| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITThe Lions have a new president – who comes from the NBA’s Pistons per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. A “national search” by a national search firm found Richard Haddad down the street: The Detroit Lions have hired former Pistons Sports and Entertainment COO Richard Haddad as their new president and CEO, the organization announced Wednesday. “I am thrilled to join the Detroit Lions organization as its next President and CEO,” Haddad said in a statement released by the Lions. “I want to thank Sheila Hamp and the Ford family for their trust in me, along with Tom Gores and Arn Tellem for 14 great years with the Pistons. As a lifelong Lions fan, I understand firsthand how much this team means to this city and state, and I’m honored and humbled to lead this franchise. Sheila, Rod (Wood), Brad (Holmes) and Dan (Campbell) have built an incredible foundation, and I can’t wait to work with them to build on that and deliver for our fans and our community.” Haddad, an Adrian, Mich., native who earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Michigan before earning a law degree at Columbia Law School, comes to the Lions after 14 years with Pistons Sports and Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons. During his time with PSE, Haddad helped spearhead the Pistons’ move from Auburn Hills to Detroit, the development, construction and opening of the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center and the organization’s efforts to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit. This hire was a long time coming. In February, the Lions announced that current president and CEO Rod Wood would be stepping down after roughly 10 years on the job. Wood has continued in his role since the announcement, which stated that he would stay on until a replacement was hired. Wood has been spotted often on the sidelines during training camp. “Rich is a proven leader who understands what it means to steward an iconic sports franchise in the city of Detroit, and we are thrilled that he is bringing that experience to the Lions,” Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp said in a statement. “Throughout our process, Rich’s experience, steady leadership style, and grasp on the present and future state of team sports were clear differentiators. My family and I are excited to work with Rich on driving the Lions forward in our continued pursuit to bring a championship to Detroit.” Haddad was chosen through an extensive national search led by Hamp, Wood, vice chairman Bill Ford, senior football advisor to ownership Chris Spielman, Lions chief people and inclusion officer Lindsay Verstegen and the advisory firm Russell Reynolds. Hadaad was recognized by Sports Business Journal as one of its “40 under 40” sports business executives in 2022. He is expected to start in early September, and will wrap up his tenure with the Pistons over the next few weeks. Wood will remain in place to guide the organization until the transition is finalized. |
| NFC EAST |
DALLASWR CEEDEE LAMB has taken an unconventional practice routine to curb those pesky drops. Nick Shook of NFL.com: CeeDee Lamb is done with dropping the football and willing to try unconventional methods to ensure his hands are more reliable than ever. On Tuesday, those methods included introducing a viewing obstruction while working on the JUGS machine during the Cowboys’ training camp practice. Draped in what appeared to be a beekeeper’s net (or a hood made of cheesecloth), the Dallas receiver caught passes from the machine, attracting attention while maintaining a remarkably steady success rate.  Lamb is coming off a season in which he was uncharacteristically unreliable in big moments. The issue first surfaced in a narrow Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in which Lamb dropped multiple precise passes fired by Dak Prescott, undercutting Dallas’ hopes of scoring an upset victory to start the campaign. By late November, Lamb was still searching for answers while admitting the solution was simple. “No, I just find ways to get better,” Lamb said at the time. “I want to be solution-oriented and not really dwell on the problem. Granted, we know the problem — I need to catch the f—— ball. When I do catch it, just be ready.” Despite his struggles, Lamb still posted a strong season, catching 75 passes for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. He finished as one of two Cowboys receivers to clear 1,000 yards, but trailed Pickens in all three categories. And most importantly, Lamb understood his drops were limiting his team’s chances of victory in a season in which the offense was required to carry the Cowboys. It appears Lamb is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure his hands don’t fail him in 2026. Just don’t expect him to pick up apiculture as a new hobby. |
| WASHINGTONThe Commanders are going to sign a talented receiver who might have some distractions – but it is not WR BRANDON AIYUK. John Keim of ESPN.com: Free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs is set to sign a one-year deal worth up to $12 million with the Washington Commanders, giving the team a proven receiver opposite Terry McLaurin, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Diggs strengthens a receiver group whose depth had improved from 2025 but was still facing questions at the top, aside from McLaurin. Diggs, who was born in suburban Washington and played collegiately at Maryland, had made his desire to play for the Commanders known. Diggs attended Maryland’s first fall practice Wednesday and the university shared a video message on Instagram from the former Terrapins wide receiver. “Shout out to my Terps and go Commanders,” he said in the video. “Let’s go!” Stefon Diggs is a reliable target Stefon Diggs ranked No. 1 in the NFL among wide receivers last season in reception percentage, catching 