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.
With NFL offseason and 2026 NFL Draft chatter ramping up, it’s time to start discussing which wide receiver prospects have the most appeal for fantasy football. Ohio State WR Carnell Tate figures to be in that group and is expected go in the first round of the draft in April. Matt Harmon was joined by Nate Tice to discuss Tate’s NFL player comps and outlook on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.
The two analysts start by rattling off plenty of lofty player comparisons for Tate, who just wrapped up his junior season for the Buckeyes. It’s easy to point to other former Ohio State wide receivers who have found success in the NFL and Chris Olave is the first name that came to mind when looking at Tate.
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Other names that have been thrown around include George Pickens, Calvin Ridley and DeVonta Smith. Pretty good company. Harmon points out that if you’re getting all these great comps, you’re probably good at a bunch of different things. But while Tate has plenty of appeal as an NFL receiver, is he a true No. 1 at the next level?
Tice doesn’t really see it that way. He views Tate as more of a high-end No. 2 wide receiver. Tate is very good against zone because of his catch range and his QB, Julian Sayin, didn’t do him any favors in 2025. Tice still views Tate as “friendly” to him as a prospect and thinks the wideout will go in the first round.
Harmon really likes Tate as a perimeter receiver and would like to see him land with the New Orleans Saints alongside Olave and QB Tyler Shough, with Kellen Moore calling plays. Tate is a guy Harmon would comfortably take in the top-10 in the draft.
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Tate was solid in his junior season at Ohio State despite the Buckeyes losing in the College Football Playoff. He finished with 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, operating as the No. 2 option behind fellow wideout Jeremiah Smith.
You know the old line about sports, and about life — it’s not how many times you fall, it’s how many times you get back up. Lindsey Vonn has fallen more times than most — that tends to happen when your career involves hurtling headlong down ski slopes at 85 miles an hour — and she’s gotten up more times than almost anyone ever has, too.
Vonn, on the eve of her fifth Olympics, announced Tuesday that she had ruptured her ACL in a crash one week before the Milano Cortina Opening Ceremony. With one agonizing, heartbreaking wreck on a Swiss ski slope, all of Vonn’s work to get back to this point — a knee replacement, lengthy rehab, retirement, then un-retirement followed by race after race to qualify for these Olympic Games — seemed to evaporate.
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Just a few minutes before 4 p.m. Milan time Tuesday, Vonn sat down before a podium and began by revealing the extent of the extensive damage to her left knee. No one would have blamed her had she declared her magical Olympic run over.
But this is Lindsey Vonn we’re talking about, one of the toughest, most determined, most relentless athletes America has ever produced. Vonn metaphorically tightened her straps and clicked back into her skis.
“This is not, obviously, what I had hoped for,” Vonn said. “I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try.”
Damn right. That is the true Olympic spirit.
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For all the Olympics’ many sins — corruption, petty nationalism, doping controversies, political gamesmanship, endless grifting — there’s a deeper truth that surges above them all. The Olympics showcases the very best athletes in the world, and the finest elements of the human spirit, as well.
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to the hospital after sustaining an injury following a crash on Jan. 30. (REUTERS)
(REUTERS / Reuters)
Consider, for a second, what Vonn endured these last eight years since winning a bronze in the Pyeongchang Games. She had to come to terms with the end of her career, which many athletes describe in terms of grief and mourning. She suffered pain even on routine hikes. She underwent partial knee replacement surgery. She found hope in her newly healthy knee. She began the long climb back upward to the pinnacle of her sport, and — against all odds, in defiance of the calendar — she made it, winning races and earning her way back onto the Olympic team. She saw all her dreams laid before her … and suddenly, they all crashed down around her.
Even now, with waning hopes of winning, with her chances of even finishing a run at speed in doubt, she’s determined to challenge one more mountain, to end her Olympic dreams on her terms. That’s as impressive and inspiring as it gets.
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“Maybe I can’t do this with no ACL, but I still believe in myself, and that makes me smile. That makes me confident. That makes me happy,” Vonn said. “No matter what, I’m going to try my best, so what is there to be sad about? I’m still able to be here. I’m still skiing. I’m still living the dream at 41. And that makes me happy that I have that chance.”
