Tom Brady threw a perfect touchdown pass on his first competitive snap in over 1,000 days, but the 48-year-old legend and his team of NFL stars were no match for the U.S. national flag football squad at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles.
Brady replaced Jalen Hurts on fourth-and-goal and delivered a strike to Stefon Diggs in the corner of the end zone, then connected with Rob Gronkowski for a two-point conversion to give Founders FFC an 8-0 lead over Team USA. But Gronkowski left with a hamstring injury, and the national team cruised to a 43-16 victory.
Team USA also beat Joe Burrow’s Wildcats FFC 39-16 before Burrow’s squad eliminated Brady’s team 34-26 in round-robin play. In the championship game, Team USA pulled away from the Founders for a 24-14 win, scoring on every possession except a kneel-down.
“My heart is really hurting right now,” Brady said between losses.
The national team, led by Darrell “Housh” Doucette III and Nico Casares, showcased superior speed and flag football savvy. NFL players and coaches, including Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan, struggled with rules and penalties after only a few practices.
Brady showed flashes of his old self, including a version of the “Philly Special” where he tossed a touchdown pass to Hurts. But he also drew a penalty for throwing his flag to the ground during a hurry-up situation, and Payton was visibly frustrated with a down miscommunication from officials.
The event, originally scheduled for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was moved to BMO Stadium due to the Iran war. With flag football debuting at the 2028 LA Olympics, several NFL players have expressed interest in playing for gold, but Team USA made clear they are the standard.
Brady’s team included Ashton Jeanty, Alvin Kamara, Antoine Winfield Jr., DeVonta Smith, Von Miller, Damar Hamlin, Patrick Peterson and boxer Terence Crawford. Burrow’s team featured Kyle Juszczyk, Odell Beckham Jr., Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, Derwin James Jr., Luke Kuechly, Jalen Ramsey, Logan Paul and YouTuber IShowSpeed.
