Former QB Matt Ryan to lead search for Falcons’ new coach and GM as president of football
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons on Saturday named former longtime quarterback Matt Ryan to the newly created role of president of football. Ryan, who holds most of the team’s passing records after he spent 14 years as the starter, was announced to the new role after interviewing on Friday. Ryan...
It’s Indiana and Miami in a college-football title matchup that once seemed impossible
It looked improbable two months ago. Two years ago — impossible. But against the odds, Miami and Indiana have a date in the College Football Playoff final — a first-of-its-kind matchup on Jan. 19 in the second national title game of the expanded-playoff era. The Hoosiers (15-0), the top-seeded favorite...
Matthew Stafford gets first nod for AP All-Pro; Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba are unanimous choices
Matthew Stafford beat out Drake Maye, while Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were unanimous choices for the 2025 Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team. Bijan Robinson is the running back while Christian McCaffrey earned the All-Purpose spot. Ja’Marr Chase is the third wide receiver and tight end Trey McBride...
Steelers’ Cam Heyward voted 2nd-team All-Pro, seeks playoff success in 15th season
Cameron Heyward stood up slowly after taking a helmet to the leg last Sunday night, a painful hit while sprinting 40-plus yards downfield chasing the ball. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 36-year-old defensive lineman, playing in his 15th season, shook it off, a relief for the young guys playing next to him....
Steelers have played Texans just 8 times, but their history with Houston goes much deeper
The Houston Texans are the NFL’s youngest franchise, so it’s no surprise there is little history between them and the Pittsburgh Steelers. There will be an important chapter written in the history books this week, though, when the teams meet in the AFC Wild-Card round Monday night at Acrisure Stadium....
NFC playoff breakdown: Sam Darnold, top-seeded Seahawks face stiff competition
Sam Darnold erased one big blemish on his resume when he led the Seattle Seahawks to a 13-3 win at San Francisco in Week 18 that secured the NFC West crown and the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed and the first-round bye. A year ago, Darnold had the Minnesota Vikings...
After years of trying to hire him, 49ers’ Mike Shanahan now faces Eagles’ Vic Fangio in wild-card game
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When Kyle Shanahan took over as coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, one of his first targets for defensive coordinator was Vic Fangio, only to be turned down when he made the request to the Chicago Bears. When Shanahan was preparing for DeMeco Ryans...
Key matchup for Steelers-Texans: DK Metcalf vs. Derek Stingley Jr.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild-Card round Monday night. Here’s a key matchup to watch: Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr. vs. Pittsburgh’s DK Metcalf Derek Stingley Jr. Cornerback 6-foot-1, 195 pounds Age: 24 The ‘Sting’ of Stingley Considered among the NFL’s elite cornerbacks, don’t be...
Who could be an X-factor in the Steelers’ wild-card matchup vs. Texans?
Might this be a “Muuuth” Monday? The past four weeks were a little busier than usual for Pat Freiermuth, but the Pittsburgh Steelers tight end is still seeking his first touchdown since late November. He may get a chance Monday night against a playoff opponent shown to be vulnerable to...
Think fast: Steelers try to avoid another slow start, end playoff skid vs. Texans
Seventy-six different players have started a playoff game for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their six-game postseason losing streak. The skid has endured through four players who started at quarterback, 12 at linebacker and 15 on the offensive line. Arthur Smith became the fifth man to call plays for the Steelers...
AFC playoff breakdown: Conference looks wide open with no Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
These are the first AFC playoffs without Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady since 1998, another reason it’s seen as a wide-open field without a prohibitive favorite to raise the Lamar Hunt Trophy on Jan. 25. All four division winners were new this year with Denver, New England, Jacksonville...
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud living up to high expectations
Holding the second pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans were set on taking a quarterback. They just had to wait to see what the Carolina Panthers would do first at the position. When the Panthers selected Alabama’s Bryce Young with the top pick, the Texans picked Ohio...
A harrowing look back at each defeat of Steelers’ active 6-game playoff losing streak
Grab a six pack, Pittsburgh Steelers fans. You’ll need it to get through the memories conjured up in looking back at this sextet of poor postseason performances that comprise the Steelers’ current six-game playoff losing streak: 2016 AFC championship at New England The Steelers’ skid began modestly enough...
