2026 NFL Top 10 Quarterback-Head Coach Combinations: Which Duo Holds The Title?

Who are the top 10 pairs of quarterbacks and head coaches in the NFL? With the regular season just around the corner, the landscape across the league is shaped by the partnerships between head coaches and their signal callers. With offensive production remaining high and the competitive parity tightening in both conferences, identifying the top leader-and-passer highlights which teams are well-equipped to make a run in the postseason. On Tuesday's edition of The Herd, FOX Sports analyst Colin Cowherd provided his list of the top 10 head coach and quarterback combinations across the league. He made sure to highlight that the top tier of talent is expanding while the bottom is shrinking. Before establishing his top ten, Cowherd shared three pairings he labeled as honorable mentions that sit just outside the top 10. Cowherd ranked Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Bo Nix slotted in at 13 following an unusual year of tight margins. "Sean Payton and Bo Nix at 13, who I like," Cowherd said. "But those guys trailed in 15 games last year and won 14 of them. That historically will never happen again." Cowherd ranked Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen as the 11th ranked pairing, while Baltimore presents a unique situation as Lamar Jackson enters year one with head coach Jesse Minter. "I have Lamar Jackson at 12. But he's got a first-time play caller, so I'm not sure about that," Cowherd added. To officially begin Cowherd's list, the San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy come in the tenth spot. The partnership has yielded high-level offensive production, though durability and supporting cast availability have impacted their trajectory over the past year. Despite playing without key skill talent at times, the 49ers have maintained an efficient scoring output whenever Purdy operates Shanahan's system. "I put Shanahan and Purdy at 10," Cowherd said. "They averaged 28 a game together, but again, no Christian McCaffrey. I think Purdy is largely driven by Shanahan's play calling and McCaffrey's greatness, but he deserves credit. When he came back off his injury, Brock was excellent, so I would put them at 10." Purdy proved his resilience following his injury recovery, confirming that while Shanahan's play calling sets the floor, Purdy's execution keeps the offense performing among the league's statistical leaders. Cowherd ranked the Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady and quarterback Josh Allen in the ninth spot. While Brady was recently promoted from offensive coordinator over the offseason, the time the two have spent together is comparable to other coach-quarterback pairings across the league despite Brady never having served as a head coach. Allen's individual ability and scoring output remain a benchmark for elite play, having posted six consecutive seasons with at least 35 total touchdowns. "Now I don't know if Joe Brady's going to be a great head coach," Cowherd said. "I do know that when they've worked together as quarterback and coordinator, they average 29 points a game, and Josh Allen on an annual basis, six straight seasons with 35 touchdowns. So I would put them lower than many would. We just don't know if the coordinator becomes a great coach, but we know the offense will be productive." The raw offensive output guarantees high-level execution every week, even as long-term questions persist about coordinator transitions. The Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Loveland are at number eight on Cowherd's top 10. LaFleur has quietly built one of the most successful starting stretches for a head coach in league history, registering 76 victories over his first seven seasons. That total represents the second-most wins by any NFL coach in his initial seven-year window. "The often beleaguered Matt LaFleur, Jordan Love, who get a lot of criticisms, but LaFleur has won 76 games in seven years," Cowherd said. "That's the second most of any coach in his first seven years of all time. LaFleur can coach." While critics point to occasional slow starts or team execution, Love delivered under postseason pressure even in defeat. "When they lost that Bears playoff game, he had four touchdowns, no picks, and threw for 323 yards," Cowherd said. "He's not the problem. Micah Parsons' injury; they had no pass rush, and Caleb Williams had more time to throw." Cowherd has the Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff in the seventh spot. Over the past three seasons, Campbell and Goff have assembled the highest win total and highest scoring average of any head coach and quarterback combination in the league. That success persisted even through changes to the coaching staff. "Dan Campbell and Jared Goff would be seven," Cowherd said. "They have the most wins and the highest scoring average by any NFL coach quarterback combo in the last three seasons. And it should be duly noted that their coordinator last year didn't work out as planned. So they're just, these two work together. You get kind of the gruff toughness of Campbell, the alpha, and kind of the, I would say, more chill, laid-back persona and experience of Jared Goff." The pairing balances executive draft success with a complementary mix of coaching intensity and quarterback composure. Following a big turnaround season that resulted in a Super Bowl berth last season, Cowherd ranked head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye in the sixth position of his list. Maye established himself quickly among the league's top passers-by finishing the year first in completion percentage and passer rating, serving as the central engine for one of the league's most improved rosters. "Vrabel and Drake Maye got to a Super Bowl," Cowherd said. "Drake Maye led the NFL in completion percentage passer rating. Those are two important numbers, and he's only getting better. To me, he's the East Coast Justin Herbert. Big, smart moves, arm throws downfield, highly accurate. They were, by the way, the most improved team in the league in some time." Maye's combination of arm talent, field vision, and accuracy gives Vrabel a foundational signal-caller capable of sustaining success over the coming years. Cowherd ranked the defending champion Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and quarterback Sam Darnold fifth in his top 10. Macdonald guided Seattle to a Super Bowl championship while achieving historical postseason efficiency. Seattle became the first team in NFL history to navigate an entire postseason run without turning the ball over once. "Macdonald to me is arguably the second best coach in the league after McVay," Cowherd said. "He's outstanding, first team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl and have zero turnovers their entire postseason. Mike Macdonald is a defensive coach, but really seems to understand the offensive side of the football." Darnold provided steady playmaking, racking up 28 victories over the past two years, the highest two-season win total by any quarterback playing for two different franchises in league history. Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams hold the fourth spot after becoming the ultimate comeback crew in 2025. The duo set an NFL single-season record with six comeback victories when trailing with two minutes or less in the fourth quarter, powering Chicago into a top ten scoring unit and making Cowherd a believer in the process. "Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, NFL single-season record, six comeback wins when trailing with two minutes less or less in the fourth quarter last year," Cowherd said. "They were the best late drive team in the NFL, top 10 scoring offense." Beyond the late-game heroics, Chicago has built an exceptional young offensive nucleus surrounding Williams, including Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland. "Their core group offensively: right tackle, left tackle, quarterback, tight end group, receivers, running backs, young and exceptional," Cowherd said. Cowherd has the Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert come in at number three. The tandem secured 11 victories in each of their first two seasons together despite Herbert operating behind inconsistent pass protection and enduring high sack totals. Herbert passed for over 24,000 yards through his first six NFL seasons, placing him second all-time in early-career passing yards. "Harbaugh and Herbert won 11 games in the first two years together, despite Herbert being the most sacked quarterback in the league," Cowherd said. "That almost doesn't make sense. Herbert has the second most passing yards, 24,000 plus, of any player through their first six seasons all time, and he's mostly had bad offensive lines. He's in that early Peyton Manning class where he is just crazy productive. But we're waiting for the playoff wins." The productivity places Herbert in rare company, with postseason advancement remaining the final benchmark. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes claimed the second spot on Cowherd's list. Despite facing periods of offensive inefficiency and physical setbacks over recent campaigns, Reid and Mahomes have maintained unmatched championship consistency. The tandem has appeared in five Super Bowls while working through ongoing offensive line reconstruction, featuring five different starting left tackles across those title runs. "Again, Mahomes has been inefficient the last two years, and he's coming off an injury," Cowherd said. "But they played in five Super Bowls with five different left tackles, so they got the left tackle they like. I think Walker, they've solved their running game." The ability to continuously retool the line while solidifying the ground attack around running back depth keeps Kansas City positioned at the top of the conference year after year. Cowherd ranked Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford in the top spot after Stafford's MVP season last year. Despite Stafford lacking mobile scrambling ability, the Rams offensive unit surrendered the fewest sacks in the NFL, demonstrating complete mastery of protection schemes, quick-game passing, and run-game balance. "Number one to me, and it's a pretty substantial margin, McVay and Stafford," Cowherd said. "What's amazing is Stafford is not a mobile quarterback, and yet they allow the fewest sacks in the league. It just they do everything right. They protect, they run. The tight end group is substantial. Devonte Adams, slot receivers. I think they've kind of separated in terms of ingenuity, creativity, culture building." The combination of McVay's creative offensive design and Stafford's performance during his MVP season last year has separated Los Angeles from the rest of the league.

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Super Bowl Expectations Are Real In Buffalo, But New Bills HC Joe Brady Is Ready

Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, New York) — Joe Brady’s predecessor took the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs and won at least 10 games in each of the last seven seasons. He won a playoff game in each of the last six years. He won 66% of his games overall. And yet he was fired because, in the words of Bills owner Terry Pegula, "I felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall, year after year." In other words, all those wins didn’t matter in the end, since he couldn’t get the Bills to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993. So no pressure, Joe Brady. All you have to do to be considered a success in your first year as the head coach of the Bills — and your head-coaching job at 36 years old — is win as much as Sean McDermott did, and then, when it really matters, win some more. You have been handed a championship-caliber team and you will be judged on that scale. In other words, fix what’s broken in Buffalo without breaking what’s already been fixed. No pressure at all. "I never felt pressure because I’m ready for this," Brady told me before practice on Tuesday morning at the Bills’ new home, Highmark Stadium. "I don’t think about the Super Bowl, but no one has higher expectations than myself. I knew why I took this job and I knew what came with it. That doesn’t mean I am talking about it every single day or that I can’t handle all that comes with it. But I’ll just be myself and everything will go from there." Brady may be young, but he’s obviously not naïve. He knows exactly what the expectations are in Buffalo. They are a loaded team, with a Hall-of-Fame-bound quarterback, good enough to be the class of the AFC. And they are an organization with a fan base that has been absolutely tortured by shocking playoff losses over the last seven seasons, which compounded the original sin of the Bills’ teams of the early 1990s that lost four straight Super Bowls and then never went back. They are starving for their first Super Bowl in 33 years, and they feel like the team is more than ready. So there will be no honeymoon for this first-year coach. The only way he’ll be viewed as a success is if he leads his team to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles in February. To his bosses and probably to most of Western New York, absolutely nothing else will do. "I hope the city wants that. I hope the players want that," Brady told me. "But I don’t listen to it. I don’t feel any more pressure because I have high expectations for myself." Maybe he really is "Joe Cool" and doesn’t feel the weight of the expectations. But that doesn’t necessarily make the job any easier. Brady was on McDermott’s staff for the last four years, serving as his offensive coordinator for the last two. So in a way, that makes him both part of the problems of the past, and part of the hoped-for solutions of the future. That’s a tough line to straddle, simultaneously selling himself as something old and something new and improved. "I don’t think it’s a tough balance for me, and I think it’s a natural transition for the rest of the organization and building," Brady told me. "There’s a component of ‘Hey, we’ve known him.’ Sometimes there’s a comfort level. But it was also important to me to come in and say, ‘Hey, we’ve never worked together. This is Year 1 with everything. Let’s figure it out together and not assume that it’s business as usual." That’s important, because "business as usual" in Buffalo has been good, but not good enough. This city and region are desperate for a championship. Really, at this point, they’d take one in any sport. But a Bills championship would just hit different here, especially for anyone old enough to remember Scott Norwood’s wide right kick in 1991 — a mere 16 months after Brady was born. "The fact that I’ve been here, you do envision it," Brady told me. "But I’ve never envisioned it for myself. Everything I do is because I want to see a guy like Josh Allen hold the trophy. I want to see Dion Dawkins, guys that have been here for a while, and knowing what it means for the city. It has nothing to do with me." The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder announced his presence last season as one of the best backs in the NFL when he led the league with 1,621 rushing yards and ran for 12 touchdowns, too. And since his