Latest Nfl News | Fox News

Here it is: The best and the worst of the NFL's annual tradition of the schedule release videos

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:08:52 -0400

NFL schedule release day seems like a national holiday for football fans. They just can’t wait to see how creative, or how lame their teams and others around the league will share the upcoming season’s schedule. This year didn’t disappoint, overall. I say that because some teams did disappoint. That team likes to disappoint with their on-field play as well, but I won’t give it away just yet.

Without further ado, here are the winners and losers of NFL schedule release day.

Winners

Los Angeles Rams

At first, I thought it was going to be lame. It didn’t hook me from the start, coming across as low effort with the ASMR food presentation, but they delivered.

49ERS GM JOHN LYNCH SKEPTICAL OF RAMS' DECISION TO DRAFT QB TY SIMPSON WITH NO. 13 OVERALL PICK

From poking fun at the Washington Commanders changing their name from the Redskins, to the conspiracy that the San Francisco 49ers power station near their practice facility was causing injury to the players via electromagnetic field emissions, to trolling the Democrat mayor of Philadelphia butchering the spelling of Eagles, it was a chef's kiss. Pun intended.

Oh, and they have a humorous "Napoleon Dynamite" reference at the very end with their mascot. Another nice touch.

Atlanta Falcons

The Dirty Birds put together a compilation of "This is SportsCenter"-style commercials to share their season’s schedule. The new President of Football Operations and Falcons’ legend, Matt Ryan recreated his infamous "GET F****** SET!" call, but this time in an office setting. The release included many of the Falcons starters, including Bijan Robinson and Drake London. They poked fun at how to pronounce Bijan and London met a co-worker named Kendrick, alluding to the Kendrick vs. Drake rap beef. Members of St. André Golf, a prominent Atlanta-based comedy trio, Aaron Chewning, Hannah Rae Aslesen and Jonathan Pawlowsk, were also featured.

To get all of your star players to participate, and your new coach to play a role too, is no easy task. Well done, Atlanta.

Las Vegas Raiders

Speaking of using star players, well, let’s just say star player (No offense Kirk). Raiders quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, who was signed in the offseason after his release from Atlanta, teamed up with the #1 overall pick in this year’s draft, former Indiana Hoosier and national champion, Fernando Mendoza, to parody John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell’s comedy, Step Brothers.

The video starts by recreating the classic nicknames stand-off scene from the movie, but instead of "Nighthawk" and "Dragon", Mendoza tells Cousins to call him "The Mendolorian", a reference to Star Wars’ show The Mandalorian, and Cousins telling Mendoza to call him "Kirko Chains." It’s hysterically poor acting, that’ll give you a Napolean Dynamite feel at times, and the tucked-in shirts are a funny touch.

Cousins in a tucked-in Yoda shirt was comical, and the two measuring the size of their hands was a witty PG version of the movie’s antics.

Now fans hope the team’s play on the field will be as good as this video. If it’s anything remotely close, the season will be a success.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Rams awarded the Chargers a "Certificate of Achievement" for "Best Schedule Release Video" and I couldn’t agree more. My inner child was loving the Halo-themed release that was littered with Easter eggs trolling their opponents.

One of the characters throws a sticky bomb at a Broncos-themed character, referencing Bo Nix’s injury last season. They poke fun at Texans QB C.J. Stroud giving Bears QB Caleb Williams advice after their primetime showdown in 2024. Diana Russini and Mike Vrabel’s affair is referenced with "1 Hour Until Next Photo Dump" with a "message" from the New York Post. They gave the Chiefs character "zebra armor" so it looked like a ref. The Rams were mentioned with a Colorado Avalanche logo making fun of their GM wearing an Avalanche jersey in the NFL Draft room.

It was so well presented with countless references to viral moments and gaffes. There’s a reason the video has more than 16 million views in 22 hours since it was posted.

A+ Chargers. A+.

