Robert Woods is calling it a career after nearly a decade and a half in the NFL.
The veteran wide receiver announced his retirement Tuesday via Instagram, following a season he spent out of the league after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him in August.
Advertisement
“It’s time for me to step away from playing the sport that has given me everything,” Woods said. “Football has never just been a game to me — it has been my passion, my purpose, and my lifelong dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I stepped onto the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every snap.”
Woods entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills after an All-American career at USC. He spent the early stage of his career as a starter on a run-heavy offense, then found his greatest success when he signed with the Rams in 2017.
Advertisement
By receiving yards, Woods posted the four best seasons of his career in his first four seasons with Sean McVay, working as a dangerous No. 2 receiver behind Cooper Kupp. He was on his way to another strong season in 2021 when he tore his ACL, leaving a hole that was filled by Odell Beckham Jr. during the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI run.
The Rams traded Woods a month after winning the championship and he spent the remainder of his career with a diminishing role on the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Steelers. Despite two career 1,000-yard seasons, he was never selected to the Pro Bowl.
Mike Conley Jr. is returning to Minnesota after a trade deadline pinball trip through the league.
After being traded twice ahead of the NBA trade deadline (and subsequently waived), the longtime NBA veteran has signed with the Timberwolves, the team confirmed Tuesday.
Advertisement
Conley, 38, was first dealt from the Wolves to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade that sent Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić to the Detroit Pistons. Detroit also received a 2026 protected first-round swap with Minnesota. Also in the deal, Jaden Ivey went from the Pistons to the Bulls.
A day later, Conley was on his way to the Charlotte Hornets with Coby White in exchange for Collin Sexton and three second-round picks. The Bulls also acquired Ousmane Dieng from Charlotte in a deal in which the Oklahoma City Thunder got Mason Plumlee.
Yet neither the Bulls nor the Hornets intended to keep Conley and his $10.7 million salary for the 2025-26 campaign. He can be a free agent after the season.
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement says teams are not allowed to trade a player and then re-sign him if he’s waived. However, Conley was able to return to Minnesota since he was traded a second time before he was let go.
Advertisement
Following the brief interruption to his stay, Conley will resume his fourth season with the Timberwolves. He returns to a Minnesota team that added Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips in another deadline deal that sent Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks to Chicago.
Before being dealt, Conley was averaging 4.4 points, 2.9 assists and 1.8 rebounds while limited to 44 games with back spasms and tendinopathy in his right Achilles.
Overall, Conley has played 19 seasons in the NBA, 12 for the Memphis Grizzlies and four with the Utah Jazz. During his career, he has averaged 13.7 points and 5.6 assists while shooting 39% on 3-pointers.
Minnesota is 34-22 and in sixth place in the West.
Welcome to the fourth edition of our MLB 26-and-under power rankings.
This project began in 2023 at FOX Sports and has continued the past two seasons here at Yahoo. It’s truly a highlight of our offseason, and we’re amped for this year’s edition, which provides a thorough assessment of each organization’s young talent entering the 2026 season.
Advertisement
Top prospect lists and farm system rankings are useful proxies for forecasting a big-league team’s outlook, but those come with notable limitations. Our process expands the scope of evaluation beyond the minor leagues in hopes of painting a broader, more comprehensive picture that includes young hitters and young pitchers already in the majors.
Prospects are prospects for a reason; their value is rooted in projection, not MLB output. By evaluating all players aged 26 and younger, our methodology rewards teams with more proven commodities — players who have actually performed in the majors. Minor leaguers and 2026 rookies are still pivotal parts of the equation, but we believe that placing a stronger emphasis on established major leaguers allows for a more accurate portrayal of teams’ young talent bases.
Of course, young talent is merely one component of what wins at the major-league level. The mega-moneyed Los Angeles Dodgers have surged to consecutive World Series titles without significant contributions from 26-and-under talent. They plan to do the same in 2026, and the Dodgers aren’t alone in this regard. Having veteran star power is paramount to success. Clubs with higher payrolls also tend to have larger margins for error when building their rosters than those that rely heavily on young players.
But one of the keys to sustained success is accounting for older players’ inevitable declines and backfilling those voids with steady waves of homegrown talent. If youngsters thrive upon reaching the bigs, a team can keep its competitive window propped open. As such, this project seeks to capture which clubs have a wealth of players whose best years are either in progress or still in front of them.
Our rankings are the product of a scoring system that assigns each organization a grade in four categories, with higher scores available for the major-league categories:
Advertisement
Young MLB hitters: scored 0-10; 26-and-under position players and rookie-eligible hitters projected to be on Opening Day rosters
Young MLB pitchers: scored 0-10; 26-and-under pitchers and rookie-eligible pitchers projected to be on Opening Day rosters
Prospect hitters: scored 0-5; prospect-eligible position players projected to reach MLB in the next 1-2 years
Prospect pitchers: scored 0-5; prospect-eligible pitchers projected to reach MLB in the next 1-2 years
Within the prospect categories, our scoring favors teams with players who can be reasonably expected to reach the majors in the near future. The vast majority of prospects included in this project have already reached Double-A, though we made occasional exceptions for elite prospects who could rocket up the ranks in a hurry. Another important note: If a prospect-eligible player is expected to be on a team’s Opening Day roster — Nolan McLean, for example — we evaluated them as part of the team’s young MLB group rather than with their prospect peers.
All players included as part of these rankings are entering their age-26 seasons or younger, defined by Baseball-Reference as a player’s age on June 30, roughly halfway through the regular season. This line of demarcation is particularly relevant in this year’s edition of our rankings because of which players “graduated” from eligibility this season — i.e., those who played their age-26 seasons in 2025. That group includes three of the best hitters (Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) and three of the best pitchers (Garrett Crochet, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hunter Brown) in the world. That’s a staggering amount of impact talent to no longer be included in their respective teams’ young cores, and nearly all of those teams dropped substantially in the rankings as a result.
We’re counting down all 30 organizations’ 26-and-under talent bases from weakest to strongest, diving into five teams at a time. Below, in addition to the scores for each team in each category, we’ll highlight the key players who fall into each bucket and contributed most to their organization’s place in the rankings.