82.5% of his targets. Diggs, 32, will be joining a new team for the third time in three seasons. He gives Washington a stronger second option alongside McLaurin, whose string of five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons was snapped last year due to injury. Diggs has been voted to the Pro Bowl four times — the last one occurring three years ago — and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2020 when he led the NFL with 127 receptions. Washington’s lack of receiver depth was evident in 2025 when McLaurin missed seven games with a quad injury and Noah Brown missed 13 games with knee and groin injuries. The result: Five players who were not on the roster at the season’s start ended up catching passes for the team. Washington drafted Antonio Williams in the third round this year, and multiple team officials have expressed excitement over how he can help. The Commanders also have Luke McCaffrey, a third-round pick in 2024 with 29 career receptions in 26 games; and Jaylin Lane, a fourth-round pick in 2025 who caught 16 passes last season but as a punt returner he averaged 13.7 yards and scored twice. They also have veterans Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson and Dyami Brown. The latter caught 30 passes for Washington two years ago, adding 14 more in three postseason games. That trio combined for 59 catches, 707 yards and three touchdowns last season. Washington had been paying attention to Brandon Aiyuk’s situation with the San Francisco 49ers and, earlier in the offseason, would have had interest if he were available, according to team sources. However, he has yet to be released and, therefore, hasn’t been an immediate option. The Commanders’ potential interest cooled after a series of Instagram posts by Aiyuk, including some that targeted quarterback Jayden Daniels, according to team sources. Meanwhile, Diggs caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns for the New England Patriots last season and was credited with being a key team leader. He has surpassed 1,000 yards in seven of the past eight years — with the exception occurring when he missed nine games due to a torn ACL. The Patriots, however, released Diggs in March, at the start of the 2026 league year. Diggs spent his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before getting traded to the Buffalo Bills, whom he played for the next four years. Diggs has dealt with off-field issues. On May 4, he was found not guilty of felony strangulation as well as assault and battery charges against his personal chef Jamila Adams. The NFL also investigated the situation and determined there was insufficient evidence to suspend him for violation of the personal conduct policy. Diggs also is suing Christopher Blake Griffith for defamation after Griffith made accusations that the football player had “drugged and sexually assaulted him” and tried to “unalive” him. Diggs caught 82.5% of the passes Drake Maye threw his way. That’s crazy. He led WRs with more than 50 targets by a clear margin 1 Stefon Diggs 83.3 102 2 Luther Burden III 78.3 60 3 Puka Nacua 77.7 166 4 Khalil Shakir 75.8 95 5 Sterling Shepard 73.6 53 |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSDT AARON DONALD appeared at Rams camp Wednesday for a “tryout.” Three writers from The Athletic combined for this: Retired Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald had a tryout with his former team Wednesday, adding to speculation that a comeback could be on the horizon. Labeling the workout at the Rams’ facility as a “tryout” was a formality to comply with league rules and processes, head coach Sean McVay later said in an interview with NFL Daily, which is why it appeared on the league’s official transaction wire. “Best tryout that we’ve ever had,” a grinning McVay said. “I think he can make the team.” Donald, a 2014 first-round draft pick and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, spent 10 seasons with the Rams. He was voted to the Pro Bowl 10 times, named an All-Pro eight times and helped make the game-sealing play in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI win over Cincinnati after the 2021 season. He announced his retirement in March 2024.The 35-year-old has toyed with a return ever since the Rams made their blockbuster trade to acquire Myles Garrett this offseason. Donald has posted videos on social media of himself working out, and ESPN’s Pat McAfee revealed in June that Donald said the Garrett trade “for sure got me thinking” about coming back. Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com tries to answer the question of how good will Donald be if he comes back: It’s starting to seem like a foregone conclusion that Donald will be back at some point with the Rams, though it may be after training camp at the earliest before it becomes official. It has been speculated since the Rams traded for Myles Garrett at the beginning of June. The thought of Garrett and Donald, perhaps the two best defensive players of this era, playing together has been fun to consider. But it’s also hard to know what exactly the Rams are getting with Donald, if his comeback does become official. Aaron Donald weighing a comebackDonald could be the greatest defensive player ever. He has an argument, at least. He’s one of three players to have three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, along with Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt. Garrett has two. The dream for the Rams is getting the prime version of Donald back in the lineup. He still had plenty left to give when he retired. He was first-team All-Pro in his final season. He joined a list of players like Jim Brown, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson to retire when they were still among the best players in the NFL. Even if he wasn’t the dominant force he was a couple seasons prior, he was still one of the best in the NFL during his last season. Perhaps