Category: Football

Apr 9, 2026, 03:00 PM ETOpen Extended Reactions

The Justice Department has begun an investigation into whether the NFL has violated anticompetitive practices with its television contracts that require consumers to pay subscription costs to watch some games, sources confirmed to ABC News.

“This is about affordability and creating an even playing field for providers,” a government official told ABC News.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the news, writing that the “nature and scope” of the Justice Department’s investigation were unknown.

The NFL has an antitrust exemption for the negotiating of its television contracts through the Sports Broadcast Act of 1961.

The NFL currently

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Jeff LegwoldApr 9, 2026, 01:43 PM ET

CloseJeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.Open Extended Reactions

The 2026 NFL draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, and it continues with Rounds 2-3 on April 24 and Rounds 4-7 on April 25 (ESPN, ABC and

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Jenna LaineApr 9, 2026, 09:56 AM ET

CloseJenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the team since 2009. Jenna is a former cheerleader at the University of South Florida and speaks to the consistency of the program as being one of the top best in the nation.Open Extended Reactions

TAMPA, Fla. – If it were up to Gerald McCoy, his former Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammate Lavonte David, who retired last month after 14 seasons, would be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday —

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Kevin SeifertApr 9, 2026, 09:00 AM ET

CloseKevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.Open Extended Reactions

The UFL has an agreement to place a new team in Oklahoma City in time for the 2028 season, the league announced Thursday morning.

According to UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon, Oklahoma City will be one of two expansion markets that

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Jeff LegwoldApr 9, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CloseJeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.Open Extended Reactions

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As the selections roll in during the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on April 23, the Denver Broncos‘ decision-makers will

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Mel Kiper Jr.

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Mel Kiper Jr.

Football analystMel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on “SportsCenter,” ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast, and he writes regularly for ESPN+., 

Matt Miller

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Matt Miller

NFL draft analystMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at

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Ryan McFaddenApr 9, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders‘ history of pairing a first-time NFL head coach with a rookie, No. 1 overall pick quarterback might temper expectations for the eventual partnership between Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza, especially in Year 1.

Nearly 20 years ago, the Raiders hired Lane Kiffin

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Ryan McFaddenApr 8, 2026, 06:00 PM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

HENDERSON, Nev. — Kirk Cousins is well aware of the situation he’s walking into with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Unlike in Atlanta, when he felt misled by the Falcons after they drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in 2023 despite signing him to a long-term deal,

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DJ Bien-AimeApr 8, 2026, 12:48 PM ET

CloseDJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He’s a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show “Talkin’ Texans.”Open Extended Reactions

HOUSTON — The Texans have exercised the 2027 fifth-year options for quarterback C.J. Stroud and All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr., a source told ESPN’s Field Yates on Wednesday.

Stroud will make $25.9 million and Anderson will receive

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