United States men's national American football team

Player eligibility

The national team was selected to encompass a cross-section of amateur football in the United States, and as such USA Football used strict criteria to select team members. This does not permit the top football players in the United States to compete. The criteria are applied to make international tournaments more competitive. The restrictions include:

• NFL players are ineligible
• Player must have graduated from college, making active college players ineligible
• All levels of NCAA and NAIA athletics are required to be represented, not just FBS An exception to these criteria however, applies to the Summer Olympic Games for the United States national flag football team, as NFL executive Peter O'Reilly stated in October 2023 that the National Football League will work with the players' union on allowing current and former NFL players to participate for Team USA in Flag football at the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics.

IFAF World Championship

2007

Main article: 2007 IFAF World Championship

The United States competed for the first time in the 2007 IFAF World Championship. The team's first ever game was a 77–0 win over South Korea in the first round of the tournament. Team USA defense set an IFAF all-time tournament record in holding South Korea to minus-31 yards in total offense, as well as the record for fewest rushing yards allowed with minus-47. In the second round the USA defeated Germany 33–7. They played Japan on July 15 for the championship. Japan was making their third appearance in the finals, winning the previous two World Championships. Japan took a 17–10 lead with seven minutes and seven seconds left in regulation. University of Arizona quarterback Adam Austin guided Team USA with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended with the second 5-yard touchdown run by RB Kyle Kasperbauer, to tie the game at 17. IFAF follows the overtime system used by the NCAA, and both teams scored field goals with their first possession. In the second overtime, Japan got the ball first but missed a 34-yard field goal attempt. Team USA then reached Japan's 6-yard line. On 4th and one, Craig Coffin kicked the game winning 22-yard field goal, with the final score at 23–20. University of Nebraska-Omaha running back Kyle Kasperbauer was named MVP of the game after scoring two touchdowns and running for 54 yards on 15 carries. Austin finished 12 of 25 for 109 yards, with no TDs, and one interception. Former Williams player Jon Drenckhahn was the top receiver, catching 5 passes for 40 yards.

The team included players representing all levels of college football, with 13 from NCAA Division I FBS, 12 from NCAA Division I FCS, 10 from NCAA Division II, 9 from NCAA Division III and 1 former NAIA player.

2011

Main article: 2011 IFAF World Championship

The head coach of Team USA was Mel Tjeerdsma of Northwest Missouri State University, with Larry Kehres the offensive coordinator and Lou Tepper the defensive coordinator. Team USA played its first game on July 8, 2011, defeating Australia 61–0. After beating Mexico 17-7 on July 11, the team qualified for its 2nd consecutive World Cup gold medal game. On July 16, USA defeated Canada 50–7 to claim its second consecutive World Championship.

The United States routed Canada 50–7 in the gold medal game of the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship. The 20,000 fans in attendance at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria, set a record for an IFAF Championship game. The game was never close, with Team USA leading 37–7 at halftime. Team USA dominated the rushing game, outgaining Canada 247–48, with four players scoring touchdowns on the ground. While Henry Harris led the way for the Americans on the ground, with 114 yards on 15 carries and a TD, Mount Union RB Nate Kmic was the only American to score two touchdowns on the day and was named tournament MVP. University of Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins was 13 of 21 for 161 yards and 2 TD passes. Ricardo Lenhart (Otterbein) led the receivers, with 3 catches for 63 yards. The U.S. defense recorded four sacks, and Jordan Lake caught two interceptions.

2015

Main article: 2015 IFAF World Championship

The U.S. Men's National Team was led by former Boise State and Colorado head football coach Dan Hawkins. Hawkins was 53–11 at Boise State from 2001–05, winning four consecutive Western Athletic Conference titles. His teams compiled a 31-game WAC winning streak, the longest in conference history. The U.S. Men's National Team includes athletes from 24 states.

