Tom Brady’s first football game in four years will be alongside Sauce Gardner

Longtime New York Jets adversary Tom Brady is stepping back onto a football field for the first time since his 2023 NFL retirement, but this comeback comes with a bit of a Jets-related twist.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday that the seven-time Super Bowl champion will headline the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21, 2026, in Saudi Arabia, marking his return to competitive football action nearly three years after hanging up his cleats for good.

The star-studded tournament will feature a loaded roster, with current NFL superstars joining the likes of Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Among those current stars will be Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Gardner will be joined by guys like Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Saquon Barkley, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and others, with Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan coaching the three teams.

Brady spent years tormenting the Jets as the dominant force of the AFC East during his legendary Patriots tenure. Now, he's "coming out of retirement" to team up with his longtime rival's best player.

Tom Brady and Sauce Gardner will team up in new Saudi Arabia flag football tournament

Brady spent nearly two decades making Jets fans' lives miserable, posting a dominant 33-8 record against his rivals during his Patriots tenure while capturing six Super Bowl titles in the process.

As for Gardner, his participation comes at an interesting time for the All-Pro cornerback, who just inked a massive four-year, $120.4 million extension in July that made him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.

The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the league's premier shutdown corners and remains arguably the team's best overall player. That's why some might have a degree of hesitation seeing him participate in a spring exhibition football tournament.

The Jets have invested over $120 million in Gardner as the cornerstone of their defense, making any injury — even in flag football — a costly disaster for both player and organization.

The timing creates additional complications with flag football debuting at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where Gardner has been vocal about his desire to represent Team USA.

Flag football may eliminate tackling, but elite athletes competing at high intensity can still suffer injuries, and it's safe to say that Jets fans will be holding their breath when Gardner makes the trip to Saudi Arabia in March.

After years of watching this team find creative ways to implode, the last thing the Jets need is losing their superstar cornerback to a Saudi-backed flag football tournament spearheaded by their biggest rival.

More NY Jets news and analysis: