Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was adamant Monday night that he had "nothing to apologize for" when asked about the backlash toward his commencement speech in the offseason.
Butker’s faith-based speech at Benedictine College urged female graduates to embrace being a "homemaker" and criticized the LGBTQ community and President Biden for his stance on abortion. He added, "[T]hings like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder."
The uproar subsided as the season got underway, and he was able to step up in the AFC Championship to nail the go-ahead field goal that put the Chiefs into Super Bowl LIX.
He was asked about the speech in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX’s opening night.
"It opened up a lot of good conversations and a lot of guys had different opinions about it but we all love each other in that locker room, and we all know who we are, and I think all the guys understood where I was coming from," he said, via Chat Sports. "I know they respect me and respect what I have to say.
Butker was also involved in an odd moment when he was asked during the festivities, "What do you think about gays?" The Associated Press reported that an NFL official waved off the question, and Butker went about answering other people.
"I understand that this is a great evening, and we’re here to focus on the game," Butker said. "Maybe if I saw him without a camera we’d have a great conversation."
Butker will be just as important in Super Bowl LIX as he was last year against the San Francisco 49ers.
He had four field goals in the game, including a 57-yarder which set a Super Bowl record and the game-tying kick to send the game to overtime.
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce had to juke around a pretty important question regarding his love life during Super Bowl LIX’s opening night on Monday in New Orleans.
Kelce will have a whole host of fans in his corner at the Caesars Superdome come the weekend, including his girlfriend Taylor Swift. The pop star had been following him and the Chiefs throughout the playoffs and will likely be in the Big Easy as her "Eras Tour" has come to a close.
The tight end was asked whether he planned on giving anyone a special ring on Sunday.
"A Super Bowl ring?" he asked coyly. "Next question."
It is pretty clear the two have been hot and heavy for the last year and a half. Swift has been at a handful of Chiefs games since they started dating in 2023, and in turn, Kelce had been at some "Eras Tour" events during the summer – even appearing in one of her skits.
Love is definitely in the air, and it was felt all the way in Los Angeles on Sunday night when Swift showed up to the Grammy Awards.
Swift was in a red dress and showed her support for Kelce with a red "T" hanging from the bottom of it.
It is probably unlikely that Kelce would fulfill the "You Belong With Me" music video fantasy of the football-playing jock showing up to a wedding-like prom with the nerdy schoolgirl, but some fans are able to put their money where their mouths are.
"At FanDuel Canada we are constantly looking for new ways to engage our customers with new and unique markets," the FanDuel Canada Trading Team said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The Super Bowl has a great history of these types of bets and we’re excited to be able to link pop culture and sport through our Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift offerings."
The odds opened up at +140 for "yes" (a $100 bet wins $190), while "no" began at -170 (must bet $170 to win $100).
Just note, though, that the fine print states that the proposal must take place on the field after the game.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
For Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, the dream has yet to be realized.
Barkley appeared at the Caesars Superdome ahead of Super Bowl LIX on Monday night. He and his teammates met with members of the media for opening night with the game against the Kansas City Chiefs less than a week away.
The star player told FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager he didn’t envision the fanfare that occurs before the game but "definitely envisions playing in this game.
"That’s why me and my family made the decision to come to Philadelphia, to have an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. And here we are," he said.
Barkley joined the Eagles in the offseason after the New York Giants allowed him to test the free-agent waters. It proved to be the move of the offseason as he nearly broke Eric Dickerson’s rushing record during the regular season, tallying up 2,005 yards on 345 carries. He scored 13 touchdowns on the ground as well.
"It’s simple — it took everyone. For us to do what we wanna do, it’ll take everyone again," he said.
Barkley said he was just "thankful" to be put in a position to succeed. But he knows the job is far from finished. Getting to the Super Bowl wasn’t the goal — winning it was.
"It'll be amazing, something I've dreamed about since I was a little kid," he said what he thinks he’ll feel when he talks out of the tunnel at the game. "To actually be here and finally have it come to light will be amazing. But the dream wasn't just getting there.
"The dream was to win the Super Bowl, and I think we’re capable of doing it."
