Washington legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer attempting a comeback

Chula Vista, Calif. — Darrell Green, the 66-year-old Washington icon and first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback, is chasing one more chapter in football, this time on the flag gridiron. While the Fanatics Flag Football Classic spotlight shone on Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels this weekend, Green was quietly running routes and defensive drills alongside roughly 100 hopefuls vying for a place on Team USA’s flag football roster.

Green’s path began with a digital combine that caught the attention of USA Football evaluators. “Darrell qualified through our digital combine. He’s later in his career than the other trials participants, but his testing results were impressive,” said Callie Brownson, senior director of high performance and national teams for USA Football. “Our coaches and staff felt he deserved a closer look… He’s a rare athlete who has stayed in shape and is ready to compete this week.”

The immediate objective is an invitation to April’s training camp and, ultimately, selection to the 2026 national squad that will compete at the world championships. A berth there would position Green for a shot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where flag football will make its Olympic debut.

Green has never been conventional. Toward the end of his 20-year NFL career, he clocked a 4.2-second 40-yard dash at age 40. Taken in the first round of the 1983 draft by Washington, he spent every season of his two-decade career with the franchise, earning seven Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro selections, second-team All-Pro honors once, placement on the 1990s All-Decade Team, and a spot on the NFL 100th Anniversary Team. The Commanders officially retired his No. 28 jersey during the 2024 season, a number no player had worn since his 2002 retirement.

“I’m going to give it my best, and I’ll walk away with my head up, either way,” Green said on the USA Football Instagram page.

For now, the legend who once terrorized NFC receivers hopes to trade burgundy and gold for red, white, and blue, proving that speed, at least in his case, truly has no age limit.