offensive line returns intact after a dominant season last year, there’s absolutely no reason to think Cook can’t do it again. Cook and Josh Allen really are a perfect 1-2 punch. They combined for 2,200 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns last season, and they play off each other perfectly. It’s impossible at times for a defense to guess which one is going to run. And because they’re both seemingly unstoppable at times, they have to be ready on all downs for both. And that’s even more important late in the year when the weather starts to turn, especially in Buffalo. That’s why getting home-field advantage in the playoffs is so important for them. They don’t just get an advantage from the crowd. They get an advantage from their style and from the power of Cook, too. "The grass is definitely soft. It breaks up a little bit. But it feels amazing. It feels like your body is running in clouds." — Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer on the grass field at Highmark Stadium, which in one recent report was described as "ass." Yes, this really could be their year! The biggest shame about the Bills’ failure last season was that their white whale was finally beaten. The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t make the playoffs. The Bills’ path to the Super Bowl was clear. So when they went down to the Denver Broncos, 33-30, in the divisional round of the playoffs, it was one of the most disappointing defeats in the Bills' storied history of disappointing defeats. So why should anyone believe this year should be any different? Because the Bills are better, for one thing. They still have Josh Allen and  James Cook, which is mostly enough. They added the best receiver they’ve had in years, even if D.J. Moore is fading a bit at 29. And they added Bradley Chubb to boost their pass rush. And a healthy Ed Oliver will help, too. That’s tinkering, more than splashing. The splash was firing Sean McDermott and promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach. Given his relationship with Allen, and how stale the Bills often seemed under McDermott, there’s a good chance that gives Buffalo a boost. And if they get that … well, the Chiefs are still down (though not for long once Patrick Mahomes returns to full strength), and the New England Patriots are about to get a smack in the face with a much harder schedule. There are challenges from teams like the Ravens and the Broncos, but the Bills could make a case that they are the class of the AFC. Whether they get to Super Bowl LXI is probably a matter of fate, which rarely seems to be on the Bills' side. But things do seem to be teed up for them this year. Of course, it looked that way last year, too. One last six-hour drive through the beautiful Finger Lakes, past Mirabito Stadium (home of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies), by the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company, through the Poconos, and home. By the time I get there on Wednesday morning, I’ll have traveled a little more than 1,900 miles over 10 days, making stops in seven football towns while visiting with nine teams and watching about 15 hours of football practices. I’ll have stepped onto a real-life holodeck in Berea, Ohio, learned that there is no more picturesque setting for a training camp than Latrobe, Pennsylvania, sat down for interviews with four head coaches, consumed immeasurable amounts of coffee, and became as convinced as ever that the Miami Dolphins are going to be terrible this year (I probably didn’t need to travel to Ashburn, Virginia, to learn that last part). Then, once I’m home, the three-week countdown begins to Opening Day.

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2026 NFL Top-10 Pass Rushers: Why Myles Garrett Will Become NFL's All-Time Sack King

Sorry to spoil the list for you, but following a year in which a player broke the NFL's single-season record for sacks, you can't name any other player as the league's top pass rusher. So, who is the NFL's best pass rusher after Myles Garrett? There are a lot of names worth considering for the No. 2 spot. Micah Parsons has been one of the league's most consistent pass rushers since he entered the league in 2021. However, he's coming off an ACL tear. Ascending players like Will Anderson Jr. and Aidan Hutchinson should also be considered, along with veterans like T.J. Watt. As we continue to rank the top 10 players at key positions ahead of the 2026 season, here are our top 10 pass rushers entering the year. Eric D. Williams: The Defensive Rookie of the Year two seasons ago and a Pro Bowler in his first two seasons in the league, Verse is adapting to new surroundings in Cleveland after being included as part of the blockbuster trade this offseason. Verse's former team, the Los Angeles Rams, traded him for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, making him the centerpiece of the package. While Verse has been among the league leaders in pressure rate since entering the league in 2024, he still only has 12 sacks in two seasons. Verse must become a more consistent closer to be considered among the elite pass rushers in the league. For now, though, he's in the top 10 as the Browns hope he can be a cornerstone moving forward. Ralph Vacchiano: The 31-year-old Steelers star is coming off one of his least-productive NFL seasons, and one in which Watt missed three late-season games due to a partially collapsed lung. And it’s possible, after nine NFL seasons, that a decline has begun. But given Watt's Hall of Fame-worthy track record, it’s hard to bet on that. His seven sacks in 14 games last season were definitely a downturn, and so was his pass-rush win rate of 11.7%. But he’s still had double-digit sacks in six of his nine seasons and can still be dangerous when he’s fully healthy. Watt could also be in line for a boost in the new, aggressive scheme of new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who plans to move Watt around more than he’s been moved in recent seasons. That could be enough to give Watt the jolt he needs to stay in the top 10 for another season or two before he heads to Canton. Greg Auman: The Broncos had 68 sacks last season — 11 more than any other NFL team — and Bonitto led the way with 14 sacks, six more than his closest teammate. The 26-year-old had 13.5 the year before and made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons. Denver rewarded him before last season with a four-year, $106 million contract, and he helped the Broncos earn the AFC’s top seed with a 14-3 record. A 10-7 AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots stung – it matched the fewest points allowed in a playoff loss in 28 years – and Denver will lean on Bonitto and the defense just as much in 2026 as they seek a trip to the Super Bowl. Vacchiano: In the midst of a miserable season for the Giants, the seven-year veteran re-established himself as a star with a career-high 16.5 sacks and a pass rush win-rate of 16% that ranked him just outside the top 10. Considering it was a down year for Burns' defensive line mates — defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence had just a half sack and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux played in only 10 games — his explosion was even more surprising. This year, Burns might have to share the wealth, with Thibodeaux plus young stars Abdul Carter and Arvell Reese (whom the Giants took in the last two first rounds) all figuring to be a part of New York's pass rush. But that’s the only thing standing in his way. He showed he’s still got the speed and explosiveness that made him so dangerous during his years in