Vonn knows that every Olympian faces so many opponents. There are the other competitors, of course, but then there are other nations. There’s history looming out there, an Olympic legacy waiting to be written. There’s the battle with one’s own self, the doubts and the fears that hound every Olympian. And then, of course, there’s the clock, the inexorable march of time that ends Olympic careers earlier than any Olympian would want.
Vonn has triumphed over all of these. She has nothing left to prove, no reason to go back up that hill other than the fact that she simply couldn’t imagine doing anything else. That’s how you go from being a darling of NBC’s Winter Olympic promos to a legitimate national hero, by embodying the best of what we all strive to be.
“This whole comeback has really just been about always believing in yourself. It doesn’t matter how old or how young you are. If you believe and you work hard, anything is possible,” Vonn said. “A lot of times, people’s minds are closed. They don’t see what’s possible because they don’t look. I’ve always had my head up and my eyes open and my heart open for any opportunity that lies in front of me. And I hope that everyone realizes that they can do it too.”
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Vonn will continue to test her knee before the downhill competition begins on Sunday. Regardless of how she feels leading up to then, regardless of what happens on the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo, she plans on being in that starting gate. She’ll push off. She’ll fire down the mountain for one more Olympic run.
She’ll have the eyes of the world on her, and the hearts of the world behind her. Who could ask for anything more?
The NFL’s Pro Bowl is being played Tuesday night in San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl LX this weekend.
But why?
Yahoo Sports first reported on the move in New York at the fall owners meetings. Here’s a guide to what you need to know about the game.
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When and where is the Pro Bowl?
8 p.m. ET Tuesday, at Moscone Center in San Francisco
How can I watch the Pro Bowl?
It will be televised on ESPN.
What is the Pro Bowl format?
Flag football, 50-yard playing field, two 10-yard end zones, touchdowns worth 6 points, with teams allowed to try for 1 point after from the 5-yard line or 2 points after from the 10
Who is playing in the Pro Bowl, and why are some stars skipping it?
Shedeur Sanders, Joe Burrow and other big names. Fans voted on the initial rosters, but for various reasons several high-profile replacements have been selected.
Sanders was selected as a replacement for Drake Maye, who will lead the Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Seahawks. Burrow is replacing injured Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Joe Flacco, the AFC’s third QB, is also replacing an injured Justin Herbert of the Chargers.
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The NFC quarterbacks include Detroit’s Jared Goff, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and Dallas’ Dak Prescott. Here are the full Pro Bowl rosters for the NFC and AFC.
The coaches are two 49ers legends, with Steve Young coaching the AFC and Jerry Rice leading the NFC.
The answers to these questions are intertwined, so we’ll lump them together. The format of the Pro Bowl shifted to include flag football and skills competitions starting with the 2023 event, in response to feedback from coaches, players and others involved. This was in part to minimize the risk of injury and to refresh an event that had become stagnant overall.
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The focus has now moved toward the flag football element with the Olympics in mind. As reported by Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein this past fall at the annual league meetings in New York, the NFL is committed to spotlighting flag football on a global stage ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, when the sport will be introduced into competition for the first time and NFL players will have opportunities to participate.
“We’re committed to this flag football format,” NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly said in the fall. “This is clearly rooted in our commitment to flag and making sure we’re honoring players in the right way. There’s a broader strategic play here, and that’s one of the main reasons we brought it into Super Bowl week.”
Why are they playing the Pro Bowl in a convention center?
NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly addressed this too in the fall. He acknowledged the Moscone Center’s capacity will be smaller than recent Pro Bowl venues, but the game will nonetheless be ticketed. It’s a necessary evil, if you will, of the Pro Bowl being spotlighted during Super Week.
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What is the future of the Pro Bowl?
Per Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein, expect this flag football-in-the-Super-Bowl-host-city format to continue to the Super Bowl’s 2027 stage in Los Angeles, which will also host the Olympics in 2028.
There could be, however, a growing issue with player participation. New York Jets QB Justin Fields reportedly declined to participate this year to focus on his offseason training, and that might become a more common thing as there isn’t a ton of upside to taking part.
