In the days leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Clippers have engaged in discussions surrounding veteran guard James Harden — with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the forefront of teams that have recently expressed interest in acquiring the former All-Star — sources told Yahoo Sports.
Harden, 36, has missed the past two games due to personal reasons. The former Arizona State guard was present at his alma mater for a Jan. 31 home game vs. Arizona, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. The following day, with the Clippers also in town to take on the Phoenix Suns — a distance of just 10 miles between arenas — Harden was ruled out.
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“No,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue told reporters on Monday when asked if he had any insight into Harden’s absence. “I just know he was home in Phoenix and just personal reasons, so I’m not sure.”
Cleveland’s initial interest in Harden dates back to December, sources say, in the midst of the Clippers’ dismal 6-21 start. During that time, a number of key veterans expressed frustration and the front office explored potential deals for the likes of Harden, John Collins and Brook Lopez, among others, sources say. The Cavaliers have also canvassed the point guard market at various points over the past few months. Subsequently, the Clippers have held a longstanding interest in seventh-year guard Darius Garland, sources say. According to Spotrac, both Harden and Garland are earning $39 million for the 2025-26 season.
It’s important to note that because of the current CBA, Harden has the ability to veto any trade. Players who return to their current team on a one-year deal or a two-year deal with a player option are given an implicit no-trade clause.
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The Cavaliers, who have won eight out of their last 10 games and sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, are seeking upgrades to their backcourt. Cleveland recently traded wing De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento for Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis, but are still without Garland — who has played just 26 games this season, missing the past eight games with a Grade 1 right great toe sprain. The presence of a surefire lead ballhandler would take pressure off of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who has spent 40% of his minutes as primary playmaker, per Cleaning the Glass. In those minutes, Cleveland’s offensive efficiency is slightly down and their turnover rate has gone up.
Moving off of Garland and his remaining money — he’s owed an additional $86 million in 2027 and 2028 — would also lessen Cleveland’s financial burden. The Cavaliers are nearly $34 million over the luxury tax and approximately $15 million over the second apron, according to Spotrac.
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One thought from rival executives potentially at the heart of Harden’s absence is his current contract. The $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 deal is only partially guaranteed, but Harden, who is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game, has been a key catalyst of the Clippers’ resurgence. According to Cleaning the Glass, Los Angeles’ offense is nearly 12 points better per 100 possessions with Harden on the floor, which places him in the 98th percentile of point guards. Harden’s ability to maintain scoring volume combined with his playmaking proficiency, even at age 36, makes him a desirable asset for contending teams.
Because of the Stepien Rule, the Clippers can only trade up to two first-round picks in 2030 and 2032, in addition to a swap in 2031. The Oklahoma City Thunder control the Clippers’ 2026 first-round pick from the Paul George trade in 2019, and the Philadelphia 76ers control their 2028 first-round pick, ironically from the Harden trade in 2023.
“We are not involved in it,” Goodell said on Monday ahead of Super Bowl LX, via ESPN. “Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying, same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate. They are spectacular. They have contributed so much to this game, and I believe they will be Hall of Famers.”
News broke last week that Belichick, who won six Super Bowl rings during his time leading the Patriots, had not earned enough votes to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That led to an outcry in the NFL world, and plenty of speculation as to why.
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One of the theories was Belichick’s role in the “Spygate” scandal in 2007. At least 11 of the 50 voters opted not to vote in Belichick, and one of the members in that room reportedly claimed there were voters who voiced their concerns about Spygate before voting. Others, though, have said there were few of them that Belichick not making it in was still a shock.
ESPN initially reported that Bill Polian even made the case in the room that Belichick should have to wait a year for the cheating scandals that happened under his watch, which led to a wild back-and-forth saga that finally landed on Polian confirming he voted for Belichick.
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Like Goodell mentioned, Belichick is almost certainly going to end up in the Hall of Fame eventually. He went 302-165 and won the Super Bowl six times during his 29 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, and helped build a true dynasty with Tom Brady in New England. Though there were certainly rough moments, and his split with the organization was tumultuous, Belichick is undoubtedly one of the top coaches in NFL history.
