Author: rb809rb

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🚨 Headlines

🏀 Harden trade talks: In the days leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline, the Clippers have engaged in discussions surrounding James Harden, sources tell Yahoo Sports. The Cavaliers are at the forefront of teams expressing interest.

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🇫🇷 NFL in France: The Saints will play a game in Paris next season, marking the league’s first regular-season game in France and one of at least eight taking place abroad, which is the most ever. The others announced include Australia, Brazil, Germany, Spain and three in the U.K.

⚾️ Three-team trade: The Mariners are acquiring All-Star Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals in a three-team trade with the Rays, adding the former Gold Glover to a roster that came a win away from reaching the World Series last fall.

🏒 Saban, the owner: Predators minority owner Nick Saban, who purchased a stake in the franchise in December, will assist in Nashville’s search for a new GM after Barry Trotz retired from the role on Monday.

🏀 CBA talks continue: The WNBA and members of the players’ union held an in-person meeting in New York on Monday as they continue negotiations for a new CBA in the midst of a busy offseason that includes a two-team expansion draft.

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🏈 Pats vs. Seahawks: The sequel

Super Bowl 60 isn’t just another championship game. It’s a sequel.

Running it back: When the Patriots and Seahawks face off on Sunday, it will mark the 10th time that the same two franchises have met in multiple Super Bowls — and the first time these two have crossed paths on this stage since one of the most famous endings in league history.

Super Bowl rematches:

1. Steelers vs. Cowboys: Pittsburgh won their first two meetings (1976, 1979) behind MVPs Lynn Swann and Terry Bradshaw. Dallas got revenge 17 years later (1996) in what remains their most recent Super Bowl appearance.

2. Dolphins vs. Redskins: Miami nearly pitched a shutout to complete their perfect season (1973). A decade later, Washington evened the score behind MVP John “The Diesel” Riggins (1983).

3. 49ers vs. Bengals: San Francisco beat Cincinnati the first time behind MVP Joe Montana (1982), and the second time behind MVP Jerry Rice (1989) in what was head coach Bill Walsh’s final game.

4. Cowboys vs. Bills: Dallas destroyed Buffalo at the Rose Bowl (1993), then beat them again the following year at the Georgia Dome (1994) in the only back-to-back Super Bowl rematch.

5. Patriots vs. Giants: The Helmet Catch ruined New England’s perfect season (2008). Four years later, Eli Manning and the G-Men took down the dynastic Pats for a second time (2012).

6. Patriots vs. Eagles: New England won the first meeting behind surprise MVP Deion Branch (2005). 13 years later, Philly got revenge behind their own surprise MVP, Nick Foles (2018).

7. Patriots vs. Rams: The Pats stunned “The Greatest Show on Turf” to launch their dynasty (2002). 17 years and one relocation later, the Rams came up short against Tom Brady again (2019).

8. Chiefs vs. 49ers: Kansas City scored 21 unanswered points to defeat San Francisco on the eve of the pandemic (2020). Four years later, they beat them again in Las Vegas (2024).

9. Chiefs vs. Eagles: Kansas City won a thriller in their first meeting (2023) before Philly dominated the rematch two years later (2025) to deny Patrick Mahomes a historic three-peat.

10. Patriots vs. Seahawks: New England won the first meeting (2015) thanks to Malcolm Butler’s game-sealing interception in the end zone. What does Round 2 have in store?

Super Bowl Week: Players took the stage on Monday in San Jose, while Roger Goodell addressed Steve Tisch’s Epstein ties, the lack of minority head coaching hires and other topics in his state of the league address.

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❤️ Why we love sports

John J. (Columbus, Ohio native) writes:

It was the summer of 1962, and my father and I were attending a Columbus Jets game as we often did. The Jets were the Pirates AAA farm team, and I was a big fan and an amateur baseball aficionado.

The star of the team was Donn Clendenon, an all-tool athlete who was my favorite player. Early in the game I caught a foul ball and decided I wanted to ask Clendenon to sign it. So after the game I went to the parking lot exit near the Jets locker room and waited and waited for him to walk by. Many players did, but not Clendenon.

Finally, a player walked out and asked if I wanted him to sign my ball. I told him I was waiting for Donn Clendenon. He replied that Clendenon had already left, so reluctantly I handed him the ball.

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After that I met dad in the parking lot and he asked, “Did you get his autograph?” I quietly replied no, but I got someone else’s. “Do you know who Willie Stargell is?”

Editor’s note: For those who don’t know, Willie Stargell went on to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He spent 21 seasons with the Pirates, helping them win two World Series. Clendenon was no Stargell, but he did win World Series MVP in 1969 with the Miracle Mets.

✍️ Submit your story: Do you have a fondest sports memory? Or an example of sports having a profound impact on your life? If you’d like to share, email me at kendall.baker@yahooinc.com. We’ll keep sharing your stories until they run out!

