Given the escalating regional conflict, organizers will likely have to relocate Tom Brady’s big flag football event in Saudi Arabia. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is scheduled for March 21 in Riyadh.
Over the weekend, the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran, which retaliated with drone and missile strikes in the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern nations, casting doubt on the flag football competition.
Because air transport in the area has almost completely suspended, Front Office Sports reports that the event is likely to relocate to the United States. Organizers were supposed to hold the event in Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Arena.
Tom Brady and several other current and former NFL stars will compete
Tom Brady, who makes his first official comeback to the field since his retirement in 2023, will be on one of three teams. Makes sense. After all, Brady did say in 2023 that the NFL is becoming “more like flag football.”
The tournament will use Olympic-style flag football rules. They include a 50-yard field with two 10-yard end zones, a 5-on-5 format, and two 20-minute halves.
In addition to Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, and Odell Beckham Jr. have all also committed to playing. The organizers have also promised other “stars across sports and entertainment.”
One of the teams will be led by Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers will coach the other teams.
Fanatics Studios is producing the event in conjunction with Shadow Lion, Tom Brady’s production studio. Fox Sports and Tubi still expected to broadcast the event with comedian Kevin Hart serving as host.
Fanatics, Fox, and event organizers OBB Media and Riyadh Season did not issue any comments to Front Office Sports about the potential location change.