When he does end up in Canton, however, is still anybody’s guess. But, at least in Goodell’s eyes, he belongs.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Drake Maye hasn’t lived Sam Darnold’s journey. They were both third overall picks in their respective NFL Drafts. Maye went from promising rookie season to stardom in year two. Darnold was already on his way to being labeled a bust by the end of his second season.
Even though Maye doesn’t personally know what Darnold went through to reach Super Bowl LX, he has respect for the path the Seattle Seahawks quarterback took to get there.
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“What a journey,” Maye said at Super Bowl Opening Night. “Obviously he got in a scenario where [the Jets] decided to move on, and from there on, he has battled not playing for years, being the backup, getting his chance and making the most of it. It’s been awesome to see.
“Such a great story. It’s what makes the league so special is stories like Sam that puts his head down, works hard and has turned into one of the best quarterbacks in the league.”
Even Darnold’s opposition at quarterback understands that he is one of the biggest stories of Super Bowl LX.
It’s not uncommon for players to be labeled as a bust and then turn their careers around as they develop. However, it is highly unusual for a quarterback to go from an early-career bust to a Super Bowl starting quarterback.
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Darnold wasn’t even signed to be a sure starter by the Minnesota Vikings about 23 months ago. He was going to be a bridge quarterback to first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy got hurt, Darnold took over and had a good season, then he moved onto the Seahawks and led Seattle to a 14-3 regular-season record and an NFC championship. Even though Darnold’s Vikings were 14-3 last season and he played very well, nobody saw him taking Seattle to the Super Bowl in the first year of his three-year, $100.5 million deal.
Now he’ll start in Super Bowl LX and he’s just 28 years old. He still has plenty of time to add onto his unusual résumé. How he fares on Sunday will go a long way in shaping his reputation, which wasn’t a positive one just a few years ago.
“I think you have to embrace failure, and learn from your mistakes,” Darnold said. “Learning from my mistakes early in my career has gotten me to this point.
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“Every time you fail or you might lose a game or you might not do exactly what you want to do on every single play, you learn from that. If you learn from that, you can look ahead to better things.”
There were times in which it didn’t seem like there were better things ahead for him in the NFL. But to Darnold, that’s all part of the journey that brought him here.
Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during Super Bowl LX Opening Night. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
(Chris Graythen via Getty Images)
Sam Darnold’s rare path to the Super Bowl
Jim Plunkett is probably the best comparison to Darnold, among Super Bowl quarterbacks.
Plunkett was the first pick of the 1971 NFL Draft, didn’t work out with the Patriots, spent a couple of decent seasons with the 49ers before going to the Raiders, and in his second season with Oakland he took over as the starter. He ended up guiding the Raiders to two Super Bowl titles. Plunkett also had difficulty getting the credit of most Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks — he and Eli Manning are the only players to start at QB in multiple Super Bowl wins and not be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, among eligible players — and Darnold faces that battle as well despite plenty of success with the Minnesota Vikings last season and the Seahawks this season.
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Other quarterbacks have taken circuitous routes to being a Super Bowl starter. Terry Bradshaw had a shaky start to his career before winning four Super Bowls, but the Steelers stuck it out with him whereas Darnold is on his fifth team in eight seasons. Doug Williams was written off and well into his career when he won Super Bowl XXII MVP with Washington, but he did have success early in his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, unlike Darnold. Rich Gannon emerged late in his career to lead the Raiders to a Super Bowl but he was a fourth-round pick. Darnold was picked third overall.
There are stories similar to Darnold’s but not many. Darnold washed out with the Jets after they drafted him, things didn’t get better in his two seasons with the Panthers, then he was onto what looked like the backup phase of his career with the 49ers. Darnold got his break with McCarthy’s injury, and his teams are 30-7, including playoffs, since.
Darnold doesn’t sound bitter about how the early part of his career played out. He’s able to be reflective, and understand that the hard times helped shape his career.
“I take every experience as its own, no matter what happens,” Darnold said. “I was really blessed to be able to get drafted to the Jets. Obviously, things didn’t work out the way that I wanted to there, and then I went to the Carolina Panthers, where I made a lot of great friends and learned really good football as well. Just part of my journey.
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“Then I went to San Francisco and was able to be a backup there for a great player in Brock Purdy, learned from a great coach in Kyle Shanahan. … Then I went to Minnesota and again, I was with some really great coaches and really great players as well. Everything I do, I just take it one day at a time.”
Darnold back in a Super Bowl
Darnold was at the Super Bowl two years ago, but as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers. Every Super Bowl, there are a few players who were drafted high and mostly forgotten about, but are on the end of a Super Bowl roster playing a lesser role.
NFL fans might not have noticed Darnold was on a Super Bowl team two years ago, but he’s front and center this time around.
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Darnold spoke often about leaning on his teammates this season and not trying to do too much and make mistakes because he’s pressing. Even though Darnold has made the Super Bowl, he doesn’t have it all figured out.
“I’m always learning things about myself and how I can get better,” Darnold said.
Darnold can provide inspiration to plenty of players around the league, whose careers started slow due to any number of reasons. Darnold was persistent amid the criticism, learned things from a few different stops, finally got his break and is one win from joining a select and memorable group of starting quarterbacks who have a Super Bowl ring.
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The story is remarkable, even if it’s not the one he envisioned years ago.
“I think a big part of that is the journey, right?” Darnold said. “I wouldn’t have predicted … I would have loved to get drafted to New York and that be my home for 20 years. But it just didn’t work out that way.
“Seattle, just from the get go, right when I got here, felt like home.”
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🚨 Headlines
🏀 Harden trade talks: In the days leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline, the Clippers have engaged in discussions surrounding James Harden, sources tell Yahoo Sports. The Cavaliers are at the forefront of teams expressing interest.
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🇫🇷 NFL in France: The Saints will play a game in Paris next season, marking the league’s first regular-season game in France and one of at least eight taking place abroad, which is the most ever. The others announced include Australia, Brazil, Germany, Spain and three in the U.K.
⚾️ Three-team trade: The Mariners are acquiring All-Star Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals in a three-team trade with the Rays, adding the former Gold Glover to a roster that came a win away from reaching the World Series last fall.
🏒 Saban, the owner: Predators minority owner Nick Saban, who purchased a stake in the franchise in December, will assist in Nashville’s search for a new GM after Barry Trotz retired from the role on Monday.
🏀 CBA talks continue: The WNBA and members of the players’ union held an in-person meeting in New York on Monday as they continue negotiations for a new CBA in the midst of a busy offseason that includes a two-team expansion draft.
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🏈 Pats vs. Seahawks: The sequel
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)
Super Bowl 60 isn’t just another championship game. It’s a sequel.
Steelers vs. Cowboys: Pittsburgh won their first two meetings (1976, 1979) behind MVPs Lynn Swann and Terry Bradshaw. Dallas got revenge 17 years later (1996) in what remains their most recent Super Bowl appearance.
Dolphins vs. Redskins: Miami nearly pitched a shutout to complete their perfect season (1973). A decade later, Washington evened the score behind MVP John “The Diesel” Riggins (1983).
49ers vs. Bengals: San Francisco beat Cincinnati the first time behind MVP Joe Montana (1982), and the second time behind MVP Jerry Rice (1989) in what was head coach Bill Walsh’s final game.
Cowboys vs. Bills: Dallas destroyed Buffalo at the Rose Bowl (1993), then beat them again the following year at the Georgia Dome (1994) in the only back-to-back Super Bowl rematch.
Patriots vs. Giants: The Helmet Catch ruined New England’s perfect season (2008). Four years later, Eli Manning and the G-Men took down the dynastic Pats for a second time (2012).
Patriots vs. Eagles: New England won the first meeting behind surprise MVP Deion Branch (2005). 13 years later, Philly got revenge behind their own surprise MVP, Nick Foles (2018).
Patriots vs. Rams: The Pats stunned “The Greatest Show on Turf” to launch their dynasty (2002). 17 years and one relocation later, the Rams came up short against Tom Brady again (2019).
Chiefs vs. 49ers: Kansas City scored 21 unanswered points to defeat San Francisco on the eve of the pandemic (2020). Four years later, they beat them again in Las Vegas (2024).
Chiefs vs. Eagles: Kansas City won a thriller in their first meeting (2023) before Philly dominated the rematch two years later (2025) to deny Patrick Mahomes a historic three-peat.
Patriots vs. Seahawks: New England won the first meeting (2015) thanks to Malcolm Butler’s game-sealing interception in the end zone. What does Round 2 have in store?
