2024 Olympics.
Following the conclusion of the Paris Games, the focus immediately shifted towards the next Olympics, which are set to take place in Los Angeles. One of the new sports set to debut in 2028? Flag football.
A star of the up-and-coming sport, Darrell Doucette, is doing his best Noah Lyles impression — angering pro athletes in a major league.
Doucette made headlines last week after he claimed that the NFL's athletes would not fare well in flag football. He went as far to say that if flag football members went up against NFL athletes in a flag football contest, it would not be the big names coming out on top.
Well, Doucette is back again with his controversial takes, and this time, he's comparing himself to one of the best players in the NFL — Patrick Mahomes.
Here is what Doucette said about Mahomes and flag football.
MORE: Everything to know about flag football in the 2028 Olympics
What did Darrell Doucette say about Patrick Mahomes?
After Doucette's initial comments on NFL players made the rounds, the flag football QB attempted to clarify his stance in an interview with TMZ.
The 35-year-old, who helped lead the U.S. flag football team to gold at the 2022 World Games, previously said it was "disrespectful" for NFL players to think that they could easily transition from the 11-on-11 full contact game to the 5-on-5 flag sport.
Doucette clarified his stance, saying that if NFL players trained specifically for flag football that they "should" eventually be better than him and his colleagues due to their elite athleticism. Still, as of now, Doucette believes he and his peers are better suited to play in 2028.
Doucette even went as far to say that he believes he is "better" than three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.
"At the end of the day, I feel like I'm better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game," Doucette said.
"I'm not saying I'm a better player overall but until he steps on a 5v5 flag field, I'm going to feel that way until it’s proven otherwise," Doucette wrote in the text. "I'm a competitor and need to be proven wrong."
While it may sound outlandish, Doucette does make a different point. The 5-on-5 flag football game is greatly different than what fans tune into watch on Sundays throughout the fall and winter — and Doucette is a star in his sport, with a number of highlight-reel plays.
Mahomes was quick to respond on Wednesday, tweeting a gif of a confused 50 Cent saying, "What he say f— me for?" That says it all.
https://t.co/yY7fYXCfF3 pic.twitter.com/LONXJPkPYK — Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) August 21, 2024
The NFL hasn't yet stated if it will allow players to participate in the 2028 Olympics. The Summer Games will take place at the same time as the start of NFL training camp, and the league's 32 teams may not be willing to let their players compete due to the risk of injury.
Still, the Olympic stage would give some of the top athletes in the NFL the chance to increase their international stardom.