Category: Football

The 2025 Vikings offense endured a three-headed quarterback monster that led the league in interceptions and finished last in third-down success rate, with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy making a majority of the starts. But even with the ugly situation at the most important position in football, Minnesota still won nine games and just missed the playoffs. Now, McCarthy is set to battle free-agent signing Kyler Murray to start for Minnesota, and the former No. 1 overall pick brings an interception rate more than half of what Minnesota endured last season.

We’re taking a look at everything you need to know

Link to Original Article - on ESPN

Mike Tomlin surprised NFL fans everywhere by stepping down after taking the Steelers to their first division title since 2020, and he leaves behind a legacy of 13 trips to the playoffs and one Super Bowl championship. Mike McCarthy steps in as only the fourth Steelers head coach since the merger, and he brings his own Super Bowl championship, fittingly won by beating the Steelers in their most recent trip to the title game. He’ll reunite with Aaron Rodgers in what is expected to be the four-time MVP’s final season as he tries to fend off Father Time for one

Link to Original Article - on ESPN

The Packers went into 2025 with sky-high expectations after adding Micah Parsons to a strong core from the previous season, but Green Bay took a step back on both sides of the ball to barely scrape into the playoffs and lose in the wild-card round. The former Cowboys edge rusher did his part with 12.5 sacks and first-team All-Pro honors, but with only one other Pro Bowl player on the roster, the Packers struggled to find elite production outside of their big preseason acquisition. With several key contributors leaving this offseason and not much done to replace them on paper,

Link to Original Article - on ESPN

While the long list of Cleveland Browns starting quarterbacks this century has become a meme, the head coaching position wasn’t much better for Cleveland for most the decade, with 10 different head coaches (including interims) during the team’s 17-year hiatus from the playoffs starting in 2003. That changed with the hiring of Kevin Stefanski, who took the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 and again in 2023, but the team decided it was time for a change after another last place finish. Enter Todd Monken, who previously served as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2019. He’ll be tasked with turning the

Link to Original Article - on ESPN

This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.

🤯 Five things to know Tuesday Two blockbuster trades have shaken up the NFL. On a day when everyone was expecting one big trade, we got a 2-for-1 special. As expected, the Eagles dealt star WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The surprise of the day was the Rams, who swung a mammoth deal

Link to Original Article - on ESPN

In 2023, the Lions won the division title for the first time in 30 years, going 12-5 with a +66 point differential. Two years later, the Lions suffered disappointment after entering the season as a Super Bowl contender but finishing just 9-8. However, last year’s Lions had a +68 point differential, suggesting the slip was less a structural collapse and more like luck not being on their side. With a fourth straight season in the top five for scoring, the offense clearly was able to overcome the loss of talented offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, so taking the reins of the

Link to Original Article - on ESPN

With Joe Burrow missing significant action for the second time in three years and the defense continuing to be a major issue, the 2025 Bengals limped to a 6-11 record. But that wasn’t enough to cost head coach Zac Taylor his job, making him the only returning head coach in the division. He’ll have to hope Burrow can play all 17 games this year while the defense takes a step forward in its second season under Al Golden, with the help of a number of reinforcements up front added this offseason.

We’re taking a look at everything you need to know

Link to Original Article - on ESPN