5 Takeaways From The 2026 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Ceremony

Saturday was showtime in Canton, Ohio, as the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s five inductees saw their busts for the first time. In front of a packed house at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri, Luke Kuechly and Roger Craig all had a chance to say thank you to those who helped them achieve the ultimate goal of wearing a gold jacket, which they all received at the annual dinner on Friday night. Here are some highlights from the big day for the five players, who bring the total to 387 busts in Canton. Payton, the former New Orleans Saints and current Denver Broncos head coach, had to hold back tears while talking about what Brees meant to him during his introductory remarks. "We were better coaches when he was our starting quarterback," said Payton, who presented Brees. "We were a better team when he was our leader. Drew, it has been an honor to have a front-row seat watching you play quarterback for the Saints at such a high level. "You made my job easy, and all of us are better for having been a part of this with you." Brees closed out the five presentations with an entertaining, heartfelt and emotional speech. It paid tribute to an ultra-competitive family that pushed him to reach his potential, as well as the bumps along the road he had to hurdle to become better at his craft. "I don’t take for granted that I got to play the most coveted position of all of sports," Brees said. "From as far back as I could remember, I wanted to play quarterback. I never saw the position as pressure, but rather one of great responsibility." "The quarterback is the distributor of hope and confidence, a master of probability," he added. "The ultimate problem solver. I’ve always seen the game of football and quarterback as a true art form, as a song or a dance. The key to the art form was controlling the rhythm of the game." A former Minnesota Vikings ball boy back when receivers Randy Moss and Cris Carter lit up the scoreboard in the 1990s for head coach Dennis Green, Fitzgerald followed in their footsteps by earning a gold jacket. He is one of the best receivers in NFL history, having been drafted by Green, ironically, when he took over as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Fitzgerald said he didn’t glean anything from Moss as a player because he could do so many things that others couldn’t do on the field. As a mentor, Fitzgerald said he took the out-of-this-world receiver’s generosity and willingness to help others. Presenting Fitzgerald was his son, Devin, who followed in his father’s footsteps and is playing receiver at Notre Dame. The younger Fitzgerald said his father's most memorable play, in his opinion, was the slant route he caught for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving the Cardinals a late lead. Ultimately, Pittsburgh overcame the deficit for a dramatic victory. Fitzgerald paid tribute to his parents, Larry Sr. and Carol Fitzgerald. His mother died from breast cancer while Fitzgerald was in college at Pittsburgh, while his father, a longtime sports reporter in Minnesota, passed away earlier this year. "Even though our parents, Carol and Larry, are no longer with us, I still try every day to make them proud," Fitzgerald said. Vinatieri was presented by Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. The third pure place kicker enshrined in the Hall, Vinatieri helped Irsay-Gordon’s father, Jim, win a Super Bowl with the Colts after the 2006 season. Irsay-Gordon said that while her father, who passed away last year, couldn’t be there, he was surely watching from above as Vinatieri received the ultimate honor of entering the Hall of Fame. "So, here I stand at the top of the mountain, the pinnacle of greatness and the highest achievement in my professional career," Vinatieri said. "And I can officially say my biggest dreams have come true." Vinatieri thanked his parents, Paul and Judy, who were both teary-eyed in the stands while watching their son praise them on the stage. "You gave me far more than opportunities; you gave me values," Vinatieri said. "You taught me that hard work, humility, accountability, perseverance and faith. You taught me that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing it right." Vinatieri paid tribute to his New England Patriots days, which included three Super Bowls with head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft, neither of whom made the cut to enter the Hall. "Your time to join us on this stage and in the Hall are right around the corner," Vinatieri said. Vinatieri later joked: "Unfortunately, Bill couldn't make it here today. There's a lot going on at UNC right now. He may be on a recruiting trip looking for the next Lawrence Taylor. I thought it was because training camp had already started, but in truth, it was because he's judging his girlfriend's cheerleading competition." Kuechly’s father, Tom, handled the introduction for the talented linebacker, who was a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. "His driving influence is his desire to compete, perform to the highest that he can and win," Tom said. Kuechly did just that with the Panthers, who went to the playoffs four times and reached a Super Bowl during his eight seasons with the team. "This game teaches you a lot if you’re willing to listen and willing to observe," Kuechly said. "It’s taught me resilience, consistency and toughness. The value of communication and how to find common ground. And most importantly, it taught me to enjoy it along the way." And after a 28-year wait, the first player to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season (1985) finally earned his gold jacket as a senior candidate. The Nebraska product joined former San Francisco 49ers teammates Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Charles Haley and Ronnie Lott in Canton. "You spend your whole life trying to prove that you belong," Craig said in pre-recorded video remarks. "And then one day you’re told you’re one of the all-time greats. Man, it’s overwhelming."

