Latest news with #SuperBowl-contending
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
This Rams HC was named among worst hirings since 2000
The Los Angeles Rams have had eight head coaches over the past 25 years with varying degrees of success. While Sean McVay is already the winningest coach in franchise history with an 80-52 record after seven seasons, the Rams haven't always struck gold with their top man. CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin ranked the 25 worst head coaches since 2000, and the Rams' hiring of Steve Spagnuolo in 2009 came in at No. 15. For reference, No. 1 was Urban Meyer to the Jacksonville Jaguars, so No. 15 isn't so bad all things considered. Spagnuolo went 10-38 in three seasons for the Rams to continue the team's long playoff drought. He came to the team after two years coaching the New York Giants defense, including the 2007 squad that upset Tom Brady's undefeated season with the New England Patriots. Another example of a fearsome coordinator who couldn't translate defensive genius to head coaching dominance, Spagnuolo is currently the face of the Chiefs' perennially stingy Super Bowl-contending defense. Long ago, however, right after a separate successful stint running the Giants' defense, "Spags" struggled to keep Sam Bradford upright and supported while the Rams bumbled through some of their last seasons in St. Louis. The Rams were bad across the board under Spagnuolo. The team never ranked better than 26th in offensive scoring and the defense oscillated from mediocre to dreadful. His 10-38 record is also misleading because seven of those wins came in 2010. The Rams went 1–15 in his first season, which is the worst season in franchise history, and 2-14 in his final season, which was the second-worst record in franchise history and tied with the 2008 team that preceded him. Spagnuolo's years were so bad that Jeff Fisher's four seasons with either six or seven wins were seen as an upgrade. The team finally got it right in 2017 with the McVay hiring, as he finished with fewer than nine wins only once, and it was the year Matthew Stafford played just eight games due to injury.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brad Pitt Opens Up To Kelce Brothers About Life As A Chiefs Fan
Brad Pitt Opens Up To Kelce Brothers About Life As A Chiefs Fan originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Brad Pitt is making the rounds. Yes, he's promoting a movie. But he's also a sports fan, and so a hang with the Kelce brothers makes perfect sense. "F1,'' the big-budget race car drama starring the Hollywood megastar Pitt, is already a massive hit after earning $55.6 million in its domestic opening weekend and an 'A' grade from CinemaScore. It's so big that Pitt, who plays a retired Formula 1 driver who makes a dramatic return to the track, now qualifies to be a guest on "New Heights.'' We're kidding, of course; Pitt is to film what Travis Kelce's girlfriend, Taylor Swift, is to music. And so, it is a gigantic get for the Kelce brothers' podcast. Brothers Jason and Travis Kelce first released the news in a video posted on Instagram in which Jason announced, 'Brad (expletive) Pitt is on the episode, ladies and gentlemen.'' This level of "big-shot-edness'' is becoming less and less surprising as the brothers — Jason a Philadelphia Eagles retired legend and Travis still going strong for the Super Bowl-contending Kansas City Chiefs — are growing in beyond-football celebrity status. Jason is now an ESPN guy who gets attention in so many of the right ways, most recently for his work with the Eagles Autism Foundation, which last weekend saw him strip down to his patriotic underwear for charity. And Travis is dovetailing with Taylor into the entertainment world, of course. Beside the podcast, there is his fifth annual Tight End University, which is suddenly a party scene, and his budding acting career, which includes a cameo in the upcoming "Happy Gilmore 2'' movie. And now there is a kinship with Pitt, who talks with the fellas about what it is like to be a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan. But to moviegoers? Brad Pitt hanging out with the fellas is next level, and you could tell by Travis' reaction to Jason's announcement. So ... the visit has occurred. And that Chiefs fandom was part of the conversation. Pitt, who was born in Oklahoma but grew up in Springfield, Missouri, has been on quite a ride with his team over the past decade or so, as have all fans of your Chiefs. And he really put it all into an eloquent package for the fellas. "You feel this sense of pride instead of, 'Life's always out against us,'" Pitt said. "So, it's kind of extraordinary the way we live through our teams, you guys and what it means to us." This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