Young MLB hitters (4/10): C Hunter Goodman, SS Ezequiel Tovar, OF Jordan Beck, 2B Adael Amador, INF Ryan Ritter Young MLB pitchers (3/10): RHP Chase Dollander, RHP Victor Vodnik, RHP Seth Halvorsen, RHP Juan Mejia, RHP RJ Petit Prospect hitters (1/5): 1B Charlie Condon, OF Cole Carrigg, OF Zac Veen, OF Jared Thomas, 2B Roc Riggio, SS Ethan Holliday Prospect pitchers (1/5): LHP Carson Palmquist, RHP McCade Brown, RHP Brody Brecht, LHP Welinton Herrera, LHP Sean Sullivan
Advertisement
The Rockies ranked dead last in the first two editions of our 26-and-under rankings but managed to avoid the absolute basement a year ago, thanks to some modest gains among the big-league position players and what looked to be a roughly average farm system. But 119 losses later, Colorado is right back at the bottom, as some mildly encouraging progress on the mound in the majors was offset by stagnation on offense and not nearly enough growth among the top prospects. It’s worth noting that Colorado accumulated the same total score as division peers San Francisco and San Diego, but it’s tough to give the tiebreaker to a team coming off such an abysmal season. As a result, the Rockies are No. 30 once more.
Nevertheless, there are a handful of hitters and pitchers to like here. Hunter Goodman was Colorado’s All-Star representative last summer, and deservingly so. Catchers with his level of power are rare, and his juice proved potent away from altitude as well: Goodman hit 18 of his 31 homers away from Coors Field, with a solid .801 road OPS to boot. His defense behind the plate needs some polishing, and his shaky plate discipline could yield some lean years with the bat, but he’s a hitter to feel good about. Ezequiel Tovar’s lack of on-base skills might always limit his offensive ceiling, but his plus glove at shortstop ensures a steady floor as an every-day player.
Even by Coors Field standards, right-hander Chase Dollander was pummeled to an extreme degree at home as a rookie: He posted a 9.98 ERA in 46 home innings compared to a 3.46 mark in 52 road frames. But his success away from altitude is a reminder that the 24-year-old checks all the boxes from a scouting perspective in terms of what a frontline starter should look and throw like, and he’s still capable of achieving his potential with the right tweaks. Colorado has also quietly produced a trio of quality, hard-throwing, righty relievers in Seth Halvorsen, Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik. It’s possible none of them will ever pitch in high-leverage for a good Rockies team, but they could soon be highly attractive trade chips.
Advertisement
There are some useful pieces lurking in the upper levels of the minors on both sides of the ball, none of them more important than Colorado’s two most recent first-round draft picks, Charlie Condon and Ethan Holliday. Having reached Double-A and played in the Arizona Fall League, Condon’s progress is a much more pressing concern than that of the teenage Holliday, but both must answer serious questions from evaluators about whether their suspect hit tools will allow for their tremendous raw power to play in games.
No matter what these young players have or have not demonstrated thus far, there’s a renewed sense of optimism about their development following the complete (and long overdue) overhaul of Colorado’s front office. That the Rockies finally sought external front office candidates after decades of insulation was refreshing, and now Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes are tasked with ushering the franchise into a new era of modern competence and competitiveness. The organization’s wave of coaching hires at both the major- and minor-league levels earned strong reviews from around the league. The 2026 Rockies are still going to lose a whole bunch of ballgames, but there’s reason to believe they could move into a much less discouraging spot in these rankings by next year. — J.S.
The Rockies once again find themselves at the very bottom of our 26-and-under team rankings.
(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports)
29. San Diego Padres (total score: 9/30) | 2025 rank: 15
Young MLB hitters (5/10): OF Jackson Merrill Young MLB pitchers (2/10): RHP David Morgan, RHP Bradgley Rodriguez Prospect hitters (1/5): C Ethan Salas, OF Tirso Ornelas Prospect pitchers (1/5): RHP Miguel Mendez, LHP Kash Mayfield, RHP Garrett Hawkins, RHP Tucker Musgrove, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft
Advertisement
With Fernando Tatis Jr. and impact relievers Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon aging out of eligibility — and another round of win-now trades last July thinning out the farm system — the Padres have unsurprisingly plummeted in the rankings and were in consideration for the bottom spot. They’re saved from bringing up the rear by the presence of Jackson Merrill, who is comfortably the best position player on any of the teams in this tier, giving San Diego a tremendously valuable offensive pillar to build around.
Merrill surged to stardom in 2024 while playing a brand-new position in center field and raking for the playoff-bound Padres as a 21-year-old, ultimately finishing runner-up to Paul Skenes in the NL Rookie of the Year race. Further ascension seemed in store for Merrill as a sophomore, but injuries (hamstring, ankle, concussion) waylaid his second season. He was still productive, just not quite the game-changing talent he was as a rookie. 2026 will be a big opportunity for Merrill to reassert himself as one of the brightest young stars in baseball.
Beyond Merrill, however, this group thins out in a hurry. Like Colorado, San Diego boasts some exciting young relievers, with both David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez debuting last year in a bullpen already loaded with high-quality, high-leverage arms. Garrett Hawkins and Tucker Musgrove might not be far behind. But as far as young rotation candidates go, there’s very little to be found outside of Miguel Mendez, who has promise but finished last season with an 8.06 ERA across six starts in Double-A. It’s no accident the Padres just signed German Marquez, Griffin Canning and Walker Buehler in a matter of days. The most promising mound talent in the system is found at the lower levels, headlined by the team’s two most recent first-round picks, teenage left-handers Kash Mayfield and Kruz Schoolcraft.
Advertisement
Somehow still only 19 years old, Ethan Salas has been on the prospect radar for a while now. A nearly unprecedented and ultra-accelerated promotion pace pushed the catcher all the way to Double-A as a 17-year-old, but back injuries and struggles at the plate have stalled his development. His top-tier defense remains his calling card, and we should always be patient with catching prospects, but at some point, Salas will need to start hitting to still be considered a viable candidate to be a franchise backstop. — J.S.
28. San Francisco Giants (total score: 9/30) | 2025 rank: 24
Young MLB hitters (3/10): OF Heliot Ramos, OF Drew Gilbert, 1B/DH Bryce Eldridge, OF Luis Matos, OF Grant McCray, C Daniel Susac Young MLB pitchers (1/10): RHP Hayden Birdsong, RHP Randy Rodriguez Prospect hitters (2/5): OF Bo Davidson, OF Dakota Jordan, 1B/OF Parks Harber, 2B Gavin Kilen, SS Josuar Gonzalez, 2B Nate Furman Prospect pitchers (3/5): LHP Carson Whisenhunt, RHP Blade Tidwell, RHP Will Bednar, RHP Trevor McDonald, LHP Joe Whitman, LHP Jacob Bresnahan
Advertisement
What are the Buster Posey-run Giants good at? (Besides acquiring Rafael Devers, which, unfortunately, is not a repeatable skill.) So far, the answer is unclear, though the dearth of talent in this organization is mostly a problem that predates Posey’s tenure. This will be a big year for him and the organization.