HOW THE MIKE VRABEL-DIANNA RUSSINI SCANDAL COULD DERAIL THE PATRIOTS' SEASON ON THE FIELD

Tennessee Titans

The Titans’ went will the man of the street approach again and it paid off big time.

Tennessee’s social media team went up and down Broadway, and the surrounding area in downtown Nashville to find lookalikes of key figures of their 2026 opponents.

From Will Compton, to Dominico "Big Dom" DiSandro, the chief security officer of the Philadelphia Eagles, to some random white dude in a Myles Garrett jersey who looked nothing like Garrett, it was another cheesy, extremely low-budget video that is easily in my top 3 of best schedule releases.

Losers

Arizona Cardinals

I’ll keep this brief. The Arizona Cardinals put together a Zoom call with what looks like the AI-version of the mascots of all of their opponents, led by an AI Muppet-like figure presented as the "Director of Mascot Match-ups."

This was hilariously bad. The sound drops off in a way that isn’t properly explained and it sounds like a voiceover you’d hear after recording a voice memo on your phone.

This may be worst schedule release I’ve ever seen. Incredibly forgettable and hard to get through.

New York Jets

This video is arguably not as bad as Aaron Rodgers' Achilles tendon rupturing in the first quarter of his first start in a Jets uniform, but it’s close.

The team went arts and crafts in this year’s release, and I went to bed. This would be an entertaining video to show up on your doom scroll late at night, seeing how paint colors can be mixed and matched to present the color of your opponent, but two and a half minutes of this? Come on. Give your fans something to get excited about.

JETS MAKE NFL HISTORY WITH SEASON OF UNPRECEDENTED FUTILITY AND RECORD-BREAKING FAILURES

Not a single word was spoken in this video, but it screamed, "BORING!" to me.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

It’s fitting that two of the worst teams in the league would present schedule releases like this.

Overall, the league’s social media teams do a solid job. It’s fun to look for the subtle and not-so-subtle digs at each other and spend a few hours checking each team’s page to see what they cooked up. It got me fired up for the season, as it did for you as well, I’m sure.

Former NFL defensive end Josh Mauro died from fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol overdose: report

Fri, 15 May 2026 17:57:16 -0400

Former NFL player Josh Mauro died from a drug overdose, the California Post reported, citing the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.

The Post said that Mauro died from "acute combined fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol intoxication."

Mauro's death was ruled accidental, the outlet added.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Greg Mauro, Josh’s father, announced his son’s death in a Facebook post last month, saying he passed on April 23.

"With many tears and broken hearts, yet anchored in the unshakable certainty that our precious Josh Mauro is now healed and made new – live in the presence of the Lord – we humbly covet your prayers as our family walks through the devastating loss of our amazing son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend," Greg Mauro wrote in the post.

"On Thursday, April 23rd, Josh breathed his last breath on this Earth and his first breath in heaven. The Lord has been our strength in this unimaginable moment. Your prayers for continued strength and comfort mean more to us than words could ever express."

WISCONSIN SENATOR SAYS 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' AFTER NFL PUTS PACKERS HOLIDAY GAME BEHIND NETFLIX PAYWALL

Mauro entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014. But the Steelers didn’t hold on to the 6-foot-6, 290-pound defensive end long, cutting him during final roster moves before the start of the season.

However, Mauro landed with the Arizona Cardinals, and he would spend the next four seasons in the desert helping their defensive line.

Over six seasons with the Cardinals, Mauro collected 83 combined tackles and four sacks across 55 games (29 starts). He worked himself into a starting role in 2016, when he saw seven tackles for loss across 15 games.

Mauro also spent time with the New York Giants and then-Oakland Raiders before a return to the Cardinals for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Mauro was born in England, where his father was stationed for work. He would eventually move from England to Texas and work up a high school resume that allowed him to play Division I football at Stanford.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Across 80 career games, Mauro had five sacks, 130 combined tackles (20 for loss), two forced fumbles and five passes defended.

Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Jena Sims covers her butt with a bow at the SI Swimsuit party, the NFL saves us from Romo & is Star Wars dead?

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:09:20 -0400

We made it. We did it. Another week in the books. The LIBS let us get to another Friday, and another big weekend. We won ... again!

And now, we ride. Middle weekend of May. We're officially at the halfway point of the month. Hard to believe, but this time next week we'll be gearing up for Memorial Day weekend. The (un)official start of summer. Wasn't it just January? Thank goodness it's not anymore. Winter is miserable. Spring is overrated. Summer is the real start of the year. Let's roll.

Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Jena Sims wraps herself in a bow as Brooks Koepka attempts to stay in contention at the PGA Championship. He should be in good shape after this!

What else? I've got the best of the rest from a loaded week of #content, Shane Lowry had himself a MORNING in Philly and the NFL did us a major favor this year with the schedule release. You'll see.

Thank you, Goodell!

Grab you a pizza for National Pizza Party Day, and settle in for a Friday 'Cap!

Jena Sims is ready for Brooks to break out

I've got nothing to say about pizza. I know I usually offer up some sort of hot take right around here, but I don't really have one in terms of pizza.

It's delicious. Everyone loves it. A bad slice of pizza is better than 99% of other things in this world. It's like golf. A bad round of golf — and that's most of them — is better than a good day anywhere else.

Personally, my perfect slice includes sausage and banana peppers, but I'm not even going to attempt a Mount Rushmore here. It's too subjective. I will say, the people who use their napkins to soak up the grease before eating it are insane. My wife is one of them, by the way. It's exhausting. We're better than that.

HILARY DUFF'S LATEST INSTAGRAM CONTENT HAS SUBURBAN MILLENNIAL MOMS GASPING, A TENNIS MATCH TURNS NASTY & MEAT

You're already eating PIZZA. What are you trying to accomplish with that move? Soak up a few extra calories? It's like the people who order sweet potato fries instead of regular fries because they're trying to be healthy. A little cutesy for me. Let's act like Americans.

And now, let's start class ... with Brooks Koepka's wife, Jena Sims, putting on an absolute CLINIC at the SI Swimsuit launch party!

What a week of #content!

Big week for Sports Illustrated. We gave them a lot of crap for years because they went woke. If we're gonna criticize them, we also have to applaud them when they do something right.

To SI's credit, they seem to be righting the ship. Hilary Duff. Sophie Cunningham. Jena Sims. Olivia Dunne. It's never too late to right a wrong, folks. This is a good lesson for everyone.

Good to see Jena Sims back in the saddle. Also, good to see Brooks Koepka competing again at a major. The win is coming. I can feel it in my bones.

Speaking of, let's get to the best #content from a big week. We'll go ahead and start in Aronimink!

No more Romo slobbering, Star Wars is dead & what's the best time for an NFL game?

Another solid week. The internet never stops. It's a 24/7/365 machine, and you guys delivered once again. Nice work.

Couple thoughts ...

This PGA player who was late to his tee time yesterday is nuts. "It's not my job to be 10 minutes early" is one of the dumber quotes I've ever heard out of a professional, right behind him telling Marty Smith that "one second is hard to define." No, it's not. It's literally the easiest thing in the world to define. Amazing.
I'd love to show the actual video of Shane's shank into the water, but the dictators who run the PGA Tour have already removed all the videos from the internet because they are truly insufferable.
I've long maintained that Will Ferrell isn't funny. He single-handedly ruined The Office.
I called the number on the Chiefs' release video. It's cute. I might be out on release videos, though. This Matt Ryan one did get me, though:

4 NFL TEAMS TO INVEST IN AND SHORT AT THE SPORTSBOOKS AFTER THE 2026 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASE SHOW

Good stuff.

Speaking of the Falcons, let's rapid-fire this Friday class into a big weekend of shenanigans. First up? Where do we land on this?

