Marcel Reece, the iconic NFL fullback, joined our podcast Geek’d Up to provide a sneak peak from behind the scenes of the US Olympic flag football team. The sport is about to make an Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, and fans are already drawing up dream rosters.
On this episode of Geek’d Up, hosts Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson talk with the former Raiders fullback who currently serves as the senior vice president at USA Football, the national governing body for every form of the sport in the US.
Marcel told us who actually picks the Olympic team, which former teammates he’d love to see wearing flags, and why an NBA star might get a phone call. If you’ve ever wondered whether a 270-pound pass rusher could play flag football, give it a watch.
Who Picks the US Olympic Flag Football Team?
Many believe that the NFL picks the US Olympic flag football team, but that’s not the case. Reece explained us that USA Football makes the selections, and he is leading that work.
The orgnization was built by its CEO, Scott Hallenbeck, together with the NFL. It oversees every discipline of the game, tackle and flag, whatever the rule set.
Reece doesn’t see USA Football as competing with the NFL, as the two organizations collaborate on multiple projects. The governing body works in the background to support the league and leads on everything else, from teaching rules to newer fans to running the national teams.
The vice president and former player is working closely with Roger Goodell, Troy Vincent, Peter O’Reilly and other league executives, while his existing relationships with them have made the partnership seamless.
Reece also explained us that the LA Olympics are a major milestone, but USA Football’s mission goes well beyond 2028.
Fantasy Football in Real Life: The Raiders Speed Connection
International flag football is played five-on-five with no blocking. That sinks Sean’s hopes of a lead-blocking fullback, but it fits fast players perfectly.
Reece looked back at the Al Davis-era Raiders, which are some of the fastest rosters ever assembled, in his opinion. He named Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford, Johnnie Lee Higgins and his close friend Darren McFadden, joking that he’s already asking McFadden how long it would take to get in shape.
Another name Reece mentioned is Derek Carr, as he pictures him throwing to all of them without worrying about anyone landing on his shoulder. On defense, he believes Nnamdi Asomugha’s length could cover half a flag field.
As for a modern fullback who plays the way Reece did, Kyle “Juice” Juszczyk is on his list. Reece told us that the job lets him put on his GM hat and play fantasy football in real life. He expects football fans, and casual sports fans in general, to take to this version of the game once USA Football starts showcasing it.
Linemen, NBA Stars, and the “Talent Transfer” Pipeline
Could a lineman make the team? At first glance, Reece doesn’t expect it, but he named a few exceptions. Maxx Crosby, whom he calls one of his “little brothers,” has the length, speed and hip flexibility to fill an impactful role.
Myles Garrett could too, if either player committed to learning the game. Reece argues that NFL players are the best athletes in the world, so the crossover potential is real.
The fun part is when our hosts asked about NBA players like Anthony Edwards, as we’ve seen many speculations that the Timberwolves start might interested.
Reece doesn’t think it would be too complicated, but with two caveats: it would be a hard roster to crack and his USA Basketball counterpart Grant Hill has his own roster to fill.
Still, Reece used the conversation to make an open invitation: any NBA player who wants to compete for gold should call him. Antman, if you’re reading this, use the opportunity, please!
Reece believes that such crossovers are central to USA Football’s “talent transfer” strategy. Its scouting and high-performance staff search the country for elite athletes from track, basketball and volleyball, with a particular focus on the women’s game, which Reece describes as a sport that is rising fast rather than a new one.
What Does Marcel Reece Think About Modern NFL?
Our host Sean complained about today’s NFL uniforms, with pants pulled above the knees and minimal shoulder pads, which allowed us to hear what Reece thinks about modern football.
The former fullback laughed that you rarely saw a kneecap in his era, especially from veterans like Richard Seymour and Lorenzo Neal. He explained the change comes from the rules, not the gear. With low hits now penalized, players dress for practice the way his generation did, when they knew no one would go low.
Reece sees real benefits in protecting players’ knees, while admitting that football purists may feel the hitting has gone. He credited Troy Vincent’s football operations group with doing good work, and added that today’s players could stand to be a little grittier.
We’re quite sure that most NFL fans will agree with that statement, so let’s hope that the USA Football vice president can’t help us get there!
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