Nick Saban is arguably the greatest college football coach of all time, having won six national championships with Alabama and one while he was at LSU.
Saban, who finished his career with 292 wins, does not seem to carry a long list of regrets over the course of his career. He left coaching on his own terms last year following an incredibly successful era with the Crimson Tide.
He did, however, admit in a recent interview there was at least one thing he wished he could have back – jumping from LSU to coach the Miami Dolphins. Saban famously left the Tigers after winning a national championship to coach the Dolphins for two seasons. He then claimed he would not take the Alabama job but eventually did so anyway.
He said on "The Pivot" leaving LSU for the NFL was his "biggest mistake."
"I think sometimes you have to learn about yourself," he told LSU alumnus Ryan Clark, ex-Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder and former NFL star running back Fred Taylor. "And you might think things … When I left LSU, that was probably ‘professionally’ the biggest mistake that I ever made," he admitted.
"Not because we didn't have success in Miami. I enjoyed coaching in Miami. I found out in that experience that I like coaching college better, because you can develop players personally, academically, athletically and all that a little more than pro ball, even though I loved the status of coaching in pro football and the kind of guys you coach, and you’re coaching in the best league against the best players, I loved all that."
Saban added that his agent, Jimmy Sexton, talked to him about leaving LSU. Saban said Sexton posed the question, "Do you want to be Bear Bryant or Vince Lombardi in terms of his legacy?" Saban said he answered he wanted to be more like Bryant but chose to go the NFL route anyway.
Saban will mostly be remembered for his run at Alabama, but his stint in the NFL may be the only blemish on his resume any football fan could point to.
A Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) match between the Milwaukee Wave and Tacoma Stars on Saturday descended into chaos as a huge brawl broke out between players.
The Wave won the match 7-6 as 10 different players scored goals in the wild matchup. Milwaukee improved to 7-1-0 with the victory, and Tacoma fell to 1-5-2, but the big story of the night was the fight that broke out at the end of the match.
Milwaukee’s Mario Alvarez scored his second goal of the season to give the Wave the win. The broadcast followed Tacoma’s Stefan Mijatovic as he shook hands with opposing players after the match. Mijatovic was shoved, which sparked the heated incident. Wave goalkeeper William Banahene appeared to be involved as well as he was being held back.
As the dramatics ensued, Wave forward Qudus Lawal was pushed over onto his own bench. He appeared to address Mijatovic while standing on the bench. Lawal’s teammate Javier Steinwascher tried to get him down and deescalate things, but it took a while for things to calm down.
Mijatovic broke free and appeared to chase a Wave player down into the tunnel. It is unclear what transpired in the tunnel.
The MASL announced suspensions for the players involved in the incident on Tuesday.
Mijatovic was issued a four-game suspension "as a result of his in-game and post-game conduct, and for making unprofessional, offensive and abusive language / comments in-game and post-game."
"In addition to the 4-game suspension (which will be served immediately), and due to the fact that Stefan Mijatovic was previously put on a league probation, Mijatovic will also be issued an undisclosed fine, two (2) penalty points and will need to complete an anger management course and provide the league with a certificate of completion," the league said.
Stars players Roman Torres and Luis Birrueta were issued a one-game suspension for the incident.
Wave players Lawal, Derek Huffman and Tenzin Rampa were also suspended for two games.
"All MASL players, staff and league personnel are expected to always demonstrate professionalism and self-discipline, regardless of whether extenuating circumstances exist," the league said in a statement.
As of Thursday morning, the Wave were in fourth place in the standings and the Stars were in 10th. The MASL has 12 teams in the league.
Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels helped break the team’s drought of NFC Championship appearances with a shocking victory over the Detroit Lions last week.
Daniels was 22-of-31 with 299 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He was not sacked in the game, and Washington was 3-for-4 on fourth-down conversion attempts.
The young quarterback’s ability to be poised and under control in high-pressure situations earned him praise from arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady. The former NFL star compared Daniels to Tiger Woods during an episode of the "Let’s Go!" podcast.
"How do we really evaluate confidence? How do we evaluate poise? Because some people have it. The moments aren’t too big for them," Brady said. "They look at the challenge, and they think about, ‘Man, this is gonna be amazing when we go out and beat these guys.’ And the other guys look at the challenge and go, ‘Oh man, I really don’t want to mess up.’ And I think that fear of failure, instilled in a lot of people in early points of their life, keeps them from the ultimate confidence that they have in themselves, which allows them to grow to their maximum potential.
"So even though Jayden Daniels is just a rookie, he has that poise and confidence. Imagine, I guess, another correlation, look at a young Tiger Woods. He never had proven on the big stage that he was ready for those big moments in the Masters in ’97, but he had proved that to himself in all those junior amateurs that he won, that he didn’t care who he was playing. It was him versus him."
