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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2025 NFL Playoff Buzz: Key Players for Seahawks, Patriots Practice in Full

It all comes down to this! With Super Bowl LX right around the corner, we're tracking everything you need to know ahead of kickoff. Who's hurt? Who's practicing? Who might be on the move? Here's the latest: Seahawks rookie Nick Emmanwori participates fully in practice Seahawks rookie safety Emmanwori was a full participant in Friday’s practice, according to a pool report. Emmanwori, who injured his ankle during Wednesday’s practice at San Jose State University ahead of Seattle facing New England in the Super Bowl, reportedly joined the defensive backs in drills Friday. Emmanwori did not practice on Thursday. He was listed as a full participant during Friday’s practice on the Seahawks’ injury report. On Thursday, Emmanwori explained he was injured while defending a pass on a routine out route during Wednesday’s practice. When he landed, he rolled his ankle on the grass. He walked off the field on his own, and Emmanwori said he expected to play on Sunday. "It just kind of caught me off guard," Emmanwori said Thursday. "Nobody really wants to get hurt or banged up during the Super Bowl week or any week like that. It just kind of caught me off guard." Emmanwori, a second-round draft pick, appeared in 14 games during the regular season and had 81 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, one interception and 11 pass breakups in the regular season. During the playoffs, Emmanwori has a fumble recovery and four passes defensed, including three in the NFC championship game. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, ex-HC Bill Belichick snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame It appears Kraft will have to wait at least another year before he can enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as he was not selected for entry into this year’s class, which was announced Thursday in San Francisco ahead of the Super Bowl. Kraft was a first-time finalist this year, along with former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who also didn’t receive the necessary 40 votes from the 50-person panel of media members and other Hall of Famers. [SUPER BOWL: Tom Brady to Patriots Owner Robert Kraft: 'Get That 7th Ring So We Can Match'] Seahawks QB Sam Darnold's oblique feels "really good" ahead of Super Bowl Darnold has played through an oblique injury during each of the Seahawks’ two playoff wins and he doesn’t expect it to affect him in the Super Bowl on Sunday. "Definitely the time off has helped a little bit," Darnold said ahead of Wednesday’s practice. "I’m always just going to take it one step at a time, do my rehab and do everything I need to do to make sure it feels great going into practice and going into the game, obviously on Sunday. It feels great." After his second straight Pro Bowl season, Darnold has excelled in the playoffs. In two playoff games, Darnold has completed 37 of 53 passes for 470 yards and thrown four touchdown passes with no interceptions. In the regular season, Darnold totaled 4,048 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 99.1 passer rating, while completing a career-high 67.7% of his passes. The Seahawks went 14-3 en route to being the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Patriots QB Drake Maye’s shoulder injury improves Maye said the shoulder injury that previously limited him in practice has improved enough that he had a normal workout on his first full day in the Bay Area on Feb. 2. Maye was unable to practice fully the week prior after reportedly injuring his throwing shoulder during a scramble in the AFC Championship Game. "I threw a good bit," Maye said. "I threw as much as I would in a practice, and it felt great." Maye said he will be fine for the game, which will come as a relief to Patriots fans counting on their second-year quarterback. Maye had a breakthrough season in 2025, earning second-team All-Pro honors and being named a finalist for both the AP NFL MVP award and the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Seahawks being sold? The Seahawks are expected to be put up for sale after Super Bowl LX, according to ESPN. Seattle's NFL franchise is owned by Jody Allen, the sister of the late Paul Allen, who bought the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million; the franchise stayed in the family after Allen's death. The Allen family is also in the process of selling the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, which the Microsoft co-founder bought in 1988. The estate of the late Allen, however, is denying the report, according to a statement released to The Associated Press and other outlets. "We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale," a spokesperson said. "We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but there is no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months." Raiders working on deal to hire Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak The Raiders are working toward finalizing an agreement to make Kubiak their head coach, per multiple reports. Kubiak interviewed with the Raiders on Jan. 31 for the second time and appeared in recent days to be their primary target. No announcement can be made until after Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Seahawks and Patriots in California. Kubiak, 38, would be the third coach in three seasons for the Raiders and fifth full-time leader since they moved to Las Vegas in 2020. He succeeds Pete Carroll, who went 3-14 in one season in Las Vegas after a storied run with Seattle that included two Super Bowl appearances and one championship. [SUPER BOWL: Super Bowl X-Factors: Players From Each Team Who Will Decide Seahawks vs. Patriots] Patriots DC Terrell Williams is cancer-free New England defensive coordinator Williams has been deemed cancer-free, per NFL Media, and is back with the team after a nearly five-month battle with prostate cancer. Williams attended meetings at the Patriots’ facility during his treatment, but he hasn’t traveled with the team all season and hasn’t been on the sideline since Week 1. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr filled in as New England’s defensive play-caller. "I feel like he never lost it," Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson said. "He still had the charismatic energy and kept a smile on his face, he kept being positive. You wouldn’t be able to know anything was going on with him. I appreciated everything that he showed throughout the process." The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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5 Takeaways From Super Bowl Week: Drake Maye the Next Eli? Update on Kyler's Future

