There are usually mixed reactions when NFL referees flag pass interference.
League policy does not include language to explain what constitutes pass interference, so it is still considered a judgment call.
Jon Gruden, who coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl title in 2002, weighed in on the often criticized rule.
In the NFL, when officials call pass interference, the ball is placed at the spot of the foul. There have been instances where a pass interference call has resulted in a team benefiting from 25 or more penalty yards before the next snap.
After admitting pass interference was one of his top worries for the NFL, Gruden suggested the league adopt a penalty similar to what college football enforces. Instead of placing the ball where the foul occurred, Gruden would prefer the ball only move 15 yards per penalty.
"I would make it the college rule, honestly, because some of these pass interference calls are impacting the game, just one play there," Gruden said during a recent appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast.
Gruden then brought up the subjective nature of the call.
"I don’t think there’s a common thread in what is and what isn’t pass interference," he said. "I think this crew calls it a little different from that crew. That is a penalty right now that, I think, has taken over a lot of these games."
After the podcast co-host suggested an NFL quarterback could simply underthrow a ball and be rewarded with free yardage, Gruden argued pass interference should only be applied in situations where it was clear and "obvious" a foul was committed.
"Jerry Austin taught me that pass interference should call itself. We should all be sitting in a bar in Chicago and go, ‘That’s PI.' It should be a common, obvious pass interference. Otherwise, let these guys play. That's my feeling."
In 2019, the league approved a proposal that made pass interference a reviewable play. The decision appeared to be a response to a controversial play in the 2018 season's NFC championship game.
Referees did not call what many argued was pass interference during the NFC title game between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints. The Rams defeated the Saints in overtime and advanced to the Super Bowl.
NFL teams' ability to review pass interference was scrapped in 2020.
NCAA president Charlie Baker was the subject of harsh scrutiny after defending the organization's current policies that have allowed trans athletes to compete against women during a senate hearing on Tuesday.
Baker addressed the issue again during an interview on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" Thursday. When McAfee asked Baker how the parents of daughters should feel about trans athletes in women's sports and the NCAA's record on it, the president made it a point to minimize the impact of the issue.
"There are 510,000 college athletes playing in the NCAA, there are less than 10 transgender athletes, so it's a small community to begin with," Baker said.
It was the same statistic that Baker offered in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday when asked about the specific numbers. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. faced backlash as well when he posted a clip of Baker providing the stat with a caption that read, "Let’s focus on ways to actually improve women’s sports."
At that hearing, Baker also suggested that women athletes who feel alienated by sharing a locker room with trans athletes "should have an opportunity to use other facilities if they wish to do so."
On Thursday Baker repeated the same justification for the NCAA's policies during the interview with McAfee. Baker referenced five recent court rulings that have enabled trans athletes to compete against biological females in the last 15 months. On Tuesday, he referenced five cases in the last 18 months.
Only one ruling enabled a trans athlete to compete at the college level. He has not specifically identified any of the other cases, but mentioned that some have occurred at the high school level.
The ruling that he has reference was by Colorado district Judge Kato Crews in November, that allowed trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming to compete in the Mountain West Tournament for San Jose State University. That ruling after an emergency injunction by other players in the conference to have the athlete removed from competition.
Crews wrote that the plaintiffs’ request for an emergency delay "was not reasonable" and "would risk confusion and upend months of planning and would prejudice, at a minimum, [San Jose State] and other teams participating in the tournament."
However, Crews' ruling did not address the issue of trans inclusion at a macro level. It simply rejected a proposal that would disqualify a player, and potentially an entire team, from a conference tournament.
The other federal rulings on this issue in the last 18 months have focused on the issue occurring at the high school and youth levels. This includes a ruling in Arizona in September that blocked a state law preventing two prepubescent trans athletes from competing in girls' sports. In April, a ruling in West Virginia blocked a law that would have prevented a 13-year-old biological male from competing in girls' cross-country.
Judges Landya McCafferty of New Hampshire and M. Hannah Lauck of Virginia, who were both appointed during the Obama administration, each issued rulings this year that enabled biological males to play on high school girls' soccer and tennis teams. McCafferty issued an order that allowed two transgender athletes to compete in New Hampshire, and Lauck ruled that an 11-year-old transgender tennis player was allowed to compete against girls the same age in Virginia.
During the McAfee interview on Thursday, Baker said he is open to working toward a clear federal policy on the issue.
"I would love to work with people in Washington to create a federal standard around this issue, because right now we don't have one, and it's a problem," Baker said. "And I accept that it's an enormously controversial and challenging issue, but right now if you look at the way these issues are getting decided in court, courts are deciding in favor of participation. So, we are abiding by the way they're deciding this."
During Thursday's interview, McAfee, who expressed his desire to have his daughter play sports when she's older, ended the conversation by praising Baker on ESPN's airwaves for his handling of the situation.
"I think you'll get it right, Charlie, I think you have done a fantastic job since taking over the help, I think you've been phenomenally transparent through it all and I can't thank you enough for making us sports stooges a little bit smarter," McAfee said.
McAfee previously said he believes that "men have a clear advantage" over women in sports while speaking about the controversy involving Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics this summer.
"I know that it's not every woman and not every male physical body. We're not talking about souls, we're talking about physical bodies, but at those high level of competition, there is a clear advantage," McAfee said on Aug. 1. "There always has been, and I assume there always will be, and I hope we get to a point that we can all agree on this. I think we all feel the same way about this."
Former Olympic gold medalist Sebastian Coe published his manifesto for his vision as International Olympics Committee (IOC) president, as he campaigns for the position going into 2025.
Coe's manifesto stresses the importance of protecting female athletes, in a year that has been plagued by global outrage over trans athletes in women's sports.
Unlike current IOC president Thomas Bach, Coe staunchly opposes trans inclusion in the women's category, and said he would explore a complete ban on trans athletes in an interview with Sky News on Thursday.
Coe is the current head of World Athletics – the governing body for international track & field competition. In 2023, the governing body tightened its regulations on trans athletes to exclude transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in the female category. That regulation also lowered the maximum testosterone level for eligible female competitors.
Coe told Sky News that if he is elected IOC president, the Olympics would get a new policy that will "probably" reflect the current World Athletics restrictions.
"We will have a very clear policy that will be un-ambiguous," Coe said. "We've been very clear in World Athletics that transgender athletes will not be competing in the female category at the elite level."
Coe declined to state whether he would advocate for mandatory sex-eligibility tests for Olympians.
While criticizing the IOC's current policies on the issue, Coe referenced an incident at the recent Paris Olympics. The recent summer games were overshadowed by controversy when Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan won gold medals in women's boxing.
Both athletes had previously been disqualified from international competitions for failing gender-eligibility tests. However, the IOC and current President Thomas Bach supported the inclusion of both athletes, insisting they were qualified to compete as women under the current rules.