Let’s start with Bryce Eldridge, upon whose shoulders much of San Francisco’s future rests. Built like an NBA wing, the 21-year-old first baseman debuted in September and looked overmatched in a small sample. But that burnt cup of coffee doesn’t change Eldrige’s projection. This guy has deafening raw power, top-of-the-charts stuff in the Joey Gallo mold and more bat-to-ball feel than your typical long-ball donkey. Still, dudes built like Eldridge — limbs for days, fresh out of the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” stretch machine — often struggle with elevated fastballs. If he makes enough contact, Eldridge will be an All-Star. Barry Bonds’ splash hit record (35) is definitely in play. But as with all first baseman, the bar is incredibly high.
Beyond that, it’s an underwhelming bunch. Heliot Ramos was an All-Star in 2024, but he has proven himself to be a dreadful defender in left and merely average with the stick. That’s not a cornerstone piece on a championship team. Drew Gilbert is a maniac and great TikTok fodder, but a lack of juice has him on the fourth-outfielder track. Daniel Susac might be a capable backup catcher.
Advertisement
Things aren’t much better on the bump, as the Giants were one of just three teams to receive a measly one out of 10 for their young MLB pitchers. Randy Rodriguez was an All-Star last season, surrendering just four earned runs across the entire first half (!!), but he blew out in August and will miss the entire 2026 season. He’s also a reliever and, thus, more volatile than a meme coin. Hayden Birdsong had a 2.31 ERA out of the ‘pen last season (good) and a 6.17 ERA out of the rotation (not good), so it’s doubtful he’ll evolve into an impact starter.
There are, however, some encouraging signs down on the farm, mostly in the lower levels. Josuar Gonzalez is only 18 years old and has yet to play stateside baseball, but he might just be The Next Great Dominican Shortstop. A year from now, he could easily be a top-10 prospect in all of the minors. Bo Davidson, an undrafted center fielder from a North Carolina community college, is an amazing story, but he hasn’t yet proved he can hit upper-minors arms. Second baseman Gavin Kilen was the 13th pick last year, and he should move relatively quickly as a high-floor, low-ceiling, Joe Panik type.
On the pitching side, not a single Giants farmhand was ranked in the top 100 by any of the major outlets, but there’s some solid depth here. Carson Whisenhunt’s unicorn changeup will propel him to an impact role of some sort, but it’s most likely in the bullpen. Trevor McDonald, BladeTidwell and Joe Whitman are back-end types. WillBednar is a reliever. Jacob Bresnahan is an arrow-up starter to get excited about, but the 20-year-old hasn’t yet pitched above low-A.
On the whole, it’s hard to believe there’s enough talent here to supplement San Francisco’s current core of Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman and Logan Webb. For the Giants to even think about chasing down the Dodgers in the next few years, Eldridge needs to be an absolute monster. But even that might not be enough, particularly if Posey and Co. don’t uncover an impact arm or two. — J.M.
Young MLB hitters (2/10): OF Zach Cole, OF Cam Smith, OF Zach Dezenzo Young MLB pitchers (4/10): RHP Mike Burrows, RHP Spencer Arrighetti, Roddery Muñoz Prospect hitters (2/5): OF Brice Matthews, OF Joseph Sullivan, C Walker Janek, OF Lucas Spence, OF Ethan Frey Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Miguel Ullola, RHP AJ Blubaugh, RHP Ethan Pecko, RHP Bryce Mayer
For the Astros, 2025 was the end of an era. For the first time since 2016, Houston spent October at home, on vacation or caring too much about the Texans. Injuries damned the team all season, but the organization’s inability to fill the gaps with homegrown players was a major factor in Houston’s late-season collapse.
Advertisement
Is the Jose Altuve-Yordan Alvarez-Carlos Correa Era truly over? That depends, a great deal, on the fortunes of Cam Smith. Acquired in the Kyle Tucker blockbuster last winter, Smith wowed his way through spring training and onto the Opening Day roster, despite being less than a year removed from draft day. Mauricio Dubón, with a straight face, referred to him as “a 60-homer guy.” And through three months, the hulking slugger held his own, finishing June with a .776 OPS and better outfield defense than expected. Then the wheels fell off, with Smith going 38-for-202 in the second half, with just two homers. By mid-September, he was starting only a few games a week.
Getting Smith back on track will be crucial to Houston’s chances in 2026 and beyond. Hopefully, his aggressive assignment last spring didn’t stunt his development, and he starts pulling the ball in the air more often to take advantage of his big power. It’s hard to blame him too much for his rough second half, considering that 2025 was the longest season of his life by a wide margin. We still like Smith — but more as a regular than the perennial All-Star he was being billed as a year ago.
Zach Cole is a very fun, very out-of-nowhere, late bloomer who might get a chance at a regular role if the Astros don’t add an outfielder before Opening Day. A 10th-round pick out of Ball State in 2022, he climbed his way up the minor-league ladder before breaking out with a massive 2025 in which he OPSed .917 and earned himself an MLB call-up. Cole has a long swing and might punch out too much to profile as an every-day dude, but there’s real bat speed and real juice here.
Advertisement
On the mound, Mike Burrows, acquired from Pittsburgh over the winter, and Spencer Arrighetti, who missed a lot of 2025 due to injuries, kept Houston out of the cellar. Both guys project as mid-rotation arms, which is rarer than you’d expect for 26-and-unders.
This farm, unfortunately, is in very dire straits. The Astros were the only organization to not have a single prospect rank in the top 100 of any major prospect publications. That’s hard to do and a chilling reminder that Houston’s farm is squarely bottom-three. Trading away Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito for Burrows was a reasonable use of prospect capital, but the lack of reinforcements in the upper minors is striking. We like Brice Matthews, but it’s hard to see him getting playing time at second base, barring an Altuve injury.
It’s worth noting that the upcoming draft will be absolutely crucial for the Astros. Thanks to Hunter Brown finishing top-three in Cy Young and Framber Valdez leaving in free agency, Houston has four picks in the top 93 and its largest draft bonus pool in years. That presents a rare opportunity to replenish the system, one that Houston’s leadership group must take full advantage of. Otherwise, the next half-decade could be pretty bleak at Daikin Park. — J.M.