The Philadelphia Eagles’ success in short-yard situations has yet to be duplicated.
The so-called "tush push" took the NFL by storm a few years ago. Quarterback Jalen Hurts lines up under center, and as he snaps the ball, he’s pushed across the line to gain or the goal line for a new set of downs or a touchdown.
It was the success of the play that helped them extend drives and land the Eagles in the Super Bowl two years ago. Philadelphia is back in the Super Bowl, and the "tush push" is firmly on the mind of NFL fans ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
But Hurts admitted he doesn’t fall into the hoopla around the play and keeps the name of it "very standard."
"That’s what you call it. I call it the quarterback sneak," Hurts said. "I keep it very standard."
"Don’t punish a team that strategically does it well," Vincent said during an appearance on "Pro Football Talk Live" at the time.
Whether you call it the "tush push" or the "brotherly shove," it seems the play will be in the spotlight once again.
The Washington Commanders failed to stop it multiple times and their consistent offsides in the NFC Championship nearly caused the refs to award Philadelphia a score.
It will be up to the Kansas City Chiefs to load up its front in an attempt to stop it this time.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts turned heads on Monday as he and the rest of the team arrived in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hurts wore a black sweatshirt with a photo of the cleats that got him in trouble with the NFL earlier this season. The picture had black bars over the controversial footwear.
The star player was fined $5,628 by the NFL for mismatched cleats that were not "constitutional team colors," The Associated Press reported in December. Hurts wore Jordan Brand dark green and Kelly green cleats for the Eagles’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Jordan Brand announced at the time it would pay the fine.
"We’re paying the fine. You can’t ban greatness," the company wrote.
Hurts said at the time he was set to wear Jordan Columbia 11s, but the shoes didn’t arrive in time. He said he had the mismatched cleats with him for a photoshoot and added that he liked the look enough to play his next game.
Hurts also wore mismatched cleats on Oct. 28 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hurts is one of 19 quarterbacks who have been able to get back to the Super Bowl after losing his first start. With a win, he would join Len Dawson, Bob Griese and John Elway as quarterbacks who won the Super Bowl after losing their debut.
Hurts and the Eagles will play the Chiefs in New Orleans on Sunday. Fans can tune into FOX to watch the game or stream it live on Tubi.
Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp revealed in a social media post on Monday the team made him available for trade as the official start of the 2025 offseason neared.
Kupp has been on the team since the start of his NFL career and was a major part in the 2021 Super Bowl run in which the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, it appears his time in Los Angeles is coming to an end.
"I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships. I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.," he wrote.
"Still, if there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember."
Kupp said he took pride in playing in Los Angeles and thanked fans for helping him assimilate into the community.
"I have taken so much pride in playing alongside my teammates for the LA community, so thank you for embracing my family and making this such a special place for us," he wrote.
"2024 began with one of the best training camps of my career. Preparations start now for 2025. Highly motivated, as healthy as ever, and looking forward to playing elite football for years to come. Love you guys.. But coming for it all."
Kupp was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and was also the Offensive Player of the Year. He led the league that season with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He suffered an injury in 2022, which cost him a lot of the season. He bounced back in 2023 with 59 catches for 737 yards and five touchdowns. He had 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
Kupp was a third-round pick of the Rams in 2017 out of Eastern Washington.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attempted to dismantle any notion of favoritism from officials toward the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday during his pre-Super Bowl LIX press conference.
Goodell was asked about the theory of NFL officiating, which stems from the insinuation that the Chiefs are on the receiving end of favorable calls during games. It came to light during the team’s playoff wins over the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills.
"This sort of reminds me a little bit of ‘the script,’ right? That I write a script and I have a script for the entire seasons," he said. "I think a lot of those theories are things that happen in social media, and they get a new life. … Nobody wants it to be their theory.
"I understand it. I think it reflects a lot of the fans’ passion. I think it’s also a reminder for us on how important officiating is. I think the men and women officiating the NFL are outstanding. They have the highest possible standards. That’s a ridiculous theory for anyone who might take it seriously, but at the end of the day, it’s something we always have to continue to work on, how we make our officiating better at all times."