"If you have a vacuum around this policy position, then you end up with some of the things that we witnessed in Paris," Coe said.
Coe previously said the situation involving Khelif and Lin made him feel "uncomfortable," in a November interview with the BBC. Neither athlete has been confirmed to be transgender.
The United Nations released study findings saying that nearly 900 biological females have fallen short of the podium because they have been beaten out by transgender athletes.
The study, titled "Violence against women and girls in sports," said that more than 600 athletes did not medal in more than 400 competitions in 29 different sports, totaling over 890 medals, according to information obtained up to March 30.
"The replacement of the female sports category with a mixed-sex category has resulted in an increasing number of female athletes losing opportunities, including medals, when competing against males," the report said.
In the U.S., trans inclusion in women's sports became a highly opposed issue in 2024, especially by conservatives, but some liberals spoke out against it as well.
Polls show that the majority of Americans are not in favor of trans inclusion in women's sports, which was a key campaign issue for Trump and other Republicans in the recent cycle.
Nearly 70% of Americans do not believe that biological men should be allowed to compete in women's sports, according to a Gallup poll taken last year.
In June, a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents to weigh in on whether transgender athletes of both sexes should be permitted to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity instead of their biological sex. Sixty-five percent answered that it should be either never or rarely allowed. When those polled were asked specifically about adult transgender female athletes competing on women’s sports teams, 69% opposed it.
New York and New Jersey residents are far from the only people having issues with drones.
The NFL is in the midst of its own fight against the devices and has called on congressional lawmakers to act. The leagues hope lawmakers will pass a bill to help curb the number of devices that violate airspace on gamedays.
"The time for us to act on this is now," NFL’s Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier said this week, via FOX 5 DC. "We don’t want to wait until something bad happens."
Drone flights are banned up to 3,000 feet before professional games within a three-mile radius of stadiums, according to Reuters.
The Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act would give state and local authorities to intercept drones. Drone sightings in NFL games have increased to around 2,800 in 2023 from just around 12 in 2012, the league said.
Recent efforts to get the bill into the end zone were blocked.
The AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens was temporarily suspended because of a drone issue. A Pennsylvania man was charged for flying the drone and pleaded guilty to knowingly or willfully violating United States National Defense Airspace.
Another game in Baltimore was delayed twice because of a drone.
"We know how significant this threat is, and there’s nothing more we can do," Lanier added.
The Buffalo Bills showed this past weekend they look like prime contenders to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs as conference and Super Bowl champions.
Josh Allen is playing like the NFL MVP and the rest of the team has followed suit. The Bills held on for a victory over the Lions on Sunday evening. Three strong weeks will be able to solidify that notion if the team is up to it.
Behind the Bills, the rest of the league is jostling for position. There are a handful of teams that have separated from the rest of the pack over the last few weeks. The Chiefs are still in that conversation, as are the Philadelphia Eagles and Lions, even with the loss to Buffalo.
The Bills might have the fifth-best record in the NFL, but is there any doubt that they’re the best team? The clinic the Buffalo offense put on against the Detroit Lions on Sunday showed that no team wants to face surefire NFL MVP Josh Allen in the playoffs.
Last week: 4
After all the talk in Philadelphia this past week about the passing game, Jalen Hurts had 290 passing yards and two touchdowns while AJ Brown caught eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles dominated in their win, outgaining the Steelers 401-163 in yards and holding the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game. As the injuries keep piling up for the Lions, the Eagles are hoping they can lurch in front of Detroit in the standings and get the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Last week: 2
All it took was a game against the last-place Browns for the Chiefs to get a comfortable win by multiple possessions. But it didn't come for free either. Patrick Mahomes' ankle injury could put the Chiefs' hopes of holding on to the No. 1 spot in real jeopardy, especially with a runaway Bills team keeping pace every week. But if Carson Wentz does have to start a game for Kansas City, the Chiefs can take solace in the fact that their defense and running game has been just as if not more important to their success this year than an explosive passing game.
Last week: 3
Maybe it’s Josh Allen riding a crazy hot streak, but the Lions looked like it was the 2023 version of the team after allowing 48 points. That came after close calls against the Bears and Packers during a stretch of three-straight home games in which their point differential was zero, and now they go to Chicago, where it will be in the mid-20s on Sunday. The Lions need a solid performance to make everyone forget about this latest skid.
Last week: 1
Sam Darnold is back, Justin Jefferson is back, and the Vikings are back. They have taken care of business against two weak opponents, just as they should. They wrap up the regular season with games in Seattle, home against Green Bay and then go to Detroit. It’s going to be a true litmus test to see where this team truly ranks as they go into January.
Last week: 5
The Packers proved they are a force to be reckoned with after a dominant victory in Seattle. Jordan Love has turned it on, and they have scored 30-plus points in four straight contests. In fact, they’ve scored less than 20 just once, and that was in Week 2. This is not a magic carpet ride like it was last season. This team could do some damage.
Last week: 7
The 2024 New York Giants have not been included in conversations about the NFL’s elite teams. At times this season, the Baltimore Ravens have looked to be among the league’s best teams. The Ravens took care of business against the Giants. Lamar Jackson threw for an impressive five touchdowns. Baltimore now shifts its focus to a high-stakes AFC North matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Last week: 8
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Although the Steelers dropped this past Sunday’s game to the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh held on to its lead in the AFC North. But this Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens will be critical. The Steelers hope to get a couple of their key players healthy down the stretch. Star pass rusher TJ Watt suffered an ankle injury during the loss to the Eagles, while wide receiver George Pickens has missed the past couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.
Last week: 6
A big win over the Miami Dolphins and a crucial loss by a divisional opponent led the Houston Texans to win their second straight AFC South title on Sunday. The Texans’ defense has played a crucial role in the team’s 9-5 record, but CJ Stroud’s continued growth week after week has meant both sides of the ball are finally playing complimentary football – just in time for the playoffs.
Last week: 11
It is better to win ugly than to lose pretty, and that was certainly the case for the Commanders. If the Saints converted the two-point conversion as time expired, it would have been a significant blow to the Commanders’ playoff chances. However, the Commanders held on and now remain in control of their playoff destiny for the rest of the season. One of the positives for Washington is that the Jayden Daniels-Terry McLaurin connection has been one of the best in football this season. The pair connected for two touchdowns in the win.
Last week: 10
The Broncos are gaining more momentum with each snap. They only got stronger as their game against Indianapolis went on, especially on defense. However, Bo Nix has had turnover issues for two straight games, but the rest of the team has done enough to overcome it. Nix will have to return to his midseason form if the Broncos hope to keep up their momentum.