NFL Insider Uses Josh Allen Blueprint as Example for NY Giants
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Do the New York Giants have a potential Josh Allen situation on their hands? One prominent NFL Insider used the Buffalo Bills quarterback as an example for the Giants as they enter a critical season. New York wants to compete at the highest level as early as this season. Despite missing the playoffs once again last year, the Giants made some key changes, notably at the quarterback position. For the year, they signed Russell Wilson and added the veteran backup, Jameis Winston. But the future is also in New York. Jaxson Dart, the first-round pick out of Ole Miss, joined the Giants' organization to be the quarterback of the future. While "future" is the keyword here, not many outside of the franchise are buying into the idea that Wilson is going to start and finish the year as the Giants' starting QB. Just like how Nathan Peterman didn't start and finish the season under center with the Buffalo Bills in 2018. ESPN's Adam Schefter made it clear that the two situations are not the same. At the time, Peterman was far from proven as a quarterback in the NFL and didn't have much more experience than the rookie Josh Allen at the time. It was easy to pull Peterman, who had a short leash. Since key members of the Giants' organization were around for the start of the Allen era in Buffalo, it's worth considering that Brian Daboll's past experience could play a key part in getting Dart on the field quicker than anticipated. Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a first down during the fourth quarter in the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a first down during the fourth quarter in the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by"The Giants would like to be as patient as they can with their rookie first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart, and go with Russell Wilson, but, let's keep in mind that once before, Brian Daboll and the Giants' General Manager Joe Schoen was in Buffalo and the plan there was to be very patient with Josh Allen, and he was called on to start a lot sooner than anybody expected," Schefter explained. "We're not saying that Jaxson Dart is Josh Allen. We're just saying that they can have a plan to go with Russell Wilson. Plans sometimes change. That will depend on Russell Wilson, how well he plays, how much this team wins, and how patient this whole entire organization can be." To Wilson's credit in this situation, he has a ton of past experience. While there is a lot of skepticism surrounding his ability to uplift an offense to be a Super Bowl-contending unit at this stage in his career, the Giants are going in with an open mind and banking on the idea that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. If the Giants see early on that's not the case, then the plans could change. For the time being, New York wants Dart to learn under Wilson while aiming to compete in a tough NFC East in 2025. For more New York Giants and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL betting expert: Detroit Lions have third-toughest schedule for 2025
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability subject to change. The Detroit Lions will have a difficult route to the Super Bowl in 2025 — it's already projected to be of the most difficult in the NFL. According to NFL betting expert Warren Sharp, the Lions will have the league's third-toughest schedule, behind only the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants. Advertisement Sharp's analysis uses forecasted 2025 win totals for every NFL team and ranks each team's strength of schedule based on the number of projected wins from their opponents. Buy Lions tickets on StubHub According to Vegas oddsmakers, the average projected win total for each Lions opponent in 2025 is 8.97 wins. The Lions will face onlyh two teams with projected win totals under seven wins: the Browns and Giants, ironically. The strength of the Lions' schedule shouldn't be much of a surprise. Because the Lions finished in first place in the NFC North in 2024, NFL scheduling rules pit them against every other first-place NFC team, which includes the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Advertisement Additionally, NFC North teams are matched up to play AFC North teams for the upcoming season, which means the Lions will be matched up against the Super Bowl-contending Baltimore Ravens. And if that wasn't difficult enough, the "17th game" (not in chronological order, but based on how the schedule is is managed) matches the first-place NFC North team with the first-place AFC West team