Lamar Jackson jogs to the sidelines in the 4th quarter
Lamar Jackson from Baltimore, Josh Allen from Buffalo, and Jayden Daniels from Washington will not participate in the Pro Bowl Games this week.
The NFL announced its final rosters on Tuesday, and none of these quarterbacks were included. Drake Maye, a rookie from the New England Patriots, will replace Jackson for the AFC, while Russell Wilson from Pittsburgh will take Allen’s spot. Baker Mayfield from Tampa Bay will replace Daniels.
Allen and Daniels lost in their respective conference championship games last weekend, and Jackson’s season ended the previous week in the divisional round. Both Allen and Jackson are considered MVP favorites.
There were additional roster changes as well.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook and center Connor McGovern were also named as replacements.
Cook will replace Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, who ran for 1,921 yards, ranking second in the NFL. Cook had 1,009 rushing yards and tied Henry and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns.
Josh Allen hands off to James Cook in the 1st half
McGovern will fill in for Kansas City center Creed Humphrey, as the Chiefs are heading to the Super Bowl to play Philadelphia on Feb. 9 after defeating Buffalo on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo will make his first Pro Bowl appearance, replacing Kansas City’s Trey Smith.
Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will join Leonard Williams and Devon Witherspoon as the third Seahawks player at the Pro Bowl. He will replace Washington’s Terry McLaurin.
The Pro Bowl Games will take place from Thursday to Sunday in Orlando, Florida, and will include skills competitions and a flag football game.
Mike McCarthy has decided not to coach in 2025, removing himself as a candidate for the New Orleans Saints’ open head coaching position.
A person close to McCarthy shared this decision with The Associated Press on Tuesday night, but they asked to remain anonymous because McCarthy and the Saints have not publicly discussed it.
McCarthy is the third major candidate to step away from the Saints’ search, following Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
The remaining candidates for the Saints job include Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi, Miami defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. All of them have already had in-person interviews.
If the Saints want to hire Moore, they will have to wait until after the Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9.
Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy pass critical decisions for the Cowboys’ future
Rizzi, a long-time special teams coordinator with the Dolphins and Saints, took over as head coach in New Orleans after the firing of third-year coach Dennis Allen in November. Rizzi went 3-5, starting off 3-1 before starting quarterback Derek Carr was injured and lost for the season with a non-throwing hand injury.
The 61-year-old McCarthy, who spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers during his 12 seasons there, was the most experienced candidate being considered by the Saints.
McCarthy had been successful as an offensive coordinator in New Orleans from 2000 to 2004 before spending one season in the same role with San Francisco. Green Bay hired him in 2006, and he helped transition the team’s quarterback position from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, winning a Super Bowl with Rodgers in the 2010 season.
McCarthy left Dallas after a 7-10 record in 2024, which was his second losing season with the Cowboys. He had won 12 regular-season games in each of the previous three seasons.
Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown in the 2nd half
Jalen Hurts made history by returning to the Super Bowl after losing his first appearance as a starting quarterback.
Now, he will try to become the fourth quarterback to win the Super Bowl after losing his first start in the big game.
Hurts came close two years ago when Philadelphia lost 38-35 to Kansas City in Glendale, Arizona. With a win next week in New Orleans, Hurts would be the first quarterback since John Elway 27 years ago to win a Super Bowl as a starter after losing in his first appearance.
Out of the 36 quarterbacks who lost their first Super Bowl, only two have come back to win it as starters: Kansas City’s Len Dawson, who lost Super Bowl 1 and then won three years later, and Miami’s Bob Griese, who lost in Super Bowl 6 and won the next year.
It is rare for a quarterback like Hurts to return to the Super Bowl after losing their first time. He broke a streak of 19 straight quarterbacks who didn’t make it back after their first loss in the big game. The last one to return was Buffalo’s Jim Kelly, who lost four Super Bowls from 1990-1993.
Hurts will once again face Patrick Mahomes, who will tie John Elway with the second-most Super Bowl starts by a quarterback when he plays his fifth next week, just behind Tom Brady’s 10. With a win, Mahomes would join Brady (six), Terry Bradshaw (four), and Joe Montana (four) as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl rings.
Mahomes will be making his fifth Super Bowl appearance, a rare feat for quarterbacks in the AFC. In the last 22 years, only six quarterbacks from the AFC have started a Super Bowl, with Brady leading the pack with eight, Peyton Manning with four, and Ben Roethlisberger with three. Joe Flacco and Joe Burrow each have one appearance since 2003.