Packers QB Jordan Love believes he’s learned from previous playoff disappointments
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has done a great job of avoiding interceptions throughout this season. However, he hasn’t been nearly as effective in that regard during his playoff career. The Packers’ chances of extending their season beyond this weekend depend in part on how...
No. 1 Indiana adds to CFP dominance with crushing 56-22 Peach Bowl semifinal win over No. 5 Oregon
ATLANTA — Undefeated Indiana’s already impressive march through the College Football Playoff gained momentum as its dominant defense created three first-half touchdowns with turnovers, Fernando Mendoza threw five scoring passes and the Hoosiers overwhelmed No. 5 Oregon, 56-22, in the Peach Bowl semifinal Friday night. No. 1 Indiana (15-0, No....
Minor league report: Penguins, Tristan Broz beat CheckersVideo
A goal and three assists by forward Tristan Broz led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 5-1 win against the Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday. The result snapped a three-game losing streak (0-2-1). Linemate Atley Calvert and Valtteri Puustinen each had a goal and an assist...
The transfer portal era and pursuit of NIL money are messy. Are there solutions?Video
A quarterback reportedly reneging on a lucrative deal to hit the transfer portal, only to return to his original school. Another starting QB, this one in the College Football Playoff, awaiting approval from the NCAA to play next season, an expensive NIL deal apparently hanging in the balance. A defensive...
Bills CB Tre’Davious White says he’s found new perspective on life in return to Buffalo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Tre’Davious White arrived in Buffalo in 2017 driven to be the best and began entertaining visions of one day wearing a Hall of Fame gold jacket before two debilitating injuries stopped the cornerback’s rising trajectory. It took time, bouts with depression and spending a year away...
Miami’s rise under Cristobal takes the Hurricanes home to play for a national title
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mario Cristobal returned to South Florida and found his alma mater in disarray. A national powerhouse during Cristobal’s playing days, Miami had slipped out of prominence for the better part of 20 years, a handful of losing seasons sprinkled with mid-level bowl appearances. Cristobal’s goal when he...
Pitt acquires transfer portal help at tight end, special teams
Friday marks the halfway point of the transfer portal window (Jan. 2-16), which began a week ago and remains open for seven more days. So far for Pitt, it’s been a revolving door of new players joining the program and others opting to leave. Heading into the weekend, the Panthers...
In what could be final NFL game, WR Adam Thielen brings veteran savvy to Steelers
From saying goodbye to his home state and a franchise he’s long been associated with, to navigating the waiver wire to a quick unforeseen promotion up the depth chart to a wild, highly meaningful, do-or-die game, it’s been quite a 5 ½-week span for Adam Thielen. “It definitely has been...
Parents, wrestlers show support for recently fired Knoch girls wrestling head coach
A sizable contingent is expected to attend the Knoch school board meeting Wednesday to show support for Logan Downes, the school’s girls wrestling coach who was fired this week. Downes was dismissed after a complaint was filed with school officials over his on-mat behavior with members of the team during...
Jonnu Smith added to Steelers’ injury report; Jaylen Warren returns to full participation
Jonnu Smith was an addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers injury report, but Jaylen Warren got over his illness and is well back on track to play in the team’s playoff opener. Smith, a veteran tight end, was listed as limited at Friday’s practice on the injury report. Smith has a...
NCAA denies Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility waiver, but Rebels plan to appeal
The NCAA denied Mississippi’s request to extend the eligibility of Trinidad Chambliss on Friday. The Rebels star quarterback just finished his fifth year of college football in a 31-27 loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Thursday night. He had planned to return to Ole Miss for...
Baltimore Ravens interview Kevin Stefanski and Klint Kubiak for head-coach vacancy
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens interviewed former Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski and Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for their head-coaching vacancy Friday. The Ravens fired John Harbaugh earlier in the week after 18 seasons at the helm. They interviewed two Denver assistants — Vance Joseph and Davis Webb...