With Super Bowl LX just two days away, let’s take a closer look at some of the major storylines from this week in anticipation of the big game — a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Of course, most Seahawks fans I bump into here don’t want to be reminded of that game, a 28-24 heartbreaker in which Malcolm Butler famously intercepted a Russell Wilson pass at the 1-yard line intended for Ricardo Lockette. Yes, Pete Carroll failed to hand the ball off to his best player on offense, Marshawn Lynch, in one of the most important plays in franchise history. As one fan told me, though, Sunday’s rematch is not about revenge: "We just want to get back what we deserve." That said, let’s get into five takeaways from this week heading into the Super Bowl. Seahawks embrace Mike Macdonald’s vulnerability, laser-like focus on football The leader of "The Dark Side" — Seattle’s nickname for one of the dominant defenses in the NFL — defensive tackle Leonard Williams said it plainly when asked to explain the personality of his head coach, Mike Macdonald. "We joke around and say that he’s pretty much like an AI and that he’s learning how to be human," joked Williams. "It’s just an inside joke, though. He’s just a really smart guy. He’s all about football. I mean, the way he treats us in the building is like his family." Seahawks offensive lineman Abraham Lucas offered another window into the stoic McDonald’s personality. "Mike is a great guy," Lucas told me. "He is who he is. Who you see is Mike Macdonald, which I think is what I respect about him. He doesn’t try to be anybody else." However, Seahawks special teams coach Jay Harbaugh provided the most detailed opinion on McDonald, stressing his humility. And much like Harbaugh’s father, Jim Harbaugh — who Macdonald worked for as the defensive coordinator of the Michigan Wolverines — Macdonald, at his core, is a football coach. "Mike kind of sets that tone of excellence and improvement," Harbaugh told me. "And after that, also an accountability. You’ll hear him say he should have called a better game or had a better game plan. And there’s a real trickle down to that for the coaches and the players. "You don’t have to be perfect. It’s not your job to get every single thing right. And if you don’t, you own up to it. When the headman sets that tone, it does a lot for the organization in terms of not having egos." If Seattle wins on Sunday, Macdonald will become the third-youngest coach to win the NFL championship in league history. Sean McVay and Mike Tomlin both won it at 36 years old. Is Drake Maye the next … Eli Manning? At 23 years and 162 days old on Sunday, Maye will be the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. If the Patriots win, Maye would be the youngest quarterback to lead a team to victory in the Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger currently holds that distinction, at 23 years and 340 days old. Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady were both 24 years old when they won their first Super Bowl title. Maye could become the fifth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first or second season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, Russell Wilson, Brady and Roethlisberger. Maye has expectedly drawn comparisons to Brady because of the team he plays for and the fact that Vrabel is a defensive head coach, like Brady’s head coach, Bill Belichick. Also, because of his mobility, struggles in college and knack for making big plays at crucial moments so far in his career, Mahomes is another apt comparison for Maye. While the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in his NFL career this season and is rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury, Mahomes has still won three Super Bowls in his first nine NFL seasons and remains in his prime at 30 years old. Maye could be entering the start of a Mahomes-like run if he can lead the Patriots to a victory on Sunday. However, an NFL front office personnel executive offered another quarterback to compare Maye to — two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning. "Young Eli was a good athlete [like Maye]," the personnel executive told me. "Maye has poise, anticipation, accuracy, with good pocket feel and subtle slides. Nothing fazes him in-game." The front office executive pushed back on the Mahomes comparison. "I just see him different," he told me. "There’s not enough body of work to say he’s clutch, but it’s trending that way. Maye’s athletic but is a pocket passer. Mahomes is rare outside the pocket. … I love Maye, and he is just scratching the surface." Could Kyler Murray stay with the Cardinals? Considered a foregone conclusion that the Arizona Cardinals would move on from Murray this offseason, the Cardinals placed the quarterback on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury last year. Selected No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Murray failed to play to his draft status in Arizona. He’s posted a 38-48-1 record, completing 67.1% of his passes for 20,460 yards, with 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions for a 92.2 passer rating. Murray still has $36.7 million in guarantees remaining for the 2026 season, along with another $19.5 million of his 2027 salary that will be guaranteed if he’s on the roster in March. However, at 28 years old, Murray is still a young quarterback who could have a more productive second chapter of his career like Sam Darnold with the Seahawks. Also, the Cardinals don’t have a long-term answer at quarterback ready to replace Murray. Last year’s starter, Jacoby Brissett, remains on the roster but is considered a backup at this point of his career. New head coach Mike LaFleur did not close the door on Murray staying with the team for the 2026 season. LaFleur said he’s touched base with Murray. "I’ll say this, being in this division for seven years, it was never fun [to play him]," LaFleur said. "I have a lot of respect for him as a player. He was never a fun challenge to go against." A league source echoed those sentiments, saying that the Cardinals potentially moving on from Murray shouldn’t be set in stone. "The Steelers and Saints are the best examples when you don’t have a succession plan at QB, you run the risk of setting your organization back for years," a league source told me. "And while Kyler is far from perfect — particularly in the leadership category — he has proven to be an above average QB on the field, and he’s still [in his] young ‘QB years.’ "If you’re moving on from an above-average QB with warts, who are you moving onto? There’s no clear answer to that question in Arizona, so why do you make the move?" NFL’s players not sold on 18-game schedule Considered an inevitability because of NFL owners' desire to add another game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pumped the brakes on the idea that an 18th game will be consummated in the near future. "It is not a given that we’ll do that," Goodell told reporters this week. "It is not something that we assume will happen. It's something we want to talk about with the union leadership." That jives with what NFL Players Association interim executive director David White said later this week, stating his members had "no appetite" for an 18th regular season game. His predecessor, Lloyd Howell Jr., made it seem like an inevitability that players would agree to an 18th game, so White’s comments are a way to gain leverage in negotiations with the league. "You heard that last year when the executive committee was up here, and they were talking about what happens to their bodies when they’re with their families, when they’re with their kids," White said. "They were very open and candid about that. It’s punishing, and we can see that on the teams that have deep postseason runs. … When your average career is already three to four years, which becomes something that is existential. So, the 18th game is not casual for us. It’s a very serious issue. It is something that comes out of negotiations." The current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2030 but could be reopened to negotiate an 18th game. However, for now, the players aren’t interested in expanding the regular season. Grass vs. Field Turf debate continues NFL players continue to push for grass fields at all NFL stadiums, stating that they curb injuries and are better for the longevity of players' careers. However, NFL owners are still not fully on board. Currently, 15 NFL stadiums have grass fields. "Our members have stated, over 90% of them have stated that they prefer grass," White said. "The data that we do have access to shows that the energy return from a synthetic surface is significantly higher than it is on natural grass, which reinforces what players say just from their experience and from common sense. "It’s just harder. It’s harder on the body. … We need this data if we’re going to standardize fields and have them be at the level where our players are truly going to be safe." But former players like NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent and Sean Lee, who works for data and analytics firm Adrenaline, said they preferred to play on turf because of the consistency of the surface. "Playing on turf, you could wear the same cleats, week in and week out," Lee said. "You get on grass, and if it’s muddy, you need to put different cleats on or put studs on. There’s just so much that goes into preparing for games, and I know each player has their different way of preparing. But I preferred playing on turf."

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Pro Football Hall of Fame Considers Voting Changes After Belichick Omission

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will consider making changes to the voting panel and process of choosing Hall of Famers following a year when Bill Belichick's omission from the 2026 class generated outrage. Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in an interview Thursday night after the five-player class was announced that there are several possible tweaks that could be made, adding that those changes aren't specific to Belichick's perceived snub. But Porter seemed less inclined to alter a recent rule change that grouped coaches and contributors with old-time players that played a role in Belichick missing out despite winning a record six Super Bowls as a head coach. Porter said that the Hall plans to return to in-person voting and discussion for the 50-member committee after moving to a virtual meeting room following the COVID pandemic. He also said the vote will likely happen closer to the annual reveal at NFL Honors to reduce the chances of leaks and said the Hall would consider releasing vote totals and individual ballots in the future but won't do it for this year's class. Porter said the Hall will also look at replacing any voters who might have violated the rules either by publicly discussing the off-record debate about the candidates or by not voting for the "most deserving" candidates in each category. "I’m not here to tell them who the most deserving is," Porter said. "If the Hall was to tell who the most deserving is, we wouldn’t need them to vote. We understand that. We just want the rules followed." Voter Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas City Star wrote a column explaining his reasoning for choosing seniors players Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood instead of Belichick even though he believed Belichick shouldn't have had to wait for induction. "In the end, though, I felt more compelled by what I perceive to be last chances and looming lost causes within the system as we have it — a system I hope the Hall will see fit to change now," Gregorian wrote. But Porter said picking seniors players over a coach because the players might not be guaranteed another chance as a finalist was not allowed. "That’s not an option," Porter said. "You have to pick the most deserving. Those are the instructions that were read four times." Some voters have expressed frustration over rule changes put in place last year that have grouped players in the seniors category who have been retired for at least 25 years, along with coaches and contributors. The new rules also made it harder for anyone to reach the 80% threshold. In this year's vote, Belichick and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft were grouped with the three seniors players. Instead of an up-or-down vote on each candidate, voters got to choose three of the five with the leading vote-getter and anyone else above 80% getting into the Hall. Craig was the only one of the five to get in this year after Sterling Sharpe was the lone one last year with coach Mike Holmgren not getting enough support. This is the third straight year no coach got the honor, leading to calls from some people — including voters — to separate coaches and contributors from the seniors. Porter didn't seem inclined to change that process, saying that for more than 50 years, coaches and contributors were grouped with players before changes about 10 years ago. "The question is, what changed?" Porter asked. "What was it that the selectors could do that for the 50-some years but now can't. They could get the right person in that didn’t require a category. I don’t know. We’ll find it out. We’ll talk to a lot of people. .. But there’s a responsibility there. The responsibility is to pick the most deserving. They got down to where that number was. So my question is, is everybody picking the most deserving." This was also the second straight year with fewer than five modern-era candidates getting in after a rule change. Instead of an up-or-down vote on five players, seven made it to the final stage with voters allowed to pick five. The top three and anyone else above 80% gets into the Hall. Last year, only three players reached that threshold and there were four this year: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. Willie Anderson, Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda fell short and will automatically be in the final 15 next year. After 12 straight years of at least seven people getting inducted, there have been only four and five the past two years. "The number got really high," Porter said. Porter said he hopes shortening the time between the vote and announcement — it was more than three weeks this year — will reduce leaks, but he still wants enough time for the tradition of Hall of Famers delivering the news in person to the new class in what is known as "The Knock." He is open to changes overall but doesn't see the need for an overhaul of the process. "We’ll do some tweaks, and we’ll take a look," he 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." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Best NFL Betting Sites: Top Sportsbook Apps (2026)