The NFC has seen a much different pattern, with 19 quarterbacks starting 22 Super Bowls, including Brady with Tampa Bay. Hurts joins Russell Wilson and Eli Manning as the only quarterbacks to start two Super Bowls for an NFC team since 2003.
Patrick Mahomes celebrates after the win
Run to daylight
The Philadelphia Eagles made their way to the Super Bowl by dominating the ground game.
In the NFC title game against Washington, the Eagles tied an NFL playoff record with seven touchdown runs, matching the mark set by Chicago in the 1940 NFL title game.
Hurts scored three of those touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley added three more, including a record-setting seventh touchdown run of at least 60 yards this season. The only other teammates to score three touchdowns each in a regular-season or playoff game since 1940 were Priest Holmes (four) and Derrick Blaylock (three) for Kansas City in a 56-10 win over Atlanta on October 24, 2004.
The Eagles also set a new record for the most rushing yards in a season, with 3,731 yards in the regular season and playoffs. The previous record was 3,535 yards, set by Miami in its perfect 17-0 season in 1972. Baltimore also surpassed that mark with 3,664 rushing yards.
The Eagles now have a chance to break their own record for the most touchdown runs in a season. They have 39 heading into the Super Bowl, just three shy of the record they set in 2022.
Tough-luck Allen
Josh Allen once again lost in a playoff matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Allen is the first quarterback to ever lose four playoff games to another QB, although most of the blame shouldn’t fall on him.
In those four playoff games against the Chiefs, Allen has a 100.2 passer rating with 11 combined touchdown passes and runs, along with just one turnover.
His career playoff passer rating of 101.5 ranks fourth among the 74 quarterbacks with at least six playoff starts in the Super Bowl era. The top three are Super Bowl winners: Mahomes (105.6), Kurt Warner (102.8), and Matthew Stafford (102.3). Allen’s seven career playoff wins are the most by any quarterback who hasn’t made it to the Super Bowl.
The Bills have become the first team to win at least 11 games for five straight seasons without reaching a Super Bowl, surpassing the previous record of four seasons by San Francisco (1995-98) and Philadelphia (2000-03).
Coaching carousel
The coaching changes are nearly complete, with the New Orleans Saints being the only team that fired its head coach but hasn’t yet hired a replacement.
This year’s coaching hires include four coordinators promoted to head coach for the first time and two returning coaches. Former Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel is now in New England, while Pete Carroll was hired in Las Vegas after coaching the Jets, Patriots, and Seahawks.
Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown in the 1st half
Carroll joins Bill Parcells and Marty Schottenheimer as the only coaches since 1940 to have had non-interim head coaching stints with four different franchises.
With Carroll’s addition, the division now has an impressive lineup of coaches, including Kansas City’s Andy Reid, who has 301 career wins and is aiming for his fourth Super Bowl title.
Denver’s Sean Payton (179 wins) and Carroll (181) have a combined total of 360 wins, with both having won Super Bowls. Jim Harbaugh of the Chargers has a .685 winning percentage over five seasons as a head coach, one Super Bowl appearance, and a college national championship.
Harbaugh will try to join Carroll, Jimmy Johnson, and Barry Switzer as the only coaches to win championships in both college and the NFL.
The AFC West will be the first division to start a season with every head coach having previously appeared in a Super Bowl. The 1999 NFC West came close, with Atlanta’s Dan Reeves, Carolina’s George Seifert, New Orleans’ Mike Ditka, and St. Louis’ Dick Vermeil all having Super Bowl experience, with San Francisco’s Steve Mariucci as the exception.
Two divisions didn’t have any coaching changes: the NFC West and AFC North. This is nothing new for the AFC North, which last saw a coaching change after the 2019 season when Cleveland hired Kevin Stefanski to replace Freddie Kitchens.
Next season will mark the sixth consecutive year with the same four head coaches in the AFC North, setting a record for the longest stretch without a coaching change. This surpasses the previous record of four straight seasons for the NFC Central (1978-81) and the NFC West (2019-22).
DeAndre Hopkins speaks to the media before the game
DeAndre Hopkins was stuck on a struggling team in Tennessee, which was heading for the first pick in the draft.
Kareem Hunt was without a job altogether.