Players on the winning team will reportedly get $96,000 each, while players on the losing team will reportedly receive $48,000 each. That’s a great chunk of change to you and me and a lot of NFL players who line the middle and back ends of rosters — but not to the stars people will pay and watch to see.
Still, there figures to be enough participation from players and backing from the NFL to continue through the target year of the 2028 Olympics. After that, who knows.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, San Antonio Spurs wing Carter Bryant and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren accepted invitations to compete in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The contest will take place Feb. 14 during All-Star Weekend.
Hayes, 25, is averaging 6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 77.3% from the field in his seventh NBA season. He has spent the last three years with the Lakers after beginning his career with the New Orleans Pelicans. Hayes and Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton have frequently been on the receiving end of lob dunks created by passes from Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
Hayes’ most recent highlight-reel dunk came on a fast break against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. After getting a steal, Hayes finished with an Eastbay dunk.
Following the game, Lakers guard Jake LaRavia told reporters he wasn’t sure Hayes got high enough for the between-the-legs finish.
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“He didn’t get that high,” LaRavia said. “The only player that does it in the league is Obi Toppin.”
While Dončić did not question Hayes’ dunk, he noted that he was only 13 years old when he first completed the move himself.
Bryant, 20, is averaging 2.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per game during his rookie season. He posted a career-high 11 points, two blocks and a steal on 4-of-5 shooting in the Spurs’ Jan. 19 win over the Utah Jazz.
Bryant was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona. Bryant participated in the 2024 Powerade Jam Fest before the McDonald’s All American Game.
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Duren was selected as an All-Star Game reserve, averaging 18 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the 36-12 Pistons this year.
Curling, that sport that features teams of four gliding polished granite stones across a sheet of ice, has been an official sport at the Olympics since 1998, and it’s back at the 2026 Winter Games. This year’s curling competition begins ahead of the Opening Ceremony, with the first events taking place on Feb. 4, and running all the way through the final day of the Olympics on Feb. 22. The action will be split into three competitions, men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.
Here’s a complete schedule of all Team USA Curling events at this year’s games, along with a rundown of who is competing. While every event will stream on Peacock, you can also find most on USA and CNBC, too. (To see specific air times, check out the official NBC Olympics broadcast schedule, and toggle your search to “TV Only.”) If you can’t tune into every individual match, CNBC will also broadcast a Best of Curling show airing most days of the competition at 5 p.m. ET on CNBC. A rundown of how to watch Team USA at the Winter Games is below.
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And if you want to learn even more about every event at this year’s Winter Games, here’s a guide to everything you need to know about the Milan-Cortina Games.
For $17 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.
Where to watch Curling on TV:
Team USA men’s and women’s curling coverage will be split between CNBC and USA, and the women’s final will also air on NBC. (To see specific air times, check out the official NBC Olympics broadcast schedule, and toggle your search to “TV Only.”) You can stream all of these channels on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV and more.
For $17 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.
Who is on the Team USA Curling team?
These are the athletes on Team USA’s curling team:
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2026 Team USA Olympic Curling Schedule:
Thursday, February 5
Norway vs. USA (Mixed Doubles Round Robin): 4:05 a.m. (Peacock), re-air at 5 p.m. (CNBC)
Switzerland vs. USA (Mixed Doubles Round Robin): 8:35 a.m. (USA, Peacock), re-air at 6:30 p.m. (CNBC)
Best of Curling: 5 p.m. (CNBC)
Friday, February 6
USA vs. Canada (Mixed Doubles Round Robin): 4:05 a.m. (Peacock)
Czechia vs. USA (Mixed Doubles Round Robin): 8:35 a.m. (Peacock, USA)
Saturday, February 7
Great Britain vs. USA (Mixed Doubles Round Robin): 8:35 a.m. (Peacock), re-air at 9:30 a.m. (USA)
South Korea vs. USA: 1:05 p.m. (Peacock), re-air at 7 p.m. (CNBC)
Lindsey Vonn has a torn ACL. Lindsey Vonn is still going to compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Those two sentences seem at odds with each other, but they are both true.
Given the severity and nature of the injury, Vonn’s desire to try and compete on a shredded knee feels like it shouldn’t be possible. A torn ACL typically results in about a year of rehab, and that’s if both surgery and recovery go well. Some athletes have missed even more time trying to return from one of sport’s most devastating injuries.