Daniels appeared to maintain the one-game-at-a-time mentality as he talked to reporters about the possibility of going to the Super Bowl with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
If the Commanders win the NFC Championship, it will be their first Super Bowl appearance since the 1991 season, when the organization was known as the Washington Redskins. Daniels would also be the first rookie quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl.
"I’m not even thinking that far. It would obviously be a blessing, but I’m just focused on how can I be better day by day," he said, via Pro Football Talk.
The Commanders and Eagles play at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game can be seen on FOX.
Sports radio legend Mike Francesa suggested on Wednesday that he was enthralled with first lady Melania Trump’s style at the inauguration, but he did not like one aspect of her outfit.
Trump donned a dark navy coat and hat with a white stripe, dark navy heels and black gloves as she and President Donald Trump attended a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church before they arrived for the inauguration festivities.
"Melania is stunning. She has great clothes. She’s a beautiful woman. I did not like her hat," he said on his podcast. "And I usually like hats, on women, especially on someone as stylish as she is. I did not like her hat at all. That was very odd. I just did not like her hat."
The president even had a tough time dealing with his wife’s hat. When they entered the Capitol Rotunda, he was seen trying to give her a kiss on the cheek, but it appeared the hat ever-so-slightly blocked his attempt.
Regardless, Trump’s second term as president was off from there.
Earlier Wednesday, the president and first lady celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.
In 2005, well before real-estate developer Trump became the 45th and now the 47th president of the United States, he married his fiancé, model Melania Knauss, at a 350-guest wedding ceremony at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. The couple met in 1998 at a party in New York City.
The luxurious wedding was described at the time as fit for royalty — from the spectacular gown Melania Trump wore to the immaculately decorated reception at Trump's private club.
The future first lady wore a $100,000 Christian Dior wedding gown. It consisted of a 13-foot train and a 16-foot-long veil covered in beading that reportedly took over 500 hours of hand sewing to create, according to published accounts of the event in The Palm Beach Post and The Palm Beach Daily News at the time.
Fox News’ Pilar Arias and Sydney Borchers contributed to this report.
Australian tennis star Arina Rodionova and former Australian Football League star Ty Vickery announced their divorce in a video posted to her social media on Wednesday.
Rodionova said the two had been separated for about a year after nine years of marriage. Vickery, who was eating a banana, said they wished "each other the best" and thanked their friends, family and followers for their support.
Rodionova then went to shake Vickey’s hand. The AFL player decided to try to give her the banana instead.
"Life happens. We have lots of love for each other but sometimes it’s just not enough," she wrote in the caption of the video, which was posted to Instagram.
The New York Post noted that the divorce came nearly two weeks after Rodionova announced the launch of her OnlyFans account.
"Good news for everyone who was asking. My OnlyFans account was confirmed, so here we go. Let’s do this," she said in a previous Instagram Post.
A day after the divorce announcement, she wrote in her Instagram Stories that now would be a good time to start with some risqué posts from her trip to the Maldives.
"With all these articles going around… this seems like a good time to start posting all those bikini photos from the Maldives… on my OnlyFans account obviously."
Rodionova played the Australian Open this year but only made it to the qualifying round on the singles side. She did not participate in the doubles side.
As a singles competitor, she has 552 wins. She became the oldest woman to make her WTA top 100 debut at the age of 34 last year. She has one career doubles title and was ranked as high as No. 41 in competition.
Vickery played for Richmond and Hawthorn from 2009 to 2017. He finished with 160 goals in 125 career matches.
The Miami Heat’s rollercoaster saga with All-Star Jimmy Butler continues, as they are reportedly suspending him two games for missing a team flight for a road trip, per ESPN.
The Heat were heading to Milwaukee on Wednesday for their nationally televised game against the Bucks on Thursday night, but Butler was not on the flight.
ESPN adds that Butler intended on making his way to Milwaukee another way, but the Heat are expected to suspend him for the road trip, which includes a Saturday game against the Brooklyn Nets as well.
This is the second in-house suspension for Butler this season, which only adds to the turmoil that was highlighted by him requesting a trade a few weeks ago.
Butler also served a seven-game suspension for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team," though he remains a member of the Heat.
Butler continues to play, but he noted over the weekend that the "whole truth will come out" after making his trade request.
"Sooner or later, the whole truth will come out, but until then, we'll continue to let people talk. And if I'm here, I will get out there to play," Butler told the media after playing in the team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets at home.
Bulter also seemed to be frustrated with the reports that said his relationship with Miami players and the front office were tense.
