Tom Brady Shares Update on His Return to Football

Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Tom Brady Shares Update on His Return to Football

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Oct 30, 2025 9:47 AM ET

Tom Brady’s NFL career is defined by sustained greatness and unprecedented success. He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, leading them to six Super Bowl titles while earning three league MVP awards and countless playoff records. In 2020, Brady left New England for Tampa Bay, immediately winning a Super Bowl in his first season with the Buccaneers.

He retired after his second season, only to return for one final campaign before officially stepping away in February 2023. Over 23 seasons, Brady threw for NFL records of 89,214 yards and 649 touchdowns, building a reputation for durability, leadership and passing excellence. Many still believe that with his preparation and football IQ, Brady could compete at a high level even today. Even after his retirement, football fans have continued to fantasize about a potential return.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12).Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

While his days under center in the NFL are likely behind him, fans were granted a glimpse of what “returning” might look like when Brady revealed he will be part of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia in March 2026, during the festival Riyadh Season.

“It felt like the perfect time for me to hit the field again and get my competitive juices flowing,” Brady said back in September.

As the event draws closer, Brady took to his Instagram stories on Thursday to tease the big event, posting a photo of footballs laid out on a field with the caption:

“Loading.... March 2026 LFG”

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic aims to showcase flag football ahead of its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Alongside Brady, participants include the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, Dallas Cowboy’s CeeDee Lamb, Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett and Brady’s former teammate Rob Gronkowski, with coaching by Pete Carroll, Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan.

Though this isn’t an NFL return, Brady’s involvement in flag football reinforces his legacy and is a testament to how much the sport has grown beyond the shores of the United States. From being the game’s biggest player during his NFL days to becoming a global ambassador for the sport, his competitive spirit doesn’t appear to have faded. Fans will get to see him on the field again, even if it’s in flag football.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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