Aged 48, Tom Brady returned to football in style and while his flag football team struggled against Team USA, he rolled back the clock and showed his worth three years on from his NFL retirement
13:44 ET, 23 Mar 2026
Tom Brady linked back up with Rob Gronkowski on his return to competitive football
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Tom Brady linked back up with Rob Gronkowski on his return to competitive football(Image: Getty Images)
NFL fans heaped praise on timeless Tom Brady as the seven-time Super Bowl champion impressed during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
On Saturday, Team USA's flag football team thoroughly defeated two squads of NFL stars, featuring Brady and Jalen Hurts on one team and Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels on the other. But while the NFL's stars were objectively the more physically imposing group, they had no answers for Team USA's dominance, as reflected in the lopsided final scores.
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Brady’s Founders FFC were quickly eliminated, but the 48-year-old showed fans that he still had a lot left in the tank. He retired from the NFL following the 2022 season, and his return to the field was exceptional.
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He set the tone early. On his opening play, Brady evaded a sack with a fine juke before stepping up to fire a precise touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs in the corner of the end zone.
Brady then connected with Rob Gronkowski for a two-point conversion to give his team an 8-0 lead. Brady finished the event with 6 of 8 passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns, impressing even as Team USA dominated his Founders.
The opening touchdown play was widely shared online and caught the attention of fans, who believe Brady could still play in the NFL despite being two years from 50. One user posted: “Tom Brady still has it, man.”
“Brady would come back and throw 30 touchdowns while the current starters throw 15 and wonder why they are benched,” added another. One user posted: “Brady's still out here cooking with that laser to Diggs. Even retired, dude's got more zip than half the league's starters.”
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Tom Brady showed off remarkable evasiveness before throwing a touchdown dart to Stefon Diggs
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Brady showed off remarkable evasiveness before throwing a touchdown dart to Stefon Diggs(Image: Getty Images)
One more observed: “There aren’t 20 starting quarterbacks in the NFL better than retired Tom Brady.”
Despite the losses, Brady enjoyed his opportunity to return to competitive football — even in the exhibition showcase. After linking with Gronkowski, as he did so many times for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady posted on Instagram with the caption: “Like We Never Left.”
As he reflected on his return and flag football, Brady posted an Instagram with a long message that served as something of an ode to the sport.
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Brady, who is interested in playing a role with Team USA at the LA 2028 Olympics, wrote: “I experienced so many moments this week that reminded me why I love this game so much... The excitement on that field made it clear that flag football has arrived at a whole new level.”
Team USA dominated the tournament, defeating Brady’s Founders FFC 43-16 and later sealing a 24-14 win in the final. While fans are convinced Brady could return to the NFL, the 48-year-old is adamant his playing days are behind him.
He quipped: “And yes, losing to @loganpaul is probably the best sign that it’s time to pass the torch... I LOVE FOOTBALL! ENOUGH SAID! LFG!!”