Last week: 12
They're making a playoff push and with Mike Evans fully healthy again and three teams with losing records on the schedule to end the season, it's hard to think they won't get to the postseason.
Last week: 14
The Chargers are suddenly a fading team that could ultimately end up playing for their playoff lives in the final stretch of the season. It's a script that this team has become all too familiar with over the years, and even Jim Harbaugh's presence hasn't changed it yet. The good news is the Chargers still have a two-game lead for the final wild card spot and their final two games will be against the basement-dwelling Raiders and Patriots.
Last week: 9
It will be a fight to the finish, but the Rams defeating the 49ers on Thursday night put them in a good spot to capture the NFC West when it’s all said and done.
Last week: 15
An injured Geno Smith will hurt Seattle’s chances of getting a playoff spot in the long run.
Last week: 13
A good win against the Patriots may carry their momentum toward the Carolina Panthers games. Arizona will need a victory to keep pace before a pivotal matchup against the Rams in Week 17.
Last week: 17
Somebody has to win the NFC West. The 49ers are a long shot at this point and the schedule going forward doesn’t do them any favors. It starts with the Dolphins on Sunday.
Last week: 16
Joe Burrow has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Despite throwing a couple of interceptions against the hapless Titans, Burrow’s three touchdowns and dazzling playmaking helped the Bengals secure their sixth win of the season. Cincinnati might not end up in the playoffs, but the Bengals front office will have some tough decisions to make this offseason.
Last week: 19
They broke a four-game losing skid, which is appropriate because they are still equally broken. Kirk Cousins and the offense are not meshing. They don't fully maximize their stars and the secondary is suspect.
Last week: 20
The Dolphins had to win on Sunday to keep any shred of hope of a postseason run alive, and they couldn’t get it done. Now the questions turn to head coach Mike McDaniel’s future. Could Miami move on from him? It’s possible.
Last week: 18
The Colts are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs after a brutal 31-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Too many turnovers, a lack of consistent play from second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and several miscues on the field could come back to haunt Indy as they sit two games out of the AFC's final playoff spot.
Last week: 21
Even with the win, the Cowboys’ chances of making the playoffs are less than 1%. What might matter more, however, is that if the Cowboys keep winning games down the stretch, Jerry Jones might be inclined to keep head coach Mike McCarthy around for another season. It would have been easy for the Cowboys to quit on the season after losing to the Bengals and then having to go on the road on a short week. But the Cowboys came out to play and rolled over the Panthers, an encouraging sign for McCarthy as the players show up for him.
Last week: 22
It takes courage to bypass an extra point to tie the game on the last play of the game and instead go for the win. Didn't work, but tip of the hat.
Last week: 23
Just when we thought the Bears had figured something out and were looking to turn the corner, they find themselves right back in the ditch. They have been non-competitive in two straight games, which is surprising considering in their previous three games they lost by a combined seven points. They wrap up the season with home games against the Lions and Seahawks before heading to Green Bay in Week 18. Not fun.
Last week: 24
Of course, the week after the Jets were officially eliminated from playoff contention, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams turned back the clock and put on a performance reminiscent of their days with the Green Bay Packers to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Last week: 27
Get them to the offseason already.
Last week: 26
Jameis Winston has handled the starting quarterback duties for the Browns for the past seven games. While the Browns’ average points and yards per game have increased under Winston, the team has also experienced an uptick in turnovers. The Browns have dropped three consecutive games and will look for a solution at the quarterback position for 2025.
Last week: 25
The Patriots still have to play the Buffalo Bills twice the rest of the way, which is probably good news. New England is in play for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and they don’t need to pick a quarterback. That’s a strong position in which to find yourself.
Last week: 28
The Jaguars had little to celebrate (outside improving their draft positioning) after a narrow loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. And with both teams eliminated from the playoffs, this weekend came down to bragging rights. On the bright side, rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. managed to break two franchise records.
Last week: 30
30. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
The Will Levis experiment might be over in Tennessee. Levis was benched after his fourth turnover, a pick-6, in Sunday’s rough outing against the Bengals. The offense has struggled all season long and first-year head coach Brian Callahan finds himself in the hot seat with just three games left on the schedule.
Last week: 29
The Raiders seem to sniff a potential win every week without ever closing it out. But these late-game follies have been critical in keeping the team at the top of the draft order. Their ability to blow these close games will be tested against a Mac Jones-led Jaguars team next week.
Last week: 31
The season cannot end quick enough for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. The Giants, while decimated by injuries, never stood a chance as Lamar Jackson torched the Giants secondary, throwing for five touchdowns. One of the few positives is rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who had 10 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown while drawing some defensive pass interference calls for the Giants offense.
Last week: 32
The Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings were compiled by the Fox News Digital Sports staff and the OutKick.com staff.
NCAA president Charlie Baker sent a message to women's college athletes who are uncomfortable sharing locker rooms with transgender athletes on Tuesday, putting the responsibility of their own safety squarely on the women themselves.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing over legalized sports gambling, Sen. Josh Halwey, R-Mo., questioned Baker about the NCAA's policies that have allowed trans athletes to compete on women's teams. When Hawley confronted Baker about the NCAA policy that states "transgender student athletes should be able to use the locker room, shower and toilet facilities in accordance with their gender identity."
Baker, the former Democrat governor of Massachusetts, responded by insisting other athletes have the option to find other accommodations if they're uncomfortable with it.
"Everybody else should have an opportunity to use other facilities if they wish to do so," Baker said.
Baker added that NCAA guidelines give the institutions and organizations that host college sporting events, who he referred to as "locals," the option to accommodate athletes however they see fit.
"I believe our guidelines give people optionality in how they choose to use their facilities," Baker said. "We told the local folks who hosted our tournaments that they need to make accommodations for the people who are playing."
Baker also refused to initially agree with the notion that biological males have physical advantages over female athletes. When asked by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., if trans athletes are at an advantage, Baker said the idea was debatable.
"There's not a lot of research on it, but it's certainly debatable," Baker said.
Kennedy posed the question a second time, asking if it Baker didn't think "a biological male has an advantage every time competing against a biological female," the NCAA president changed his answer.
"I think the way you defined it, yes, I would agree with you," Baker said.
When Baker was pressed about why he and the NCAA hadn't taken action to amend its policies to prevent trans inclusion in women's sports, he repeatedly cited federal law and recent rulings of federal courts that have enabled it. Kennedy passionately encouraged Baker to do something about it anyway.
"Why don't you go to Amazon and buy a spine online and take stand?" Kennedy yelled at Baker.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., also lambasted Baker for the NCAA's current pro-trans policies during the hearing.
The Concerned Women for America (CWA) provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing Baker's comments on Tuesday.