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Adam Vinatieri Jabs At Bill Belichick's Absence From Hall of Fame Acceptance Ceremony

Adam Vinatieri's pretty confident his former coach can take a joke. The legendary kicker, who won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Indianapolis Colts, took a lighthearted jab at former Patriots coach Bill Belichick in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech on Saturday. Vinatieri beat Belichick to earning a Gold Jacket and reminded him of it, as Belichick was not voted into the Hall of Fame on his first chance, and didn't appear at Saturday's ceremony in Canton, Ohio. "I thought it was because training camp had already started," Vinatieri said regarding Belichick’s absence, "but in truth it’s because he is judging his girlfriend’s cheerleading competition." Vinatieri was taking a jab at Belichick and his 25-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. After that comment, Vinatieri wised up and complimented Belichick: "All jokes aside, in my opinion, Bill is the greatest coach of all time." Surprisingly, Belichick didn’t earn enough votes to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In January's vote, he received 39 of 50, and the required threshold is 40. While Belichick was up for a Hall of Fame vote, he continues to coach at North Carolina, entering his second season with the Tar Heels after a disappointing 4-8 in 2025. He won six Super Bowls over 24 seasons as the Patriots head coach. The 2025 Hall Of Fame class included Vinatieri, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Roger Craig. Vinatieri's speech also consisted of roasting former Colts quarterback Payton Manning and an introduction from owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. "Peyton, thank you for generously donating your forehead for today’s teleprompter," Vinatieri cracked. "A gigantic forehead means big brain and your football IQ is unmatched." Manning nodded his head with a smile from his seat among the Hall of Famers. Vinatieri retired with NFL records of 2,673 career points and 599 field goals. Only George Blanda (26) and Andersen (25) had longer NFL careers than Vinatieri’s 24 seasons. "When people hear the word greatness, they usually think about the biggest names on the biggest stages," Vinatieri said. "But greatness isn’t created under bright lights. Greatness is built on empty practice fields when it’s below zero. Greatness is sacrificing temporary fun for meaningful outcomes. Greatness is turning doubt into belief. Preparation matters. Character matters. "And to all the doubters, thank you. Your criticism became fuel. Your doubt became motivation. You helped make me better." Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon introduced Vinatieri, who won his fourth Super Bowl with Indianapolis after earning three championship rings in New England.

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From Comeback Year To Super Bowl: 10 Best Moments Of Drew Brees' Hall Of Fame Career

