Latest news with #Super Bowl
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Belichick fever strong at North Carolina as school announces all 2025 tickets are sold
Bill Belichick is still more than a month away from making his collegiate coaching debut at North Carolina, but the hype around the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach has already reached a fever pitch. The school announced Wednesday morning that all tickets for 2025, including season and single-game, have been sold. Advertisement 'The July announcement marks the earliest that all tickets for the season have ever been sold out in program history,' the release said. The Tar Heels also sold out season tickets in 2019 and 2021 under Mack Brown — the seasons before and after the COVID-19 pandemic — and averaged 50,000-plus fans in 2019 and 2023, but saw a dip in attendance last season as Brown struggled and eventually was fired. Per UNC had an average attendance of 50,095 in 2023, which fell nearly 5 percent to 47,686 in 2024. Brown went 6-6 in his final season and coached his final game against rival NC State. Belichick, despite never coaching in college before, was named UNC's coach on Dec. 11. There has been skepticism about whether his skills from the NFL will translate to the college level, and questions arose when the Tar Heels hosted a lackluster public practice to close out the spring period to little fanfare. His personal relationship with girlfriend Jordon Hudson has also been a news topic. But since a viral interview with CBS in April, Hudson and Belichick have seemingly stayed out of the spotlight, and Belichick has continued to build out his roster. He found his quarterback in South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez, who finished third in the Sun Belt with 232.6 passing yards per game a season ago. Belichick has added 40-plus transfers in total and has made it clear that the Tar Heels will practice and operate like an NFL team. UNC opens its season on Labor Day night against TCU in what will be an early litmus test for Belichick. The Tar Heels also host ACC favorite Clemson in early October, but the schedule is otherwise favorable for Belichick to make a run in Year 1. Kickoff for the TCU game is set for 8 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rookie OT Aireontae Ersery compared to former Texans Pro Bowl star
Houston Texans rookie offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery could be the next breakout star in the AFC South. He'll need to be one of the better linemen in H-Town if the Texans plan on competing for a Super Bowl title this fall behind Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud. The second-round pick was drafted higher than any offensive tackle since 2019, when the Texans used a first-round pick on Tytus Howard. Houston liked him so much that there were rumors that the Texans were willing to move up into the top 40 to select him right after Jayden Higgins. FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang compared the Minnesota All-American to another great Texans offensive tackle who became a Pro Bowl talent, and it's not Laremy Tunsil. Instead, Ersey could be the next Duane Brown. "In the 23-year history of the Houston Texans, Brown is the only offensive tackle selected by the club to ever make a Pro Bowl," Rang wrote. "I'm dating myself with this evaluation, but I remember Brown as a highly athletic but very raw blocker and a surprising first-round selection out of Virginia Tech. Ersery slipped to the second round but offers a similar blend of size and agility. I think he's going to become a rock up front for Houston. " Brown, a first-round pick out of Virginia Tech, was considered the top offensive tackle for several seasons during his prime with the Texans. He carried on that success when traded to the Seattle Seahawks, earning an All-Pro nod in 2018. The hope for Houston is that the rookie can be the best of both worlds as a great pass protector and run blocker for the Texans. The team had a Pro Bowl talent on the blind side for six years with Tunsil, and Ersey could carry on his own path as the franchise's longtime homegrown talent at left tackle in H-Town. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Aireontae Ersery compared to former Texans Pro Bowl OT Duane Brown
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals' Offense: Overhyped or Still Elite?
Despite combining for over 190 receptions and 2,600 receiving yards, Bengals wide receiver duo Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and star quarterback Joe Burrow still feel disrespected after once again being snubbed as the NFL's best offensive unit. Triple Crown winner Ja'Mmarr Chase was in a league of his own last season, recording over 1,700 receiving yards and 120 receptions, finishing the season with 17 touchdowns–No.1 among all wide receivers. Chase's 787 yards after catch (YAC) made him a threat not only outside the numbers, but also between the hashes. Yet even after a historic season, Chase made it clear that his focus is on bringing a Super Bowl to Cincinnati, not chasing individual success. 82 yards shy of 5,000 passing yards, quarterback Joe Burrow led the NFL in both passing yards with 4,918 and touchdowns with 43. His legendary season was bittersweet, as the Bengals missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season despite averaging 27.8 points per game and scoring over 470 points. Regardless of the team's record, Joe Burrow remained in the MVP conversations as one of the league's top players, thanks to his high level of play. Burrow not only made big plays with his arm and completed 70% of his passes, but also with his legs, rushing for over 200 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns–including a 47 yard run against the New York Giants. Prior to signing his four-year $115 million contract extension with the Bengals, former Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins was expected to hit the market before he was franchise tagged for a second straight year and ultimately reached an agreement with the team. It's no secret that Higgins' explosiveness and physicality have helped quarterback Joe Burrow elevate the Bengals from a bottom-tier scoring offense to one of the league's best in the past five seasons. After finishing with over 900 