"I expect for people to talk," Butler said. "Half the reason is because don't nobody ever know what I'm really doing, so you just make up stuff, which is fine. And, honestly, I really don't pay any attention to it. But I've got people telling me, ‘Oh they said this. They said that.' So, I guess it's really all good. I don't have to clear anything up.
"So more power to you. Keep talking, and we'll see where we end up."
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old sparked some social media controversy as he was spotted wearing Phoenix Suns-themed sneakers on Tuesday night, with many believing it was done purposefully as his desired trade destination.
It also came just hours after the Suns acquired three future first-round picks from the Utah Jazz in exchange for another first-round pick.
Phoenix could use another star, as the Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-led roster is only 21-21 this season.
Heat president Pat Riley said back in December, "We are not trading Jimmy Butler." However, the team’s stance changed after that seven-game suspension.
The Heat said they would "listen to offers" on Butler after announcing his suspension.
Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown and the rest of his teammates will be heading into the 2025 season without two coordinators who helped turn them into a league powerhouse.
Ben Johnson is the new head coach of the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, while Aaron Glenn became head coach of the team that drafted him in 1994, the New York Jets.
St. Brown was closer to Johnson, the innovative play-caller who helped scheme a Lions offense that led the NFL in points per game in 2024.
When talking about Johnson’s departure for the Bears on his "St. Brown Podcast" with older brother Equanimeous, St. Brown said he spoke with his former coordinator after he signed his deal to head to the Windy City.
And the message was pretty clear.
"I told him, I said, ‘Two times a year, Ben, we’re going to f--- you up,’" St. Brown told his brother while laughing.
Johnson, though, had a similar response for his former pupil.
"I’m going to f--- you up," St. Brown recalls Johnson replying.
The relationship is clearly one of mutual respect, and competitive banter is something that usually follows there.
"OK, we’ll see," St. Brown fired back at Johnson. "I told him I know all the plays he likes to run. I know all his tendencies, and we were going back and forth messing around."
Though the jabs were playful, St. Brown and Johnson will have to turn their friendship to the side twice a year as long as Johnson is the head coach of the Bears.
With the conference championship games being played this weekend to determine who plays in the Super Bowl, the Lions were expected to be back where they were in January 2024, when they had a second-half collapse against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game.
However, the Lions were eliminated in a 45-31 loss at Ford Field to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round, and Johnson was heading to Chicago days later.
Johnson has the Bears’ 2024 No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams, to mold alongside some solid offensive weapons like D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen. St. Brown has also shown respect to Williams in the past, especially given their USC connection, but the Lions took down the Bears twice this season.
The Philadelphia Eagles attempted to make money by selling cartons of snow for $50 each to their fans, and it worked.
The team is officially sold out of pints of memorabilia snow at Lincoln Financial Field during the playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday. The Eagles won the game 28-22 in snowy conditions to advance to the NFC Championship game, so the team memorialized the snow by collecting it, putting it into ice-cream style pints and selling it for the $50 price tag.
The game had a recorded attendance of 69,879. Many of those fans could have simply taken the snow at the stadium with them for free.
The conditions of the game are believed to have played a role in the result and have benefited the Eagles, as Rams players committed multiple drops, fumbles and incomplete passes that appeared to be impacted by the snow.
The team claims their snow is the first-ever authenticated snow collectible tied to an NFL playoff win and "sets a new standard in the world of sports."
"The Philadelphia Eagles’ divisional-round victory over the Los Angeles Rams on January 19, 2025, will forever be remembered for being a snow covered victory!" the product description on the team's website read.
"To commemorate this incredible achievement, authenticated snow was collected directly from the end zone at Lincoln Financial Field immediately after the game. This isn’t your typical piece of memorabilia—it’s a tangible, frozen snapshot of the grit, passion, and determination that defined the iconic game. By preserving and authenticating the very snow that surrounded this monumental game, fans are offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with the playoff experience like never before."
While the Eagles organization has monetized snow, the fans have a reputation for weaponizing it.
Former Dallas Cowboys star linebacker DeMarcus Ware told Fox News Digital that Eagles fans once hurled snowballs stuffed with batteries at his mother during a game his rookie year in 2005.
"My rookie season when my mom was in the stands, I told her not to wear my jersey, and she was in the front row, and we're up there in Philly. They were putting batteries in snowballs and throwing them, and one of them hit my mom," Ware said. "I turned around at the time, and I didn't care about football anymore. I wanted to go get the guy who was in the stands. But I didn't."
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse says Eagles fans hurled snowballs at him after Sunday's game after he made comments about "hating" the fans to reporters in the week leading up to the game.
"After the game, I was walking into the locker room, and they're throwing snowballs," Verse told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In 1968, when a man dressed as Santa Claus walked out onto the field. He was booed relentlessly by fans who were upset about a disappointing season and hurled snowballs at him as well.
