Backed by NFL, Flag Football Gains Momentum In NCAA Emerging Sports Program

Thousands gathered in San Francisco in the days leading up to the most anticipated game on the NFL calendar. But before the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots took center stage in Super Bowl LX, it was the contactless version of the game that repeatedly found itself in the spotlight. Whether it was the NFL’s top players going head-to-head in the Pro Bowl, the 2026 NFL Flag International Championship, or a number of showcases highlighting the talents of athletes across the globe, the rapid rise of flag football was represented accordingly in San Francisco. A game once confined to recess has surged in recent years. It helps that three powerhouses are aligned in backing the growth of the sport: the NFL, NCAA and International Olympic Committee. A strong backing is one of the reasons why flag football is on track to move through the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program at a pace few sports have experienced. "With any sport that we’ve had move through the program, and flag being a good recent example of this, when there are multiple entities that are behind it and are working together towards the shared goal, that’s been a lot more successful for growth," Gretchen Miron, the NCAA's director of education and external engagement, told The Associated Press. The emerging sports program has helped eight women’s sports reach championship status since its creation in 1994: beach volleyball, rowing, ice hockey, water polo, bowling, wrestling, stunt and acrobatics & tumbling. Once in the program, a minimum of 40 schools must sponsor the sport at a varsity level for it to be considered for the next stages. It’s a benchmark that sports like equestrian and rugby haven’t been able to meet after years in the program. Flag football, which entered the program in mid-January, is expected to have well beyond 40 varsity programs by the spring. The sport also offers a solution to equity questions that college athletics have long grappled with. In a college sports landscape historically dominated by men’s football and basketball, women’s flag football offers a new way to broaden participation opportunities. At the very least, it could help with Title IX compliance, which calls for athletic departments to offer opportunities that adequately reflect the student population. "One of the reasons why we see lots of schools add women’s sports is because they are continuing to evaluate and make sure that they’re balanced from a Title IX perspective," Miron said. Equestrian and rugby require larger rosters, so a school with a slight imbalance might opt for a smaller addition. Flag football, with rosters averaging around 20 to 25 athletes, could help fill that gap. "I would say that we have really high participation numbers right now for women," Miron said. "But there is still a significant gap between men and women as far as overall participation opportunities." In 2023, the IOC voted in favor of adding flag football as an official Olympic sport set to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, signifying just how broad its reach has become. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pointed to access as a driving force behind that growth. "It’s one of the hottest sports in the world," Goodell said in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. "I’m tremendously inspired when you see people who didn’t have access to this game and they have a chance to play. That’s particularly true for young women." An Olympic presence can only help an emerging sport, according to the NCAA Office of Inclusion. The visibility associated with being on the biggest stage can lead to increased participation levels and an accelerated path through the NCAA pipeline. The Olympic announcement unlocked a future that some of the best flag football players in the game, like quarterback Diana Flores, had only dreamt of. "The Olympics is the pinnacle of any athlete’s career," Flores said. "As a young girl, I grew up watching the Olympics every four years and just, like, wondering how it could be to have that opportunity because flag was not even considered. ... The door was not even there. It’s a dream come true just to have the opportunity to be part of that — for me, for all the flag football community worldwide." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Seahawks Defense Still Feels Disrespected After Dominant Super Bowl Victory

DeMarcus Lawrence gave me a sideways look when I asked the question. Did the Seattle Seahawks really believe they could totally suffocate NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye the way they did in one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history? "Yes," Lawrence told me at his locker after Seattle dismantled the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Care to expand? Lawrence paused for a beat, then the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end revealed how he thinks the league perceives his team’s defense. "We’re ‘The Dark Side,’" Lawrence said. "Ya’ll was able to witness it all year long, what we were able to do as a defense, as a unit. But I don’t feel like nobody still gave us that respect. When everybody’s in Cancun and nobody’s on TV to watch but the Hawks, that’s when you get to see a real show. "We proved it tonight." Lawrence has a point. Even though Seattle convincingly won the franchise's second NFL championship, the Seahawks didn't even open in Vegas as the favorites to win the NFC West next season. Seattle overwhelmed a New England offense led by experienced coordinator Josh McDaniels that seemed unprepared for the relentless pressure. The Seahawks sacked Maye six times and hit him 11 times. They forced three Maye turnovers, two interceptions and a Devon Witherspoon forced fumble that edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu returned 45 yards for a score. The Seahawks forced New England’s offense to punt eight times and kept the Patriots off the scoreboard for the first three quarters. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV took a break between puffs on a victory cigar in the locker room afterward. A Super Bowl champion as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams five years earlier, Jones said this one means more because he now understands how hard it is to get here. Plus, Jones also said the victory helped him pay homage to his father, who passed away in July from cancer. Like Lawrence, Jones wasn't surprised by the result. "The way we play football is just different than what you can get from watching the film," Jones told me. "Once we get in front of your face, it’s a different ball game. I think we were able to do just that and get after [Maye]." The perception of disrespect was a familiar refrain from members of the Seahawks, including head coach Mike Macdonald, who said it’s time to put to rest the narrative that quarterback Sam Darnold is chasing a redemption story and doesn’t show up in big games. Darnold didn’t win the game with his play on Sunday, but he didn’t lose it either. He had a league-high 20 turnovers during the regular season but didn’t have any giveaways in the postseason. Darnold finished 19-of-38 for 202 yards on Sunday, with a 16-yard touchdown to tight end AJ Barner and no interceptions. Darnold became the first QB in NFL history to win more than 30 games in a two-season span with multiple different teams. "Sam doesn’t care about the obstacle," Macdonald said. "Everyone has made a narrative of this guy. They have tried to put a story and a label on who he is as a person and who he is as a quarterback. And he does not care. "He’s the same guy every day when he shows up. He’s so steadfast. He’s a great teammate. His teammates love him. All he’s done since he’s walked in the door has been a tremendous player for us, a tremendous leader." Darnold didn’t need to play at an elite level because running back Kenneth Walker III carried the offense, finishing with 135 yards on 27 carries to earn the Super Bowl MVP award. Walker is the first player to rush for at least 130 yards in a Super Bowl since Terrell Davis, the last running back to win MVP, finished with 157 in Super Bowl XXXII. And Walker’s father was on hand to watch his son play in person for the first time as a pro. "My dad comes to Seattle all the time to watch games, but he never comes [to the game] because he doesn’t like crowds," Walker said. "This is his first NFL game, and we won a Super Bowl, so it means a lot to me." Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, said his team’s offense hits differently when Walker is leading them. "I’ve been saying it, you’ve got to respect the running game," Smith-Njigba told me. "Kenneth Walker is a special talent. You’ve got to respect it, and that’s what springs me open. We play off each other, and it was his night tonight." There's that word again. Whether it's on defense or offense, the Seahawks proved in Super Bowl LX that they deserve the entire league's respect.

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Joel Klatt's 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Cowboys Get a Future All-Pro?

Super Bowl LX is in the books, so you know what that means: We're now officially in draft season, and what better way to enter draft season than with a mock draft? That's right, it's time for me to unveil my first mock draft ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. We all know some of the stars in this draft class, but this year's draft seems pretty unpredictable. So, let's dive right in and start finding some new homes for the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza We all know where they're going here with this pick. Nothing went right in Pete Carroll's only year as head coach, and this was one of the worst scoring offenses in a long time. Geno Smith didn't work out at quarterback, so they need a quarterback. We know this is going to be Fernando Mendoza. He had a remarkable year at Indiana. I was always impressed with him in the few times I got to speak with Mendoza. Everyone loves his postgame interviews, and rightfully so. This guy's a football nerd in the best possible sense. Mendoza was accurate and Indiana utilized a lot of NFL and college concepts with its offense. What I love the most about Mendoza, though, was that when his best was needed, he was great. Every single time, whether it was on the road or in the national championship, when Indiana needed a play, Mendoza delivered with his arm or legs. If the Raiders want to get to where they want to be, they need a guy like Mendoza at quarterback. 2. New York Jets: Ohio State OLB Arvell Reese The draft suddenly gets interesting at No. 2. The Jets have a big quarterback need, and they could use Ty Simpson. But this roster needs a lot of help after trading away all its stars. So, the Jets take quite possibly the best player in the draft. Reese is a versatile defender. I think he's best when he's on the ball — he's explosive, flexible and can bend. All of those things are going to pay off in a big way for Reese at the next level. He reminds me so much of Micah Parsons, who flashed some of his pass-rushing ability in college before majoring as a pass rusher in the NFL. Reese can blitz up the middle and can tackle, too. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Miami (Fla.) OT Francis Mauigoa New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur needs to figure out what to do at quarterback. But they've got to fix the offensive line, too. They were bottom-five in the league in sacks allowed and rushing. So, the Cardinals should take Mauigoa, who is my top offensive lineman in this draft. He didn't just dominate lesser opponents, but Mauigoa also stood out over the course of the CFP. That offensive line dominated in the CFP against some pretty stout defensive lines, with Mauigoa allowing just one quarterback hit. 4. Tennessee Titans: Miami (Fla.) EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. I'm a big believer that you have to try and give your young quarterback some help. They could certainly use some help upfront. But Robert Saleh comes in and I believe that Bain is the type of player that the Titans' new head coach can rely on. I loved watching Bain. He has an elite motor and talent. There will be a lot made about his arm length, but I'm not concerned about that. Just watch the tape. Watch the production. He's an absolute gamewrecker. 