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The Pittsburgh Steelers released quarterback Mitch Trubisky after two seasons, the team announced Monday.In addition to Trubisky, the Steelers also released offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and punter Pressley Harvin III.The trio's release saves the Steelers $12.8 million against the 2024 salary cap, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo.The veteran signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent in 2022 and began the year as the opening-day starter before being replaced by then-rookie Kenny Pickett.A former second overall pick, Trubisky spent most of his final season with the Steelers as the No. 2 quarterback behind Pickett. He made two starts - both losses - in 2023 when Pittsburgh sidelined Pickett but lost the starting job to third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph after throwing two touchdowns to three interceptions.Okorafor was benched for rookie tackle Broderick Jones after a Week 8 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meanwhile, Harvin struggled with consistency, averaging 39.1 net yards per punt in 2023.Trubisky posted eight touchdown passes and 10 interceptions while accumulating a 2-5 record during his Pittsburgh tenure.The Steelers are expected to make significant changes to their quarterback room this offseason, with impending free-agent passer Ryan Tannehill on the team's radar, NFL Network's staff reports.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to terms with Mike Zimmer for him to become the club's new defensive coordinator, he confirmed to ESPN's Ed Werder on Monday."I'm excited and honored to be back with a great organization," Zimmer said. "I'm thrilled to work with Mike McCarthy, for whom I have had a ton of respect (for) in our NFC North days, and to do anything I can do to help the Joneses and the Cowboys."Monday's news arrives nearly a week after the former Minnesota Vikings head coach apparently agreed to join the organization. It also follows a report earlier Monday that Rex Ryan was still in the running for the role."Mike Zimmer's deal is not done yet," ESPN's Adam Schefter said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "They have reached out to Rex subsequent to that and they reached out to him ... (Sunday) just to say, 'Hey, any shot of this?'"Zimmer, 67, has remained out of football since he was fired by the Vikings after the 2021 season. He replaces Dan Quinn, who was named as the Washington Commanders' head coach on Feb. 1.The Vikings established a 72-56-1 regular-season record under Zimmer from 2014-2021. Zimmer is set to embark on his second stint with the Cowboys after previously working his way up from an assistant role to defensive coordinator from 1994-2006.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With no NFL team having ever won three straight Super Bowl titles, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes can't wait to have a shot at making history yet again after leading Kansas City to its second consecutive championship."It's legendary. No one's ever done it," Mahomes said Monday about going for a three-peat, according to NFL.com's Michael Baca. "We knew it's legendary to win back-to-back. I think eight other teams have done it. We had heard it all week."We had talked to the guys about it, and we felt like we had the best opportunity that we had ever had to go out there and do that and fell short the year before. So, all you can do is come back next year with a fresh mindset knowing it's going to be even harder. We got to continue to play our best football."The Chiefs topped the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII to become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004.Kansas City wasn't dominant all season and had ups and downs throughout the campaign, largely due to repetitive mistakes on offense. However, with help from a premier defense, Mahomes and Co. stepped up in the playoffs to lift its third Lombardi Trophy in the last five years.The Chiefs trailed for most of Super Bowl LVIII but ultimately prevailed, with Mahomes being named Super Bowl MVP for the third time in his career."I want to take the credit, but honestly, it was everybody," Mahomes said of the Chiefs' inconsistency in 2023. "I knew it was going to turn around, the way the guys worked. Whenever stuff got tough, especially in that receiving room or offensive line or whatever, or with me."Everybody came to work the next day, and we'll just get that extra work in. Let's do those extra things. And when you see that, you know it's going to turn around. Our defense kept us in that all year long."Coach Andy Reid recently said that his team's home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day "was a good wake-up call."Despite retirement speculation regarding Reid and Travis Kelce, the legendary coach and tight end have confirmed they'll return to the Chiefs to try to make history in 2024.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andy Reid isn't ready to declare the Kansas City Chiefs a dynasty, but he'll happily accept the label from others.Speaking at a press conference Monday morning, the Chiefs head coach said he'll let the media decide whether his team deserves to be called a dynasty after winning Super Bowl LVIII."Yeah, well, listen, it's history. How you write it will be how you write it," Reid said, according to Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons. "Whether it's a dynasty - we won't determine if it's a dynasty, you guys do. But I would tell you that it's as fine a group as I've been around, and I've been very fortunate, been around some great organizations, good teams. This group here and the organization are tremendous."If somebody said dynasty, tagged it onto it, I would be very proud of that."The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime Sunday to win their second consecutive Super Bowl championship and third in five years. The New England Patriots were the last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.Kansas City is now in a position to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat, though Reid isn't getting ahead of himself."You know, we'll see," he said. "We've got great competition in the AFC West. We just had some hirings, coaching hirings, and these guys are good football coaches with good quarterbacks, good teams. So, it's not going to just be easy."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The champagne hasn't yet dried on the Chiefs' second-straight victory celebration, but we're already looking ahead to next season.Oddsmakers opened the Super Bowl LIX betting market even before Kansas City won Sunday's big game yet again. But does knowing the Chiefs are the two-time champs change how the market feels about next season? In short, no.It's a little different this time around, though. The Chiefs were the Super Bowl LVIII favorites after defeating the Eagles in the final seconds of last year's game. But at the end of this year's final contest, Kansas City isn't atop the Super Bowl LIX oddsboard.Let's try to make sense of these extremely early odds using estimated market ratings from the end of each team's season.We'll use the last-known ranking for Joe Burrow's Bengals, Justin Herbert's Chargers, and Kirk Cousins' Vikings (though there's no certainty Cousins will return to Minnesota) since they all established their team's rating before season-ending injuries. Aaron Rodgers didn't have time to stabilize the Jets' rating, but his track record alone seems to carry enough weight with oddsmakers, placing New York 13th on the list.Lastly, since ratings are estimated off closing lines, playoff losses that might discredit a team's rating haven't yet been factored in. The Ravens, Cowboys, and Browns are all lower down the oddsboard than their season-ending power rating would suggest.With free agency and the NFL Draft on the horizon, there's plenty of room for these rankings to change, and we'll update them as necessary throughout the offseason.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan's opening play script (and first-drive scoring bets) fell apart with a fumble, but the 49ers' defense looked ready for the challenge of Andy Reid's game plan. As a result, a slow-starting Super Bowl LVIII needed a boost.For many of a certain age, Sunday's halftime show Usher'd us back to a place and time - in college bars and dorms in the early 2000s - when we were "Caught Up" in the rhythmic beat of youth.It was an all-too-brief, cheerful respite from a game that reminded us of that same era - in the shadows pre-PASPA repeal, with less institutional betting knowledge than we have now - when winning bets were hard to come by. The first half made it seem like every bet on the over was destined to fail and left a haunting feeling that we'd have to let things "Burn" if a minor miracle like overtime (Yes: +1100) didn't come.Anytime touchdowns... anytime now?Sure, Christian McCaffrey (-250) kept the world on its axis by scoring his usual touchdown (on a trick play - the first half's lone adrenaline shot). But all the usual suspects (Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Isiah Pacheco) were kept out of the end zone.If you thought you were playing it safe with scorers, the betting ledger in the anytime touchdown category looked more like a list of "Confessions" unless you had a second-tier option available around 8-to-1 (Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jauan Jennings, or Mecole Hardman).Hardman's game-winning score (as high as +6600 for the last TD) came dripping with irony after his near-fatal fumble in the divisional round sent him to the bench for all but one offensive snap in the AFC title game. The touchdown catch also perfectly capped a contest in which bad became good, down turned up, black felt white, and square was sharp.Square, don't careKelce didn't like that his dad grounded him for staying out past curfew with that woman with the guitar.At least that's what his first-half tantrum toward Reid might have looked like to a portion of the Super Bowl's "one game per year" viewership. Kelce's props - the "squarest" overs in all the land - were in big trouble when he was largely absent in the first half. It didn't matter, as he and Mahomes meticulously chipped away to go over all their pertinent totals, turning this recap's theme from "Everybody Lost" to "Just Us" (or at least it feels that way):PLAYER MARKET LINE RESULTPatrick MahomesPassing yards262.5Over (333)Passing TD1.5Over (2)Pass completions25.5Over (34)Pass attempts36.5Over (46)Rushing yards26.5Over (66)Travis KelceReceptions6.5Over (9)Receiving yards71.5Over (93)MVP almost got weirdWhat if the 49ers had won?Don't let the social media victory laps fool you, there was no "right side" in Super Bowl LVIII. Needing five quarters, the Chiefs won an often ugly toss-up. A San Francisco win would've left voters with an interesting Super Bowl MVP decision. McCaffrey's 80 yards in two stat columns might have swayed voters. But with throwing and receiving touchdowns, Jennings had the one-game resume to join the Super Bowl annals of flukey MVP winners. Sportsbooks would've loved him to be in this club since it wipes out all the bets on the sensible choices. It's like playing a Vegas roulette wheel and seeing the ball land on green quadruple-zero - a slot that nobody even knew was an option.The Chiefs also had an off-the-radar MVP candidate, as Harrison Butker (300-1) kicked his heart out. Making four field goals, including immediately topping Jake Moody's Super Bowl record-setter (kicking overs, anyone?), wasn't enough to get the nod and suggests it may never happen for a kicker.Instead, voters opted for Mahomes. As the greats do on off-nights when the door is ajar, he made the best of his good fortune, loitering long enough to take advantage of an accidental muffed punt (something unaccounted for on the endless Super Bowl prop menu) and a rare short field. Fittingly for this weird edition of the NFL's championship, a play in which nobody directly won or lost a prop bet was the game's turning point.Mahomes won MVP, validating what was, to be honest, technically a bad bet. Why bet Mahomes for MVP at +130 when you could back the Chiefs' moneyline at +110 (or better) and avoid exposure to Kansas City's metaphorical green spaces on the table?Bad beat?It depends on what number you got, but one of the most popular prop bets was supporting Brock Purdy to go over 12.5 rushing yards. Despite its early popularity after the Niners quarterback scampered all over the Lions in the NFC title game, Purdy's number came down to 11.5 as the Super Bowl neared.In what felt like a conservative mistake, Reid opted to kick the game-tying field goal with six seconds remaining rather than try one more play for the win. Butker's kick left a couple of seconds on the clock, and Purdy - sitting on 13 rushing yards - came out for a kneel-down for a 1-yard loss to send the game to overtime. He finished with 12 yards rushing.A contradictory gameMore notes on a contradictory box score for bettors:

Multiple San Francisco 49ers players admitted they weren't aware of the playoff overtime rules and that the team didn't strategize for extra time ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII."I didn't even know about the new playoff overtime rule, so it was a surprise to me," 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead said after losing 25-22 to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to ESPN. "I didn't even really know what was going on in terms of that."Niners fullback Kyle Juszczyk said he believed the club decided to receive the ball first after winning the overtime coin toss because that's how teams attack it in the regular season."I guess that's not the case. I don't really know the strategy," Juszczyk said postgame, per Lindsay Jones of The Ringer.The new playoff overtime format guarantees both teams a chance to possess the ball. If the clubs match scores on their first drives, the first team to get the next point wins. In the regular season, the game ends if a team scores a touchdown on the first overtime drive.The 49ers kicked a field goal on their opening possession of Sunday's overtime. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the offense followed up with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to win the game.Head coach Kyle Shanahan said potentially having the ball third is why San Francisco elected to receive to begin overtime."None of us have a ton of experience with it, but we went through all the analytics and talked to those guys, and we just decided we wanted the ball third," Shanahan said.Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said his club would've opted to take the ball second had it won the coin toss.Safety Justin Reid said coach Reid first spoke about the overtime rules in training camp. Defensive tackle Chris Jones added that Kansas City knew its overtime strategy heading into the Super Bowl."We talked through this for two weeks," Jones said. "How we was going to give the ball to the opponent; if they scored, we was going for two at the end of the game. We rehearsed it."Shanahan is winless in three Super Bowl appearances as a head coach or coordinator. His teams have led by at least 10 points in each of those games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes his team can bounce back next season after a 25-22 overtime defeat in Super Bowl LVIII."We're hurting right now, but it doesn't take away from how proud of our guys I am. I'm really proud of them today, too. As part of sports, as part of football, as part of life," Shanahan said after the contest, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk."I'm glad we put ourselves out there. I love our team. We'll recover, and we'll be back next year strong."Shanahan is now 0-3 in Super Bowls as a coordinator or head coach. His team has had at least a 10-point lead at some point in each loss.The 49ers' offense couldn't take advantage of the defense's solid performance. The latter held the Chiefs to only six points until late in the third quarter and forced two turnovers. Kansas City produced just 206 yards on its first nine possessions.

