Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski Shine in Flag Football Showdown, Outpacing Logan Paul and NFL Stars Against Team USA

The debut of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles turned out to be an eye-opener for several NFL stars and WWE wrestler Logan Paul.

This event, initially set to take place in Saudi Arabia, was relocated due to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. In the lead-up, promotional efforts were fueled by some playful trash-talking between Paul and the event’s headliner, Tom Brady. Earlier this month, Brady playfully downplayed Paul’s WWE career as ‘cute’ and ‘scripted.’ Paul fired back, saying, ‘WWE can’t stop me from kicking your ass on that field.’

However, the banter between Brady and Paul may have overshadowed another critical contender in Saturday’s tournament: Team USA.

In the day’s second matchup, Brady briefly channeled his old self, leading the charge against Team USA by connecting with a familiar target for a successful two-point conversion.

Demonstrating his enduring skills, Brady evaded a pass rusher and delivered a precise throw to receiver Stefon Diggs, who was waiting in the back corner of the end zone for the day’s first score. Brady then linked up with his former Patriots and Buccaneers teammate, Rob Gronkowski, for a successful two-point conversion.

Tom Brady was in vintage form as he scored the first points of his flag football game

Brady managed to avoid a sack and struck first in his game against Team USA 

Hurts and Brady of the Founders FFC look on before the Fanatics Flag Football Classic

Unfortunately for Gronkowski, that would be his last play of the day after pulling his hamstring on the catch.  

Despite Gronkowski’s injury, it was a far better start for Brady’s team than Paul’s. 

Not only did Team USA score on its opening drive against the Wildcats in the first game, but it was Paul who failed to make the ‘tackle’ for the Wildcats at the goal line. Paul would make things worse by getting a penalty for ripping off a rival’s sunglasses and throwing them to the turf. 

Next it was Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s turn to get embarrassed by Team USA. 

After taking a pitch from teammate Jayden Daniels, Burrow fired a pass right back at the Commanders quarterback, only to surrender a pick-six on the play.  

Playing without any NFL stars, Team USA would build a quick 32-14 lead by scoring on its first four possessions en route to a 39-14 win. 

Team USA followed with a 43-16 win over Brady’s Founders, another team mostly comprised of NFL stars. 

The American national team players have advocated on their behalf to represent the United States at the upcoming 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, where the sport will make its Olympic debut. 

After handily beating a team full of NFL stars, it’s hard to not hear out their case. 

Back in August of 2024, around the time of the Paris Olympics, flag football quarterback Darrell ‘Housh’ Doucette III claimed he was better than than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

‘At the end of the day, I feel like I’m better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game,’ he told TMZ. 

Joe Burrow #9 of the Wildcats FFC and Housh Doucette #7 of the US Men’s Flag Football Team look on during the coin flip during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium

Shawn Theard Jr hugs Saquon Barkley after Team USA beat Wildcats FFC on Saturday

‘I know he’s right now the best in the [NFL]. I know he’s more accurate. I know he has all these intangibles. But when it comes to flag football, I feel like I know more than him.’

He added, ‘I’m not saying I’m a better player overall but until he steps on a 5v5 flag field, I’m going to feel that way until it’s proven otherwise! I’m a competitor and need to be proven wrong.’

After the games on Saturday, some NFL stars appeared to agree with that assessment. Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons tweeted, ‘Team USA giving us belt [crying emojis] I guess they will be in the Olympics lol.’

The speed, skill and knowledge of the flag football players proved to be a difference maker in the exhibition game as NFL stars couldn’t get a grasp on the rules or nuances of the different style of play. The Wildcats, led by San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, had multiple illegal contact penalties as a result.

One of the few highlights for the Wildcats was a one-handed catch by Odell Beckham Jr on a two-point conversion – which brought back memories of his famous grab as a rookie in 2014.

In the second game, after Brady’s touchdown, Team USA found the end zone twice to take a 22-8 lead into halftime.