Tom Brady is coming out of retirement to play football, but in a different way

Though it has been over two years since Tom Brady announced his retirement for good, the internet has always been active on any potential news of his return. On Monday, news dropped that Brady is coming out of retirement, but not for an NFL season.

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the seven-time Super Bowl champion will return to the gridiron on March 21, 2026, as part of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. It is a competitive flag football tournament staged during Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia.

The game will see several active and retired NFL stars like Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Rob Gronkowski, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garret and others participate. NFL coaches Pete Carroll, Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan will lead three all-star squads.

Tom Brady is coming out of retirement, sort of, to join Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Rob Gronkowski, Sauce Gardner Myles Garret and others for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic - a competitive flag football tournament taking place during Riyadh…

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 15, 2025

The tournament will see Brady in action for the first time since Jan. 16, 2023, when he played in the NFC Wild Card matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The tournament is an effort to bring the best sporting events from around the world during Riyadh Season.

NFL fans will get to see Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady reunite after so many years since they last won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.