Draft season is officially here.The conclusion of the 2023 campaign turns our focus to offseason festivities, highlighted by an incredibly intriguing class of incoming rookies. And while we're still in the early stages of the pre-draft process, it's never too early for a mock draft.Here's our first of many looks at how the first round could shake out this year.Caleb Williams, QB, USCJustin Fields made some major strides toward the end of this past season. He'd absolutely be returning as the starter if Chicago didn't own Carolina's pick from last year's Bryce Young trade. But that's not the world we're living in. Resetting with a supremely talented passer on a rookie contract is an absolute no-brainer. Williams has superstar potential at the next level.Drake Maye, QB, UNCSome would argue there isn't much space between Williams and Maye in the battle for QB1. Kliff Kingsbury's overall record as a head coach might not blow you away, but the new offensive coordinator has an excellent track record in quarterback development. He could have another elite talent to work with in Maye - a young passer with an outstanding skill set that could thrive at the professional level.Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio StateThe Patriots passing up a quarterback might seem odd. But are they really going to settle for whoever falls to them at No. 3? That's no sure thing with a potential generational receiver like Harrison on the board.Malik Nabers, WR, LSUNabers projects as the next LSU star to dominate the NFL with game-breaking potential on every snap. The nation's second-leading receiver averaged an outrageous 17 yards per catch last season and caught 14 balls for touchdowns. He's exactly the type of explosive talent out wide that the Cardinals lacked last season.Joe Alt, OT, Notre DameJim Harbaugh is going to want to play his brand of offense with the Chargers. Doing so will, first and foremost, require some reinforcements up front. Alt working opposite Rashawn Slater would give Los Angeles an outstanding young duo of bookend tackles.Rome Odunze, WR, WashingtonIn most drafts, Odunze would be the first wideout selected. While he's third in this year's version, one could argue he's as talented as the first two. The Washington star carried the nation's top passing attack by leading the country in receiving yards and catching 13 touchdowns. He thrives in contested-catch situations - something that'll be very appealing to Daniel Jones.Brock Bowers, TE, GeorgiaTaking a tight end this early is typically a controversial move. That shouldn't be the case with Bowers. The do-it-all playmaker has the skill set to be the centerpiece of Tennessee's offense for the next decade.Jayden Daniels, QB, LSUThe Falcons know Desmond Ridder isn't the quarterback of the future and grab the Heisman winner Daniels out of LSU. He's one of the best dual-threat options we've ever seen - throwing for over 3,800 yards and rushing for over 1,100 last year. Adding Daniels to an offense with Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson will bring some excitement back to Atlanta.Dallas Turner, EDGE, AlabamaTurning a pair of top-10 picks into a quarterback of the future and a dynamic edge rusher would be a heck of a haul for the Bears. Turner could pair with Montez Sweat in helping Chicago's resurgent defense take another major step forward.Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon StateThe Jets add Fuaga to give Aaron Rodgers more protection up front coming off an Achilles injury. The Oregon State standout dominated opponents in the Pac-12 last year and will provide a huge boost in the rushing attack as well as pass protection.Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida StateKeep an eye on the Vikings as a team that could look to make a massive move up for a quarterback. If no such opportunity presents itself, Verse would be a great fallback option. Minnesota could have a pressing need on the edge with Danielle Hunter heading for free agency.J.J. McCarthy, QB, MichiganMcCarthy wasn't asked to do nearly as much in college as the three quarterbacks already taken, but the Michigan star rose to the occasion whenever he was needed in the Wolverines' title-winning campaign. McCarthy showed flashes of a wide-ranging skill set in college with plenty of pop in his arm to compete at the professional level. He finished his career with Michigan 27-1 as a starting quarterback. That combo of talent and intangibles will be exactly what Sean Payton is looking for in his quarterback.Terrion Arnold, CB, AlabamaThe Raiders are another team that could go all-in to trade up for a quarterback - especially if there's an opportunity to reunite Jayden Daniels with Antonio Pierce. There are plenty of options if that doesn't work out, though. Arnold would give an ascending Las Vegas defense a potential No. 1 corner.Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn StateFashanu was the top tackle on most analysts' draft boards heading into the college season, but he didn't dominate in the same fashion he showed in 2022. Nevertheless, the Penn State star has the size and athleticism to be a standout performer in the professional ranks.Quinyon Mitchell, CB, ToledoThe Colts have a massive need at cornerback. And as an organization that loves its athletes, we're betting that Mitchell is going to end up near the top of their draft board. The Toledo product is an outstanding cover man who could tear up the combine at the end of the month.Byron Murphy, DL, TexasMurphy may not have the ideal size for an interior lineman, but the Texas star is an absolute menace at both rushing the passer and stopping the run. He's the type of versatile lineman that new head coach Mike Macdonald will target for his defense.Nate Wiggins, CB, ClemsonThe Jaguars have a lot more holes to fill than we expected this time last year. Those efforts could start in the trenches on either side of the ball, but the value in adding a top corner makes plenty of sense here, too. Wiggins and Tyson Campbell could be a strong duo to build around on the back end.JC Latham, OT, AlabamaIt seems like offensive line is an annual need for the Bengals, and this year's prospect to boost that unit is Latham out of Alabama. At 6-foot-6, 360 pounds, Latham is one of the most physically intimidating players in the draft and should fit well in the rugged AFC North.Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLATradition suggests there could be some movement here, but Les Snead and Sean McVay might have a newfound affinity for draft picks after the success of last year's rookie class. Addressing a high-value position of need with Latu would be a nice way to use their first Day 1 selection since 2016.Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, OregonThe Steelers could go for Bo Nix or Michael Penix here, but neither is a sure thing at quarterback. Instead, Pittsburgh shores up the offensive line with one of the best center prospects in recent years. Powers-Johnson is an exceptional athlete at the position and will be a standout Day 1 starter for Pittsburgh.Troy Fautanu, OT, WashingtonThe Dolphins' offense has to get better up front if it's going to make the most of its supremely talented playmakers. Fautanu was the best player in a dominant front five that helped Washington reach the national title game.Cooper DeJean, CB, IowaIt's no secret the Eagles desperately need defensive back help, and DeJean is the type of athlete who could instantly make an impact for Philadelphia. The versatile Iowa star can play all over the secondary and also be a dangerous weapon in the return game.Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn StateRobinson should be a consensus first-rounder after he puts on a show at the combine in a few weeks. An explosive edge rusher opposite Will Anderson Jr., the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year, would give the Texans a scary defensive front.Amarius Mims, OT, GeorgiaIt'll be tempting for Jerry Jones to take receiver Brian Thomas Jr. here, but the Cowboys address the offensive line with the 6-foot-7, 340-pound standout from Georgia. Adding Mims to a unit that features 22-year-old Tyler Smith will give Dallas a pair of excellent young tackles.Tyler Guyton, OT, OklahomaFinding a long-term replacement for David Bakhtiari should be Green Bay's No. 1 priority heading into the offseason. While Guyton may need some time to develop, his physical skills give him as much upside as any tackle in this draft.Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSUWith Mike Evans entering free agency, the Bucs address the receiving core with the electric Thomas out of LSU. Thomas is a threat all over the field but especially shines in the red zone, leading the nation with 17 touchdown grabs last year.Bralen Trice, EDGE, WashingtonThe Cardinals need a major infusion of defensive talent if they're going to get the most out of Jonathan Gannon's system. Trice is a powerful edge defender who should be an every-down contributor from Day 1.Keon Coleman, WR, Florida StateThe 6-foot-4, 215-pound Coleman brings arguably the biggest catch radius in the draft with him to Buffalo. The Florida State standout has numerous jaw-dropping highlights and will instantly take over for pending free agent Gabe Davis.Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, AlabamaThe Lions are only a few pieces away from being a Super Bowl team. Several of those pieces will have to be in the defensive backfield, so McKinstry feels like the perfect pick here.Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, IllinoisLike Murphy earlier in the draft, Newton is another defensive tackle that might not feature ideal length but has exceptional production on tape. If there's any team that can maximize his potential on the interior, it's the Ravens.Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, MissouriRakestraw is as tough as they come at corner and will fit in well with the 49ers' scheme. San Francisco may have other needs, but Rakestraw represents the best available talent toward the end of the opening round.Troy Franklin, WR, OregonThe Chiefs can't go into next season without making some major investments at wide receiver. With an impressive combination of size and speed, Franklin could provide the vertical playmaking ability that Marquez Valdes-Scantling was supposed to bring to this offense.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and tight end Travis Kelce downplayed their sideline spat during Super Bowl LVIII."He caught me off-balance; I wasn't watching. It was a cheap shot," Reid joked following Kansas City's 25-22 overtime victory, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. The 65-year-old clarified that Kelce came over to say, "Just put me in, I'll score."