in 2025 — in this case, the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs. THE NEW GUYS: Boise State coach breaks down what Detroit Lions are getting in DE Ahmed Hassanein That's not to mention the difficult division the Lions play in already. NFC North teams led all divisions last season in combined win total (45), beating out the second-place AFC West (40). Despite the Lions winning a franchise-record 15 regular-season games, they had to beat the 14-win Minnesota Vikings in their final regular-season game on Jan. 5 to claim the division title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. According to Sharp, of the 10 teams who finished the 2024 season with the toughest strength of schedule, only two made the playoffs. One of those teams, however, was the Lions, who had the seventh-toughest strength of schedule. (The other was the Los Angeles Rams, who the Lions will face again in the 2025 regular season.) Who do the Lions play in 2025? While we don't know in which order the Lions will play their opponents — the complete weekly schedule order will be released by the NFL on May 14 — we do know which teams the Lions will face on the road and which teams they will play on the road. Lions 2025 home games *Signifies team made playoffs. Advertisement Bears (5-12) *Packers (11-6) *Vikings (14-3) Cowboys (7-10) Giants (3-14) Browns (3-14) *Steelers (10-7) *Buccaneers (10-7) Lions 2025 away games **Won Super Bowl Bears (5-12) *Packers (11-6) *Vikings (14-3) *Commanders (12-5) **Eagles (14-3) Bengals (9-8) *Ravens (12-5) *Chiefs (15-2) *Rams (10-7) When is the Lions schedule revealed? Date: Wednesday, May 14 Time: 8 p.m. How do I watch the Lions schedule reveal? Channel: NFL Network, ESPN2 Streaming: NFL app, NFL+, Fubo The schedule reveal will be broadcast on NFL Network and streamed on the NFL's digital platforms. Additionally, ESPN2 will broadcast a schedule reveal event at the same time as the reveal. Fubo has packages carrying sports channels including ESPN2 and NFL Network. Watch NFL Network with Fubo We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Advertisement You can reach Christian at cromo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2025 NFL schedule: Detroit Lions have 3rd-toughest, better expert says
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Poughkeepsie's Ozzie Hutchinson signs with Baltimore Ravens as undrafted free agent
Ozzie Hutchinson remained composed, giving little to emotion even when his agent informed him that multiple NFL teams were interested. 'But when I got that call from the offensive line coach,' Hutchinson said, 'I was shaking while on the phone. That's when it started to feel real.' Advertisement Because, what for most kids is a farfetched dream, now is close to coming true for the Poughkeepsie native. It was at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when he spoke to Baltimore Ravens assistant coach George Warhop, who made official their offer to sign him as an undrafted free agent. Poughkeepsie native Ozzie Hutchinson, who starred for the University at Albany football team, was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2025. 'I'm excited, ecstatic, grateful,' Hutchinson said, still beaming a day later. 'All the good feelings.' The Spackenkill High School grad completed a stellar career at the University at Albany and, even as a small-school prospect, he impressed professional scouts enough that a Super Bowl-contending team believes in his potential. Advertisement Diamond & gold: Maddy Siegrist has "exciting" offseason, leading into third WNBA season College credit: Ifkovits shines at Tennessee, former local stars earn All-American honors 'It's jubilation,' his former high school coach Clinton DeSouza said. 'He's a really smart, high-character kid who has worked his tall off for this. I'm incredibly proud of him. To see him get this far is amazing.' It's also rare. Three former Marist College players have made it to the NFL, but few Dutchess County products have gotten that far. Former New York Giants running back Andre Williams was born in Poughkeepsie but grew up in New Jersey. Advertisement DeSouza spoke on Sunday to former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, a one-time teacher who established the football program at Spackenkill in 1973. He, too, was overjoyed with the small Poughkeepsie school helping develop an NFL player. Ozzie Hutchinson, who starred for the University at Albany football team, poses with former his Spackenkill High school coach Clinton DeSouza, left, after a fall 2024 game. Hutchinson, 23, anchored the offensive line for the Great Danes and earned all-Coastal Athletic Association honors last fall, despite injuries limiting him to six games. The offensive tackle travels to Baltimore on May 2 for a physical examination and, if cleared, will sign a contract. He then would participate in a rookie minicamp before organized team activities begin May 11. Advertisement 'It'll be crazy just being in the same building with these immensely talented players,' Hutchinson said of being part of an offense with superstars like Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. 