5. New York Giants: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate John Harbaugh has a really specific blueprint and the Giants have some really pressing needs on their roster. However, I think they'll make a vanity pick here. They can give Jaxson Dart some help as wide receiver Malik Nabers makes his way back from an ACL tear. I think Dart is at his best when he's pushing the ball down the field, and no wide receiver in this draft was better at making contested grabs. Tate is so good and was largely overshadowed because of Jeremiah Smith. But he was incredible down the field this past season, constantly getting open and creating space. 6. Cleveland Browns: Utah OT Spencer Fano This offense needs some talent. They struggled to throw and run the ball, ranking second in scoring offense this past season. So, you could probably get better with a good offensive lineman. I think there will be several good offensive linemen picked in the first 15 to 20 selections, and Fano fits that bill. Fano might be the best offensive lineman in the draft after playing left and right tackle at Utah. Cleveland can play him on either side, and maybe Shedeur Sanders, or whoever is at quarterback, can have a respectable 2026 season. 7. Washington Commanders: LSU CB Mansoor Delane The Commanders gave up the most passing yards in the league last season, so they have to address that side of the ball. Delane's my top corner in this draft. So, a natural fit here. 8. New Orleans Saints: USC WR Makai Lemon This is an interesting pick here. I think the Saints will look to build around Tyler Shough, who I thought showed flashes as a rookie quarterback. Because of that, I think Jeremiyah Love should be an option for the Saints here. But I went with Lemon, who is an outstanding wide receiver. The way he operates in space and over the middle shows how he has such a strong feel for the game. He knows how to attack the grass thanks to the offense he played in at USC. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love This guy's phenomenal. I actually got to meet him at the Doak Walker Award Show and he told me about his Hall of Fame aspirations. Well, getting paired with Patrick Mahomes would help that. I think about what the Chiefs' offense could be if they had someone with Love's ability to run and catch the ball. The Chiefs also need some running back help with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt hitting free agency. But I really love the idea of giving Mahomes his Jahmyr Gibbs or Christian McCaffrey. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey Cincinnati would be ecstatic if the draft played out this way. If the Bengals saw Bailey on the board here, they'd jump right up and make this pick. It sounds like edge rusher Trey Hendrickson might move on in free agency this offseason, but the Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the league again this past season. So, they need defensive help, regardless. 11. Miami Dolphins: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy I can't wait to see what first-year head coach Jeff Hafley does with the Dolphins. The former Packers defensive coordinator takes over a Dolphins pass defense that needs help, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 72% of their passes last season. McCoy might have been my top corner had he not torn his ACL last January. When he's on the field, he's outstanding. And what I know about Hafley is that when he was at Ohio State, he built his defense around having three great cover corners. So, I think he'd appreciate McCoy. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Ohio State S Caleb Downs The Cowboys were a disaster on defense, if only they could've had one of the league's best pass rushers. Oh well, they have to live with that mistake. But they can address their defensive needs by getting the player who I feel is the safest pick waiting to happen. Caleb Downs is an All-Pro waiting in the wings. He's the smartest defender I've ever covered in college football. He can do everything. We called him the Swiss Army Knife because of that. He is incredible over the middle of the field. He can rush the passer. He's excellent in the run fit. He's tremendous in the slot. Downs should get picked higher than this, but the positional value might hurt him a bit. 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Penn State OG Vega Ioane The Rams might feel tempted to go after another weapon on offense. If Makai Lemon were still available, he'd be a no-brainer pick for them. So, the next best thing they can do to help Matthew Stafford out would be to get him some protection. I love Ioane. He didn't allow a sack in the last two years, and he might be the best interior offensive lineman in the draft. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell I got to know new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter when he was Michigan's defensive coordinator for a couple of seasons, and the principles of that defense start with hard edges. The Ravens also have a need for some pass rush help, ranking in the bottom-five in sacks. Howell was one of the better pass rushers in the country this past season, getting 11.5 sacks in 13 games. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles Lavonte David is 36 and a free agent. So, the Buccaneers are probably looking at replacing this offseason or sometime soon. Styles is the best inside linebacker in the draft, showing he can do it all at Ohio State this past season. He actually started his college career at safety, but they moved him to linebacker because of his massive 6-foot-5 frame. He's also got three years of starting experience and he's still just 21 years old. 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Tennessee CB Colton Hood I don't think it makes a ton of sense for the Jets to take a swing at wide receiver here, and we still don't know who their quarterback will be. They've got so many holes to address and I think they might be smart to wait until next offseason to be aggressive in getting a quarterback. But this was the first team in NFL history to not get an interception in a season. So, they need someone who can help in the secondary. Hood's a really good player. 