Donald can still be at that level. He’ll presumably be in shape. Last year, then-Rams defensive end Jared Verse worked out with Donald and couldn’t keep up. “I’ve worked out at multiple programs. I’ve worked out with hundreds of people, best athletes in the NFL, best athletes in college. That was the hardest workout I’ve ever done,” Verse said, via NFL.com. If the Rams could get close to the best version of Donald for even 20-30 snaps a game, he’d be a difference maker. It’s hard to bet against an all-time great pulling that off. Donald’s life will be easier than ever with Garrett alongside him, drawing the kind of attention Donald did through his career. There’s no guarantee we see that All-Pro version of Donald. But the history of what he’s trying to do isn’t all that bad. Comparisons to Donald at his ageDonald recently turned 35 years old. There aren’t many defensive linemen of that age in the NFL. Only four defensive linemen (Calais Campbell, Cameron Heyward, John Jenkins and Cameron Jordan) started a game at age 35 or older last season, according to Stathead. The good news is there were some good seasons among those aging linemen. Jordan had 10.5 sacks for the Saints. Campbell has had at least 5.5 sacks in each of the last four seasons since he turned 36, including 6.5 last season with the Cardinals at age 39. Heyward’s production dipped for the Steelers last season, but in his age-35 season of 2024 he had eight sacks and was a first-team All-Pro. No offense to any of them, but none of them are in Donald’s class. Not many players through NFL history are. It’s possible for a defensive lineman in his mid- to late-30s to remain dominant. There have been 25 instances of a defensive lineman making a Pro Bowl at age 35 or older, including Reggie White doing it three times. White is an all-time great like Donald, and maybe that’s a fair comparison for Donald. White won NFL Defensive Player of the Year at age 37. But White also took a season off and then looked like a much lesser version of himself when he had a comeback with the Panthers. Donald has sat out two seasons. However, there have been players come back after taking a season or two off — recently Rob Gronkowski took a season off and came back for two good seasons with the Buccaneers, including a Super Bowl — but it’s a challenge. Not everyone can do it, though at least there is some positive precedent. Assuming Donald has continued his intense workouts to stay in shape and the Rams have a plan to not overwork him, history says he can come back and make an impact. He might not be at an NFL Defensive Player of the Year level again, but unicorns are unicorns for a reason. Donald has played on a different level than almost everyone else through his career, and most historical comps might not apply. Maybe he can be one of the best defensive linemen in football again, especially with offenses putting all their focus on one of his teammates for a change. Either way, it seems like Donald is getting closer to coming back. And it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t make a very impressive Rams roster even better. |
| SAN FRANCISCOAlbert Breer of SI.com, with help from GM John Lynch and QB BROCK PURDY, gives us a look at Kyle Shanahan, the head coach, not just the play calller. When the world found out about Kyle Shanahan’s July 14 car accident, most images blasted across social media or television were of him with a headset on and a playsheet in hand. For good reason. That image of the offensive mastermind is the one most folks have of him. It turns out, since then, the 49ers’ players and staff have mostly missed everything else. The Shanahan that has been revered in San Francisco over the last decade—and before that by folks in the know—is indeed one of the top play-callers and designers of his generation. But there’s always been more to the 46-year-old as a coach. In a roundabout way, his temporary absence from the 49ers has painted a perfect illustration of that. It’s the Kyle Shanahan you don’t know that has left the void over the past couple of weeks. Had this happened in September, for obvious reasons, it’d be different. The loss of play-calling expertise can be managed in July and August by most competent NFL staffs. The rest of the coach Shanahan has become over the past couple of decades is, at this early point in the pro football calendar, tougher to replicate. “When I first got here, I was like, All right, this dude’s calling the plays, so is he an offensive coordinator that’s a head coach?” his quarterback, Brock Purdy, said. “But over the years, he’s proven to me time and time again, like, this dude understands personalities; he understands how teams need to work. And I feel like from his dad, from all the experiences, the places that he’s been, from [Jon] Gruden to Houston and Cleveland, he’s taken all these little bits and pieces and has come up with his own coaching style. “And he’s real about it. He doesn’t have any secrets. He’s pretty black-and-white to players when they want to hear the truth. So that’s the culture he’s built. And now that he’s out, obviously, it’s sad, but he’s built it to where he’s brought in the right players, the right coaches. This thing can run when he’s not here for a little bit. Obviously, we want him here.” And to all of these guys, a small silver lining in a bad situation that could’ve been much worse is that they can tell these stories. You can start with Shanahan’s roots, which were planted at his dad’s side when he was a kid—and Mike was with the Broncos, Raiders, Broncos again, 49ers and then Broncos a third time, that time as the head coach—and bloomed in his 20s as he built his own career. Raheem Morris, his defensive coordinator and one of Shanahan’s best and longest-held friends in the NFL, was there for that. He remembers being the young defensive assistant opposite an entry-level version of his buddy. And he remembers how Shanahan’s