A Texas native, Drew Brees wanted to play football in his home state. But like the rest of his football journey, Brees took a fortuitous detour to Indiana, where he went to star in college at Purdue. After lighting it up for the Boilermakers, Brees eventually ascended to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. So, it’s no surprise that Brees will have plenty of people to thank in his induction speech, set to take place in Canton on Saturday. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, his head coach at New Orleans, will introduce Brees at the ceremony. Joining Brees on stage as part of this year’s Hall of Fame class include Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Kuechly. "The way I really look at it is, this is my opportunity to convey my appreciation, gratitude to so many of the people and places that were a part of this journey," Brees told reporters this week. "That’s what I’m most looking forward to, is all the people I’m going to have a chance to see and appreciate and let them know just how valued they are." Standing at exactly 6 feet tall and weighing 209 pounds, Brees did not have the ideal stature of a quarterback. But through grit, a relentless work ethic and cerebral approach to the game, Brees developed into a 13-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. Brees pointed to creating a culture of connectivity that led to sustainable winning during his time in the league, which included stints with the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints. "So much of my thought process each and every season was how do you recreate so much connectivity and chemistry with the guys that are on your side of the ball," Brees said. "And then the team dynamics. How are we feeding off each other and how are we complementing each other? To me, that’s where a lot of the magic lies on a team is just how you build that chemistry. And how you build those relationships." Now, let's look at the 10 best moments from Brees' Hall of Fame career. 10. Winning Comeback Player Of The Year In 2004 Brees' tenure with the San Diego Chargers was a bit more successful than some might have remembered. After the Chargers took him with the first pick in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Brees earned the starting job a year later in 2002. He went 8-8 that year before going 2-9 as a starter in 2003. With Brees and the Chargers struggling in 2003, San Diego selected Philip Rivers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. But Brees not only fended off Rivers for the starting job in each of the next two seasons, he also led the Chargers to the playoffs for the first time in seven years in 2004. He won the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award for his play that season before going 9-7 as a starter in 2005. Brees finished his time in San Diego with a 30-28 record as a starter. He completed 62.2% of his passes for 12,348 yards, with 80 touchdown passes and 53 interceptions. 9. Gold Jacket Connection: Brees Catches TD From LT An underrated athlete and accomplished basketball player in high school, Brees got to show off his skills when he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for a score from fellow Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson during a Week 4 contest against the Raiders in 2003. It was one of seven touchdown passes the multi-talented Tomlinson threw in his NFL career, and it was one of the eight receptions Brees made in his career. 8. Eclipsing Johnny Unitas’ Record For Consecutive Games With A TD Pass Breaking a record by Unitas that lasted in the record books for 52 years, Brees completed a touchdown pass in 54 consecutive games between the 2009 and 2012 seasons. Brees threw the touchdown that broke Unitas' record of 47 games against his former team, the Chargers, in Week 5 of the 2012 season with a 40-yard touchdown to Devery Henderson in the Superdome, giving him 48 at that time. His record of 54 consecutive games with a touchdown pass still stands. 7. Becoming The First QB To Throw For 5,000 Yards In Over 20 Years Dan Marino was the first quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards, totaling 5,084 passing yards in 1984. But Brees became the second quarterback to accomplish that feat when he threw for 5.069 yards in 2008. And he produced one of the most prolific seasons three years later, completing 71.2% of his passes for a career-high 5,476 yards, with 46 touchdown passes and a 110.6 passer rating in 2011. Brees holds the NFL record by eclipsing 5,000 passing yards in five different seasons. 6. Setting The NFL's Single-Season Record For Completion Percentage Accuracy is an important statistic NFL scouts and talent evaluators consider when assessing if a quarterback can make the transition to the pros. And while smaller in stature, Brees was the gold standard for moving inside the pocket and finding throwing lanes between linemen to push the ball down the field. Brees holds the NFL record for completion percentage in a single season, completing 74.4% of his passes in 2018. Brees actually holds three of the top five season marks for completion percentage in a season. His 67.7% career completion percentage is the third-best mark in NFL history. 5. Leading Saints To Victory In First New Orleans Game After Hurricane Katrina Brees' first home game with the Saints was one their fans will remember for ages. After Hurricane Katrina displaced the Saints for the 2005 season, they returned to the Superdome for the first time in Week 3 of the 2006 season. They decisively defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 23-3, with Steve Gleason's punt block that led to a touchdown return serving as the memorable moment from that game. Brees didn't put up terrific numbers, but he gave New Orleans a steady hand that night. He threw for 191 yards, leading his team to four scoring drives. 4. Surpassing Peyton Manning For Most TD Passes Ever For about a year, no quarterback had more regular-season touchdown passes than Brees. In Week 15 of the 2019 season, Brees threw his 540th career touchdown pass on a throw to tight end Josh Hill. The touchdown pass broke Peyton Manning's record for the most regular-season touchdown passes in NFL history, and it came against one of Manning's former teams, the Indianapolis Colts. Brees' pass to Hill was also his 20th-straight completion in that game. Tom Brady wound up breaking Brees' record in 2020. 3. Breaking The NFL's All-Time Passing Yards Record A year before Brees set the touchdown passes record, he broke the NFL's all-time passing yards record. He also surpassed Manning for that record when he threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith in Week 5 of the 2018 season. Brees would finish his NFL career with 80,358 passing yards, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 80,000 yards. When he retired in 2020, Brees was the NFL's all-time leader in passing yardage, completions (7,142) and passing attempts (10,551). Brady wound up breaking those marks in the following seasons. 2. Helping Saints Reach NFC Title Game In Year 1 Brees' tenure with the Chargers ended with him suffering a devastating shoulder injury, leading the team to part ways with him as a free agent in the 2006 offseason. But that opened the door for a move that helped change the course of NFL history. After the Miami Dolphins were urged by team doctors not to sign Brees due to his recent shoulder surgery, the Saints picked up the quarterback in March 2006. The Saints were rewarded for taking on a significant risk. He led the team to a 10-6 record in his first year and was named first-team All-Pro. Brees threw for 243 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 27-24 divisional round win, helping the team secure their NFC Championship Game appearance. They lost to the Chicago Bears in that game. 1. Delivering First Super Bowl To New Orleans and Winning MVP The defining moment of Brees' career came in the 2009 season. Four years into his New Orleans tenure, Brees helped the Saints get over the hump when they defeated the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. His 32 completions were tied for the most in a Super Bowl at the time, and Brees won Super Bowl MVP as he threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