"Charlie Baker's time as NCAA President has exposed a scandalous dismissal of the safety and dignity female athletes deserve. His lack of leadership has compromised the integrity of all member institutions, and his carelessness for Title IX protections endangers female athletes. We're grateful for Senator Hawley, Senator Blackburn, and Senator Kennedy's leadership on the issue and we hope Congress takes further action to condemn the NCAA's continued discrimination against women," said the organization's legislative strategist Macy Petty.
During the hearing, Baker referenced "five lawsuits in the last 18 months" that have enabled trans athletes to compete against biological females. However, as Hawley pointed out, there have not been any rulings that have explicitly instructed the NCAA to allow trans athletes to compete against females or share women's locker rooms.
One case Baker mentioned was a ruling by Colorado district judge Kato Crews in November that allowed trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming to compete in the Mountain West Tournament for San Jose State University after an emergency injunction by other players in the conference to have the athlete removed from competition.
Crews wrote the plaintiffs’ request for an emergency delay "was not reasonable" and "would risk confusion and upend months of planning and would prejudice, at a minimum, (San Jose State) and other teams participating in the tournament."
However, Crews' ruling did not address the issue of trans inclusion at a macro level. It simply rejected a proposal that would disqualify a player, and potentially an entire team, from a conference tournament.
Other federal rulings on this issue in the last 18 months have focused on the issue occurring at the high school and youth level. This includes a ruling in Arizona in September that blocked a state law preventing two prepubescent trans athletes from competing in girls' sports. Another ruling in April in West Virginia that blocked a law in that state which would prevent a 13-year-old biological male from competing in girls' cross country.
Judges Landya McCafferty of New Hampshire and M. Hannah Lauck of Virginia, both of whom were appointed during the Obama administration, each issued rulings this year that enabled biological males to play on high school girls' soccer and tennis teams. McCafferty issued an order that allowed two transgender athletes to compete in New Hampshire, while Lauck ruled that an 11-year-old transgender tennis player was allowed to compete against girls the same age in Virginia.
Those cases did not address the inclusion of trans athletes at the NCAA level.
Meanwhile, there are currently two ongoing lawsuits against the NCAA over its policies that have enabled trans athletes to compete against women.
Former NCAA swimmer and OutKick contributor Riley Gaines currently leads a lawsuit against the NCAA with other female athletes, accusing the governing body of violating their Title IX rights due to its policies on gender identity. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, details the shock Gaines and other swimmers felt when they learned they would have to share a locker room with trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 championships in Atlanta.
San Jose State volleyball player Brooke Slusser, along with several other Mountain West volleyball players and former coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, filed their own lawsuit against the university and Mountain West Conference for allowing Fleming to compete as a woman without informing opponents or teammates of the athlete's natural birth sex.
USA Fencing board members voted against several motions to amend the sports governing body’s current policies, including measures to allow the national anthem to be played before competition and approving an all-female task force to re-evaluate and revise the current transgender policy.
The special board meeting held on Saturday came just days after the Fair Fencing Organization (FFO) penned an open letter to the board asking that it re-evaluate its stance on several issues, including tournament site selection criteria, as it relates to individual states' abortion policies, transgender inclusion and DEI.
The FFO, which describes itself as a nationwide nonprofit organization, called on the members of the board to make decisions not based on "political correctness," but rather in the interest of its members.
Several motions raised in Saturday’s meeting addressed several hot-button issues in the nation.
Among the first motions raised was to amend the current USA Fencing Site Selection Inclusion Policy "to allow more flexibility at the city level for those willing to offer protections to women and LGBTQIA+ members."
The current policy includes factors based on profitability, member experience, satisfaction, cost, travel convenience, square footage requirements (including parafencing accommodations), city interest and availability in hosting, and inclusivity. USA Fencing states in its policy that it gives "preference" to sites based on the use of ratings from LGBTMAP.org and "states that do not have laws that endanger the health of members, or immediate family of members, and will avoid those with laws that may see a medical professional prosecuted for assisting a member in need of critical medical care, or reproductive-related medical care."
The motion to amend the policy and stop the use of LGBTMAP.org was voted against 9-1 with one abstention. The original motion "to allow more flexibility at the city level" was passed unanimously.
Another motion to create an all-female task force to "re-evaluate and revise" the current policy on transgender athletes was also voted against 8-3. The proposal would have included a "transgender fencer" on the task force if passed.
A motion to amend the governing body’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging office, including changing it to a committee and redirecting its funds, was also voted against 9-1 with one abstention.
Several other issues raised during the board meeting not addressed by FFO’s letter, including playing the national anthem and podium protests, were also raised during the special meeting. A vote to play the national anthem at the start of tournaments before "all NACs and National Championships" was voted against 8-2 with one abstention. A motion to prohibit podium protests or protests at the tournaments in general was also voted against with an 8-3 vote in favor of allowing those protests to continue.
In a statement to Fox News Digital regarding the FFO’s letter and prior to Saturday’s meeting, USA Fencing noted that its board members "are elected by our members and are entrusted to represent their interests and make decisions they believe are in the best interest of the fencing community as a whole."
The Atlanta Falcons' losing streak has finally come to an end, as Kirk Cousins & Co. picked up a much-needed win over the Las Vegas Raiders, 15-9, on Monday night.
Atlanta moves to 7-7 on the year, which is massive considering the tight NFC South race at the moment. Meanwhile, the Raiders continue to fall at 2-12.
It wasn't the prettiest of wins, but at this point in the season, with three games remaining after this one, a victory is a victory.
The Falcons’ offense didn’t see the breakout performance it might have wanted, but at least Cousins threw his first touchdown for the first time in five games.
It was Drake London hauling in a 30-yard pass to get Atlanta on the board first, snapping a streak where Cousins had eight interceptions to zero touchdowns thrown.
But it was the only time the Falcons were able to find the end zone, as many drives stalled in Raiders territory leading to field goal attempts from Younghoe Koo.
Koo was 2-of-3 on his attempts, but that would only make 13 points on offense.
On defense, the Falcons were having their way with Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was making the start against his former team in place of the injured Aidan O’Connell.
As the Falcons stopped the run game – they allowed 65 total yards all game with Sincere McCormick ruled out with an injury early on – Ridders was forced to throw and he tossed an interception while being sacked three times.
Atlanta was also able to make Alexander Mattison fumble, as they continued to make plays to flip the field.
But this game, though a slog, ultimately came down to the final play off Ridder’s hands as Las Vegas had the ball down six needing a touchdown and extra point to win it.
Ridder threw two Hail Mary’s to the end zone, but the first one went incomplete and Falcons star safety Jessie Bates III was the recipient of the final one to secure the victory.
So, on the stat sheet, Cousins was only 11-for-17 with 112 yards. He also threw another interception to go along with his touchdown.
