The Dallas Cowboys have officially granted permission for CeeDee Lamb to take part in a high-profile flag-football tournament in Saudi Arabia, easing speculation about his availability for the non-NFL event announced by Tom Brady.
The decision, confirmed by the club, comes as other organizations that employ NFL players involved in the tournament, including Christian McCaffrey and Sauce Gardner, are still finalizing their positions.
The tournament, slated for March 2026, will feature a three-team round-robin format and include several active NFL stars.
Besides Lamb, entrants listed in the official release are Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, and others.
What teams and the NFL contract say
Under the NFL Standard Player Contract, clubs have the authority to block their players from participating in other football-related activities unless written consent is provided.
The contract even allows teams to seek court orders to prevent unauthorized participation in outside football events.
The league has clarified that Brady‘s tournament is not an official NFL initiative, meaning that the responsibility for approving player involvement lies with each club.
Where other teams stand
While Dallas has said yes for Lamb, other teams are responding cautiously. The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, among others, whose players are named, are still reviewing the request. Some, like the Jets, have not commented, while others cited scheduling or internal processes.
Because the involved players are active NFL members, there is concern about both injury risk and how participation in an outside football event impacts offseason and in-season preparation.
Despite those worries, Dallas‘ approval of Lamb suggests the team believes either the benefits, visibility, branding, perhaps financial, outweigh the risks, or that the event’s format is sufficiently low risk to allow participation.
For fans, the ruling offers clarity: yes, Lamb will likely be part of the Saudi Arabia event, assuming no unexpected obstacles arise.
It remains to be seen whether other players will follow suit, or whether some clubs will draw a line based on contract stipulations or concerns about player health.
Either way, Dallas‘ decision is a significant marker in how NFL teams are navigating players’ extra-league opportunities in increasingly global sporting ventures.
When is the Fanatics Flag Football Classic?
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is scheduled for March 21, 2026, and will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Riyadh Season.
Brady will reunite with former New England Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski for the tournament.
They will be joined by a star-studded lineup of current and former NFL players, including Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr., and Brock Bowers.
Each team will be coached by prominent NFL figures: Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan.
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