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Who Are The NFL's Highest-Paid Players at Each Position?

In the NFL, the bar is always rising. Each offseason, superstars reset the market, altering the salaries that the best players at each respective position expect to receive. Well, as we approach the start of the 2026 NFL season, deals are still being made that are setting the bar at positions around the league. Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter and Cleveland Browns Pro Bowler Denzel Ward became the latest players to receive a record-setting contract. Carter agreed to a deal that made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, while Ward agreed to an extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Carter and Ward join an illustrious list of players to be the highest-paid player at their respective position. So, who does he join on the All-Highest-Paid-Player-Per-Position Team?  Here are the NFL's highest-paid players at each position, per average annual value (AAV), via Spotrac: Mahomes is the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL again. He usurped Dak Prescott for the honor after he signed a two-year extension in June, bringing the total value of his deal to $504.75 million. Prescott had been the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL for nearly two years before that, signing an extension in September 2024 that pays him $60 million per year. Two days after Bijan Robinson signed the wealthiest contract for a running back, Jahmyr Gibbs slightly topped it. Gibbs and the Detroit Lions agreed on a three-year, $75.8 million deal ($67.5 guaranteed) on Thursday. The Lions selected Gibbs with the 12th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he's appeared in 49 games over three seasons. Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase held the honor of being the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history for roughly a year, thanks to a contract that paid him just north of $40 million per season. But Smith-Njigba's memorable 2025 campaign helped him usurp Chase for that honor. Smith-Njigba has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks. Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, leading the league in receiving yards (1,793). His dominant regular season preceded Seattle's run to a Super Bowl title, which saw Smith-Njigba put up a 153-yard performance in the NFC title game. A few days after the 2025 NFL Draft ended, Kittle agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million extension with the 49ers. His new deal is worth an average of $19.1 million, surpassing the contract Trey McBride ($19M AAV) signed with the Arizona Cardinals earlier in April of that year. However, Kittle might be facing his toughest test yet following another injury-plagued season in 2025. He missed time due to a hamstring tear before tearing his Achilles in the playoffs. Tunsil agreed to a two-year, $60.2 million extension at the start of the 2026 offseason that made him the highest-paid offensive tackle. The 31-year-old took that honor from Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, who signed a five-year, $140.6 million extension in 2024. Tunsil has been one of the game's top offensive tackles since he entered the league in 2016. He's been named a Pro Bowler five times, and was graded as Pro Football Focus' sixth-best offensive tackle in 2025. Skoronski became the highest-paid guard in the NFL in August when he agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with the Titans. The Titans selected Skoronski with the 11th overall pick in 2023, and he's started 48 games over the last three seasons. Linderbaum became the NFL's highest-paid center in March after signing a three-year, $81 million deal to join the Las Vegas Raiders. He passed Chiefs center Creed Humphrey for the honor, as Humphrey signed a four-year, $72 million extension ($18 million AAV) in August 2024. Carter became the NFL's highest-paid tackle when he agreed to a four-year, $152 million extension with $106 million guaranteed. He received the contract after earning his second Pro Bowl nod in 2025 as he was also a key part of the Eagles' Super Bowl team in 2024. Carter usurped Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones for the honor, as Jones is getting paid $31.75 million per year on a five-year, $158.75 million deal. Anderson only needed three seasons to earn a contract that made him the highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL. He signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Texans, which included just over $100 million guaranteed. Packers star Micah Parsons was previously the highest-paid edge rusher, signing a four-year, $186 million extension ($46.5 million AAV) in August 2025. Of the defensive positions, inside linebacker has the cheapest average annual value contract leader. Still, Warner is making a pretty penny. He reached a three-year, $63 million extension ($56 million guaranteed) when he re-signed with the 49ers in May 2025. Warner is one of the longest-tenured 49ers, having played seven seasons with the team since he was drafted in 2018. He is arguably the NFL's best inside linebacker, and if not, he's at least the most consistent. He had been named to three consecutive All-Pro teams before an injury cut his 2025 campaign short. Warner was also the engine of San Francisco's defense during its run to Super Bowl LVIII. He had recorded at least 118 total tackles in each season of his career prior to his injury-shortened 2025 season. Ward became the other player to set the standard at his position on Tuesday. He agreed to a two-year, $62.2 million deal with the Browns, making him the league's highest-paid cornerback. Prior to Tuesday, Trent McDuffie was the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. He agreed to a four-year, $124 million extension with the Rams shortly after Los Angeles traded for him, giving him $31 million per year. In a good deal of contract maneuvering, James slightly beat out Ravens' star Kyle Hamilton to become the NFL's highest-paid safety. The Chargers' star signed a three-year, $75.6 million extension in May after earning his sixth All-Pro nod in 2025. There are two kickers who can claim to be the highest-paid player at the position. Both Aubrey and Boswell are making $7 million per year, as both players are also on a four-year, $28 million pact. Aubrey is receiving more guaranteed money, though, as his contract has $15 million guaranteed to Boswell's $10.5 million guaranteed. Stout was one of a few members of the Ravens' organization to follow head coach John Harbaugh to the Giants, and he was paid handsomely for doing so. Stout received a three-year, $12.3 million deal at the onset of free agency this offseason. Stout was named first-team All-Pro in 2025, with his 44.9 average net yards per punt leading the league.