Eagles fans have garnered negative national attention in recent weeks after one of their own, New Jersey man Ryan Caldwell, was seen in a viral video verbally berating a woman with vulgur slurs during the team's first playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 12.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released dashcam footage showing a traffic stop and the eventual arrest of four men who are suspects in the December burglary of an Ohio home owned by Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow.
The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback was playing against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, when the home was burglarized. Olivia Ponton, a model and social media influencer who was identified as Burrow’s employee in an incident report, was at the home at the time of the incident. But no one was injured during the break-in.
Burrow's house was rifled through, according to a report from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
The four suspects, described as Chilean nationals, were arrested after "an ongoing investigation involving burglaries of multimillion-dollar homes in multiple states," according to WLWT-TV, citing court documents.
Sergio Cabello, Bastian Morales, Jordan Sanchez and Alexander Chavez were arrested in Clark County after being pulled over by the Ohio State Highway Patrol Jan. 10, documents showed.
"All four males were identified as being illegally in the country or overstaying their permissions," the arrest report said. All the men allegedly provided fake IDs.
The video shows investigators searching through several bags located in the rear of an SUV.
Court documents noted that authorities found "an old LSU shirt and Bengals hat, believed to be stolen from the December 9, 2024 burglary in Hamilton County, Ohio." Burrow played college football at LSU and lives in Hamilton County.
At one point during the traffic stop, the men told police they were traveling to Florida. A trooper then informed the group they were traveling in the wrong direction. The video later shows the trooper instructing the driver to step out of the vehicle and asking him to sit in the front of a police cruiser. Once the male was in the car, the trooper told him he wanted him to exit the SUV because he detected the smell of marijuana.
A search of the vehicle the suspects were traveling in also found "two Husky automatic center punch tools wrapped in a cloth towel." During the video, an investigator described the tools as "window punchers." The tools are believed to have been used by the South American Theft Group, according to authorities.
The four suspects face charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, participation in a criminal gang, possessing criminal tools and obstructing official business.
Ponton called her mother, Diane Ponton, and a 911 call was made as the break-in was happening, deputies reported.
"Someone is trying to break into the house right now," Diane Ponton was heard saying on the recorded 911 call. "My daughter is there. This is Joe Burrow's house. She is staying there. He's at the football game. She's wondering what she should do, if she should be hiding or if she should go outside."
Burrow broke his silence a few days after the break-in, saying it left him feeling "violated."
"So, obviously, everybody has heard what has happened. I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one. And way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share, so that's all I got to say about that," Burrow told reporters in December.
"We live a public life, and one of my least favorite parts of that is the lack of privacy. And that has been difficult for me to deal with my entire career. Still learning. But I understand it's the life that we choose. Doesn't make it any easier to deal with."
The NFL released a memo earlier this year urging players to be on high alert after homes owned by Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized.
In November, the NBA sent a memo to team officials after Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley were victims of home invasions.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
A new lawsuit in New York alleges Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, of ignoring the sexual abuse of a minor that occurred both at their home and a church.
The New York Yankees legend is the pastor of Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle, roughly 15 miles from where he played.
However, "Jane Doe" says she was sexually abused by an older girl, known as "MG," during a summer internship in 2018. MG was a minor at the time of the alleged incidents.
The internship took place at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, which was affiliated with Rivera's church.
The suit says that the victim's mother informed Clara of the abuse and that Clara promised to investigate the matter. But they allegedly covered it up.
"Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated Jane Doe to remain silent about her abuse by MG to avoid causing trouble for Refuge of Hope and the Ignite Life Summer Internship," the suit reads.
The suit also alleges that MG abused the victim at the Rivera residence that summer during a barbecue.
"At all times relevant, [the Riveras] knew or should have known that MG was a risk to sexually abuse children… before and during the time of the barbecue," the suit reads.
"In order to avoid the potential scandal of child sexual abuse in its programs and otherwise protect [themselves] above all else, the Riveras… assured [Doe's mother] that [Doe] was safe and in no danger at Ignite Life Center, despite actual or constructive knowledge that Doe remained vulnerable to additional acts of sexual abuse by MG."
Several months later, in January 2019, Rivera became the first, and still only, player to be unanimously elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Later that year, President Donald Trump, during his first presidency, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rivera, widely known as the greatest closer in the history of baseball, is the sport's all-time saves leader with 652. His 2.21 ERA is also the lowest by any pitcher with at least 500 innings since the live-ball era began in 1920.