search for knowledge didn’t come close to stopping at the exit of the offensive meeting room. In an era with less-organized offseasons, Tampa’s defensive players would pop in to work out—“Ronde [Barber] would show up with like six DBs,” Morris explains—and the coaches would meet them out on the fields. Pretty early on, Shanahan started to ask if he could join the defensive coaches for that. “So he comes to a workout, and he’d watch what it meant to make movements, and watched what it felt like to be pushing weight, and we talked about how it looked to be a hole player, and a middle-field player, and what you were taking away, and who had spots to aim for, and be able to take those things,” Morris explained. “So he got all the little details from teaching individually. And then we’d do the same thing with Rod Marinelli up front.” In turn, the defensive guys—Morris, Mike Tomlin and Joe Barry—would pin him down on the old Broncos keeper system, and outside zone, and how the run and pass were married up. That carried over, with Shanahan and Morris, to Washington and later Atlanta. It started, according to Morris, because of the tone Gruden set from a work-ethic standpoint, and because, as the Niners DC says, “it was a bunch of obsessed dudes.” The result, over time, became a guy who could coach about any position and also explain his opponent’s rules, on offense and defense, to his players, so that they could break them. “That’s where he’s unique,” Morris said. “His ability to walk in any room here, or be able to bring you in his room, and just kind of speak your language.” As a 20-something, he was taking in as much football as he could. He was also, knowingly or not, filling his head-coaching toolbox. Two decades later, his defensive players in San Francisco have benefited from it, the same way the guys in Atlanta, Cleveland or Washington have with the information he could help to try and push his players to get the 360-degree view of the game he had. It’s in the specifics that he can help those guys with before a game, of course. It’s also part of an overall philosophy for how a defense should play, regardless of who his coordinator on that side of the ball is. “It seems simple, but just how every yard matters in terms of a play-caller,” Nick Bosa says. “Like when he talks about leaky yardage is one thing. When you allow a running back to wiggle his way for a couple more, it opens up a whole other page or two to his call sheet. So that’s something I wouldn’t have thought of. And then, just a mindset thing, where if you run to the ball and you punish the offense, he’s really good at pointing it out throughout the game—those guys don’t want to get hit like that. “And they won’t focus on the ball when it’s coming over the middle; the running back won’t try and get those leaky yards, because they know previously in the game that shot from the D-lineman who ran to the ball earlier in the game, they’re looking for it. And that ends up being a play where they don’t get a first down. And that ends up being the game.” Gruden’s team meetings could sometimes morph into history lessons, as 49ers GM John Lynch remembers from his playing days—“We’re gonna run 376 drag slant … and then he’s got film of Jerry Rice.” Lynch was also there for Shanahan’s dad’s meetings, which most often laid out the day, or explained, in one way or another, an aspect of protecting the team. Kyle saw those, too. And when he was a new head coach, Lynch tried to emphasize to him that the key to both sets of those was that Gruden and his dad made them their own. There came a time in their first year together when Shanahan went to Lynch to tell him that he wanted to call an all-hands meeting for the organization to lay out its collective vision. Lynch could sense he was a little nervous. He also knew that the young coach was at his most comfortable in the front of a room when he had a clicker in his hand and film to show. “Andy Reid will have his script, his speeches, [Robert] Saleh would have all 17 speeches done in August,” Lynch said. “Kyle does them like 10 minutes before. I remember that day, two hours before, he’s like, What am I going to do? And I’m like, Kyle, here’s the deal: You’re comfortable with the clicker in your hand. So in front of the whole thing, we’re going to put a clicker in your hand, you’re going to show them film, because then you start flowing.” Sure enough, he did. And quickly, team meetings became his strength. In fact, a lot of guys will tell you that, right now, it’s what they miss most. “There is something cool where we’re all together, and Kyle explains the scenario of a practice, or a theme at practice, and can show clips from years past, or way back, that, This is football, this is how it is, these are the concepts that haven’t changed,” Purdy says. “He paints a picture really well of what we’re all trying to get out of the day. “He’s explaining how Fred [Warner] is seeing the defense, and Fred’s responsibilities. And I’m sitting there learning. And then, same when he explains my position to the whole team. It’s just cool that he can do that on both sides of the ball in front of everybody.” In some cases, it helps the Niners crush a practice. In others, it helps them win a game. Oftentimes, the contents of the meeting might mirror what he says to a guy one-on-one, because the lesson for that player is something that’d be good for the whole team to hear. Purdy recalled Shanahan going back over Seattle’s defense with him, and explaining how he may have to check the ball down 50 times in the game—but also know when to take advantage of the one or two shots they’d give him to make a big play. Or how before the team played against Cleveland in November, Shanahan said, “They got a tough defense, it’s gonna be a lot of man coverage, you got Myles Garrett, the weather’s gonna be trashy. So this game is how can we protect the ball, capitalize on a couple drives, get