Tom Brady has been teasing a possible return to the field since he retired from professional football for the second time in 2023. And sure enough, fans are going to have the opportunity to witness Brady’s arm back in action, just not for the NFL.
The popular sports betting app Fanatics has partnered with Fox Sports and OBB Media to launch a brand new global flag football event, the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
The event, which will be hosted by Kevin Hart, will take place next year on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s being promoted as part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, a series of entertainment, cultural, and sporting events held in the capital city of Riyadh.
The initiative, which was first launched in 2019, typically takes place from October through March.
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According to Fox Sports, the Fanatics Flag Football Classic will be comprised of a round-robin tournament with three teams of current and retired professional football players, streamers, and celebrities. Each team will consist of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and defense. The teams will also be led by NFL coaching greats Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan.
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In addition to Brady, the event will see the return of the legendary quarterback’s fellow NFL on Fox analyst and former New England Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski. Among the other athletes slated to face off in the tournament include Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill and Odell Beckham Jr., with additional names to be announced leading up to the game.
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Speaking with NFL reporter Eric Williams on Monday, Brady was asked what it meant to him to go up against some of the heaviest hitters in the NFL.
“I played against a lot of the guys that are playing, and obviously have a tremendous amount of respect for them,” Brady said. “It was really cool, the reception that they had … obviously wanted to call them and say, ‘Hey, I want to ask so and so to play.’ It’s just a great opportunity for those players to go over and see another part of the world, and play the game that they love.”
When asked if he had been throwing to prepare for the upcoming game, the 48-year-old brushed off concerns.
“I always throw, this is like riding a bike here,” Brady laughed, gesturing to his shoulder. “I’ve been doing this thing for 30-plus years. But it does give me a good chance to get out there and sharpen my skills.”
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will air live on FOX Sports and Tubi.