But a select few have actually pushed through the pain and competed despite torn ACLs. Those athletes typically don’t last long before they need to undergo surgery, but what Vonn is attempting has been done in the past.
Here is a list of players who have managed to keep playing through a torn ACL:
NFL
Garrison Hearst, Arizona Cardinals, 1993
It’s unclear whether Garrison Hearst played on a torn ACL in college. The injury was discovered during the 1993 NFL scouting combine, though Hearst claimed he had not experienced knee pain during his time at Georgia. Hearst opted to not immediately undergo surgery, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick that year. Hearst then reportedly sustained another injury to the same knee during his rookie season in the NFL and underwent surgery after just six games. The exact nature of that surgery is not known, but Hearst may have played a few games in the NFL with a torn ACL.
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Philip Rivers, San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers quarterback, 2008
Former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers’ toughness is not in question. The long-time vet — who improbably returned to the NFL in 2025 — is tied for third with 243 consecutive starts in the NFL. While this particular instance didn’t count toward that streak, it proves his willingness to gut out injuries. In 2008, Rivers played the AFC championship game six days after tearing his ACL and meniscus in his right knee. The Chargers lost the contest 21-12. Rivers finished the game 19 for 37, with 211 passing yards and two interceptions.
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, 2017
In the midst of a possible MVP season, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz sustained a torn ACL. The injury occurred during the team’s Week 14 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Wentz injured his knee during a third-quarter touchdown run that was called back due to a penalty. He attempted two more passes on the drive, completing a 2-yard touchdown to Alshon Jeffery to finish the drive. Wentz, however, was replaced by Nick Foles the next time the Eagles’ offense took the field. Wentz then underwent season-ending surgery, missing the rest of the regular season and playoffs.
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NHL
Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks center, 2017
With the San Jose Sharks tied 1-1 with the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2017 playoffs, Joe Thornton returned from a torn ACL and MCL to play in the final four games of the series. He managed two assists over those four games, though couldn’t lead the Sharks to a win in the series. After the extent of Thornton’s injuries were revealed, then-Sharks coach Peter DeBoer called it “as courageous an effort … as I’ve ever seen.”
Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders forward, 2025
With the Islanders trailing the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 in a November game, forward Kyle Palmieri took an ugly hit into the boards, tearing his ACL. Play wasn’t stopped, however, as Palmieri somehow got up and gingerly made his way back to the team’s bench. On the way there, he stole the puck from Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae. Palmieri then passed it to Jonathan Drouin, who passed it to Emil Heineman, who scored the first goal of the game for the Islanders. Palmieri was credited with an assist as he left the ice to go get his knee examined.
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NBA
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics guard, 2013
During a January game against the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo tore his ACL … and stayed in the game for 12 more minutes. While it’s unclear exactly when Rondo sustained the injury, it’s believed it happened during a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter. Rondo remained in the contest after that and even intended to play in the team’s next game before team doctors examined his knee 24 minutes before tip-off. Rondo originally believed he was dealing with a hamstring issue, and had intended to continue playing through what was actually a torn ACL.
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors guard, 2019
During Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson tore his ACL on a foul late in the third quarter. Thompson initially started to leave the game, but returned to the court to shoot his free throws. Thompson knew he wouldn’t be allowed to return to the game had another player taken those shots, so he took them himself. Thompson made both shots before leaving the contest. He was unable to return to the contest, which the Warriors lost.
Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open while playing on a ruptured ACL. (Photo by Stephen Osman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Stephen Osman via Getty Images)
Golf
Tiger Woods, 2007
At some point in 2007, Tiger Woods ruptured his ACL while running at home. Instead of immediately having surgery, Woods opted to play through the injury. He won five of his next six events, including the 2008 U.S. Open, before eventually having his ACL repaired in 2008.
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NCAA
Robert Griffin III, Baylor quarterback, 2009
During a 68-13 win over Northwestern State, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III threw three touchdowns in the first half after sustaining a torn ACL in the victory. Griffin, who was injured on the team’s first drive, remained in the contest until halftime, believing he had hyperextended his knee. An MRI later revealed he tore his ACL. Griffin missed the rest of the season due to the injury.