An official Columbus Jets scorecard. (Major League Baseball)
John J. (Columbus, Ohio native) writes:
It was the summer of 1962, and my father and I were attending a Columbus Jets game as we often did. The Jets were the Pirates AAA farm team, and I was a big fan and an amateur baseball aficionado.
The star of the team was Donn Clendenon, an all-tool athlete who was my favorite player. Early in the game I caught a foul ball and decided I wanted to ask Clendenon to sign it. So after the game I went to the parking lot exit near the Jets locker room and waited and waited for him to walk by. Many players did, but not Clendenon.
Finally, a player walked out and asked if I wanted him to sign my ball. I told him I was waiting for Donn Clendenon. He replied that Clendenon had already left, so reluctantly I handed him the ball.
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After that I met dad in the parking lot and he asked, “Did you get his autograph?” I quietly replied no, but I got someone else’s. “Do you know who Willie Stargell is?”
The ball signed by Willie Stargell. (John. J)
Editor’s note: For those who don’t know, Willie Stargell went on to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He spent 21 seasons with the Pirates, helping them win two World Series. Clendenon was no Stargell, but he did win World Series MVP in 1969 with the Miracle Mets.
✍️ Submit your story: Do you have a fondest sports memory? Or an example of sports having a profound impact on your life? If you’d like to share, email me at kendall.baker@yahooinc.com. We’ll keep sharing your stories until they run out!
20 of the 24 NBA All-Stars have unique names. The only name found more than once? Ja(y)len, shared by four Eastern Conference All-Stars in New York’s Jalen Brunson, Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson. That’s 33% of the team!
The Jalen generation: Jalen Rose, whose name is a combination of his father’s (James) and his uncle’s (Leonard), was one of the first Jalens born in the U.S., and his popularity has spawned a generation of athletes with his name, or a variant thereof.
Who’s left? LHP Framber Valdez (No. 8) leads the way, followed by RHP Zac Gallen (12), RHP Lucas Giolito (21), RHP Zack Littell (39), RHP Griffin Canning (40), OF Max Kepler (41), OF/DH Miguel Andújar (42), RHP Chris Bassitt (46), LHP Jose Quintana (47), RHP Justin Verlander (48) and DH Marcell Ozuna (49).
Percy Harvin returns the second-half kickoff for a TD during Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
🏈 74.5% return rate
Could we see a kickoff returned for a touchdown this weekend in the Super Bowl? The chances are certainly the highest they’ve been in a while after the NFL’s new touchback rule led to 74.5% of kickoffs being returned this season, up from just 32.8% in 2024.
Take it to the house: There have been 10 kickoff return touchdowns in Super Bowl history, most recently in 2014 by Seattle’s Percy Harvin in Super Bowl XLVIII. The other nine: Jacoby Jones, BAL (2013); Devin Hester, CHI (2007); Ron Dixon, NYG (2001); Jermaine Lewis, BAL (2001); Tim Dwight, ATL (1999); Desmond Howard, GB (1997); Andre Coleman, SD (1995); Stanford Jennings, CIN (1989); Fulton Walker, MIA (1983).
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⛳️ 72 made cuts
Xander Schauffele’s run of 72 consecutive made cuts — the longest active streak on the PGA Tour — finally ended at the Farmers Insurance Open, marking the first time in 1,391 days that he failed to make it to the weekend. The new active leader is Scottie Scheffler, with 65 in a row. Of course.
All-time streaks: Schauffele is tied with Dow Finsterwald for the fifth-longest streak in PGA Tour history behind Tiger Woods (142), Byron Nelson (113), Jack Nicklaus (105) and Hale Irwin (86).
🏀 Jalen Brunson was built for New York
(Boardroom)
In the latest Boardroom Cover Story, Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson reflects on leadership, fatherhood and the journey from underdog to franchise cornerstone.
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From Boardroom’s Rich Kleiman:
Jalen Brunson is exactly where he’s supposed to be. The Knicks All-Star point guard is sitting in White Plains, just minutes from the team’s practice facility, on a cold winter afternoon during what he calls “the dog days” of the NBA season.
His team is fighting through injuries, inconsistency, and the inevitable January grind that separates contenders from pretenders. But if you’re looking for panic or frustration, you won’t find it here.
Brunson carries himself with the quiet confidence of someone who has already proven doubters wrong his entire life — from being drafted 33rd overall to becoming the face of basketball’s most demanding franchise.