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💯 Big numbers

🏀 4 Ja(y)lens

20 of the 24 NBA All-Stars have unique names. The only name found more than once? Ja(y)len, shared by four Eastern Conference All-Stars in New York’s Jalen Brunson, Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson. That’s 33% of the team!

The Jalen generation: Jalen Rose, whose name is a combination of his father’s (James) and his uncle’s (Leonard), was one of the first Jalens born in the U.S., and his popularity has spawned a generation of athletes with his name, or a variant thereof.

⚾️ 11 of 50

After slugger Eugenio Suárez signed with the Reds and three-time batting champion Luis Arráez signed with the Giants, just 11 of our top 50 free agents remain unsigned.

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Who’s left? LHP Framber Valdez (No. 8) leads the way, followed by RHP Zac Gallen (12), RHP Lucas Giolito (21), RHP Zack Littell (39), RHP Griffin Canning (40), OF Max Kepler (41), OF/DH Miguel Andújar (42), RHP Chris Bassitt (46), LHP Jose Quintana (47), RHP Justin Verlander (48) and DH Marcell Ozuna (49).

🏈 74.5% return rate

Could we see a kickoff returned for a touchdown this weekend in the Super Bowl? The chances are certainly the highest they’ve been in a while after the NFL’s new touchback rule led to 74.5% of kickoffs being returned this season, up from just 32.8% in 2024.

Take it to the house: There have been 10 kickoff return touchdowns in Super Bowl history, most recently in 2014 by Seattle’s Percy Harvin in Super Bowl XLVIII. The other nine: Jacoby Jones, BAL (2013); Devin Hester, CHI (2007); Ron Dixon, NYG (2001); Jermaine Lewis, BAL (2001); Tim Dwight, ATL (1999); Desmond Howard, GB (1997); Andre Coleman, SD (1995); Stanford Jennings, CIN (1989); Fulton Walker, MIA (1983).

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⛳️ 72 made cuts

Xander Schauffele’s run of 72 consecutive made cuts — the longest active streak on the PGA Tour — finally ended at the Farmers Insurance Open, marking the first time in 1,391 days that he failed to make it to the weekend. The new active leader is Scottie Scheffler, with 65 in a row. Of course.

All-time streaks: Schauffele is tied with Dow Finsterwald for the fifth-longest streak in PGA Tour history behind Tiger Woods (142), Byron Nelson (113), Jack Nicklaus (105) and Hale Irwin (86).

🏀 Jalen Brunson was built for New York

In the latest Boardroom Cover Story, Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson reflects on leadership, fatherhood and the journey from underdog to franchise cornerstone.

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From Boardroom’s Rich Kleiman:

Jalen Brunson is exactly where he’s supposed to be. The Knicks All-Star point guard is sitting in White Plains, just minutes from the team’s practice facility, on a cold winter afternoon during what he calls “the dog days” of the NBA season.

His team is fighting through injuries, inconsistency, and the inevitable January grind that separates contenders from pretenders. But if you’re looking for panic or frustration, you won’t find it here.

Brunson carries himself with the quiet confidence of someone who has already proven doubters wrong his entire life — from being drafted 33rd overall to becoming the face of basketball’s most demanding franchise.

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“Everything that is going wrong is controllable,” he says. It’s the kind of statement that reveals everything about how Brunson operates: accountable, measured, and utterly certain that hard work is the only solution.

This isn’t bravado. This is the ethos of a player who was raised in NBA locker rooms, who learned leadership from his father, and who has turned perceived limitations into fuel for one of the league’s most unlikely ascensions.

Now, as he enters Year 4 of his Knicks tenure, Brunson is navigating the most delicate phase of his journey: evolving from underdog to franchise cornerstone while maintaining the hunger that got him here.

Keep reading.

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📺 Watchlist: Tuesday, Feb. 3

🏀 NBA on NBC

The scuffling Mavericks host the surging Celtics in the first game of tonight’s doubleheader (8pm ET), followed by Suns at Trail Blazers in the nightcap (11pm).

Brighter days ahead: Dallas (19-30) isn’t yet a contender, but a year after losing Luka Dončić, their future looks bright thanks to the rapid ascendance of Cooper Flagg, writes Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko.

In Dallas or Portland? Use Gametime to grab tickets to tonight’s games at the American Airlines Center and Moda Center.

🏈 Pro Bowl

The new-look (again) Pro Bowl is tonight in San Francisco (8pm, ESPN), where the AFC and NFC will face off in a flag football game on a temporary field built inside a convention center. The idea is to append this struggling event to the Super Bowl, which is hosting its weeklong pregame festivities at the same convention center.

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More to watch:

• 🏒 NHL: Penguins at Islanders (7:30pm, TNT); Kraken at Ducks (10pm, TNT) … Divisional clashes between current playoff teams in the Metro and Pacific.

