Tom Brady, NFL Stars to Play in Olympic-Style Flag Football Classic
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is heading to Los Angeles, a move necessitated by ongoing military operations in the Middle East, and will take on an Olympic feel as it serves as a precursor to the sport’s debut at the 2028 Summer Games in the same city.
Originally slated for Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the event will now be held at BMO Stadium on , according to a release. The shift comes amid escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and other nations in the region.
The competition has been significantly expanded with the addition of Team USA Football, creating a three-team, round-robin tournament. Each team will field 12 players, and the top two teams following the initial round will advance to a championship game.
Leading the charge will be a star-studded cast of NFL veterans and current players. Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, will captain Founders FFC alongside Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Their team will be coached by Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton.
Wildcats FFC will be led by Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, with San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan calling the plays.
A draft will be held on to fill out the rosters from a pool of 24 players including Saquon Barkley of the Eagles, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, Odell Beckham Jr., and WWE star Logan Paul.
Adding further NFL expertise, new Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh will serve as a defensive specialist for both Founders FFC and Wildcats FFC. Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald will act as commissioners for the event.
Rounding out the competition is the IFAF Flag Football World Champion U.S. Men’s National Team, captained by Aamir Brown and Darrell “Housh” Doucette, and coached by Jorge Cascudo. Brady extended an invitation to the national team after they expressed interest in participating via social media, stating, “I like the sound of that @usafootball – DM me and we’ll get it set up. Just grasp there’s no turning back.”
The move to BMO Stadium is particularly significant as the venue will too host flag football competitions during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will even mirror the Olympic ruleset, featuring two 15-minute halves with a running clock on a 50×25 yard field, and teams consisting of five players.
The event will be broadcast live on FOX, FOX One, and Tubi at 4 p.m. ET on . International viewers can tune in via the Fanatics YouTube channel. Actor and comedian Kevin Hart will host the event alongside fellow comedian Druski.