Travis Kelce guaranteed that he's returning for the 2024 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, brushing off speculation he'd call it a career after winning back-to-back Super Bowl titles."Hell yeah. I want that three-peat," the 34-year-old said postgame, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Kelce caught nine passes for 93 yards on Sunday, helping Kansas City storm back to a 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. It's the team's third Super Bowl title in the last five years under quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid."What we had in there with this team, to see guys rise to the occasion, to see guys put stats aside ... that's something special that not only you learn from, but I'll take with me. And these memories will last forever," Kelce said, according to USA Today.The Chiefs scored only three first-half points and trailed for most of Super Bowl LVIII. However, Mahomes, Kelce, and Co. engineered yet another comeback victory to lift the Lombardi Trophy. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman walked off the 49ers with a 3-yard touchdown catch in overtime.Hardman played his first four NFL seasons with the Chiefs but signed with the New York Jets during the 2023 offseason. Kansas City made an October trade to reunite with the wide receiver after he had just one catch in five appearances with the AFC East team."Mecole is one of my favorite teammates ever. ... We were so excited when he got back in the building because he's the kind of a guy that brings everybody together," Kelce said Sunday.The superstar tight end has amassed 907 career catches for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns across 159 regular-season games in 11 seasons with the Chiefs. He hauled in 984 yards in 2023, his first campaign with fewer than 1,000 yards since 2015.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes sent a warning shot to the rest of the NFL after winning his third Super Bowl."It's the start of (a dynasty), we're not done," Mahomes told CBS' Tracy Wolfson. "I know we're going to celebrate tonight. ... We've got a young team. We're going to keep this thing going."The Chiefs won their third title in the last five years by beating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. They also became the first back-to-back champions since the New England Patriots nearly two decades ago."The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs," said Mahomes.Mahomes earned Super Bowl MVP for a third time after throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. He also led the Chiefs with 66 rushing yards, including several clutch runs on the final game-winning drive.The star quarterback boasts an all-time resume despite playing six seasons as a starter.Only Tom Brady (seven), Terry Bradshaw (four), and Joe Montana (four) have won more Super Bowls than Mahomes.The 28-year-old has two regular-season MVPs, one Offensive Player of the Year award, and six Pro Bowl nominations. He's twice led the NFL in touchdown passes.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Six months ago, Patrick Mahomes was reluctant to call the Kansas City Chiefs a dynasty because they hadn't won three Super Bowls together. He doesn't have to worry about that anymore.Mahomes found Mecole Hardman in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in overtime to help the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium.It's the Chiefs' second straight Super Bowl title and third championship victory in the last five seasons. They're the first team to win back-to-back Lombardi Trophies since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004.Mahomes - who was named Super Bowl MVP for a third time - engineered an 11-play drive that resulted in a clutch 29-yard Harrison Butker field goal with three seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The 49ers' offense had the ball first in the extra frame but couldn't score a touchdown, settling for a 27-yard field goal.Kansas City struggled offensively for most of Super Bowl LVIII and went to halftime down 10-3. The Mahomes-led Chiefs have trailed by double-digit points in all four of the superstar quarterback's career Super Bowl appearances. The 28-year-old is now 3-1 in the Big Game. He lifted his first Lombardi Trophy with a 31-20 victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV despite trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter.Mahomes completed 34 of 46 pass attempts for 333 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in his latest triumph over the 49ers. He also led his team with 66 rushing yards. Travis Kelce once again was his favorite target, hauling in nine catches for 93 yards.Hardman played the hero for the Chiefs in Las Vegas after starting the season on the New York Jets. Kansas City - which struggled offensively with wide receiver drops for most of the 2023 campaign - landed Hardman as part of an October trade. It was a reunion as the speedster began his career with K.C. and helped the team win its first two Super Bowls of the Mahomes and Andy Reid era.Reid is only one of five head coaches with at least three Super Bowl rings. Only Bill Belichick (six trophies) and Chuck Noll (four) have won more.Defenses dominated Super Bowl LVIII early on, with the Chiefs forcing a Christian McCaffrey fumble on the game's first drive. The matchup's 0-0 tie wasn't broken until the second quarter when rookie kicker Jake Moody converted a 55-yard field goal. The kick set a Super Bowl record that only lasted minutes until Butker nailed a 57-yarder in the third quarter.San Francisco forced a fumble of its own in the second quarter, knocking the ball out of Isiah Pacheco's hands in the red zone to end a promising Kansas City drive.The 49ers extended their second-quarter lead thanks to a perfectly executed trick play that featured receiver Jauan Jennings throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey. Jennings became only the second wide receiver ever to throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl along with former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antwaan Randle El (Super Bowl XL).The 49ers' defense continued to have the Chiefs' number after halftime, with rookie Ji'Ayir Brown picking off Mahomes early in the third quarter. Mahomes went 217 playoff passes without an interception before that play. However, Kansas City capitalized after San Francisco muffed a third-quarter punt. Mahomes found a wide-open Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the end zone for a touchdown to give K.C. its first lead of the night.That didn't last long, though, as Jennings put the Niners on top again with a 10-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter. The pass-catcher joined former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles as the only players ever to record a passing and receiving touchdown in a Super Bowl.Despite leading for most of the matchup, the Niners weren't able to hold on. Their last Super Bowl title now dates back to the 1994 season. San Francisco has gone 0-3 in the Big Game since then.Sunday's defeat also marked another heartbreaking loss for coach Kyle Shanahan, who's 0-3 in the Super Bowl. In addition to losing both Super Bowl matchups to Mahomes' Chiefs, Shanahan was also the Atlanta Falcons' play-caller and offensive coordinator when they blew a 28-3 lead to the Patriots in February 2017.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes collected his third Super Bowl MVP after leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Sunday.With the Chiefs facing a do-or-die situation, Mahomes capped a 13-play, 75-yard game-winning drive in overtime with a walk-off touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman to clinch the win. Kansas City had to score at least three points after the 49ers kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime.The Chiefs trailed by as much as 10 points Sunday, making it the third time in Mahomes' career that he's overcome a 10-point Super Bowl deficit.Despite being limited by the 49ers' defense early, Mahomes went on a tear to end the game, engineering four consecutive scoring drives. The first came as the Chiefs capitalized on a 49ers muffed punt in the 3rd quarter when Mahomes hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a 16-yard touchdown to give them a 13-10 advantage and their first lead of the game.He then led two game-tying possessions in the fourth quarter before his heroic walk-off drive in overtime. Both his game-tying drives were capped by Harrison Butker field goals, including a kick in the final seconds of the final quarter of regulation."The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs," Mahomes said postgame.The 28-year-old quarterback finished Super Bowl LVIII with 34 completions on 46 pass attempts for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.He's now won three Super Bowls over the last five years and has made the Chiefs the first team to capture back-to-back Lombardi Trophies since the New England Patriots in 2003-04.Only Tom Brady has more Super Bowl MVPs (5) than Mahomes, who's tied with Joe Montana.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles while running back onto the field during the second quarter of Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon will be available for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.The Georgia Southern product was activated from injured reserve on Saturday but was listed as questionable before Sunday's contest. McKinnon underwent core muscle surgery five weeks ago and is considered a long shot to return to action.McKinnon has been out of the Chiefs' lineup since he hurt his groin against the New England Patriots in Week 15. He played in 12 games before the injury, racking up 252 scrimmage yards to go along with five total touchdowns.The 31-year-old halfback rushed for 34 yards on four carries and hauled in three passes in the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season.Chiefs receiver Skyy Moore is also active Sunday after battling a knee injury in the regular season.Kansas City will be without offensive guard Joe Thuney, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday due to a pectoral ailment. Nick Allegretti is projected to start at left guard on Sunday in Thuney's absence.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney won't play in Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.The Chiefs didn't list Toney on the injury report. He hasn't played a game since Week 15 against the New England Patriots, recording two receptions for five yards. Toney failed to eclipse 35 receiving yards in a contest this season."We'll see," head coach Andy Reid said Tuesday when asked whether Toney would play in the Super Bowl. "(Toney's) been practicing, we'll just see whether he's up or not."Kansas City put Toney on every injury report between Week 16 and the conference championship versus the Baltimore Ravens with either hip or ankle injuries. However, the 25-year-old claimed ahead of the Chiefs' previous playoff contest that he was healthy.Toney was crucial in Kansas City's 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. He caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt 65 yards to set up a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.The Chiefs acquired Toney in a trade with the New York Giants in October 2022 for third- and sixth-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has 430 total scrimmage yards in 20 games with Kansas City.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers has been trying to recruit Davante Adams to the New York Jets, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.However, the Raiders are in win-now mode and have no plans to trade their star wideout, Rapoport adds.Earlier in the 2022-23 campaign, it was reported that the Jets would attempt to trade for Adams in the offseason after their attempts at the trade deadline failed.Adams and Rodgers were teammates from 2014-2021 on the Green Bay Packers. The 31-year-old wideout made five Pro Bowls and recorded 8,121 yards with Rodgers as his quarterback.Rodgers, 40, was traded to the Jets before the 2023 season, though his first season in New York was limited to four plays. He suffered a torn Achilles in the Jets' regular-season opener.Adams is under contract with Las Vegas through 2026. His 2024 cap hit is $25.4 million, and his dead cap hit is $40.4 million, per Spotrac.