some field goals? We’re gonna win.” The Niners had no turnovers, Purdy threw for an efficient 168 yards, the defense got a couple of takeaways, and San Francisco cruised to a 26-8 win to get to 9–4. In each case, Shanahan knew what tone to set, which is what his meetings are about. “I do miss the team meetings already,” Bosa says. “It’s something obviously I got used to over the years. I remember as a rookie being in there and being blown away and nervous and all of the above sitting in those meetings. And over the years, you want your name to be called in there. You want him to appreciate you. It’s that type of thing.” The Niners have put the meetings on ice altogether for the time being while Shanahan heals. In that hole in the schedule now, OC Klay Kubiak will meet with the offense and Morris the defense. It’s not that those guys or assistant head coach Chris Foerster couldn’t take the baton. They could. But it wouldn’t be the same. So they’ll wait. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy49ers quarterback Brock Purdy on Shanahan: “He paints a picture really well of what we’re all trying to get out of the day.” | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The underlying thing, from his knowledge of the game through everyone’s eyes to his messages for the group as a whole, is that he always seems to know what his team needs. That was especially the case last summer after an offseason cap purge. “He got all the older guys together at his house, and he goes, Hey, we have a young team, we’re not gonna be doing what we’ve done the last couple years in terms of just steamrolling teams and come fourth quarter, you guys are all out of the game and we have our backups in,” Purdy remembered. “He’s like, We’re gonna need to fight for every win. This is the NFL. We have the type of young team where we’re gonna need to go and have you guys step up and go win games for us in the fourth quarter. “And sure enough, last year, that’s exactly how the season played out. He has that. He knows what the future is gonna look like because he’s been around the block.” Purdy then paused and said, “So, for me, as a quarterback, dude, I love it.” Slowly, Shanahan’s working his way back to being that guy again. At a practice last week, he was stationed behind the action, like a personnel man would be, watching practice with Lynch. Soon thereafter, Morris was over there with them. And not long after that, a steady stream of players were coming by to check in. He has had to be careful not to overdo it. He trusts the guys he has put in place and, again, if there’s a time to be without him—or with a reduced version of him—this isn’t the worst time. “He’s very likable, such a good dude,” Lynch said. “And so people genuinely miss him out there. He’s standing back there with me, but now a couple of days in? I think early on, it was, Guys, don’t inundate him. He’s coming back. Now, they can’t help themselves. They’re all coming out because they miss him. He’s fun to be around. He’s funny. “But, yeah it’s a testament to what he’s built, and what he’s built in that it doesn’t feel like we’re missing a beat. Over time, we would. This would be a lot more difficult if it’s during the season and we’re going to play a game.” That, of course, is where all of this, offensive acumen included, comes together. And missing all the other stuff may suck regardless. But at least they don’t know it probably won’t be too much longer until they get all of Shanahan back. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERThe Broncos aren’t shy about wanting to break the NFL sacks record. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com The Broncos’ defense is planning to set the NFL record for sacks this year, and they’re not shy about saying so. Last month it was Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen who was openly predicting that his team would break the NFL sack record, and at training camp on Wednesday, teammate D.J. Jones said the same thing. “We can break it. We can break the record,” Jones said. “What is that, 72? Yeah, we can break it.” The NFL record for sacks in a season is 72, set by the 1984 Bears. Last year, the Broncos finished with 68 sacks. The Broncos think they can find five more sacks this season. “We got what it takes,” Jones said. “We’ve tasted it. Now it’s time to cook the meal, eat it and take a break. You know how you eat a good meal, and you lay down after, take a good nap, and you wake up and go eat again? We’re about to eat again. It’s time. We got the numbers, we got the men, we got the willpower, we’ve got free will to go do it. So, it’s up to us, and we’re going to do that.” Jones noted that Broncos defensive end Malcolm Roach even knocked quarterback Bo Nix down in practice, which is a no-no, but Jones said that’s just the physical nature of the Broncos’ defense. “Bo got knocked down, but we play physical. You can’t slow down for nobody,” Jones said. “It got quiet. It got quiet real quick. Everybody stopped. But he was just doing his job.” The Broncos think they have a lot of players who can do the job of taking down the opposing quarterback this season. |