26. Philadelphia Phillies (total score: 10/30) | 2025 rank: 30
Young MLB hitters (2/10): INF/OF Otto Kemp, OF Justin Crawford, OF Johan Rojas Young MLB pitchers (2/10): RHP Orion Kerkering, RHP Andrew Painter Prospect hitters (4/5): SS Aidan Miller, OF Gabriel Rincones Jr., 2B Aroon Escobar, 1B Keaton Anthony, OF Dylan Campbell Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Moises Chace, RHP Gage Wood, RHP Jean Cabrera, RHP Alex McFarlane
Advertisement
The 2025 Phillies were, by many measures, the oldest team in MLB. No other club had a lineup and a pitching staff with an average age of 30 or older. This winter, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has received a barrage of criticism for opting to “run it back.” But the 2026 Phillies, for better or worse, should be much younger than the previous model.
That’s mostly due to Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford, a pair of yet-to-debut 22-year-olds projected to make the big-league club out of spring training. Painter has long been considered one of the sport’s top pitching prospects, but two seasons lost to Tommy John and a statistically underwhelming 2025 have lessened his sheen. Still, the Phillies clearly believe in him; the club didn’t replace Ranger Suárez this winter, clearing the way for Painter to earn a rotation spot. They’re hoping a normal offseason will help him rediscover his old arm slot — it dropped over the course of 2025 — and establish himself as a rotation stalwart.
Crawford, the son of longtime big-league outfielder Carl Crawford, is one of the game’s most unique prospects. In the box, he’s a groundball machine, a true danger to both bugs and blades of grass. But this is no slap hitter; Crawford’s exit velocities are genuinely good. It’s just … usually … the ball is earthbound after contact. If he were a no-doubt elite center fielder, his odd offensive profile would be less concerning, but Crawford, despite plus-plus speed, is closer to solid than great out in the grass. He’s going to start in center on Opening Day for the Phillies and will surely take some lumps in his rookie season, but he could develop into an All-Star-level player if he learns how to lift the baseball.
The other big-league youngsters are supplementary types. Orion Kerkering, his unfortunate October yeet for the ages aside, is a dependable, controllable, back-end reliever. OttoKemp will get regular playing time against southpaws and could emerge as a legitimate weak-side platoon option. JohanRojas probably missed his window in Philadelphia; the glovesmith got a chance to play every day for stretches of 2023, ‘24 and ‘25 but never progressed as a hitter.
Advertisement
The last character to focus on is Aidan Miller, a consensus top-15 prospect. His power-speed combo is very rare for a shortstop, even though many evaluators have him pegged as a below-average option at the position. Despite being young for the level, the 21-year-old popped 13 homers and swiped 52 bags in Double-A last year. Miller is an advanced hitter for his age, though his pull-heavy approach — his 50.5% pull rate last year would’ve placed him seventh among qualified MLBers — leaves him susceptible to breaking balls away from him. Still, this is, at worst, a big-league regular who should debut at some point this season and eventually supplant Alec Bohm as the Phillies’ every-day third baseman. — J.M.
MILAN — The worst thing about Amber Glenn’s routine wasn’t the fact she missed an element and torpedoed her score. The worst thing is that the tough part of her routine was already over when she did.
The reigning U.S. champion, Glenn arrived in Milan with hopes of winning an individual gold medal. Just two fateful seconds on the ice in the women’s short program likely destroyed that dream this year, and she knew it the moment it happened.
Advertisement
Glenn had already executed the triple axel, a move so difficult only one other skater on the ice Tuesday achieved it — the night’s leader, Ami Nakai of Japan. The triple axel is a phenomenally difficult jump, one where the skater enters the jump going forward and ends it going backward, actually requiring 3½ turns. Glenn is one of the few female skaters powerful enough to do it, and her score on the element outranked Nakai’s.
A few seconds later, though, Glenn attempted a triple loop, a jump she’s done thousands of times, a jump every skater on Tuesday’s program can perform. But for whatever reason — nerves, the ice, fate — she missed, managing only a double loop. And in the unyielding math of figure skating scoring, she earned no points whatsoever for the attempt.
Under the bleachers, watching on a television, Glenn’s fellow Blade Angel Alysa Liu gasped, knowing instantly what had happened. She watched, silently, as Glenn fought through the final 80 seconds of her short program, a tiny, brutal X scarring the graphic of Glenn’s scores on the screen.
Glenn skates to Madonna’s “Like A Prayer,” an anthem of longing, belonging and belief. She’s honed the routine all season, using it to win the U.S. nationals in St. Louis last month. Madonna herself even recorded a short video to encourage Glenn to ride the song’s vibe to a gold medal. And her choreography was structured to do exactly that.
When “Like a Prayer” kicks from its soaring choral section into its dance-floor percussion, Glenn begins the more performative element of her routine. But on Tuesday night, her eyes were already far away, her smile a frozen mask. She went through the motions of her routine as if on muscle memory, the crispness of her choreography long gone.
Glenn spun to a stop on the Milano-Cortina logo, her right knee on the ice, her arms stretched out beside her. On a better night, it looks like she’s presenting herself to the world; Tuesday, it looked like she was reaching for help.
Advertisement
As the audience all around her cheered and waved flags, as Ilia Malinin and Snoop Dogg tried to rally her from above, the tears began to flow. And by the time she reached the edge of the ice, her shoulders heaved with sadness, all the hopes and dreams and prayers of so many years now lost out there on the ice.
“It’s understandable,” Liu said of Glenn’s devastation. “She’s super strong, so she can handle it.”
Glenn did a brief on-camera interview with NBC, her answers short and her face barely composed. She then walked past a gathering of reporters without speaking, the devastation visible on her face.
Advertisement
“She’s gone through so much and she works so freaking hard, like genuinely,” Liu said, a rueful, sympathetic smile on her face. “I just want her to be happy. That’s genuinely all I want.”
After Klint Kubiak’s Seahawks won it all, he confirmed he’s headed to the Las Vegas Raiders, reportedly on a five-year deal. Kubiak will become the Raiders’ third head coach in three seasons, following Pete Carroll and Antonio Pierce.
Advertisement
Earlier in the cycle, the Arizona Cardinals finalized a deal with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to become their next head coach. LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, will reportedly get a five-year contract with Arizona.
Raheem Morris is also on the move, hired by the San Francisco 49ers as their new defensive coordinator, according to reports. Morris was dismissed as Atlanta Falcons head coach after their 2025-26 season concluded.
Advertisement
Last week, the Browns hired former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their next head coach. Monken emerged as the choice in a process that also centered on Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and former Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
The Titans hired Brian Daboll as their next offensive coordinator. Daboll was fired as Giants head coach midseason after being hired in 2022, and now he’ll get a chance to mold 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward under head coach Robert Saleh’s leadership.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to become their next head coach. McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who resigned at the end of the Steelers’ season. He would become the franchise’s fourth head coach since 1969.
