Former 49ers quarterback John Brodie, an NFL MVP and a prolific passer, dies at 90
John Brodie, who won an MVP award and was one of the NFL’s most prolific passers during a 17-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 90. The 49ers said Brodie’s family said he died Friday. Brodie had a stroke on Oct. 24, 2000. “The 49ers family...
Cooper Kupp invaluable to Seahawks ahead of NFC Championship against former team
RENTON, Wash. — Perhaps it was because of his ever-growing playoff beard that veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp felt inclined to comment on how hot it was inside the Seattle Seahawks’ meeting room Thursday. On a balmy January day in the Emerald City, Kupp stood before a gaggle of reporters...
No. 17 Alabama plans to play 7-footer Charles Bediako, who turned pro in 2023, against Tennessee
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Charles Bediako will play against Tennessee on Saturday, Alabama coach Nate Oats said Friday, even while calling the NCAA system that allowed professional players to return to college “broken.” “We are planning to play him,” Oats said. “He’s eligible to play. We’re going to follow the court...
Buffalo Bills interview Philip Rivers for head coaching job
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Philip Rivers interviewed with the Buffalo Bills for their head coaching job Friday, the latest twist in a busy couple of months for one of the most prolific passers in NFL history. The 44-year-old Rivers has no previous NFL coaching experience, having worked since his initial...
Anthony Weaver brings old-school edge to Steelers’ coaching search
As a former defensive lineman who climbed the coaching ranks to defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver sees himself as a throwback in today’s NFL. The 45-year-old openly embraced the sport’s violent side, even as the league tries to curtail the big hits. He revealed his self-described “old-school” ways as the Miami...
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza officially declares for the NFL draft and could be the No. 1 pick
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock, and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is officially available. Mendoza formally declared for the NFL Draft on Friday and could be headed to the Raiders with the No. 1 pick in April. Mendoza led Indiana to a 16-0 season...
Injury questions linger for many top men’s hockey teams at Milan Olympics
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — With less than three weeks to go before the start of the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympics in Milan, several of the top contenders have significant injury questions. One of those looked to be answered Friday as Canada’s Bo Horvat was back practicing after missing...
Robert Morris men’s basketball game moved up ahead of winter storm
The start time for Robert Morris’ scheduled Horizon League men’s basketball game against Green Bay on Saturday at UPMC Events Center was moved up an hour to 1 p.m., RMU has announced. The change was made in anticipation of a snowstorm expected to arrive in the region Saturday night. A...
NCAA approves uniform patches, opening revenue possibilities for athletic departments
The NCAA unearthed another revenue stream Friday when Division I leaders approved patches for uniforms in a move that could generate millions to fund athletic departments that are looking for new ways to pay players. Beginning Aug. 1, Division I teams can place up to two patches of no more...
College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams after SEC and Big Ten fail to agree on expansion
The College Football Playoff resolved a few of its thorny issues Friday — including how to deal with Notre Dame — but left the toughest one unresolved, staying at 12 teams for next year and failing to expand the postseason to 16 or more. The CFP’s management committee made the...
Former NFL player Kevin Johnson killed at homeless encampment, medical examiner says
LOS ANGELES — Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Kevin Johnson died from “blunt head trauma and stab wounds” at a homeless encampment, according to the medical examiner. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Johnson, 55, was pronounced dead Wednesday morning after being found unconscious. His death was ruled a...
Colts confirm FBI has opened investigation into death of former owner Jim Irsay
The FBI has opened an investigation into the death of former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, team officials confirmed Friday. When Irsay died in May, the team issued a statement saying he died “peacefully in his sleep.” But in late August, The Washington Post reported Irsay continued to battle a...
Andy Weidl interviewing with Falcons could maybe provide more turnover for Steelers
A little more than halfway through the almost-four years of his current tenure spent as Pittsburgh Steelers assistant general manager, Andy Weidl, during the 2024 training camp, made an observation about the organization. “Turnover,” Weidl said, “it’s part of the business. Doesn’t happen a lot here. You know, there’s always...