| KANSAS CITYWe didn’t know that Arrowhead Stadium had stopped being Arrowhead Stadium. But apparently it had, and now it is reverting back to Arrowhead. Teddy Ricketson of YahooSports.com: The Kansas City Chiefs announced Wednesday that their home stadium will once again be known simply as “Arrowhead Stadium.” The stadium was built in 1972, and from its inception until 2021, it was known as “Arrowhead Stadium.” In 2021, the name was changed to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium due to a new naming rights deal. Kansas City clarified that GEHA has not been lost as a sponsor and showed appreciation to the company for agreeing to allow the franchise to honor its history by reverting to its former stadium name. The Chiefs announced in December 2025 that they would be leaving Arrowhead Stadium and building a new stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The new stadium is expected to be ready ahead of the 2031 season, and Arrowhead Stadium is set to be demolished following the 2031 season. Arrowhead Stadium is located in Kansas City, Missouri. While the city of Kansas City straddles the border between Kansas and Missouri, the announcement of a new stadium will see the franchise cross the state line and play its home games in Kansas. Built in 1972, Arrowhead Stadium is currently the oldest stadium in the AFC and the third-oldest stadium in the NFL. It is one year older than the old Highmark Stadium, where the Buffalo Bills used to play, but they’ll be playing at a brand-new Highmark Stadium starting this season. Only Soldier Field (1924) and Lambeau Field (1957) are older than Arrowhead Stadium. The Chicago Bears are also in talks for a new stadium and are currently exploring options, including moving the franchise to Indiana. We can’t help wonder if the Arrowhead name will migrate with the team to Kansas. |
| AFC NORTH |
| PITTSBURGHDr. Anthony Fauci had one of his high-priced lawyers lecture QB AARON RODGERS. Saad Yousuf of The Athletic: A day after Aaron Rodgers appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and called former top U.S. health official Dr. Anthony Fauci an “absolute coward,” Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and the Steelers organization responded to the quarterback’s comments, as did Fauci’s attorney. Asked to respond to Rodgers’ criticism, David Schertler, Fauci’s attorney, wrote in an email to The Athletic: “Aaron Rodgers doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He should stick to football.” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy responded to questions about the comments by saying, “My job is to keep it about football.” “These are grown men. They all have different opinions. There’s no question about that,” McCarthy said to reporters Tuesday. “But at the end of the day, my job is to keep it about football, keep the focus on winning. That’s why we’re here. We have a good locker room. We have a player council that’s in place. We had our second meeting yesterday. We’re in a good spot.” Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten also shared a statement with The Athletic: “Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views. With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room.” Rodgers joined “The Pat McAfee Show” for nearly 30 minutes, with the first seven minutes broadcast on ESPN. The remainder of the interview was carried only on a digital platform. Jarrett Bell of USA Today had a sitdown with Rodgers in the wake of the McAfee appearance. Aaron Rodgers is gearing up for a Last Ride with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but rest assured the quarterback is not hitting the campaign trail and running for office. Call him polarizing or a lightning rod. Or worse. Not fazed. “I don’t give a (crap) about anything that people think about me unless they’re in my corner and I would ask them for advice,” Rodgers told USA TODAY Sports. The star quarterback and vaccine skeptic would not plead the Fifth Amendment when asked whether he is concerned about hits to his image. That would be a flat no, period. Yet Rodgers undoubtedly struck some nerves when he went on ESPN during “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday and mocked Dr. Anthony Fauci by pleading the Fifth to an opening question, then called the former infectious disease advisor – a hero to many during the pandemic – a “coward” for invoking the Fifth during a recent Congressional hearing. “I don’t care about the criticism from people like that,” Rodgers said. “Most people have made up their mind about me, so it doesn’t matter what I say. It’s not going to change their mind because most people aren’t listening to the content of your words. They’re wanting to attack your character because they think you’re MAGA or they think you’re whatever tag they put on you – conspiracy theorist, anti-science. They’ve already made up their mind about me before this.” As we sat in the shade on a bench outside the locker room following a training camp practice on Tuesday, Rodgers, 42, reflected on myriad topics as he gears up for a 22nd and final NFL season. He mentioned that the chance to reunite with coach Mike McCarthy was the reason he returned after contemplating retirement and was nostalgic about their experience of winning Super Bowl 45 together with the Green Bay Packers. He shed light on reconnecting with his parents and older brother. And he expressed optimism about the Steelers developing into a title contender.– – –Chasing another ringSure, this Last Ride for Rodgers is deeper than using his huge platform to air grievances or set the record straight. He wants to win big again, too. After a drubbing from the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round provided a pitiful end to last season – Rodgers’ first with the Steelers and Mike Tomlin’s last – there’s something to be said, too, about chasing the ring again. “Using the term, ‘chasing the ring’ is usually applying to, like, old guys, like LeBron (James) going to Philly and me still hanging around,” Rodgers said. “But if you’re not doing that, what are you doing? “I mean, I was chasing the ring when I was in the first year starting, but our team wasn’t the team in ’08 that was probably championship-caliber. I think you know expectations are high here, which they always were in Green Bay. I think we’ve got the team that can do it.” Imagine that. Rodgers riding off into the sunset in championship glory. Now that would be some kind of a last word. This from Shauna McCarriston of CBSSports.com on Rodgers renewed relationship with his family. As Aaron Rodgers prepares for what he insists is his final NFL season, he is also working on some elements of his personal life. It