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“Everything that is going wrong is controllable,” he says. It’s the kind of statement that reveals everything about how Brunson operates: accountable, measured, and utterly certain that hard work is the only solution.
This isn’t bravado. This is the ethos of a player who was raised in NBA locker rooms, who learned leadership from his father, and who has turned perceived limitations into fuel for one of the league’s most unlikely ascensions.
Now, as he enters Year 4 of his Knicks tenure, Brunson is navigating the most delicate phase of his journey: evolving from underdog to franchise cornerstone while maintaining the hunger that got him here.
Cooper Flagg has scored 83 points in his last two games. Is that good? (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
🏀 NBA on NBC
The scuffling Mavericks host the surging Celtics in the first game of tonight’s doubleheader (8pm ET), followed by Suns at Trail Blazers in the nightcap (11pm).
Brighter days ahead: Dallas (19-30) isn’t yet a contender, but a year after losing Luka Dončić, their future looks bright thanks to the rapid ascendance of Cooper Flagg, writes Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko.
The new-look (again) Pro Bowl is tonight in San Francisco(8pm, ESPN), where the AFC and NFC will face off in a flag football game on a temporary field built inside a convention center. The idea is to append this struggling event to the Super Bowl, which is hosting its weeklong pregame festivities at the same convention center.
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More to watch:
🏒 NHL: Penguins at Islanders (7:30pm, TNT); Kraken at Ducks (10pm, TNT) … Divisional clashes between current playoff teams in the Metro and Pacific.
⚽️ EFL Cup: Arsenal vs. Chelsea(3pm, Paramount+) … The Gunners lead 3-2 entering the second leg of the semifinal.
Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events happening in your city. Get tickets now!
🏈 Super Bowl trivia
Kupp celebrates after winning Super Bowl LVI. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp is set to become just the sixth former Super Bowl MVP (Rams, 2022) to play in a Super Bowl with another team.
Question: Can you name the other five?
Hint: They won Super Bowl MVPs with the 49ers, Rams, Patriots, Colts and Broncos.
Answer at the bottom.
📸 Photo finish
La Jolla’s Torrey Pines State Beach offered the perfect backdrop to last weekend’s Farmers Insurance Open. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Trivia answer: Jerry Rice (49ers, then Raiders); Kurt Warner (Rams, then Cardinals); Tom Brady (Patriots, then Buccaneers); Peyton Manning (Colts, then Broncos); Von Miller (Broncos, then Rams)
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Kraft and Belichick were among five people who were up for induction in a pool separate from the modern-era finalists. The two were with former players Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood in the same pool. Per Hall of Fame rules, a maximum of three of the five could make the hall this year and each person needed at least 40 of the 50 votes from the voting committee to be eligible for induction.
If none of the five received at least 40 votes, the person with the most votes gets in. Inductees will be officially announced Thursday.
This was Belichick’s first year eligible for the hall, and his omission has led to widespread calls for the Hall of Fame to overhaul its voting process. The Patriots won six Super Bowls with Belichick in charge and he was part of two other Super Bowl-winning teams as an assistant coach. He seemed like a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame this season until news emerged that he had fallen short.
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Kraft, 84, was first nominated for the Hall of Fame in 2013. He became a finalist for the first time this season after he was a semifinalist in 2025. He’s become one of the most powerful team owners in the NFL as the Patriots emerged as the most successful team of the 2000s. Kraft played key roles in the NFL’s labor relations as well as its media rights deals with television networks and streaming services.
He purchased the Patriots in 1994 from James Orthwein after previously purchasing the Patriots’ Sullivan Stadium via bankruptcy proceedings.
Five club owners have been inducted into the Hall of Fame this century. That group includes the Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones, who was enshrined in 2017. Though Jones is perhaps the one owner with more sway across the league than Kraft, the Cowboys have famously not won a Super Bowl since their glory days of the 1990s.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are making their 11th Super Bowl appearance of Kraft’s tenure on Sunday in Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks. That’s the most Super Bowl appearances of any owner’s team.
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But did the Patriots’ cheating scandals play a role in Kraft’s omission in 2026? A week ago, ESPN reported that both Spygate and Deflategate came up during deliberations about Belichick’s candidacy. Were they also a topic among voters when Kraft was discussed?