The two calls in their win over the Texans ignited a firestorm. The penalties were called after hits on quarterback Patrick Mahomes. A few questionable calls in the win over the Bills also raised eyebrows, too.
FOX NFL analyst Rob Gronkowski told Fox News Digital he noticed officials were a bit more "lenient" toward the Chiefs.
Regardless, Goodell defended officials and highlighted the competition.
"If you look at the Chiefs’ record, which I think is an amazing thing," he said. "People talk about the competitiveness in our league, the Chiefs with their 15 wins, 11 of those 15 games were within one score. I think that talks about the competitiveness of our game and the importance of how we officiate but also the competitiveness of how we play it."
Josh Harris, the controlling owner of the Washington Commanders, said Monday he has no plans to change the team’s nickname and that it has been catching on with fans.
The previous administration’s decision to change the team's nickname caused a ton of blowback from fans. Daniel Snyder renamed the organization the Washington Football Team from the Washington Redskins amid a summer of racial tension in the U.S. in 2020. Then the team was renamed the Commanders from there.
"I think it’s now being embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff, so, we’re going with that," Harris said. "Now, in this building, the name Commanders means something. It’s about players who love football, are great at football, hit hard, mentally tough, great teammates. It’s really meaningful that that name is growing in meaning."
Bringing the Redskins nickname and logo back has been a topic broached a few times since Harris took over.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said in November "good faith negotiations" about honoring the team’s history, including the Blackfeet chief logo that the organization used for decades, helped lawmakers and the organization come to a deal on the RFK Stadium site in D.C.
"As far as rebranding and bringing (back) our past, which obviously I grew up with and all the Super Bowl championships and our future together, you’re going to see us head back towards honoring our past and bringing it together with our future," Harris said.
Harris said talks are ongoing with Maryland, Virginia and D.C. officials about a new stadium and put 2030 as a "reasonable target" for opening.
"I grew up with a great stadium, and I understand what it’s like to play in a stadium where it’s hard for the visiting team to play," Harris said, referring to RFK Stadium, the team's former home in Washington from 1961-96 before moving to Landover, Maryland. "We need to have a great place where our fans can show up, and, as much as possible, we want that to be an advantage to our team in terms of winning on the field."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said a stadium in D.C. could be a "huge economic driver."
"I think it can be great for our nation," Goodell said. "I remember that as a kid growing up, the power of that. If that’s the best alternative, I think it would be a great thing."
President Donald Trump took a shot at past administrations’ handling of Afghanistan as he welcomed the Florida Panthers to the White House to celebrate their Stanley Cup title.
The Panthers were the first team to visit the White House in Trump’s second term as president.
The president spoke highly of team owner Vincent Viola before he let him say a few words about his team that won the Stanley Cup in an epic seven-game series against the Edmonton Oilers. Trump called Viola a "real champion" who loves the military.
"He’s a real champion in everything he’s ever done. Loves the military," Trump said. "First thing he did, I see him, ‘You gotta do this with the Army. You gotta move them here. You gotta put…’ He’s giving me all the instructions. You love the military.
"You know, we shoulda had you in Afghanistan instead of the characters we had. It would’ve turned out a little bit different."
The U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in hopes of toppling the Taliban and finding Usama bin Laden.
As the U.S. finalized its pull out from Afghanistan, suicide bombers launched an attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate. Thirteen American servicemembers were killed along with 170 Afghan civilians.
In Trump’s first administration, Viola was in the running for U.S. Army secretary before he withdrew from consideration. The billionaire businessman attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and eventually served with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell.
Viola bought the team in 2013 and the team has made the playoff six times, including five straight from the 2019-20 season to the 2023-24 season. The team made the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 only to lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies during a pre-Super Bowl LIX press conference with media members on Monday.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end DEI programs across the federal government in his first few days back at the White House.
Goodell was asked about the league's commitment to diversity at the press conference.
"We got into diversity efforts because we felt like it was the right thing for the National Football League, and we’re going to continue those efforts because we’ve not only convinced ourselves, we’ve proven ourselves, that it does make the NFL better," Goodell said. "We’re not in this because it’s a trend to get in or a trend to get out of it.