However, the veteran wide receiver and running back, along with Marquise Brown, D.J. Humphries, and others, found success when circumstances led them to Kansas City.
Now, this group of players will aim for even more success when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in just over a week, a surprising turn for NFL careers that had seen individual achievements but lacked team success.
“Words can’t really describe it,” said Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro who had done nearly everything in his career but play for a real championship contender. “A dream come true. I’ve been in the league 12 years and I haven’t gotten this far.”
The Chiefs have been here before. They are making their third straight trip to the big game, and their fifth in six years, aiming to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Lombardi Trophies on Super Bowl Sunday.
For most players, including Hopkins, making it to the Super Bowl is the greatest accomplishment, the result of a career’s worth of effort. For Hopkins, that meant 178 regular-season games and eight more in the playoffs. His combined stats include over 1,000 catches and 13,000 yards, which is roughly 7 1/2 miles worth of receptions. It also meant plenty of wins, but just as many losses.
So, it was a huge opportunity for Hopkins when the Chiefs, who had lost Brown and Rashee Rice to injuries, asked the Titans about a trade. He joined a team with a history of championships after being part of a squad that finished 3-14 last season.
Hollywood Brown runs in the 2nd half
“To get traded and try to learn the playbook overnight, it was tough. But this organization and these coaches, they’re here for a reason, to get guys to be their best,” Hopkins said. “I never went anywhere where they were talking about the Super Bowl.”
Hunt joined the Chiefs in a similar situation: The team needed a running back after Isiah Pacheco got injured.
He had been at home, recovering from core muscle surgery that had scared off many teams. Hunt reached out to Andy Reid, who had coached him in Kansas City before off-field issues led to his release, and had kept in touch with him through the years.
“He just said he wanted to be there,” Reid recalled. “He’s got a good heart, even when he went through his deal. He has a good heart, and I had confidence he could jump in and help us, and I knew he wanted to redeem himself amongst the community.”
Hunt quickly became the lead running back for Kansas City, gaining tough yards every time he played. When Pacheco returned, it was clear that Hunt was still the more effective player, showing it in an AFC title win over Buffalo. Hunt ran 17 times for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Now, he’s headed to his first Super Bowl after over 100 regular-season games.
“It’s always special to come full circle,” said Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, “and to see the way he’s grown and developed on and off the field is great. He’s a phenomenal football player and I’m blessed that it worked out and he’s back here.”
Brown is also chasing his first Super Bowl ring, but his path to this point was a little different.
The speedy but injury-prone wide receiver signed a one-year deal with Kansas City before the season, hoping to be the top option for Patrick Mahomes on a team looking for a historic Super Bowl win.
However, on the first play of the preseason, he suffered a shoulder injury that many thought would end his season.
The Chiefs held out hope that he could return, and by November, his recovery was ahead of schedule. Brown finally got back on the field in December and became a key part of one of the best wide receiver groups Kansas City has had in years.
Just like Hopkins and Hunt, Brown is now playing for a championship on the biggest stage.
“Just seeing Kareem standing there going, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable,’ or D.J. jumping up and down, who’s been in this league a while and been through a few things, or DeAndre — he had a smile on his face, it was a mile wide,” Reid said.
“I mean, all those things, (Samaje) Perine goes and helps seal the (AFC title) for us — a new addition. All that stuff is great. That’s why you do this, that’s why you do this as a coach. To get to see those guys that have achieved like they’ve achieved here.”
Jalen Hurts holds the championship trophy after the game
The Eagles were soaring high last season, with a 10-1 record, the top seed, home-field advantage for the playoffs, and a Super Bowl ring within reach.
However, this season turned out differently. Instead of heading straight to the Super Bowl on February 9 in a rematch against Kansas City, they faced a tough 2023. Coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts’ journey to the Super Bowl ended in one of the most dramatic collapses in Philadelphia sports history — and there have been many.
The Eagles were 10-1 before they suffered a heavy 23-point loss at home to San Francisco in a rematch of the NFC championship game. The following week, Dallas defeated them by 20 points. The losses kept piling up, and the Eagles finished the regular season 1-5 before being eliminated in a wild-card loss to Tampa Bay.
Despite reaching the playoffs three times and going to a Super Bowl in his first three seasons, Sirianni was on the hot seat. Changes were necessary — from adjustments to the coaching staff and game plan, to the draft and improving the team’s locker room chemistry.