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. We’ve assembled a list of the six best NFL betting sites for the upcoming season. This guide helps you pick the right NFL sportsbook for your style, whether you value sharp odds, strong promos, live betting depth, same-game parlays, or a clean betting app. Compare our top picks and choose the one that fits how you like to bet. With Super Bowl LX set for February 8, 2026, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet in a highly anticipated rematch at Levi’s Stadium. As betting interest peaks around Super Bowl odds, props, and same-game parlays, choosing the right NFL sportsbook can make a real difference. Best NFL Betting Sites & Apps for Super Bowl LX - Sportsbook Reviews Here’s a quick overview of our top picks for NFL betting sites and apps and what each platform does best: BetMGM Sportsbook - Best Overall NFL Betting Site Overview:BetMGM is nicknamed "King of Sportsbooks" and backs it up by offering one of the widest selections of NFL betting markets. One area where BetMGM stands out is its unmatched range of player props, offering bets on niche season-wide and single-game player stats. Pros: Cons: BetMGM NFL Betting Features & Promotions: BetMGM NFL Sign-up Bonus: Up to $1,500 back if first bet loses Available States:AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY Why We Recommend it:BetMGM is our top recommended NFL sportsbook app thanks to its deep market selection, innovative features like the Edit My Bet tool, and boosted odds for big games. The variety of props lets you play exactly how you want to. FanDuel Sportsbook – Best NFL Betting Mobile App Overview: The FanDuel app is one of the easiest-to-use platforms. It is optimized for NFL betting and has easy navigation between game lines, props, and parlay options. It is the gold standard for US Sportsbooks. Fast, reliable, well-designed. Biometric login (Face ID / Touch ID), dark mode and geolocation tools for legal state access. Pros: Cons: FanDuel NFL Betting Features & Promotions: Current FanDuel Promo Offer for New Users: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets If You Win Available States:AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY + DC & PR Why We Recommend it:This is the easiest app to use as a new bettor. It couldn't be simpler to use its interface, including learning how to place bets directly from your phone. The access to same-game parlays on the app is quick, and everything you would need is easy to find. bet365 – Best NFL Odds & Early Payout Overview: bet365 is a global heavyweight known for sharp pricing and outstanding in-play options. For NFL bettors, its Early Payout stands out: straight moneyline bets are settled as winners if your team goes 17 points ahead at any time. Pros: Cons: bet365 NFL Betting Features & Promotions: bet365 NFL Sign-up Bonus: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets (win or lose) Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply. Available States:AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KA, KY, LA, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA Why We Recommend it:If you value sharp NFL odds and a safety buffer against blown leads, bet365’s pricing and Early Payout are hard to beat. DraftKings – Best NFL Sportsbook Promotions Overview:DraftKings pairs a deep NFL menu with fast pricing and one of the most aggressive new-user packages during football season. For 2026, new customers get $300 in bonus bets instantly after a $5 wager. Pros: Cons: DraftKings NFL Betting Features & Promotions: DraftKings NFL Sign-up Bonus: Bet $5, Get $300 If Your Bet Wins Available States:AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, WY Why We Recommend it:If you want quick bonus value and football-centric perks, DraftKings’ NFL promo stack is one of the strongest this season. Caesars – Best NFL Betting Rewards Program Overview:Caesars combines a clean NFL menu with Caesars Rewards tier credits on eligible wagers. The current welcome focuses on profit boosts that double your winnings on many small tickets right after you join. Pros: Cons: Caesars NFL Betting Features & Promotions: Caesars NFL Sign-up Bonus: $250 First Bet Match with Code FOX250BM Available States:AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KA, KY, LA, MD, MI, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Why We Recommend it:If you like spreading value across multiple NFL bets and earning hotel/entertainment rewards, Caesars delivers on both. Fanatics Sportsbook – Most Unique Loyalty Rewards Overview:Fanatics leans into FanCash, letting you convert rewards into bonus bets or merchandise. During football season, the book features repeated no-sweat style protections that refund losses in FanCash. Pros: Cons: Fanatics NFL Betting Features & Promotions: Fanatics NFL Sign-up Bonus: 10× $100 No-Sweat Bets in FanCash Available States:AZ, CO, CT, IN, IL, IA, KA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, WY Why We Recommend it:If you want repeated protection and flexible rewards you can recycle into bets or gear, Fanatics’ FanCash model is uniquely valuable. NFL Betting App User Reviews NFL Live-Betting Apps Live betting lets you place wagers after kickoff, with odds that update in real time based on the score, clock, drives, and injuries. You’ll see changing lines for moneylines, spreads, totals, player props, and drive or quarter markets. Football’s stop-start rhythm creates frequent pricing pauses, so sportsbooks can refresh odds between plays, drives, and quarters. That gives bettors many decision points throughout the game. Live-betting essentially allows you to double down, hedge bets and capitalize on slow starts. Best Sportsbooks for Live Betting NFL Sportsbook Welcome Bonuses A welcome bonus is a new-customer offer that gives you extra value when you open an account and place an initial wager. Sportsbooks use these bonuses to attract first-time users, help you try the app with lower risk, and encourage you to explore more markets. Below we'll go into the two most common types: "Bet & Get" and "First-Bet Safety Net" bonuses. NFL Bet & Get Bonus In this offer, you make a low-bar qualifying bet, then receive bonus bets regardless of outcome. It’s great if you want instant value without risking a big first wager. Use a quick-settling market to unlock the offer fast, then deploy the bonus bets on lines you actually like—totals, player props, or a small underdog flyer. Remember, a bonus-bet stake usually isn’t returned, only the winnings. For example, let's say you place a $5 qualifying wager on the Eagles moneyline for Week 1. Win or lose, you’re credited $200 in bonus bets (often split into four $50 tokens). If you then use one $50 bonus bet on the Cowboys +120 and it wins, you profit $60 (the $50 bonus stake isn’t returned). Repeat with the remaining tokens before they expire to maximize value. FanDuel, DraftKings, and bet365 Bet all offer this bonus. NFL First-Bet Safety Net Bonus In this offer, you take one swing. If it wins, great—you keep the profit and the promo is done. If it loses, you get bonus bets back. This can be useful for a plus-money side or a bigger confidence play. Let's say you place your first cash wager for $250 on the 49ers -2.5 (-110). If it loses, you’re refunded $250 in bonus bets (often split into five $50 tokens) that expire in about a week; if it wins, there’s no refund and the promo ends. Say you then use one $50 bonus bet on the Ravens +120 and it wins—you profit $60 (the $50 bonus stake isn’t returned). BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, and bet365 all offer this bonus. Popular NFL Betting Markets Here are the most popular NFL betting markets you’ll see every week, from simple picks to deeper player angles. Use this quick overview to decide when to play spreads, moneylines, totals, props, same-game parlays, and futures. Moneyline & Point Spreads A moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game outright. Favorites show negative odds (e.g., -170 means risk $170 to win $100), while underdogs show positive odds (e.g., +150 means risk $100 to win $150). A point spread adds a margin the favorite must cover. The favorite is listed with a minus number (e.g., -3.5), and the underdog with a plus number (e.g., +3.5). If the Dolphins are -3.5 vs. the Jets, Miami must win by 4 or more to cover; the Jets cover by winning outright or losing by 3 or fewer. These are the two most popular NFL bets, and odds are shown in American format (like -110 on spreads and totals). Prices move throughout the week based on injuries, weather, lineup news, and betting trends, so timing your wager can matter. Totals (Over/Under) A total (Over/Under) is a bet on the combined points scored by both teams. Sportsbooks set a number, and you choose Over (more than that total) or Under (less than that total). Example: "Over/Under 47.5" means Over wins at 48+ points, Under wins at 47 or fewer. Totals move with factors like offensive and defensive form, pace of play, quarterback and key injuries, weather for outdoor games (wind, rain, extreme cold), matchups in the trenches, and coaching tendencies. Player Props Player props are bets on individual player outcomes rather than the final score. In the NFL, common examples include anytime touchdown scorer (will a player score a TD), quarterback passing yards Over/Under (e.g., Over 259.5), and receptions for a receiver or tight end (e.g., Over 5.5 catches). Same-Game Parlays (SGPs) A same-game parlay (SGP) lets you combine multiple bets from one NFL matchup into a single ticket. They’re appealing because you can personalize a game script and chase higher payouts than a single bet. For example, an Eagles vs. Cowboys SGP might include Eagles moneyline + Jalen Hurts Over 1.5 passing TDs + A.J. Brown 70+ receiving yards; the parlay wins only if all legs hit. Odds are calculated by combining each leg’s price, so payouts climb quickly. Risk also rises with every added leg, since the probability of winning drops as you stack more outcomes. Futures Futures are bets placed on long-term outcomes that settle later in the season. Popular NFL futures include Super Bowl winner, AFC/NFC champions, and season awards like MVP, Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. Odds move all year as teams perform, injuries occur, and markets react. Payouts are made only when the market concludes (for example, after the Super Bowl or when an award is officially announced). NFL Betting Sites & Apps FAQ (2026) What is the best NFL betting site in 2026? The best NFL betting site depends on how you like to bet. BetMGM stands out for overall market depth and player props, FanDuel is the easiest app to use, bet365 offers some of the sharpest odds with Early Payouts, and DraftKings delivers the most aggressive NFL promotions. Which sportsbook has the best Super Bowl betting odds? Sportsbooks like bet365, FanDuel, and DraftKings are known for competitive Super Bowl odds, especially on spreads, totals, and alternate lines. Odds can vary by sportsbook, so comparing lines before placing your bet can help you get the best price. Are NFL betting apps legal in the United States? Yes, NFL betting apps are legal in many U.S. states where online sports betting has been regulated. Availability depends on your location, and you must be physically present in a legal state and meet the minimum age requirement (usually 21). What is the best NFL betting app for beginners? FanDuel is often the best choice for beginners thanks to its clean layout, simple betslip, and easy access to spreads, totals, props, and same-game parlays. Caesars is another good option for new bettors who want a straightforward app with fewer distractions. Which sportsbook is best for NFL same-game parlays? DraftKings and FanDuel are the leaders for NFL same-game parlays. DraftKings’ SGP+ allows you to combine bets across multiple games, while FanDuel offers fast, intuitive SGP building directly from game pages. What is an NFL Bet & Get bonus? An NFL Bet & Get bonus lets you place a small qualifying wager (often $5 or $10), then receive bonus bets regardless of whether that bet wins or loses. The bonus bets can be used on future wagers, but typically only the winnings are withdrawable. What is a first-bet safety net or bet insurance? A first-bet safety net refunds your wager with bonus bets if your first bet loses. If the bet wins, you keep the profit and the promotion ends. This type of bonus is common at BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics. Which sportsbook is best for live NFL betting? bet365 is widely considered the best sportsbook for live NFL betting due to fast odds updates, deep in-play markets, and Early Payouts. FanDuel and DraftKings also offer strong live betting hubs with frequent cash-out options. Can I bet on Super Bowl player props and novelty bets? Yes. Major sportsbooks offer extensive Super Bowl player props, including passing yards, touchdowns, receptions, and anytime TD scorers. Many also post novelty bets closer to kickoff, such as halftime performance or game-related specials, depending on state rules. Gambling disclaimer: Only individuals aged 21 and over are permitted to gamble. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Gambling is subject to local state regulation and is illegal in some states. Please gamble responsibly – information relating to responsible gambling can be found here. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!

