Team USA defeats Wildcats FFC in Fanatics Flag Football Classic

Tom Brady began out just like the GOAT of flag soccer earlier than Team USA dominated the day.

Brady fired an ideal landing cross to Stefon Diggs within the nook of the top zone on his first play in a aggressive soccer recreation in additional than 1,000 days.

The 48-year-old, seven-time Super Bowl champion even confirmed uncommon elusive abilities by evading a sack on a free rush, stepped up and delivered a strike for the TD after changing Jalen Hurts on fourth-and-goal on the opening drive of the sport.

Brady adopted up with one other stunning cross to his longtime buddy and former teammate Rob Gronkowski for the 2-point conversion, giving his staff an 8-0 lead over the USA squad within the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.

It was all downhill from there as Gronk went down with a hamstring damage, and Brady and his staff of present and former NFL gamers coached by Sean Payton could not sustain.

Team USA crushed Brady’s Founders FFC 43-16 after dismantling Joe Burrow’s Wildcats FFC squad 39-16. Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Saquon Barkley and the Wildcats then eradicated Brady, Hurts and the Founders from the round-robin match with a 34-26 victory.

The Founders saved it nearer within the championship recreation however Team USA pulled away 24-14. The nationwide staff could not be stopped on offense in three video games, scoring on each possession besides a kneel-down on the finish of 1 victory.

“My heart is really hurting right now,” Brady stated between losses.

Playing with a well-known scowl and depth that helped him turn out to be the best quarterback in NFL historical past, Brady had a couple of different highlights regardless of his staff’s dismal efficiency.

He referred to as his personal model of the “Philly Special” and tossed a TD cross to Hurts in opposition to the nationwide staff.

It was clear NFL gamers and coaches had been studying the sport and the foundations on the fly after holding only a couple practices earlier than the 5-on-5 match.

They almost had extra penalties referred to as in opposition to them than flags pulled. Team USA’s mastery of the game, sophistication on offense and general pace overwhelmed a bunch of gamers who barely practiced collectively.

Brady was penalized for tossing one among his flags to the bottom as a result of he could not shortly insert it into place earlier than taking a snap throughout a hurry-up state of affairs.

Payton was offended an official instructed him it was third down on the sideline after which switched to fourth down earlier than the snap.

With flag soccer set to make its Olympic debut on the 2028 LA Games, many NFL gamers have already stated they want a chance to play for gold.

Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, Nico Casares and the USA squad aren’t about to surrender their spots. Nor ought to they must. They proved they’re the kings of flag soccer.

The occasion was initially scheduled to happen at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, however was relocated to BMO Stadium in Los Angeles due to the Iran battle.

Brady’s staff additionally included Ashton Jeanty, Alvin Kamara, Antoine Winfield Jr., DeVonta Smith, Von Miller, Damar Hamlin, Patrick Peterson and boxer Terence Crawford.

Burrow’s staff coached by Kyle Shanahan included Kyle Juszczyk, Odell Beckham Jr., Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, Derwin James Jr., Luke Kuechly, Jalen Ramsey, entertainer and boxer Logan Paul and YouTuber IShowSpeed.