Rajon Rondo may have retired from the NBA hardwood, but that doesn’t mean the man stopped competing. At 39, the two-time NBA champion has found a new arena to showcase his athleticism: flag football. Yep, the same Rondo who once threaded passes between defenders is now slinging spirals across the field. And if you’ve seen the highlights floating around of the former PG getting work in on a Kentucky softball field. You know he’s got some skills. The guy can move, and that arm? Straight-up cannon. “This guy throws dimes still,” wrote one fan via X.
But, according to Sports Illustrated, here’s the twist: a recent report claimed Rondo is the No. 1-ranked flag football quarterback in the U.S. right now. Sounds wild, right? Like the kind of headline that makes you do a double-take. Sure, Rondo was one of the smartest playmakers in the NBA, but dethroning lifetime flag football players to snag the top spot? That’s where things get murky.
Even the official USA Flag account stepped in to pump the brakes on the hype. They didn’t exactly crown Rondo with that title and instead seemed to question the claim. Translation: fun story, but let’s not rewrite the rankings just yet.
Could Rajon Rondo Be Making His Sports Comeback?
Still, you’ve got to admit, seeing Rondo transition into another sport is kind of awesome. This is a guy who spent 16 years orchestrating on the court, winning titles with legends. First, he took home a ring in 2008 with Boston’s Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Then, he did it again in 2020 in the Orlando Bubble alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Rondo’s legacy in the NBA is sealed. Floor general, playoff warrior, and one of the sharpest basketball minds of his generation.
Now, instead of dishing alley-oops, he’s dropping dimes on the football field. The highlights show him juking defenders with quick feet (no surprise there) and delivering deep bombs with surprising accuracy. If you didn’t know he was a former NBA point guard, you’d probably think he’s been under center his whole life.
But here’s the catch: nobody can actually find the receipts on this supposed No. 1 ranking. It’s like one of those internet rumors that sound cool enough to spread, but the second you scratch the surface, the story falls apart. And when the governing body of flag football in the U.S. itself, USA Flag, questions it, that tells you everything you need to know.
Rajon Rondo Outs in the Work on Random Field in Kentucky
Of course, this whole thing went viral anyway, because it’s Rajon Rondo. People love seeing retired athletes pop up in unexpected places. It’s why we still talk about Allen Iverson in a celebrity softball game or Nate Robinson hopping into a boxing ring. The novelty of watching someone dominate in one sport and then try their hand at another never gets old.
And let’s not forget, athleticism runs in the Rondo family. His daughter Ryelle is suiting up for Alabama volleyball, while his son Rajon Jr. is following in his dad’s basketball footsteps. So yeah, sports might as well be the family business.
Bottom line: whether or not he’s officially the best flag football quarterback in the country, Rondo looks like he’s having fun. And honestly, isn’t that the point? After grinding through nearly two decades in the NBA, the man earned the right to ball out in whatever arena he wants. Even if USA Flag isn’t ready to hand him the crown, the highlights prove he’s legit enough to make defenders look silly. So maybe Rajon Rondo isn’t the top-ranked quarterback in flag football. But would you really want to line up against him and find out?