• ⚽️ EFL Cup: Arsenal vs. Chelsea(3pm, Paramount+) … The Gunners lead 3-2 entering the second leg of the semifinal.

Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events happening in your city. Get tickets now!

🏈 Super Bowl trivia

Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp is set to become just the sixth former Super Bowl MVP (Rams, 2022) to play in a Super Bowl with another team.

Question: Can you name the other five?

Hint: They won Super Bowl MVPs with the 49ers, Rams, Patriots, Colts and Broncos.

Answer at the bottom.

📸 Photo finish

Spot the golfer.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Trivia answer: Jerry Rice (49ers, then Raiders); Kurt Warner (Rams, then Cardinals); Tom Brady (Patriots, then Buccaneers); Peyton Manning (Colts, then Broncos); Von Miller (Broncos, then Rams)

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Robert Kraft is also going to have to wait at least another year to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

According to ESPN, the longtime New England Patriots owner was not selected for induction in 2026. Kraft’s omission comes as former Patriots coach Bill Belichick is also set to miss out on being a part of the Hall of Fame class this year.

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Kraft and Belichick were among five people who were up for induction in a pool separate from the modern-era finalists. The two were with former players Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood in the same pool. Per Hall of Fame rules, a maximum of three of the five could make the hall this year and each person needed at least 40 of the 50 votes from the voting committee to be eligible for induction.

If none of the five received at least 40 votes, the person with the most votes gets in. Inductees will be officially announced Thursday.

[Get more Patriots news: New England team feed]

This was Belichick’s first year eligible for the hall, and his omission has led to widespread calls for the Hall of Fame to overhaul its voting process. The Patriots won six Super Bowls with Belichick in charge and he was part of two other Super Bowl-winning teams as an assistant coach. He seemed like a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame this season until news emerged that he had fallen short.

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Kraft, 84, was first nominated for the Hall of Fame in 2013. He became a finalist for the first time this season after he was a semifinalist in 2025. He’s become one of the most powerful team owners in the NFL as the Patriots emerged as the most successful team of the 2000s. Kraft played key roles in the NFL’s labor relations as well as its media rights deals with television networks and streaming services.

He purchased the Patriots in 1994 from James Orthwein after previously purchasing the Patriots’ Sullivan Stadium via bankruptcy proceedings.

Five club owners have been inducted into the Hall of Fame this century. That group includes the Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones, who was enshrined in 2017. Though Jones is perhaps the one owner with more sway across the league than Kraft, the Cowboys have famously not won a Super Bowl since their glory days of the 1990s.

The Patriots, meanwhile, are making their 11th Super Bowl appearance of Kraft’s tenure on Sunday in Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks. That’s the most Super Bowl appearances of any owner’s team.

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But did the Patriots’ cheating scandals play a role in Kraft’s omission in 2026? A week ago, ESPN reported that both Spygate and Deflategate came up during deliberations about Belichick’s candidacy. Were they also a topic among voters when Kraft was discussed?

Kraft’s omission could also simply be further proof that the Hall of Fame’s voting process needs to be overhauled. At least one voter said he didn’t vote for Belichick despite believing the coach was a surefire Hall of Famer. Why? Because he also felt the three players on the ballot were deserving in what could be their last chance to ever make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar has become the latest player to take legal action against the NCAA in an attempt to play another season of college football.

Aguilar filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Monday in Knox County (Tennessee) Chancery Court for a seventh season of eligibility. Aguilar, a California native, played just one season with the Volunteers after transferring from UCLA and Appalachian State.

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[Get more Vols football news: Tennessee team feed]

The QB is officially out of eligibility and currently unable to return for the 2026 season. In his complaint, Aguilar says “the NCAA generally lets athletes play four full seasons, and Aguilar has played only three; but the NCAA arbitrarily counts the years he played in junior college at a non-NCAA school, as years he played for the NCAA. The NCAA refuses to give Aguilar one more year of eligibility, even though it gave all former JUCO players that relief last year after it lost a similar case against Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt’s starting quarterback.”

Pavia was able to play in 2025 after he gained an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA to make up for his time at a junior college. Last season was his sixth in college football as he started his junior college career in 2020.

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Aguilar’s college career started a year before. He redshirted for a season at Community College of San Francisco in 2019 before the school’s 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He then played two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College before transferring to Appalachian State for two seasons.

After the 2024 season, Aguilar transferred to UCLA and was set to compete to be the Bruins’ starting QB. However, Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA during the spring and Aguilar essentially traded places with the former Vols QB.

Aguilar’s extra season of college football makes his case not directly comparable to Pavia’s. The NCAA granted players an extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and Pavia played five seasons in five years from 2025 before exhausting his eligibility.

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Aguilar has also played five seasons in five years from 2021 through 2025 and he’s currently asking for a sixth, mainly because two of those three seasons came in junior college. One of Pavia’s four seasons in that span came at a juco.