COOPERSTOWN– A leadoff hitter, Ichiro Suzuki, an ace starting pitcher, CC Sabathia, and a lockdown closer, Billy Wagner, were revealed as the three members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025.Continue reading …
BUCKEYES ON TOP – For the first time in a decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes are champions. Ohio State took down Notre Dame, 34-23, to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Continue reading …
‘A PERFECT STORM’ – ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit revealed his wife's private cancer diagnosis, along with his son's medical condition, prompted his visibly emotional reaction after seeing his alma mater — Ohio State Buckeyes — win the national championship. Continue reading …
GEAR UP – Whether you're a die-hard supporter of one of the four teams remaining in the playoffs or rooting for an underdog to make it to the Super Bowl, here is a guide to landing some merch. Continue reading …
BIPARTISAN? – Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Fox News Digital that multiple senators from across the aisle have expressed support for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which was previously passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. Continue reading …
SPEAKING OUT – Wyoming women's volleyball player Macey Boggs testified at a state senate hearing about her team forfeiting matches against San Jose State last year amid controversy related to transgender athlete Blaire Fleming. Continue reading …
UNDER SCRUTINY – Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker faced some ridicule after she chanted 'E-L-G-S-E-S' during her attempt to show support for the city's NFL team. Continue reading …
FOR A GOOD CAUSE – Amid scrutiny over his dropped pass during a two-point attempt in the Baltimore Ravens divisional playoff loss, Buffalo Bills fans are showing support to a charity close to Mark Andrews' heart. Continue reading …
‘THE BEST COACH’ – Danny Hurley's latest heated exchange with an official was caught on camera, with the UConn coach reminding the referee of just how great of a coach he is.Continue reading …
SPECIAL MESSAGE – ESPN aired a message from President Trump during halftime of the college football national championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame, which sparked some strong reactions across social media. Continue reading …
FROM FOX SPORTS – Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels asked Tom Brady to expound on his infamous "LFG" acronym after being awarded the "LFG Player of the Game." Continue reading …
FROM OUTKICK – As the NFL's hiring carousel continues to go round and round, the Jacksonville Jaguars made headlines by jettisoning Trent Baalke from his general manager post. Continue reading …
WATCH NOW – Patrick Mahomes said "a lot of other plays decided the outcome" after the Chiefs' controversial win over the Texans. Colin Cowherd and Tom Brady discuss whether officiating in the NFL is an issue. Watch here …
For Ohio State Buckeyes standout linebacker Jack Sawyer, the last 48 hours have been quite a "whirlwind" if you ask him.
On Monday night, he helped the Buckeyes cap a resilient College Football Playoff run with a national championship victory over Notre Dame. And you can expect what happened when the team returned to Columbus, Ohio.
"It’s been a lot of fun," Sawyer told Fox News Digital before his celebratory "shift" at Raising Cane’s in Columbus alongside his star quarterback teammate Will Howard. "Obviously, it’s been a whirlwind after the game when we first got back to Columbus. Now, it’s maybe even more of a whirlwind, but we’ve had a lot of fun with it and so happy we were able to get the job done for Coach Day and the city of Columbus."
Sawyer pulled up to Raising Cane’s early Wednesday morning with "already 100 people outside," all of whom were waiting to praise the two Buckeyes for their contributions to a championship season.
But while the Buckeyes’ celebrations continue, the end of the season means both Sawyer and Howard are set to become NFL Draft prospects, as they aim for their transition to pro football.
Sawyer’s draft stock skyrocketed as he had a tremendous CFP run, including the strip-sack, scoop-and-score against his former Ohio State roommate, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, to seal the Buckeyes’ victory in the Cotton Bowl to cement a spot in the national title game.
While his motor on the field, and work ethic off it, are qualities that teams will be looking at during the scouting process, Sawyer knows that his faith will continue to play a large role in what happens next.
"It’s everything to us," Sawyer said about his faith, bringing Howard into the fold as well. "It’s a number in our lives when you put God first like that and truly seek to grow with him and follow his plan. He’s going to open so many doors for you that you would never think you could achieve otherwise.
"For me and Will, and really everyone on the team, our faith’s been the biggest thing keeping us up and keeping us moving forward after a couple tough losses in the season."
One of those losses was a massive upset by the Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes’ bitter rival whom Sawyer naturally refers to as the "Team Up North," on Nov. 30. It was a loss in Columbus that led to a brawl on the field between the two teams, where Sawyer was seen ripping a Michigan flag away from midfield after the Wolverines wanted to celebrate their win even more.
At the time, it was a disaster for head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. They weren’t able to get a shot at the Big Ten title, and many questioned if they had what it took to make that CFP run.
But Ohio State showed what resiliency looks like in the face of adversity, especially with a load of naysayers believing the Buckeyes once again wouldn’t be able to take their talented team to the title game.
"We knew we had to get to work and fix the things we needed to fix and attack it as hard as we could," he said. "That’s exactly what we did. No one saw the work we were putting in behind the scenes."