"Our efforts are fundamental in trying to attract the best possible talent in the National Football League both on and off the field as I said previously. We see that. We see how it benefits the National Football League, and so I think we’ll continue those efforts."
Goodell said the league’s DEI efforts were a reflection of the foundation of the league.
"I think it’s also clearly a reflection on our fan base and our communities and our players. People talk a lot about the Rooney Rule… for us there’s no requirement to hire a particular individual on the basis of race or gender. It’s simply on the basis of looking at a campus of candidates that reflect our communities and to look at the kind of talent that exists there, and then you make the best decision on who is hired," he added.
"So many of us, including the National Football League at our office, are doing that voluntarily at all levels because it has benefited us. And I hear that from companies on a global basis. That’s a very strong hiring practice we’re adopting also."
With Trump nixing DEI efforts in the government, some companies have rolled back their own initiatives. Walmart, McDonald’s Amazon, Ford and Lowe’s being just some of those companies.
Goodell was asked if there would be any consternation between the league and its corporate sponsors should the companies roll back DEI initiatives.
"We don’t make policies for our sponsors or any of the corporations or networks or partners that we deal with," he said. "We have a lot of conversations about the importance of it to us. We will obviously take everything into consideration… There’s a lot of corporations who have been tied to so-called changing their diversity policies and haven’t really called directly about that. There’s a lot of conversations that go on about that."
Goodell said he didn’t have time to reflect about his role in the NFL’s diversity commitment but believed it made the league better.
"I am proud of it in this sense — I believe our diversity efforts have led to making the NFL better. It’s attracted better talent. We think we’re better when we get different perspectives, people with different backgrounds, whether they're women or men or people of color — we make ourselves stronger, and we make ourselves better when we have that," he said.
"It’s something I think will have a tremendous impact on this league for many, many years. We win on the field with the best talent and the best coaching and I think the same is true off the field."
Major League Baseball announced Monday it fired an umpire for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games.
MLB said umpire Pat Hoberg was also fired for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation. The league opened up a probe into Hoberg last February after a sportsbook brought it to the attention of officials.
The league said that while the probe didn’t uncover evidence he personally bet on baseball or manipulated games, MLB senior vice president Michael Hill recommended on May 24 that Hoberg be fired. Hoberg didn’t umpire last season. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred upheld Hill's decision.
Hobert can apply for reinstatement no earlier than 2026 spring training.
"The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules governing sports betting conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans," Manfred said in a statement. "An extensive investigation revealed no evidence that Mr. Hoberg placed bets on baseball directly or that he or anyone else manipulated games in any way.
"However, his extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages, creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline. Therefore, there is just cause to uphold Mr. Hoberg’s termination for failing to conform to high standards of personal conduct and to maintain the integrity of the game of baseball."
MLB said Hoberg’s friend made 141 baseball bets between April 2, 2023, and Nov. 1, 2023, totaling almost $214,000 with an overall win of nearly $35,000.
Hoberg had been touted as one of the best in baseball. He is among the highest-rated umpires at judging the strike zone.
He had an unprecedented "umpire’s perfect game" when he accurately called balls and strikes on all 129 pitches in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, according to computer tracking.
Hoberg, 38, issued a statement.
"I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement," Hoberg said. "Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me. Major League Baseball umpires are held to a high standard of personal conduct, and my own conduct fell short of that standard.
"That said, to be clear, I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form. I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me. I apologize to Major League Baseball and the entire baseball community for my mistakes. I vow to learn from them and to be a better version of myself moving forward."
MLB said the sportsbook told the league that Hoberg opened an account in his name on Jan. 30, 2024, and an electronic device associated with the account had accessed an account in the name of another person, who had bet on baseball.
Kansas City Chiefs star DeAndre Hopkins had an inspirational message for young fans who have followed his career since the very beginning.
Hopkins is getting ready to play in his first Super Bowl when the Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Chiefs acquired Hopkins in a trade with the Tennessee Titans before the deadline. He appeared in 10 games and had 41 catches for 437 yards and four touchdowns.