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Multiple NFL owners have contacted Bill Belichick to see if he's interested in coaching in 2025, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Belichick wants to continue to serve as a sideline boss, and the expectation around the league is that he'll find a place to do it next season, Pelissero adds.The 71-year-old Belichick interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job in January. The Falcons chose to hire former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, prompting other owners to reach out to Belichick, per Pelissero.Belichick left the New England Patriots in January after spending 23 years as the team's head coach and general manager. He won six Super Bowls with the Patriots and sits second all-time in NFL coaching victories with 333. Belichick needs 15 wins to surpass Don Shula as the winningest coach in league history.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. These key battles within the big game will influence whether the Chiefs or 49ers rule the NFL.Tremendous QB storiesThe indomitable Patrick Mahomes has reached his fourth Super Bowl in five years, equaling what Tom Brady achieved last decade. Mahomes became an all-time great at warp speed. If the Chiefs repeat as champs - no NFL team's done that since the mid-2000s Patriots - he will join Brady and Troy Aikman as quarterbacks who won three Lombardi trophies in their 20s.Mahomes persistently coughed up the ball in 2023, tossing a career-worst 14 picks, but hasn't made a single turnover-worthy play in the playoffs, per PFF. None of his last 203 passes in the postseason have been intercepted, meaning Brady's record streak (237) could be broken Sunday. Mahomes avoided errors and was only sacked twice as Kansas City routed the Dolphins at home and edged the Bills and Ravens in demanding road duels. Perry Knotts / Getty Images Cooper Neill / Getty ImagesBrock Purdy's miniscule cap hit - 93 NFL QBs earn more money annually, per Over The Cap - enabled the 49ers to construct a stacked roster. His command of the offense, escapability when forced to scramble, and unflappability at 24 years old helped him guide that group to Vegas.The last pick in the 2022 draft usually gets the job done. Purdy ranked in the top five in completion rate (69.4%), passing yards (267.5 per game), touchdowns (31), and explosive 20-plus-yard completions (72, the NFL high). The Lions intercepted a poor throw in the NFC title game, and another floater struck a cornerback's hand and facemask before Brandon Aiyuk dove to snatch it. The improbable 51-yard gain sparked a major Niners comeback.Chiefs' defensive excellence Mark Goldman / Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIn an NFL first, no opponent scored 30 points against Kansas City over 20 regular-season or playoff games, per Stathead. A superb defense that ranked second in yards and scoring kept the Chiefs in every matchup and quieted talented offenses.En route to the Super Bowl, K.C. surrendered 41 points (13.7 per game) against quality Miami, Buffalo, and Baltimore teams. Only 10 of those points were scored after halftime. Clutch takeaways in the AFC title game - the Chiefs stripped Lamar Jackson, forced a touchback fumble at the goal line, and intercepted Jackson when he passed into triple coverage - offset the K.C. offense's second-half slowdown.The Chiefs pester passers. Ranking second in sacks (57) and quarterback hits (125) this season helped them force the fifth-most punts, face the third-fewest field-goal attempts, and allow fewer scrimmage touchdowns than every team except Baltimore, per Pro Football Reference. Their four takedowns of Jackson in the conference championship included a sack on a safety blitz that pushed the Ravens out of kicking range.The 49ers are a great foil. Boasting enviable depth, they were the sixth offense in the Super Bowl era to field four 1,000-yard playmakers, per Stathead.The San Francisco defense is gifted, too. Edge rusher Nick Bosa's seven QB hits (to go along with two sacks) top the playoff leaderboard, per PFF. The ballhawks around him forced multiple turnovers in seven of 11 Niners games from November through January.49ers' rushing edge Thearon W. Henderson / Getty ImagesPounding the ball upfield is a literal strength for the 49ers. Fronted by powerful linemen, their run blockers earned the highest collective PFF grade this season. Christian McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards gained before contact (853) and was second in yards after contact (606), showing he's hard to catch and bring down.McCaffrey leads all playoff rushers in touchdowns (four) and missed tackles forced (12). During the regular season, the Niners ran for more yards than the NFL team average (112.7) in 15 matchups. Their run defenders held 14 opponents below the average total, partly because they dissuaded clubs from testing them and faced the fewest rushing attempts.Slumping lately, San Francisco surrendered big gains in the NFC playoff rounds. Tacklers whiffed as Packers running back Aaron Jones scampered for 53 yards, Lions wideout Jameson Williams scored on a 42-yard end around, and Detroit back Jahmyr Gibbs tiptoed into the end zone from 15 yards out.Like McCaffrey, Chiefs lead back Isiah Pacheco housed a rushing TD in each of his last four playoff outings. Their streaks are tied for the 11th-longest in postseason history, per Stathead. Shouldering a heavy load, Pacheco's 24 carries apiece against the Dolphins and Ravens helped K.C. set the tempo and dominate possession in those wins. Perry Knotts / Getty ImagesTelltale team statsThe 49ers outperformed the Chiefs this season in three notable ways:Turnover margin: San Francisco's 28 takeaways and 18 giveaways produced a plus-10 differential. Compiling the inverse stat line, Kansas City committed 28 giveaways with 17 takeaways to finish minus-11. The Chiefs didn't win the turnover battle in any game between Week 6 and the conference championship.Red-zone scoring: The Niners' 67.2% touchdown rate led the league. The Chiefs crossed the plane on 54.1% of trips, which ranked 17th. San Francisco bagged a dozen more TDs in the situation (45-33) despite only visiting the red zone six more times (67-61), per Pro Football Reference.Second-half scoring: The 49ers tallied an extra touchdown per week in second halves. They averaged 14.1 points to the Chiefs' piddling 7.6, per Team Rankings. Many offenses cool after halftime - teams in the lead run the ball more, and trailing clubs force throws that get picked - but Mahomes' unit only managed to outscore the lowly Jets, Titans, and Patriots.The Chiefs gained 6.3 yards per play in first halves - the equivalent of ranking third in offense. Their average second-half play gained 4.8 yards, which was akin to ranking 28th. Mahomes' completion rate (62.7%) and passer rating (85.7) after halftime resembled Gardner Minshew's modest output over full games.Counting the postseason, the Chiefs are 12-2 when they lead or are tied at the break. Halftime deficits led to four defeats, though they came back to beat the Bengals on New Year's Eve and the Bills in the divisional round. Because of the defense's impenetrability, they fended off the Ravens despite punting on five straight second-half drives.Secondary MVP candidates Mark Goldman / Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesQuarterbacks tend to be the Super Bowl MVP. Their 32 triumphs in 57 tries include 14 wins this century. Mahomes has been honored twice already.Five wideouts, three linebackers, and a safety have swiped the award since 2000. Gaudy stats draw attention to unconventional candidates. Star defenders sometimes prevail when the opposing offense is silenced.The following pass-catchers and defensive weapons could conceivably swing the game and garner votes:Travis Kelce: The Chiefs tight end leads the NFL in playoff receiving touchdowns (three) and catches (23 for 262 yards, or 87.3 per matchup). His 11 grabs on that many targets in the AFC title game included some acrobatic snares in close coverage. Heating up, Kelce just scored in consecutive games for the first time since September.Aiyuk: Explosive when Purdy eyed him this season, the 49ers' top wideout ranked seventh in receiving yardage (1,342) while placing second in yards per catch (17.9) and yards per target (12.8). Aiyuk's huge gain against the Lions accounts for half his playoff production (100 yards) to date. He has one more shot to break open a massive game. Cooper Neill / Getty ImagesGeorge Karlaftis: The Chiefs edge rusher grabbed a fumble against the Ravens and has 2.5 playoff sacks despite failing to generate consistent pressure. Karlaftis' pass-rush win rate in January was 7.3%, down from 12.7% this season, per PFF. That said, paths to Purdy will open if nose tackle Chris Jones destabilizes the 49ers' offensive line from the interior.Fred Warner: The All-Pro linebacker has anchored strong Niners defenses since 2018, back when Jimmy Garoppolo, C.J. Beathard, and Nick Mullens quarterbacked the squad to four wins. Warner earned his position's top PFF grade in 2023 by making the kind of splash play (four interceptions, four forced fumbles) that, if timed well, can complete a championship quest.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick received permission to seek a trade, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Philadelphia will only do a deal if the compensation and cap considerations make sense, according to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia. They're trying to find a win-win for both sides, Clark adds.Reddick is entering the final season of a three-year, $45-million deal signed with the Eagles in 2022. He's set to have a $21.8-million cap hit in 2024, according to Over The Cap.The 29-year-old has 27 sacks in two years in Philadelphia after racking up 23.5 sacks across two campaigns between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. Reddick has 50.5 sacks over the last four seasons, ranking fourth in the NFL behind T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, and Trey Hendrickson.The edge-rusher market has skyrocketed recently, with Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Garrett, and Watt all making at least $25 million per season.Reddick's $15 million per year salary ranks 18th highest among NFL edge rushers, behind players such as Emmanuel Ogbah, Von Miller, Harold Landry, and Shaquil Barrett.The Eagles have $20.2 million in cap space, per Over The Cap. They've used many resources on the defensive line, selecting Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith in the first round of the last two drafts.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are poised to give head coach Andy Reid a contract extension regardless of Super Bowl LVIII's outcome on Sunday, sources told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.The Chiefs are reportedly expected to increase Reid's salary as part of the new deal. He currently earns $12 million per year, which ranks around the 10th highest among NFL coaches, adds Jones.Reid is set to take the sidelines for the fifth Super Bowl appearance of his career. He's among the all-time winningest coaches, posting a 258-144-1 record over 25 years. Reid's also the only coach in NFL history to win 100 games with two franchises, accomplishing the feat with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chiefs.Despite being the oldest active head coach in the league, the 65-year-old said earlier this week that he isn't considering retirement.Reid guided the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl after finishing the regular season with an 11-6 record in 2023. Kansas City opened the postseason by taking down the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round before earning road wins over the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.Widely regarded as an offensive savant, the Chiefs are expected to continue contending for Super Bowl titles with Reid at the helm. Kansas City has never endured a losing season in the 13 years with Reid as its coach.