For Sawyer personally, he went into his next game after losing to Michigan and racked up 1.5 sacks with two passes defended and five total tackles in the rout against Tennessee in the first round of the CFP. Then, he had two sacks and three passes defended in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, followed by his 83-yard return for a touchdown against the Longhorns.
"I think it’s just taught me a lot about life," Sawyer said of this title run. "It’s taught me about how everything is not always going to go your way, but if you keep trusting in God and fight and keep getting up every day swinging, eventually you’re going to come out the other end.
"I think that is something I’m going to take with me to the next level, and it’s something I hope teams see in me. No matter what, I’m going to give it my all, keep fighting and continue to grow every day."
Again, this is time for celebration after a long, hard season for Sawyer, his teammates and his coaches. But the NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner, and pretty soon, Sawyer will likely be hearing his name called in April when the NFL Draft kicks off.
Whichever team writes his name on their card, he knows he’ll be giving his all to make an impact like he has in Columbus. But he won’t stress any step moving forward, as his faith will remain a constant as he looks ahead to his next major life moment.
"Anything’s possible with God, and I’m going to keep trusting his plan," Sawyer concluded. "Like I said, he blessed us far more than we could ever thank him enough for."
National outrage over questionable penalties called during the Kansas City Chiefs' playoff game against the Houston Texans made its way to Travis Kelce's podcast Wednesday, but he stayed on the sidelines of the debate.
After NFL referees called two roughing the passer penalties after hits on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during Saturday's divisional round game, Texans players and head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested officials sided with Kansas City. Many fans expressed grievances about the questionable penalties on social media.
Kelce and his brother Jason read some of the outraged tweets during Wendesday's episode of their podcast, "New Heights," but Travis refused to speak about the issue.
"I'd like to plead the Fifth," the tight end said, jokingly referring to his constitutional right to remain silent.
"I don't feel that way,'' Mahomes answered. "At the end of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they possibly can. And all you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results. ... I think that's what we preach here in Kansas City.
"You get new referees every year, you get new circumstances and you never can really tell because every play's different. And that's what makes the NFL so special. I feel like I've just continued to play the game, and I just try to win. And whatever happens kind of happens.''
Mahomes defended the referees Tuesday during a radio interview on 96.5 The Fan.
"I‘ve kind of learned that no matter what happens during the game, something’s going to come out about it if you win and you continue to win. So, I don’t really pay attention to it," Mahomes said.
"I mean, obviously, I’ve been on both sides of it as far as how I felt the calls were made, but, at the end of the day, man, those guys are doing their best to make the best calls and keep it to where the players are making the plays in the game.
"And that’s what decides the outcome. And obviously there was a call here or there that people didn’t agree with, but, at the same time, I think there was a lot of other plays that really decided the outcome of that football game."
Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game, saying one of the controversial calls was a result of "forcible contact to the face mask area," which warranted a flag. He said there was forcible contact to Mahomes’ "hairline" on another unnecessary roughness call.
But with temperatures remaining in the 30s on Wednesday, many main highways in the metro areas were closed by authorities and surface roads throughout town were still coated in ice.
Schools and businesses throughout the area remained closed on Wednesday, along with Louis Armstrong International Airport canceling all commercial departures due to the weather. With those factors taken into consideration, the NBA postponed the game, with no date currently set for the game to be made up.
Schools and businesses throughout the area remained closed on Wednesday.
The Bucks’ next game is against the Miami Heat back in Milwaukee on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Following that game against the Heat, the Bucks go on a West Coast road trip, beginning on Saturday, and don’t have another home game until Feb. 2.
The Bucks are scheduled to next play the Pelicans toward the end of the regular season at home on April 9.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, are scheduled to play on both Friday and Saturday, making it difficult for the NBA to schedule the postponed game soon.
The Pelicans have struggled this season as they are 12-32, the second-worst team in the Western Conference.
The Bucks have enjoyed much more success than the Pelicans, and are 24-17, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford played hurt in the team’s 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday.
Stafford’s wife, Kelly, revealed the star quarterback had been playing through an injury since Week 15.
"It was against San Fran. We all know how tough Matthew is, and people don’t realize just how tough he is because he doesn’t really tell anyone what’s going on.
"He got hit in San Fran … (and) that night came home and was like, ‘Yeah I think I cracked my ribs,’" Kelly said during a recent episode of "The Morning After with Kelly Stafford and Hank."
"And he did. He cracked four ribs but just didn’t really let anyone in to know really much about it. Continued his everyday process like nothing was wrong, would come home and be miserable."
Despite the four cracked ribs and less than ideal weather conditions, Stafford completed nearly 60% of his passes while throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns.
Kelly said her brother, Chad, hugged Matthew after the loss, and the quarterback wheezed and bent over in pain due to his cracked ribs.