He wrote an empathetic post to those children who are struggling like he was.
"To all the kids out there living in small towns, in small houses, with single parents," he wrote on X. "To the kids who see violence, who see loss, who don’t get the resources they deserve, but who still have big dreams.
"Know that I was a kid in your exact shoes and this week I’m playing in the Super Bowl. Don’t give up, work hard, keep believing. Where you start doesn’t determine where you end up."
Hopkins emerged as one of the top receivers in the league in the prime of his career with the Texans. From 2017 through 2020, he was a Pro Bowler even. He played seven years with Houston, three with the Arizona Cardinals and a season and a half with the Titans.
The Chiefs added Hopkins as they dealt with a slew of injuries to the offense. He may not have been the Pro Bowl receiver, but he did enough to help the Chiefs to a 15-2 record in the regular season.
He will likely be called upon to make one or two big plays against the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday the Department of Homeland Security has "no credible threats" on Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Noem spoke at a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. While it's all about football in the "Big Easy" this week, discussions about safety for this massive event naturally came up following the New Year's Day terror attack on the city's historic Bourbon Street.
Terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar killed 14 civilians and injured 57 others after ramming his Ford F-150 truck through crowds celebrating on the famous street around 3 a.m. on Jan. 1. Jabbar was killed during a shootout with police.
The NFL held a public safety press conference on Monday in New Orleans where Noem spoke alongside Cathy L. Lanier, the league’s chief security officer, Eric DeLaune, Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge, Col. Robert P. Hodges, Louisiana State Police superintendent, and Anne Kirkpatrick, New Orleans Police Department superintendent.
Noem discussed the reality of the danger around the world, but when it comes to events here in the United States, she was clear with how safe the Super Bowl would be.
"The world is a much more dangerous place, but here in the homeland, we are safe, and I will tell you that right now we have no specific credible threats to this event at the Super Bowl, which I think should give us all a sense of security, but also knowing we will adjust that as needed," she explained. "Today, there are no credible threats that we have that are on the radar for this event that is coming up on Sunday."
Noem also touched on safeguarding "our traditions," like the Super Bowl, when it comes to everyone doing their part to provide a safe environment for those traveling to the city for the big game.
"[It] exemplifies how we come together to safeguard our traditions," she said. "How we come together to make sure that the public is well-informed and gets the chance to celebrate something that’s very special to us, to our culture, to our people, to our families. But we also do it in a way that is reactive to the current environment we see in the world today."
New Orleans is expecting upwards of 125,000 visitors to converge on its city limits, beginning Wednesday, where parties, concerts and other events will be happening throughout the week leading up to the game.
"We’re going above and beyond what we’ve seen in the past when we’ve hosted previously," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said during a news conference. "We know we’re safer than we’ve ever been before."
Safety will be at the forefront with state, federal and local law enforcement officers with boots on the ground during the Super Bowl, Lanier said, though details about protocol were left unsaid.
Agencies including the FBI and Secret Service will be around the stadium and downtown New Orleans, per DeLaune. That will include rooftop snipers, BearCat armored SWAT vehicles and more.
There will also be federal air marshals, who are armed, stationed around the city’s public transportation hubs scanning for suspicious people and activity, while also guarding against drones. There is a ban on drones around the Superdome and downtown New Orleans throughout the week and flight restrictions up to 18,000 feet, per the Federal Aviation Administration.
New Orleans has already begun starting to shut down, and limit traffic, on roads near the Superdome. DeLaune also mentioned the perimeter of the Superdome will have blast barriers, requiring trucks to go through giant X-ray machines typically seen at border crossings to ensure safety around the site of Super Bowl LIX.
From bomb-sniffing dogs, to improved security infrastructure, to more manpower and resources, all the stops are being pulled out to ensure the safety of every individual heading to New Orleans to experience the NFL’s final game of the 2024 season.
This security will carry over into New Orleans’ famous Mardi Gras season, which has already begun.
"New Orleans will be the safety place to be anywhere in the country," Phillip Constantin, adviser with U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said.
