Tom Brady Hyping Up Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia

NFL legend says event will be "way better" than the Pro Bowl

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Tom Brady is headlining the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March 2026, and he's not holding back in his promotion of the event. Brady has taken a dig at the NFL's Pro Bowl, saying the flag football tournament will be "way better" and involve "real competition." The event features a star-studded roster of NFL players and coaches, and is positioned as a global showcase for flag football ahead of its Olympic debut in 2028.

Why it matters

Brady's involvement and comments underscore his desire to elevate the profile of flag football globally, as the sport prepares for its Olympic debut. The event in Saudi Arabia is also part of the country's broader efforts to host high-profile sporting events and entertainment as part of its 'Riyadh Season' festivities.

The details

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is scheduled for March 21, 2026 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. The player roster includes stars like Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Rob Gronkowski, Saquon Barkley, and many others. Coaches like Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan will also be involved. The event will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Tubi, with comedian Kevin Hart contributing to the entertainment.

  • The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is scheduled for March 21, 2026.

The players

Tom Brady

A legendary NFL quarterback who is headlining the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia.

Turki Alalshikh

The chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, who is partnering with Brady to stage the event.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly, this is like real football. This is real competition”

— Tom Brady (Impaulsive* podcast)

“It's gonna be way better than that.”

— Tom Brady (Impaulsive* podcast)

“I'm glad you're gonna be there, and I'm glad you're finally gonna participate in, like, a competition that matters.”

— Tom Brady (Impaulsive* podcast)

What’s next

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is scheduled to take place on March 21, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of the country's Riyadh Season festivities.

The takeaway

Tom Brady's involvement and promotion of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia underscores his desire to help elevate the profile of flag football globally, especially as the sport prepares to make its Olympic debut in 2028. The star-studded roster and Brady's comments about the event being "way better" than the NFL's Pro Bowl suggest this will be a highly competitive and entertaining showcase of flag football talent.