Kraft’s omission could also simply be further proof that the Hall of Fame’s voting process needs to be overhauled. At least one voter said he didn’t vote for Belichick despite believing the coach was a surefire Hall of Famer. Why? Because he also felt the three players on the ballot were deserving in what could be their last chance to ever make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar has become the latest player to take legal action against the NCAA in an attempt to play another season of college football.
Aguilar filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Monday in Knox County (Tennessee) Chancery Court for a seventh season of eligibility. Aguilar, a California native, played just one season with the Volunteers after transferring from UCLA and Appalachian State.
The QB is officially out of eligibility and currently unable to return for the 2026 season. In his complaint, Aguilar says “the NCAA generally lets athletes play four full seasons, and Aguilar has played only three; but the NCAA arbitrarily counts the years he played in junior college at a non-NCAA school, as years he played for the NCAA. The NCAA refuses to give Aguilar one more year of eligibility, even though it gave all former JUCO players that relief last year after it lost a similar case against Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt’s starting quarterback.”
Pavia was able to play in 2025 after he gained an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA to make up for his time at a junior college. Last season was his sixth in college football as he started his junior college career in 2020.
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Aguilar’s college career started a year before. He redshirted for a season at Community College of San Francisco in 2019 before the school’s 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He then played two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College before transferring to Appalachian State for two seasons.
After the 2024 season, Aguilar transferred to UCLA and was set to compete to be the Bruins’ starting QB. However, Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA during the spring and Aguilar essentially traded places with the former Vols QB.
Aguilar’s extra season of college football makes his case not directly comparable to Pavia’s. The NCAA granted players an extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and Pavia played five seasons in five years from 2025 before exhausting his eligibility.
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Aguilar has also played five seasons in five years from 2021 through 2025 and he’s currently asking for a sixth, mainly because two of those three seasons came in junior college. One of Pavia’s four seasons in that span came at a juco.
Quite frankly, Tennessee needs Aguilar back in the fold for the 2026 season. He said in his filing that he has a roster spot available to him for next season and the Vols would be silly not to take him back. The school courted numerous quarterbacks in the transfer portal with Aguilar’s eligibility officially over but struck out. An Aguilar return would significantly boost Tennessee’s chances of being competitive in the SEC next season.
For 20 years, Tom Brady was the New England Patriots. The NFL GOAT built his legacy with the franchise, leading it to six Super Bowl championships and (likely?) punching his eventual ticket to Canton when the time comes.
So it may come as a surprise Brady isn’t pulling for the Patriots in Super Bowl 60. Brady revealed Monday he’s remaining impartial during the game and will root for individuals over a specific team. “I don’t have a dog in the fight,” the 48-year-old Brady said.
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Brady made those comments during an appearance on the Let’s Go! podcast Monday. Brady explained that while he was once associated with the Patriots, he’s in a different phase of his life now.
His comments read:
“I think there’s always different chapters in your life. And you have different chapters and moments that you go through where you are affiliated with a certain team. Michigan, and then I was with the Patriots for 20 years. I was with Tampa for three amazing years. I’ve been in broadcasting, now I’m an owner of the Raiders. So, those memories that I have are forever ingrained in me and I’m indebted to all the people who worked so hard to help make our team successful.
“And now in a different phase of my life, I really root for people and the people I care about. The people who I know the work that goes in to what they are trying to accomplish. I really want to sit back as a fan and enjoy the game, enjoy the moment. And I always think, may the best team win. It’s not going to be who I’m cheering for or who I think is going to win, it’s going to be decided by the people out there on the field.”
While he didn’t explicitly say he wasn’t rooting for the Patriots in his initial answer, Brady later made it clear he’s going to be impartial during the game.
“Look, I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one. May the best team win. And in terms of the Patriots, this is a new chapter in New England. And I’m glad everyone has embraced the Mike Vrabel regime, all the amazing players that have worked so hard to get their club to this position. We did it for 20 years. There was a little bit of a hiatus in there, but the Patriots are back and it’s a very exciting time for everyone in New England.”
With that, Brady’s transformation into a broadcaster is complete. He’s truly an impartial observer of the game.