Here’s a rundown of the biggest hirings (and firings) this coaching cycle.
HEAD COACHES HIRED
Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals
Head coaching record: First job, was Rams offensive coordinator from 2023-25
Advertisement
Why he was hired: The Cardinals are turning hard in a different direction after three seasons with defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon as head coach. The Rams led the NFL in total offense with 6,709 yards this season under LaFleur and head coach Sean McVay. L.A. finished first in passing yards and seventh in rushing on its way to the NFC championship game.
A major decision confronting LaFleur from the start is what to do at quarterback. The Cardinals appear ready to move on from Kyler Murray, who played in only five games before suffering a season-ending foot injury. Arizona went on to finish with the 19th-ranked offense in the league.
The Cardinals have the No. 3 overall selection in April’s NFL Draft, but no QB looks worthy of that pick. So the team may have to find a field leader in free agency. (Daniel Jones and Malik Willis are the top QBs available.) Veterans like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Fields and Mac Jones are trade possibilities as well.
Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders
Head coaching record: First job, was Seahawks offensive coordinator for 2025
Advertisement
Why he was hired: The Raiders wanted a coach who could install a more explosive offense after struggling the past two seasons. Las Vegas ranked last in total offense this season (4,168 yards), among the bottom five in passing and last in rushing despite having first-round pick Ashton Jeanty.
Also important was someone who could develop a young quarterback, as Las Vegas will likely select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in April. If necessary, the Raiders will also have Geno Smith as a veteran presence while Mendoza familiarizes himself with Kubiak’s offense and the NFL game.
Kubiak checks off both boxes, overseeing Seattle’s eighth-ranked offense with 5,973 yards and 351.4 yards per game this season. In his first season with the Seahawks, Sam Darnold threw for 4,048 yards, placing fifth among NFL QBs, with 25 touchdowns, leading a Super Bowl run.
Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns
Head coaching record: First job, was Ravens offensive coordinator from 2023-25
Advertisement
Why he was hired: The Browns need someone to fix a broken and talent-deficient offense, and they landed on Monken, who has spent the past few seasons in Baltimore and in college at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win two national championships as offensive coordinator. (He also served as Browns offensive coordinator in 2019.) Will all that experience translate to turning around Cleveland? That remains to be seen, but there’s a big offseason ahead regardless when it comes to improving the roster on that side of the ball.
Monken reportedly will have to find a new defensive coordinator, after Jim Schwartz reportedly told coaches he’s not coming back after being passed over for the head coaching job. The Browns’ defense has been one of the league’s best in two of the past three seasons, so nailing a new hire while Monken focuses on rebooting the offense will be crucial.
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
Head coaching record: First job, was Bills offensive coordinator from 2023-25
Advertisement
Why he was hired: On the surface, it’s a weird move at best to fire head coach Sean McDermott, publicly state that coaching was a problem with the Bills’ roster … then turn around and promote a coach from that staff. To be fair, Brady is a respected offensive mind who’s fairly renowned for his creativity and maximization of talent. To be blunt, he’s also a first-time head coach who doesn’t figure to upset the power structure team owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane clearly have in place.
Buffalo still has Josh Allen, and there’s no doubt Brady has played a key role in developing him into an MVP-level quarterback year in and year out. McDermott’s management of the roster, especially on defense, perhaps went underappreciated during his nine seasons with the Bills, so whomever they hire as defensive coordinator is the next key to watch. But really, the Bills not making a Super Bowl in this era of the franchise has been due to poor luck as much as anything. Maybe Brady is the man to get them over the hump.
Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers
Head coaching record: 174-112-2 regular season, 11-11 playoffs, five seasons with Dallas Cowboys, 13 seasons with Green Bay Packers.
Advertisement
Why he was hired: Sure, it was a while ago, but McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring for a reason — and it happens to be the only one Aaron Rodgers has won in his stellar career. McCarthy re-established his bona fides after his Packers run, leading Dallas to the playoffs in three of his five seasons under Jerry Jones. He sat out the last hiring cycle, seemingly waiting for the perfect job. McCarthy grew up in the Pittsburgh area, so he’s no stranger to the franchise’s lore.
Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
Head coaching record: First job, was Chargers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
Why he was hired: The Ravens may have fired John Harbaugh, but they’re staying within his tree to replace him. Minter spent four seasons as a defensive assistant in Baltimore under Harbaugh from 2017-2020 before joining Harbaugh’s brother Jim as the University of Michigan’s defensive coordinator. After winning a national championship in Ann Arbor, he followed Jim to the Chargers, where he has spent the past two seasons coordinating a defense that’s finished top-10 in DVOA both years, earning leaguewide respect for the unpredictability of his units and his play-calling prowess. Just 42 years old, Minter was considered one of the top candidates on the market, especially among first-time head coaches.
Advertisement
He steps into a situation where the expectations couldn’t be higher. Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, the Ravens have top-end talent as good as anybody’s, and the only thing left for this iteration of the franchise is to reach the Super Bowl and win it. Minter seems to fit the bill of a guy who can do that. Baltimore is notorious for drafting and developing talent and spending little on free agents, so a coach like Minter who maximizes his players seems ideally placed. Plus, Jackson ensures a high floor on offense, so Minter can focus more of his efforts on shoring up a defense that fell short of expectations this past season.
It’s a smart swing — even if a Lombardi Trophy might be the only way the franchise gauges its success.
John Harbaugh, New York Giants
Head coaching record: 180-113 regular season, 13-11 playoffs (including a Super Bowl title), 18 seasons with Baltimore Ravens
Advertisement
Why he was hired: The Giants have had four full-time head coaches and two interims since Tom Coughlin resigned after the 2015 season, and they’re fed up with the turnover. Harbaugh is 63, but he has a lot of juice left and figures to bring stability to a proud franchise that’s fallen on some of the hardest times it’s ever faced. (The Giants’ 59 wins since 2015 are the second-fewest in the NFL, ahead of only the Jets).
There’s talent to develop on the roster between QB Jaxson Dart (who might sync well with Harbaugh’s preferred offensive coordinator, Todd Monken), RB Cam Skattebo, WR Malik Nabers, LT Andrew Thomas, and a defense that includes DT Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. There’s also a general manager in Joe Schoen, as Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson explained, who was apparently willing to cede personnel decision-making to Harbaugh despite the nominal hierarchy inside the franchise. And team owner John Mara, one of the more influential voices in the league, revealed he’s battling an undisclosed form of cancer last September, which likely emboldened the desire for a head coach to come in and command respect immediately.
