Fanatics Flag Football 2026: Tom Brady Drafts Raiders ‘Employee’ Ashton Jeanty No. 1 Overall

While excitement around the 2028 Summer Olympics is a given, few events in the Games program have generated as much curiosity as flag football’s debut. The sport’s inclusion has sparked a conversation about whether the United States could realistically assemble a full-blown NFL version of the Dream Team.

And Tom Brady is leading the charge here as well. Whether it’s by drafting players for showcase events like the Fanatics Flag Football Classic this weekend, promoting the Olympic format, or simply lending his voice to the conversation, he continues to shape football’s future even in retirement.

Brady may not be lining up for snaps in 2028, but his influence is already all over the sport’s Olympic debut. He is setting the precedent for how flag football is presented, marketed, and understood on its biggest stage yet.

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will feature three teams with rosters blending NFL talent and elite international flag players. Brady and Jalen Hurts are captaining one of the squads. The round-robin format and championship final are meant to showcase the sport’s rapid global growth and its upcoming debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The event has kicked off with the Draft on Wednesday. With their first overall pick, Brady and Hurts leaned into both strategy and humor. Before announcing the selection, Brady joked about having a bit of inside access.

“He’s technically an employee of mine… You want to say his name? Deuce, get up here. Ashton Jeanty,” announced Brady.

Jeanty’s reputation as a “super productive and young” playmaker makes him a natural fit to anchor Brady’s squad. With their second pick, Brady selected Hurts’ teammate and another explosive player, DeVonta ‘Slim’ Smith.

The rosters are now set, and we are awaiting kickoff on what would be a fun weekend of flag football action. However, the event’s broader significance is hard to ignore, too.

Flag football is no longer just a youth or recreational sport; it’s now part of the Olympic program with more than 20 million players worldwide. It is an investment with a growing international stake. The Fanatics event serves as an early preview of how elite athletes, including NFL stars, might adapt to the 5-on-5 format that will be used in Los Angeles.

But would Brady himself poke his head out of retirement to add an Olympic achievement to his trophy cabinet?

On Good Morning America, the GOAT addressed the speculation head-on. While he didn’t completely close the door on a return to competitive football, he made it clear that stepping back onto the field in 2028 isn’t high on his list of priorities.

“I’d never say never, but it’s unlikely… I think it’s great for the younger guys to go out and do it. If I were ever to get involved, maybe as an advisor or a coach, that might be more my speed,” said Brady, before naming the quarterbacks he believes should carry the torch for Team USA.

“I’ll let the young guys like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen go try to win a gold medal for the United States,” said Brady, who also emphasized that his post-retirement life is already packed.

Between his broadcasting role with Fox Sports, his involvement with the Las Vegas Raiders, and various business ventures, a full training camp and Olympic schedule would be too much of a commitment for Brady. The question of age is a significant one, too.

Brady’s comments suggest that while he’s happy to support the sport’s rise, he sees his role evolving into that of a mentor rather than a competitor. With quarterbacks like Mahomes and Allen in their prime, Team USA would hardly be short on star power even without the seven-time Super Bowl champion under center.