Carolina. He hasn’t slowed down at all at age 28 and should be a centerpiece of new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s scheme. Arthur: The 31-year-old Hunter may be the most underappreciated, dominant pass rusher of this era. He’s recorded double-digit sacks in seven of his 10 NFL seasons, but has never been a first-team All-Pro selection. The former third-round pick is playing some of his best ball late in his career, too. He’s had at least 10.5 sacks in four consecutive years, including 15 last season (third in the NFL), which earned him a second-team All-Pro nod and a one-year, $40 million extension this spring. He also forms one half of the league’s best edge rushing tandem with Will Anderson Jr. Henry McKenna: Last season, Hutchinson recorded career highs in sacks (14.5), QB hits (35) and pressures (90). That pressure total is the highest in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, and is often the most coveted statistic when you speak to pass rushers. Hutchinson has long been an ascending pass rusher since arriving in the NFL as the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 draft. But he has officially arrived as one of the NFL’s elite pass-rushers and defensive playmakers. He’s a defensive coordinator’s dream and an offensive coordinator’s nightmare. Williams: After the Baltimore Ravens rescinded a massive trade for his services due to a failed physical. Crosby returned to the Las Vegas Raiders recommitted to ushering in sustainable winning for this once-proud franchise. Even though he turns 29 years old later in August, Crosby remains one of the most feared and productive pass rushers in the league. A five-time Pro Bowler, Crosby has posted double-digit sacks in three of the last four seasons, totaling 44.5 sacks since 2022. McKenna: The Packers will do everything they can to get Parsons to the top of this list in 2026. The franchise traded a massive haul before last season to acquire Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys before Green Bay awarded Parsons with a massive deal. He then posted 12.5 sacks before suffering his season-ending knee injury. At some point in the first half of the season, Parsons will return. And even if he’s off to a slow start, he should be among the league’s most dangerous playmakers by the time the postseason rolls around. Arthur: Anderson will be a staple in the conversation for best edge rusher over the next several years. The 2023 No. 2 overall pick is already a complete player — he had 48 pressures on just third downs alone in 2025, the most by any player in a single season in at least eight years (!). His 20 tackles for loss tied for fourth among edge defenders, which shows that he wreaks at an elite level against both the pass and the run. Anderson’s sack, TFL, forced fumble and pass breakup numbers have improved in each of his three seasons as well. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last year. Just 24 years old, Anderson is a young superstar who is still getting better at an exponential rate. Bucky Brooks: The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is a destructive force off the edge, exhibiting an array of power and finesse maneuvers that keep blockers guessing in their stances. Garrett’s dominance and consistency as a sack artist, despite previously playing for a team that is routinely in "catch-up" mode, speak to his efficiency and effectiveness in hounding quarterbacks in less-than-ideal circumstances. With the single-season sack record in hand (23) and at least 10 sacks in eight of his nine seasons, the future Hall of Fame inductee is a lock to take down Bruce Smith’s career mark (200) before he hangs up the cleats.

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2026 NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year Odds: Tyson Tumbles After Injury

When the initial NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds came out, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson had the fourth-best odds to win the award at +600, after the Saints selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft. However, after suffering a hamstring injury in a joint practice with the Jaguars, Tyson is set to miss about two months. As a result of the injury, Tyson's odds have tumbled. Let's check out the latest odds to win OROY at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 17. 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. Jeremiyah Love: +475 (bet $10 to win $57.50 total)Fernando Mendoza: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Carnell Tate: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Makai Lemon: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)De'Zhaun Stribling: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)KC Concepción: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Ja'Kobi Lane: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Carson Beck: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Denzel Boston: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Jordyn Tyson: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) Here's what to know about the oddsboard: Tyson's Tumble: The timetable for Tyson’s injury points to a return around the middle of October, meaning the rookie could be back against the Giants in Week 6. However, he is expected to begin the season on injured reserve and will likely miss the first portion of the year. While Tyson is not completely out of the running for the award, he will need a monster season once he returns to make up for the missed time. Over the last decade, the fewest games played by an OROY winner is 15, a mark shared by Justin Herbert in 2020 and C.J. Stroud in 2023. Love Affair: Arizona has found its new soulmate in the backfield, as Love is favored to win the OROY. He had 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing scores for the Fighting Irish last season, after having 1,125 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns the year prior. FOX Sports NFL analyst Rob Rang had this to say after the Cardinals made the pick: "Throw out the narrative about positional value. Love’s ability to immediately boost rookie coach Mike LaFleur’s offense justifies this selection. Frankly, GM Monti Ossenfort needed a slam dunk and Love should provide it. His creativity, elusiveness and breakaway speed have earned comparisons to NFL superstars like Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson from scouts traveling through South Bend for the past two years." In his first preseason game against the Raiders, Love had 11 carries for 58 yards and three catches for 14 yards. However, he suffered a high ankle sprain that will most likely sideline him for the remainder of the preseason. Despite the injury, Love remains the favorite at +475 to win OROY. What About Nando?: The first pick in this past NFL draft came as no surprise, with Mendoza landing in Las Vegas. He threw for 3,535 yards and 41 scores last season, winning both the Heisman and College Football Playoff title for Indiana. Said Rang, "An ideal fit for the Raiders, both from a physical and intangible perspective, Mendoza isn’t just the right pick, he’s the perfect one. His prototypical size, pre- and post-snap recognition and accuracy from both the pocket and on the move should make him a star in rookie coach Klint Kubiak’s offense. Even better, Mendoza has the composure on and off the field needed for a team based in a city with the many, varied distractions of Las Vegas." Mendoza is expected to start the season as the backup quarterback to Kirk Cousins. In his first preseason game last week, Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.