The Giants have floundered for years, but landing the coach widely viewed as the best on the market brings back instant credibility. Now we’ll see how quickly they can win together.
Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
Head coaching record: 45-56 regular season, 1-2 playoffs, six seasons with Cleveland Browns
Advertisement
Why he was hired: Stefanski was one of the top names on the market, with the NFL at large looking at more than just his wins and losses with the Browns while trying to lift a struggling franchise into playoff contention. Sound familiar, Atlanta? Stefanski’s offensive acumen is a hybrid of multiple schemes and coaching trees, which can help new president of football Matt Ryan sort through the talent the Falcons have on that side of the ball (including Kirk Cousins, whom Stefanski coached in Minnesota). They’re also retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after the Falcons’ defense made big strides this season.
Stefanski as head coach and offensive mastermind, with Ulbrich sticking around to continue building his side of the ball? That’s a solid recipe going forward, even if the answer at quarterback and no first-round pick this spring present significant challenges. If team owner Arthur Blank is finally willing to be patient and let this project play out, Stefanski could end the Falcons’ eight-year playoff drought sooner than expected, especially in a weak NFC South.
Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins
Head coaching record: First job, was Packers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
As for the broader fit? Well, the Dolphins have proven to be a less attractive option among coaching candidates this cycle than previously expected, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported, based largely on the salary cap cleanup required as the team moves on from Tua Tagovailoa. With John Harbaugh off the board, Hafley is the most logical next move, perhaps for both parties. Hafley has head coaching experience at Boston College from 2020-23, he improved Green Bay’s defenses the last two seasons, and Miami would do well to lean on that side of the ball — not to mention star RB De’Von Achane and an improving O-line — while the Dolphins try to sort out the QB situation in what now looks like a multi-season project.
Hafley is considered to be one of the stronger candidates on the market, and the Dolphins didn’t mess around in securing their best possible outcome.
Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans
Head coaching record: 20-36, fired five games into fourth season with New York Jets
Advertisement
Why he was hired: The general consensus around the league is Saleh’s failures with the Jets were largely out of his control, and he’s had good defenses wherever he’s been. He’ll reportedly call defensive plays in Tennessee, so it’ll be interesting to see who the Titans hire on the offensive staff to continue developing Cam Ward, who looked more and more promising as his rookie season went on.
Most of all, however, Saleh figures to help stabilize a Titans franchise that’s on its second general manager and now second head coach (third counting interim) since firing Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season. It’s a little surprising Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t get the job, considering his availability and ties to GM Mike Borgonzi from their time together in Kansas City, but perhaps Nagy is in play for the same position now that Saleh has been tabbed. Either way, Saleh is the kind of firm, even-keeled leader who could go a long way toward halting all the losing in Tennessee.
FIRED
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans (in season) Brian Daboll, New York Giants (in season) Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Advertisement
RESIGNED
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL coaching news live blog
Live coverage is over553 updates
Andy Backstrom
While former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was battling prostate cancer during the 2025 campaign, inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr stepped up to call plays.
He did an admirable job, helping the Patriots finish fourth in the NFL in scoring defense. The unit gave up just 18.8 points per game.
Williams returned to the team cancer-free for the Super Bowl, but he’s since been moved to a high-ranking role on head coach Mike Vrabel’s staff, per ESPN.
That created an opening at DC, and Kuhr was the natural replacement.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss then reported that Vinny DePalma, a defensive assistant who played college football at Boston College from 2018-23, is expected to take on Kuhr’s previous role as inside linebackers coach.
Criss Partee
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to promote Parks Frazier to quarterbacks coach. Frazier has served as the team’s passing game coordinator during the 2025 season. Before joining the Eagles, Frazier had stints with Miami, Carolina, and Indianapolis.
Criss Partee
The San Francisco 49ers are hiring veteran defensive backs coach Jerry Gray in a role that has not yet been disclosed, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Gray has almost 30 years of NFL coaching experience and spent the past three seasons in Atlanta. He also has experience as a defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans. Gray was a first-round pick for the Los Angeles Rams in 1985 and was named to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons with the team. He was also a two-time second-team All-Pro selection while with the Rams.
Criss Partee
The Washington Commanders are still finalizing their coaching staff for 2026, but most positions have been filled:
David Blough takes over as head coach, Dan Quinn’s new offensive coordinator after serving as assistant quarterbacks coach the past two seasons. Washington brings in Daronte Jones from Minnesota as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Larry Izzo will continue as the special teams coordinator.
Ryan Young
The Seattle Seahawks have their replacement for Klint Kubiak. The Seahawks are hiring San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury as their next offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Fleury will take over for Kubiak, who took the Raiders’ head job after helping the team to their Super Bowl win.
Seahawks QB coach Andrew Janocko is following Klint Kubiak to Las Vegas, as Janocko is set to become the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator, per multiple reports.
Tarohn Finley
Tarohn Finley
Tarohn Finley
Tarohn Finley
Ian Casselberry
The Cleveland Browns appear to be zeroing in on a choice for defensive coordinator. The team will conduct an in-person interview with Houston Texans defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin this coming week, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Also reportedly in the mix are in-house candidate Jason Tarver, Cleveland’s linebackers coach since 2020, and Atlanta Falcons pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg, who also interviewed for the Titans’ DC opening.
The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly have their new defensive coordinator. New head coach Klint Kubiak is promoting from within the organization he just joined, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who reported Saturday that the Raiders are expected to give defensive line coach and defensive run-game coordinator Rob Leonard the bump to DC.
Leonard is close with five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby, according to Rapoport, and that’s especially significant, considering Vegas is trying to keep Crosby in the fold for the Kubiak era.
Tarohn Finley
The Los Angeles Chargers are reportedly hiring Western Michigan defensive ends coach and pass rush specialist Sean Spence as their linebackers coach, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Spence worked with new Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary at WMU. Spence also played in the NFL as a linebacker with the Steelers, Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts.
Tarohn Finley
The Las Vegas Raiders will reportedly interview Packers defensive line coach and run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington for their defensive coordinator opening, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Covington was the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots before spending last season with the Packers. The 36-year-old has also spent time coaching at Eastern Illinois, UT Martin, Ole Miss and UAB. He also played wide receiver at Samford.
