Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady announced Monday that he will participate in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, a tournament scheduled for March 21, 2026, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The announcement has intensified speculation about Brady’s potential participation in the 2028 Summer Olympics, where flag football will make its debut as an official sport.
The announcement came during Monday Night Football coverage on September 15, 2025, ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders versus Los Angeles Chargers game. Brady, who is a minority owner of the Raiders, revealed his return to football alongside Saudi Arabian sports promoter Turki Alalshikh.
The tournament will feature three teams competing in a round-robin format, with games following Olympic-style flag football rules. Teams will play on a 50-yard field with 10-yard end zones, using a five-on-five format with two 20-minute halves. Brady will be joined by current and former NFL stars including Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr., and former teammate Rob Gronkowski.
Three prominent NFL coaches will lead the teams: Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders, Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos, and Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers. Additional participants from other sports and entertainment industries will be announced in the coming months.
Brady expressed his enthusiasm for returning to competition, stating that he could not be more excited to return to the field and get competitive juices flowing alongside some of the game’s brightest stars. He emphasized his admiration for flag football’s power to connect fans of all ages and the opportunity to showcase the sport on a global stage.
The timing of the announcement carries significant weight as flag football prepares for its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. In May 2025, NFL owners voted to permit players to participate in Olympic flag football competition, making the United States a potential favorite for gold medal contention.
When asked directly about Olympic participation, Brady indicated uncertainty but left the door open for future consideration. “We’ll see. Let’s see how this game goes,” he told reporters, suggesting that his performance in the Saudi Arabia tournament could influence Olympic decisions.
Brady would be 51 years old when the 2028 Olympics conclude, making him one of the oldest potential participants in Olympic flag football history. However, the non-contact nature of flag football could make age less of a barrier compared to traditional tackle football.
Earlier in 2025, Brady had expressed strong interest in Olympic participation. During a June interview, he described himself as still very competitive and noted that putting a football in his hands would reveal that competitive spirit remains strong. He suggested that officials would need to restrain his enthusiasm when around a football field.
The Saudi Arabia tournament represents a multi-year commitment according to Brady’s statements, with the inaugural event serving as the primary focus for participants’ attention and energy. He noted that the tournament provides NFL players their first exposure to flag football competition, particularly with Olympic participation looming in 2028.
BetUS has already established odds for potential American starting quarterbacks in 2028 Olympic flag football, with Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, and Josh Allen listed as favorites. Brady does not appear on current betting boards, though his participation in the Saudi Arabia tournament could influence future odds.
The event will be broadcast on FOX Sports and Tubi, with comedian Kevin Hart serving as host. The tournament is part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, a month-long sports and entertainment festival that has previously hosted high-profile boxing and mixed martial arts events.
Brady’s announcement marks the first significant NFL investment in Saudi Arabia, with potential implications for future regular-season games in the Kingdom similar to recent international NFL games in Brazil. The Saudi Public Investment Fund has made substantial investments in sports merchandise company Fanatics, which is organizing the tournament.
The inclusion of high-profile NFL players in flag football has generated mixed reactions from established flag football athletes, with some expressing concerns about professional football players entering their sport. However, Brady’s participation could significantly raise the profile of flag football globally as it prepares for its Olympic debut.