Quite frankly, Tennessee needs Aguilar back in the fold for the 2026 season. He said in his filing that he has a roster spot available to him for next season and the Vols would be silly not to take him back. The school courted numerous quarterbacks in the transfer portal with Aguilar’s eligibility officially over but struck out. An Aguilar return would significantly boost Tennessee’s chances of being competitive in the SEC next season.

For 20 years, Tom Brady was the New England Patriots. The NFL GOAT built his legacy with the franchise, leading it to six Super Bowl championships and (likely?) punching his eventual ticket to Canton when the time comes.

So it may come as a surprise Brady isn’t pulling for the Patriots in Super Bowl 60. Brady revealed Monday he’s remaining impartial during the game and will root for individuals over a specific team. “I don’t have a dog in the fight,” the 48-year-old Brady said.

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Brady made those comments during an appearance on the Let’s Go! podcast Monday. Brady explained that while he was once associated with the Patriots, he’s in a different phase of his life now.

His comments read:

“I think there’s always different chapters in your life. And you have different chapters and moments that you go through where you are affiliated with a certain team. Michigan, and then I was with the Patriots for 20 years. I was with Tampa for three amazing years. I’ve been in broadcasting, now I’m an owner of the Raiders. So, those memories that I have are forever ingrained in me and I’m indebted to all the people who worked so hard to help make our team successful.

“And now in a different phase of my life, I really root for people and the people I care about. The people who I know the work that goes in to what they are trying to accomplish. I really want to sit back as a fan and enjoy the game, enjoy the moment. And I always think, may the best team win. It’s not going to be who I’m cheering for or who I think is going to win, it’s going to be decided by the people out there on the field.”

While he didn’t explicitly say he wasn’t rooting for the Patriots in his initial answer, Brady later made it clear he’s going to be impartial during the game.

“Look, I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one. May the best team win. And in terms of the Patriots, this is a new chapter in New England. And I’m glad everyone has embraced the Mike Vrabel regime, all the amazing players that have worked so hard to get their club to this position. We did it for 20 years. There was a little bit of a hiatus in there, but the Patriots are back and it’s a very exciting time for everyone in New England.”

With that, Brady’s transformation into a broadcaster is complete. He’s truly an impartial observer of the game.

Brady didn’t have to take that route. With the Super Bowl being broadcast on NBC, Brady won’t be on the call for the big game this year. He could have easily said he’s pulling for the Patriots and it wouldn’t have affected the broadcast.

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But, as Brady pointed out, the Patriots are in a new era now. It’s been six seasons since Brady played for the Patriots. Other than Vrabel — Brady’s former teammate — being in charge now, the franchise has undergone a pretty thorough transformation since Brady’s final season. He can still be indebted to the franchise while acknowledging he’s not connected to the current iteration of the team.

Brady, of course, could have other reasons for not publicly supporting the Patriots. His Raiders are reportedly set to hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their next head coach. It’s possible Brady doesn’t want to publicly root against the man he just hired to lead his new team back to relevance.

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Because of that, Brady will watch the game Sunday like most other fans. That might seem unusual given Brady’s ties to the Patriots, but the former quarterback has other priorities now.

The NFL has revealed the AFC and NFC rosters for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, which will take place during Super Bowl LX Week on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at San Francisco’s Moscone Center South Building.

The AFC and NFC rosters are made up of at least one player from 29 NFL teams and 22 sides sent multiple players.

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The Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints were the only teams with zero Pro Bowl selections.

The Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks lead the way with each team sending six players to the Pro Bowl Games this year. Right behind them with five selections each are the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.

• Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers has now been selected to 12 Pro Bowls, making him the fourth offensive line since 1970 to make a dozen trips.

• Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be heading to his 11th Pro Bowl, tying him with Jason Witten for second-most all-time among tight ends. Only Tony Gonzalez (14) has been to more.

• No other fullback in NFL history has been selected to more Pro Bowls than Kyle Juszczyk (10) of the 49ers.

• Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers is the first defensive player to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first five NFL seasons since Aaron Donald, who made 10 in a row from 2014-2023. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase is the third wideout to be chosen for the Pro Bowl in his first five NFL seasons since 1970, joining Tyreek Hill and A.J. Green.

All players who have been selected to the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl Games rosters will serve as team captains for the final two weeks of the regular season. There will also be a silver “Pro Bowl” sticker on the back of their helmets.

Here are the full rosters for the AFC and NFC:

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(Voting by fans, players and coaches each count for a third of the final vote.)