17. Detroit Lions: Miami (Fla.) EDGE Akheem Mesidor Aidan Hutchinson draws too many double teams, so it'd be wise for the Lions to get another edge rusher to pair opposite him. Edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad might also cash in on his 11-sack year in free agency this year. Mesidor is massive, weighing 280 pounds. He is older, though, as he'll be 25 when he's drafted in April. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren This is a weird spot for the Vikings as they recently fired their general manager. But Harrison Smith seems likely to retire, so the Vikings need some safety help. McNeil-Warren was probably the top non-power conference player this season, logging nine forced fumbles and five interceptions in his career. 19. Carolina Panthers: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu seems set to miss a lot of time after rupturing his patellar tendon in the Panthers' playoff to the Rams, so Carolina needs some offensive line help. Proctor would certainly fit the bill. He's massive and was pretty highly-touted coming out of high school. 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk The Cowboys could afford to double up on defense with their two first-round picks. The trade of Micah Parsons left a sizable hole in terms of pass rush. Faulk is versatile and explosive, so I think he could get the job done. These two picks might turn Dallas' defense around. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama QB Ty Simpson We wondered if the Steelers would pick a quarterback early on last year. They didn't do that, opting to sign Aaron Rodgers instead. Well, the Steelers are in need of a quarterback, and I really like Simpson. I know Simpson doesn't have tremendous size, but he can make all the throws. He can make anticipatory and leverage throws. He's accurate on the outside. I know Indiana was able to get to Simpson in the Rose Bowl, but he was the reason why Alabama defeated Georgia in Athens this past season. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter As I mentioned with Minter earlier, Jim Harbaugh still believes in that defensive philosophy of being big upfront and creating a run wall. Hunter fits the bill. He's very good in the interior and was a big winner at the Senior Bowl following his All-American season. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq Jalen Hurts and the Eagles threw for 17 touchdowns in the red zone this past season. Tight end Dallas Goedert had 10 of them, and he's a free agent this offseason. I'm a huge proponent of getting a great tight end, and Sadiq is the best at his position in this draft class. This would also allow the Eagles to reallocate some resources and get more athletic. Sadiq is outstanding, showing great pass-catching skills for a tight end and is strong as a run blocker. 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson Just like the Cowboys, the Browns need to double-dip on one side of the ball in the first round of the draft. Tyson would not only provide much-needed wide receiver help. It would also create an interesting fit with Sheduer Sanders. Tyson spent his freshman season at Colorado, but transferred when Deion Sanders became the head coach. Tyson actually apologized to Deion for the way things went when he left Colorado. That shows maturity. But Tyson would give Sanders a strong option on the outside. 25. Chicago Bears: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald The Bears went heavy on drafting skill players over the last couple of drafts, which paid off. Now, they need to address their defensive interior, especially as they can't rely on turnover luck to carry over from last year. McDonald was terrific in the interior for Ohio State, and it allowed the Buckeyes to play that odd defense. He plays with great effort and force. 26. Buffalo Bills: Washington WR Denzel Boston The Bills need to improve their run defense, but they also need more playmakers on the outside offensively. We all saw what owner Terry Pegula said about the team's decision to draft wide receiver Keion Coleman, which was pretty wild. Boston is a tremendous player and I was impressed with him when I watched him on tape. He's got solid body control and athleticism, giving Josh Allen a potential strong target on the outside. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Utah OT Caleb Lomu Life after Trent Williams is coming sooner rather than later. We know he's coming back for 2026, but he'll be 38. And you always need some depth along the offensive line. Lomu could be a potential successor to Williams. He played a lot of left tackle at Utah, making him a solid fit for the 49ers. 28. Houston Texans: Clemson OT Blake Miller Houston's defense is elite, so it needs to keep building on the offensive side of the ball. The Texans' offensive line was better this past season, but it can still improve. Miller started all 54 games in his career and is reliable. 29. Los Angeles Rams: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell The Rams have a few corners that are set to be free agents this offseason. So, why not bring in an All-American corner? Yes, I know it's another Clemson player going in the first round after its underwhelming season. That doesn't mean some of the Tigers' top players aren't NFL-caliber, though. Terrell is one of those guys and can play on the outside. 30. Denver Broncos: Georgia LB CJ Allen As we get later into the first round, teams will seemingly prioritize need. For the Broncos, that's linebacker. Allen is another experienced guy, starting 29 games. He's also a talented player, earning an All-American nod and being named a finalist for the Butkus Award this past season. What we know about Georgia defensive players is that they're going to be ready to succeed in the NFL. 31. New England Patriots: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker The Patriots could use some more firepower at wide receiver, but they need some pass-rushing help, too. Parker was considered to be a candidate to be a top-10 pick at the start of the season. He disappointed a bit, although the upside with Parker is still strong. 32. Seattle Seahawks: South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse The Seahawks' secondary seems set to lose multiple players in free agency. So, addressing the secondary would be smart. Cisse is a really good player and is explosive. Mike Macdonald can refine him a bit and make him a contributor to that already strong defense.

