Flag football is heading to Saudi Arabia next year, and the San Francisco 49ers will be represented by head coach Kyle Shanahan and running back Christian McCaffrey at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Riyadh. Shanahan will coach one of the three teams in the tournament, while McCaffrey is set to join several players competing in the event.
Other notable participants include Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Sauce Gardner, and Myles Garrett. Past superstars Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are also involved.
Pete Carroll and Sean Payton will lead the remaining two teams.
The tournament kicks off on March 21, 2026, just a month after Super Bowl LX. FOX Sports and Tubi will broadcast the games, with Kevin Hart hosting the event.
Tom Brady is coming out of retirement, sort of, to join Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Maxx Crosby, Rob Gronkowski, Sauce Gardner Myles Garrett and others for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic - a competitive flag football tournament taking place during Riyadh…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 15, 2025
Flag football continues to grow in popularity, with the sport set to make its 2028 Summer Olympics debut in Los Angeles. The Pro Bowl also switched to a flag football format in 2023, replacing the traditional game played since 1951.