The tough lessons from the previous year motivated the Eagles, leading them to a 14-win regular season and three more playoff victories.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman chose to stick with Sirianni, and the Eagles made the necessary moves to get back to the top. Now, they are just one win away from reaching the Super Bowl once again.
“It’s been the story of the 2023 to the 2024 Eagles. As bad of a feeling we had about how last year ended, I think it makes you who you are,” said Sirianni.
Now, they aim to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history. “That’s pretty dope,” Sirianni said. “That’s all my focus is on.”
Hurts and Sirianni
In their relationship this season, Sirianni and Hurts appear to be more in sync than last year. After the NFC Championship win, Hurts joked that he had been “freed from the offense’s ‘straitjacket.’” Hurts had six wins this season in games where he passed for under 200 yards, and in the NFC Championship, he threw for 246 yards and had four touchdowns.
“We’ve been winning a couple different ways this year. I think he was just having fun after the game,” Sirianni said. “I know this, and he’s said this plenty of times: He doesn’t care how we win. I don’t care how we win, as long as we win. We do everything we can do to be able to win.”
Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts celebrates after the win
The biggest question heading into this season was whether Hurts and Sirianni’s relationship, which seemed strained last year, would carry over into 2023. After the playoff loss to Tampa Bay, Hurts had a lukewarm response when asked about Sirianni’s future. He later explained that his answer was because he was caught off guard by the question.
“We’ve been through a lot together, right? A lot of wins, some down times,” Sirianni said this week. “That’s what kind of forges relationships.”
Despite some rocky moments, Hurts publicly supported Sirianni this season. They are now the first coach-QB duo in Eagles history to reach two Super Bowls.
“He’s done a great job,” Hurts said.
The coordinators
One of the clearest signs the Eagles were struggling last season came when Sirianni made former Lions coach Matt Patricia the defensive play-caller, which took real responsibility away from defensive coordinator Sean Desai. Desai and Patricia were let go in the offseason, along with offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. Johnson only lasted one season in Philadelphia, and Hurts had a tough year, throwing a career-high 15 interceptions and seeing his passer rating drop from 101.5 to 89.1.
The new hires were a huge improvement.
Kellen Moore took over as offensive coordinator and became one of the most sought-after head coaching candidates in the NFL. The Eagles hired 66-year-old Vic Fangio to run the defense, and under his guidance, it became the top-rated defense in the league.
The defense has allowed just 10, 22, and 23 points in the postseason, with 10 takeaways, including 21 points off three fumble recoveries against the Commanders.
“The players have to play well to play great defense, so it’s a combination of what Vic does and how he motivates the guys to get them to play to the highest level that they can,” Sirianni said. “Just got a ton of respect for him and sure glad he’s here.”
Moore, a former backup quarterback who played behind Dak Prescott with Dallas in 2017 before becoming his position coach the following year, directed a Philadelphia offense that featured Barkley as the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in the regular season.
“There are different things that we’ve been doing that have really helped us. There are some things that are similar to what we’ve done in the past because we’ve been good at those things,” Sirianni said.
“And then there are things that are new to both what we’ve done and Kellen’s system as well. Kellen’s done a phenomenal job of handling all those things, putting our offense in positions that we’ve been successful in.”
A.J. Brown holds the championship trophy after the win
Barkley arrives
Former Eagles running back Miles Sanders ran for a solid 1,269 yards during the 2022 Super Bowl season, and Kenneth Gainwell was a reliable backup.
Hurts was the team’s leading rusher in the Super Bowl with 70 yards, and the Eagles only had 115 yards rushing in total.
With Saquon Barkley, the Eagles feel like a completely new team at times.
Barkley has quickly become one of the greatest free-agent signings in Philadelphia sports history. He ran for 2,005 yards, can break off 60-yard touchdowns as easily as Joel Embiid scores layups, and has turned the offense into one of the most dangerous dual threats since the days of Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens.
The Eagles will need Barkley to be at his best to have a chance against the Chiefs. That’s no small task for a player whose season has led to comparisons with legends like Terrell Davis and Eric Dickerson, ranking him among the best running backs in NFL history.
When the Las Vegas Raiders needed to hire a general manager and head coach, most NFL owners would have been deeply involved in every part of the process. But Raiders owner Mark Davis turned to Tom Brady for help.
