Why is Patrick Mahomes Not Playing in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic Despite Tom Brady’s Presence?

There is no dearth of star power in the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic. From Tom Brady to Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow, football’s who’s who are set to feature in the event. Except Patrick Mahomes.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar, one of the biggest names in football, will not be on the field this weekend in Los Angeles. Mahomes is currently recovering from the ACL injury he suffered last season, which has ruled him out of participating in the flag football showcase despite the event featuring several of his peers and the only rival he’s not been able to beat, Brady.

Organizers and fans would have hoped to see the two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks share the field once more at BMO Stadium, even if only in a non-contact setting. The non-contact nature and the event’s design as both entertainment and a proving ground ahead of flag football’s debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics would have also fueled hopes of Mahomes’ presence.

Three teams will compete at the event: Team Founders, captained by Brady and Hurts; Team Wildcats, led by Burrow and Jayden Daniels; and USA Football’s men’s national team, the reigning world champions.

Brady, speaking ahead of the competition, welcomed the challenge posed by the national team’s specialists. “I love having Team USA involved, too, because I think they are gonna bring out the best in us,” he said, acknowledging that the format levels the playing field for traditional football players and those who specialize in flag.

That competitive tension has been building for months, especially after Team USA quarterback Darrell Doucette III publicly claimed the national team would outperform Mahomes in flag football due to his superior understanding of the format. Mahomes responded on social media at the time. However, the injury has denied fans a direct on-field resolution to that debate.

Still, the NFL presence is strong. Brady’s Team Founders includes stars such as Rob Gronkowski, Stefon Diggs, and Von Miller, while Burrow’s Team Wildcats have playmakers like Saquon Barkley, Davante Adams, and Jalen Ramsey. The star-studded rosters highlight just how seriously the league’s players are looking at the event.

Daniels emphasized that while the format is different, the competitive instincts remain the same. “It’s different rules and everything, obviously you got to pull a flag instead of getting tackled,” he said. “But I think we got the guys here that are high IQ and very smart, so we’ll figure it out.”

Mahomes’ absence also underscores the physical realities of even non-contact football. Flag may eliminate tackling, but it still demands sharp cuts, acceleration, and quick changes of direction, movements that place significant stress on the knees. With the regular NFL season and long-term health in mind, sitting out was the safest decision for one of the league’s most valuable players.

The showcase was originally scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia but was relocated to Los Angeles due to the ongoing war in the region. This shift in venue has added to its visibility, besides aligning it more closely with the Olympic narrative. That has increased the stakes for the players involved, many of whom see this as an audition for potential Olympic selection in 2028.