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Ranking the Top 10 Super Bowl MVPs of Past 25 Years

As we move closer to the Seahawks and Patriots squaring off in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, it's a chance to look back on the last 25 Super Bowls and the best of the best performances. We've ranked the top 10 Super Bowl MVPs of the past quarter-century, and such a process makes for difficult decisions. It's easy to err on the side of late-game heroics. Does that penalize a player whose dominance puts the game out of reach in the fourth quarter? Perhaps, but those remarkable finishes are what we remember most, and probably what we want the most in a Super Bowl. Tom Brady, for instance, has five of these 25 MVP performances, which reduces nicely to two out of our 10 choices. There's a heavy offensive lean to these awards — only four defensive winners out of 25 — and a strong penchant for picking quarterbacks, with 16 of those compared to five receivers. What does a running back have to do to win one of these? The last one was Denver's Terrell Davis in 1998. 10. Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB, Super Bowl XLV (2010) There wasn't any last-minute touchdown, but Rodgers got Green Bay up 14-0 and 21-3 early, then held on as Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger twice got within four points down the stretch. Up three with 7:34 to play, he converted a third-and-10 and grinded out five minutes with a field goal and the defense closes it out. Rodgers played such a clean game, throwing for 304 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Joe Flacco's Super Bowl win two years later was much the same. 9. Malcolm Smith, Seahawks LB, Super Bowl XLVIII (2013) It's hard to shoehorn defensive MVPs in here, but the Broncos and Peyton Manning were so prolific that year, and Seattle's defense shut them down in the Super Bowl, never more so than on Smith's 69-yard pick-six in the second quarter. Denver was driving to make it a one-score game before halftime, and instead, Smith found the end zone for a 22-0 lead on the way to a 43-8 drubbing. This was easily the biggest play on one of the best defensive team efforts in these last 25 Super Bowls. 8. Santonio Holmes, Steelers WR, Super Bowl XLIII (2008) Five receivers have gotten Super Bowl MVPs in the last 25 years, two of them without even scoring a touchdown. But Holmes most definitely did — we can say he had nine catches for 131 yards for the Steelers against the Cardinals in Tampa. Holmes is on the list for one catch: a 6-yard touchdown catch on a hard throw from Ben Roethlisberger over three defenders for the lead with 35 seconds left, a leaping grab in the back right corner of the end zone with the toe tap of all toe taps to make sure it's a catch. It's hard to imagine a tougher catch with more on the line. 7. Tom Brady, Patriots QB, Super Bowl XLIX (2014) We're almost ranking this lower than it deserves, just so there isn't too much Brady at the top. Everyone remembers Russell Wilson's goal-line interception in the final minute, but don't forget what Brady did first: down 10 in the fourth quarter, he rallied the Patriots and threw two touchdowns in the final eight minutes. The first was to Danny Amendola and the second went to Julian Edelman to regain the lead. Brady finished 37-of-50 for 328 yards with four touchdowns against two picks, and he completed all nine of his pass attempts for 71 yards on the drive that gave the Patriots the lead for good. 6. Eli Manning, Giants QB, Super Bowl XLVI (2011) Manning beat Brady twice in Super Bowls, but we'll go with his second one – by – no David Tyree helmet-catch miracle, just Manning down eight in the second half, grinding out two drives for field goals, then one big drive in the fourth quarter. Manning threw five times to Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks for 74 yards, setting up Ahmad Bradshaw's touchdown with 57 seconds left. He finished 30-of-40 for 296 yards and a touchdown, but again, he beat Brady in a Super Bowl for the second time. 5. Jalen Hurts, Eagles QB, Super Bowl LIX (2024) Hurts played so well in the first meeting with the Chiefs but lost, and he got his revenge two years later. In a surprising rout of the Chiefs in New Orleans, Hurts was a lean 17-of-22 for 221 and two scores, also rushing for 72 yards and a score. It's a 34-6 game entering the fourth quarter, a thorough domination of a two-time defending champ. Some of the best on this list that aren't Brady and Mahomes are opponents finding ways to beat Brady and Mahomes. 4. Von Miller, Broncos OLB, Super Bowl 50 (2015) Trying to break up a run of quarterbacks at the top here, and Miller's play in leading the Broncos in 2015 is the gold standard. This was not the 55-touchdown Peyton Manning, but rather the nine-touchdown Peyton Manning, leaning hard on his defense. Miller had 2.5 sacks in the Super Bowl, forcing two fumbles, one of which was recovered for a touchdown. Miller would later have two sacks in another Super Bowl win with the Rams. 3. Nick Foles, Eagles QB, Super Bowl LII (2017) Maybe the most improbable on the list. Foles only had three regular-season starts in 2017, but took over when Carson Wentz got injured and went 3-0 in the playoffs. What he did to outduel Brady is incredible — 28-of-43 yards, 373 yards and three touchdowns, and the chef's kiss is the "Philly Special." On that famous play, Foles lined up at quarterback, casually walking to the line and then a direct snap to running back Corey Clement, who handed off to tight end Trey Burton, who threw to a wide-open Foles for a receiving touchdown in the Super Bowl. 2. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs QB, Super Bowl LVIII (2023) Mahomes has three Super Bowl MVPs, and his second, beating the Eagles, might be his best statistically — three touchdowns, no picks. Instead, though, I'll go with the Chiefs' overtime win over the 49ers a year later. Down 10-0 early, rallied for the lead, lost it again in the fourth quarter, twice tied it, only to have San Francisco retake the lead on a field goal, then won it on a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with three seconds left in overtime. He finishes 34-for-46, 333 yards, two touchdowns and a pick for the first Super Bowl repeat in 19 years. 1. Tom Brady, Patriots QB, Super Bowl LI (2016) This choice was easy. The Patriots trailed the Falcons 28-3 late in the third quarter and rallied back for the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history — five touchdown drives, including a 91-yarder to tie the game and a 75-yarder to win in overtime. Brady finished 43-of-62 for 466 yards with two touchdowns. The length of those five drives? 75, 72, 25, 91, 75 yards — 338 yards of offense in less than one half of football. That he didn't score the final two touchdowns himself doesn't take away from all he did to get them down the field.

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2026 Super Bowl Odds: Will Stefon Diggs Propose to Cardi B after Big Game?