Ian Casselberry
The Las Vegas Raiders will reportedly interview Seattle Seahawks safeties coach Jeff Howard for their defensive coordinator position, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Jeff Howard has coached safeties with the Seattle Seahawks for the past two seasons under head coach Mike Macdonald. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Howard, 43, has been with the Seahawks since 2024 when Mike Macdonald became head coach. His NFL coaching career began in 2013 with the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive assistant. During his time in Minnesota, he was on the same staff with Klint Kubiak, now the Raiders’ head coach. After their stint in Seattle, they could work together again in Las Vegas.
Following his seven-year run with the Vikings, Howard coached defensive backs with the Cleveland Browns and linebackers for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ian Casselberry
The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly looking toward a division rival to possibly fill their offensive coordinator opening. Seattle is interviewing San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury on Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Brian Fleury has been on the San Francisco 49ers’ coaching staff since 2019. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
Fleury, 46, has been with the 49ers since 2019, beginning as a defensive quality control coach. He moved over to that same position on offense before being promoted to coach tight ends. Last season, Fleury also added run game coordinator to his responsibilities. Prior to his 49ers stint, Fleury coached with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. He interviewed for the New England Patriots’ OC position in 2024.
Tuesday was a marquee day at the Milan Cortina Olympics as the women’s figure skating competition got underway. For USA, that meant the Olympic debut of the “Blade Angels,” USA’s power trio who entered the Games hyped as contenders to sweep the podium.
The results for Team USA were mixed.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, there was thrilling action and a dramatic finish in the men’s freestyle big air final. And Lindsey Vonn is back in the U.S. after undergoing multiple surgeries on her shattered left leg in Italy.
Here are five of the top stories from Milan Cortina on Tuesday:
Alysa Liu went first and delivered a seemingly effortless skate that left her in third place (76.59 points) and in contention for the gold medal in Thursday’s free skate.
Isabeau Levito skated a relatively clean program that left her with some work to do for a shot at the podium with an eighth-place finish (70.84).
But Glenn came up short on a planned triple-loop combination that instead landed as a double. That mistake invalidated the element, costing her seven points and plummeting her down the standings despite an otherwise relatively clean program.
She didn’t fall. But the mistake left her in 13th place (67.39) and a long shot to make the podium when she otherwise would have remained in contention for the gold medal. She left the ice in tears knowing how costly the mistake was to her medal chances.
“I had it,” she said as she received a consoling hug from her coach in the kiss and cry area.
Advertisement
Japan, meanwhile, leaves Tuesday’s short program in possession of the top two spots. Nakai, 17, is in first place (78.71) after a joy-filled skate in her Olympic debut.
Kaori Sakamoto will enter Thursday’s skate in medal position after a second-place finish (77.23).
And their Japanese teammate, Mone Chiba, is a medal contender with a fourth-place finish (74.00) in the short program.
Big drama in big air final
The big air men’s final saw big drama Tuesday before Norway’s Tormod Frostad secured gold, just ahead of U.S. silver medalist Mac Forehand.
Frostad took control of first place early and appeared to be cruising to gold after posting the highest score in each of the first two rounds. In a competition where the two best of three runs count, his combined score of 192.25 from those rounds stood a chance to count for gold.
Advertisement
But Forehand, who entered the final round in second place, was overtaken by Austria’s Matej Svancer in the third round and entered his final jump in bronze medal position. He needed a score of 96.25 to retake silver.
But his gold-medal position was short-lived. Frostad answered the pressure with a 98.50 on the final jump of the day to reclaim the top spot on the podium.
All three medalists stood together in anticipation at the bottom of the hill as they awaited Frostad’s final score. When it landed, they exchanged hugs and congratulations while celebrating a big air final to remember.
Advertisement
Italians taunt USA during gold-silver finish on short track
Host Italy and USA entered Tuesday’s men’s 500-meter team pursuit final as rivals.
Italy won the world championship in 2024. USA won in 2025. The U.S. skaters entered Milan Cortina undefeated in World Cup competition this season and the favorites to win gold.
Andrea Giovannini delivers the night-night celebration alongside his Italian teammates, Michele Malfatti, left, and Davide Ghiotto.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
And with Olympic gold on the line, USA took an early lead in Tuesday’s final and extended it near the mid-point of the eight-lap race. But Italy started closing the gap with five laps remaining. And it chipped away from there before pulling into the lead with two laps to go.
Giovannini, Michele Malfatti and Davide Ghiotto secured gold with a time of 3:39.20, 4.51 seconds ahead of the U.S. team of Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran, who settled for silver.
USA finishes fourth behind German sweep in 2-man bobsled
The U.S. team of Frank Del Duca and Joshua Williamson entered its final run in the two-man bobsled in fourth place after three of four runs. It put down its best run of the competition with a 55.34 to remain in contention with three German sleds remaining.
Advertisement
But the Germans didn’t cede their ground and finished 1-2-3 on the podium. Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer won gold (3:39.70), Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schüller took silver (3:41.04) and Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller secured bronze (3:41.52).
Del Duca and Williamson finished just off the podium in fourth place (3:41.96), 2.26 seconds off the gold-medal pace and .44 seconds off the podium.
The podium sweep was the second straight for Germany after a 1-2-3 finish in Beijing.
Lindsey Vonn’s back home
It remains a tough road for Lindsey Vonn after her horrific injury crash in the alpine downhill. But she’s navigating it from home now.
Advertisement
Vonn announced via social media late Monday that she’s returned to the U.S. from Italy after spending nine days in an Italian hospital and undergoing three surgeries to repair a complex fracture in her left leg.
“Haven’t stood on my feet in over a week… been in a hospital bed immobile since my race,” Vonn wrote. “And although I’m not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing.
“Huge thank you to everyone in Italy for taking good care of me.”
That Vonn remains unable to stand comes as no surprise given her previous updates. She announced on Feb. 11 that she’d undergone her third surgery since the crash and posted an image of herself in a hospital bed with a complex brace on her injured leg.
Two days later, she announced that she would have a fourth surgery on her leg before being cleared to fly home to the U.S. She anticipates needing another surgery now that she’s back in the U.S. and has acknowledged that she has “a long, long way to go” in her recovery.
A snowstorm delayed the start of Tuesday’s big air final. But it didn’t cancel it.
And as the first run started, the snow was still coming down hard. It didn’t appear to slow down any of the competitors, including Forehand, who landed a monster triple cork 2160 that set the tone for his silver-medal performance.
One more thing
Ilia Malinin is not shying away from the Olympics after his devastating free skate knocked him from gold-medal position into eighth place and off the podium in men’s figure skating.
Advertisement
Sporting his gold medal from the team skating competition, the U.S. figure skater joined NBC for an interview and revealed that he’d received messages of support from some of USA’s top athletes.
