Tom Brady, Christian McCaffrey & Kyle Shanahan Set to Revolutionize Saudi Arabia with Flag Football
American football will now be played in Saudi Arabia, in the latest move by the Kingdom to corner the sports market.
This won’t be tackle football, but flag football. The charge is led by the greatest quarterback of all-time Tom Brady, who is now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and a Fox Sports commentator. There are also several active NFL players participating, including San Francisco 49ers.
The Fanatic Flag Football Classic will take place in Riyadh on March 21. ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared the news on social media, noting that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and star running back Christian McCaffrey are also expected to join him.
Flag Football Will be an Olympic Sport
Along with Brady and McCaffrey, the tournament’s lineup is set to feature Rob Gronkowski, Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, and Odell Beckham Jr. On the sidelines, Raiders’ Pete Carroll and Broncos’ Sean Payton will join Shanahan as team head coaches.
The competition will use Olympic-style flag football rules, the same sport set to return at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Play will take place on a 50-yard field with 10-yard end zones, featuring a 5-on-5 format and two 20-minute halves.
FOX Sports and Tubi will broadcast the games, with comedian and actor Kevin Hart serving as host.
Christian McCaffrey Entered the History Books on Sunday
McCaffrey snapped his long touchdown drought just before halftime in New Orleans on Sunday, earning himself a spot in an exclusive club.
McCaffrey hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mac Jones, marking the 30th receiving score of his career. With 52 rushing touchdowns already to his name, he became just the third player in NFL history to record at least 50 on the ground and 30 through the air.
Only Marshall Faulk and Lenny Moore have accomplished the feat.
It also marked McCaffrey’s first touchdown since the 2023 season.
“I’d love to get there a lot more,” McCaffrey told reporters postgame, per 49ersWebzone.com. “But no, I’m just so happy to be playing on this team and feeling good. We’ll continue to get better and grow and get ready for next week.”
The 49ers are battling numerous injuries right now, but with McCaffrey finally off the list, Sunday’s milestone was a clear reminder of the impact he can make when healthy and on the field.
In Sunday’s 26-21 win over the Saints, McCaffrey logged 13 carries for 55 yards and added six receptions on seven targets for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Kyle Shanahan Signals Many Injuries for the Niners
Shanahan reported new injuries on Monday.
Left guard Ben Bartch, spotted in a walking boot after exiting the game, has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss several weeks. Rookie Connor Colby, who played 61 of the offense’s 71 snaps following Bartch’s departure, will step in as his replacement.
The offensive line suffered another setback as Spencer Burford, who played five special teams snaps, sustained a knee injury and may miss time.
The 49ers can explore the open market for offensive-line reinforcements or turn to their practice squad, which features Nick Zakelj, Drake Nugent, and Kilian Zierer.
Kyle Juszczyk, who played just 10 snaps before exiting with a concussion, remains in the NFL’s independent protocol. After the game, the fullback was seen wearing sunglasses commonly used by players in the protocol to manage light sensitivity.
Siran Neal, who was evaluated for a concussion during the game and initially cleared to return, began experiencing symptoms on Monday. The defensive back played 17 special teams snaps and must be cleared by the league’s independent protocol, like Juszczyk, before returning.
Meanwhile, receiver Jauan Jennings, already managing a shoulder injury from Week 1, is now day-to-day with an ankle issue sustained Sunday. Shanahan didn’t specify a high ankle sprain, noting that the injury will be reevaluated as the week progresses.
Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty Shares Blunt Opinion on Offensive Struggles
The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2025 season hoping that their new-look offense could find new life on the ground. With that comes high expectations for the sixth overall pick, running back Ashton Jeanty.
Following the Raiders’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Jeanty was asked about his role, the lack of carries, and the overall struggles of the run game.
Raiders Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty Taking Accountability After Slow Start
Rather than deflect blame, Jeanty showed maturity beyond his years.
“I think we didn’t protect for the quarterback well enough,” Jeanty admitted postgame. “Us, as running backs, we could have done a better job of picking up some of those blitzes. …I think we didn’t really establish the run game, so I feel like they weren’t so much respecting the play-action. We got a lot to fix, work on, I got a lot to get better on. I gotta be a lot better for this team.”
Through his first two games as a pro, Jeanty is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. To put that into perspective, there are only five qualifying running backs (minimum 10 attempts) in the NFL averaging less.
It’s a small sample size, but the lack of production has raised early questions about how effective the Raiders’ rushing attack can be.
Still, Jeanty isn’t placing the blame on play-calling or workload.
Instead, he’s owning the inconsistencies. When asked what has been the biggest issue with the run game, Jeanty said, “I think last week was on me. I didn’t do a good job at reading the plays and I put it on myself again this week.”
That type of accountability is why the Raiders drafted him, and it could be the exact mentality that allows him to bounce back as the season progresses.
Earning Trust
When asked whether he feels he needs more carries to be satisfied, Jeanty didn’t mince his words.
“I think I just got to continue to work with what I get. Whether it’s 10 carries, 15, 20, whatever the volume is, I got to keep earning the trust of Chip Kelly to continue to get me the ball throughout the course of the game.”
It’s clear Jeanty understands his situation. Just because he’s a top-ten pick doesn’t mean the opportunities will fall into his lap.
But it shouldn’t be all on Jeanty either.
The Raiders’ offensive line struggled against the Chargers’ defensive front and hasn’t provided many holes for Jeanty to run through. Still, Jeanty doesn’t blame the offensive line for his slow start.
As the season continues, Jeanty’s development will be a key storyline for the Raiders. With only two weeks in the books, there’s plenty of time for him to turn things around. His candidness with the media and emphasis on self-improvement suggest that he’s not discouraged by the slow start, but rather, he’s motivated to prove himself.
Until then, Jeanty’s focus remains on putting in the work.