For the Falcons, the ground game was superior, with Bijan Robinson carrying it 22 times for 125 yards and Tyler Allgeier adding 43 yards on 12 carries.
As for the Raiders, Jakobi Meyers was the leader in receiving yards with 59 to account for a big chunk of Ridder's 208 yards on 23-of-38 passing. Ameer Abdullah, the lone touchdown scorer for the Raiders, also had seven catches for 58 yards.
Bill Belichick has already shocked the college football world by accepting the North Carolina Tar Heels’ head coaching job, and there’s been reports of another shocking hire potentially on the horizon.
However, unlike Belichick’s situation, there are some conflicting reports going on.
Vick has had discussions with Sacramento State to become their next head coach, ESPN reported Monday.
The Hornets are making moves as they head to the FBS next year, while also having over $50 million in NIL resources, and they’re building a new stadium for the football team as well, according to ESPN.
Vick also told The Virginian-Pilot he's had conversations about possibly getting the Norfolk State job.
The Sacramento Bee, however, reported Vick wasn't a candidate for the Sacramento State job, citing an unnamed "member of the school’s athletic department" who told the paper ESPN’s report was a rumor.
Sacramento State president Luke Wood released a statement to ESPN about the Vick rumor.
"He has expressed interest in the position, and yes, I did meet with him about his interest in Sac State football and our athletic rise. As you can imagine, given the success of our athletic programs that our football head coach job is an attractive role," Wood said.
If Vick were to accept a head coaching job, it would be his first since retiring from the NFL. He has worked as an NFL analyst with Fox Sports after retiring.
Vick infamously spent nearly two years in prison after pleading guilty to financing a dog-fighting operation, forcing him to miss the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Vick had to rehab his image, and the NFL ultimately allowed him to play with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent five seasons after being released from prison in 2009. He would spend short times with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring in 2015.
Sacramento State is hoping for a better season in 2025, as they finished 3-9 on the season in the Big Sky.
The tragic school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin on Monday was top of mind for Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers on Monday, as he addressed the media with an opening statement about the situation.
"Not a lot to say. Just a shame that this keeps happening," Rivers said about the shooting that left two dead, and six others injured.
"Kids can’t go to school safe, and it just seems like we don’t do anything about it. I’m not going to get up here on the podium and give a long speech except for it’s just bad. We’re thinking about them."
"It’s just sad, it really is. It’s sad. The gun violence. …I just don’t know what point [we say enough]," Rivers said, via Yahoo Sports.
"The guns are the terrorist, and until we understand that we’re going to keep having terrorist attacks. It’s sad."
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has also spoken out about gun violence, including recently with his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race.
At least two people were killed, and six others were injured in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.
On Monday afternoon, Madison Police Chief Shon Barners said a teacher and a teen student were killed, while noting the shooter’s family has been cooperating with police. Two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, while a teacher and three others were injured with non-life-threatening injuries.
Madison Police have not yet released the gender or age of the shooter. They identified a "juvenile" dead at the scene who is believed to be responsible for the shooting, which occurred with a handgun.
"Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened," Barnes said.
Every College Football Playoff team wants their focus to solely be on winning a national title, but Penn State head coach James Franklin addressed a problem elsewhere in the sport.
The college football transfer portal is open, and the timing couldn’t be worse for coaches like Franklin, who already saw a key backup player enter.
But Franklin defended his backup quarterback, Beau Pribula, who made the decision to enter the portal after starter Drew Allar already declared his intention to return to the Nittany Lions in 2025.
"The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision," Pribula wrote on social media Sunday.
"We got problems in college football, and I can give you my word Beau Pribula did not want to leave our program, and he did not want to leave our program until the end of the season," Franklin said, via ESPN, on Monday in defense of Pribula’s decision to enter the portal. "But the way the portal is and the timing of it and the way our team is playing, and when you play the position of quarterback and there’s only one spot and those spots are filling up, he felt like he was put in a no-win situation, and I agree with them."
Pribula spoke with Franklin about his decision before making it public.
Now, because of the decision, true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who hasn’t thrown a pass, will be Penn State’s backup throughout the College Football Playoff, which begins for the Nittany Lions on Saturday against No. 11 SMU at Beaver Stadium.
"No. 1, I hate for it, most importantly for Beau Pribula," Franklin added. "I don't think it's in the best interest of the student-athlete, I don't think it's in the best interest of college football."
Franklin added that Pribula has been a "phenomenal teammate" and has played a big role in helping his team reach the playoff, despite only being used sparingly this season.
However, Pribula’s speed is something the Nittany Lions benefited from this season, as he’s tied for second with six rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards (242). He also threw for five touchdowns on 25 attempts for 275 yards this season.
Unfortunately, though, he isn’t the only player that’s entered the portal despite their team’s success.
Former Texas Longhorns backup Maalik Murphy entered the portal last season despite his team’s upcoming game against the Washington Huskies for a place in the national championship.
He would eventually transfer to Duke, where he’s started the 2024 season. Murphy is once again in the portal looking for his next team.
And the Nittany Lions’ opponent on Saturday also saw the Mustangs’ backup quarterback Preston Stone enter the portal.
This is the first year of the expanded playoff, but the transfer portal, an area of controversy throughout college football depending on who you’re talking to, remains an even bigger problem with more teams preparing for a hopeful national title run.
"Sonic" is going to have to finish the 2024 NFL season without "Knuckles."
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced that star running back David Montgomery will need season-ending surgery to repair a torn MCL suffered in the 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
That leaves Jahmyr Gibbs as the only featured back now, with Craig Reynolds likely to spell him the rest of the way.
It was initially reported that Montgomery was out indefinitely with his injury, though it left the idea that he could return at some point this season up in the air.
"We're going to miss him," Campbell said.
Now, with Montgomery out, Campbell has yet another key Lions player unable to help their chances of reaching the Super Bowl. In fact, they lost more key roster pieces in this game.
Detroit’s injury woes include stud defensive tackle Alim McNeil (torn ACL), cornerback Carlton Davis (broken jaw), who they traded for to shore up the secondary before the NFL deadline, and cornerback Khalil Dorsey (fractured ankle), all of which came in the loss to Buffalo.
At least Davis has a chance of making it back this season, with the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 26 a possibility, according to NFL Network.
The Lions have 22 players on the injured reserve, including star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg earlier this season.
Other players out for the year include DE Marcus Davenport (triceps), LB Derrick Barnes (PCL, MCL), LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ACL), and DT Kyle Peko (pectoral).
The next-man-up mentality is something NFL teams live by each season, knowing injuries are a risk every time they step on the field. However, the Lions are going through a brutal spell, and it involves players Campbell and the rest of the team hoped would lead them to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
They were close last season before blowing a halftime lead to the San Francisco 49ers to ultimately lose in the NFC Championship Game. But the Lions returned many of the same players, while shoring up any holes on the roster to go for it again.
