Tom Brady has retired twice, returned once, and now his name is back in headlines again. This time, the seven-time Super Bowl champion isn’t rejoining the NFL but stepping onto a different kind of field: flag football.
Brady is more than a headliner for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, the event is being billed as his brainchild, created in partnership with Fanatics, Fox Sports, and OBB Media. Scheduled for March 21, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the showcase will be broadcast on Fox Sports and streamed on Tubi, bringing unprecedented visibility to flag football just three years before its debut as an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in 2028.
The Classic will feature a star-studded lineup including Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr., Sauce Gardner, and Myles Garrett, and coached by NFL icons Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan. By assembling today’s biggest names, Brady is leveraging talent and visibility to give the event global reach.
“I couldn’t be more excited to return to the field, get the competitive juices flowing alongside some of the game’s brightest stars and iconic legends, and bring a truly unique global sports event to fans everywhere during Riyadh Season,” Tom Brady said. “I have always admired the power of flag football and how it connects fans of all ages, and it’s awesome to be able to showcase the sport on such a global stage while joining together so many incredibly skilled athletes. I’m looking forward to partnering with Turki Alalshikh, Fanatics, OBB Media, my team at Shadow Lion and my friends at FOX Sports to showcase some fierce competition. And I will be bringing home the trophy.”
At 48, Brady has nothing left to prove on an NFL field. He retired for the first time in February 2022, unretired weeks later, and played one final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before walking away again in February 2023. Now, instead of chasing records, Brady is curating a broader post-NFL portfolio that stretches across broadcasting, ownership, entrepreneurship, and ambassadorship.
Already highly visible as the lead NFL commentator for Fox Sports and a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Brady’s decision to launch and play in this event signals another dimension to his career. He isn’t just a retired player making appearances, he’s shaping football’s future by positioning himself at the center of its global expansion.
From wellness and fashion to media and now international flag football, Brady continues to diversify his ventures. This event strengthens his standing not only as the NFL’s greatest quarterback, but also as a figure who redefines what it means to manage a post-career identity long after the final snap.