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis "grilled" general manager candidates during the interview process about a strategy on how to trade up from the No. 13 pick to potentially draft a new quarterback, sources told Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Head coach Antonio Pierce also wants to be aggressive in trying to find a franchise signal-caller, NFL Network adds.The 2024 NFL Draft is rich in quarterbacks, with USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels, Oregon's Bo Nix, Washington's Michael Penix Jr., and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy all expected to be selected in the first two rounds.Las Vegas hired Tom Telesco as its new general manager in January. Telesco spent 11 seasons in the same role with the Los Angeles Chargers before landing with the Raiders.During his tenure with the Chargers, Telesco only traded up once in the first round of the draft, moving up to the No. 15 pick in 2015 to select running back Melvin Gordon III.The Raiders signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.75 million contract last offseason. But things didn't go as planned: Garoppolo was benched before the club's Week 9 victory over the New York Giants. The 32-year-old has $11.25 million in guaranteed salary remaining on his deal and is set to have a $28.3 million cap hit in 2024, according to Over The Cap.Rookie signal-caller Aidan O'Connell started 10 games for the team in 2023, including the final nine contests after Garoppolo was benched. He went 5-5 in those appearances, totaling 2,218 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.Las Vegas' offense ranked 21st in success rate and 23rd in points per game in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Mac Jones' tenure with the New England Patriots could end this offseason.The 25-year-old is considered a trade candidate and expected to land elsewhere ahead of the 2024 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo.The Patriots drafted Jones in the first round in 2021. The Alabama product won the starting job in his first year and led New England to a playoff berth while posting a 10-7 mark as a starter. He also finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.However, Jones struggled over the ensuing seasons. After passing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in his first year, Jones' numbers dropped to 2,997 yards, 14 TDs, and 11 INTs in 2022.His numbers continued to plummet in 2023, passing for 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Patriots demoted Jones to third-string quarterback behind Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke at the end of the campaign.New England has undergone several changes since the regular season ended. The team parted with longtime head coach Bill Belichick and replaced him with Jerod Mayo. The Pats also hired Alex Van Pelt as their new offensive coordinator.The Patriots aren't expected to pick up Jones' fifth-year rookie option this offseason, a source told MassLive's Mark Daniels. Jones will carry a $4.9-million cap hit next season before having the opportunity to hit free agency in 2025.New England owns the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft this spring.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are expected to hire San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak as their next offensive coordinator, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.A deal is expected to be finalized after the Super Bowl, reports Pelissero. Kubiak is the son of former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak.He spent this season with the 49ers after being the Denver Broncos passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022. Kubiak worked as the Minnesota Vikings' quarterbacks coach for two years before the club promoted him to offensive coordinator in 2021.The Saints moved on from offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael in January after 14 years with the team. New Orleans' offense has struggled since quarterback Drew Brees retired in 2020, ranking 23rd in EPA/play over the last three seasons, according to Ben Baldwin's database.The Saints have already begun putting together Kubiak's offensive staff, which is expected to include quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko and offensive line coach John Benton, Pelissero adds.Janocko has been the quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears for the last two years. Benton served as the New York Jets offensive line coach and run game coordinator from 2021-22.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon is questionable for Super Bowl LVIII after being activated off injured reserve Saturday.McKinnon hasn't played since the team's Week 15 win over the New England Patriots due to a groin injury.The 31-year-old tailback scored five total touchdowns in 12 regular-season games this season. The majority of his production came through the air, including four of his scores. He had 25 receptions for 192 yards.All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, whom the Chiefs ruled out earlier in the week, was officially placed on injured reserve to make room on the roster for McKinnon. Nick Allegretti is expected to start in Thuney's place.Kansas City also elevated defensive tackle Mike Pennel from the practice squad for the matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Pennel appeared in three games with the Chiefs during the 2023 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pass-rusher Micah Parsons won't push the Dallas Cowboys to negotiate a contract extension until star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb gets his deal signed first."I know they gotta get CeeDee Lamb done. I think that's the priority right now," Parsons told Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL Network."If they're ready to talk about a deal and get a deal done, I'll be super excited. You know I'm ready to be (with the) Cowboys for life, this is the team I wanted to be with, this is the team I want to win a championship with."Lamb and Parsons are critical players for a Cowboys team that has gone 36-15 in the regular season over the last three years. Lamb is set to enter the final campaign of his deal after the team picked up his fifth-year option last offseason. The 24-year-old has a $17.9-million cap hit in 2024, according to Over The Cap.The Oklahoma product has been one of the most consistent playmakers in the league since being drafted 17th overall in 2020. Lamb has 395 catches for 5,145 receiving yards across four seasons. He set career highs in yards, receptions, and touchdowns in 2023.Parsons is eligible for a contract extension after completing his third season in the NFL. The Cowboys have until May 2 to exercise Parsons' fifth-year option."What's meant for me is meant for me," Parsons said. "I'm not gonna rush the process, I'm gonna just enjoy the process and keep working until it's time."Parsons, 24, has 40.5 sacks and 213 tackles in 50 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shedeur Sanders opted not to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, but he's confident he'd be the first quarterback taken off the board if he had.In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Brice Butler in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, the Colorado signal-caller and son of Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders called himself the best quarterback in college football right now."I'm biased, but I don't see a quarterback that's better than me," Sanders said. "I don't see a quarterback that went through as much adversity as me, that had four (offensive coordinators) in four years."Coming from an HBCU, coming to a Power 5 (program), having real pressure on me. A lot of people don't understand, that's a lot more adversity than you think just even being the son of Deion Sanders."USC's Caleb Williams is widely projected to be the first quarterback selected in the 2024 draft, followed by North Carolina's Drake Maye. Some have also touted LSU quarterback and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as a potential top-five pick.Sheuder, who will return to Colorado in 2024, completed 69.3% of his passes for 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 11 games for the Buffaloes last season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.For the first time, the big game is in Las Vegas. Of course, you don't need to fly to Sin City to make things even more interesting Sunday night.Super Bowl LVIII kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET, but before the flashbulbs go off a stone's throw from the Strip, here's everything you need to know about betting the San Francisco 49ers-Kansas City Chiefs matchup.Who ya got?The valuable bet to win Super Bowl LVIIIMVPWho to back for Most Valuable PlayerPlayer propsPassing props for Patrick Mahomes and Brock PurdyFinding value in receiving prop marketsBest wagers to make in rushing prop marketsDefensive and special teams propsAnytime touchdown scorersGame propsHandicapping the big game's "firsts"The deep cuts in the Super Bowl prop betting menuBetting insightsEarly betting splitsFirst look at the odds for Super Bowl, MVP, and player propsOne-sided prop bettingOutrageous available prop betstheScore's ultimate Super Bowl LVIII prop sheetPlease Play Responsibly. 19+. ON Only. Gambling Problem? Call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.The Super Bowl is fast approaching, and there are still plenty of bettors on the sideline who've yet to place a wager on the Chiefs-49ers game.But there's also a large number who have, and they typically fall into two categories. The general public, who can't contain their excitement for the big game and want to take a stand early, and a group of bettors sportsbooks often refer to as "wise guys" or sharps.They have opinions on games and props that the sportsbooks respect. Whenever a sharp places a bet, traders are generally asked to adjust the line accordingly. This is how line movement occurs and closing lines are formed.The two-week break before the Super Bowl gives "wise guys" plenty of time to dissect the oddsboard, and this year, they've been keying in on a few specific players at both theScore Bet and ESPN Bet, two sportsbooks operated by PENN Entertainment.Deebo Samuel was the prime target for sharps when player props first opened. The 49ers' dynamic playmaker is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses, and sharps are especially keen on his ability as a ball carrier.Samuel's rushing attempt total opened at 2.5, with the over paying +105. That price was immediately cut to -105 after sharps disagreed with the odds, but the move didn't prevent one-sided action. As it stands, 99.% of the handle and 99.7% of the bets on Samuel's rushing attempt total have ended up on the over, and the price has now moved all the way to -170.The rushing attempt market isn't the only Samuel prop sharps backed, as they also piled in on his rushing yard total of 13.5, even though he's failed to surpass that total in six of his last seven games. Samuel's rushing yard total is now set at 16.5, and the over for 13.5 yards is paying -150.The sharps also targeted Samuel's quarterback, Brock Purdy. The biggest prop bet taken between the two aforementioned sportsbooks was on under 20.5 passing completions at +122. The odds for over 20.5 are now even money. Purdy's had 20 or fewer pass completions in 11 of 18 games played this season.A few of the other markets sharps have backed are as follows:

The Chicago Bears would need a "crazy" trade package to move down from the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Chicago will likely stay put and select its future franchise quarterback with the selection, Rapoport adds. The top signal-callers in the upcoming draft include USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, and LSU's Jayden Daniels.The Bears will almost certainly trade Justin Fields to a team offering the best trade compensation if they decide to draft a quarterback, Rapoport reports. However, the club was impressed with Fields' play in 2023, and it considers his skill set as rare, per Rapaport.The Bears drafted Fields 11th overall in 2021. He has a 10-28 record in 38 starts with Chicago, totaling 8,894 yards with 54 touchdowns and 41 turnovers. The 24-year-old finished the 2023 season strong, racking up 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns in his last 10 games."We are going to turn every stone to make sure that we are going to make a sound decision for our organization," Poles told reporters in January. "I did think Justin got better. I think he can lead this team. But at the same time, there is a unique situation."Bears star wide receiver D.J. Moore recently advocated for his team to build around Fields. Chicago also holds the No. 9 selection in the draft and has $46.8 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to hire Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb in the same role, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Grubb was Washington's OC last season but recently accepted the position with the Crimson Tide. The 47-year-old was interested in Washington's head coach vacancy after Kalen DeBoer departed for Alabama. However, the program ultimately hired former Arizona sideline boss Jedd Fisch.Grubb led a Huskies offense that ranked 12th in the country in total yards per game (462.1) and 13th in points per contest (36). Quarterback Michael Penix ranked first among all Division I signal-callers with 4,903 passing yards.Washington finished the season 14-1 and fell 34-13 to Michigan in the College Football Playoff National Championship.Grubb takes over after former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron accepted the same position with the Chicago Bears.Seattle averaged 322.9 yards and 21.4 points per contest under Waldron in 2023, which ranked 21st and 17th in the league, respectively.