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2026 Super Bowl Betting Recap: Seahawks' Dominance Equals 'Helluva Day' for Books

Super Bowl betting often gets much more interesting as kickoff draws closer. That was certainly the case at Circa Sports, literally minutes before Super Bowl 60 got underway on Sunday. A $1 million bet landed on Patriots moneyline +200. It was the second seven-figure New England wager at Circa, prompting this response on X from director of sportsbook operations Jeff Benson: "Well, things just got a lot more interesting. … Another bomb comes in on the Patriots at +200 for $1M. We are now very big Seahawk fans." By now, you know Seattle delivered for the book, while the Patriots fell well short. More on Super Bowl 60 betting results, as multiple oddsmakers recap the final game of the 2025-26 season. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Mega Millions In the first 24 hours after Super Bowl 60 odds went up, back on Jan. 26, Circa Sports took a $1.1 million bet on Patriots moneyline +188. That bet stood a chance to profit $2.068 million, for a total payout of $3.168 million. So Circa was already hoping for a Seahawks win on Sunday, although Benson and his team didn’t want Seattle to cover as a 4.5-point favorite. The preference was a Seahawks win by 1-3 points. Then came the second major wager pre-kickoff. The $1 million Pats moneyline play at +200 had a potential profit of $2 million, for a $3 million total payout. At that point, Circa didn’t care if the Seahawks won by one or 100. Seattle held New England scoreless through three quarters, leading 12-0, and went on to a 29-13 victory. "It was a helluva day, given our futures position," Benson said, alluding to substantial Seahawks liability from preseason futures bets, which then got offset by the two huge Patriots wagers. "We took two $1 million bets on the Pats, which worked out well." Defenses Dominate Generally speaking, Super Bowl 60 worked out well in all ways for not only Circa, but many other books in Vegas and nationwide. That’s what happens when a game is 9-0 at halftime and 12-0 through three quarters. Low-scoring Super Bowls are the death knell for the public betting masses, who love to pile on all the props, wagering on Yes or Over on practically everything. And while the fourth quarter featured 30 points, that still didn’t help prop bettors that much. Nor was it enough to get the Over in on a total of 45/45.5. "A lot of Unders on props. The game staying Under was beautiful. Kenneth Walker III as MVP was good. We cleaned up," Benson said, before adding a little tongue-in-cheek finale to his summary. "I’ll be heading to the beach to enjoy my riches!" Flag on the Play Through three quarters, sportsbooks across the country were pretty happy with Super Bowl betting. Bookmakers tend to root for things not to happen, and as noted above, not much was happening, with the Seahawks up 12-0. Then came four touchdowns and a field goal — and one missed two-point conversion — to bring the score to 29-13 Seattle. And then Walker nearly struck a huge blow in favor of the public betting masses, with a 49-yard touchdown run. That would’ve clinched not only the Over, but a myriad of Walker prop bets and a boatload of parlays. "Our hearts were in our mouths when Walker ran in the needless touchdown. That would’ve been a monumental swing for bettors," Caesars Sports vice president of trading Craig Mucklow said. Alas, it was instead a monumental letdown for bettors. Seattle was flagged for holding on the play and ultimately had to punt. The 29-13 result held up when the clock expired with the Patriots at the Seahawks’ 29-yard line. And bookmakers around the nation breathed a sigh of relief. Exception to the Rule While Caesars Sports and many others escaped a lot of damage thanks to that holding penalty, Caesars didn’t do as well to the game as other operators. And it started even before kickoff. An hour before the game began, a high-roller put a whopping $253,000 on Heads -103 for the coin toss. It was indeed heads, so that bettor profited $245,631.07, before even a down was played (total payout $498,631.07). Caesars got a chunk of that back from a bettor who put $100,000 on Tails -103. But heavy Seahawks action on the game itself paid dividends for Caesars customers. "The game was overwhelmingly controlled by Seattle, and that ended up being a very popular side among bettors throughout the week," Caesars head of football trading Joey Feazel said. "As a result, players generally fared well in this matchup. "Overall, it was a strong outcome for Seattle backers." Caesars had multiple six-figure Seahawks moneyline bets, as well as a $200,000 Seahawks -4.5 wager. So all those major wagers cashed. On the flip side, though, Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale’s $2 million AFC +200 futures bet — made before the conference championship games — ended up being a huge donation to Caesars’ coffers. Speaking of seven-figure bets … Big Winners … and Losers As noted above, the two Patriots moneyline wagers at Circa fell by the wayside, as did Mattress Mack’s bet. So too did model, socialite Kendall Jenner’s $1 million Patriots +190 moneyline wager, at Fanatics Sportsbook. And a couple of hours before kickoff, BetMGM took a $1 million Patriots +4.5 (-105) bet, another loser. However, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker put $1 million on Seahawks -3.5 (-125) at Fanatics. That bet cashed with relative ease, profiting $800,000 (total payout $1.8 million). And a BetMGM customer completed a tremendous ladder of wagers, though the bettor gave back a chunk via hedging on the Super Bowl. The customer banked $1,492,500 in profit on $50,000 bets of the Seahawks making the playoffs and winning the NFC. The topper was another $50,000 bet on Seahawks +6000 to win the Super Bowl, with all three bets made in August. Seattle got there Sunday night, giving the bettor a $3 million win and hiking the total profit to $4.492,500. Just to play it safe, though, the bettor hedged with a $725,000 Patriots +195 moneyline bet on the Super Bowl. So that’s a $725K loser. But I think the bettor is just fine, banking $3,767,500 in profit. Not a bad season’s work, if you can afford it. Which most of us can’t. So just continue to bear that in mind. Keep your wagers and expectations reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

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2026 Super Bowl Movie Trailers: What Movie Trailers Aired During Super Bowl 60?