Of course, they still own the No. 1 seed at 12-2 on the year with three games remaining. They've clinched their playoff berth and a chance to get to the "Big Game."
But Campbell is going to have to rally the troops once more, and hope for sustained health on this journey for the remainder of the season.
The highest point spread of the NFL season came to fruition on Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens thrashed the New York Giants, 35-14, with Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdown passes to lead the way for the flock.
Baltimore, coming off its Week 14 bye, is now 9-5 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants are eyeing the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft after falling to 2-12.
It was an inauspicious start for the Ravens after Justice Hill got them in terrific field position with a long kickoff return. However, on the first offensive snap, Jackson fumbled what would've been a first down run.
But the Ravens forced back-to-back punts from the Giants before finally getting their way into the colored paint.
It was Mark Andrews finding the end zone on a 13-yard strike by Jackson, and he set a Ravens record in the process with his 48th career score for the most in franchise history.
Andrews finished the game with two catches for 24 yards and the score.
Rashod Bateman, though, was the Ravens’ leading receiver in this game despite having just three catches. He scored twice for Jackson, including a beautiful pass on the run for a 49-yard score.
Bateman would score again on the very next drive, this time from 20 yards out in the back left of the end zone.
The game would see a 21-7 score at halftime, with the Giants able to get Devin Singletary into the end zone to at least get on the board.
But Baltimore set the tone in the second half with a 12-play drive that churned 6:38 of clock and made it 28-7 with Devontez Walker scoring his first career touchdown, a 21-yard catch-and-run.
Meanwhile, the Giants had Tim Boyle enter the game after Tommy DeVito suffered a head injury. He was able to find Malik Nabers, who had 10 catches for 82 yards, in the end zone.
But that came after Jackson had found Hill for another long touchdown, this time a 27-yard catch-and-run for his fifth and final touchdown on the day.
Jackson was uber efficient in this one, going 21-for-25 for 290 yards while also rushing for 65 yards on six carries.
It was a rather pedestrian day for Derrick Henry, who rushed 14 times for 67 yards.
A scary scene occurred in the Miami Dolphins-Houston Texans game on Sunday as wide receiver Grant DuBose had to be stretchered off the field with his jersey and pads cut off and his face mask and helmet removed after a bad hit.
The Dolphins receiver, who has been used sparingly this season, ran a slant route and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a quick pass to him for a first down.
However, Texans safety Calen Bullock crashed down in an attempt to break up the pass, and he did his job but at the cost of hurting the receiver. DuBose was down on the turf with Bullock clearly realizing something was wrong.
The game needed to be stopped for 12 minutes as medical staff assessed the situation and made the decision to cut off DuBose's jersey and pads before placing him on a stretcher to get off the field. Every Dolphins player and staff member not attending to DuBose was in a circle on one knee praying for their teammate.
Head coaches Mike McDaniel of the Dolphins and DeMeco Ryans of the Texans embraced as the scene played out as well.
DuBose left the game with what was officially called a head injury.
For the season, DuBose had one catch for 13 yards, which was a first down against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 12.
The Dolphins ended up losing this contest against the Texans, 20-12, in a game in which they needed to come out victorious for playoff implications.
They are now 6-8 on the season with three games remaining, while the Texans could clinch the AFC South if the Indianapolis Colts lose to the Denver Broncos later on Sunday.
Every rookie entering the NFL wishes to make an immediate impact on their team, especially first-round picks who carry loads of expectation when they hear their names called by Commissioner Roger Goodell on Draft night.
After breaking the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Scouting Combine, Xavier Worthy raised his draft stock, entering that zone of being a potential first-round pick.
All offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs were among teams looking for another playmaker to work with Patrick Mahomes on offense. With the 28th overall pick in hand, Worthy was still available, and they wasted no time adding his speed to the roster.
While being over the moon that he was selected in the first round, Worthy quickly realized he had a two-time MVP, three-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowl quarterback that would be throwing him the football.
One can guess how he feels about that after 13 games and a 12-1 record.
"It’s kinda like a dream come true," Worthy told Fox News Digital ahead of Week 15.
Worthy understood there was no time to geek out over Mahomes being his new signal caller. It was time to get to work, and he quickly realized that all the winning that comes with being a Chief is business at the end of the day.
"You see why they win when you’re here," Worthy explained. "They work hard, they go about their business the right way. They have the slogan called ‘The Formula’ – I feel like Coach Reid has hit [on] that in an interview. They really go about that every day, and I feel like it says a lot about the program."
Of course, Worthy was not guaranteed to slot right in and get working with Mahomes immediately. First, he had to learn the playbook and then develop chemistry with his new quarterback on the practice field and in games.
Well, his first touch of his career, Worthy took an end-around flip from Mahomes to the house for a 21-yard rushing touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
Since then, Worthy has totaled 38 receptions on 67 targets for 448 yards with four touchdowns through the air, as well as 54 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
He feels the trust a quarterback needs in his receiver is there, leading to some pretty good first-year numbers.
"Pat, he’s more of a guy that’s like, if you show you can go out there and do it, and he trusts you, and you earn his trust, he’s going to trust you throughout the season," Worthy said about Mahomes. "I feel like I’ve earned his trust, and I feel like we’ve got something good rolling."
A prime example of that came in the latest close-game victory for the Chiefs, which required Mahomes to orchestrate another game-winning drive.
On fourth-and-6 with the game on the line, Mahomes was scrambling around the pocket as the Los Angeles Chargers' pass rush was barreling through his offensive line, looking for a receiver to give him a chance to extend the drive.
Mahomes could have looked to Travis Kelce, DeAndre Hopkins or other veteran options if he wished. However, knowing where Worthy was going to be, he released the ball just as he turned around to look at his quarterback. Worthy ran back to the ball, secured it and kept the team's chances of winning alive.
Job well done, even if there was some pain involved.
"I actually dislocated my finger on that same play. I popped it back in right after that – you can see it in the video," Worthy said. "But, it’s huge to be able to have that trust from my quarterback in the NFL. I feel like everybody talks about being that guy in the NFL, so just to be able to build that trust and stack days with your quarterback is huge."
The stacked wins have resulted in what every rookie wants: playoff football.
Worthy gets that as the Chiefs secured the AFC West title for the ninth straight season after beating the Chargers, and the rookie is excited to continue developing that relationship with Mahomes to hopefully help their case for a third straight Super Bowl victory.
IMPACTING YOUTH IN KC WITH DICKS
While Worthy has the pleasure of gracing a field with Mahomes, Kelce and so many other Chiefs legends, he also gets to impact the Kansas City community just like them, too.