MJ Metz, Duke designated hitter, 2023
During the regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament, Duke graduate transfer MJ Metz played four games on a torn ACL. He performed incredibly well, going 8-for-18 with four home runs and eight RBI despite the injury. Metz served as the team’s designated hitter and played with a brace to stabilize his knee. He appeared in three more games in the super regional round, going 4-for-11 to finish out the year.
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Kurtis Rourke, Indiana quarterback, 2024
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke played his final NCAA season with a torn ACL, his agent revealed last January. Rourke managed 29 touchdowns against five interceptions with Indiana, leading the team to an 11-2 record. He underwent surgery to repair the injury last January and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the NFL Draft that April. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve.
Athletes who played without ACLs
While it’s not exactly the same, there have been cases of some athletes having successful professional careers despite not having ACLs. Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Hines Ward has openly talked about that phenomenon, saying he found out he didn’t have an ACL ahead of the 1998 NFL Draft.
He’s not the only NFL player with that story. Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears has played three seasons in the NFL without an ACL in one of his knees.
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In the NBA, former San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair played seven seasons in the league despite not having either of his ACLs. Blair reportedly had two surgeries in high school that eventually resulted in him no longer having ACLs in his knees.
UFC and WWE star Ronda Rousey said in October that she does not have an ACL in her right knee. She said she first discovered she had no ACL in her right knee after undergoing an MRI at age 16. She went on to win a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympics and became one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history.
Led by a second-year quarterback and a remodeled defense, the New England Patriots went from worst to first in the AFC East. Now they’re up against an NFC West power, a Super Bowl favorite that’s equipped with a league-leading unit that oozes with greatness.
The Patriots have been here before. Back in the 2001 season, when their two-decade dynasty started, with Tom Brady at QB and Bill Belichick as head coach in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams.
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So just how similar is this year’s Patriots team to the one that helped redefine the franchise? More than you might think. Let’s have some fun.
Quarterback: Tom Brady vs. Drake Maye
Although Brady and Drake Maye both piloted the Patriots to the Super Bowl in Year 2, their journeys to that point were wildly different. New England selected a dual-threat Maye with the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2024, whereas a conventionally unathletic Brady famously fell to pick No. 199 in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady completed one pass as a rookie while backing up Drew Bledsoe. Maye, on the other hand, was thrust into the Patriots’ QB1 role about a month into his inaugural season in the league.
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It wasn’t until Week 2 of the 2001 season that Brady got his shot. He took over late in the fourth quarter after Bledsoe got rocked by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Brady made the Pro Bowl that season, throwing for at least three touchdowns without a pick in three different outings and engineering game-winning drives in three others. His 2001 numbers paled in comparison to the ones Maye stacked during the 2025 campaign, though. Benefiting from a franchise reset, Maye established himself as an NFL MVP candidate, tossing 31 touchdowns and completing a league-high 72% of his attempts.
QB verdict: Very different
Brady’s ascent from sixth-round backup to Super Bowl champion during the 2001 season remains one of the best, and most unlikely, stories in sports history. Maye’s second-year success is significant; however, he was a one-time Alabama commit and a top-10 Heisman Trophy vote-getter at UNC before going top-three in the draft as a high-upside prospect. No QB’s stardom is guaranteed in the NFL, but Maye’s was far more predictable than Brady’s.
The 2001 season marked the second year of Bill Belichick’s head-coaching tenure in New England, and his sixth season leading an NFL team, having also coached the Cleveland Browns. Belichick’s Patriots went 5-11 in 2000. They dropped to 0-2 in 2001 after falling to a Jets franchise he was supposed to coach but instead resigned from around 20 months earlier. Ultimately, Brady saved the day at quarterback, and Belichick’s defense gelled.
Mike Vrabel helped the latter come to fruition. A former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, he was one of several new faces in New England that year. Now he’s coaching the franchise with whom he won three Super Bowls during the first half of the Patriots’ reign. While Belichick reportedly worried about his job security at the beginning of the 2001 season, Vrabel entered the 2025 campaign with immense head-coaching credibility. He had already coached the Tennessee Titans to four winning seasons and an AFC championship game appearance. A stark contrast from an upbeat Pete Carroll, Belichick was demanding on the field and brooding in front of the media as he installed the “Patriot Way.” This season, Vrabel has struck a balance: He’s authoritative yet personable as a defensive-minded CEO head coach.