AFC Pro Bowl roster (*denotes starter)

Quarterback

• Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

• Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (replacing Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills)

Running back

• Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts*

• De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

• James Cook, Buffalo Bills

Fullback

• Patrick Ricard, Baltimore Ravens*

Wide receiver

• Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals*

• Nico Collins, Houston Texans*

• Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (replacing Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens)

• Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Tight end

• Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts (replacing Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders*)

• Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (replacing Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs)

Offensive tackle

• Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos*

• Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills*

• Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (not participating)

Offensive guard

• Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos (not participating)

• Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts (not participating)

• Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Center

• Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs*

• Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens

Defensive end

• Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans*

• Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns (not participating)

• Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders (not participating)

Defensive tackle

• Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs (not participating)

• Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans*

• Zach Allen, Denver Broncos

Outside linebacker

• Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos*

• Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars (replacing T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers*)

• Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers

Inside/middle linebacker

• Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens*

• Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans

Cornerback

• Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans*

• Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos*

• Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans (replacing Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots)

• Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

Free safety

• Calen Bullock, Houston Texans (replacing Jalen Ramsey, Pittsburgh Steelers*)

Strong safety

• Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens*

• Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers

Long snapper

• Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville Jaguars*

Punter

• Jordan Stout, Baltimore Ravens*

Placekicker

• Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers*

Return specialist

• Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans*

Special teamer

• Ben Skowronek, Pittsburgh Steelers*

Head coach: Steve Young

NFC Pro Bowl roster (*denotes starter)

Quarterback

• Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (replacing Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

• Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (replacing Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks)

• Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Running back

• Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions*

• Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

• Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Fullback

• Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers*

Wide receiver

• Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams*

• CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (replacing Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks)

• George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

• Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

Tight end

• Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals*

• Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (replacing George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers)

Offensive tackle

• Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions*

• Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (not participating)

• Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers

Offensive guard

• Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys*

• Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears*

• Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons

Center

• Drew Dalman, Chicago Bears*

• Cam Jurgens, Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive end

• Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions*

• Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers (not participating)

• DeMarcus Lawrence, Seattle Seahawks (not participating)

Defensive tackle

• Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles (not participating)

• Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks (not participating)

• Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Outside linebacker

• Brian Burns, New York Giants*

• Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams*

• Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams

Inside/middle linebacker

• Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions*

• Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles

Cornerback

• Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles*

• Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers*

• Nahshon Wright, Chicago Bears (replacing Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles)

• Keisean Nixon, Green Bay Packers (replacing Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks)

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Safety

• Kevin Byard, Chicago Bears*

• Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Strong safety

• Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals*

Long snapper

• Jon Weeks, San Francisco 49ers*

Punter

• Tress Way, Washington Commanders*

Placekicker

• Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys*

Return specialist

• KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys (replacing Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks*)

Special teamer

• Luke Gifford, San Francisco 49ers*

Head coach: Jerry Rice

In a surprising twist as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline draws closer, former MVP James Harden is now on the market.

The 36-year-old is averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists on the season, and is reportedly looking for a chance to do what he’s yet to achieve in his otherwise illustrious career: win a championship.

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While the Cleveland Cavaliers have been thoroughly mentioned as a team that will make a play for his services, the fit appears odd and will likely require relinquishing younger players, which could prove to be a long-term problem if the organization wishes to hang on to Evan Mobley.

Additionally, the Cavs (30-21) simply haven’t played that well this season, which should beg the question: Are they even a realistic bet to make a Finals push with Harden?

In fact, there might be a team that’s further along than the Cavs in that regard — one that’s also looking to make a play for a star before Thursday’s deadline.

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Why the Pistons make sense for Harden

The Pistons sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 36-12 record, are in full control of their future draft picks and can dangle Tobias Harris’ expiring contract plus additional assets to make a deal work.

As Harden will turn 37 this year, it’s unlikely the Clippers will get a package for him that includes a bundle of unprotected first-round selections. But that doesn’t mean they won’t get one, plus a young player. And that’s where Detroit can offer something that makes sense for both sides.

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Harris, Jaden Ivey and the Clippers’ choice of an unprotected pick this year or next, for Harden and Kobe Brown, is a trade that works. That package offers the Clippers financial flexibility, a prospect with upside, and a first-round selection, which should aid them as they move forward.

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If push comes to shove, the deal could be expanded to include Ron Holland, but in that case it’s likely the Pistons would negotiate some protection on the outgoing pick.

Do note that Harden has a no-trade clause due to the contractual status of his deal, meaning he can veto any trade. This move hinges on him not using that right.

The fit with Harden in Detroit

First off, Harden and Cade Cunningham are both big guards, and the duo should immediately become interchangeable. Both can function on the ball and score in bunches, giving Detroit’s coaching staff plenty of options in how to trigger actions between them, or to stagger them.

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Harden’s 3-point shot, which he still takes at the high volume of 8.8 per game, will be a weapon the Pistons could use, as they don’t exactly dominate in that department, hitting just 34.8% on the season.

While neither Cunningham nor Harden are natural off-ball movers, they’re both intuitive passers. Regardless of who is on the ball, the court will open up further for Detroit, as the presence of two elite playmakers will keep defenses constantly scrambling.

Newly minted All-Star center Jalen Duren would especially feast off of lobs from the guard duo, and Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson would stand to benefit by being fed more frequently.