That is exactly what happened with this year's DICK’S Holiday Shopping Sprint, where two lucky winners – Tanisha and her 8-year-old son, AJ, as well as Molly from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City – curated a $2,500 holiday wish list that Worthy collected with his record-breaking speed and brought to them personally.
"It was fun," he said of the experience. "It was always something I wanted to do just to give back to the community where I’m at, and it was just fun to see the reactions on the kids’ faces. It brightened my day."
From rumors, to a finalized deal, to a press conference, the last 24 hours for the North Carolina Tar Heels have been a whirlwind as legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick will now lead a college football program for the first time in his illustrious career.
Belichick sat in front of the media during his introductory press conference as the new head coach for the Tar Heels – an idea no college football fan would've fathomed until rumors began to swirl last week about his interest in running the program.
It was always thought that Belichick, who is 27 wins away from becoming the head coach with the most victories in NFL history, would return to the pros if he wished to continue coaching.
But the 72-year-old explained on Thursday afternoon why he chose to go the college route.
"I’ve always wanted to coach in college football," Belichick said. "It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really a dream come true."
Belichick is obviously being modest by saying his time in the NFL was just "good."
Before the Kansas City Chiefs, he developed the New England Patriots into a dynasty, winning six Super Bowls and racking up wins that brought about the argument of greatest NFL head coach of all time.
College football, though, is a completely different beast, especially in this new NIL world. But these aren't waters Belichick just wants to dip his toes in – he's diving straight in and not looking to get out.
"I didn't come here to leave," he said, dispelling thoughts for now that he's just trying to coach again before that next NFL opportunity opens up.
Belichick did say that, while the process may be different, the pros and college do have "a lot of parallels." It's why Michael Lombardi is coming in as the team's general manager, someone who knows how Belichick functions given their time together in New England.
"I think that's the reason for the general structure with Michael as the general manager and myself as the coach and working collaboratively as we have done in a professional structure," Belichick explained.
For this big leap to be successful, Belichick knows he just needs to take things one day at a time. That starts with putting together his coaching staff, which he has already touched on with Freddie Kitchens coming aboard. More announcements should be made in the coming weeks.
Recruiting, not drafting, will also be interesting to watch with Belichick, but reports have indicated his wish for UNC to have the proper NIL resources to land top talent to make the program competitive.
As someone who was around the program as a kid – his father, Steve Belichick, coached with the Tar Heels in the 1950s – he understands what it means to be successful in Chapel Hill.
"There's a lot of pride in this program, and I want to do everything I can to help take it to the highest level," he said.
Olympic gold medalist Jack Alexy will have to make room on his trophy shelf after taking home his first individual gold medal at the short course World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest on Thursday.
Racing in the men’s 100-meter freestyle final, Alexy held off Brazil’s Guilherme Santos to win gold with an official time of 45.38 seconds. Teammate Chris Guilano finished in fourth, just a hair behind, with a time of 45:51.
Wednesday’s gold medal marks the second for Alexy in Budapest.
Alongside Guilano, Luke Hobson, and Kieran Smith, the Americans took home gold in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay. They set a world record and Alexy’s lead-off time of 45.05 set both an American and world championship record.
Alexy was just under second behind the world record in the 100-meter free which Australia’s Kyle Chalmers set in 2021 (44.84).
The Americans continued to dominate on day three of the short course worlds with even more records and gold medals after starting off the competition with five world records and four golds on day one.
On Thursday, Gretchen Walsh, the women’s 4x200-meter free relay team, Kate Douglass, Lilly King, Regan Smith, Carson Foster, and Kieran Smith all picked up medals for Team USA.
The competition continues through Sunday with a host of different events still to come.
Kansas City Chiefs rookie receiver Xavier Worthy knows it is his job at the end of the day, but he is having a lot of fun playing with his team each week.
How could he not be happy when he is 12-1 to start off his first season in the NFL. Not many rookies get that luxury.
However, the first-round pick learned quickly what comes with the territory of being a team in search of three Super Bowls – playing the villain role.
Worthy, who broke the NFL Scouting Combine 40-yard dash record back in April, said he hears the outside noise, especially those wanting the Chiefs to lose each week.
"I feel like everybody just wants us to lose," Worthy told Fox News Digital after highlighting the fun he had with the DICKS Holiday Shopping Sprint to impact kids in the Kansas City area for the holidays.
"Every week, it’s a new excuse. First, the goal post is helping us. Then, it’s the refs helping us. I mean, we can’t get a break. But it’s cool to have that. It shows that everybody wants us to lose, we have a target on our backs, and we have to continue working each and every week."
The Chiefs are a dynasty, and Worthy entered the fray right after they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime to collect back-to-back Vince Lombardi trophies.
Just ask any other dynasty in the NFL what happens when they are on top. Fans will raise them up and ultimately want to watch them fall with a new winner crowned.
However, Worthy brings up a reason why some fans cannot stand to watch the Chiefs stack wins. They have been in so many close games this season, but they have maintained their winning streak in those one-score bouts.
For the last 15 games that have been determined by one score, the Chiefs have come out victorious. Yes, the goal post was involved this past week as Matthew Wright doinked it off the left side, but it went through to beat the Los Angeles Chargers. Additionally, there have been some controversial calls that have gone the Chiefs' way in the end.
Being the villain, though, is not something the Chiefs care about. They embrace it, and Worthy is just getting a taste of what Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and other veterans on the team have been feeling since last season.
"It fuels us," Worthy explained. "A lot of people say it’s hate, like, ‘Oh, people are always going against us.’ But how we look at it, the world’s watching us. You have all these eyes – you make the best of the opportunity with all these eyes on you."
Worthy is no stranger to having a target on his back after playing for a large college program like the Texas Longhorns.
However, he touched on the senior leadership that helps guide the pact, especially Mahomes, who he continues to build a rapport with each week.
The proof is in the game tape, as Mahomes, scrambling on fourth-and-6 to continue the team's game-winning drive, threw a pass to Worthy with the game on the line, and he came back to the ball, secured it and kept the drive alive.
He even injured himself on the play, but his quarterback trusted him with the game on the line. A little pain is worth it in that case.
"I actually dislocated my finger on that same play," he said. "I popped it back in right after that – you can see it in the video. But, it’s huge to be able to have that trust from my quarterback in the NFL. I feel like everybody talks about being that guy in the NFL, so just to be able to build that trust and stack days with your quarterback is huge."
With four games remaining and the AFC West title locked up for the ninth straight season, Worthy knows he will also be a rookie that enjoys playoff football at the end of the regular season.
He is also well aware that the target will be even larger with the Chiefs looking to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls.
If Kansas City has to be the villain to do so, then that is perfectly fine for Worthy, who is solely focused on being the team's hero when it is his turn to make a play.