As a Dolphins fan, I can assure the NFL that they will regret putting Tua in primetime three times this upcoming season. That will be a disaster.

NFL’S GROSSLY EXPANDED NATIONAL SCHEDULE IS MAKING REDZONE AND SUNDAY TICKET LESS ESSENTIAL

But that's not my point here. What I really want to ask the class is ... what's your ideal starting time for your NFL team?

My Dolphins have no primetime games this season because they will most likely be terrible, but I'm fine with it. In fact, I'm more than fine with it. I prefer it.

For me, the ideal start time is 1 p.m. on Sundays. That's peak NFL football. I want my team playing in the 1 p.m. window every single week. Naturally, the Dolphins start this year with back-to-back 4:25 games, which are just awful.

So that's your homework for the weekend — what's the ideal start time for an NFL game? Let me know!

While we all may differ on that one, here's one thing we can all 100000% agree on:

YES! The NFL finally yanked the obligatory Mahomes/Allen matchup away from CBS and Tony Romo. Thank God. What a blessing.

For years we've been forced to listen to Tony Romo absolutely slobber over these two for three straight hours. It's miserable. It's insufferable.

Not anymore! That's the good news. The bad news?

NO!!!!!! We go from Romo to Collinsworth! What a disaster. Head on a swivel in that booth, Tirico! It's gonna get uncomfortable.

Finally, on the way out ... anyone excited for this new Star Wars movie coming out next week? The early reviews are in, and they are, generally, horrific. I wrote about it this morning if you really wanna get in the weeds.

But, it did get me thinking, did you even know there was a new Star Wars movie coming out? I didn't until about a month ago.

As a '90s kid who grew up during the prequels, the lack of hype around this "movie" is ... depressing.

My God. Those were the days. Remember the old Taco Bell/KFC/Pizza Hut restaurants? Absolute kingdoms of the '90s and early-2000s. And they were always ALL-IN on Star Wars. A new movie was their Super Bowl.

And now? Crickets. Sad.

OK, that's it for today — and this week. Good work, everyone. May is halfway over. June is quickly approaching.

Have a good weekend. Let's keep the momentum up and finish this month strong.

See you Monday.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

Ideal time for an NFL game? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

NFL insists Vrabel-Russini scandal not considered in scheduling Patriots for 2026 kickoff game

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:34:31 -0400

The NFL considered multiple factors in scheduling its 2026 regular-season kickoff game with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and in picking the New England Patriots as the opponent, league executives insist the drama surrounding the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal played no part in their choice.

So, yes, the league would have us believe it did not seriously weigh the sizeable elephant in the room.

"Look, we focused on the football game and the reach of the Super Bowl, and that alone is an incredible story," NFL Executive Vice President Hans Schroeder said Friday during a league conference call.

CHARGERS TROLL PATRIOTS OVER VRABEL-RUSSINI SCANDAL IN SCHEDULE RELEASE VIDEO

Schroeder made the point that the NFL didn't consider the enduring drama that has become a shadow over the Patriots this offseason following the publication of photos showing their head coach spending time with the former reporter for The Athletic holding hands and embracing on the roof of a private bungalow at a Sedona, Ariz., resort.

Those photos and others that followed eventually led to Russini resigning from her job, deleting all her social media accounts, Vrabel being asked about it multiple times in press conferences and missing the last day of the April draft in order to spend time with his family in Utah and get "counseling."

"How do we deliver the best game into the best window?" Schroeder said, outlining the NFL's thinking on setting a Super Bowl rematch as its kickoff game. "And in this case, it felt like that rematch is going to be the most exciting when you can start it out of the box.

"...We liked the idea of really celebrating the Seahawks, giving them a moment to start this year to celebrate their last year. And so we like the idea of opening on NBC on Wednesday, and really using that as a chance to celebrate the rematch, but celebrate the Seattle specifically."