“I got so much love, so much support,” Malinin said. “Everyone was there for me. Had so many people reach out to me — Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Simone Biles, Snoop.
“I’m honestly just so honored for that. It just made my day honestly.”
Kuhr joined the Patriots in 2025 as inside linebackers coach after previously working under head coach Mike Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans. He was quickly thrust into the role of interim defensive coordinator when defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September.
Zak Khur is New England’s new defensive coordinator.
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The result under Kuhr was a defense that ranked eighth in the regular season in yards allowed and fourth in points allowed as New England secured the AFC East title and the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. New England’s defense dominated in playoff wins over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos before meeting its match in its Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Advertisement
But it was an outstanding run for New England’s defense in Kuhr’s first year leading the unit. And now the job is his. Defensive assistant Vinny DePalma will reportedly take over as inside linebackers coach.
As for Williams, he’s since been declared cancer free and was able to join the Patriots on their trip to the Bay Area for the Super Bowl. Per NFL Network, he’s moving into a high-ranking role on Vrabel’s staff.
We are approaching the final days of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and we already know one of the biggest narratives of the 2030 Games: the redemption of Ilia Malinin.
“Going into that day, I felt really confident, really good. Stepping on the ice, I definitely felt that amazing environment, from in that arena, so much support, so much energy. Going onto the ice, I really had a nice day, excited to get out there.
“Of course, it didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but we can’t look at that now. All I have to do is just learn from my mistakes there and push to see how I can improve in the future.”
As commentator Johnny Weir explained, that seemed to be Malinin saying he could have avoided disaster had he been part of the Olympic team in 2022, when he was 17 years old but still finished second in the U.S. championships. With more Olympic experience, maybe he could have avoided disaster in Italy.
Advertisement
Malinin reinforced that idea when asked about his emotions following his performance, essentially saying the pressure got to him, while also hinting he could take a different approach at the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps:
“Honestly, it’s not a pleasant feeling. The most honest way to say it is it’s just a lot on you, just so many eyes, so much attention. Not only from people, fans, media, it’s just so much. It really can get to you if you’re not ready to fully embrace it. I think that might be one of the mistakes I made going into that free skate was I was not ready to handle that to a full extent.
Looking back at that, I know now I’ll be able to understand how that feels, so that way I can take a different approach leading up to the next Games, hopefully.””
Plenty of skating fans can’t wait to see how he changes that approach. He’ll get his first chance at a bounce back next month, when he goes for a three-peat at the world championships in Prague.
After a 23-0 start to the season, things have gone downhill fast for Arizona.
The Wildcats have lost two straight since that start and fallen from their No. 1 ranking. And on Tuesday they revealed they’ll be without one of their best players for an extended period.
Advertisement
Arizona announced that star freshman Koa Peat has a muscle strain in his lower leg. He’ll be re-evaluated next week without a precise timeline to return.
Koa Peat will miss at least two upcoming games against ranked opponents.
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
A five-star recruit, Peat has been a revelation for Arizona this season as the Wildcats have staked their claim as the nation’s best team. He’s Arizona’s leading scorer behind fellow freshman Braden Burries with averages of 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 54.2% from the field.
He’s been a spark for the Wildcats during their hot start that included wins over No. 3 Florida, No. 3 UConn, No. 12 Alabama, No. 13 BYU, No. 15 UCLA and No. 20 Auburn.
Advertisement
Peat sustained the injury during Saturday’s loss to No. 16 Texas Tech, Arizona’s second straight setback following defeat to No. 9 Kansas on Feb. 9. Peat missed the entire second half and overtime of the 78-75 loss.
Now he faces an extended absence as Arizona approaches the stretch run of its season with four games against ranked opponents in its next five. Per the timeline provided by Arizona, Peat will miss upcoming games against No. 23 BYU (Wednesday) and No. 2 Houston (Saturday). His status beyond that is unclear with games against No. 8 Kansas and No. 6 Iowa State remaining on Arizona’s regular-season schedule.
The MLBPA is losing its leader months before the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is set to expire. MLBPA executive director Tony Clark has resigned from his position, the union announced Tuesday.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Clark resigned on the heels of an internal investigation, which revealed an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who worked for the union beginning in 2023. At an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon, union leadership did not vote on an interim executive director, according to Passan. That vote is expected to happen on Wednesday.
Advertisement
Clark, 53, and the MLBPA were expected to start touring spring training facilities Tuesday. Their first stop — at Cleveland Guardians camp — was reportedly canceled, per The Athletic.
The reported news comes just months before the current CBA is set to expire on Dec. 1. The union and MLB owners are expected to engage in a furious labor battle ahead of the new CBA, which many expect could lead to a lockout ahead of the 2027 MLB season. There is speculation the owners will push hard for a salary cap, something the players have opposed for years.
Clark has played a major role in helping negotiate previous CBAs for the players. He reportedly took an active part in negotiations as a player before being hired by the MLBPA in 2010. He was initially a director of player relations before being hired as the union’s executive director in 2013. He oversaw negotiations ahead of the 2016 CBA and the contentious 2022 lockout, which resulted in Opening Day being postponed by a week as negotiations extended into March.
Deputy executive director Bruce Meyer also played a big role in the 2022 CBA negotiations. While Meyer is the most likely candidate to replace Clark as the MLBPA’s executive director, that’s not a guarantee. Players reportedly took issue with Meyer as recently as 2024, asking for him to be fired, per ESPN. The players who opposed Meyer reportedly wanted to put lawyer Harry Marino, who played an instrumental role in helping minor-league baseball players unionize ahead of the 2023 season, into the deputy role. Marino left the MLBPA in 2023, months after negotiating the first CBA for minor-league players.
Advertisement
Despite the 2024 incident, Meyer is considered the most likely person to take over following Clark’s reported retirement, per ESPN.
Prior to working with the MLBPA, Clark had a 15-year career in the majors. A first baseman, he put up a career slash line of .262/.339/.485 with 251 home runs. He spent time with six MLB teams, with the majority of his playing career split between the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Clark’s resignation also comes amid a federal investigation into whether MLBPA officials used “licensing money or equity to improperly enrich themselves,” per The Athletic.
Advertisement
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien, who is part of the MLBPA subcommittee, said Tuesday that he was unsure whether Meyer would continue as the organization’s lead negotiator.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Brent Suter — another member of the MLBPA subcommittee — added that the MLBPA will likely go with an interim leader ahead of the upcoming negotiations, per The Athletic. Suter said the organization wants to keep things stable with the CBA expiring in a few months. He added that he has a sense of who will be chosen as the interim leader of the MLBPA but did not name a specific person.