The Indiana model: Is Pitt football capable of becoming a national contender?
The magnitude surrounding Indiana’s national championship is still being absorbed by the college football universe. In the span of two years, coach Curt Cignetti transformed one of the most historically futile programs to the top of the sport, provoking coaches, pundits and fans to wonder: How? Programs such as Pitt...
Duquesne athletics announces 2026 hall of fame class
Duquesne athletics revealed its 2026 Merle E. Gilliand Hall of Fame class, and three individuals, three teams and a contributing builder of Dukes athletics will be honored. Former swimmers Emma Brinton (2017-21) and Abigail Stauffer (2015-19) and former baseball player Donald Ziegler (1954-58) join builders Joe and Kathy Guyaux for...
Pirates announce schedule changes, player cancellations for PiratesFest due to weather
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that the anticipation of severe weather this weekend has impacted player appearances and caused a change in the schedule for Saturday’s annual fan festival at David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Among the players who canceled appearances at PiratesFest because of travel concerns are three new acquisitions...
Penguins score 3 goals in 37 seconds — and didn’t break the franchise record
The Pittsburgh Penguins scored three goals in 37 seconds Thursday during their 6-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers — and it didn’t even come close to breaking the franchise record. The franchise mark for the three fastest goals is 27 seconds, established during a 10-4 win against the St. Louis...
Mark Madden: Many reasons why the Penguins are better than expected
The numbers don’t lie: • The Penguins are 10-2-2 since the NHL’s holiday break. • The Penguins have scored the first goal in each of those 10 wins. (They don’t come out flat like the Steelers.) • The Penguins are 25-14-11. Second in the Metropolitan Division. Second-fewest regulation losses in...
First Call: Mario Cristobal linked to Steelers; DeMarvin Leal goes to New York
Friday’s “First Call” has some details about a potential hurdle in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching search. One college candidate may be in the mix. A former Steeler is heading to New York to play for John Harbaugh. And the surging Penguins have one more hill to climb on the western...
Penguins successfully plug multitude of gaps during Erik Karlsson’s 5-game absence
With the midway point of the season having passed, the Pittsburgh Penguins are well-positioned in a tight Eastern Conference playoff picture. But things are far from guaranteed, as the jockeying continues daily between clubs such as the Penguins, Islanders, Bruins, Sabres, Maple Leafs and other contenders separated by only a...
Tim Benz: Trading for Jason Robertson wouldn’t be mortgaging the Penguins’ future — it would be securing it
I woke up Thursday morning and marveled at the fact that the Pittsburgh Penguins were sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division. I was also reading that the Pens are being linked to standout Dallas winger Jason Robertson in trade talks. Thinking back to the predictions for this team...
Analysis: Picking out silver linings from bad losses an increasingly stale task for Pitt
Jeff Capel knows Pitt let a winnable game slip away because of self-inflicted wounds. “I think we missed eight layups,” Capel said. “So, you look at that and think if we just do these things and make half of the layups, make our free throws in the game, perhaps it’s...
Football Footnotes: Steelers fans should be wary of Baltimore’s hiring of Jesse Minter
A former candidate to replace Mike Tomlin as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach will now be in charge of their top AFC North rival. The Baltimore Ravens hired Jesse Minter to take over for John Harbaugh as their head coach on Thursday. Your next coach of the Baltimore Ravens.We have agreed...
Penguins surge past Oilers, Tristan Jarry for 3rd consecutive win
Members of the Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t terribly jubilant when management decided to trade starting goaltender Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12. Affectionately known as “Jars” by his teammates, Jarry was popular with the Penguins. Presumably, they were happy seeing Jarry once again Thursday. At least that’s what...
Scottie Scheffler starts new year with 63 at The American Express
LA QUINTA, Calif. — The idea for Scottie Scheffler was to get a gauge on his game at The American Express, and all appeared to be in good working order Thursday. He made birdies on half of his holes for a 9-under-par 63 to join a parade of low scores...