The WWE on Monday touted historic numbers around the Royal Rumble, which saw Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair win the men’s and women’s marquee matches over the weekend.
The Royal Rumble took place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, transforming the home of the Indianapolis Colts into a pro wrestling spectacle. The company announced it was the "most-successful and highest-grossing Royal Rumble" in its history.
WWE said the 2025 event drew the largest gate for any single-night event in the promotion’s history. Around 70,342 fans attended the event. The attendance figure sits only behind WrestleMania 40’s Night 1 and 2 attendance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The company added that viewership was up 14% in the U.S. from last year. Bayley and Cody Rhodes each won their Rumble matches and went to WrestleMania 40 to win their respective titles.
WWE said merchandise and sponsorship sales were also up.
Social media appeared to be interested in streamer IShowSpeed’s appearance in the men’s Rumble match. He took the place of Akira Tozawa who wasn’t able to compete in the match at the last second. IShowSpeed entered the ring and did a backflip to hype of the fans.
But the streamer’s time was short-lived. Bron Breakker bounced off the ropes at full speed and nearly broke IShowSpeed in half with a spear. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque applauded IShowSpeed for his willingness to take the spear.
The moment generated more than 300,000,000 views across social media platforms in less than 24 hours.
The Royal Rumble is the first premium live event on the road to WrestleMania 41. Uso and Flair are guaranteed world title matches. It’s up to them to pick who they will face.
Super Bowl LIX will feature the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles with history on the line for the AFC champion as they look to win their third consecutive title.
NFL fans who will tune into the game on FOX and Tubi will be able to get in on the action as well with FOX Super 6 Super Bowl LIX. Competitors will have the opportunity to win $1 million.
All the football fan has to do is answer six Super Bowl LIX questions and enter for a shot at the $1 million prize and $100,000 in guaranteed cash prizes. The questions are based on team and player performances and the entrant will be able to compete with fellow fans on FOX Sports.
There have been several winners since the contest began in 2023. This season, across a multitude of sports, more than $335,000 in cash and prizes have been awarded.
One contestant, named Jack, was the only entrant with a perfect score. He even guessed Kyler Murray to have more passing yards than Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels in Week 13.
"I honestly had no strategy," Jack told FOX Sports. "I made the picks in about 30 seconds!"
Super Bowl LIX will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The game will also be streamed for free on Tubi.
World Cup champion Jenni Hermoso of Spain was in court on Monday to testify at the trial of Luis Rubiales, the ex-Spain soccer president who controversially kissed her during the 2023 Cup celebration.
During her testimony, Hermoso denied Rubiales’ claim that the kiss, which caused worldwide outrage, was consensual.
"I felt disrespected," Hermoso said in Madrid’s High Court. "I think it was a moment that stained one of the happiest days of my life."
He has denied the charges against him, claiming the kiss was consensual and occurred in a "moment of jubilation."
He argues that Hermoso "lifted me up" as a celebratory gesture and he asked her for "a little kiss." Rubiales claims she said yes.
Prosecutors, Hermoso and the country’s players’ association are asking the judge to issue a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, as well as a 50,000 euros payment for damages and a ban from ever working as a sports official again.
Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of his charges, per court officials.
Former Spain women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former sports director of Spain’s men’s national team Albert Luque, and the soccer federation’s former head of marketing, Rubén Rivera, are also on trial for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to defend Rubiales publicly after the incident.
Rubiales was pressured out of his post as Spain’s soccer president in 2023, resigning while being banned by FIFA for three years despite an initial press conference where he reiterated that he wouldn’t be stepping down. Rubiales said in that speech that he was a victim of a "witch hunt" by "false feminists."
Since the incident, Hermoso says she has had trouble escaping the spotlight, especially in Mexico where she plays for her club team in between her duties for her country.
"I have not been able to really live freely," she said in her testimony.
In her seven World Cup matches, Hermoso tallied three goals and two assists to aid her team’s efforts in winning the trophy.
The 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Pro issued a public statement on Monday, requesting a trade from the Browns, the organization that took him first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and watched him grow into one of the league's most feared edge rushers.