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Coach verdict: Different
Vrabel authored a remarkable turnaround in 2025 that rivals Belichick’s in 2001, except with a more emotive disposition and in his first year on the job. Even though Belichick and Vrabel are both detail-oriented coaches who revamped New England’s defense, their varying head-coaching résumés prior to these Super Bowl seasons and leadership nuances justify the distinction.
How similar are the 2001 Patriots and this season’s squad? Up to this point, more than you might think. (Jonathan Castro/Yahoo Sports)
Team building: 2001 Patriots vs. 2025 Patriots
The Patriots’ preseason over/under win total was 6.5 in 2001. At the time, they were three years removed from their last postseason appearance and five years removed from reaching their last Super Bowl.
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In 2025, New England’s over/under was 8.5. It had been four years since the Patriots had last made the playoffs and seven years since their most recent Super Bowl appearance. Both teams were coming off back-to-back last-place finishes in the AFC East.
In each instance, New England’s jump in performance was preceded by seismic roster turnover. Ahead of the 2001 campaign, the Patriots set a franchise record for offseason moves. Coming into the 2025 season, they spent heavily in free agency and returned just 48.4% of players from the previous season, the lowest retention rate of any NFL team this time around, according to Over the Cap.
Team building verdict: Very similar
Major resets were necessary for a pair of Patriots squads looking to ditch the stench of losing. Just like the 2001 Patriots, the 2025 Patriots had a second-year quarterback (Brady/Maye), a rookie left tackle (Matt Light/Will Campbell), a veteran wideout leading the team in receiving (Troy Brown/Stefon Diggs), a hard-nosed linebacker who played for the Steelers early in his career (Vrabel/Robert Spillane) and a Pro Bowl cornerback (Ty Law/Christian Gonzalez).
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They leaped from 17th to sixth in scoring defense from 2000 to 2001, and then from 22nd to fourth in that same category from 2024 to 2025. Those units were paramount in the teams’ postseason surges, never allowing more than 17 points.
Oh, and New England navigated a blizzard both times. But this year’s AFC championship didn’t have the controversy the “Tuck Rule” fueled during the divisional round 24 years ago.
Super Bowl opponent: 2001 Rams vs. 2025 Seahawks
The 2001 Patriots found themselves matched up with “The Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams, one of the most potent offenses in NFL history. Quarterbacked by two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner, the high-flying Rams ranked first in points per game (31.4), yards per play (6.6) and third-down conversion rate (50%). Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce starred at receiver. Marshall Faulk ran routes like them, but he doubled as an explosive running back.
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The 2025 Patriots are dealing with a comparable threat on the other side of the ball. The Seattle Seahawks’ defense gave up the fewest points per game (17.2), second-fewest yards per play (4.6) and the lowest third-down conversion rate (32.1%) of any NFL team this season. “The Dark Side” is giving last decade’s “Legion of Boom” a run for its money as one of the more terrifying defenses in recent memory. Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Murphy II headline a suffocating front that affords Seattle the option to stay in two-high safety looks.
Verdict: Fairly similar
The 2001 Rams actually ranked seventh in scoring defense, and the 2025 Seahawks are third in scoring offense with the NFL’s leading receiver. These Super Bowl teams aren’t one-trick ponies, but they’re best known for their dominance on offense (Rams) and defense (Seahawks).
Expectations: 2001 Patriots vs. 2025 Patriots
The Patriots were 14-point underdogs against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI in February 2002. They’re currently just 4.5-point underdogs versus the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. After all, before the season started, the Seahawks were also a long shot to win the big game. That said, critics have discounted this season’s Patriots and their weak regular-season schedule for months.
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Verdict: Similar
Brady didn’t put up earth-shattering playoff stats as a burgeoning quarterback in his second season. Maye hasn’t, either. They both dealt with the elements, and even injury. Remember, Brady left the 2001 season AFC title game in Pittsburgh with an ankle issue. The Super Bowl wouldn’t be in the cards for this season’s Patriots without their defense. The same was true for them back then. Will a feel-good New England team, and especially its young QB, have enough against an NFC West titan? Doubt is plentiful, as was the case before. Maybe the Patriots will like it that way.