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There’s risk involved

Of course, whenever the name James Harden pops up, you will have to make a mental note of starting a clock, as he’s notorious for wanting out of situations that may irk him.

While the Pistons can offer him an enormous role and a chance to win, there are simply no guarantees with Harden, who has asked out of virtually every single situation he’s been in, and sometimes just a few years into a project.

Therefore, the Pistons would have to make the move for the present. Specifically this year, with the hope of reaching the Finals.

Harden has a player option worth $42.7 million for next season, which he could technically not pick up, and that too should factor into Detroit’s offer and approach to such an acquisition.

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Is that a gamble the Pistons feel comfortable with? Or are they better served using more assets to trade for Lauri Markkanen or someone closer to Cunningham’s timeline?

That’s going to be up for discussion. But if Harden is gettable — and interested — the cheaper cost will be viewed as an asset for the Pistons.

After spending the last three years with the Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Nagy will take on a new challenge in 2026. Nagy was reportedly hired to be the New York Giants’ next offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Nagy, 47, brings plenty of experience to the role. In addition to being an offensive coordinator with the Chiefs, Nagy also spent four years as a head coach with the Chicago Bears.

Nagy rose to prominence with the Chiefs, where he was originally the team’s quarterbacks coach before being promoted to its offensive coordinator for the 2017 NFL season. The team ranked sixth in points scored that season, leading to Nagy getting head-coaching interviews in the offseason.

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The Bears liked what they heard from Nagy, and hired him as the team’s head coach ahead of the 2018 season. Nagy’s tenure in Chicago started strong, as the team went 12-4 in his first season, making the playoffs. But the Bears fell in the wild-card round against the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to the now infamous “double doink.”

Still, it was a successful debut. The Bears ranked ninth in points scored that season and had a promising, young quarterback in Mitch Trubisky at the helm.

But things quickly fell apart. While the Bears went 8-8 in each of the next two seasons, making the playoffs again in 2020, Trubisky failed to develop and the offense sputtered. After that ninth-place finish in 2018, the Bears dropped to 29th and 22nd in points scored in Nagy’s next two years.

That led to the team jettisoning Trubisky in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. The team then drafted Justin Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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Neither player performed well. The Bears went 6-11 that season, leading to Nagy’s firing. He put together a 34-31 record with the franchise.

The Chiefs quickly re-hired Nagy as their offensive coordinator following his exit from Chicago. In his three years back on the job, Nagy’s Chiefs ranked 15th, 15th and 21st in points scored.

With his contract up at the end of the 2025 season, Nagy was expected to once again receive head-coaching interviews. While he did speak with teams, Nagy failed to get any of the open head-coaching roles. Curiously, the Chiefs did not wait on Nagy, instead bringing back Eric Bieniemy to replace Nagy as the team’s offensive coordinator.

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With his old job no longer available, Nagy will head to New York as part of John Harbaugh’s staff. The Giants do have promise on offense, with second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, star wideout Malik Nabers and bruising running back Cam Skattebo all looking like key pieces moving forward.

[Get more Giants news: New York team feed]

It will be up to Nagy to draw out the best in each of those players and develop an offense that can take advantage of Dart’s dual-threat ability. Nagy showed he was capable of as much during his first season with Chicago, but that success didn’t last.

This time around, Nagy will have to build an offense that lasts. If he can manage that in New York, it won’t be long before he’s once again one of the more desirable names on the head-coaching market.

Lindsey Vonn’s extraordinary comeback after nearly six years away from ski racing will not be derailed by a fall suffered last week in Switzerland. Vonn announced Tuesday that she had ruptured her left ACL, but after some pre-Olympics practice runs, she will continue to ski at Cortina d’Ampezzo in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“This is not, obviously, what I had hoped for,” Vonn said in a news conference Tuesday. “I’ve been working really hard to come into these Games in a much different position. I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try.”

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The 41-year-old American also announced that she suffered bone bruising and meniscal damage in the fall that occurred one week before the Opening Ceremony of these Games.

“Considering how my knee feels,” Vonn said, “I feel stable, I feel strong, my knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday.”

Sunday would be the women’s downhill, an event Vonn won at the 2010 Olympics.

Vonn got off-balance coming out of a jump in the upper section of the World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Jan. 30. She was unable to recover and fell at high speed, skidding across the snow before careening into the orange safety netting on the side of the course.

While Vonn was able to get to her feet, and slowly and gingerly make her down the rest of the course, she stopped several times to grasp at her left knee and appeared to avoid putting any weight on it. Vonn was airlifted from the race area as a precaution.

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Later on Jan. 30, Vonn expressed optimism via Instagram that her “Olympic dream is not over.” She wrote that she was “discussing the situation” with doctors and “will continue to undergo further exams.”

“This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics … but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback,” Vonn added.

Now, she’ll attempt to come back from yet another injury, this time just days before the Olympics are set to begin.