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Which Rookies Are Standing Out? 7 Takeaways From Week 1 Of The Preseason

Finally, after six months of no football, nearly all 32 teams got their first taste of game action this weekend, and while several stars and starters didn't play, many rookies made their unofficial NFL debuts. Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, who were the only quarterbacks taken in the first round of this year's draft, showed glimpses of promise over the weekend. So did Drew Allar, who quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Steelers to a victory over the Green Bay Packers. Those three quarterbacks were just a few of the rookies who made some headlines in Week 1 of the preseason. Now, with the first week of the preseason behind us, here are our takeaways. 1. Ty Simpson Offers Solid, Promising Performance Eric D. Williams: Simpson got the call for the Los Angeles Rams after Stetson Bennett started the first quarter in Saturday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs and didn't disappoint in three quarters of action, playing the rest of the game against back end of the roster players. Simpson continued to show command and comfort with Sean McVay’s offensive system. I watched him earlier in the week against the Dallas Cowboys in a joint practice, and Simpson showed well in the limited reps he got. He built on that performance against the Chiefs. Simpson finished 21 of 25 for 190 yards with two touchdown passes to running back Dean Conners and no interceptions. He also wasn't sacked, posting a 125.0 passer rating. Offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, calling the plays instead of McVay, did a nice job of tailoring them to accentuate Simpson’s movement skills and ability to throw on the run. Simpson completed a handful of throws on play-action passes and had a clean pocket most of the game. It’s a good start for Simpson, and we’ll see how he performs if he gets an opportunity to face ramped-up pressure against NFL starters as he competes with Bennett for the backup job behind Matthew Stafford. 2. Drew Allar Gives Steelers Hope For A Post-Rodgers Future Ralph Vacchiano: Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy is absolutely convinced they stole a first-round talent when they drafted Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round in April. And Allar backed up his coach’s big words last week with a stellar performance, completing 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns to go with a rushing score in a win over the Green Bay Packers. But Allar has done more than that to give Pittsburgh hope for its future, whenever the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers really calls it quits. He has had an excellent camp, showing off a strong arm and excellent decision-making skills. And McCarthy told me that three weeks into camp, Allar basically has been given the entire playbook. There’s nothing he couldn’t be asked to do. Now, no one in the Steelers' organization is willing to guarantee that the 22-year-old is their quarterback of the future. He’s not even likely to be Rodgers’ backup, an honor that probably will go to veteran Mason Rudolph. And technically, he still has to beat out Will Howard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, for a spot in the quarterback room. But Allar almost certainly will be a part of the team's quarterback conversation moving forward, and he will spend the next year (at least) learning at the feet of Rodgers. Whether the Steelers roll with Allar in 2027 or dive into the star-studded quarterback class in the upcoming draft probably depends on how this season goes, and where they fall in the draft order. However, Allar’s quick growth and early returns may give them a future option they didn’t clearly have before. 3. How Much Playing Time Is Too Much? Cardinals Find Out With Jeremiyah Love Greg Auman: No two NFL head coaches will answer the question the same way, but each team must decide how much — if at all — to play their best players in the preseason. Too little, you risk rust and ineffective play in the first weeks of the regular season, but too much, you take on a greater risk of injury. The Arizona Cardinals' offense, under new coach Mike LaFleur, had as good a first half as you could ask for against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, with three drives all resulting in touchdowns. Rookie running back Jeremiah Love, the third overall pick in the draft, was a big part of that, finishing the half with 11 carries for 58 yards and three catches for 14 yards. The 14 touches were more than most people expected him to get, including Love himself. But LaFleur liked the chance to get him comfortable and confident in adjusting to the speed of the NFL. "I like where he was at with the touches," LaFleur said after the game. However, the excitement was tempered by news that Love would miss a week with a "sore" ankle sustained as he was brought down on his last touch. Things have escalated, and Love has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain that will sideline him from the remaining two preseason games. It puts his status for their season opener Sept. 13 at the Chargers in question as well. Why the heavy usage a week after holding Love out of the Hall of Fame Game entirely? Another new back, Tyler Allgeier, played only six snaps compared to Love’s 24, and if any team should be wary of keeping their backs healthy, it’s Arizona. Last year, the Cardinals lost their top two backs — James Conner and Trey Benson — to season-ending injuries by Week 4, so their leading rusher (Michael Carter) had just 333 rushing yards, the lowest for any team’s leading rusher in six years. Love might be healthy for the opener and could still have a monster rookie season. He never had so much as 200 carries in a season at Notre Dame, so he could easily exceed that in a healthy rookie season. 