The United States defeated Japan in the gold medal game by a score of 59-12. This marked Team USA's third straight IFAF Championship, which would beat out Japan for the most IFAF Championships. judge: G.Udvardi • Back judge: P.Mercer • Field judge: F.Rasmussen • Side judge: J.P. Canto • Alternate: I.Veronica

World Games

2017

Main article: American football at the 2017 World Games – Men's tournament

In 2015 the split emerged between IFAF Paris and IFAF New York, in which IFAF Paris expelled USA Football in 2017. USA Football was replaced by the United States Federation of American Football in Paris, while New York retained USA Football as their active member. Since IFAF New York was not recognized by the International Olympic Committee at the time, the United States Federation of American Football was permitted to organize the United States national American football team for the 2017 World Games.

Players, mainly professional Americans playing in Europe, were chosen for the team. They were promised full funding from the United States Federation of American Football, but the funding was withdrawn just days before the competition and players had to provide their own transportation to Wrocław. As a result, most of the team withdrew from the competition and were instead replaced by amateur volunteers who were already in Europe at the time. Most of the team arrived the day before their opening match vs the Germany national American football team. The Americans lost to Germany 13–14, in which was the first loss ever for a United States National American Football Team in international competition.

The United States were able to rebound two days later and defeat the Poland national American football team 14-7 en route to a bronze medal at the 2017 World Games.

IFAF World Championship All-time Records

Competitive record

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place

IFAF World Championship

World Games

World University Championship

Uniforms

Game records

• Most First Downs: 27 vs. Japan 7-12-15
• Most Points Scored: 82 vs. France 7-16-15
• Most Passing Yards: 267 Cody Hawkins vs. Mexico 7-12-11
• Most Rushing Yards: 117 Aaron Wimberly vs. France 7-15-15
• Most Receiving Yards: 106 Nate Kmic vs. Australia 7-8-11
• Most Team Sacks: 8 vs. Mexico 7-9-15
• Most Team Tackles for Loss: 18.5 vs. Mexico 7-9-15
• Longest Play (Rushing): 60 Sadale Foster vs. Japan 7-12-15
• Longest Play (Passing): 64 McLaughlin to Malm vs. Australia 7-8-11
• Longest Play (Punt Return): 74 Awrey vs. South Korea 7-10-07
• Longest Play (Kickoff Return): 84 Awrey 84 vs. South Korea 7-10-07
• Longest Play (Field Goal): 46 Berkshire vs. Mexico 7-12-11
• Longest Play (Interception Return): 77 Banks vs. Germany 7-10-11
• Longest Play (Fumble Return): 10 Jackson vs. Germany 7-10-11
• Longest Play (Blocked Punt Return Touchdown): 26 Calbert vs. Australia 7-8-11
• Longest Play (Blocked Field Goal Return Touchdown): 75 Dingle vs. Germany 7-10-11

References

References

1. "IFAF World Rankings".
2. (9 May 2017). "IFAF Paris expels USA Football from American football".
3. "The World Games: "Team USA" or Team USA? Or, What Happened In Wroclaw?".
4. McKeon, John. (2017-09-28). "Court of Arbitration rules against IFAF Paris, affirms Tommy Wiking resigned as President".
5. (2018-05-02). "Nations: Americas {{!}} NATIONS {{!}} International American Football".
6. "Tyreek Hill, other NFL players could play flag football in 2028 Olympics".
7. "Drenckhahn scores in USA's 77-0 victory".
8. (2007-07-12). "U.S. beats Germany 33-7 to reach American football World Cup final".
9. "World Cup 2007".
10. "Tjeerdsma to lead 2011 National Team".
11. (2023-02-12). "US beats Canada 50-7 to win IFAF senior title".
12. "Watkins, Team USA win gold medal".
13. Sherman, Rodger. (2015-07-18). "USA wins football gold medal 59-12 over Japan".
14. (9 May 2017). "IFAF Paris expels USA Football from American football".
15. (2017-05-09). "IFAF Paris expels USA Football from American football".
16. (5 August 2017). "Last minute disorganization led to Team USA struggles and 3rd place at 2017 World Games".
17. john.mckeon. (2017-07-23). "Team Germany edges the United States in World Games".
18. john.mckeon. (2017-07-25). "Team USA defeats Poland to win bronze at 2017 World Games".