LIV Golf is finally getting Official World Golf Ranking points this season.
The OWGR announced on Tuesday that it has granted world ranking points to LIV Golf events for the 2026 season, something the Saudi Arabian-backed league has been fighting for since its inception.
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However, only the top 10 finishers in LIV Golf individual stroke play events will actually receive points. LIV Golf events will be based on the OWGR’s “small field tournaments” classification. Players who finish outside of the top 10 will not receive any points.
“This has been an incredibly complex and challenging process and one which we have devoted a huge amount of time and energy to resolving in the seven months since LIV Golf submitted their application,” OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman said in a statement. “We fully recognised the need to rank the top men’s players in the world but at the same time had to find a way of doing so that was equitable to the thousands of other players competing on other tours that operate with established meritocratic pathways.
“We believe we have found a solution that achieves these twin aims and enables the best-performing players at LIV Golf events to receive OWGR points. I would like to acknowledge the substantial and constructive efforts made by Scott O’Neil and the team at LIV Golf. We look forward to working with them on implementing this approach with immediate effect for the 2026 LIV Golf season.”
By comparison, all players who make the cut in a PGA Tour event receive OWGR points. Justin Rose, for example, earned just shy of 57 points for his win at the Farmers Insurance Open last week. That jumped him to No. 3 in the world, behind only Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Kensei Hirata, who finished 74th and was last among those who made it to the weekend, still earned 0.54685 points.
The OWGR released a projected breakdown for LIV Golf’s season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The winner will receive just more than 23 points, while the 10th place finisher will earn about 2.76 points. LIV Golf events will earn about the same as opposite-field Tour events — like the Puerto Rico Open, which is played the same week as the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“We respect today’s decision by the Official World Golf Ranking governing board and the considerable time the board and chairman Immelman committed to the process,” the Tour said in a brief statement.
The lack of OWGR points has hurt LIV Golf significantly since it first launched in 2022, and it has failed to get them in recent years both due to its 54-hole format, its closed-field format, the lack of a traditional cut and more. Those points are a major metric that tournaments, including the four major championships, use to build out their fields. The Masters, for example, invites the top 50 in the OWGR into its field at Augusta National if they haven’t qualified already some other way.
Since LIV Golf members haven’t been earning points and have been plummeting in the world rankings, many have struggled to qualify for non-LIV Golf events. Former No. 1 Dustin Johnson, for example, is currently No. 662 in the world rankings. Brooks Koepka, who returned to the Tour last week under the new “Returning Members Program,” is ranked No. 252. Even Bryson DeChambeau, who has arguably faired the best at the majors since joining LIV Golf, is at No. 33.
“We acknowledge this long‑overdue moment of recognition, which affirms the fundamental principle that performance on the course should matter, regardless of where the competition takes place,” LIV Golf said in a statement. “However, this outcome is unprecedented. Under these rules, a player finishing 11th in a LIV Golf event is treated the same as a player finishing 57th. Limiting points to only the top 10 finishers disproportionately harms players who consistently perform at a high level but finish just outside that threshold, as well as emerging talent working to establish themselves on the world stage—precisely the players a fair and meritocratic ranking system is designed to recognize.
“No other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subjected to such a restriction. We expect this is merely a first step toward a structure that fully and fairly serves the players, the fans, and the future of the sport. We entered this process in good faith and will continue to advocate for a ranking system that reflects performance over affiliation. The game deserves transparency. The fans deserve credibility. And the players deserve a system that treats them equally.”
While the arrival of OWGR points gives LIV Golf more legitimacy as it enters its fifth season, the minimal points the league is being offered is going to make it difficult for the best golfers to climb back into contention with the rest of the sport.
The High Score 100 — the top 100 players in Yahoo’s newest fantasy basketball format — is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production. Each weekly update captures who’s actually delivering value and who’s fading.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest risers and fallers through the 15th week of fantasy basketball — with the complete High Score 100 at the bottom of the article. I’ll be updating my rankings every Tuesday throughout the fantasy basketball season.
