Invictus Gloves at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic: When Our Athletes Outplayed the NFL’s Best
On March 21, 2026, something happened in Los Angeles that the football world didn’t see coming.
At the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic, held at BMO Stadium — the future Olympic venue for flag football at the 2028 Games — two teams packed with NFL superstars stepped onto the field. Tom Brady making his competitive return. Joe Burrow. Saquon Barkley. Odell Beckham Jr. Rob Gronkowski. Myles Garrett. Coaches like Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan calling plays. Kevin Hart hosting. The event aired live on FOX Sports to millions of viewers worldwide.
On the other side of the field stood Team USA — the U.S. Men’s National Flag Football Team. The reigning IFAF World Champions. Athletes most people had never heard of.
And among them, wearing Invictus Gloves: Isaiah Calhoun and Velton Brown Jr.
What happened next made headlines around the world. A Historic Day for Flag Football
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic was designed to showcase flag football ahead of its Olympic debut. Three teams competed in a round-robin tournament followed by a championship game:
- Founders FFC — Co-captained by Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts, coached by Sean Payton. Roster included Rob Gronkowski, Ashton Jeanty, Alvin Kamara, DeVonta Smith, Stefon Diggs, Von Miller, Antoine Winfield Jr., and boxer Terence Crawford.
- Wildcats FFC — Co-captained by Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, coached by Kyle Shanahan. Roster included Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr., Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, Luke Kuechly, Jalen Ramsey, Logan Paul, and IShowSpeed.
- Team USA Football — Co-captained by Aamir Brown and Darrell «Housh» Doucette III, coached by Jorge Cascudo. Twelve of the best flag football athletes in the country.
The format was Olympic-style: 5-on-5, two 15-minute halves with a running clock, on a 50-by-25-yard field. Modified rules designed for speed, agility, and skill — not size.
And that’s exactly where the NFL stars ran into trouble.
3-0. Total Domination.
Team USA didn’t just win. They dominated every single game.
Round Robin Game 1: Team USA 39 — Wildcats 16
Team USA’s speed and precision overwhelmed Burrow’s squad from the opening drive. The flag football specialists scored on nearly every possession, while NFL defenders struggled to pull flags on players they couldn’t contain.
Round Robin Game 2: Team USA 43 — Founders 16
Brady opened the tournament with a beautiful touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs and a conversion to Gronkowski — a vintage moment. But it was all downhill from there. Team USA’s offensive creativity and defensive speed made Brady’s team look lost. The Founders went 0-2 on the day.
Championship Game: Team USA 24 — Wildcats 14
The Wildcats kept it closer in the final, but Team USA’s mastery of the game was undeniable. Darrell «Housh» Doucette III was named Tournament MVP.
Combined score: 106–44. Three games. Three wins. Zero doubt.
“Their skill set was very different than anything we’ve ever seen in the NFL.” — Luke Kuechly, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Invictus Gloves on the Biggest Stage
For us at Invictus, this event was personal.
Isaiah Calhoun and Velton Brown Jr. — two of our sponsored athletes — were on that Team USA roster. They weren’t spectators. They weren’t on the sidelines. They were on the field, competing against the most famous football players on the planet, wearing Invictus Gloves.
And they won. Every game. Convincingly.
Velton Brown Jr. was one of the standout players of the tournament. Multiple outlets highlighted his blazing speed as a key factor in Team USA’s dominance. When you’re outrunning NFL defensive backs and elite athletes, every piece of your equipment matters — and the gloves on your hands are no exception.
At Invictus, we’ve always said that flag football athletes deserve the same quality of equipment as NFL players. This event proved it. The flag football specialists didn’t just compete with the NFL’s best — they outclassed them. And our gloves were part of that performance.
Why This Matters for the Sport — and for You
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic wasn’t just an exhibition. It was a statement. Flag football is heading to the 2028 Olympics at the exact same stadium where this event took place. The sport has over 20 million players globally and is growing faster than any other team sport. And this event showed the world that flag football is its own discipline — with its own elite athletes, its own skills, and its own identity. NFL players are incredible athletes. But flag football requires a different kind of mastery: agility over power, precision over brute force, football IQ over physical dominance. The Team USA players train year-round for this sport. They understand the angles, the spacing, the rules. That’s why they won.
And that’s exactly the kind of athlete Invictus was built for.
Whether you play in a local flag football league, compete at the national level, or dream of representing your country at the Olympics — you deserve gloves that match your ambition.
Invictus and Flag Football: Built for Each Other
Since day one, Invictus Gloves has been about giving every athlete the tools to express who they are and perform at their highest level. Our 3D glove customization technology lets you design gloves that are uniquely yours — your colors, your logo, your identity.
For flag football players specifically, our gloves are designed with the demands of the sport in mind:
-Grip: When every catch matters and there are no second chances, our premium grip technology gives you the confidence to make plays.
-Fit: Flag football is a game of speed and quick hands. Our gloves fit like a second skin — no bulk, no restriction, just pure control.
-Style: In a sport where individuality matters, custom Invictus Gloves let you stand out while your team stands together.
-Durability: Designed to perform game after game, practice after practice. Built to last as long as your drive does.
Isaiah Calhoun and Velton Brown Jr. chose Invictus for the biggest game of their careers. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic, broadcast live on FOX Sports, with millions watching. Against Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, and the best the NFL has to offer.
That’s the trust we build with every pair of gloves.
The Road to 2028
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is just the beginning. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, flag football is about to reach a global audience like never before. The athletes who compete at the highest level today will be the ones representing their countries on the Olympic stage.
At Invictus, we’re committed to supporting those athletes — from grassroots leagues to the world stage. Our mission has always been to empower athletes to be themselves and perform at their best. Seeing our gloves on the field at BMO Stadium, at the future Olympic venue, against the biggest names in football? That’s not the end of the story. It’s the beginning.
We’re incredibly proud of Isaiah, Velton, and the entire Team USA squad for their dominant performance. They proved what we’ve always believed: the athletes who dedicate themselves to flag football are world-class. And they deserve world-class equipment.
Ready to gear up like the athletes who just outplayed the NFL?
Be.You.
Karl Lavallée – Founder
