Jayden Daniels is getting a head start on his offseason-and not just in the film room or weight room. The Washington Commanders quarterback will be suiting up for a different kind of competition this March, heading to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to captain a squad in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
Set for March 21 at Kingdom Arena, the event is shaping up to be a star-studded showcase of NFL talent, past and present. Daniels will lead the Wildcats in a three-team round-robin tournament that also features the Founders-quarterbacked and captained by none other than Tom Brady-and the Mustangs, whose quarterback has yet to be revealed.
Daniels’ participation was officially announced during a high-profile launch event for Fanatics Studios at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. With Daniels on stage, Brady playfully turned to him and asked, “I’m wondering if your mom is going to let you come to Riyadh and play football.
She gonna let you?” Daniels’ mother, Reginia Jackson, was right there in the front row and gave her stamp of approval on the spot.
This isn’t just a casual flag football game with a few familiar faces. The rosters are stacked with elite NFL talent.
Running backs Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey, wideouts Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, and Odell Beckham Jr., defensive stars Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and Sauce Gardner, as well as tight ends Brock Bowers and Rob Gronkowski, are all slated to participate. That’s a Pro Bowl-level lineup, minus the pads.
Coaching the teams will be a trio of notable names: Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos, Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers, and Pete Carroll, who was just let go by the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Carroll’s presence adds an intriguing layer, as he’ll be back on the sidelines-albeit in a very different setting-just days after his dismissal.
The event is being organized in partnership with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and is not officially sanctioned by the NFL. That detail matters.
In a memo sent to all 32 teams last September, the league reminded clubs that players participating in the event do so at their own risk. Injuries sustained during the game won’t be covered under standard player contracts or the collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA.
Teams also retain the right to deny their players permission to play.
For Daniels, this event comes at a pivotal moment. He’s looking to rebound after a tough 2025 season that was marred by injuries-a knee, a hamstring, and an elbow issue limited him to just seven games.
It was a sharp contrast from the Commanders’ 2024 campaign, when they went 12-5 and reached the NFC Championship Game. Last year, Washington stumbled to a 5-12 finish, setting off a wave of changes across the coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is out, and so is defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. In a bit of a surprise move, the Commanders promoted David Blough-formerly a journeyman quarterback and most recently the team’s assistant quarterbacks coach-to offensive coordinator.
He’ll now be calling plays for Daniels in what figures to be a crucial year of development. The defensive coordinator position remains open as the team continues its search.
For now, though, Daniels will trade the grind of the NFL for a lighter, albeit competitive, flag football format. It’s a chance for him to shake off the rust, build camaraderie with fellow stars, and maybe even enjoy the game in a way that’s hard to do during the regular season grind. And let’s be honest-lining up across from Tom Brady, even in a flag football setting, is the kind of experience young quarterbacks dream about.
Whether this event becomes a staple or remains a one-off spectacle, it’s clear the NFL offseason is evolving. And for Jayden Daniels, it’s a chance to lead, compete, and remind everyone that he’s still one of the most electric young quarterbacks in the league-injuries or not.