Stafford started 16 games this season for the Rams, sitting out Week 18 when head coach Sean McVay decided to rest the team’s starters with a playoff spot clinched.
The Rams were 10-6 in his starts, and Stafford completed nearly 66% of his passes for 3,762 yards, while throwing 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Stafford, 36, has two more years remaining on his contract with the Rams.
Stafford has been with the Rams for four seasons after spending the first 12 seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions.
Kelly said Matthew will take time to figure out whether he wants to retire or play another season.
For now, the Rams quarterback will enjoy the time off to let his ribs heal.
Former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is reportedly heading to the New York Jets, a team he played for during his NFL career, to become their next head coach.
It’s a move that many Jets legends, including "Broadway Joe" himself, loves to see.
"I’m hoping all [Jets] fans are as thrilled as my family and I are that Aaron Glenn is our new Head Coach," Jets legendary quarterback Joe Namath posted on X. "I wish the season would start next week."
NFL.com’s Judy Battista also reported that Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, who led Glenn with the Jets and Dallas Cowboys as a player, was fired up to see his former pupil get his due as head coach.
"He’s not afraid to be contentious," Parcells told Battista. "He’s just feisty. Not rude or impolite. He’s just willing to get his point across."
DJ Reed, who spent the past three seasons with the Jets and is a free agent this offseason, also sent out a post on X.
Glenn’s departure from Detroit marks the second coordinator under Dan Campbell that found their own head coaching gig elsewhere. While Glenn went to another conference, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson landed with the Chicago Bears, a rival of the Lions in the NFC North.
Glenn’s return to the Jets heated up on Tuesday when he met with team brass. The initial thought was they weren’t going to let him leave the building, as well as GM candidate Lance Newark of the Washington Commanders, to make sure they got the candidates they wanted.
While that didn’t come to fruition, the belief that Glenn wanted the Jets job swirled around social media, and it landed on Wednesday.
Glenn also beat out more than a dozen other coaches in the Jets’ extensive search, including Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, Ron Rivera and Rex Ryan.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Glenn was drafted 12th overall by the Jets in the 1994 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons with the franchise before being acquired by the Houston Texans in the 2002 expansion draft.
Glenn takes over a Jets franchise desperately searching for the right man to lead a team back to the playoffs, where they haven’t been since 2010 – the longest drought in football.
One of the big questions for Glenn and whoever ownership brings in as the new GM is whether they want Aaron Rodgers to return to Gang Green in 2025. Of course, Rodgers has to decide if he wishes to play his 21st season in the league.
Either way, Glenn is getting signs of approval from valued members of the franchise outside ownership, which is always a good start.
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes answered questions about tight end Travis Kelce potentially retiring after this season during an interview on 96.5 The Fan on Tuesday.
Mahomes claimed he hasn't had any discussions whether the tight end plans to retire, but acknowledged that if he does, then Mahomes wants the team to send him out on a high note.
"I have no idea. He hasn’t said anything to me if he’s thinking that," Mahomes said, later adding, "If it is his last game, let’s go out there and get him a win. If it’s not his last game, let’s go out and get him a win anyway."
Mahomes also brought up the fact that Kelce is currently under contract through the end of next season, but that the tight end also has a lifestyle that he may enjoy in retirement.
"I know he signed a two-year extension before the season. It seems like he still loves football. But he also has a great life, as well," Mahomes said.
Kelce signed a $34.25 million contract back in April, after some speculation that the 2023 season would be his last.
Kelce has been Mahomes' favorite target since the quarterback took over as the full-time starter in 2018. The duo has won three Super Bowls together, and is currently on a mission to win a fourth and become the first team in NFL history to win three in a row.
Mahomes and Kelce have also helped make the Chiefs one of the most popular franchises in all of sports in recent years, as Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift has grown the team's fan base by large margins among women.
"Either way, I just appreciate every time I step onto the field with that guy knowing that he’s a true legend of not only the Chiefs, but of the NFL," Mahomes said.
Kelce himself opened up on the possibility of retiring after this season during an interview on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" on Jan. 15.
"I love everything that I'm doing in this building, but at the end of the day I'm not having that extreme success on the field as I have individually," Kelce said.
"I'll re-evaluate it like I always do, and I'll probably tell myself how much I love this thing, and I'll come back next year. I still love coming into the building every day. Does it get hard? Yeah, but I'm not doing it for the stats. I'm doing it for the greatness, the legacy that we've created here in Kansas City," he added "I can't fathom what it would feel like just being able to say I'm satisfied because I'm still hungry to go and get something right now."
After the Chiefs' most recent playoff victory against the Houston Texans last Saturday, Kelce sent a cryptic message on social media that fueled further speculation that the end of his career is near.