A couple of Super Bowls ago, the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift proposal odds were all the hype. Now the market has turned to another skill position-pop star tandem: Stefon Diggs and Cardi B. Will Diggs put a ring on the rapper's finger with an engagement proposal on the field after the Big Game? Let's check out those odds, along with a few other Cardi B-related Super 60 props at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Feb. 5. 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. Will Cardi B wear a Stefon Diggs jersey?:No: -250 (bet $10 to win $14 total)Yes: +170 (bet $10 to win $27 total) To make a special guest appearance during Bad Bunny halftime performance:-250 (bet $10 to win $14 total) What to know: Cardi B is getting ready to kick off her "Little Miss Drama" tour, and the first show date is two days after the Super Bowl, only a few hundred miles south of Santa Clara in Palm Desert. Just last weekend, Cardi wowed on the "Saturday Night Live" stage which, like Super Bowl 60, broadcasts on NBC. Back in 2018, Cardi and Bad Bunny collaborated on her hit "I Like It," which was a Billboard Hot 100 chart topper. With all this in mind, it's not surprising that she has short odds to make a guest special appearance during the halftime show. How many times will Cardi B appear on broadcast?Over 1.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)Under 1.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total) Will Stefon Diggs propose to Cardi B on the field post Super Bowl?(must be shown on broadcast)No: -4000 (bet $10 to win $10.25 total)Yes: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total) What to know: Cardi B and Patriots' wide receiver Stefon Diggs welcomed their first child together last year, a son born in November. The pair have been publicly connected to one another since early 2025, and during that time frame, Cardi has been one of his most vocal supporters when it comes to his football career. So naturally, engagement proposal rumors have been swirling the mill. When asked during Super Bowl media days if Cardi's ring was coming, Diggs responded, saying, "It's on the agenda" but that "I need to get mine first." Super Bowl 60 Super Bowl 60 will be played in Santa Clara, Calif., at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

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2026 Super Bowl Betting Report: 'It's Still One-Way Traffic on Seattle'

Super Bowl 60 odds have taken bets for 11 days, with three more sleeps to go until the Patriots andSeahawks kick off at Levi’s Stadium. But even with multiple million-dollar wagers already in, the amount of money bet in the final 72 hourswill dwarf what’s come in over the past 11 days. As much as 80% of action is still to come. "We’ll see the overwhelming majority of action come in this weekend, with a ton of action on Sunday,"Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. Oddsmakers and sharp bettors serve up their insights on Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl betting, asSunday’s 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff draws closer. 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. Stagnant Spread By the time the Super Bowl rolls around, oddsmakers are completely dialed in. The movement — or moreaccurately, the lack of movement — with the point spread demonstrates that fact. The Seahawks haven’t moved off -4.5 since Jan. 26, a day after Super Bowl 60 odds hit the board. Seattleopened -4.5, as well, then made a couple short visits to -5 in the first 12 hours or so. But since then, no changes at Caesars Sports. "The line is at 4.5, and it’s gonna stay at 4.5," a confident Feazel said on Thursday afternoon. "There’snot gonna be much moving around between now and Sunday. That’s usually how the Super Bowl goes. "What else hasn’t changed: It’s still one-way traffic on Seattle." Not only on the spread, but on the moneyline, which is unusual for the Super Bowl. The public bettingmasses often take the favorite on the spread or the underdog on the moneyline. "We have yet to see much New England moneyline come in. There are still more tickets on Seattlemoneyline, which is surprising," Feazel said, while noting he expects that to change over the weekend. "I anticipate there’ll be Patriots backers who would much rather take the +190 moneyline, as opposedto the +4.5." Indeed, the plus-money price on a New England upset is more attractive to the public. A $100 bet onPatriots +190 returns $190 in profit (total payout $290). A $100 bet on Patriots +4.5 (-110) nets $90.91in profit (total payout $190.91). Needs and Liabilities Based on action within the standard game markets for each team — spread and moneyline — the need ispretty clear for Caesars and several other sportsbooks across the nation. "We’re gonna need that Super Bowl middle. The Seahawks win, but don’t cover," Feazel said. However, also factoring in are the myriad Super Bowl prop bets. These days, there are more tickets anddollars on those props than on the game outcome itself. "You’ve got to beat specific props to have a good day. We’re trying to avoid there being a safety or thegame going to overtime, or a non-QB to throw a touchdown pass," Feazel said. Those three have always been popular with the masses, thanks to attractive odds. For example, on whetherthere’ll be a safety, the odds are Yes +1000/No -2000. A $100 bet on Yes profits $1,000, whereas it takesa $2,000 bet on No to profit $100. "You’ve got to beat the props customers love to bet, year in and year out," Feazel said. NFL Sharp Side Professional bettor Randy McKay weighed in last week on Super Bowl 60 prop bets. On the Yes/No ofwhether Patriots QB Drake Maye throws an interception, McKay took Yes -125. With game day approaching, McKay is weighing in on a side, although not for the full game. He betSeahawks -2.5 (-120) for the first half. "I feel like the Seahawks get off to a decent start in the game," McKay said, while noting his Seattlewager correlates to his Maye interception wager. "I think Maye struggles and throws his interception inthe first half." Pros vs. Joes Caesars opened the Super Bowl total at 46.5 and has been steady at 45.5 (Over -115) since Jan. 27.Feazel said there was sharp action on Under 46.5 and Under 46. "That’s the sharper angle, with two really solid defenses and two quarterbacks that nobody would rateas elite just yet," Feazel said. However, as noted last week, public money far outweighs sharp money. By kickoff Sunday, the masseswill be all over the Over — a classic Pros vs. Joes scenario. And as is almost always the case, bookmakers are on the same side as the sharp bettors. "At the end of the day, it’s the Super Bowl. We’re gonna need a lower-scoring game," Feazel said.

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The Big Picture: Why a 'Broken' Sam Darnold Had 'No Chance' At Success With Jets

