Tom Brady may have left the NFL behind in 2023, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion isn’t ready to fully put down the football just yet. Three years after hanging up his cleats, the 48-year-old legend is gearing up for a surprising return, not to the NFL gridiron, but to the international stage of flag football.
Next March, Brady will headline the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the country’s Riyadh Season sports festival. And according to him, the excitement is real. "I'm very excited to get back on the field," Brady told PEOPLE. "I always love teamwork, competition, and I love working with guys that are really like-minded like I am."
© Getty ImagesA New Chapter for the GOAT
Brady’s football résumé is unmatched: 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a record seven Super Bowl wins. Yet, his decision to join this global flag football event reflects not just nostalgia for the game, but also his passion for where football is headed next.
He points to the sport’s fast-growing popularity worldwide. “It’s in the Olympics in 2028!” Brady emphasized. For him, this event isn’t just about tossing the ball again; it’s about celebrating the next evolution of the game with fans across the globe.
Star-Studded Lineup
Brady won’t be stepping on the field alone. The roster for Riyadh is stacked with NFL icons and current stars, including Rob Gronkowski, Odell Beckham Jr., Tyreek Hill, Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, and Maxx Crosby.
© Getty ImagesReuniting with Gronk
Fans will especially love the reunion of Brady and his longtime teammate and close friend, Rob Gronkowski. The two formed one of the most dominant quarterback-tight end duos in NFL history, collecting four Super Bowls together across their years with the Patriots and Buccaneers.
While they don’t throw the ball around as often anymore, Brady insists their chemistry is unshakable. “When we’re together, it doesn’t take long for us to hook up and get our connection right back. We can get right back in a groove pretty quick,” he shared.
© Getty ImagesAnd though they now share a different kind of teamwork as broadcasters at FOX Sports, this Riyadh matchup will feel like a time machine for fans who watched their dominance unfold over a decade.
Not an NFL Comeback
For those dreaming of a full NFL comeback, Brady was clear: it’s not happening. After famously retiring, un-retiring, and then retiring again, the quarterback insists his professional football days are officially behind him.
“No longer pro football. Those days have come and gone,” Brady said. Instead, he hopes the next generation of quarterbacks — names like Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow — continue to push the sport forward.
© Kevin SabitusReflecting on his peers, Brady added, “I thought we tried to show people how to play the game the right way. Guys like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning — I really looked up to them as players and as people. I think it was a great generation of football, and I want the younger guys to pick up where we left off.”
Flag football might not have the bruising hits of the NFL, but with Brady, Gronk, and a star-studded roster, fans can expect an event that’s full of energy, nostalgia, and maybe even a glimpse into the sport’s future.
Next March, the GOAT is back, this time, with flags instead of pads.
