NFL legend Tom Brady is set to return to the football field in March 2026, competing in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia, over three years after his retirement. The tournament will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh as part of the Riyadh Season, featuring a round-robin format with three teams of eight players.
Brady will be joined by stars including Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Rob Gronkowski, and Sauce Gardner. The teams will be led by head coaches Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders), Sean Payton (Denver Broncos), and Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers). Other expected participants include Brock Bowers, Tyreek Hill, Myles Garrett, and Odell Beckham Jr.
The games will be 5-on-5 on a 50-yard field with two 10-yard end zones, featuring two 20-minute halves. Comedian Kevin Hart will present the tournament. Brady expressed his excitement, stating, 'I couldn't be more excited to return to the field... and I will be bringing home the trophy.'
This announcement follows Brady's hint at a desire to compete for the US flag football team at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said the event will support flag football's global growth. Further details will be revealed in the coming months.
