USA flag football QB says he's better at the sport than Patrick Mahomes 'because of my IQ'
USA flag football quarterback Darrell "Housh" Doucette is standing on business.
A few days after he went viral for saying NFL stars won't be handed spots on the national flag football team when the sport debuts at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Doucette stated why he should still be the quarterback in four years by dissing three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback 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 told TMZ Sports. "I know he’s right now the best in the league, I know he’s more accurate, I know he has all these intangibles, but when it comes to flag football, I feel like I know more than him."
The 35-year-old said he loves that NFL players want to play the sport in the Olympics, but they should have to try out just like how his current teammates do and they shouldn't be given roster spots just because of their name. Doucette added there are differences between tackle and flag football and there is a transition. The U.S. flag football team has won each of the last four IFAF Flag Football World Championships and will defend that title this month. Doucette has been part of the national team since 2020.
Patrick Mahomes responds to Darrell 'Housh' Doucette comments
It appears Mahomes was surprised by the callout from Doucette. He responded to Doucette's comments on social media with the viral NSFW 50 Cent reaction from the feud with Floyd Mayweather.
2024 Paris Olympics: Follow USA TODAY’s coverage of the biggest names and stories of the Games.
Mahomes is one of several NFL stars who have expressed interest in playing in the next Summer Games, and it's been hyped when a commercial shown during the 2024 Paris Olympics showed Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts promoting flag football. That was when Doucette first took issue with the idea of NFL players taking over the roster.
“I think it’s disrespectful that they just automatically assume that they’re able to just join the Olympic team because of the person that they are – they didn’t help grow this game to get to the Olympics,” Doucette said to The Guardian. “Give the guys who helped this game get to where it’s at their respect.”
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.