Davis gave Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion and current NFL analyst, significant influence over these decisions after he joined the team as a minority owner in October. Brady led a committee that chose Pete Carroll as head coach and John Spytek as general manager.
“I’ve been telling you all since the beginning of this is that the one thing I know is what I don’t know,” Davis said. “I’m going to surround myself with people who do know these things, and I’m going to give them the opportunity to do their job. I give them vision, goals. We talk about those things, but results are what speak. It’s fairly easy to do that if you understand where you are.”
The Raiders are not where Davis wants them to be. He hopes to return the team to its former glory, like the days under his late father, Al, who created an organization that won three Super Bowls.
The Raiders have only made two playoff appearances since their last Super Bowl appearance 22 years ago, but Davis still wants the team to be great again.
That’s why Brady is involved. Davis also made Brady a minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces, who won the 2022 and 2023 WNBA championships after giving coach Becky Hammon a record-setting five-year, $5 million contract.
“We happen to have the greatest of all time to help us and to see clearly, and we’re going to lean on Tom as much as we possibly can for his insights because nobody has the insights that he has,” Carroll said. “He’s that unique. But the quarterback position is one of the positions on the team, and we’ve got to make it all fit together well.”
Tom Brady and Aidan Hutchinson before a playoff game
The Raiders have a big challenge ahead: finding a quarterback in a tough AFC West where each of their rivals has already secured that position.
Patrick Mahomes is looking for his third straight Super Bowl title and fourth overall with the Kansas City Chiefs. Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers is highly talented. Bo Nix helped the Denver Broncos make the playoffs in his rookie year.
The Raiders have started the past two seasons with Aidan O’Connell as their quarterback, but he hasn’t shown he’s the long-term solution.
Spytek was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ front office when they signed Baker Mayfield two years ago. Mayfield’s career turned around, and he helped the Bucs win the NFC South title in back-to-back seasons.
Mayfield followed Brady as the starting quarterback in Tampa, after Brady helped the team win a Super Bowl in 2020. Spytek and Brady were also college teammates at Michigan.
“I had a chance to be around in my opinion the greatest player ever, and it was a love of the game and a competitive desire that just didn’t allow him to quit,” Spytek said. “He was never out of a fight. He was willing to do things that the ordinary football player or person wasn’t willing to do. We’re going to turn over every stone to find that leader for this team, too.”
Brady’s role will go beyond just finding a quarterback. “This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a franchise, and so we’re excited to represent that, bringing him into it,” Carroll said.
“Mark has done an incredible job to figure out how to formulate this plan so that we can all fit together. (Brady has) been involved and he’s going to be involved, and we’re going to lean on him like crazy.”
Now, the big question is whether this plan will work. Will Brady end up acting as the de facto general manager, or will he mostly offer input on major decisions? Only time will tell.
“There’s a lot that goes into this, but to think about how fortunate we are to have Tom Brady with us,” Carroll said, “it’s just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The New York Jets have hired Steve Wilks as their new defensive coordinator, according to a source who spoke on Wednesday.
Wilks is the first coordinator hired by new head coach Aaron Glenn, who was officially introduced by the Jets on Monday, alongside new general manager Darren Mougey.
The source requested anonymity because the team has not yet announced the hire. NFL Network was the first to report that Wilks and the Jets had reached an agreement.
Wilks, 55, was not with an NFL team this season and worked as a volunteer adviser for the football team at Charlotte. He was the defensive coordinator for San Francisco in 2023 but was let go after the 49ers lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wilks brings a wealth of experience to Glenn’s staff. Glenn, a first-time head coach, had been a defensive coordinator before but stated on Monday that he will not be calling defensive plays with the Jets. Glenn said his focus will be on all aspects of the team.
“I want to be the best head coach you can find,” Glenn told reporters. “In order for me to do that, I think I need to manage the game.”
Wilks is replacing Jeff Ulbrich as the Jets’ defensive coordinator. He also has experience as a head coach, having led Arizona in 2018, but was fired after the Cardinals finished with a 3-13 record. Wilks was also Carolina’s interim head coach in 2022 after Matt Rhule was fired, finishing with a 6-6 record.
Robert Saleh (NFL)
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wilks started his coaching career in 1995 at Johnson C. Smith. He later coached at Savannah State, Illinois State, Appalachian State, East Tennessee State, Bowling Green, Notre Dame, and Washington.