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season, Higgins continued to prove week after week that he's more than just another WR2. embracing the '1 A' title given by teammate Ja'Marr Chase. Second year running back Chase Brown finally got his big break following the departure of Joe Mixon last offseason, giving Brown a long awaited opportunity after starting the season as RB2 behind veteran Zach Moss. Brown got his first start in the Bengal's week 6 prime time game against the New York Giants and never looked back, finishing the season with over 900 yards on the ground, 229 receiving yards, and 11 total touchdowns. For much of the second half of the season, Brown became a key piece in this Bengals offense, giving the team much needed help on the ground while making plays in the passing game. Similarly, Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki emerged as another playmaker for this Bengals offense, finishing inside the top 10 in receiving yards among all tight ends. Gesicki's remained Joe Burrows' short-down security blanket while also making big plays down the field when the team needed it the most. The Cincinnati Bengals are poised for a bounce-back year, aiming not only to remind everyone that they can score on any defense but also get back to playing meaningful football deep into January. Joe Burrow and his skill group won't be satisfied by winning the AFC North or individual awards like MVP or Offensive Player of the Year; their focus is solely on getting their hands on the prestigious Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
1 Thing Stopping Chiefs' 'Explosive Element' Returning
1 Thing Stopping Chiefs' 'Explosive Element' Returning originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kansas City Chiefs will begin the 2025 season with more questions than answers surrounding their roster, with the offensive line at the center of the discussion. Advertisement With Jaylon Moore, Josh Simmons, and Kingsley Suamataia all set to try their hand on the left side of the line, Patrick Mahomes' protection is going to feel a whole lot different than it did last is a good thing. There has been talk all throughout OTAs and minicamp that the Chiefs want to get their deep ball back in the offense, but that can only happen if Mahomes has time to throw. So, for CBS Sports, in naming the most important non-quarterback for the Chiefs, the publication has landed on Moore and Simmons. "The Chiefs offensive line fell apart last year," CBS Sports writes. "They signed Moore to provide insurance at left tackle and had Simmons fall into their lap in the draft. They badly need one of them to play well enough that Patrick Mahomes isn't constantly looking over his shoulder, and can finally tap into the explosive element of the offense the team has been missing over the last two years." Advertisement Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Given how easily accessible Mahomes was to the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive front in the Super Bowl, naturally, every other team will look at that blueprint and try to replicate it in 2025. Hence why the need for either Moore or Simmons to solidify that left tackle spot is crucial, so too Suamataia who is being shifted inside to left guard. Training camp will be our first look at the new protection, and while we won't be jumping to any conclusions, it will give a good indication of what we could expect in the regular season. Many are doubting the Chiefs this season, with the offensive line issues being the big reason why, and the only way to ease those fears is for the unit to play well with real bullets flying. Advertisement If the Chiefs are to avenge the Super Bowl loss, the offensive line is going to have to pull its weight. If it does, Kansas City will be in business, but if it can't, then who knows what the 2025 season will look like for the defending AFC champs. Related: Chiefs' 'Margin For Error' In AFC West Gone In 2025 Related: Patrick Mahomes Turns Heads With Reaction to Chiefs' Latest Signing This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants Offensive Line Given Brutally Harsh Grade by PFF
Giants Offensive Line Given Brutally Harsh Grade by PFF originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Since winning Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants have struggled to field a consistent and competent offensive line. Advertisement It's a big reason the organization hasn't come close to that championship run since. New York has had chances to solve its offensive line issues, but none have worked out. That's why it should come as no surprise that Pro Football Focus ranked the unit among the worst in the league. In PFF's annual preseason offensive line rankings, the Giants are a brutally harsh 28th in the 32-team league ahead of the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, and Houston Texans. "The only thing keeping the Giants' offensive line from sinking further down this list is left tackle Andrew Thomas, who ranked third among offensive tackles in 2022 with a 90.3 PFF overall grade and has posted 75.0-plus marks in each of the past four years," PFF wrote. "However, the former Georgia player logged fewer than 1,000 snaps over the past two seasons. If he cannot stay on the field in 2025, New York might end up with the worst offensive line in the league." Advertisement The good news for New York is that Thomas is an outstanding player and should be able to anchor the group when fully healthy. The bad news is that they have the second-worst line in the NFC, and there's no guarantee the Pro Bowl tackle will be healthy enough for a full season. In the last couple of years, Thomas and the Giants' offensive line have started the year off relatively solid, but struggled the minute he suffered an injury. Draft picks like John Michael Schmitz and Evan Neal haven't worked out, either. None of this should be surprising. New York will have to prove a lot more on the field to receive credit moving forward. Advertisement But it is an ugly reminder of how bad it has gotten for the Giants over the last decade. Related: Giants Making 'Concerted Effort' to Fix Russell Wilson Major Problem Related: Coach Shockingly Ranks Giants' Jaxson Dart vs. Browns' Shedeur Sanders This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
