Tom Brady’s football playing days aren’t over.

Brady, who retired ahead of the 2023 season, will play in “The Fanatics Flag Football Classic” in Saudi Arabia in March 2026, he announced Monday.

Brady’s former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammate Rob Gronkowski will also play in the global event, per The Athletic, as well as the following players:

Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee LambMiami Dolphins receiver Tyreek HillPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon BarkleySan Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffreyOakland Raiders tight end Brock BowersCleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles GarrettRaiders defensive lineman Maxx CrosbyNew York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner

Head coaches Pete Carroll of the Raiders, Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers and Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos will also participate.

“All the players that I’ve talked to are excited about playing, and obviously, with the Olympics coming up in 2028, I think it’s all the NFL players’ kind of first exposure to it,” Brady said, per The Athletic. “I didn’t want to miss out on being a part of it.”

Could Brady’s participation signal his interest and availability to play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where flag football will make its Olympic debut?

“We’ll see. Let’s see how this game goes,” he said.

Gronkowski also appears to be interested in representing the U.S. beyond the global event in Saudi Arabia, according to The Athletic.

“This is the experiment trial right here,” Gronkowski said. “Yeah, if I dominate, if I do good and I feel comfortable, then maybe I’ll take it to the Olympics. So we’ll see. This is the start, but I got to do well here first and show that I can actually compete and play and still have it, and if I do, then that’s a possibility. But I would say that’s a very slim chance.”

Tom Brady-Raiders controversy

Brady is in his second season of broadcasting as Fox’s lead color analyst, and two weeks into the season, he’s already garnered controversy.

In addition to his broadcasting role with Fox, Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders. Broadcasters typically have exclusive access to teams, but restrictions were put in place on Brady last season.

In 2024, Brady was not allowed to attend other team’s facilities, practices or their production meetings with Fox, according to USA Today. He was also not allowed to “publicly criticize” referees or other teams.

Those same rules apply this season, but Brady can now meet with the coaches and players of the games he’s calling in virtual or off-site meetings, per USA Today.

During the Raiders’ Monday night loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Brady was seen sitting in the Raiders coaches booth with a headset on.

ESPN’s Peter Schrager reported that Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly told him “that he talks to Brady two to three times a week” to go over film and the Raiders’ game plan, Schrager said during the broadcast.

ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick, and Peter Schrager on Raiders minority owner and Fox analyst Tom Brady, who’s in the coaches’ box tonight. 🏈🎙️ #NFL #MNF pic.twitter.com/fb0SfCqZLy

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 16, 2025

The report sparked backlash on social media over Brady’s access to other teams giving the Raiders an unfair advantage.

Tom Brady meets with Chip Kelly 2-3 times a week to go over film and go through the game plan.

And every weekend Brady is calling a game for Fox, gathering as much information as possible from players and coaches from both teams to be at his best in the broadcast booth. Got it.

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) September 16, 2025

Wait, Raiders owner Tom Brady is sitting in the coaching box with a headset & ESPN says he talks often during the week to O.C. Chip Kelly??? How can the NFL allow Brady to even remotely interview players/coaches of other teams as part of his Fox prep? This is just wrong.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 16, 2025

Following the game, Carroll said the report on Brady’s involvement in game planning is “not accurate,” per Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore.

“We have conversations. I talk to Tom. Chip talks to Tom regularly. We have a tremendous asset. We all get along well. We respect each other and so we just talk about life and football and whatever it becomes. He has great insight so we’re lucky to have him as an owner,” Carroll said.

The NFL has weighed in on the controversy, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero shared on X Tuesday.

“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game. Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner,” the NFL said, per Pelissero.

From the NFL on Tom Brady: “There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game. Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner.”pic.twitter.com/dmebVaOBYg

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 16, 2025

On Sunday, Brady will call the Week 3 matchup between the Cowboys and Chicago Bears.