Best of Social: Luke Kuechly enjoyed flag football, even as Team USA rolled

Mar 22, 2026 at 09:34 AM

Darin Gantt

The U.S. National Flag team's Velton Brown, Jr. runs into the end zone to score as Wildcats FFC's Davante Adams trails behind during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

CHARLOTTE — Luke Kuechly admitted it wasn't for him.

That did not keep him from approaching it the way Luke Kuechly approaches things.

The Panthers legend and Hall of Fame linebacker was part of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on Saturday in Los Angeles alongside Tom Brady and other stars and celebrities, but Team USA worked over the two teams of current and former NFL players.

"We're not built for this game," Kuechly said in the postgame press conference. "I think when you look at it, it's corners and nickels on the defensive side of the ball and then fast skill guys on the offensive side of the ball. So it was a tremendous opportunity for me to play, and I loved it. And like Tom talked about the camaraderie and the fellowship and the opportunity to put cleats on has been great. But I think the linebackers are going to want to get themselves in that game, but it feels a lot like a nickel, corner game on the defensive side of the ball."

🚨| NEW: Speed gets tips from Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly ahead of the Fanatics football game 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/jAMkQWOrcX
— Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) March 21, 2026

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Kuechly has slimmed down a bit from his playing days, but he was still significantly larger than the Team USA players, and that difference translated into a serious speed and elusiveness advantage.

In the first game, Kuechly's Wildcats team lost 39-16 to Team USA, which then turned around and beat Tom Brady's Founders 43-16.

It’s disgusting what they’re doing to my king, Luke Kuechly, on this flag football field

And as much as it pains me to say it —he’s a liability
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) March 21, 2026

The two regular football teams then played against each other, with Kuechly's Wildcats taking a 34-26 win, before losing to Team USA 24-14 in the final. The national team scored on every possession in the three games except for an end-of-game kneel down.

This is clearly going to make for an interesting conversation on the next episode of the JJ and Luke podcast.

Kuechly, as you are certainly aware, is used to playing a more physical style, and admitted that not being able to put hands on his smaller, quicker opponents put them at a disadvantage.

But he did enjoy playing again, and in the game against the regular football players, he intercepted Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

NFL legends Tom Brady & Luke Kuechly speak to the media about competing in today’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles@Fanatics x @FlagFootball x @SportingTrib x @ThaMisfits pic.twitter.com/d3qGqtkYQE
— Mykell Mathieu (@MykellthePG) March 22, 2026

During the Fox broadcast, his close friend and fellow middle school football coach Greg Olsen said Kuechly spent months getting himself ready for the game.

"Luke started training for this two months ago," Olsen said. "He actually spent some time in Nashville training with combine athletes coming out of college. He was so worried about getting his feet back on the ground. He had a whole acclimation period. I mean, he took this game super seriously."

Of course he did. He's Luke Kuechly.

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Luke Kuechly smiles after being announced for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 during football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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Adam Vinatieri, from left, sits with Luke Kuechly, Larry Fitzgerald, Roger Craig and Drew Brees after being announced for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 during football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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Adam Vinatieri, from left, stands with Luke Kuechly, Larry Fitzgerald, Roger Craig and Drew Brees after being announced for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 during football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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