The Super Bowl is as much about commercials as the football being played between ad breaks, and for the 2026 Super Bowl, the commercials did not disappoint, from Budweiser's Clydesdales returning to star-studded ads from George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey and Bradley Cooper and Ben Affleck for, of course, Dunkin. Diving deeper into Super Bowl commercials, we're looking specifically at the movie trailers that aired during the big game on Sunday. So here's a running list of movie trailers — and teased trailers — from Super Bowl Sunday: The Adventures of Cliff Booth Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day Scream 7 [Super Bowl LX Sights and Sounds: Seahawks, Patriots at Levi's Stadium] Minions & Monsters Hoppers The Mandalorian and Grogu [Super Bowl LX Live Updates, Score: Seahawks, Patriots Battle for Lombardi Trophy]

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NFL Confidential: Hall of Fame Changes Coming; Tush Push Under the Microscope

San Francisco – Walking briskly as he made his way to another appearance on Radio Row, Hall of Famer Rod Woodson was not pleased by Bill Belichick not earning a gold jacket in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "I just want to make sure that we’re looking at greatness – excellence," Woodson told me. "When you look at your time in the National Football League, as a player, you have to have multiple All-Pros. You can’t say I was never the best at my position, but now I’m one of the best to ever play. That’s not a true statement." Woodson’s comments follow a similar thought process to that of fellow Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who believed the Hall had become watered down and not exclusive enough. However, Sanders was also upset about Belichick being left out and suggested that only Hall of Famers should be the ones voting on what players, coaches and contributors should be joining them. "I wouldn’t want the Grinch who stole Christmas voting on a beauty pageant," Sanders said. Change is coming to the Hall of Fame voting process, but what should it look like? I spoke with Hall of Fame president Jim Porter at the Hall’s announcement for the five players who earned their gold jackets this week: Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. Porter confirmed what has been reported: The 50 voters on the Hall of Fame selection committee will meet in person and closer to the announcement of the 2027 Hall of Fame class in January of next year. And as they have done every year, Porter said the Hall will reexamine the voting process, along with the people doing the voting, to make sure everything is being executed so the most deserving candidates advance. The selection committee last met in person in 2019, a year before COVID. The committee was scheduled to meet in person in 2023, but inclement weather affected voters’ travel and forced the Hall to cancel, reverting to a virtual meeting. "We’ll do some tweaks, and we’ll take a look," Porter said. "We’re going to do what’s best for the Hall of Fame. My job is to protect the integrity of the Hall, protect the integrity of the process." As one of the 50 voters on the selection committee, I wrote about some of the perceived flaws in the process that potentially led to, in my opinion, deserving candidates not making it because of the limited spots available, like Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, both of whom were on my ballot, along with Craig. Belichick and Kraft not getting in has led to an onslaught of people around the league clamoring for a change in the process. And I spoke to a few of those people at different events throughout the week. As expected, they provided differing perspectives. Ravens edge rusher Kyle Van Noy said he would like more diversity on the voter selection committee in terms of their involvement around the league. "More players should be involved for sure, especially to give their perspective," Van Noy told me. "I don’t think it should be so heavily media-driven. I really think they need a process where there’s more players. "You definitely need to have media involved. You should have upper management involved. I really believe in being able to have three different levels – players, media and front office. It’s just like politics; there should be another party in there. It shouldn’t be one way where you have just media, because things could get skewed." Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz said candidates potentially having to wait their turn to get in is part of the process. Along with Belichick and Kraft, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning also did not make the cut for the second time as a finalist. "I know the whole Bill Belichick, Kraft thing has been blowing up," Munoz told me. "But one of the things we learn is you’re not a given first-ballot anything. It was brought to my attention that guys like Bill Walsh and all the top coaches were not first-time ballot guys. So, they’ll get in. "It’s a shame that it happened that way. I know if I was one of the voters it might be a little (different), but I had nothing to do with it." Former NFL linebacker and head coach Ron Rivera would like to see the Hall go back to voting for separate categories for coaches, contributors and players, not lumping them together for the selection committee to vote on. "Those should all be separate," Rivera told me. "You’re talking about completely different groups. If you’re going to talk about coaches, then let’s do coaches. People that contribute, whether it be broadcasters or owners, these are special people based on what they have accomplished, and we should treat them like that as we go through it. "For everything that Coach (Belichick) accomplished, and then not to get in on the first ballot, everyone is going to sit back and go, ‘Huh?" Bottom line for Woodson: The Hall of Fame is reserved for the best of the best. "It’s OK to be in the second tier," Woodson told me. "It’s OK to be there. But I think we just need to have a better understanding of what greatness is, and excellence." NFL to revisit tush push this offseason Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations for the NFL, said the league will once again take a closer look at the tush push play made popular by the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. The