Garrett cited the "desire to win" in his statement, implying the Browns are not going to give him the best chance to fulfill his Super Bowl dream ahead of his age-30 season.
"As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl – and that goal fuels me today more than ever. My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.
"While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.
"With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns."
Garrett’s skills on the gridiron go without saying, as he is coming off another double-digit-sack season, making it seven in a row after collecting 14 in 17 games. He has at least 14 sacks in his last four seasons.
Garrett earned his first Defensive Player of the Year nod last season after collecting 14 sacks with 17 tackles for loss, 42 combined tackles, four forced fumbles and 30 quarterback hits over 16 games.
However, despite his personal achievements, the Browns has only played three playoff games in his eight seasons with the franchise. One of them came in 2023, though they fell to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round. Before that, the Browns played twice during the 2020 campaign.
Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million extension with the Browns in 2020, and he still has two years left on his deal. It’s why GM Andrew Berry has been solid with his stance that he doesn’t have any intention on trading one of the best players in the league while he’s under Browns control.
"You can put that on the record," Berry told reporters, via NFL.com, adding he wouldn’t even do the deal for two first-round picks.
After making that statement, though, Garrett made his own, which could put pressure on the organization.
The Browns are coming off a horrendous 3-14 season, where quarterback Deshaun Watson, who struggled mightily, tore his Achilles to end his season prematurely. Then, he underwent surgery again in his right Achilles in January, putting into question whether he can be ready for the start of the 2025 season.
Cleveland owns the No. 2 overall pick, where Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter could be an option as the clear top defensive end in the class.
The elder Doncic made an appearance with Arena Sport Slovenija, where he called the Mavericks’ treatment of Luka "very unfair," saying that the trade "hurts me personally."
"I understand there comes a moment when you disagree with a certain philosophy," Sasa said in Slovenian, which was translated by Arena Sport Slovenija. "You don’t like this or that player, all good, I get it. But I think that exactly this secrecy, or should I say from some individuals, maybe even hypocrisy, this hurts me personally.
"Because I think that Luka absolutely doesn’t deserve this. Giving the fact that at least, as I know, sacrificed himself enormously and even all the stories now that someone is releasing that he wants to apologize for the things that they’re doing. I feel like this is very unfair from some individuals because I know that Luka respected Dallas a lot. He respected the whole city, helped children."
Some of the "unfair" treatment Sasa is discussing could revolve around a report from ESPN that said the Mavericks had concerns about Doncic’s conditioning, which could impede the 25-year-old reaching his full potential.
And with the trade, Luka no longer qualifies for a $323 million supermax extension, though the Lakers could give him a $230 million extension.
Luka has not seen an NBA floor since Christmas, as he’s been dealing with a strained left calf he suffered on the holiday. The league leader in points per game last season was averaging 28.1 points before the injury.
The trade, though, was shocking even with Lakers star Anthony Davis being involved in the package because of Luka’s young age, coupled with his accomplishments, including leading a Mavericks team to the NBA Finals last season. He is a five-time All-Star and won Western Conference Finals MVP during that title run last year, which ultimately fell short to the Boston Celtics.
Sasa discussed those conditioning concerns, dismissing them after seeing what his son did during the 2023-24 season.
"It wasn’t even a problem last year since, I am saying again, one individual said he’s not fit enough," Sasa explained. "That he played, I don’t know, 100 games, practically 40 minutes with two or three players constantly on him. That he was beaten, and you say such things about him. I feel that this is very unfair from certain individuals. You traded him, stand by your actions but don’t look for excuses or alibis, that’s it."
While GM Nico Harrison explained his decision after the trade, which was at first believed to be false, became official, the team faced backlash from its fan base for sending off the face of the franchise.
A group of fans was even spotted having a symbolic funeral outside American Airlines Center on Sunday, with a baby blue casket being brought in and draped with Doncic jerseys, fan art, T-shirts and more.
Harrison’s explanation was that the trade was "going to make us better," while also selling that the move "sets us up to win not only now, but in the future."
