Tom Brady steps out of retirement for surprise football return with Rob Gronkowski in Saudi Arabia tournament

Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady is surprisingly coming back to the field. At a news conference inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, Brady said on Monday, September 15, 2025, that he would come from retirement to return to playing football. Retired in February 2023, the famous quarterback declared he would play in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21, 2026. Since he left the NFL, this will be Brady's first competitive football. Stars including Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Sauce Gardner, and Myles Garrett will be joined by him. The uncommon competition will be broadcast by Fox Sports and Tubi.At Allegiant Stadium, Brady stood alongside Turki Alalshikh, a member of the Saudi royal family, to share the big news. He also confirmed that his close friend and former New England Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski will take part. The tournament featured three teams led by coaches Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders, Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos, and Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers.“This is the first time I’ll be back playing since 2023, and I can’t wait to get the competitive juices flowing,” Brady said at the press conference. “It’s going to be a global event with some of the biggest stars in football, and I want to be part of that energy.”The format will follow Olympic-style flag football rules. Games will be played on a 50-yard field with two 10-yard end zones. Teams will line up five-on-five, playing two 20-minute halves.Tom Brady, now a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, spoke about his passion for football beyond the United States. “I’ve been lucky to play games in Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Everywhere I went, the fans brought so much passion and made those moments unforgettable,” he said.He also praised flag football for its rapid growth. “Flag football is the fastest-growing sport in the world. It brings together fans of all ages, and now with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles including it, this is the right time to help the sport grow,” Tom Brady explained.Also Read: Patrick Mahomes Quiet After Charlie Kirk Shooting At Utah As Randi Mahomes And Tavia Hunt Speaks OutThe Fanatics Flag Football Classic is organized by Fanatics, the sports company run by Brady’s longtime friend Michael Rubin. It will be the first major competitive football event played in Saudi Arabia.Tom Brady closed with a smile: “This tournament is a chance to bring football to new places and new fans, and I’m excited to be out there again.”