Brady didn’t have to take that route. With the Super Bowl being broadcast on NBC, Brady won’t be on the call for the big game this year. He could have easily said he’s pulling for the Patriots and it wouldn’t have affected the broadcast.
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But, as Brady pointed out, the Patriots are in a new era now. It’s been six seasons since Brady played for the Patriots. Other than Vrabel — Brady’s former teammate — being in charge now, the franchise has undergone a pretty thorough transformation since Brady’s final season. He can still be indebted to the franchise while acknowledging he’s not connected to the current iteration of the team.
Brady, of course, could have other reasons for not publicly supporting the Patriots. His Raiders are reportedly set to hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their next head coach. It’s possible Brady doesn’t want to publicly root against the man he just hired to lead his new team back to relevance.
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Because of that, Brady will watch the game Sunday like most other fans. That might seem unusual given Brady’s ties to the Patriots, but the former quarterback has other priorities now.
The NFL has revealed the AFC and NFC rosters for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, which will take place during Super Bowl LX Week on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at San Francisco’s Moscone Center South Building.
The AFC and NFC rosters are made up of at least one player from 29 NFL teams and 22 sides sent multiple players.
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The Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints were the only teams with zero Pro Bowl selections.
The Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks lead the way with each team sending six players to the Pro Bowl Games this year. Right behind them with five selections each are the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.
Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers has now been selected to 12 Pro Bowls, making him the fourth offensive line since 1970 to make a dozen trips.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be heading to his 11th Pro Bowl, tying him with Jason Witten for second-most all-time among tight ends. Only Tony Gonzalez (14) has been to more.
No other fullback in NFL history has been selected to more Pro Bowls than Kyle Juszczyk (10) of the 49ers.
Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers is the first defensive player to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first five NFL seasons since Aaron Donald, who made 10 in a row from 2014-2023. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase is the third wideout to be chosen for the Pro Bowl in his first five NFL seasons since 1970, joining Tyreek Hill and A.J. Green.
All players who have been selected to the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl Games rosters will serve as team captains for the final two weeks of the regular season. There will also be a silver “Pro Bowl” sticker on the back of their helmets.
Here are the full rosters for the AFC and NFC:
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(Voting by fans, players and coaches each count for a third of the final vote.)
AFC Pro Bowl roster (*denotes starter)
Quarterback
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (replacing Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills)
Running back
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts*
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Fullback
Patrick Ricard, Baltimore Ravens*
Wide receiver
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals*
Nico Collins, Houston Texans*
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (replacing Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens)
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Tight end
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts (replacing Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders*)
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (replacing Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs)
Offensive tackle
Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos*
Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills*
Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (not participating)
Offensive guard
Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos (not participating)
Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts (not participating)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 18: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks checks with game officials during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on December 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers via Getty Images)
NFC Pro Bowl roster (*denotes starter)
Quarterback
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (replacing Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (replacing Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks)
The 36-year-old is averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists on the season, and is reportedly looking for a chance to do what he’s yet to achieve in his otherwise illustrious career: win a championship.
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While the Cleveland Cavaliers have been thoroughly mentioned as a team that will make a play for his services, the fit appears odd and will likely require relinquishing younger players, which could prove to be a long-term problem if the organization wishes to hang on to Evan Mobley.
Additionally, the Cavs (30-21) simply haven’t played that well this season, which should beg the question: Are they even a realistic bet to make a Finals push with Harden?
In fact, there might be a team that’s further along than the Cavs in that regard — one that’s also looking to make a play for a star before Thursday’s deadline.
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Why the Pistons make sense for Harden
The Pistons sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 36-12 record, are in full control of their future draft picks and can dangle Tobias Harris’ expiring contract plus additional assets to make a deal work.
As Harden will turn 37 this year, it’s unlikely the Clippers will get a package for him that includes a bundle of unprotected first-round selections. But that doesn’t mean they won’t get one, plus a young player. And that’s where Detroit can offer something that makes sense for both sides.
Harris, Jaden Ivey and the Clippers’ choice of an unprotected pick this year or next, for Harden and Kobe Brown, is a trade that works. That package offers the Clippers financial flexibility, a prospect with upside, and a first-round selection, which should aid them as they move forward.
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If push comes to shove, the deal could be expanded to include Ron Holland, but in that case it’s likely the Pistons would negotiate some protection on the outgoing pick.