is well-known that the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is estranged from his family, but he recently posted photos with them on social media. Rodgers captioned the series of photos, which included his parents, Darla and Ed Rodgers, and his older brother, Luke, “Another bonding week #fam.” After years of family division, Rodgers credited his wife, Brittani. “Having those conversations with my wife – that allowed me to open up to the possibility of coming together,” the four-time MVP said. “It’s been a couple-year process now, the conversations with them. I’ve been very closed off about that part of my life, and I want to keep it that way, but there’s been a narrative that’s gone on for too long that I wanted to shut down and it’s been really beautiful to reconnect with them, all of them.” The 42-year-old said Brittani never pressured him to reconcile, but was there during the journey of reuniting. He didn’t say what initially caused the rift, citing that it is a private matter. “I’m happy to be reunited,” he said. “That part of my life is a really beautiful addition, and I gotta give my wife a lot of credit. Not that she was pushing me, because she never was, but just the way that she loves and supports me, having her by my side during this process was really special. I missed those relationships. And there was reasons for [the estrangement] that don’t need to be talked about, but I’m thankful that that’s come all the way back around.” The journey from estrangement to family photos on social media was not linear or quick. Rodgers called having each relationship in his life again a “blessing” and says he enjoyed spending time not only with his parents, but with his brother’s “incredible” children as well, happy to “get to be an uncle.” |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONAlbert Breer of SI.com went to Texans’ camp and has these observations (you should have WR JAYDEN HIGGINS highlighted on your Fantasy draft sheet): • The first question is going to be, of course, how C.J. Stroud looks, and it may be boring to say but he’s been steadier and more consistent this offseason, with a seriousness that underlies the big year he has in front of him. One thing that helps is that he’s been fully healthy throughout, which allowed him to take every physical rep in the spring and build some momentum headed into camp. The partnership between him and OC Nick Caley has grown, too, enabling Stroud to have more command of the offense, including taking on more of a leadership role with his teammates. The playoffs obviously didn’t go well; Stroud had seven turnovers against the Steelers and Patriots. But since then, he has responded the way the Texans would’ve wanted. • The Texans deconstructed their offensive line coming out of 2024, believing that they’d run into a culture problem in the room. Essentially, what they were looking to do in the aftermath was match the culture DeMeco Ryans was able to establish on defense quickly. It’s fair to say that the uptick in mental and physical toughness is there now across an offense that’s really challenged the defense. On the morning I was here, the defense got the better of the offense, but that was after a week of camp in which the offense started to play the defense to a stalemate, besting them on some days (Will Anderson Jr. actually told me afterward the defensive guys wanted to make a point of reestablishing themselves today). Anyway, that the offense is ready for the fight in camp is a good sign that the retooling is starting to take place. And at the center of all this is that rebuilt line, with rookie Keylan Rutledge already emerging as a tone-setter (he’s been in a few scraps with defensive linemen), and Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith bringing a veteran presence. • The skill-position group looks deeper, and a few second-year guys have had a lot to do with it. Jayden Higgins, the 34th pick in the 2025 draft, has taken a major step forward, and looks like a refined receiver now knows how to use his body, and could combine with Nico Collins to create a real matchup problem for defenses with their collective size (I used the comp early in the offseason I got that described the physical Collins as the power forward and the smoother, looser Higgins as the small forward). Jaylin Noel, the other 2025 draftee from Iowa State, had a strong spring, too. And running back Woody Marks is running with more patience and discipline, and should have a role alongside David Montgomery. One other name to watch here is rookie tight end Marlin Klein, who’s still figuring some things out, but has flashed very real potential. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2027Grant Gordon predicts that next year, Rob Gronkowski will beat Tom Brady to Canton and that WR Torry Holt will finally join Isaac Bruce in the Hall of Fame. As the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class readies to take its place in Canton, Ohio, commendation is in order for Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. Gazing ahead into the glory that will be bestowed upon the 2027 class, perhaps the safest prognostication in the years ahead is that there are, indeed, no locks. Bill Belichick, arguably the greatest head football coach in the history of the game, did not gain entry in his first year of eligibility. Though this exercise sticks to the script of predicting modern-era players who will be inducted, let me begin with the bonus pick that Belichick’s wait will carry on no longer and the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach will get his bust in 2027. Now, here are my predictions for the modern-era players who will be going in with Belichick next year. Willie Anderson, OTCincinnati Bengals, 1996-2007; Baltimore Ravens, 2008The Bengals all-time great’s wait ends as he finally gets the knock and fitted for the gold jacket. The stellar right tackle has been a