soonest the NFL’s competition committee might address the issue would be at the NFL owners meetings in March at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz. A proposal to ban the play garnered 22 votes last year, falling two votes shy of the required 75 percent majority for a rule change. NFL referees have struggled to accurately officiate the play, failing to see offsides in the close quarters of a scrum. "It will be discussed," Vincent said during a press conference this week. "No. 1 we want to be accurate, recognizing when someone is offsides or moving early. But also, the difficulty of when you see forward progress and blow the whistle, you blow it too early. Now, you have back or tight ends back there running and progress is still moving forward. We’ve got some work to do. We will revisit that particular play and see how membership feels about it, and if they want to do anything about it." Van Noy is not a fan of the tush push. "I think it’s a dumb play," he told me. "But I’ve heard why they don’t want to, because if it gets taken out, then you’re taking out all the pushes. So, I don’t agree with that. I think they’re just going to have to find a way to make the language right, so it doesn’t take away from being able to push a guy into the end zone. "I don’t think it’s a play that you can referee properly, unless they get closer. So, if they are going to do that play, then they should bring the referees closer so they can see if there’s a false start or someone is lining up offside. But unfortunately, lawyers make up all the language, not actual football people." Like Van Noy, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner said the league needs to bring more clarity to how the play can be run. "If we don’t ban it, we just need to be able to officiate it better," Turner told me. "Or to be able to have more clarity on what’s required." An offensive tackle in the league for 13 years, Munoz believes the tush push is just football. "You’ve got 11 guys on offense and 11 guys on defense – stop it," Munoz told me. "Back when I played the game was a little different; we had the wedge (play). But it’s not like the offense brings in two or three extra guys. It’s still 11-on-11. "There are some things I think have to stay. It’s tackle football. It’s a rough sport."

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Where All 32 NFL Teams Stood When Seahawks and Patriots Last Met in Super Bowl

A lot was different in sports the last time that the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks met in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, 2015. The San Francisco Giants had just won their third World Series in five years (2010, 2012 and 2014); Ohio State defeated 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks in the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship the month prior; projected lottery picks Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow were leading Duke on what became a National Championship season; the Golden State Warriors were ascending into an NBA powerhouse under first-year head coach Steve Kerr and went on to win the franchise's first championship in 40 years. But, sticking with the NFL, here's what was happening with all 32 teams when Patriots rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line to ultimately seal the Patriots' fourth Super Bowl triumph in franchise history: AFC East New York Jets The Jets fired Rex Ryan after six seasons in the wake of a 4-12 campaign. Remember Michael Vick in the Hess look? He started three games and appeared in 10 games altogether for the Jets in 2014. Miami Dolphins The 2014 season was the coming-out party for running back Lamar Miller, who rushed for a career-high 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry. He also tallied 275 receiving yards. Buffalo Bills While they missed the playoffs for a 15th consecutive season, 2014 marked the first time since 2004 that the Bills finished with a winning record (9-7). A glaring bright spot for Buffalo was its pass rush, as the Bills led the NFL with 54.0 sacks. Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus each earned All-Pro honors, while the two defensive linemen and Jerry Hughes all totaled double-digit sacks. New England Patriots The Patriots were seeking their first Super Bowl victory in a decade and doing so against the backdrop of controversy. While New England won their AFC Championship Game matchup against the Colts with ease, 45-7, the latter reported to the NFL that the game balls the Patriots were using were underinflated, which led to "Deflategate." AFC North Cleveland Browns The 2014 season was a chaotic one that saw the Browns in the hunt for a playoff spot. Granted, they came up short. What was part of that chaos? Rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy Award winner, made two starts for Cleveland. Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers' offense was a well-oiled machine. Ben Roethlisberger led the NFL with 4,952 passing yards; Le'Veon Bell rushed for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns, while also totaling 83 receptions for 854 yards; Antonio Brown led the NFL in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698), while reaching the end zone 13 times. Baltimore Ravens Two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler Steve Smith Jr. had his debut season with the Ravens, with the veteran wide receiver racking up 79 receptions for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati Bengals The Bengals were consistently a reputable team under head coach Marvin Lewis. With that said, the 2014 season was more of the same for Cincinnati in the playoffs, as the Bengals lost in the wild-card round for a fourth consecutive year and fell to 0-6 in the postseason under Lewis. AFC South Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck led the NFL with 40 passing touchdowns and led the Colts to the AFC Championship Game, which included beating Peyton Manning and the Broncos on the road in the divisional round. Houston Texans Defensive lineman J.J. Watt was imposing his will on the NFL, totaling 20.5 sacks and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014 for the second time in three seasons and earning All-Pro honors for a third consecutive season. Jacksonville Jaguars Former UCF