This, by the way, falls into line with the hands-off manner the NFL has viewed the entire Vrabel-Russini scandal. The league said early on that Vrabel was not subject to the Personal Conduct Policy as a result of the photos and the rumors they created.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the NFL Draft that it was a club matter for the Patriots to handle.

But while the league is declining to get involved in any way (perhaps rightly so) other clubs aren't looking away and neither are fans.

FANS ROAST PATRIOTS FOR THEIR MOTHER'S DAY SALUTE IN LIGHT OF VRABEL-RUSSINI SCANDAL

It should be noted that both the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings referenced the relationship between the coach and former reporter in their schedule release videos on Thursday evening, with the Chargers getting significant attention around the league for their move.

The Patriots themselves suffered something of an embarrassing time on their own social media account when they posted a Mother's Day salute on Sunday.

Some fans in the replies of that post pointed out, often in colorful ways, the apparent disconnect between a team lifting up moms while its coach has perhaps emotionally hurt the mother of his children.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

And this stuff is unlikely to stop.

The Patriots are past the draft and schedule release, and players being asked their opinion about their coach in press conferences. It's also unlikely Vrabel will continue to be quizzed about the issue assuming no new photos or revelations become newsworthy.

But the Patriots will be playing preseason games and have nine regular-season away games in 2026. Those will give opposing fans the opportunity to spoof New England's coach and the team by extension about the situation.

Unlike the NFL, those opposing fans might not be solely focused on football when thinking about the Patriots.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Giants star Malik Nabers underwent second surgery to remove scar tissue on injured knee: reports

Fri, 15 May 2026 14:13:32 -0400

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers reportedly underwent a second surgery on his injured knee.

Nabers, 22, initially underwent surgery on his ACL and meniscus on Oct. 28. The second surgery on his knee was to remove scar tissue that was causing stiffness, according to The Athletic.

Nabers’ timeline isn’t expected to be impacted, as the second surgery took place weeks ago and was considered a cleanup, according to multiple reports.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The team is still hopeful that Nabers will play in the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13.

Nabers tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee on Sept. 28 during the Giants’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The win marked Jaxson Dart's first career start, and the rookie quarterback didn’t even get to play a half with his top wide receiver due to the injury.

Nabers was on his way to a dominant sophomore season before the injury. In four games, he had 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

As a rookie, Nabers caught a franchise-record 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns despite poor quarterback play.

The Giants hope that Nabers will continue to thrive as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver for Dart, despite remaking their wide receiver room this offseason.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Wan’Dale Robinson departed in free agency to the Tennessee Titans after he caught 92 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns last season. To replace him, they signed Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III in free agency.

In the NFL Draft, they traded up in the third round to draft Malachi Fields. The Giants also signed tight end Isaiah Likely, giving the 23-year-old quarterback another weapon.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

NFL schedule releases are the antithesis of 'football guy' culture and must be stopped

Fri, 15 May 2026 13:23:16 -0400

Thursday was a huge day for football fans.

Wait, no. Let me rephrase that. Thursday was a huge day for social media nerds and wannabe influencers masquerading as football fans.

You see, Thursday was a little national holiday called NFL Schedule Release Day, a time when 32 social media teams ride the wave of trends experiencing their 15 minutes of fame under the guise of informing their fans what the upcoming season looks like.

I wrote not too long ago about the abomination that was the Kansas City Chiefs' sourdough schedule release soft launch, which they "rectified" by doing a QVC-themed schedule release (hey, kids, remember the '90s?), but Thursday was the big day in which fans of every team got their precious schedule release video.

PAIGE SPIRANAC AND HER MOM STUN THE INTERNET, LANE KIFFIN'S INCREDIBLE SHOT AT OLE MISS & THE NFL DID IT AGAIN

And, like hamsters at a drip feeder, everyone lined up to suck down some of the dopamine being rationed out by their NFL overlords.