Do note that Harden has a no-trade clause due to the contractual status of his deal, meaning he can veto any trade. This move hinges on him not using that right.
The fit with Harden in Detroit
First off, Harden and Cade Cunningham are both big guards, and the duo should immediately become interchangeable. Both can function on the ball and score in bunches, giving Detroit’s coaching staff plenty of options in how to trigger actions between them, or to stagger them.
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Harden’s 3-point shot, which he still takes at the high volume of 8.8 per game, will be a weapon the Pistons could use, as they don’t exactly dominate in that department, hitting just 34.8% on the season.
While neither Cunningham nor Harden are natural off-ball movers, they’re both intuitive passers. Regardless of who is on the ball, the court will open up further for Detroit, as the presence of two elite playmakers will keep defenses constantly scrambling.
Newly minted All-Star center Jalen Duren would especially feast off of lobs from the guard duo, and Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson would stand to benefit by being fed more frequently.
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There’s risk involved
Of course, whenever the name James Harden pops up, you will have to make a mental note of starting a clock, as he’s notorious for wanting out of situations that may irk him.
While the Pistons can offer him an enormous role and a chance to win, there are simply no guarantees with Harden, who has asked out of virtually every single situation he’s been in, and sometimes just a few years into a project.
Therefore, the Pistons would have to make the move for the present. Specifically this year, with the hope of reaching the Finals.
Harden has a player option worth $42.7 million for next season, which he could technically not pick up, and that too should factor into Detroit’s offer and approach to such an acquisition.
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Is that a gamble the Pistons feel comfortable with? Or are they better served using more assets to trade for Lauri Markkanen or someone closer to Cunningham’s timeline?
That’s going to be up for discussion. But if Harden is gettable — and interested — the cheaper cost will be viewed as an asset for the Pistons.
After spending the last three years with the Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Nagy will take on a new challenge in 2026. Nagy was reportedly hired to be the New York Giants’ next offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Nagy, 47, brings plenty of experience to the role. In addition to being an offensive coordinator with the Chiefs, Nagy also spent four years as a head coach with the Chicago Bears.
Nagy rose to prominence with the Chiefs, where he was originally the team’s quarterbacks coach before being promoted to its offensive coordinator for the 2017 NFL season. The team ranked sixth in points scored that season, leading to Nagy getting head-coaching interviews in the offseason.
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The Bears liked what they heard from Nagy, and hired him as the team’s head coach ahead of the 2018 season. Nagy’s tenure in Chicago started strong, as the team went 12-4 in his first season, making the playoffs. But the Bears fell in the wild-card round against the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to the now infamous “double doink.”
Still, it was a successful debut. The Bears ranked ninth in points scored that season and had a promising, young quarterback in Mitch Trubisky at the helm.
But things quickly fell apart. While the Bears went 8-8 in each of the next two seasons, making the playoffs again in 2020, Trubisky failed to develop and the offense sputtered. After that ninth-place finish in 2018, the Bears dropped to 29th and 22nd in points scored in Nagy’s next two years.
That led to the team jettisoning Trubisky in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. The team then drafted Justin Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Neither player performed well. The Bears went 6-11 that season, leading to Nagy’s firing. He put together a 34-31 record with the franchise.
The Chiefs quickly re-hired Nagy as their offensive coordinator following his exit from Chicago. In his three years back on the job, Nagy’s Chiefs ranked 15th, 15th and 21st in points scored.
With his contract up at the end of the 2025 season, Nagy was expected to once again receive head-coaching interviews. While he did speak with teams, Nagy failed to get any of the open head-coaching roles. Curiously, the Chiefs did not wait on Nagy, instead bringing back Eric Bieniemy to replace Nagy as the team’s offensive coordinator.
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With his old job no longer available, Nagy will head to New York as part of John Harbaugh’s staff. The Giants do have promise on offense, with second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, star wideout Malik Nabers and bruising running back Cam Skattebo all looking like key pieces moving forward.
It will be up to Nagy to draw out the best in each of those players and develop an offense that can take advantage of Dart’s dual-threat ability. Nagy showed he was capable of as much during his first season with Chicago, but that success didn’t last.
This time around, Nagy will have to build an offense that lasts. If he can manage that in New York, it won’t be long before he’s once again one of the more desirable names on the head-coaching market.