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Stefon Diggs On Washington Commanders: 'They Got A Lot Of Talent'

Put Stefon Diggs in the category of people who won't be surprised if the Washington Commanders have a bounce-back season. "They got talent. They got a lot of talent," Diggs said about the Commanders on Friday afternoon after his first practice with the team. "[Dyami] Brown, he's been to a couple teams. I see that he has a lot of potential; he's made some plays. Terry [McLaurin], obviously, Trey Burks, he was in Tennessee. He's been in the league for a little while, too. And then, you got the young guys, [third-round pick] Antonio Williams can hoop a little bit. He's got some game, and, hopefully, I can be a piece in that process that can kind of build this team and lead this team in the right direction because, at the end of the day, I just want to win. "Winning is the main thing for me. We had a lot of that last year [with the New England Patriots], and I kind of want that to just carry over, and all I bring is my experience and the things that I've done and my leadership." Diggs, who was released by the Patriots in March, signed a one-year deal with the Commanders worth up to $12 million earlier in the week. The partnership with the Commanders is a homecoming of sorts for Diggs, who grew up roughly 35 minutes north of Nortwest Stadium, the Commanders' home stadium, in Gaithersburg and played college football for the Maryland Terrapins, whose campus is located roughly 15 minutes north of Washington's home turf. Coming off a 2024 campaign that saw Washington win a playoff game for the first time since 2005 and reach the NFC Championship Game for the first time since winning Super Bowl XXVI (1991 season), the Commanders went 5-12 in 2025. Washington's offense was 24th in the NFL in passing yards (184.1 per game), tied for 22nd in points (20.9 per game), 22nd outright in total yards (318.8 per game) and fourth in rushing yards (134.7 per game). Moreover, quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, was limited to seven games due to knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. As for some of the Commanders' offseason moves, they selected Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed linebackers Odafe Oweh (four-year, $100 million deal) and Leo Chenal (three-year, $24.75 million deal), defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw (three-year, $45 million deal) and Tim Settle (three-year, $24 million deal), cornerback Amik Robertson (two-year, $16 million deal) and tight end Chig Okonkwo (three-year, $27 million deal) in free agency, among other moves. Regarding Diggs, the 2020 All-Pro led the Patriots in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013) last year in a season that saw them reach Super Bowl LX. The Commanders are Diggs' fourth team in as many years, as the Buffalo Bills traded the now-32-year-old receiver to the Houston Texans in 2024, and he signed with the Patriots after the 2024 season. Diggs spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19) before being traded to the Bills, with whom he earned each of his four career Pro Bowl nods, in 2020.