"Playoff football is the most meaningful football that you'll ever play in your life," he said in a video posted to the Chiefs’ Instagram account. "I cherish every single play, man. I really do. When you're in it, you're always trying to strive for greatness.
"Being greater than what you are. You know, obviously there's a historic run and something that we can achieve that no other team has ever achieved. You know, that fuels you."
At 35 years old, Kelce finished the 2024 regular season with 97 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games, and didn't miss a single game due to injury.
Kelce has also said he has support from Swift to keep playing if he wants to.
The Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday for the right to advance to the Super Bowl.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller was among the 1,500 defendants charged in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capital pardoned by President Donald Trump on Monday.
"It didn’t feel real," Keller told The Washington Post in his first interview since being arrested.
"And waking up this morning, I was like, ‘My gosh. Wow, this is over. I don’t have to check in with my probation officer anymore."
Keller was one of approximately 1,500 defendants pardoned after Trump signed an executive order granting clemency to those who stormed the Capitol. He pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a felony charge and was sentenced to six months house arrest and three years of probation.
"I really regret the actions I took that day. I love this country," Keller said in the interview published Tuesday. "I’m just so grateful that I have the opportunity now to move forward."
Keller acknowledged in court records that he tried to obstruct Congress’ certification of former President Biden’s Electoral College victory and that he brushed away officers who tried to remove him from the Capitol Rotunda. He also admitted to yelling profane comments about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Keller, a three-time Olympic swimmer, also admitted to tossing his U.S. Olympic team jacket that he wore that day and destroying his phone.
He told The Washington Post that he struggled under "the weight of the justice system," but he accepted the consequences of his decisions. While never expecting a pardon, Keller expressed his appreciation for Trump’s intervention.
"I’m still trying to comprehend it. I feel like something has been restored to me," he told the outlet. "You know, I’m not angry. I’m not a victim. I feel blessed to have this opportunity of life again. I’ve learned a lot of lessons. And I’m going to take these lessons forward."
Keller, 42, competed in three Games, winning five medals. He won his second gold in the men’s 4x200 meter freestyle relay alongside Michael Phelps in the 2008 Beijing Games.
With the season ending over two weeks ago, the team announced Wednesday it has parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke.
"Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately," owner Shad Khan wrote in a statement.
"Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. … I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike."
After winning the AFC South in 2022, it's been a tough couple of seasons for the organization. The Jags choked what would have been a second-straight division win in 2023. This season, in Trevor Lawrence's first year of one of the most lucrative contract extensions of all time, he took a step backward, and the team finished 4-13.
Baalke joined the Jags in 2020 as their director of player personnel but was quickly promoted to general manager the following year. His first selection in the draft was Lawrence.
Jacksonville went 25-43 in his tenure.
The separation comes after the Titans and Raiders hired new general managers.
Reports say that, after the Jags fired Doug Pederson, potential head coaching candidates did not want to work under Baalke. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson chose the Bears, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn went with the Jets and Bucs OC Liam Coen decided to return to Tampa Bay instead of going to Jacksonville.
Jacksonville holds the fifth selection in the NFL Draft.
The Chiefs are looking to get into their fifth Super Bowl since the turn of the decade, but they have to get through the Buffalo Bills first. But history is on Kansas City's side entering Sunday's AFC Championship Game: They are 4-0 against Buffalo in the playoffs in that span.
And if there's one person who knows what the Chiefs are capable of, it's Kayla Nicole, the ex-girlfriend of star tight end Travis Kelce.
On the "I Am Athlete Daily" podcast, host Brandon Marshall admitted he didn't want to get "messy" by bringing up the Chiefs with Nicole, but the two shared some analysis.
"I think there is nothing like that environment. That’s the loudest stadium in the league," she said. "The energy is crazy. I think [quarterback] Patrick [Mahomes], too, is just a seasoned vet at this point. There is no panic, there is no sudden decisions. This is a well-thought-out offense. [Mahomes] studies the game like nobody else. Oh my God, yeah, that’s all he does. He’s a student of the game.
"Then you got [Chiefs coach] Andy Reid, and I think his playbook is crazy. That’s a known fact about him. Their offense is OD. They have guys they can throw the ball to that’s not going to drop it in the end zone."
"Travis Kelce, that’s a tight end that’s not going to do it. They got the threats. So as much as I would love to see somebody else in the Super Bowl, just to see something new, it’s not going to happen."
But despite the positive words, she made her rooting interest clear.
"As much as I’d love to see [Bills quarterback] Josh [Allen] pull it off, I don’t know if that’s going to happen. … [It’s] something new. I’m bored," she quipped.
Nicole and Kelce dated for five years and even attended Mahomes' wedding together. Kelce has since been dating Taylor Swift.
