Tom Brady Along With Other NFL Greats, to Play in Saudi Inaugural Flag Football Tournament

The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback is coming out of retirement for the exhibition event scheduled at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia next year.

Fox Sports broadcaster Tom Brady talks on the field before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sept. 8, 2024. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images via Reuters

After stepping away from professional football in 2023, Tom Brady is making his on-field comeback with a “groundbreaking” inaugural flag football tournament in Saudi Arabia.

Brady, 48, is teaming up with Fanatics, FOX Sports, and OBB Media in the global event scheduled for March 21, 2026, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

The event, dubbed “The Fanatics Flag Football Classic,” will feature three teams compiled of current and former professional football players and athletes as part of this year’s annual Riyadh Season cultural festival.

“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,” Brady said in a statement.

“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.”

The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback will be joined by other NFL greats, including Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rob Gronkowski.

“This will be the ultimate celebration for football fans everywhere and introduce a whole new audience to America’s most popular game,” OBB Media founder and CEO, Michael D. Ratner, said in a statement.

Each team will be made up of eight players in a round-robin style tournament, a competitive format that in turn has every participant play against one another an equal number of times.

The rules will follow “Olympic-style” flag football, played on a 50-yard field with two 10-yard end zones, along with a 5-on-5 format and two 20-minute halves.

It comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the game will make its 2028 debut in the Summer Games in Los Angeles.

“Flag football is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and with LA28 on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better to showcase it on a global stage,” Ratner added. “We’re thrilled to produce a world-class event that celebrates the intersection of the game and pop culture.”

Coaches will include prominent NFL figures, Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan, who will lead the charge of each team.

Meanwhile, actor and comedian Kevin Hart is slated to host the exhibition tournament, which will be broadcast live on FOX Sports and on the streaming service Tubi. Additional participants of the event are set to be announced at a later date, along with further programming information.

Brady played his final NFL season in 2022 and is now an announcer for Fox Sports after signing a 10-year, $375 million deal with the network. The 15-time Pro Bowler also owns a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.