Tom Brady is not popping out of retirement.
Adam Schefter, probably the most plugged-in NFL reporter anyplace, did in reality start an X.com submit Monday with the phrases “Tom Brady is popping out of retirement” — however he didn’t imply that the best quarterback of all time was really doing so.
He received’t swimsuit as much as spell Joe Burrow whereas the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback nurses his turf toe again to well being. He received’t nudge Russell Wilson into retirement and be part of the New York Giants.
What Brady, 48, will do is play in a flag soccer event in Saudi Arabia subsequent March.
At the least that’s what Schefter wrote.
Brady will be part of fellow retired New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski and a number of present NFL standouts, together with Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Sauce Gardner and Myles Garrett within the Fanatics Flag Soccer Basic, a three-team event to be held March 21, 2026, in Riyadh.
Pete Carroll, Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan will coach the three five-player groups. The event will likely be held on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh and televised by Fox Sports activities, with comic Kevin Hart internet hosting.
The entire thing seems like enjoyable. It’s, nonetheless, a marketing strategy disguised as a promotional stunt.
The NFL makes no secret that it’s going world — witness the season opener in São Paulo between the Chiefs and Chargers. And Saudi Arabia makes no secret about broadening its sports activities holdings, investing billions via its Public Funding Fund in an try to increase its oil-based economic system and mend its worldwide picture.
Fanatics, which is an unique licensed retailer of NFL on-line merchandise, will sponsor the flag soccer occasion as a enterprise enterprise as effectively. The PIV and the Qatari sovereign wealth fund have invested in Fanatics.
“It’s only a nice alternative to increase the sport globally,” Brady mentioned in a press release. “Typically, you must get outdoors your consolation zone to create consciousness.”
The NFL will play six extra regular-season video games abroad this season, three in London and one every in Dublin, Berlin and Madrid.
Flag soccer has turn out to be a straightforward option to introduce the sport to new markets. The NFL has inspired states to play flag soccer in highschool, and it has turn out to be significantly standard as a ladies sport.
Flag soccer additionally will debut as an Olympic sport in 2028 in L.A., and the NFL has given its gamers permission to take part.
