LOS ANGELES — Tom Brady is bringing the star-powered Fanatics Flag Football Classic to BMO Stadium on March 21. Originally set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, organizers pulled the plug and moved the event stateside due to the escalating Iran war and travel advisories. The venue change turns an international spectacle into a massive domestic preview for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Building the Ultimate Rosters
The competition features three 12-player teams fighting for the inaugural title under modified Olympic flag football rules. Brady and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts co-captain Founders FFC, with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton calling the plays. Across the field, Wildcats FFC features Washington Commanders sensation Jayden Daniels and Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow running San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
The draft pool is a collision of gridiron dominance and pop culture. Defensive wrecking balls like Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett and former Commander Von Miller will line up alongside Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly and San Francisco weapon Deebo Samuel. They share the turf with digital giants and fighters, including YouTuber Darren “IShowSpeed” Watkins, boxer Terrence “Bud” Crawford, and Logan Paul. You can already feel the stadium energy building; combining tackle football’s elite with internet heavyweights guarantees chaos. To raise the stakes, organizers added the U.S. Men’s National flag football team as the third squad, giving the world champions a shot at the NFL’s finest.
“I’m fired up to see how these teams stack up. I’m not coming back to the football field to lose. That’s for damn sure.”
— Tom Brady, Founders FFC Captain
Olympic Implications / What’s Next
The NFL is using this BMO Stadium dry run to test the live entertainment value of flag football ahead of the LA28 Games. Moving the event from Saudi Arabia gives the league an immediate temperature check on stateside fan interest and logistics. Watch the broadcast live on FOX Sports and Tubi at 4 p.m. ET on March 21 to see if the NFL stars can outrun the established Olympic-level flag athletes.