A month before the New York Jets traded away a quarterback they once thought would be their savior, general manager Joe Douglas was gushing in his praise of Sam Darnold. He called him "a dynamic player … with unbelievable talent" and he raved about his "outstanding potential." In hindsight, of course, it seems like meaningless bluster — an executive trying to inflate the value of an asset he was trying to sell. Except it wasn’t. At least not completely. "It wasn’t a lie, I don’t think," a former Jets assistant coach told me recently. "We really liked him. The timing and circumstances just weren’t right for Sam." In a nutshell, that’s the story of Darnold’s short, disappointing tenure in New York that began with enormous promise and ended in the perception of failure. And it’s why the Jets traded him away weeks before the 2021 NFL Draft, sending him on a winding road that ultimately led to Super Bowl LX. Over the past two seasons, including this one with the Seattle Seahawks, the 28-year-old Darnold has proven to everyone he’s always had the talent. It just never had a chance to fully develop in New York. That’s a very familiar story when it comes to Jets quarterbacks over the past 50 years, but Darnold was the one they thought would be different. In fact, it was a rare stroke of good fortune for their cursed franchise that Darnold fell in their laps in the 2018 Draft. They had been stumbling along with aging veteran quarterbacks the previous two seasons (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown) and traded three second-round picks to move up from No. 6 to No. 3 in the first round. But they thought they’d be choosing between Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen (they didn’t appear to have much interest in Josh Allen at the time) when they were on the clock. Then the Cleveland Browns surprised everyone by pivoting to Mayfield with the first overall pick. And when the New York Giants locked in on running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2, the Jets got their man. And they were thrilled to land the USC quarterback. Jets vice chairman Christopher Johnson, who was running the team back then while his brother, Woody Johnson, was serving as the ambassador to the United Kingdom, said at the time "I honestly think you are going to look back 20 years from now and say this is the moment the Jets shifted into a new gear, that they became a great team." Well, not quite. Things started off well enough for Darnold. He game-managed his way to a shocking 48-17 win in Detroit in the season opener of his rookie season (when, just a few months after turning 21, he became the youngest starter at QB since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger). He threw for 334 yards in a loss to the Dolphins the next week. All in all, his rookie season was typical of the ups and downs of a young quarterback. In 13 starts (he missed three games to a foot injury) he completed 57.7% of his passes for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. By the end of the season — particularly after a 341-yard, three-touchdown performance in an overtime loss to the Packers in Week 16 — everyone thought the arrow was pointed up. And then it wasn’t. Todd Bowles was fired after that 4-12 season and the Jets made the dubious choice of replacing him with recently fired Dolphins coach Adam Gase. Then Darnold missed three games early in his second season after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. He returned in Week 6 by throwing for 338 yards in a win over Dallas, but it quickly became apparent that the illness had taken its toll and Darnold just wasn’t the same. The next week was the infamous "ghosts" game, when he threw four interceptions in a 33-0 loss to the Patriots and NFL Films caught him on a mic admitting he was "seeing ghosts" as he tried to decipher Bill Belichick’s defensive scheme. He struggled with the fallout, and with picking up Gase’s offense, a lot over the next two years. His last season in New York was the worst. Darnold missed four games with a shoulder injury and clearly regressed, completing just 59.6% of his passes for 2,208 yards with 9 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 starts. "By that point, he was broken," the then-Jets assistant told me. "Everyone could see it. But we didn’t think he was finished when we got him. We just thought injuries and being on a bad team had really hurt him. I don’t remember anyone on the staff thinking he was a bust." In fact, when Robert Saleh was hired to replace Gase in 2021, he lavished huge praise on Darnold in his opening press conference — and he apparently really meant it. "He's got an unbelievable arm talent," Saleh said at the time. "He's fearless in the pocket. He's got a natural throwing motion. He's mobile. He's extremely intelligent. He's tough as nails. His reputation in the locker room is unquestioned." Multiple sources back then said Saleh "loved" Darnold and made that clear during the interview process. He and his staff would have been fine moving forward with Darnold in the fourth year of his NFL career. They even saw promise in his three-year numbers (59.8 completion rate, 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns, 39 interceptions) despite his 13-25 record. But there were other forces at play. Thanks to a 2-14 campaign, the Jets were holding the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft (after an 0-13 start, they won two of their last three games, costing themselves a shot at eventual No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence). And the more Douglas, heading into his second draft in New York, scouted the available quarterbacks, the more he fell in love with BYU’s Zach Wilson. Douglas also knew that days after the draft they’d have to make a decision on the fifth-year option on Darnold’s rookie contract, which would have paid him a guaranteed $18.9 million in 2022. Darnold had $4.6 million (and a $9.8 million salary cap hit) coming to him in 2021 already. And $28.7 million against the cap over two years would’ve been a huge commitment for a quarterback who was the lowest-rated starter in the league over his first three years. Douglas was open about that after the fact, calling the trade "an opportunity to hit the reset button financially, so to speak." Yet they discussed keeping Darnold anyway. Douglas even conceded that they liked him enough that if they hadn’t been picking so high, "We’d fully be comfortable moving forward with Sam." Saleh, according to sources, even pushed the idea of drafting a quarterback and keeping Darnold either as a bridge, or letting the two quarterbacks battle it out. "I do remember that," the assistant told me. "Though I’m pretty sure we all knew that would never work." That, of course, could have been a disaster, especially in the New York market, and it wouldn’t have made much sense financially either. And the coaches, as much as they liked Darnold, clearly understood. "I don’t remember a lot of fighting about it," the assistant coach told me. "There was a lot of respect for Sam and belief in his abilities. But in the end, I think everybody knew it was best to move on." There was a feeling around the NFL back then that it was best for Darnold, too. The Jets, at the time, were a bigger mess than usual and were seemingly dragging Darnold down with them. It didn’t help that he wasn't especially durable during those three seasons, missing a total of 10 games because of injury and illness. He was also about to play under his third head coach and offensive coordinator and in his third offensive system, and Douglas hadn’t exactly built a powerhouse around him. Darnold had yet to play with a single 1,000-yard receiver or rusher, all while scrambling behind dozens of different combinations along the offensive line. "That was no place for a quarterback to grow," an AFC scout who followed the Jets back then told me. "I honestly thought they had ruined him for good. But it was pretty clear he had to get out." So Douglas made the decision to shop him around — though he insisted at the time that he was only answering calls from other teams. He got immediate interest from the Denver Broncos, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Commanders. Douglas set the price of a second-round pick, modeling it after the deal the Arizona Cardinals got in 2019 when they sent Rosen to the Dolphins (for a second and a fifth) just one year after they drafted him 10th overall — seven picks after the Jets took Darnold. Once the Panthers met the asking price — sending a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft and second- and fourth-round picks in the 2022 draft to the Jets — the deal was done. One month later, the Jets drafted Wilson, swapping one presumptive franchise savior for another. That decision, of course, became just the latest in a series of disasters for the Jets. Wilson proved to be far worse than Darnold ever was (6,325 yards, 23 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, and a 12-21 record as a starter). The Jets actually moved on from him after two years when they acquired the aging Aaron Rodgers. Only Rodgers ruptured his Achilles four snaps into the 2023 season, giving Wilson a second chance in New York. It didn’t go well, of course, and Wilson was released after his third season. Saleh was fired just a few games into the following season, followed by Douglas about a month later, and then Rodgers at the end of the 2024 campaign. The Jets, in the five years since trading Darnold, have cycled through nine different starting quarterbacks. So, was trading Darnold a mistake? "I mean, in hindsight, sure," the scout told me. "But if you’re realistic, there was just no chance — no chance at all — that he was going to find any success in New York." Darnold didn’t find much success in Carolina either, but he showed enough in his 17 starts there that Kyle Shanahan brought him to San Francisco as a backup in 2023, two years after trying to acquire him from the Jets. He ended up in Minnesota a year later and had a breakout season, only to walk in free agency because the Vikings were committed to playing unproven top-10 pick J.J. McCarthy after drafting him No. 10 overall in 2024. This year, Darnold became only the second QB in NFL history to win 14 games in consecutive seasons — and he appears to have finally found his football home in Seattle. "We’re happy for him. Truly," the former Jets assistant told me. "It probably never would have happened with us. But he deserves it. One thing I think everyone in the organization agreed with is that he really was a great kid." "He’s a great example of two things: how an organization can ruin a quarterback, and why you don’t give up on talent," the scout told me. "It doesn’t happen with everybody, but sometimes these guys just need to get to the right place." In the Big Picture, we contextualize key moves and moments so you can instantly understand why they matter.

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2025 NFL Playoff Buzz: Seahawks DB Nick Emmanwori Suffers Ankle Injury