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.On Monday, we made our pick for Super Bowl LVIII - arguing why the valuable side is the favorite on the moneyline. The short version of that argument is that the 49ers are available at -125 or an implied win probability of 55.6%, when, for much of the season, they would've been considered more likely to win this matchup than that.As we turn toward the Super Bowl MVP market, implied win probability is the cornerstone for shopping for value as we look to accompany our bet on San Francisco.The implied win probability column adds up to 118% - a sportsbook hold of 18% that doesn't account for the long-shot players not listed above. In the lead-up to the big game, that hold is often reduced, and the odds for each player get better. Unless one player stands out as a popular wager, it's worth waiting to place your bets.All of these odds are calculated with the implication that either team can win. Of course, this is true, but if you like one side or the other, betting on players from your selected team makes the most sense.Sixteen media members vote on MVP, accounting for 80% of the voting calculus. Meanwhile, there's a fan vote worth 20%. Popular players who are a factor early and often in the game have the best chance at winning MVP. While that's frequently the quarterback of the winning team - the reason Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy have the shortest odds - the signal-caller has won MVP only 56% of the time in Super Bowl history.Mahomes (+130) is expected to win MVP 43.5% of the time, but the Chiefs' moneyline (+105) suggests they win just 48.8%. Mahomes is taking up 89% of Kansas City's metaphorical MVP pie, making someone like Travis Kelce (+1400) a better potential choice if you like the Chiefs to win or think the game is close enough where a big performance from the internationally recognized and suddenly surging Kelce might earn him MVP in a losing cause.For the 49ers, Purdy (+225) is expected to take home Super Bowl MVP 30.8% of the time. Compared to the 49ers' 55.6% implied win probability, Purdy's odds line up with history, taking up 55.4% of the 49ers' pie.There's a reason for this discrepancy. Purdy's not seen as the central driver for San Francisco's success - a hurdle for something that's voted on. History states that if the 49ers win, there's a 44% chance that someone other than the quarterback will win MVP.With a game total of 47.5 points and a 49ers team that's made it to Las Vegas thanks to a well-rounded offense (as the defense has appeared to take a step back), we'll look to fill that remaining 44% of the pie with offensive players who could pile up attractive stats.Naturally, that starts with Christian McCaffrey, who, like Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp two years ago, will likely be named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year a few nights before the Super Bowl. With over 2000 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns, he's deemed 18.2% likely to be Super Bowl MVP. However, looking at the 49ers' games this season, it can be argued that McCaffrey was San Francisco's statistical MVP in five of their 12 wins (41.6%) and both 49ers playoff victories. With McCaffrey the best player on the field in half their wins, there's probably closer to a 25% chance he is again on Sunday.Interestingly, by the numbers, Purdy was the definitive 49ers MVP in just three games this season (Week 5 versus the Cowboys, Week 10 versus the Jaguars, and Week 11 versus the Buccaneers).As a threat on the ground in the red zone and capable of breaking short passes into long touchdowns, Deebo Samuel can also steal the statistical spotlight. He was the Niners' star in Weeks 3, 13, and 14 (21% of their wins, including playoffs). At +2000, Samuel is only supposed to earn a trip to Disneyland 4.8% of the time, or less than 10% of the time when the 49ers win. An 11% gap is significant and makes Samuel worth adding to our MVP bets.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank clarified that Bill Belichick never asked for roster control during interviews for the team's head coaching job."I do want to make it 1,000% clear, wanna go to 2,000% or 100,000, whatever percent you want to use. Bill Belichick never asked for, in our discussion, full control of the personnel or the building or anything of that nature," Blank said Friday, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.Blank added that Belichick even sent him a text that said he would be happy to work alongside Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot.The former New England Patriots coach interviewed twice for the vacancy but was never offered the job, according to Blank.A six-time Super Bowl champion head coach credited with building a near two-decade-long Patriots dynasty alongside Tom Brady, Belichick and New England parted ways earlier this offseason.The Falcons ended up hiring Raheem Morris as their next head coach.Morris spent an 11-game stint as the Falcons' interim coach in 2020. He's since spent the last three seasons as the Los Angeles Rams' defensive coordinator.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.Just because it's THEIR Super Bowl doesn't mean it has to be OUR Super Bowl. We don't have to risk our bankroll on a single result just to manufacture our own championship moment with dollar bills falling like confetti in the living room.But it is THE Super Bowl, and we're given two weeks of lead-up for one game, so there's ample betting opportunity within a menu of betting markets a mile long. So we'll attack those as the week goes on, digging into matchups and pricing. You have to start somewhere during football's longest week, and since no one's ever taken it easy on the first night in Las Vegas, we might as well start with who to bet to win Super Bowl LVIII and work from there.Like any other game, our job is to recognize value and make the bet that gives us the most bang for our buck.Chiefs vs. 49ers (-2, 47.5)On the surface, we're back to where we started with the point spread for Super Bowl LVIII. The 49ers opened just shy of a field-goal favorite, but the Chiefs were the target of the first influx of money, pushing the line down to -1. Since the initial reaction to the conference championships, the line has crept back up, leaving us to wonder whether it'll touch -3.While the betting line was officially created when the 49ers recovered the Lions' onside kick, had we known throughout the season that Kansas City would face San Francisco in Las Vegas, we could've tracked the line all year.For example, in Week 2, the Chiefs were getting back Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, while the 49ers had just crushed the Steelers during their opener in Pittsburgh. They were rated as the two best teams in the NFL and a virtual pick'em matchup on a neutral site.By mid-December, the Chiefs encountered some struggles, while the 49ers were considered historically good in the betting markets. A Week 15 matchup at the Super Bowl site might have had the 49ers favored by 4.5 points.Even going into last week, the 49ers would've been favorites of more than a field goal, but after another week where the Chiefs beat a quality team on the road and San Francisco got a scare - failing to cover as a big favorite versus Detroit - the perception of each team, relative to each other, has tightened.It's not hard to understand why there was initial fervor in buying the Chiefs. Winning in Baltimore was impressive. But taking a step back, the Ravens were complicit in helping K.C. to that win. Going away from their offensive identity - throwing on 20 of 25 first-and-10 plays - Baltimore didn't commit to testing the Chiefs' previously weak run defense.Even with that bizarre strategy, the Ravens were inches away from a touchdown that would've brought them within a field goal, with two more trips into field-goal range still to come. In keeping with season-long second-half offensive struggles, Kansas City didn't score in the final 30 minutes - a fact that would've been brought up endlessly had the Ravens executed a comeback that was theirs for the taking.Instead, only the 49ers scored a big comeback on championship Sunday, with 27 consecutive points in the second half. This is the primary concern when facing a top team: that no lead is insurmountable. Yet, the perception of San Francisco has dipped.Unlike every previous game since that Week 1 win in Pittsburgh - when the 49ers were favored by a point - San Francisco's not being asked to win by a significant margin. In fact, out of respect for the experience and artistry of Patrick Mahomes, we won't ask the 49ers to win by any prescribed margin.With a moneyline price depressed due to many bettors' interest in backing the Chiefs to cash as an underdog for the third straight time, we'll take the Niners to win the game, paying little more than we would if this was lined as a pick'em.Pick: 49ers moneyline (-125)Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.We've covered Super Bowl LVIII from head to toe with prop bets on all sides of the ball - passing, receiving, rushing, defense/special teams - as well as who'll score and what'll happen first. All that remains to close Super Bowl week is to dig deep into what's left to bet.Highest-scoring half: 1st half (-110 or better)We'll go back to something that cashed with ease for us in the AFC championship - a bet made based on the Chiefs' disparity between their first-half (sixth this season) and second-half scoring (27th).Each week, Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan put their mastery of Xs and Os on display in the opening offensive game script, usually 15 plays. The Chiefs' first drives this postseason have resulted in a touchdown, field goal, and touchdown on the way to first-half totals of 16, 13, and 17 points.Meanwhile, the 49ers scoring just seven first-half points in each of their two playoff games went against their habit of racking up points early, as they scored the fourth-most first-half points during the regular season (and slightly more than K.C.).49ers win 3rd quarter by shutout: Yes (+260)If you want to get a little spicier, using the handicap of the Chiefs' second-half scoring struggles (while avoiding Patrick Mahomes' aptitude in the fourth quarter), we'll take some odds on the 49ers to shut out the Chiefs in the third quarter.The 49ers' offense has shown it can adjust and settle into a rhythm after halftime in its first two playoff games, and all San Francisco needs is a field goal to hold up its end of the bargain here.Team to score longest touchdown: 49ers (-135)Here's the tale of the tape for the big playmakers in Super Bowl LVIII:POSITIONPLAYER30+ YARD PLAYSRunning backIsiah Pacheco3Christian McCaffrey8Tight endTravis Kelce2George Kittle8Wide receiverRashee Rice5MarquezValdes-Scantling5Brandon Aiyuk8Deebo Samuel5Of the players with the ball in their hands the most, the 49ers have 29 explosive plays to the Chiefs' 15. That's 66% of the big plays on San Francisco's side. If translated to a moneyline, that would be -200. So, while the 49ers are correctly favored, -135 is still a little short.Kansas City has more supporting characters with long gains, but not enough to expect them to score a long touchdown on Sunday. A defensive touchdown could end up as the longest TD scored, but each team is just as likely to find the end zone that way.Largest lead of the game: Under 14.5 (-125)Big leads in the NFL happen all the time, as evidenced by the Lions taking a 17-point lead on the 49ers in the NFC title game, and it doesn't mean the game won't be close or entertaining. However, despite having either a historically efficient offense (49ers) or having Mahomes, two conservative coaches should lead to a game where decisions are made to keep things close. The game being lined as close to a pick'em as possible and a game total (47.5) that isn't egregiously high also makes it less likely anyone gets up three scores.Will there be overtime?: Yes (+1100)Is overtime due? We'll close Super Bowl week with a bet based less on an edge in probability and more on tacking on a small bet for something fun to happen. Though, at +1100, theScore Bet has the best price in the market for the game going to overtime, so there's an implied edge compared to other sportsbooks.Two offseasons ago, the NFL changed the playoff overtime rules to give both teams a chance to have the ball. Last year, four playoff games were lined at a field goal or shorter, and three more this postseason. None of them went to overtime.Last year, the Chiefs just avoided overtime in two closely-lined games with late game-winning field goals, including in Super Bowl LVII. Brock Purdy's arm injury derailed one of the four tightly-lined matchups last year, and the Jaguars beat the Chargers by one point in another.This year's other short-spread games saw the Texans blowout the Browns, the Lions edge the Rams by one, and the Chiefs and Bills seem destined for overtime until Buffalo botched its last drive.That's six of seven games that were expected to be close and played out that way. Three of those included the Chiefs. Circumstances led to overtime being avoided, but with such narrow margins, there's reason to believe there's better than a 10% chance of overtime between evenly matched playoff teams.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.Earlier in Super Bowl week, we looked at the betting market for the game itself. If you have a side to bet, you can tailor your prop betting portfolio to fit that result, but ideally, there'll be a path to prop victory even if the side or total doesn't come through.It's said that "he who laughs last laughs longest." But whoever said that didn't bet on Super Bowl props, where there's an entire section of the betting menu reserved for things happening first - allowing for some first-quarter chuckles if things go our way.49ers stay on script49ers first - Punt or Points: Points (-105)

Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower once roamed the field together as New England Patriots linebackers. Now, they'll coach together on the sidelines.Hightower has been hired to join Mayo's staff as a linebackers coach, his agency announced Friday.Mayo and Hightower played four seasons together with the Patriots from 2012-15. While 2012 was Hightower's rookie season, Mayo was already well-established in his career. The latter retired after 2015.Hightower spent his entire career with the Patriots after they selected him in the first round of the 2012 draft. He won three Super Bowls and made two Pro Bowls with the franchise.The 33-year-old retired in 2023, though his last on-field appearance came in 2021.Mayo was named Bill Belichick's successor earlier this offseason.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders believes the San Francisco 49ers found someone special in Brock Purdy.Sanders had high praise for the quarterback during an appearance on ESPN's "First Take" on Thursday, admitting he's hoping to find his own Purdy for the Buffaloes."Everybody in America has a title, whether you agree with it or not. They give us a title," Sanders said. "This kid is the best story, probably, that has been over two decades. Coming from the last player taken to (being) in the Super Bowl and (leading) his team to the Super Bowl because of his play. I love this kid, man."I mean, shoot, I'm looking for a Brock Purdy. Sorry, I can't recruit right now."Purdy was selected by the 49ers with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, becoming Mr. Irrelevant that year. He started his rookie season as the third-string quarterback behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo but was eventually thrust into the starter role due to injuries.The 24-year-old will become the third Mr. Irrelevant to play in the Super Bowl on Sunday when the 49ers face the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Harbaugh is bringing an old friend with him to the Los Angeles Chargers.Los Angeles is targeting former San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman to be its new linebackers coach, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Chargers and Bowman haven't yet agreed on a deal, but it's expected to be completed, adds Rapoport.Bowman played for Harbaugh with the 49ers from 2011-14, earning three of his four first-team All-Pro nods under the Chargers' new coach.The 35-year-old acted as a defensive analyst at Maryland, in the state he grew up, during the 2023 season.Bowman spent seven years in San Francisco and ranks third on the franchise's all-time tackle list. He was released by the 49ers midway through 2017 and played his final NFL season with the then-Oakland Raiders before retiring with San Francisco in 2019.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks are planning to hire Dallas Cowboys assistant Aden Durde as their new defensive coordinator, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Durde has acted as Dallas' defensive line coach for the past three seasons and will now join new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald's staff.Born in England, the 44-year-old played in NFL Europe for six seasons from 2003-08 and also spent time on the practice squads of the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs.Durde served as the head of football development at NFL UK and spent six seasons as the defensive coordinator of the London Warriors.He joined the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 under then-head coach Dan Quinn before following Quinn to Dallas in 2021.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Shanahan will try to win his first championship on his third attempt: He was famously on the wrong end of the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history while with the Atlanta Falcons before falling short again with the San Francisco 49ers.But Shanahan isn't putting any thought into what another loss in the big game will do to his reputation ahead of Sunday's rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs."I deal with it the same way if we win," Shanahan said Thursday, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I celebrate with our team. I celebrate with my family and I move on with the rest of my life, which is being a father or son and coaching and working and doing all that."Narrative, good or bad, is just a narrative ... I just don't want regrets. I just want to do everything that makes sense to myself, that makes sense for our team. And when you do that, that's what I have found."As the Falcons' offensive coordinator, Shanahan watched as the Patriots erased a 28-3 lead to win Super Bowl LI at the end of the 2016 season. Three years later, the Chiefs handed Shanahan his second Super Bowl defeat - this time as a head coach - when they also came back from down 10 points entering the fourth quarter.Questions about Shanahan's ability to secure the 49ers' first championship since the 1994 season intensified following back-to-back NFC title game defeats in 2021 and 2022.But Shanahan won't let the outside noise impact how he views himself."No matter how hard something is or good something is, you always keep perspective of what it really is," he said. "If you want your perspective to be someone else's narrative, good luck being happy in life. Or successful."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL will play a regular-season game in Spain in 2025 for the first time ever, the league announced Friday.It'll be played at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, home to decorated soccer club Real Madrid."Playing a game in Madrid in 2025 highlights the continued expansion of the league's global footprint and the accelerated ambitions to take our game to more fans around the world," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.It's the latest step in the NFL's efforts to increase global reach. Brazil joined the league's international series in 2024, as the Philadelphia Eagles will play their Week 1 game on Sept. 6 in Sao Paulo. The United Kingdom, Mexico, and Germany have also hosted NFL games.The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium underwent a massive renovation project.NFL owners recently voted to approve an increase in international games to eight per season starting in 2025.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The public may see even more of Travis Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs tight end eyes an acting career.Kelce spoke about his Hollywood prospects at a press conference Thursday, telling reporters that he expects those discussions to happen once he's done with football. He believes he's best suited for comedy roles but is keeping his options open."Man, I'm comedy all the way. I don't know if I'm anything else. I just like to have a fun time and make people laugh," Kelce said, according to Michael Blinn of the New York Post. "I'll dabble into everything, though, just to see if I have fun doing it."I know there's definitely Hollywood talks out there, but I've been focused on football throughout the season. So, I'll probably have a lot of those meetings and conversations when it's all said and done."Kelce is already laying the groundwork for an entertainment career, inking a deal last year with talent company Creative Artists Agency for off-field representation. In a January interview with Zach Schonbrun of the New York Times, his business managers, Andre and Aaron Eanes, revealed that film scripts have already been shared with Kelce.For now, Kelce's focus remains on Sunday's big game against the San Francisco 49ers, where he and the Chiefs will be vying for their third Super Bowl championship in five seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michigan is planning to hire former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale as its new DC, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.A deal has yet to be finalized but it is expected to be completed, adds Schefter.Martindale will replace Jesse Minter, who followed former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers to become his DC.The 60-year-old Martindale parted ways with the Giants in January after two seasons. He helped New York to a surprising playoff appearance in 2022 but his unit regressed in 2023, finished 26th in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed.Michigan is coming off its first national title victory in 26 seasons. Former offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore was promoted to head coach after going 4-0 while leading the team during Harbaugh's four-game suspension this past season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class officially announced, it's time to turn our attention to the former NFL stars who could be immortalized next year.Here's the rundown on what the 2025 ballot could look like:1st-year eligible players Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere are several interesting first-year eligible candidates for 2025, with the likes of Eli Manning, Luke Kuechly, Marshawn Lynch, and Adam Vinatieri getting a shot for the first time. Here are some of the most notable former players who'll be in their first year of eligibility:Marshawn Lynch: Beast Mode is eligible for induction for the first time in 2025 and brings 12,627 total yards and 94 touchdowns with him. Lynch eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark six times in his career, led the league in rushing scores twice, and captured Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks.Luke Kuechly: Kuechly retired abruptly at 28 years old while still being one of the league's best linebackers. He spent his entire career with the Panthers, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year (2013) while being named a first-team All-Pro five times.Eli Manning: A two-time champion responsible for arguably the most famous play and the biggest upset in Super Bowl history, Manning's case will be contentious. In addition to his clutch title wins, he ranks 10th in both career passing yards and passing touchdowns. But Manning has zero career All-Pro nominations and led the NFL in interceptions three times.Adam Vinatieri: No player has been responsible for more points in NFL history. Vinatieri's 2,673 points are 129 more than the next closest. He also led the league in field-goal percentage three times, won four Super Bowls, and made three first-team All-Pro teams during his 24-year career with the Patriots and Colts.Terrell Suggs: Suggs spent the bulk of his 139-sack career with the Ravens before playing for the Cardinals and Chiefs in his final season. T-Sizzle won both Defensive Rookie of the Year (2003) and Defensive Player of the Year (2011) during his 17-year career. He also won a pair of Super Bowl rings.Earl Thomas: One of the most-feared members of Seattle's Legion of Boom defense, Thomas was a rangy safety who could also deliver big hits. The Texas product was a first-team All-Pro three times, won Super Bowl XLVIII, and was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team after racking up 30 interceptions, 71 pass deflections, and 12 forced fumbles.Marshal Yanda: A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Yanda was a stalwart on the Ravens' offensive line from 2007-19. The Iowa product earned two first-team All-Pro nods, five second-team selections, and eight Pro Bowl berths.Clay Matthews: Matthews is the Packers' all-time leader in sacks and was instrumental in Green Bay's Super Bowl victory during the 2010 season. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times and boasts one first-team All-Pro nomination and one second-team nod.Joe Staley: Staley spent his entire 13-year career with the 49ers after being taken in the first round in 2007. He was a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, earned six Pro Bowl nominations, and was named a second-team All-Pro three times. Staley was a key piece during San Francisco's run to three straight conference title games and one Super Bowl appearance from 2011-13.Cameron Wake: Wake started his NFL career at 27 years old after terrorizing CFL quarterbacks for two seasons. The pass-rusher racked up 100.5 sacks during his time with the Dolphins and Titans despite that late start. He was a force in the run game, too, with 99 tackles for loss. Wake led the league in that category with 21 in 2010.Aqib Talib: A cornerback with a great eye for the football, Talib racked up 35 interceptions during his 12-year career. He started his NFL tenure with the Buccaneers before establishing himself as one of the NFL's best defenders during a four-year stretch with the Broncos that included a Super Bowl victory and four of his five career Pro Bowl nods.Best of 2024 modern-era finalists Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAntonio Gates: The Chargers legend not making it in his first year of eligibility was shocking. One of the most dominant receivers of all time, the eight-time Pro Bowler leads all tight ends with 116 career touchdown catches and also ranks third all time in receptions (955) and receiving yards (11,841) among players at his position. It's hard to imagine him missing the cut again in 2025.Jared Allen: Allen was a finalist for the fourth time in 2024, and he'll get in eventually. The 2025 class could be seen as stronger than this year's ballot, though, so he might have to wait an extra year. Still, Allen ranks in the top 15 on the all-time sack list. He should be inducted at some point after retiring with five Pro Bowl nods and four first-team All-Pro berths.Reggie Wayne: Few wide receivers in the modern era were as clutch as Wayne, who helped the Colts win a Super Bowl and also ranks in the top 10 for career catches (1,070) and receiving yards (14,345). He's been a finalist for five straight years.Torry Holt: Like Wayne, Holt is a five-time finalist who many thought would already be inducted by now. It'll be hard for him to make it, given how stacked the 2025 class could be, but the former Rams star has an impressive resume. Holt, a seven-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL in receiving twice, retired with the 10th-most receiving yards in NFL history.Willie Anderson: Anderson was one of two linemen who were finalists in 2024. It'll be harder for Anderson - a three-time finalist - to make the cut in 2025, but expect him to at least be a contender again. In his prime, the former Bengals blocker was a premier offensive tackle who claimed three first-team All-Pro nods while playing 195 career games.Jahri Evans: Evans' shot was arguably stronger in 2024 than it'll be next year. But the fact that the former Saints guard was a finalist in his second year of eligibility is a good sign. The six-time Pro Bowler, who started 183 games in his career, was a cornerstone of New Orleans' O-line for 11 seasons during the Drew Brees era and helped the team win its first-ever Super Bowl.Darren Woodson: Woodson was a finalist for the second time in 2024 but has been eligible for 16 years now. The former Cowboys defender was one of the most versatile safeties of his era and ended his career with 23 interceptions and 967 tackles.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was named the 2023 NFL MVP on Thursday, claiming the regular-season award for the second time in his career.Jackson, who previously won the award unanimously in 2019, was a finalist in this year's ceremony along with San Francisco 49ers stars Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey, as well as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen.The Ravens superstar received 49 of 50 first-place votes to easily win the award again in 2023. Prescott ranked second despite not receiving any first-place votes. He was followed by McCaffrey and Purdy. Allen was the only other player who had first-place consideration, but he finished fourth.Jackson posted a 67.2% completion rate in 2023 - a career single-season high - to go along with 3,678 yards and 24 touchdown passes against only seven interceptions in 16 games. The first-team All-Pro QB also rushed for 821 yards and five TDs while helping the Ravens finish the regular season as the AFC's No. 1 seed.Jackson, Purdy, and McCaffrey were all considered MVP front-runners heading into Baltimore's Week 16 matchup with San Francisco. Jackson finished that game with 297 combined yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers, while Purdy was intercepted a career-high four times. McCaffrey did rush for 103 yards and one TD, but the Jackson-led Ravens beat the 49ers 33-19, making Jackson the new favorite for football's top individual award.The 27-year-old becomes only the 11th player ever to win multiple regular-season MVPs. Patrick Mahomes, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Kurt Warner have also won the award twice. Peyton Manning tops that list as a five-time winner.A quarterback has now won the MVP award in the last 11 seasons and 16 times in the past 17 years. Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was the last non-QB to take home the honor (2012).Jackson and the Ravens weren't able to replicate their regular-season success in the playoffs, as Baltimore fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced Thursday at the NFL Honors award show.Julius Peppers - a first-ballot inductee - headlines a group that also features Andre Johnson, Devin Hester, Patrick Willis, and Dwight Freeney. Antonio Gates missing the cut was this year's biggest surprise.Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael were also selected for enshrinement as part of the seniors category.Julius PeppersDefensive end, Carolina Panthers-Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers, 2002-18No one should be surprised to see Peppers in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. One of the most accomplished defenders of his era, Peppers retired with the fourth-most sacks (159.5) and second-most forced fumbles (52) in NFL history to go along with nine Pro Bowl selections and seven All-Pro nods. The 2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year's longevity helped him earn two NFL All-Decade Teams nods (2000s and 2010s). Peppers also had at least one double-digit sack season with each team he played for.Andre JohnsonWide receiver, Houston Texans-Indianapolis Colts-Tennessee Titans, 2003-16Johnson's three-year wait may have been longer than many expected, but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a bust in Canton. Johnson, the Texans' all-time leader in every major receiving category, was one of the most productive pass-catchers of his era. His 1,062 career catches and 14,185 yards rank 11th all time. The former third overall pick led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions twice and retired with seven Pro Bowl berths and three first-team All-Pro nods under his belt.Devin HesterKick returner/wide receiver, Chicago Bears-Atlanta Falcons-Baltimore Ravens-Seattle Seahawks, 2006-16Hester's case was an intriguing one, given that the speedster didn't contribute much as a receiver throughout his career but retired as arguably the greatest return specialist the NFL has ever seen. At the end of the day, Hester's excellence on special teams spoke louder. Over his 11-year career, the four-time Pro Bowler amassed 20 return touchdowns (14 punts, five kickoffs, and one missed field goal). He was also responsible for the fastest touchdown in Super Bowl history after returning the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a TD.Dwight FreeneyDefensive end, Indianapolis Colts-San Diego Chargers-Arizona Cardinals-Atlanta Falcons-Seattle Seahawks-Detroit Lions, 2002-17Freeney and his iconic spin move are finally going to Canton. Across 11 seasons with the Colts, Freeney earned seven Pro Bowl berths and three first-team All-Pro nods while helping Indianapolis win a Super Bowl title. Freeney, who led the NFL in sacks once, retired with 125.5 career sacks. He and Robert Mathis formed one of pro football's most dominant defensive duos, helping the Colts become perennial playoff contenders in the Peyton Manning era.Patrick WillisLinebacker, San Francisco 49ers, 2007-14The 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Willis had a relatively short career and abruptly retired at age 30. Still, his eight NFL seasons were enough to produce one of the most accomplished and dominant careers ever at linebacker. He led the league in tackles in two of his first three pro seasons. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Willis retired with five first-team All-Pro selections and seven Pro Bowl berths under his belt.Randy Gradishar (seniors category)Linebacker, Denver Broncos, 1974-83Gradishar was a cornerstone of the "Orange Crush Defense," one of the best defensive units in Broncos history that helped the franchise reach its first-ever Super Bowl during the 1977 season. He earned seven Pro Bowl nods and five All-Pro berths (two first-team selections) in 10 NFL seasons. Gradishar was the 1978 Defensive Player of the Year.Steve McMichael (seniors category)Defensive tackle, New England Patriots-Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers, 1980-94McMichael is the sixth member of the 1985 Bears' historic defense to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a first-team All-Pro for Chicago that year. One of the most underrated defensive tackles in NFL history, the two-time Pro Bowler's 95 career sacks currently rank seventh all time among interior defensive linemen, according to Football Reference.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL recognized the top players, coaches, and moments of the 2023 season Thursday night in Las Vegas.Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson claimed the most prestigious award at the NFL Honors by taking home the MVP. Here are all the major winners:AwardWinnerMVPRavensQB Lamar JacksonRead moreOPOY49ers RB Christian McCaffreyRead moreDPOYBrownsDE Myles GarrettRead moreOROYTexansQB C.J. StroudRead moreDROYTexans DE Will AndersonRead moreComebackBrowns QB Joe FlaccoRead moreCoachBrowns HC Kevin StefanskiRead moreOther main awards went to Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward was named 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his excellence on the field and in the community. Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz captured 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year.The NFL's Moment of the Year went to a 92-yard Dallas Cowboys touchdown connection from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco captured the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award at the NFL Honors on Thursday.Flacco, 39, joined the Browns in November after starting the season unsigned. He averaged over 300 yards per game across five starts while helping Cleveland reach the playoffs despite several major injuries.The award marks the Browns' fourth honor of the evening. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was named Coach of the Year, defensive end Myles Garrett earned Defensive Player of the Year, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz received Assistant Coach of the Year.Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, Los Angeles Rams passer Matthew Stafford, and Miami Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa were the other finalists for Comeback Player of the Year.Hamlin had the most first-place ballots with 21, but Flacco earned the most points - 151 to Hamlin's 140 - with 13 first-place and 26-second place votes, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Flacco finished the campaign with 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in his five appearances. All of those marks were the highest on the team.Awards only reflect regular-season performances, but Flacco continued to post big numbers in the team's postseason defeat. The veteran signal-caller had 307 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions in the club's loss to the Houston Texans.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.