LOS ANGELES — Saturday’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic will present a unique opportunity for football fans. The NFL Pro Bowl provided a glimpse into what flag football looks like with NFL players. The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is expected to include players from the league as well.
How do they match up with athletes who have dedicated their careers to the game, however? Well, that is the question. This weekend’s event at BMO Stadium could provide some perspective on how the next couple years will play out.
The popularity of flag football cannot be ignored, and Saturday’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic is one of the biggest events to feature the game. It’s different from what NFL fans are used to seeing. The 5-on-5 game looks unique.
It is challenging the two teams made up mostly of NFL players and coaches to get up to speed in a hurry.
Wildcats FFC coach Kyle Shanahan said the biggest surprise is that the game will be played 5-on-5 and not 7-on-7. There are a number of key differences in addition to that, with the field size being the biggest topic of conversation among the NFL players Friday.
It is a particularly unique challenge for Founders FFC quarterback and captain Tom Brady, who is stepping on the field for the first time since retiring in 2023. Not only does he have to regain his form as a pass thrower, but he has to do it in a unfamiliar setting.
“I think the challenge for a quarterback would be the field dimensions, certainly, because things are just gonna happen a lot faster out here,” Brady said. “You have to be able to play horizontally. So, a lot of the crossing routes where you’re trying to get separation, yesterday guys were just running out of bounds.”
NFL Players Eager To Prove Themselves In Fanatics Flag Football Classic
The 50-yard field, which is only 25-yards wide, presents a different challenge for the NFL players taking part in Saturday’s tournament. Flag football caters to a different type of skill set than what they are used to at their level. Shanahan noted Friday that there could be difficulty for those players to change their mentality in such short order, especially on defense.
“An NFL player isn’t going to break down, he’s going to run through him,” the San Francisco 49ers coach said. “That’s how you gotta tackle someone like that. But, if you do that at all it’s a penalty and you get ejected. You gotta break down and move with them. It’s gonna be a challenge.”
Founders FFC coach Sean Payton mentioned that he’s now watched 17 games worth of Team USA film to get a better feel for what to expect Saturday. The “art” of pulling a flag has been at the forefront of his team’s preparations. Wildcats FFC also spent the early portion of Friday’s practice working on that one skill.
Multi-million dollar contracts aside, the NFL players and the coaches are taking it seriously. There were mentions of being sore on Day 1 of practice, and the competitive fire is certainly present.
“Our work yesterday was better than any practice I’ve had a chance to be a part of in the Pro Bowl,” Payton said. “In the Pro Bowl, everyone is looking at their watches and in 25 minutes you’re like, ‘alright, wrap it up.’ … The players are the ones who dictate what we want to get out of it.”
On a team with Super Bowl winners, there is still the passion to make a mark Saturday.
“Guys are taking is seriously,” Wildcats FFC co-captain and quarterback Joe Burrow said. “I know we wanna win. If you’re gonna do it, then go out and give it your all. If you don’t want to do it, then you just shouldn’t be out there.”
Team USA Brings Added Element To Saturday’s Tournament
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will be a round robin tournament highlighted by two teams featuring NFL players. Team USA was added when the event was moved from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles in recent weeks. The addition of the dominant flag football squad, which has not lost in international play since 2018, adds a wrinkle to the event.
The size difference between the two teams is noticeable. Still, experience and cohesiveness matter. Team USA knows the game and has been highly successful in the sport.
Those players will also be working to prove themselves against their NFL counterparts Saturday.
“We don’t want to lose,” Team USA quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette said. “We know how much is on the line. And, I think those guys wouldn’t want to get embarrassed by some original flag guys. So, I think the competitiveness is really going to show.”
There will be much to be decided in the coming years as Team USA puts together its roster for the 2028 Olympics. Current flag players will be competing with NFL players for spots. Saturday’s tournament will shed light on how that could eventually all play out.
“It’s the first time we’re playing this game,” Founders FFC co-captain and quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “So, we’ll see. But, I definitely think there’s a sizable advantage [for Team USA]. They’ve got a lot of speed over there and got the IQ of the game. We’re still trying to learn it, trying to get that down, but hopefully it’s like riding a bike.”
Fanatics Flag Football Classic Rosters
Founders FFC: QB Tom Brady (captain), QB Jalen Hurts (captain), RB/WR Ashton Jeanty, RB/WR DeVonta Smith, RB/WR Alvin Kamara, RB/WR Stefon Diggs, TE/FB Rob Gronkowski, DB Antoine Winfield Jr., DB Damar Hamlin, LB Patrick Peterson, ATH/LB Von Miller, ATH Terence “Bud” Crawford
Wildcats FFC: QB Jayden Daniels (captain), QB Joe Burrow (captain), RB/WR Saquon Barkley, RB/WR Odell Beckham Jr., RB/WR Davante Adams, RB/WR DeAndre Hopkins, TE/FB Kyle Juszczyk, DB Derwin James Jr., DB Jalen Ramsey, LB Luke Kuechly, ATH/LB IShowSpeed, ATH Logan Paul
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh is serving as a special defensive assistant for both teams.
Kickoff for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic will be at 4 p.m. ET with FOX broadcasting the one-day tournament in Los Angeles. There will be two 15-minute halves with a running clock for all games.
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