Vonn wasn’t the only skier to crash amid adverse conditions and poor visibility in Crans-Montana. Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen, two of the five skiers who started before Vonn, also failed to complete their runs, prompting organizers to cancel the rest of the competition.

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“The main reason is the safety of the athletes,” Women’s World Cup race director Peter Gerdol explained. “The visibility was getting worse and worse, they couldn’t see the race line properly and it caused mistakes. We saw six athletes starting and all six had some mistakes. This was a sign that it was a high-risk situation.”

Vonn was poised to be one of the faces of the Milan Cortina Games thanks to a comeback story that defied all reasonable expectations. Now that story will only gain momentum if she makes it to the starting gate.

The four-time overall World Cup champion and 2010 Olympic downhill gold medalist retired in 2019 because the physical toll of her many injuries had become too much to bear. When she underwent right knee surgery in April 2024, her goal was nothing more than to be able to live a normal, pain-free life.

Vonn felt so much better after her partial knee replacement surgery that she made a stunning announcement in November 2024 that she was un-retiring. She has been dominant in downhill races this World Cup season and finished on the podium in two of her first three super-G races, raising hopes that she can contend for medals in both disciplines in Cortina.

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The women’s downhill competition is scheduled for Feb. 8 and the women’s super-G will take place four days later. Vonn said her plan is still to compete in both.

Vonn could have skipped the notoriously treacherous Crans-Montana downhill, but she chose to race in hopes of accumulating more World Cup points. She entered the race leading the downhill standings and sixth in the overall competition.

Rather than playing it safe in poor conditions with the Olympics just days away, Vonn went all-out. She roared out of the start house and registered the fastest time through the first checkpoint.

For better or worse, Vonn was always going to go for it.

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“Unfortunately, in my career, I’ve had a lot of challenges,” Vonn said. “I’ve always pushed the limits, and in downhill, it’s a very dangerous sport, and anything can happen. Because I’ve pushed the limits, I crash, and I’ve been injured more times than I would like to … As many times as I crash, I’ve always gotten back up, as many times as I’ve failed, I’ve always won.”

That’s how her remarkable comeback made it this far. The question now is, will the injured left allow her to compete at her best.

“I’m not letting this slip through my fingers,” Vonn said. “I’m going to do it. End of story.”

Super Bowls are legacy games. How we remember some players, coaches and others involved in the NFL’s championship game is dictated by how many rings they end up with.

The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks met 11 years ago in one of the greatest Super Bowls ever, and think about how the legacies of those involved in that game changed based on one Malcolm Butler interception. This Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl will also shape how we think about some of the key figures involved.

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Here are the 10 people involved in Super Bowl LX with the most on the line, in terms of their legacies within the sport:

10. Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence

Remember when DeMarcus Ware left the Cowboys, won a Super Bowl with the Broncos and ended up making the Hall of Fame? Lawrence doesn’t have anywhere near the Hall of Fame case that Ware had, but winning a title after his “I know for sure I’m not gonna win a Super Bowl there” comment about the Cowboys on his way out of town would be a pretty impressive called shot.

9. Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick

This seems like a stretch, but a Patriots Super Bowl title only two years after Belichick left New England wouldn’t enhance his legacy. Fair or not, it took a hit when Tom Brady won a Super Bowl without him in Tampa Bay. (And clearly voters are reticent to keep him from being a first-ballot Hall of Famer already.) If the Patriots rebuild quickly after Belichick left and win another Super Bowl, the impressive nature of building a formerly sad-sack franchise into a dynasty will fade just a touch more. Or, it could also be argued that a championship led by Mike Vrabel (Belichick’s former player) and Josh McDaniels (his longtime offensive coordinator) would actually look good on Belichick. Either way, Belichick does loom over this Super Bowl a bit even if he’s not there.

8. Patriots WR Stefon Diggs

Diggs had a run as one of the elite receivers in the NFL, including leading the league in receptions and receiving yards in 2020. He made one of the iconic plays in postseason history with the “Minneapolis Miracle” for the Vikings. He’ll be remembered no matter what happens on Super Bowl Sunday. But a Super Bowl ring, as the leading receiver for the Patriots this season, would boost his career even more.

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7. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald

In this exercise, every Super Bowl coach and quarterback will make the list. More than any other position in the NFL, head coach and quarterback are judged on titles. Macdonald already has an impressive start to his head-coaching career, having led Seattle to a Super Bowl in his second Seahawks season at age 38. He’s an unquestioned defensive wizard. He presumably has a lot of time to win a Super Bowl if this opportunity passes him by. But getting a first title would cement him as one of the NFL’s best coaches, especially considering his age.

6. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels

One of the questions from last year’s Super Bowl was whether Steve Spagnuolo was building the type of résumé that would get consideration for him to be the first coach to make the Hall of Fame based on his work as a coordinator. Is it time to have the same conversation about McDaniels? McDaniels was bad as the head coach of the Broncos and Raiders, but he is one of the most successful coordinators ever. He can tie Spagnuolo’s record by winning his fourth Super Bowl ring as a coordinator (he has six rings overall as an assistant). He hasn’t even turned 50 years old yet. Winning a ring without Bill Belichick and Tom Brady would be a great look for him.

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5. Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Smith-Njigba had a monster season that is likely to include an NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. There’s not much argument about his ability after he led the NFL in receiving yards. But if he adds a Super Bowl ring to that, he would start to have an argument as the NFL’s best receiver over Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Justin Jefferson and others who don’t have a title on their résumé. And JSN is just three years into his career. It’s also worth mentioning that if the Seahawks win, Smith-Njigba has a pretty good shot of being Super Bowl MVP.

4. Patriots QB Drake Maye

You will hear that Maye, in his second season, will have other opportunities to win a Super Bowl. He will be the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. The youngest on that list is Dan Marino, who started once and never made it back. So nothing is guaranteed. Being the youngest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl, at the end of a season in which he’ll finish in the top two of the NFL MVP voting, would put Maye on a fast track to be one of the faces of the league for the next decade. He might be on that path already, but you never know when a Super Bowl opportunity will be your last.

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3. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel

Only four men have won a Super Bowl as a player and head coach: Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy, Tom Flores and Doug Pederson. Vrabel can be the fifth on that list, and the first to win as a player and coach for the same franchise. Vrabel is already widely respected, though his time with the Tennessee Titans ended without a Super Bowl appearance and in a messy firing. Winning a Super Bowl in his first season coaching the Patriots would push Vrabel even higher on the ranking of current NFL coaches (and bring more shame to the Titans in firing him).

2. Patriots owner Robert Kraft

Kraft is already a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in the contributor category this year. While it can be argued if team owners belong in the Hall, others have made it and Kraft’s Patriots have had more success than the other recent inductees. If Kraft’s Patriots win a Super Bowl without Tom Brady or Bill Belichick, he’d be the main figure connected to all seven New England championships. And his decision to fire Jerod Mayo and hire Mike Vrabel this past offseason already is a good look for him. Owners generally get too much credit, but Kraft’s reputation would grow with another Super Bowl.

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1. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold

Darnold still gets scorn every time he makes a mistake. Presumably, people just don’t want to admit they were wrong about him and give him credit. A Super Bowl win makes it very hard to keep piling on Darnold for not playing well enough in big games. Darnold is a rare case, a quarterback who was drafted high, labeled a bust, then rebounded to become a productive quarterback and a potential Super Bowl winner. Super Bowl championships for any starting quarterback cements a legacy. We remember each one. For Darnold, who is just 28 years old, it might not be a one-off like Nick Foles, Trent Dilfer or Jeff Hostetler winning it all. It could be the start of him building an entirely new, unique and unexpected legacy.

Olympic speed skating gold medalist Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca will serve as flag bearers for Team USA at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced Tuesday.

It marks the second time two athletes have been chosen to share the honor of being Team USA’s flag bearers. In 2022, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor and curler John Shuster served as Team USA’s flag bearers.

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Jackson, 33, enters the 2026 Olympics with big expectations. After taking the gold in the 500-meter speed skating event at the 2022 Olympics, Jackson will look to repeat in 2026. Jackson will also look to pick up a medal in another event, as she’ll also participate in the 1,000.

She called it a “tremendous honor” to be chosen as one of Team USA’s flag bearers.

“Being chosen to represent the United States on the world stage is a tremendous honor,” Jackson said. “It’s a moment that reflects far more than one individual — it represents my family, my teammates, my hometown, and everyone across the country who believes in the power of sport. The Olympics remind us of the power of sport to connect and inspire, and I’m proud to carry that forward on the Olympic stage.”

Del Duca, 34, participated in the 2022 Olympics in both the four-man and two-man bobsled events, finishing 13th in both events. Del Duca — a sergeant in the U.S. Army — said he was surprised by being chosen, but called it an “incredible honor.”

“Being flag bearer for Team USA is an incredible honor,” Del Duca said. “It was also quite the surprise. I’m grateful for the support from my teammates, coaches and staff, Team USA, U.S. Army WCAP, family and friends, and everyone who has helped me on this journey. With the Olympic Games being held in Italy, it means even more. Nearly everyone in my family is of Italian descent. There is no greater honor than leading Team USA into the Opening Ceremony in Italy. It feels like a bridge between my family’s heritage, and the country I’m so proud to serve. I know my grandfather is watching over me saying, ‘Hey, Frangesch, way to go kid,’ and would be so proud.”

With the honor, Jackson will be the eighth U.S. speed skater chosen as a flag bearer. Del Duca will be the sixth bobsledder to serve in the role.

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Del Duca and Jackson will take part in the Milan Cortina Olympics Opening Ceremony, which will air live on NBC and Peacock at 2 p.m. ET on Friday.