4. Did Ravens Finally Hit On A Mid-Round WR? If They Did, It Could Change AFC Outlook Henry McKenna: It’s not like Lamar Jackson has been entirely unsupported. The Baltimore Ravens offense boasts Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and, before he defected in free agency, Isaiah Likely. But there have been times when — in the passing game — that has not quite seemed like enough. The more I’ve watched this Baltimore offense over the years, the more I wondered what the Ravens could be with legit playmakers at WR2 and WR3. Maybe — just maybe — that’s what the Ravens found in the 2026 NFL Draft. Baltimore selected USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane and Indiana wideout Elijah Sarratt, and both players have put together impressive camps, according to reports on the scene. So my eyes were fixed on that Ravens offense in preseason, even if Jackson wasn’t on the field. Because the rookies were. And they were terrific. In this weekend’s game, Sarratt led Baltimore in catches (six) and receiving yards (66). Lane finished with three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. That preseason production might not mean a whole lot if the receivers weren’t already showing promising signs in training camp. But their body of work has been really solid. That’s all the Ravens need from the rookies: reliability. If they can take some of the pressure off Jackson (and Andrews and Flowers), the entire Ravens offense should be better off. Certainly, with coach Jesse Minter running the defense, the defense should be just fine. There is no clearer candidate for a bounceback season than the Ravens. They missed the playoffs last year. If these young receivers are for real, though, I can’t imagine Baltimore missing two years in a row. 5. De’Zhaun Stribling Makes Loss Of Ricky Pearsall A Little Less Painful For 49ers Ben Arthur: Losing Ricky Pearsall before the season started marked a major blow for the 49ers, but they may be just fine production-wise out of the wide receiver thanks to rookie De’Zhaun Stribling. Stribling, who was taken by the 49ers with the first pick of the second round, shined in San Francisco’s preseason opener Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans with seven receptions on eight targets for a game-high 63 yards. The former Ole Miss standout gave the Titans’ starting secondary all kinds of fits, catching passes against each of Tennessee’s top three cornerbacks (Cor’Dale Flott, Alontae Taylor, Marcus Harris). Stribling’s most impressive play: a 32-yard, back-shoulder catch down the right sideline with Flott in tight coverage, setting up the Niners’ lone touchdown. With Pearsall (PCL) out for the year and Brandon Aiyuk (reserve/left squad) not part of the team’s plans, San Francisco will depend heavily on old receivers in 2026. Of the 12 receivers on its 90-man roster, seven are at least 29 years old, including Mike Evans (32), Deebo Samuel Sr. (30) and Christian Kirk (29). Stribling is much-needed young blood. And if the preseason opener is any indication, he’ll be a major contributor as a rookie. 6. Odell Beckham's Performance Not Big Enough To Match Cheers Vacchiano: The biggest cheer of the New York Giants’ preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings was the moment in the second quarter when Odell Beckham entered the game with the second team. It was a reminder of how popular he remains with the New York fans. Too bad those were really the only big cheers he got. The 33-year-old Beckham had a quiet two catches for six yards in his first game action of any kind since December 2024. It’s not that more was expected — this game was mostly about Beckham seeing action and getting some of his timing back. It’s that more was needed if Beckham has any hope of making the team out of camp. Beckham is in a difficult spot. He isn’t trying to just make the Giants as one of their six likely receivers. Since he doesn’t play special teams, he really needs to be in the top four to crack the roster. Assuming Malik Nabers is healthy, the top three spots are likely going to him, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields. And Darius Slayton and Calvin Austin seem likely to be two more. That doesn’t give Beckham an obvious avenue. And he’s not going to force Giants coach John Harbaugh’s hand two preseason catches at a time. Beckham did get open one other time in the game on a deep seam route, but the Vikings blitzed and quarterback Jameis Winston dumped the ball off underneath. It was a moment that would have electrified Giants fans in the stadium. Who knows if it would’ve done anything to increase Beckham’s chances of making the team. But he’ll need moments like that, and bigger performances than he had, to have any shot of sticking on the roster. And he’s running out of time to do it. 7. Cowboys Undrafted WR Camden Brown Makes Highlight Reel Plays Williams: The top of the Cowboys’ receiver room is set, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens arguably forming the top wide receiver duo in the NFL. Ryan Flournoy is also listed as a projected starter, and talented return man KaVontae Turpin will take another spot. But Brown, an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern, could be making a claim for one of those spots on the back end of the roster. Brown finished with three catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. Both scores were diving, acrobatic catches in the end zone, including a one-handed catch on a fade route. Brown made similar plays during the two training camp practices I watched the Cowboys in Oxnard and has been one of the most talked-about players in the team's camp. If he can figure out a way to contribute on special teams, Brown could have a chance to find his way on the back of the roster, or at least land on the practice squad.

