Adam Schefter reported that the San Francisco 49ers will be well represented in Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Fanatics Flag Football Classic. Brock Purdy’s teammates Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Fred Warner have all been confirmed, joining a growing list of NFL stars committed to the event.
The tournament is scheduled for March 21, 2026, and it carries heavyweight insurance protection. Schefter noted the same coverage used for the Pro Bowl and the Olympics is in place, ensuring players and teams are protected from potential losses tied to injuries.
Adding even more intrigue, Tom Brady is coming out of retirement to headline the event. He’ll join stars like Rob Gronkowski, with coaching duties split between Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan. It marks Brady’s first football action since retirement.
Is the flag football game in Saudi Arabia part of the NFL?
No, the NFL has nothing to do with the flag football game that will be played in Saudi Arabia. The league had previously warned players about the CBA agreements. For now, there have been no further pronouncements from the league regarding the game that will be played overseas and won’t even be under the normal rules of a football game.
Tom Brady will obviously be one of the main names. It’s still unknown how much he’s being paid to participate. “So what’s the number for his role in the March 2026 flag football tournament? Brady will surely never divulge it. Maybe someone close to him will,” wrote Mike Florio in Pro Football Talk.
Flag football is not a new thing. It’s set to have a presence in the next Olympic Games, where some professional NFL players will represent the United States with the national team. It’s likely that some big names will be on that team to try to win the gold medal.