IMPACTING YOUTH IN KC WITH DICKS
While Worthy has the pleasure of gracing a field with Mahomes, Kelce and so many other Chiefs legends, he also gets to impact the Kansas City community just like them, too.
That is exactly what happened with this year's DICK’S Holiday Shopping Sprint, where two lucky winners – Tanisha and her 8-year-old son, AJ, as well as Molly from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City – curated a $2,500 holiday wish list that Worthy collected with his record-breaking speed and brought to them personally.
"It was fun," he said of the experience. "It was always something I wanted to do just to give back to the community where I’m at, and it was just fun to see the reactions on the kids’ faces. It brightened my day."
Worth took pictures, had some catches and enjoyed the opportunity to make these kids and their families smile.
"Surprising our athletes with gifts off their list was such a delight," said Melissa Christian, vice president of global brand and category marketing at DICK’S Sporting Goods. "This was another way we could meet our athletes where they are – literally! – and to do to it in record time by having Xavier Worthy, who is known for his speed, shop and deliver to doorsteps was even more fun. He was the perfect partner for this year’s Holiday Shopping Sprint."
Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels finalized a deal for the 72-year-old to become their next head football coach, the university officially announced on Wednesday night.
"I am excited for the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill. I grew up around college football with my Dad and treasured those times," Belichick wrote in a statement. "I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill."
OutKick's Trey Wallace reports that UNC will give Belichick a five-year deal worth upwards of $50 million.
The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach remained interested in returning to the sidelines at some point in the future, but it was always expected that he would make his way back to the NFL after missing out on a new gig following his departure from the New England Patriots before this season. After all, Belichick had been in the league in some role since 1975 prior to this season.
But earlier this week, The Guardian US reported that Belichick agreed to become the new head coach in Chapel Hill, adding that Belichick handed the school a 400 page "organizational bible" with structure, payment plans, staffing choices etc.
Wallace reports one of the biggest components to the deal was Belichick having enough NIL money to compete in the recruiting space, which was agreed to. He also wanted to pick his assistant coaches, and UNC is giving them the resources to get who he wants, even if buyouts are necessary.
Among those assistants expected to join the staff is Stephen Belichick, his son who serves as Washington's defensive coordinator. It was reported that the elder Belichick had the unusual request of wanting his son to become his successor, stepping in when he decides to leave the program.
This will mark Belichick's first stint as a college football coach. His father, Steve Belichick, was a longtime assistant coach at Navy. But he did have a stint in the 1950s with the Tar Heels.
Belichick has spent much of the ongoing NFL season in the media spotlight after his interviews for NFL jobs didn't lead to a job offer.
While he interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons in January, the franchise opted against extending an offer. Belichick did not appear to draw much interest from any other NFL team, but his regular appearances on ESPN's "ManningCast" and the CW's "Inside the NFL" have kept him close to football.
During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" earlier this week, Belichick confirmed he had talks with UNC about their head coaching vacancy, adding that he spent the 11 months since his departure from the Patriots taking a "longer look" at college football throughout the season as opposed to during the spring lead-up to the draft as a pro coach.
"So it’s been, it’s been a good year for me. I’ve learned a lot," Belichick said. "So, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Chancellor [Lee] Roberts, and we’ve had a couple of good conversations. So we’ll see how it goes."
Belichick opted not to go into more detail when asked by McAfee. Instead, Belichick offered a quip about his reputation for giving terse responses during news conferences with the Patriots.
"Yeah, let’s just leave it at that, Pat," Belichick said with a grin. "I mean, I don’t want to give out too much information. I want to get my press conference aura back."
Belichick shared some details about the makeup of a college program if he were a head coach.
"If I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL," he said. "It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching and techniques that would transfer to the NFL."
Belichick is one of the winningest coaches in NFL history. He finished the 2023 season with 333 career wins — which places him in second on the all-time coaches wins list. Don Shula's 347 wins still leads all coaches.
Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels are working to close a deal to make him their next head football coach, which would be his first-ever time coaching in college.
However, ESPN reported that "there are still issues that both sides need to work through."
The report adds that the "ball is in Belichick’s court" as UNC officials are indeed on board with him taking over the program. And there is expected to be a "resolution" soon.
In fact, OutKick's Trey Wallace reports it's come down to just NIL money, which was among the issues that needed to be worked out in the negotiations. If that can be agreed to, an emergency trustee meeting would be called to finalize the deal.
What exactly are the other issues? Well, the potential role of Belichick’s son, Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick, is one of them.
It was reported by The Guardian that, among the elder Belichick’s stipulations, his son would be named his heir to the head coach role once the 72-year-old moves on, whenever that would be.
ESPN added Belichick’s salary for taking over and more need to be ironed out before a deal can be agreed to.
It came as a shock when Belichick’s name was floated for the Tar Heels' vacant position after longtime head coach Mack Brown said he wouldn’t return after this season.
Some of Belichick’s ex-pupils, like Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, had some fun on FOX NFL Sunday this past week mimicking their old coach trying to deal with recruiting in this NIL age of college sports.
"There’s a lot of things he can do, and obviously he’s tremendous, and even showing his personality. But getting out there on the recruiting trail and dealing with all these college kids," Brady said on the NFL pregame show. "’Listen, do you really want to come here?’" Brady said, acting as Belichick. "’I mean, we don’t really want you anyway, but I guess you could come, we’ll figure out if you play.’"
But this wasn’t just a publicity stunt. There’s more than just mutual interest in Belichick’s return to coaching in Chapel Hill.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Belichick and UNC officials spent five hours discussing a potential deal on Sunday, and in typical Belichick fashion, he wouldn’t divulge any details during his weekly spot on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday morning.
He admitted having a "couple of good conversations" with Lee Roberts, UNC’s chancellor, and added, "We’ll see how that goes."
If a deal goes through, it would be one of the most polarizing head coach hires for a college program in history, as Belichick has only ever been a head coach in the NFL, where he won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
His time with the franchise came to an end before this 2024 season. They mutually parted ways and Belichick’s attempts at finding another role elsewhere were all for naught. He has since joined the sports media space, offering his insight to various outlets, including ESPN, but being open to another opportunity in football was always in the cards.
However, it was always expected that such an opportunity would come from the NFL, and there are several head coaching roles already open in the league, making this situation even more surprising.
But Belichick told McAfee and his crew what would happen if he were to become a college football coach.
"If I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL," Belichick said. "It would be a professional program: training, nutrition, scheme, coaching and techniques that would transfer to the NFL."
Simply put, Belichick would bring to college football the system he knows works in the NFL, aiming for good players to join his team who will one day turn pro with the tools necessary for easy acclimation.
Time will tell if that program will be at UNC, but it appears some boxes need to be checked before a groundbreaking deal crosses the finish line.