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NFL Catchup: Rookie QBs Shine In Debuts, Another Donald Update, Cowboys Make A Splash

The first full weekend of NFL preseason action provided a pair of standout rookie quarterback performances while a pair of defensive linemen are making noise off the field. Los Angeles Rams rookie Ty Simpson and New York Jets rookie Cade Klubnik posted efficient outings, and the Cleveland Browns continued their quarterback rotation. Veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence announced his upcoming retirement over the weekend, and Sean McVay provided an update on Aaron Donald, who worked out with the Rams for the second time this month. Here's what you should know about what happened in the NFL this weekend. Rookie quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Cade Klubnik delivered strong initial performances during preseason games this weekend. Simpson completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a Los Angeles Rams victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. "I definitely felt more comfortable than I ever had coming into a game," Simpson said. It's certainly a promising showing for Simpson, whom the Rams surprisingly took with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as he's competing with Stetson Bennett for the backup role behind Matthew Stafford. Rams head coach Sean McVay liked what he saw out of his rookie quarterback. "I thought he took what the defense gave him," McVay told reporters following Saturday's game. "I thought he read the plays out, read with his feet. I thought he did a really good job overall. "I thought he kept the ball in play. That's the biggest thing: Keeping the ball in play." New York Jets rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik made a surprise start in Friday's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after starter Geno Smith was held out due to a sore ankle. Klubnik delivered, though. He led the Jets to scoring drives on both of his possessions, finishing 5 of 7 for 56 yards before handing over quarterback duties. "I was definitely excited," Klubnik told reporters. "I knew Geno was only going to play maybe eight to 10 plays and I was ready to go in early after that. "So in my mind, I just got to go in eight to 10 plays earlier." Smith is expected to be the Jets' starting quarterback for much of the season. However, if Klubnik, who the team took in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, continues to perform like he did on Friday, it's reasonable to think that he could make a push to start games at some point this season. In fact, our Ralph Vacchiano floated the idea that Klubnik could start games for the Jets this season after the first week of training camp. Deshaun Watson outshined Shedeur Sanders in the Cleveland Browns' preseason loss to the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Watson, who got the start, completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards with zero touchdowns or turnovers. Sanders, on the other hand, completed 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception. However, Browns head coach Todd Monken offered a measured perspective after the team's quarterback competition moved into live action on Saturday. "I do believe the season is a marathon," Monken said to reporters. "That marathon starts in Jacksonville. We are still in training." The Browns plan to start Sanders next week against the Buffalo Bills as the competition continues. "Again, I did feel going into last game that it was relatively close in terms of both having an opportunity at the starting position, so it would be unfair to not go into the next game and give Shedeur that same opportunity," Monken said. "We owe it to both players who have handled it well and competed at a high level." Aaron Donald took another step toward a potential NFL comeback on Sunday, appearing on the league transaction wire after completing his second workout with the Los Angeles Rams this summer. Rams head coach Sean McVay addressed Donald's potential return following Saturday's preseason victory against the Chiefs. "He's put himself in a position to be able to say yes or no," McVay said to reporters. "I think he's earned that right to have clarity on that. We're not at that point quite yet." McVay noted that internal discussions remain ongoing while Donald evaluates his physical benchmarks for the upcoming season. "I feel great about our football team as it currently stands, and I know he'll add value if he decides to come," McVay said. Veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence confirmed that the 2026 season will mark the end of his 13-year NFL career. Lawrence, who spent 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Seattle Seahawks, returned for one final campaign to defend Seattle's title. "This will be my last year," Lawrence told Yahoo Sports. "Through the grace of God, I'm able to play another year and soak it all up one more good time before I hang it up." A v Lawrence has racked up 503 tackles, 67.5 sacks, 146 quarterback hits, 108 tackles for loss, 24 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries in 157 career appearances (139 starts). Lawrence recorded six sacks during the regular season last year and added two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns. After spending the entire offseason revamping their defense, the Dallas Cowboys are still making some moves on that side of the ball. The Cowboys have signed eight-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Von Miller. The 37-year-old had a productive year for the Washington Commanders in 2025, logging nine sacks and playing in every single regular-season game for the first time since 2018. Miller is just one of many new faces on Dallas' defense this offseason. The Cowboys kicked off the offseason by poaching defensive backs coach Christian Parker from the Philadelphia Eagles to make him their defensive coordinator. They also traded for Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary and signed Los Angeles Rams cornerback Kobie Durant before using first-round picks on safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence in the 2026 NFL Draft. Just seven months after tearing his Achilles, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle remains hopeful that he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season. While Kittle has yet to practice in a full capacity in training camp, he expressed optimism that he'll be able to play in the Rams' season-opening matchup against the Rams on Sept. 10. "I have a chance," Kittle told reporters on Sunday. "We're running around a lot, hitting top speeds. Hopefully, we're back in pads practicing sooner than later. Just trying to check the boxes and not be a dumbass." Kittle also said he's "very confident" he won't open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List. If the 49ers placed him on the list, he would be forced to miss the first four games of the regular season. Kittle's comments are much-needed good news for San Francisco, which has been dealt a slew of injuries so far in training camp. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has already undergone season-ending surgery, while running back Christian McCaffrey has missed a week's worth of practices due to a hamstring injury.