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Packers HC Matt LaFleur On Hot Seat Despite Extension? Colin Cowherd Explains

When the Green Bay Packers hired Matt LaFleur to replace Mike McCarthy — who was fired during the 2018 regular season — in 2019, it was to squeeze out another Super Bowl run with Aaron Rodgers. Well, to date, Green Bay hasn't advanced past the NFC Championship Game under LaFleur with both Rodgers (2019-22) and Jordan Love (2023-present) under center and has been eliminated in the NFC wild-card round in back-to-back years (2024-25). And while LaFleur signed a new contract in January, could he actually be coaching for his job this season? "Matt LaFleur has been in the league a while, and he's probably on the coolest hot seat any coach has ever been on," Colin Cowherd said on Friday's edition of "The Herd." "It's not your usual hot seat, but two things are working against the Green Bay coach. No. 1, his division has Ben Johnson [Chicago Cubs] and Kevin O'Connell [Minnesota Vikings], brilliant offensive head coaches, top of the league, and then, the ultimate alpha-dog coach, Dan Campbell [Detroit Lions]. Over the last two years, the NFC North has won seven more games than the next division. It is probably or arguably the best coach division in football … "Here's the other thing: Matt LaFleur has now developed a reputation, and the Packers' front office knows it, and they're watching the last couple of playoff losses, where they get that big lead, very smart, sophisticated game plan, and then they're not tough enough to finish the game off." The Packers, who began last season 9-3-1, lost their last four regular-season games before blowing a 21-3 halftime lead to the archival Chicago Bears in the wild-card round, marking five combined losses to end the year. Under LaFleur (2019-25), the Packers are a combined 76-40-1 in the regular season, 3-6 in the postseason and have won three division titles (2019-21). His 76 regular-season wins and 65.4% winning percentage each rank fourth in team history. Regarding this season, Green Bay has a new defensive coordinator in former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who replaces Jeff Hafley, who left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Gannon's defense will begin the 2026 campaign without superstar defensive end Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL in Week 15 of last season. As for their competition, one could argue the Packers' division, the NFC North, is the best in the sport. The Bears are coming off their first division title since 2018 and are entering their second season with Johnson as head coach; the Lions missed the playoffs last season, but they won 15 games in 2024 and have posted a winning record in four consecutive seasons (2022-25); the Vikings, who won 14 games in 2024, still went 9-8 last season in a campaign that saw them start three different quarterbacks (J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer). "Smart gets you a lead in pro football. Toughness gets you the win," Cowherd said about LaFleur's Packers. "At the end of games, eight, 12-play drives; no passes; head down; you're bloodied; you pick up a third-and-1 three separate times, and I think that's the question about Matt LaFleur and Green Bay. And I don't think it's a cheap shot. I think we got some data that it's probably true."

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Another New Highest-Paid RB: Lions Agree To Record Extension With Jahmyr Gibbs

First, Bijan Robinson signed an extension. Then, it was Jonathan Taylor. Now, it's Jahmyr Gibbs — and the Detroit Lions star is making history with his deal. Gibbs has agreed to a three-year, $67.75 million extension with $51.5 million guaranteed with the Lions, NFL Network reported on Thursday. With a $22.25 million average annual value, Gibbs is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history. This deal comes mere hours after the Colts reportedly signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million extension and two days after the Falcons signed Robinson to a three-year, $66.75 million extension ($22.5 million AAV), which made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history at the time. Gibbs, a Pro Bowler in each of his three seasons in the NFL (2023-25), has rushed for 1,317.5 yards and 14.5 touchdowns per year on 5.3 yards per carry over the last two seasons (2024-25). Over that span, he has also averaged 64.5 receptions for 566.5 yards and 4.5 touchdowns per season. Last season, Gibbs was third among running backs with 62 forced missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, the Lions star back led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024. The Lions selected Gibbs with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Earlier this offseason, they also extended linebacker and 2025 All-Pro Jack Campbell, who was in the same draft class as Gibbs (No. 18 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa), on a four-year, $81 million deal. Detroit is coming off a 9-8 season that saw it miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

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