Wilks first entered the NFL in 2006 as the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears. He also worked with the Chargers and Browns and was Missouri’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
Meanwhile, Glenn, who spent the last four years coaching Detroit’s defense, is in the process of assembling his coaching staff and getting to know New York’s roster, along with Mougey. Many of the previous assistants will not be returning.
Ulbrich, who was the interim head coach for the final 12 games of the season after Robert Saleh was fired, has been hired as Atlanta’s defensive coordinator. Saleh is now the defensive coordinator for San Francisco.
San Francisco has also hired Brant Boyer as its new special teams coordinator. Boyer had been with the Jets in the same role for the past nine seasons. Chris Banjo, who was the assistant special teams coordinator in Denver, is a top candidate to join Glenn’s staff as Boyer’s replacement.
Reports suggest that Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand could join Glenn in New York as the Jets’ offensive coordinator. Additionally, Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden is expected to be hired as the Jets’ offensive line coach.
David Coote’s experience could guide the next generation of referees (Arsenal)
David Coote, a 42-year-old known for his candidness about his struggles with cocaine, possesses a wealth of experience that could greatly benefit younger officials in football.
Reports suggest he is eager to remain involved in the sport, potentially in a different capacity than refereeing. A close source stated, “His extensive knowledge and skills are invaluable.
Losing that due to his past mistakes during extremely stressful times would be a huge loss.” The source noted that Coote maintains good relationships with other referees, indicating he could excel as a pundit or expert in the field.
One of England’s top VAR officials reflects on challenges and new opportunities (Arsenal)
Struggles With Identity and Substance Use
Coote shared that his fear of coming out as gay contributed to his substance use as a means of escape. This revelation sparked discussions among fans about a possible return for him, particularly after he described the intense emotional pressure he faced along with a demanding work schedule.
Paul Field, the chairman of the Referees’ Association, expressed his desire for Coote to continue his involvement in English football. He remarked, “His work with young referees is outstanding.
He is a fantastic mentor who dedicates immense time and effort to grassroots officials. It would be great to see him in a training or mentoring role away from the public eye, allowing him to take care of himself while still contributing.”
Recognized as one of the top three VAR officials in the UK, Coote was among a select group of English referees chosen for international matches. He expressed his enthusiasm for a return to the sport.
Support and a Path Forward
In shocking footage, Coote admitted he was “not sober” when he called a former boss. He also revealed the disturbing abuse he received as a referee, including messages wishing harm upon him.
Support for Coote came from gay rugby referee Nigel Owens, who shared his own struggles before coming out in 2007. Owens, who officiated high-profile matches such as the 2015 World Cup Final, stated, “Homophobia continues to be an issue in all sports.”
He added, “When you’re grappling with your identity, it can be an incredibly tough and dark experience. You may resort to harmful coping mechanisms, as we’ve seen.”
Coote’s acknowledgment of his mistakes and his courage in coming out deserve recognition. This step may pave the way for him to become involved in the sport once more.
While I have never experimented with drugs or cigarettes, I can empathize with the immense pressure and scrutiny that professional referees face, which might drive someone to seek an escape, especially when feeling compelled to conceal one’s sexuality.
Many were aware of Coote’s orientation during his rise through the ranks, and it is commendable that he has now chosen to speak out.
Everyone has made errors in their lives. Referees frequently discuss their opinions about players and managers, and Coote’s experiences illustrate how he has been let down by those he considered friends.
The case of Bobby Madley, who returned to the Football League in 2020 after being dismissed for a video mocking a disabled individual, serves as a hopeful example for Coote. His journey suggests that a career in officiating can be rebuilt even after facing major challenges.
Phil Foden opens up on struggles adapting to England’s tactical move (Manchester City F.C.)
Phil Foden has expressed frustration regarding his recent performances for England, attributing his difficulties to the challenge of adapting to a new position while wearing the national team shirt.
Southgate’s decision to move Foden from his usual role was part of an effort to effectively utilize the team’s attacking talent during the tournament.
Despite England reaching the final in Germany, the team’s tactics drew criticism. Foden, who had been named the Premier League Player of the Season, found it challenging to replicate the form that earned him that accolade.
Frustration lingers as Foden admits he couldn’t showcase his best for England (Manchester City F.C.)
Although he scored 27 goals across all competitions in the 2023-24 season, he was unable to find the net during what turned out to be Southgate’s last tournament in charge.