'You watch these guys on TV and now to have a chance to be their teammate. It'll take a minute to adjust like, 'OK, these are my peers.'' Of course, it's his own talent that created this opportunity for him. Hutchinson demonstrated notable athleticism and footwork at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds, along with pass-blocking skills that potentially project to the next level. The NFL draft concluded Saturday, after 257 players were selected, but teams typically supplement their training camp roster by signing undrafted free agents — players whom they deem worthy of an audition. 'I'm not surprised the scouts were enamored,' said DeSouza, who now is the principal of Hagan Elementary School. 'Ozzie's ability to bend and take on speed rushers, bull rushers and counter different moves is impressive. He didn't commit any penalties in the games I went to, and he didn't allow a sack last season.' Dave Gettleman, right, former NFL general manager and an architect of Spackenkill High School's football program, is shown the proposed layout of the new turf field by coach Clinton DeSouza during an Oct. 10, 2017 meeting. The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins also had interest, Hutchingson said, but the Ravens foresee him remaining at his natural tackle position in the NFL, instead of having to shift inside to offensive guard. Advertisement 'But if it doesn't work or I'm a better fit elsewhere, I'll move to wherever,' he said. 'I'm versatile. I got a taste of it all in high school.' He played tackle, center and guard at Spackenkill, excelling in each role. And, to think, he once had his heart set on the other kind of football. Hutchinson's parents are from the Caribbean, and that early influence nudged him toward soccer. Never mind that he was the biggest seventh-grader on the field… by a lot. 'I had to recruit him off the modified soccer team,' DeSouza said with a chuckle. 'He was towering over the other kids, and I was like, 'What's he doing out there? We need him on the football team.'' Advertisement After a bit of cajoling, Hutchinson participated in a winter workout with the football team and quickly 'fell in love' with the sport and the camaraderie it produced. Hugh Hutchinson signed off on his son playing, but it took some work to convince his mom that the sport wasn't too dangerous. But in time, Ozzie said, Janice Hutchinson has become a football fan. Ozzie Hutchinson was the figurative torchbearer for Kyiev Bennermon, a former Spackenkill teammate who went on to play for Boston College. DeSouza said he thought Bennermon's success 'was the pinnacle for us,' but another Division 1-caliber lineman was only a year behind. Ozzie Hutchinson poses during his NLI signing day in 2019 while flanked by former Spackenkill High School teammate Kyiev Bennermon, left, and football coach Clinton DeSouza. Hutchinson starred for his high school football and track and field teams, but Albany was one of only a few colleges that offered him a scholarship, he said. He excelled there, though, and after a breakout season in 2022, coach Greg Gattuso told him that he was talented enough to play beyond college. Advertisement 'It's unbelievable,' Hutchinson said, reflecting for a moment on his journey here. 'From getting into football late and having to learn it in a short time, to being in this position now.' He twice earned all-conference honors and was a Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American selection last summer, although a torn plantar fascia in his right foot and later a high ankle sprain cost him half the season. He now feels 'close to 100%,' he said, but those setbacks 'probably took any possibility of getting drafted off the table.' So, no extravagant party was held, and he spent the weekend at home, watching the draft while communicating with his agent and hoping for a life-changing phone call. 'There's a ton of pride in that, showing you can get far coming from small schools,' Hutchinson said. 'It's what you make of your opportunities. I'm proud to be a representative of this area and put on for Dutchess County.' Advertisement Stephen Haynes: shaynes@ 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4 This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: NFL: Spackenkill grad Ozzie Hutchinson signs with Baltimore Ravens
