Travis Kelce Sparks Controversy: Slams Flag Football QB for Fearing NFL Stars on Olympic Team—“Is This Guy Afraid of Competition?” Outspoken Chiefs Tight End Ignites Fierce Debate Among Athletes and Fans as Olympic Flag Football Showdown Heats Up. Will NFL Pros Dominate or Level the Playing Field?

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end reacted to Team USA quarterback Darrell Doucette’s comments about NFL players potentially joining the 2028 Olympic roster

From Left: Travis Kelce in February 2025; Darrell Doucette in July 2018.Credit : Kara Durrette/Getty; Icon Sportswire via AP

Travis Kelce wants to see the best of the best represent Team USA in the flag football competition at the 2028 Summer Olympics, even if it means some NFL stars taking roster spots from current team members.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end opened up about a budding controversy between Team USA’s current roster and tackle football players in the NFL after the league announced earlier this month that it would allow its players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The announcement by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell led to celebration among many fans and NFL stars, some of whom said it was their “dream” to play in the Olympics. However, current players on Team USA’s flag football roster have taken exception to NFL stars swooping in and taking their spots on the field, including the team’s longtime starting quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette, who spoke out against the move in a recent interview with The Washington Post.

Doucette, 35, told the Post that he believes “the flag guys deserve their opportunity” over the allure of NFL stars.

“That’s all we want,” said Doucette, who has led the U.S. national team to four global championships throughout his career. “We felt like we worked hard to get the sport to where it’s at, and then when the NFL guys spoke about it, it was like we were getting kicked to the side. I felt like I was the guy who could speak out for my peers, for my brothers that’s been working hard to get to this level, for us not to be forgotten.”

Kelce, 35, took umbrage with Doucette’s comments while he and his brother, Jason Kelce, discussed the issue on the latest episode of their New Heights podcast.

“Is this guy afraid of competition?” Travis asked. “Have a tryout and the best players make the team. He’s just boxing out other people from joining the sport because they haven’t played the specific style of football?”

Darrell Doucette playing flag football in Houston on July 19, 2018.Cal Sport Media via AP

Doucette argued in his interview with the Post that flag football and the style of tackle football played in the NFL are “entirely two different games.”

“You can’t really compare flag football and tackle football,” the veteran Team USA starter said, adding that the current U.S. National Team members “feel like we are the best at it and we don’t need other guys.”

According to ESPN, several NFL stars have spoken out about wanting to join the team while others, like Patrick Mahomes, have suggested they’d pass on the opportunity. “Leave that to the younger guys,” Mahomes, who would be nearing 33 years old at the time the 2028 Olympics take place, said, per USA Today.

During their discussion on New Heights, Jason, 37, suggested to his brother that Team USA should simply hold open tryouts to see which players are best qualified to join the team for the 2028 Summer Olympics — or perhaps even host a televised game between the current U.S. National Flag Football Team and a team made up of NFL stars with the winner being chosen to represent the United States in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“If these guys are the best, they should represent Team USA,” Jason told his brother. “I don’t know anything about flag football, but I feel very confident they aren’t the best.”