Struggles With Positional Change
Reflecting on the experience, Foden acknowledged that both he and the team fell short of their potential. “I feel frustrated I didn’t get out what I wanted to get out of it,” he shared with the media.
He noted that the left-wing position he was assigned made it difficult to impact the game effectively. “Coming off last season being the best player in the Premier League and playing center midfield, I do feel the position was quite difficult to get used to,” he added.
Foden, capable of playing multiple positions, tried to adapt as best as he could. However, he believes that England never really found their rhythm or performed at their best during the tournament.
The 24-year-old has faced challenges replicating his previous season’s success, experiencing a lackluster campaign both personally and with Manchester City.
Nevertheless, his recent tally of six goals in six games indicates a possible resurgence for the versatile forward, who has faced time on the sidelines.
Mental and Physical Fatigue
The academy graduate admitted that he has been grappling with both mental and physical fatigue following the disappointment of the Euros, which came at the end of a grueling season. “I’m normally itching to get back, but when I came back my body and my mental state were low,” Foden explained.
He emphasized the mental aspect of football, stating, “For me, football is played with the brain, and when the brain is mentally fatigued, you’re not going to see a player for who he is.”
Foden took time to rest and allow his body to recover, taking a gradual approach to the start of the season. “I didn’t play much, and I was just resting and trying to get back to myself,” he noted.
He also mentioned that his body felt different from what he was used to, leading to a slow start to the season. “I missed periods at the start of the season, so I think that’s why it’s taken me so long to get going. I’ve slowly been getting back to myself,” he concluded.
Evan Ferguson struggles for game time after breakout season at Brighton (Brighton)
Evan Ferguson, who made an impression in his debut season, is currently struggling to secure playing time at Brighton, having yet to feature this year.
After a promising campaign in which he netted 11 goals, the 20-year-old Irish striker has faced a string of frustrating injuries, compounded by the presence of Danny Welbeck, João Pedro, and Georginio Rutter, who are all ahead of him in the team’s selection.
Potential big-money move looms as Ferguson attracts suitors across Europe (Brighton)
Recognizing the need for a fresh start in his young career, Brighton is reportedly open to the idea of letting Ferguson go.
It’s no surprise that a wave of clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, West Ham, Everton, Tottenham, and Bournemouth, are linked with an interest in the player.
According to The Athletic, while Brighton may be willing to entertain offers, Ferguson’s contract, which extends for over four years, suggests that the Bettystown native will command a huge fee.
Bazunu and Travers Eye Loan Moves
Turning to another Irish player in the Premier League facing injury challenges, Gavin Bazunu could be headed to Serie A club Udinese on loan.
After a lengthy 10-month recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon, the 22-year-old goalkeeper has regained full fitness, prompting Southampton’s management to consider sending him out on loan.
“I think that the idea of the club is to give him a loan after his injury,” stated his manager, Ivan Juric. “I think he’s a great goalkeeper, and now we will see in these seven days what will happen.”
Meanwhile, fellow Irish goalkeeper Mark Travers is expected to finalize a loan move to Middlesbrough from Bournemouth after making a trip north for a medical assessment.
Tottenham has expressed interest in Angel Gomes, though any potential transfer may be postponed until summer when the talented England and Lille midfielder becomes available for free.
In other transfer news, Manchester United is reportedly close to acquiring 18-year-old center-back Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.
Despite interest from Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt, Heaven has turned down a new contract with Arsenal and seems poised to join United.
Additionally, United is said to be nearing a deal for Danish left wing-back Patrick Dorgu, anticipated to arrive from struggling Serie A club Lecce for up to £31 million.
Casemiro and Danso in Transfer Headlines
Casemiro, deemed surplus to requirements by Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, has indicated his willingness to join Roma on loan.
However, reports from Italy suggest that this move depends on Roma’s ability to offload Leandro Paredes, who may return to his childhood club Boca Juniors.
It wouldn’t be surprising if United stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe arranges a private jet to transport Casemiro, who earns £350,000 a week at Old Trafford, to Buenos Aires as part of the deal.
Wolves are actively seeking a central defender and have turned their attention to Kevin Danso of Lens. Despite a rejected bid of £18.5 million for the Austrian defender, Wolves are willing to enhance their offer.
However, any potential transfer could be complicated by Danso’s desire to remain with Lens for now, as he is recovering from an injury.