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📈 Risers — 3 players shooting up ranks, but will the deadline spoil things?
Player
Team
Previous Rank
Current Rank
Rank Change
Andrew Nembhard
IND
71
57
+14
Bam Adebayo
MIA
66
54
+12
Paolo Banchero
ORL
37
29
+8
Andrew Nembhard — G, Indiana Pacers: 57th overall (⬆️ 14)
Nembhard enters February playing his best ball of the season. He averaged 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field. He’s been a top-60 player in High Score all year. Lately though, he’s been even better, ranking 30th over the past month, posting 43 fantasy points per game. The Pacers could be sellers at the deadline, but Nembhard has established himself as a key part of Indy’s future.
I have some concerns about him being load-managed as the season progresses, but it’s probably more likely to occur with 31-year-old Pascal Siakam. Still, Nembhard has been a reliable and consistent point guard all season and fantasy managers can expect him to be a steady top-50, top-60ish player across formats.
I was hard on Bam a few weeks ago. He landed on my fallers list in Weeks 12 and 13, but he’s finally turning things around. Adebayo is riding a streak of eight straight games with 20+ points, recording a double-double in five of those games. He’s been a top-25 asset in High Score over the past two weeks, averaging 45 fantasy points per game.
With Miami dealing with so many backcourt injuries, Bam has been more aggressive offensively. He’s scoring more because he’s putting up at least four more shots per game in his last 10 outings, while also racking up more steals and assists than in previous months.
I expect Bam to continue powering the Heat, but who knows what could happen if Miami becomes a serious contender in the Giannis sweepstakes.
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Paolo Banchero — FC, Orlando Magic: 29th overall (⬆️ 8)
Feels like no one is appreciating what Banchero has been doing lately. It’s probably because the Magic are underachieving, but fantasy-wise, Banchero’s been in beast mode. In his past six contests, Banchero’s averaging 26 points, 9 boards and 4 dimes, totaling 47 fantasy points per game.
He’s been very efficient by his standards, shooting 51% from the field, 50% from 3 and 77% from the line. That efficiency helped him climb to 21st in High Score over that span. He’s been getting to the line at will, getting up at least 10 free throw attempts in five straight games. A top-30 finish is well within reach if the Magic stay quiet at the deadline.
📉 Fallers — Bye-bye, Paul George
Player
Team
Previous Rank
Current Rank
Rank Change
Paul George
PHI
86
Unranked
-14
Norman Powell
MIA
54
63
-9
Ivica Zubac
LAC
84
90
-6
Paul George — FC, Philadelphia 76ers: Unranked (⬇️ 14)
PG’s off the board entirely. The NBA handed him a 25-game suspension on Jan. 31 for violating the anti-drug policy, and he won’t be eligible to return until late March — when Philly has just 10 games left in the regular season.
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No production, no ranking. Simple as that. Even when George comes back, there’s not enough runway to crack back into the High Score 100. Fantasy managers who were holding should cut bait and stream that roster spot. The season’s essentially over for him.
Norman Powell — G/FC, Miami Heat: 63rd overall (⬇️ 9)
I like Norm, but he’s been struggling. He hasn’t had a 40-fantasy point game since Jan. 17 and in his last six games, he’s averaging less than 30 fantasy points per game. That ranks 118th over the past 14 days.
He’s been on the injury report with a back injury more than we’d like to see recently, so he’s a player who will likely benefit from some time off around the All-Star break.
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Ivica Zubac — FC, Los Angeles Clippers: 90th overall (⬇️ 6)
Zubac does two things really well: rebound and score around the rim. The problem is that’s basically all he does, and recently, even those numbers have dipped. He averaged 12.3 points and 10.2 rebounds in 28 minutes per game in January.
In High Score, you need more than just points and boards to separate yourself, especially at the center position. Zubac isn’t giving you many assists or stocks and when his scoring and rebounding drop even slightly, there’s nothing else propping up his fantasy value.
He’s been averaging just 28.7 fantasy points over the past two weeks and his performance has dropped him to 91st overall on the season. Let’s hope James Harden doesn’t get traded from the Clippers, because their two-man game has been pretty symbiotic.
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Complete High Score 100 rankings
The High Score 100 is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production.