Only four teams remain in the postseason, but there's still plenty of news going on around the NFL. Of course, every bit of injury news involving the final four teams becomes even more crucial as we march toward Super Bowl LX. But the other 28 teams are already active in preparing for the 2026 season, with coaching changes occurring all around the league and teams deciding what to do with key players. Who's hurt? Who's practicing? Who might be on the move? Here's the latest on what's happening around the league: Seahawks defender hurt Seattle rookie safety Nick Emmanwori suffered an ankle injury at practice on Wednesday, per ESPN. Emmanwori walked off the field on his own, but the defensive back's status for Super Bowl LX is unclear. Across 14 regular-season games, Emmanwori totaled one interception, 2.5 sacks, 11 passes defended and 81 combined tackles. Patriots DC cancer-free New England defensive coordinator Terrell Williams has been deemed cancer-free, per NFL Media. Williams, who will be present for the team's Super Bowl LV matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, had been dealing with prostate cancer and stepped aside from his duties to get treatment in the wake of the September diagnosis, but he remained with the team. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr assumed defensive playcalling duties. Seahawks being sold? The Seahawks are expected to be put up for sale after Super Bowl LX, according to ESPN. Seattle's NFL franchise is owned by Jody Allen, the sister of the late Paul Allen, who bought the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million; the franchise stayed in the family after Allen's death. The Allen family is also in the process of selling the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, which the Microsoft co-founder bought in 1988. Bills get new offensive coordinator in Carmichael Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady began filling out his staff by turning to a former colleague in agreeing to hire Pete Carmichael as offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of discussions told The Associated Press on Friday. The 54-year-old Carmichael has been a long-time assistant under Sean Payton, including spending the previous two seasons as the Denver Broncos senior offensive assistant. It was during Payton’s time coaching New Orleans when Carmichael’s tenure overlapped with Brady. Carmichael was the Saints offensive coordinator when Brady spent the 2017 and ’18 seasons as an offensive assistant. The shakeup comes after the AFC's top-seeded Broncos' 10-7 loss to New England in the AFC championship game on Sunday. Carmichael’s extensive experience and connections to Payton are plusses for the 36-year-old Brady, who is making his head-coaching debut. Brady spent the past two-plus seasons as the Bills offensive coordinator before being promoted this week in replacing Sean McDermott, who was fired after nine seasons. Though Carmichael will serve as coordinator, Brady has already said he intends to continue calling plays for Buffalo’s Josh Allen-led offense. Packers hire Hafley replacement Green Bay has hired its new offensive coordinator, and it's a head coach from this past NFL season. Jonathan Gannon will take over the Packers' defense for head coach Matt LaFleur, who lost Jeff Hafley after he became the Dolphins' head coach. Gannon spent the past three seasons as the Cardinals' head coach, winning eight games in 2024 but seven total between his first and third seasons. Gannon spent two seasons as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2021-22 before taking the Cardinals job. He made the move from Indianapolis to Philly along with head coach Nick Sirianni. Steelers not trying to lure back Aaron Rodgers The Steelers are reportedly planning to hire former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, but it's not in an effort to retain four-time MVP Rodgers. However, the move isn't expected to hurt Pittsburgh’s chances of retaining the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who's deciding whether he wants to play next season. Dolphins get Jeff Hafley The Dolphins have landed one of the top head coach candidates in this coaching carousel cycle. Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Hafley has reportedly reached an agreement to become the Dolphins' next head coach. This will mark the 46-year-old Hafley's first head coaching job in the NFL. Hafley has been Green Bay's defensive coordinator the past two seasons, a stint preceded by being the head coach at Boston College from 2020-23. Miami recently hired long-time Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as its new general manager; Hafley and Sullivan worked together the last two years in Green Bay. After another season of failed expectations in which the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year, they enter another offseason of uncertainty, starting with who'll be their starting quarterback in 2026. Tua Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games of the season because of poor play. Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million for 2026, and the Dolphins would incur significant hits to the salary cap by releasing him. Releasing him next year would result in a $99 million dead cap charge. If the move is designated as a post-June 1 release, those charges are split over two years, with $67.4 million allocated to the 2026 cap and $31.8 million in 2027. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold will play Sunday The Seahawks' most recent injury report lists Darnold as having no injury designation heading into the 2026 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams despite him being limited in practice all week. Seattle's starter was previously questionable to play in the team's divisional-round matchup with an oblique issue. In the regular season, Darnold totaled 4,048 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 99.1 passer rating, while completing a career-high 67.7% of his passes. The Seahawks went 14-3, which ended with them beating the San Francisco 49ers on the road in Week 18 to clinch the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Event Odds NFL - Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks - 01/25/2026 football/nfl/events/11035 oddsSixPack Veteran WR Adam Thielen retires Thielen announced his retirement after 12 seasons on Jan. 14. A two-time Pro Bowler, Thielen spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings (2014-22), followed by a two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers (2023-24) and splitting the 2025 season with the Vikings and Steelers. He totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in three seasons (2017, 2018 and 2023) and double-digit receiving touchdowns in two seasons (2020-21). Update on two-way star Travis Hunter Despite an injury-shortened rookie campaign, the Jacksonville Jaguars intend on having the wide receiver/cornerback play both ways again in 2026, ESPN reported on Jan. 14. Hunter's 2025 season ended after seven games due to a knee injury. Hunter, whom the Jags traded up to select with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, totaled 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. Hunter logged three passes defended and 15 combined tackles as a defensive back. Jacksonville went 13-4 and won the AFC South before losing to in the wild-card round. Packers HC Matt LaFleur gets extension The Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur have reportedly agreed to a multiyear contract extension. While the details of the deal aren't public, it confirms LaFleur will remain in Green Bay for his eighth season following the Packers' narrow loss to the Chicago Bears in the NFC wild-card round. LaFleur had one year remaining on his contract, and it had been reported that the Packers would either extend the longtime head coach or move on from him this offseason. In the first seven years under LaFleur, Green Bay went 76-40-1, missing the playoffs just once. However, 2025 marked the third year that the Packers got the No. 7 seed in the NFC, and LaFleur is 3-6 in the playoffs. Raiders DE Maxx Crosby has meniscus surgery Crosby went through successful surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee in early January. He will have six months to recover before NFL training camp starts. Crosby missed the Raiders' final two games of the 2025 season after posting 10.0 sacks and 73 tackles in 15 games. Falcons QB Kirk Cousins moving on? The Falcons have agreed to modify the final two years of Cousins' contract, per ESPN and The Athletic. According to reports, the move will likely lead to the Falcons releasing Cousins by the third day of the 2026 NFL league year on March 13, as it is unlikely any team would look to trade for him given his contract. As part of the restructure, Atlanta converted Cousins’ 2026 salary from $35 million to $2.1 million and moved the remaining $32.9 million to his 2027 base salary to increase the figure to $67.9 million. His 2027 salary would become guaranteed if he's still with the team by March 13, while releasing him with a post-June 1 designation would cost the Falcons a dead cap hit of $35 million that can be split into payments of $22.5 million in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027. Cousins, who started eight of his 10 games played this season, will play in his 15th season in 2026. The veteran signal-caller led the Falcons to a 5-2 record in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr. (torn ACL) to end the year, completing 61.8% of his passes for 1,471 yards, 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions in that span. Von Miller back with Commanders in 2026? The Commanders had the NFL's oldest roster this season, but one of their key veterans has expressed an interest in returning in 2026. Miller announced that he'd like to continue playing at least one more season and would prefer to stay in Washington. Miller, who signed a one-year deal last offseason, will turn 37 in March, the same month he will also be a free agent. The 2025 campaign was Miller’s first full season since 2018. He started three of his 17 games played and accumulated 9.0 sacks, 26 tackles and six tackles for loss. "I think I proved to myself I can play another year," Miller said, per NBC. "I want to be here, but I’m not in a position to start making demands and saying where I want to play and where I want to be at. Whoever wants me, that’s where I’ll be. … I would love to be a Commander. … [Head coach Dan Quinn] does a great job of keeping me healthy and ready to go as far as vet days and rest, and I would love to be able to run that back." Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles confident in 2026 return Bowles isn’t worried about his job security after an epic collapse by the Bucs. Everything unraveled after a 6-2 start, and the Buccaneers (8-9) failed to win their fifth consecutive NFC South title. Bowles had led Tampa Bay to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons after replacing Bruce Arians in 2022. He has three years remaining on his contract, and he’s operating as if he’ll return for a fifth season. "I’ve earned the chance," Bowles said about coming back. "I’ve won three straight division titles, so that says a lot as far as I’m concerned. I don’t really have a message for fans other than true fans are true fans, and we’re going to try to do our best to go out there and win for them. They’re going to feel how they feel, but that’s not a coach’s problem. The coach’s problem is to make the team better and that’s all I’m looking forward to. "I feel like we had enough talent to win. The mistakes we made weren’t talent-driven; they were more mistake-driven." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!

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Titans QB Cam Ward on OC Brian Daboll: 'He's Going to Hold Me to High Standard'

New Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh — who was previously the head coach of the New York Jets from 2021-24 in between two stints as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers — brought another former head coach with him to Nashville as his offensive coordinator: former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Cam Ward is pumped to have Daboll in his corner. "I had a good interview process with him throughout the draft season last year, and I think he's going to do a lot of things to compliment me. I think he is going to put me and the team in the best situation," Ward said about Daboll, who scouted Ward during the 2025 NFL Draft process on the Giants, according to the Titans' team website. "He is a coach who is well respected, and someone like me wants to play for a guy like that. I am for sure going to have his back, and he is going to have mine. I am excited to learn from him. … "Having a coach like Daboll, who is going to listen to me, and give me feedback from the film room to the field and put his game plan in each and every week. That is why I am excited to be heard by him, and it is going to get some wins for us." Daboll comes to Tennessee after being the head coach of the Giants from 2022-25 and the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills from 2018-21. Beforehand, as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, Daboll was the playcaller for future NFL quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa on a 2017 Crimson Tide team that won the College Football Playoff National Championship. In Buffalo, now-superstar quarterback Josh Allen had Daboll as his offensive playcaller for the first four years of his career (2018-21). Then, in New York, Daniel Jones posted the best completion percentage (67.2%) and passer rating (92.5), the most rushing yards (708 yards) and rushing touchdowns (seven) and fewest interceptions (five) across his time with the Giants in his first season under Daboll (2022). This season, Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart posted a 93.5 passer rating, threw for 1,417 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 317 yards and seven scores in the seven starts that he made before Daboll was fired; the Giants reached the NFC divisional round in 2022, Daboll's first season at the helm, but they then went a combined 11-33 before firing the head coach after the team's 2-8 start to this season. Ward loves the way that Daboll is wired. "I like that he is a fiery coach," Ward said of Daboll. "He is going to get on my ass when he needs to, and he is going to hold me to a high standard. And that's the standard I want to be held to. … I want a coach like Coach Daboll who is going to be the same each and every day. He is going to let me know the real, and I just have to respond." As for Ward, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a 2024 Heisman Trophy Award finalist at Miami, started all 17 games for Tennessee in his 2025 rookie campaign. Ward totaled 3,169 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions and an 80.2 passer rating, while completing 59.8% of his passes. He also rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee was 30th in the NFL in passing yards (166.1 per game), rushing yards (93.5 per game) and points (16.7 per game) and 31st in total yards (259.6 per game) this season. Fortunately for the Titans, who went 3-14 for a second consecutive season in 2025 and fired head coach Brian Callahan after a 1-5 start and a combined 4-19 record since he took over for the 2024 season, they have the most cap space in the NFL this coming offseason (roughly $100 million), the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and their own selection in each of the first four rounds.