“Danso doesn’t want to leave,” said Lens manager Will Still. “He is not sabotaging us. He hurt himself in training. He took the ball on his ankle, which twisted and it pulled on his knee.”
FA overturns Lewis-Skelly’s red card but charges Arsenal for player reactions (Arsenal)
Following Saturday’s Premier League victory over Wolves at Molineux, Arsenal’s players confronted match referee Michael Oliver, leading to charges from the FA. This incident occurred after defender Myles Lewis-Skelly received a red card just before halftime.
Earlier this week, the red card issued by Oliver, who was not prompted to review his decision on the pitchside monitor by VAR assistants at Stockley Park, was overturned.
Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal overturned, but Arsenal still in hot water with FA (Arsenal)
An FA statement noted, “The club allegedly failed to ensure that its players did not behave in an improper manner around the 43rd minute. Arsenal FC has until Monday, 3 February, to provide a response.”
Should the FA find Arsenal guilty, the club faces a fine due to the incident, which involved several players approaching Oliver to voice their complaints after Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal.
Fortunately for manager Mikel Arteta, his team secured a 1-0 win, courtesy of a late goal from Riccardo Calafiori, despite Wolves also experiencing a red card.
Red Card Controversy and Appeal Success
The decision made by Oliver to issue a straight red to Lewis-Skelly, coupled with the lack of intervention from VAR officials Darren England and Adrian Holmes, frustrated many, including Arteta and his squad. Initially, it was stated that Lewis-Skelly had engaged in violent conduct.
However, following Arsenal’s appeal, the panel overturned Lewis-Skelly’s three-match suspension. The panel’s written reasoning indicated that Oliver had made a clear error and that there was agreement among its members.
The explanation detailed that Lewis-Skelly “had stepped across his opponent and tripped him up, possibly deliberately, but in doing so he had obviously not endangered the safety of his opponent or used excessive force or brutality, nor had he ‘lunged’ in at his opponent.”
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel During a group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, along with players Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Gabriel Jesus, posed with the Arsenal Therapy Dog, Win.
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Dolphins’ Trade-Heavy Strategy Falls Short as Chiefs and Eagles Thrive Through Drafting (NFL)
The Miami Dolphins’ recent strategy of trading draft picks for established players hasn’t yielded the desired results. This approach contrasts sharply with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, who have built their success through strong drafting. Both teams, now meeting in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, rely heavily on homegrown talent rather than expensive free-agent signings.
While the Eagles have key acquisitions like Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown, their core remains drafted players. Fourteen of their starters in their dominant win against Washington came through the draft, including recent selections Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Similarly, the Chiefs featured 15 homegrown starters in their playoff win, reinforcing the importance of hitting on draft picks for sustained competitiveness.
Kansas City’s Blueprint: Draft and Develop
Kansas City’s dominance is not just about Patrick Mahomes but also their ability to develop talent. The Chiefs lost stars like Tyreek Hill and L’Jarius Sneed but remained competitive due to strong drafting. Their 2022 draft class alone produced five key starters, showcasing how teams can replace departing veterans with young, cost-controlled talent instead of relying on high-priced signings.
Dolphins’ Trade-Heavy Strategy Falls Short as Chiefs and Eagles Thrive Through Drafting (NFL)
Miami has taken the opposite approach, often sacrificing picks for established players. The 2022 draft saw them trade away key selections for Tyreek Hill, leading to a weak class that produced no significant contributors. A similar pattern followed in 2023, where only De’Von Achane has made an impact. The lack of young talent forces Miami to continually rely on short-term veteran fixes, preventing long-term stability.
Missed Opportunities in Recent Drafts
The Dolphins’ 2020 draft, which could have provided a solid foundation, has largely been a disappointment. While Tua Tagovailoa and Austin Jackson remain, injuries cloud their futures. Other picks like Noah Igbinoghene and Raekwon Davis never lived up to expectations. Even their strong 2021 class, featuring Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips, wasn’t enough to offset the missteps. Miami’s lack of homegrown depth has been costly.
The Dolphins might be correcting course, as their 2024 draft class shows promise with Chop Robinson and Jaylen Wright. With a crucial 2025 draft ahead, Miami must resist the urge to trade picks for short-term gains. GM Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel face a pivotal decision: continue chasing immediate success or build sustainably like Kansas City and Philadelphia. The long-term solution lies in the draft, not high-profile trades.
