Tom Brady to Play in Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Riyadh, Ending Retirement for One Event

Tom Brady announced Monday that he will come out of retirement to play in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, a competitive flag football tournament scheduled for March 21, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion who retired from the NFL in February 2023, made the announcement at a press conference at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where he is a part-owner of the Raiders. He said the event is intended to showcase flag football as a growing global sport and to bring the game to new audiences.

Brady will compete alongside current NFL players including Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Sauce Gardner and Myles Garrett. Retired tight end Rob Gronkowski will also take part. Coaches for the three teams will include Las Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton and San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, organizers said.

The tournament is being staged by Fanatics, the sports apparel and collectibles company led by Michael Rubin, a longtime friend of Brady. A member of the Saudi royal family, Turki Alalshikh, joined Brady at the press conference. Organizers said the event will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Tubi.

Officials described the competition as an "Olympic-style" flag football event. Games will be played on a 50-yard field with two 10-yard end zones, using a 5-on-5 format consisting of two 20-minute halves. The tournament will follow international flag football rules and use a round-robin format, allowing teams to face multiple opponents in Riyadh.

At the press conference, Brady emphasized the sport's international growth and its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "I've always admired the power of flag football, the fastest growing sport in the world, and how it connects fans of all ages," he said. He added that the event would help "expose even more fans to our great game while bringing them face to face with some of the biggest stars."

Brady's announcement marks his first competitive football appearance since he retired following the 2022 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He said he was looking forward to the opportunity to "get the competitive juices flowing alongside some of the game’s brightest stars and iconic legends" and to contribute to the sport's expansion internationally.

Organizers did not provide full team rosters beyond the names announced, nor did they elaborate on player eligibility beyond the participating stars. Ticketing, additional participants and operational details are expected to be released in the coming months as Fanatics prepares to stage the event in Riyadh.

The event reflects a growing trend of high-profile exhibitions that pair retired NFL stars and current players in nontraditional formats as league personnel and private companies seek new global markets for American football. Flag football's inclusion on the Olympic program for 2028 has accelerated interest in international competitions and exhibition events ahead of the Los Angeles Games.