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Why Mike McCarthy Still Sees a Championship-Caliber QB In Old Friend Aaron Rodgers

LATROBE, Pa. — Aaron Rodgers learned last season that he can’t outrun the clock. He’s slower in his 40s than he used to be. His arm strength isn’t there as consistently as it once was, either. It’s his mind, though, that really keeps him going at age 42, in his 22nd — and, as he vowed, his last — NFL season. It’s why his new (and old) coach, Mike McCarthy, is convinced they can make one more run at Super Bowl glory together. And it’s the quirky Rodgers’ best chance to out-maneuver the passage of time. "His mind’s incredibly sharp," McCarthy, the Steelers coach, told me before practice on Sunday at St. Vincent College. "But I’ll be honest with you, his ball play in this camp has been top-notch. Obviously, I’ve coached a lot of football with him, but his ability to place the football … I’m not saying he lost any velocity on the ball, but if he has, it’s definitely made up for with his anticipation. "So he’s getting the ball where it needs to be, on time. He’s having a hell of a camp." McCarthy would know. This may be his first season coaching his hometown Steelers, but he spent 13 wildly successful seasons as Rodgers’ head coach in Green Bay. They went to the playoffs eight times, won a Super Bowl together, and he helped Rodgers develop into one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. The late-career reunion between the 62-year-old coach and his former protégé has been "super cool," McCarthy told me. But it’s a lot more than just a trip down memory lane. He still sees Rodgers as a quarterback who can help him win. "It’s super cool, just to be able to be part of his final chapter. It’s awesome," McCarthy told me. "But I think he definitely fits the culture here. So yes, I think it’s a great story. "But I think we just want to win. Let’s go win and do the things that we need to do to win. And he’s such a competitor. I love the time, once we cross the white lines, when we get to just go out there and compete. And he is one of the greatest to ever play the game." Notice, he didn’t say "was" — a purposeful choice of words. Rodgers, by his own standards, was just OK last season, completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His age was showing, even as he dragged the Steelers to 10 wins and the AFC North title. He looked like a good quarterback overall, but not one capable of doing any of the magical things he used to do. But his mind, his processing skills and ability to see what others can’t in a defense, give him and the Steelers an enormous advantage. And that’s where the magic really happens, McCarthy said. "His mind is off the charts," McCarthy told me. "His anticipation and ability to throw people open, his instincts … and he also matches it with his release, the way he’s able to get the ball out of his hands so quickly and throw through the open window where (defenders) are running through. That’s the way you have to play and win in this league, because people are always covered. It’s the job of the quarterback to throw them open." Even in practice, it’s clear that Rodgers still does that better than anyone. He has the patience to let a play develop, the wisdom to see what is about to happen, and the skills to put the ball in the only place it can go. And after almost every rep on Sunday, he was talking to his coaches, receivers and linemen, explaining to them exactly what he saw. Whether it all translates into wins, a playoff berth, or even one last run at a Super Bowl, probably depends on Rodgers’ 42-year-old body, and whether he can keep it from breaking down. But don’t bet against that, even at his age, since he’s played near-full seasons in seven of the past eight years. And if he can do it one more time, then maybe — just maybe — his mind is what will matter most, and he and McCarthy have enough left for one more magical run. The Steelers' defense was middling last season (17th in scoring), but they did have a surprisingly potent pass rush. It was "surprising" because they got 48 sacks (sixth in the NFL) despite a down year from T.J. Watt, their longtime star. He had only seven sacks — just his third season not reaching double-digits (and his worst total in a full season). It’s safe to say Pittsburgh expected more when it signed him to a three-year, $123 million extension last July. So he really needs to show that his two-year statistical decline isn’t irreversible even though he’ll be 32 in October. Last season, his sack total was still the third-highest on the team. Imagine how potent the pass rush could be if Watt — who had 19 sacks in 2023 and 11.5 in 2024 — gets anywhere near his old form. The Steelers need that from the eight-time Pro Bowler. They know their quarterback will need as much support as he can get. Backing him with an aggressive, disruptive defense, preferably led by Watt, might be the best thing they could do to help Rodgers out. "I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I could win a Super Bowl. Once you lift that trophy up, there’s nothing else in this business." — Steelers coach Mike McCarthy told me Everything Is Riding On Aaron Rodgers’ 42-Year-Old Arm There’s a lot to like about this team that McCarthy inherited from Mike Tomlin. It’s the core of a team that won 10 games last season, after all. And they should get a boost from McCarthy. Nothing against Tomlin. He had a phenomenal record in Pittsburgh over the past 19 years. But it’s possible that what he was preaching probably got a little stale. To get that new-coach boost, McCarthy will need T.J. Watt to bounce back, so the defense can be a little bit more like it's used to being in the Steel City. And the addition of Dowdle, who McCarthy developed into an RB1 in Dallas, could give Pittsburgh the running game it was missing last year. But winning all comes down to the same thing it came down to last year. The Steelers have an old quarterback, who’s not quite what he used to be. And they need a lot from Rodgers at age 42. He’s still good and smart and capable of some big plays. But he’s not the one-man show that he was a decade ago, or the error-free maestro he was five years ago when he won back-to-back MVPs. He’s no longer even a top 10 quarterback in the NFL. Last year, he was good enough to lead this team to the playoffs. But this year, the division could be much tougher if Lamar Jackson stays healthy in Baltimore and Joe Burrow is around for a whole season in Cincinnati. Getting to 10 wins again could be quite the challenge for Pittsburgh. Eight seems like a more realistic goal. And finishing better than third in the division could be pretty tough, too. First of all, Cleveland rocks. I don’t care what people say about it, it’s always been an underrated city. OK, not always, but it certainly has become one. And I’m sure Berea, Ohio — home of the Browns — rocks, too. If only it had a football team to match. I’m sure new Browns coach Todd Monken thinks there’s something positive about the team he’s assembling on the shores of Lake Erie, and I’ll travel three hours through the hills of Western Pennsylvania and the Ohio valley to find out — apparently through a horrendous rain storm that is about to hit. (By the time I get there, by the way, I’ll have driven almost 1,400 miles on this trip. I think I’ve passed 1,400 Sheetz gas stations along the way, too. Not nearly as many Flying J’s, though, so it’s probably good that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam sold all those.) Anyway, back to Haslam’s Browns: Myles Garrett is gone. There’s still no viable quarterback in place. It’s hard to have faith in either Shedeur Sanders or what’s left of Deshaun Watson. But people have underestimated and overlooked Cleveland the city, so maybe we’re all doing it to the Browns, too? I doubt it. But I’m certainly on the lookout for positives. I’m just not expecting to see many at practice on Monday afternoon.

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