After 10 years with Special Olympics, Dennis Jackson from West St. Paul said he’s experiencing a lot of firsts lately, including being picked to play on Minnesota’s Special Olympics flag football team for the 2026 USA Games in June and an entire day alongside Vikings and Patriots players participating in a joint practice on Aug. 13 at Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) Performance Center in Eagan.
“Being with the Vikings and Patriots, this is probably one of the greatest things that could ever happen to me personally,” Jackson said.
In June 2026, the Special Olympics USA Games will unite more than 100,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers, and fans at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine, where the games are scheduled to take place from June 20 to 26, 2026.
“We’re going to have about 4,000 athletes from around the country come to Minnesota, and I’m excited to see them compete at the highest level,” said Brett Edelson, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Minnesota.
As the presenting partner of the 2026 USA Games, UnitedHealthcare invited Special Olympics Minnesota and Massachusetts flag football athletes to TCO for the day to practice and scrimmage.
Special Olympics’ mission extends far beyond competition. As stated on its website, the organization aims to “combat discrimination and promote inclusivity, ensuring that the 6.5 million people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in the United States and the 200 million globally are no longer subjected to injustice, exclusion, and discrimination. Too often, individuals with ID are denied their basic human rights, an issue we strive to rectify.”
This mission was at play when Jackson and his fellow Special Olympics Minnesota flag football teammates took the TCO field and were joined by players on the Massachusetts Special Olympics team for a friendly scrimmage with NFL pros alongside them.
“These are not everyday interactions,” said Jackson. “When you get to stand by them, the first reaction is like, oh my God, I’m standing next to Stefon Diggs or Drake Maye or Harrison Phillips.” And it wasn’t just proximity at the scrimmage. Jackson and his team got pointers, instructions and encouragement from their coach for the day, Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. Their opponents, the Special Olympics Massachusetts team, were led by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
The scrimmage gave each team a feel for what to expect as flag football debuts as an official sport at the 2026 USA Games. “It’s a great sport, and a booming sport right now,” Jackson said, after he wiped the sweat from his brow during a break from the field. “It’s also an inclusive sport. We’ve got two women on our team.”
While the theme of inclusivity united the players on the field, it’s also had an impact on fans at the scrimmage and those looking forward to next June when the 2026 USA Games begin. “It is a reflection of all that is good and honorable in Minnesota,” said Edelson. “This is one of the best representations I can think of about Minnesota being an inclusive community.”
Jackson said he’s got his work cut out for him as he preps for June.
“You gotta trust your teammates, you gotta trust your coaches, you gotta come to practice, you gotta be dedicated and not just for USA Games, but for the team. You have to play your part, and Special Olympics has taught me that.”
Learn more about the 2026 USA Games here, or check out Minnesota’s teams here.