Former Penn State kicker Robbie Gould shining in ‘Goulden’ years with 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When the San Francisco 49ers placed the franchise tag on Robbie Gould three years ago, the kicker had a decision to make. He could re-sign or hang up his cleats after a long, successful career and head back home to the Chicago area to be with...
Mike Macdonald returning to Ravens as defensive coordinator
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens hired Mike Macdonald as their defensive coordinator, bringing him back from the college ranks after a season at Michigan. The Ravens announced the move Thursday night. The 34-year-old Macdonald was Michigan’s defensive coordinator last season, when the Wolverines won the Big Ten and...
Byron Leftwich could be leaving Bucs to become head coach of JaguarsVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Byron Leftwich could be the Jaguars’ first choice again. The Bucs’ offensive coordinator, who was Jacksonville’s first-round pick in 2003 as a quarterback out of Marshall, could be hired as the Jaguars’ next head coach. There are some items to clear up contractually, but Leftwich and the...
AP source: Broncos finalizing deal with Packers OC Hackett
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos are finalizing a deal to hire Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was...
AP source: Bears hire Colts DC Matt Eberflus as head coach
CHICAGO — Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is the new head coach of the Chicago Bears, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press, tasked with turning around a franchise mired in mediocrity for much of the past decade. The person confirmed the move to the...
Former Pitt lineman Brian O’Neill among Pro Bowl injury replacementsVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry and Minnesota Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill were selected as injury replacements for the Pro Bowl. The Titans and Vikings made the announcements Wednesday. Landry is replacing Joey Bosa (Los Angeles Chargers), and O’Neill is replacing Tristan Wirfs (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)....
13 seconds turned into $223,000 and counting for Buffalo children’s hospital
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After Twitter account Chiefs Kingdom Memes suggested on Monday that Chiefs fans donate $13 to The Patricia Allen Fund, Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s foundation benefiting John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, members of the Chiefs Kingdom rallied in a big way. Brayton Wilson, a reporter...
AP source: Vikings hire Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as GM
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their general manager, according to a person with knowledge of the process, taking an innovative turn by bringing in an analytics expert from Cleveland’s front office who once worked on Wall Street. The person spoke to The Associated Press on...
Chicago Bears hire Ryan Poles as general managerVideo
CHICAGO — Ryan Poles made the Chicago Bears this time. Poles was hired as Chicago’s general manager Tuesday, almost 15 years after he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent and then failed to make the final roster. Poles spent the previous 13 seasons in the Chiefs’ front...
NFL divisional round averages record 38.2 million viewersVideo
NEW YORK — The four NFL divisional round playoff games had the highest average viewers on record with 38.2 million tuning in on television and digital platforms. Every game over the weekend came down to the final play. Besides it being the highest average for the divisional round since Nielsen...
AP source: Coach Sean Payton resigns from New Orleans Saints
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, whose 15-year tenure with the club included its only Super Bowl championship and also a one-season suspension stemming from the NFL’s bounty investigation, intends to retire from coaching. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday that...
Joe Burrow takes hits, Bengals take wins in playoffs
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow took another beating against the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs Saturday. However, he still managed to push and will the Cincinnati Bengals to within one game of the Super Bowl. Now Burrow is faced with the task of outdueling Kansas City...
Bills add ’13 Seconds’ to history of heartbreaking losses
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — After “Wide Right” and “Music City Miracle,” the Buffalo Bills begin the offseason adding a new entry into their history of playoff heartbreak: “13 Seconds.” That’s how much time separated the Bills from securing the next step in their Super Bowl aspirations. Instead came a stunning...
Poised and confident, Patrick Mahomes has Chiefs back in AFC title game
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — You could spend about a year describing the frantic two minutes that led to overtime between the Bills and Chiefs on Sunday night, when Kansas City rallied for a heart-pounding 42-36 victory to reach its fourth consecutive AFC title game. Or you could use two words:...
Chiefs-Bills thriller shows what elite quarterback play is all about, raises overtime questions
When it comes to great endings in Pittsburgh Steelers playoff history, there are plenty to chronicle. • The Immaculate Reception • Santonio Holmes’ catch at the end of Super Bowl XLIII • The comeback against the Browns at Heinz Field • Jim Harbaugh’s near Hail Mary in the 1995 AFC...
First Call: Antonio Brown mocks Bucs’ defeat; possible candidate for Steelers defensive coordinator; AFC/NFC title game odds
Monday’s “First Call” checks in on Aaron Rodgers’ state of mind as Pittsburgh Steelers fans join the rest of the NFL in wondering what will become of his career after this season. We also give you Antonio Brown’s latest social media hilarity. Some interesting gambling odds for the NFL’s conference...
Chiefs rally past Buffalo, 42-36, in OT in wild playoff gameVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a never-say-die showdown between two of the NFL’s top teams, and two of its bright young quarterbacks, the Bills and Chiefs played a classic Sunday night decided by one of them calling tails and the other making him pay for it. Josh Allen’s decision on...
Return to Tampa Bay next season no lock for Tom BradyVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — If Tom Brady played the last game of an unprecedented career, he ended with one of his toughest losses after a stunning comeback. Bloodied and battered by the Los Angeles Rams, the 44-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champion rallied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back from a 27-3 deficit,...
Rams hold off Buccaneers rally, advance to NFC championship gameVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Matthew Stafford stood on the sideline helplessly watching Tom Brady be Tom Brady, leading another exhilarating comeback. This time, though, the seven-time Super Bowl champion left too much time on the clock, giving Stafford a chance to create some playoff magic of his own. Turns out, 42...
Another short postseason, another uncertain offseason for Aaron Rodgers, PackersVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers heads into another offseason of uncertainty after one more frustrating finish to a brilliant year. Rodgers drove the Green Bay Packers to a touchdown on the game’s opening possession, then couldn’t get them back in the end zone the rest of Saturday night. Their...
Gould’s FG on final play gives 49ers 13-10 upset of Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Robbie Gould lived up to his name. On a field littered with snow flurries, Gould made a 45-yard field goal Saturday night as time expired and the San Francisco 49ers knocked off the top-seeded Packers 13-10 and possibly ended Aaron Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay. Gould...
FG as time expires lifts Bengals past Titans, into AFC championship game
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Cincinnati Bengals just keep ending postseason droughts, and their latest victory has them in their first AFC championship game in 33 years. Rookie Evan McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the fourth-seeded Bengals past the top-seeded Tennessee Titans, 19-16, on Saturday to...
Bills headed to KC for high-profile AFC title game rematch
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Stefon Diggs walked off the field inside Arrowhead Stadium back in October with two very distinct feelings: elation that his Bills had avenged an AFC title game loss to the Chiefs and the conviction they would meet again. Get ready for the latest throwdown between two...
Ravens part ways with defensive coordinator Don Martindale
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday night he is parting ways with defensive coordinator Don Martindale. “After several productive conversations, Don and I have agreed to move forward in separate directions,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “We have had a great run on defense, and I am very proud...
Titans activate Derrick Henry for playoff game vs. BengalsVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans will have Derrick Henry on the field for their AFC divisional game with Cincinnati after moving the NFL’s 2019 and 2020 rushing leader from injured reserve to the active roster. The Titans (12-5) made the roster move Friday after watching Henry practice since Jan....