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Super Bowl LX: How Sam Darnold's Golden Retriever Energy United Seahawks Around Him

San Jose, Calif. — Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers had known Sam Darnold since the time he entered the NFL as a rookie first-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 2018. So, when Myers learned Darnold had signed with Seattle in free agency, the two Southern California natives decided to connect a few weeks later for a round of golf at The Bridges Golf Course in San Diego to discuss their new squad. Myers soon discovered Darnold hadn’t changed much since entering the league seven years earlier. However, that resilience hardened through tough times over five NFL stops and led to a breakthrough this season for the USC product. Darnold’s been one of the primary reasons for Seattle reaching the Super Bowl again for the first time in 11 seasons. "It was not a shock when he walked into the locker room and clicked with everybody," Myers told me. "That’s what makes Sam great — he’s the same person. Sam’s the same guy every day, no matter what the situation is." Seahawks general manager John Schneider told me that during the offseason, Darnold committed to holding walk-arounds in the locker room — setting up one-on-one conversations with players to get to better know his teammates and build connectivity within the team. It’s a reason players didn’t flinch when Darnold struggled, publicly backing up their quarterback like Pro Bowl linebacker Ernest Jones IV's profanity-laced affirmation of Darnold after he threw four interceptions in a midseason road loss to the Los Angeles Rams. "He has this self-awareness," Schneider told me. "A team awareness through self-scouting. In the offseason, he really wanted to focus on team building — building relationships and continuity. "He has these walk-rounds, with guys getting to know each other. It’s the ultimate team sport. The Xs and Os aside, he really wanted to focus on 12 as One and what that means. And that’s guys playing for each other and loving each other up." With an up-close look at Darnold’s relationships inside the locker room, quarterback Jalen Milroe echoed those comments from Schneider. "I did the same thing when I was at Alabama," Milroe told me. "You’ve got to know your guys on the team. It takes all of us, and he understands that. He’s done a really good job of dealing with all the guys on the team, on offense and defense." Darnold finished with a league-high 20 turnovers during the regular season. But undaunted, he played his best football in the postseason, completing 70% of his passes and throwing for nearly 470 yards, with four passing touchdowns and no interceptions, for a league-best 122.4 passer rating. "It’s just being true to who I am," Darnold said at the podium at Opening Night. "I’m not trying to be anymore than that. I’ve never been much of a rah-rah guy, but if something needs to be said in front of a group, I’m not afraid to do that. "I think it’s just understanding who I am as a person. And I think over the past eight seasons in the NFL I’ve done a better job of continuing to learn myself in that way." Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck certainly knows what it takes to lead a team to the Super Bowl after joining a new team in the middle of his career. Hasselbeck helped the Seahawks reach Super Bowl XL 20 years ago, breaking through in his fifth season in Seattle. But Hasselbeck recognized that there are multiple ways a quarterback can rally a locker room around them, noting that he was a different type of leader than Darnold when he played in Seattle. "He just kind of seems like a golden retriever, where I’m probably more like an otter," Hasselbeck told me. "With a golden retriever, you just need like one or two best friends, and you’re comfortable staying by them, having these intimate, deep conversations. "I’m a little bit more like, 'Yo! Fire pit I my house tonight and everybody’s invited.’ Whoever shows up, shows up. And I’m going to kind of know all of you a little bit. And that’s going to be our normal deal. Who wants to play pick-up hoops? Who wants to play horse? Shaun Alexander and myself, we were the otters. And there were some beavers, there were lions — it takes all types." While Darnold might be a golden retriever in his leadership approach, he might played like a lion in the NFC Championship Game. He threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, and Hasselbeck pointed to that performance as another step in Darnold's growth. "In the 49ers game, he didn’t throw for 200 yards and didn’t turn the ball over," Hasselbeck told me. "But then he played in the NFC Championship Game, and that wasn’t the assignment. The assignment in that game is we’re going up against the MVP (Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford), with two amazing wide receivers and a tight end that’s a problem. We need you to cut it loose, but we still need you not to turn the ball over. "We need you to run, and if you get a 1-on-1 with No. 22 (Rashid Shaheed), take it. Anytime JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) has a 1-on-1, take it. That’s the mindset. And he answered. It was like, just play free." So, even though Darnold’s leadership style may be different, his teammates have been united in their support of him. Because of that, Darnold has served as a catalyst for why the Seahawks are playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday. "I don’t think one leadership style is necessarily better than the other," Hasselbeck said. "But I think what I’ve seen from Sam, he doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. He seems really genuine. And you can tell that the locker room really respects him and loves him."

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2026 Super Bowl Odds: Brief History of the Novel Octopus Prop Bet

There’s a veritable sea of Super Bowl prop bets available at sportsbooks across the nation. So perhaps it’s only natural that the Octopus has found its place in that ocean. What’s the Octopus, you might ask? It’s when a player scores a touchdown, then scores the subsequent two-point conversion. So, one player scoring eight points on the same drive. Thankfully, Mitch Goldich did back in 2018, while working for Sports Illustrated. On a fine fall football Sunday, Goldich saw something that piqued his interest during the Panthers-Commanders game. So he tweeted about it. "There should be a cool name for what Torrey Smith just did. … What should we call this?" Goldich’s friend, Mike Wallace, suggested Octopus. And the legend of the Octopus has taken off ever since. 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. Eight-Point Play It was Oct. 14, 2018. Carolina was on the road against Washington, and the Panthers trailed 20-9 in the fourth quarter. With 8:32 remaining, Torrey Smith caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Cam Newton, pulling the Panthers within five at 20-15. An extra point would still have Carolina down four and needing a touchdown. So the Panthers went for two, and Newton again connected with Smith to make it 20-17. That prompted Goldich’s tweet, his buddy’s suggestion and ultimately, another way to bet on the NFL. Over the past few years, the Octopus’ popularity has climbed. Each year, more sportsbooks add this Yes/No market to their Super Bowl prop bets menu. The Octopus will surely be well-bet for Sunday’s Patriots vs. Seahawks showdown. "I think the prop is here to stay," Goldich said. "These things seem like they only move in one direction, and places like to have as big a prop menu as possible. So as more people learn about it, I'd be surprised to see it stop getting offered." One Date With Eight So far, the Octopus has only cashed in one Super Bowl. In the 2022-23 season finale, Eagles vs. Chiefs played out in a way that created the opportunity. Trailing 35-27 in Super Bowl 57, the Eagles got a Jalen Hurts 2-yard TD run with 5:15 remaining to draw within 35-33. Going for two to tie the game was a no-brainer. And Hurts ultimately ran it in, securing the first Super Bowl Octopus (Philly still ended up losing 38-35 on a final-second field goal). "It just began as this silly little thing, and it’s grown to where it actually happened in the Super Bowl. And I was in the stadium," Goldich said, noting he won that Octopus bet at odds of +1400 (14/1). Side note: I won on Hurts’ Octopus, as well, and celebrated with fellow FOX Sports betting analyst Sam Panayotovich, among others: However, the Octopus didn’t hit in Super Bowls 58 or 59, and the 2025-26 season has seen a dearth of Octopi. "There were only three all season, which is the fewest since 2011," Goldich said, noting there’s now an Octopus tracker available. By contrast, the 2024-25 season saw the Octopus occur eight times, though none in the playoffs. Just Say Yes Mind you, betting Yes on the Octopus is not enticing to sharp bettors. It’s a square bet, no question. It rarely hits, and as noted above, it’s only happened once in the Super Bowl. But when it does deliver, the payout sure is nice. In Super Bowl 60 odds, The SuperBook has the Octopus prop at Yes +1600/No -6000. A $100 Yes bet would net $1,600 in profit, while it would take $6,000 on No just to win $100. "People do play the No, but that’s not how I want to live my life," Goldich said. So, can Patriots-Seahawks generate the rare Octopus? "It's so hard to handicap the chances in one game," Goldich said. "The total is a little low (45.5), which you'd think would mean fewer chances for one. But if a team kicks two field goals, they may want to go for two to make up a point they need. "Odds say no, but I've shared my philosophy: I hit it at 14/1 in Super Bowl 57. So even if I lose the bet 14 years in a row, I can still say I broke even." As can I. So I’m on Octopus Yes +1600. For the second time in four years, let’s hope eight is great.

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