Canton finalist for five consecutive years, and it’s well past time that he hears his name called to walk onto the stage at NFL Honors. Perhaps it will be fitting, as Anderson didn’t get voted to his first Pro Bowl until his eighth season in 2003. It began a string of four straight Pro Bowl campaigns for him, while the 2004 season was the first of his three straight All-Pro years. In the days before Pro Football Focus and Next Gen Stats, identifying elite linemen was a far more arduous endeavor, especially if you played for a team that seldom punched a postseason ticket. Anderson’s Bengals only went to the playoffs once. The recognition is overdue. Rob Gronkowski, TENew England Patriots, 2010-2018; Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2020-2021This will be a big class for the Patriots dynasty with probable first-ballot Hall of Famer Gronk very likely to be joined by his longtime head coach Bill Belichick (there’s no way he’s not going in for a second year in a row). Beloved as Gronkowski is for being the gregarious, uber-jock Gronk, it can overshadow what a supreme talent he was during his career. A bruising blocker, the four-time Super Bowl winner was historically productive despite missing significant time due to injury: 621 receptions (10th all time among tight ends), 9,286 yards (sixth) and 92 receiving touchdowns (third). His 2011 season was perhaps the finest in history for a tight end, as he earned the first of his four first-team All-Pro nods after posting 90 catches for 1,327 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns — a single-season record for TEs. Gronk was a revolutionary talent and a focal point for one of the game’s defining dynasties. Check out highlights from tight end Rob Gronkowski’s career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Torry Holt, WRSt. Louis Rams, 1999-2008; Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009At long last, Holt can join his fellow “Fastest Show on Turf” brethren in Canton. Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce have been waiting for him for a while — Holt has been a finalist seven years in a row. A one-time first-team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner as a rookie with those 1999 Rams, Holt was a production machine. He ran up a streak of six straight seasons with 1,300-plus yards (tied for an NFL record) and eight in a row north of 1,100 yards. A member of the Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team, Holt twice exceeded 1,600 yards in a season, earning a grand total of 13,382 in his career, which is good enough for 17th all time. If Holt gets a gold jacket, it would also be a boon for others like Reggie Wayne and Steve Smith, who are looking to get in down the road with 2028 unlikely to produce any first-ballot wideouts. Adrian Peterson, RBMinnesota Vikings, 2007-2016; New Orleans Saints, 2017; Arizona Cardinals, 2017; Washington, 2018-2019; Detroit Lions, 2020; Tennessee Titans, 2021; Seattle Seahawks, 2021History might hold tight to Peterson as the last running back of a bygone era. Like so many before him, and really none since, Peterson was a back viewed as the best player in the league for a time and just as vital to success as the guy handing him the ball. Sixteen running backs have won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, but Peterson’s 2012 MVP was just the fourth this century, and the last, for a RB. Considering Saquon Barkley posed a 2,000-yard argument in 2024 and finished a distant No. 3 in the voting, Peterson could be the last RB to win MVP for a very long time — if not ever. Peterson ranks fifth all time in rushing yards (14,918) and fifth in rushing TDs (120). Those numbers warrant a gold jacket, as do his seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro nods and other hardware (2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2012 Offensive Player of the Year). From his rookie year of 2007 through 2015, Peterson was seen as the best back in the NFL more often than not, with injuries usually the only thing slowing him down. He bounced around with six teams from 2017-2021, but he deserves a permanent roster spot in Canton in his first year of eligibility. Jason Witten, TEDallas Cowboys, 2003-2017, 2019; Las Vegas Raiders, 2020Will two tight ends head to Canton in the same class? It’s never happened before but can Witten really be denied again? In 16 seasons with the Cowboys (17 in his career), Witten went to the Pro Bowl 11 times. Tony Gonzalez’ 14 selections are the most all time for a tight end, with Witten and Travis Kelce (11 currently) trailing him. Those 11 selections are tied for 17th most across all positions. Tom Brady (15; most all time), Trent Williams (12) and Kelce are the only players with 11 or more Pro Bowl selections who are not Hall of Famers. Eventually, they will have a spot in Canton. Witten’s 1,228 receptions (second all time among tight ends), 13,046 yards (second) and 74 touchdown catches (sixth) are too prominent to ignore. The 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year was consistently stellar. The Cowboys’ postseason struggles and being just a two-time first-team All-Pro could hinder him, but Witten was pivotal in the ascension of the position over the last quarter-century. So, it makes sense for him to be part of the Hall of Fame’s first-ever two-tight end class. Other notable modern-era candidates: Jahri Evans, Frank Gore, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Richard Sherman, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Darren Woodson, Marshal Yanda. Gordon’s candidates are all worthy, but we would be surprised if Anderson, an obscure player from an obscure position with an obscure franchise, gets in ahead of Roethlisberger who we have assumed was a first-year eligible selection. Actually, as we think about it, Willie Anderson isn’t the most worthy Bengals player named Anderson awaiting enshrinement. |
