Will NFL legend Tom Brady ever take to the field to play football again? The answer is yes… sort of… and it’s happening in 2026.
Brady, the consensus Greatest of All Time player in the history of NFL football, will step back under center to captain one of the three teams of current and former NFL players, celebrities and flag football players competing in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, an exhibition game designed to elevate flag football’s visibility on a global scale ahead of the sport’s introduction to the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028.
And, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the game has been moved from Saudi Arabia to BMO Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s LAFC, in the Olympics host city itself.
Ready to see some of your favorite NFL players, past and present, go head-to-head on the flag football gridiron? You can watch the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21 on FOX with DIRECTV or stream it on Fox One or Tubi.
Meanwhile, here’s everything to know about this exciting event.
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When is the Fanatics Flag Football Classic?
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will start at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 21.
What Channel is the Fanatics Flag Football Classic On?
This Flag Football Classic will be broadcast on FOX (find your local channel here).
How Will the Fanatics Flag Football Classic Work?
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will follow the same modified Olympic style flag football rules we’ll see games played under during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The field will be 50 feet long by 25 yards wide, and play will happen across two 15-minute halves with a running clock.
The event will be a round-robin tournament between three teams: the Founders, the Wildcats and the U.S. men’s national flag football team, the reigning world champions of flag football.
Key Differences Between NFL Football and Flag Football Rules
The biggest difference between NFL football and flag football is right there in the name: There’s no tackling in flag football, since players instead were belts with flags on them that defenders need to grab and pull to end the play.
Here are some other key differences between flag football and traditional football:
- Any contact between players is typically a penalty. There’s no physical blocking, diving or tackling.
- Blitzes must start from at least seven yards behind the line of scrimmage.
- Quarterbacks are limited to seven seconds to pass the ball.
- No running plays within five yards of the endzone.
- There’s no kicking in flag football. Following a touchdown, teams can try to score for one extra point from the five-yard line, or two from the 10-yard line.
Fanatics Flag Football Classic Rosters
The two rosters for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic were selected through a draft between the captains of the two teams. Tom Brady and Philadelphia Eagles starting QB Jalen Hurts are heading up the Founders, while Jayden Daniels, the starting QB for the Washington Commanders, and Cincinnati Bengals starting QB Joe Burrow will captain the Wildcats.
Here are the complete rosters for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic teams.
Founders FFC Roster
- Coach: Sean Payton (Denver Broncos head coach)
- QB Tom Brady: The GOAT himself, is a seven-time NFL champion.
- QB Jalen Hurts: Hurts is the starting QB of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, where he won the 2025 Super Bowl.
- RB Ashton Jeanty: Starting running back for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Brady is also a part owner of the Raiders.
- RB Alvin Kamara: Starting RB for the New Orleans Saints.
- TE Rob Gronkowski: Brady’s long-time wing man and all-time favorite target across his time on the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gronk will also step out of retirement to join his former QB on the Founders.
- Safety Antoine Winfield: Safety for the Buccaneers.
- WR Devonta Smith: Starting wideout for the Eagles.
- WR Stefon Diggs: A four-time Pro Bowler who helped the New England Patriots reach the Super Bowl earlier this year.
- LB Von Miller: Three-time All Pro linebacker.
- Safety Damar Hamlin: Safety for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
- CB Patrick Peterson: A three-time All-Pro cornerback.
- Terence Crawford: Undefeated former boxer who won 18 championships in five different weight classes.
Wildcats FFC Roster
- Coach: Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers head coach)
- QB Jayden Daniels: Starting QB for the Washington Commanders
- QB Joe Burrow: Starting QB for the Cincinnati Bengals.
- RB Saquon Barkley: Star running back for the Philadelphia Eagles who won the 2025 Super Bowl alongside Hurts.
- FB Kyle Juszczyk: Long-time fullback for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
- WR Odell Beckham, Jr.: Three-time Pro Bowl wideout and 2022 Super Bowl Champion with the Los Angeles Rams.
- WR Davante Adams: Starting wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, long-time favorite target of Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers.
- WR DeAndre Hopkins: Three-time Pro Bowl wideout.
- Safety Derwin James: Los Angeles Chargers safety.
- LB Luke Kuechly: NFL Hall of Famer and long-time Carolina Panthers linebacker.
- DB Jalen Ramsey: Defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Logan Paul: Internet personality and boxer
- IShowSpeed: Internet streamer
Team USA Men’s Flag Football Team Roster
Here’s the full roster for the U.S. men’s national flag football team.
- Jorge Cascudo (head coach)
- Darrell Doucette III, QB
- Nico Casares, QB
- Laderrick Smith, WR/QB
- Tyler Davis, WR/DB
- Ja’Deion High, WR/DB
- Velton Brown Jr., WR/DB
- Isaiah Calhoun, DB/WR
- Aamir Brown, DB/WR
- Jamie Kennedy, DB/WR
- Mike Daniels, DB/WR
- Laval Davis, WR/Rusher
- Shawn Theard Jr., Rusher/WR
Who is Hosting the Fanatics Flag Football Classic?
Comedian Kevin Hart will co-host the event with internet personality Druski. It will also feature a performance by Travis Scott.
NFL legends Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald will be the event’s commissioners.
Watch the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on DIRECTV
You can watch the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on FOX with DIRECTV! Don’t have DIRECTV yet? Get started today.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Fanatics Flag Football Classic?
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will be held at 4 p.m. ET on March 21, 2026.
Is Tom Brady playing in the Flag Football Classic?
Yes, Tom Brady will be the captain of the Founders FFC in the Flag Football Classic. Gronk, his favorite tight end, will also play!
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