Dallas is currently placed ninth in the Western Conference with a 26-24 record after being blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, 144-101. Davis, who wasn’t with the team yet, and Kyrie Irving were not on the floor for the Mavericks.
Shields dropped Danielle Perkins to become the first-ever undisputed women’s heavyweight champion.
She is also the first boxer, male or female, to be the undisputed champion in three different weight classes in the four-belt era. Shields did so in junior middle weight and middle weight prior to this feat.
Perkins was undefeated up until the time Shields landed a right hook in the final seconds of the 10th and final round. That punch, which slumped Perkins for some seconds before she walked to a corner on the canvas, cemented history for Shields.
Perkins is now 5-1 for her career with two knockouts, while Shields remains undefeated at 16-0 with three knockouts.
After the match, Shields was excited about the win, but she revealed that she would actually need shoulder surgery after suffering an injury before the fight. She noted not being able to lift her left arm earlier in the week.
"I actually think I'm going to have to have surgery on my left arm. I tore my labrum last week, so the fight almost didn't happen," Shields said, via ESPN. "I didn't want to let Flint down, but I really couldn't use my jab the way that I wanted to, but I did the best that I could. I iced it, I did therapy, and now I think I'm going to have a shoulder surgery."
Shields gave kudos to Perkins after the match, saying she was "strong as hell" with her punches in the ring. However, Shields was patient and struck at the last second when Perkins’ guard was down.
"My experience and my skills got me over it and also, I've been in plenty of street fights with bigger people and I had to use some of my skills in that today, too. So, when I dropped her in the last round, it's because she got greedy," Shields said of her opponent.
Shields landed 29% of her punches on Perkins, as well as 36% of her power punches. Perkins landed just 19% of punches.
It was a unanimous decision on the card, as judges ruled the fight in favor of Shields 97-92, 99-90 and 100-89.
Before he chases his first Super Bowl ring, Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley was reportedly down on one knee giving a ring to his longtime girlfriend, Anna Congdon.
Barkley is now engaged to Congdon, according to People, as he checks off a major life moment ahead of his biggest career game to date as he and the Eagles head to New Orleans to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX this upcoming Sunday.
"I can’t be the athlete I am and have the success I have so in my career without the help of her," Barkley told the outlet of Congdon.
The two share two children together, daughter Jada, 6, and son Saquon Jr., 2, and their pre-game ritual of special handshakes and kisses has gone viral in Barkley’s first season with the Eagles.
Barkley and Congdon met at Penn State and have been going strong since 2017. Barkley told People that they will "just sit back and laugh sometimes when [their kids are] over there playing and just smile and think about where everything started."
It started with the New York Giants, who took Barkley second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft after a stellar Nittany Lions career. However, after a rollercoaster six seasons in New York, which ended badly after not getting what he wanted contract-wise, Barkley signed with the Eagles in free agency this past offseason.
Clearly, it was the right move for the running back, as he could have the best running back season of all-time statistically depending on his performance against the Chiefs.
Personally, the move has been something Barkley says his family has loved, with the city of Philadelphia embracing him right away despite being their rival for years.
Barkley and his family were at Lincoln Financial Field sharing quite the moment when green and white confetti rained down on the Eagles after dominating the Washington Commanders, 55-23, in the NFC Championship.
"If I could wrap my arms around this memory, I would…" Congdon captioned an Instagram post of her family celebrating the victory that put them in Super Bowl LIX. Barkley commented, "Love you," with a heart emoji.
It has been quite a celebratory year for Barkley, who led the NFL in rushing yards with over 2,000, and it could continue on his 28th birthday, which just so happens to fall on Super Bowl LIX.
"The best birthday gift you can have is playing in the Super Bowl and the only thing better than that is winning the Super Bowl on your Birthday," he said to People.
Barkley added that he is not focused on his birthday plans at all, hoping to "continue to play at a high level" to help his team beat the Chiefs, a team chasing NFL history as the only squad to win three straight Lombardi Trophies.
Barkley scored three touchdowns for the Eagles in the NFC Championship victory over the Commanders, and he certainly will try to do so again in New Orleans, where his now-fiancee and family will be cheering him on.