quarterback Blake Bortles wrapped up his first season in the NFL, who selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft; the Jaguars finished 3-13 in what was their second season under head coach Gus Bradley. Tennessee Titans The Titans went 2-14 in a season that saw three quarterbacks start at least five games: Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst and Jake Locker. Three months later, they drafted Mariota with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. AFC West Kansas City Chiefs In what was the team's second season under Andy Reid, the Chiefs missed the playoffs. They would go on to make the playoffs in each of the next 10 seasons. Oakland Raiders Oakland fired head coach Dennis Allen after an 0-4 start, with Tony Sparano taking over on an interim basis. Rookie quarterback Derek Carr started all 16 games for the Raiders, totaling 3,270 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 76.6 passer rating, while completing 58.1% of his passes. Denver Broncos Broncos wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders combined for 212 receptions for 3,023 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2014, with each logging triple-digit receptions. San Diego Chargers Safety Eric Weddle earned his second-career All-Pro honor, totaling one interception, two forced fumbles, eight passes defended and 114 combined tackles. NFC East New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr. had a historic rookie season with the Giants, racking up 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 regular-season games. Of course, Beckham reeled in a three-fingered touchdown catch in a Week 12, prime-time matchup. Dallas Cowboys Dallas lost to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional round. The lasting image? Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant appeared to have a fourth-down reception at the Packers' 1-yard line, but the play was overturned to an incompletion, as it was ruled that Bryant didn't maintain control of the ball all the way through the ground. Washington Washington wrapped up its first season under head coach Jay Gruden, which was a 4-12 campaign that saw three quarterbacks make at least four starts: Robert Griffin III (seven), Kirk Cousins (five) and Colt McCoy (four). Philadelphia Eagles Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin logged 85 receptions for a career-high 1,318 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, linebacker Connor Barwin had arguably the best season of his NFL career in 2014 with the Eagles, totaling a career-high in sacks (14.5), forced fumbles (two) and combined tackles (64); Barwin earned a Pro Bowl nod. NFC North Green Bay Packers The 2014 season saw quarterback Aaron Rodgers win NFL MVP honors, but it ended in heartbreak for the Packers, as they blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship and went on to lose in overtime. Detroit Lions Sticking with the playoff theme, the Lions led the Cowboys in the fourth quarter of their wild-card round matchup when a flag was thrown on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a third-and-1 with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter that would've given Detroit a first down in opponent territory. However, the officials picked up the flag, Detroit punted and Dallas took the lead for good on the next possession. Minnesota Vikings The 2014 season was the first NFL campaign for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who made 12 starts. Across the 13 combined games that he appeared in, Bridgewater totaled 2,919 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions and an 85.2 passer rating, while completing 64.4% of his passes. He also rushed for 209 yards and one touchdown. Chicago Bears The Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman after two seasons and a 5-11 record in 2014; they went a combined 13-19 from 2013-14. NFC South Carolina Panthers The Panthers won the NFC South with a losing record (7-8-1), but they then defeated the Cardinals in the Wild Card Round. In the regular season, Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen each totaled 1,008 receiving yards, while linebacker Lou Kuechly led the NFL with 153 combined tackles. Atlanta Falcons Atlanta, which had missed the playoffs and posted losing records in back-to-back seasons from 2013-14, was on the verge of hiring Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator of the Seahawks, as its new head coach after firing seven-year head coach Mike Smith. New Orleans Saints The Saints missed the playoffs in 2014 in what would be the first of three seasons where they missed the postseason (2014-16). In the 2014 regular season, Saints quarterback Drew Brees led the NFL with 4,952 passing yards, while it would end up being tight end and then-three-time Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham's last season in New Orleans. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide receiver Mike Evans totaled 68 receptions for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns in his 2014 rookie campaign with the Buccaneers. The significance? Evans would go on to total 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of the first 11 seasons of his NFL career. NFC West Seattle Seahawks Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch led the NFL in rushing yards for a second consecutive season in 2014 (13). Lynch also delivered the "I'm here so I won't get fined" line to questions that he was asked at Super Bowl week. Seattle entered Super Bowl XLIX as the defending Super Bowl champions. San Francisco 49ers The 2014 NFL season was Jim Harbaugh's last as the head coach of the 49ers, with him going on to be the head coach at his alma mater Michigan. Over Harbaugh's four seasons in the Bay Area (2011-14), the 49ers went a combined 44-19-1 in the regular season and 5-3 in the postseason, highlighted by reaching Super Bowl XLVII. Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals were in their second season under head coach Bruce Arians, winning double-digit games in both seasons and making the playoffs in 2014. St. Louis Rams Defensive end Robert Quinn led the NFL with five forced fumbles in 2014, while also logging 10.5 sacks, six passes defended and 46 combined tackles.

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