Seriously, anyone who got overly excited about this stuff sounds like a 15-year-old girl.

"OMG! Did you see Trevor Lawrence cut his hair?"

Admittedly, there were some cool concepts, like the Colts' Simpsons' video or the Chargers' "Halo"-themed release (I guess they found their social media manager), so I can't knock some of the production work that went into these things (not you, Jets).

Speaking of the Chargers, you know we've reached the days of "late-stage schedule releases" when people are actively anticipating what one team will do.

I couldn't scroll on X for more than 12 seconds on Thursday without everyone predicting whether the Chargers will be the ones to make a Russini-Vrabel reference.

MIKE VRABEL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH DIANNA RUSSINI TURNS PATRIOTS' MOTHER'S DAY POST INTO A TROLLING FRENZY

Guys, it's a freaking schedule of football games and we've turned it into Super Bowl Sunday!

By the way, getting excited about a schedule release even on the face of it, without all the pomp and circumstance of social media managers sniffing their own farts, is lame.

There are 31 other teams and 17 games in a season, and you know you're playing everyone in your division twice. When you add in the fact that where you placed in your division last year determines the strength of your schedule and you'll usually know which other divisions you'll be playing, how many combinations would possibly surprise you?

"Oh man! We have to play the Colts in Indy? I didn't see that coming!"

How? Did you forget Indianapolis had a professional football franchise?

Maybe I'm just speaking as a college football snob who knows everyone his team is playing years in advance, but I just don't get the excitement.

WHICH TEAMS HAVE THE TOUGHEST STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE HEADING INTO COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON?

I found out Florida had a home-and-home with Notre Dame five years ago and we are still five years away from that series even being played (until they expand the Playoff to 84 teams and they cancel all Power 4 non-conference matchups).

September 11, 2032. The Irish are coming to The Swamp. Mark your calendars, folks!

Or should I make a TikTok with Ice Spice rapping every non-conference matchup the Gators have for the next decade with Steve Spurrier sitting on a throne in the background, nodding in approval?

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The whole "social media schedule release arms race" is actually the antithesis of what being a football guy is, anyway.

Getting excited about games that haven't even been played yet. What happened to "one week at a time" and "don't look ahead?"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Vince Lombardi is rolling in his grave as we speak.

Enjoy the memes and nostalgia bait, and wake me up when training camp starts.

Wisconsin senator says 'enough is enough' after NFL puts Packers holiday game behind Netflix paywall

Fri, 15 May 2026 06:39:33 -0400

After the National Football League announced its inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game, a U.S. senator was not pleased.

The Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams will face off in Inglewood, California, on Thanksgiving Eve, and the game is set to be broadcast exclusively on Netflix.

That, of course, requires a paid subscription, which is unacceptable for Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Baldwin last month introduced a bill that would give fans free live broadcasts of their home state's professional sports teams. Shortly after the NFL's announcement, she ripped them.

"As the cost of just about everything continues to rise, the NFL is once again asking Wisconsinites to spend their hard-earned money on another streaming service. Enough is enough," Baldwin said in a statement. "My For the Fans Act would stop this exact scenario and prevent Wisconsin families from being forced to pay for Netflix just to watch the Packers play this Thanksgiving."

A release from Netflix, however, states that its games "will also be available on local, over-the-air broadcast television in the respective team markets." Last year, both of Netflix's games were broadcast on local CBS affiliates.

But, in an email to Fox News Digital, Baldwin's office said that "broad swaths" of Packers fans throughout the state of Wisconsin are left out of the aforementioned "local" media market.

"For the NFL in Wisconsin, our local market is only defined as Green Bay and Milwaukee, leaving the majority of Wisconsin’s media markets (Wausau, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Madison, and Superior) forced to pay to watch the game on streaming. So, while NFL games are available over broadcast for some fans, it leaves the majority of Wisconsin out," Baldwin's office said to Fox News Digital, noting that a similar situation occurred earlier this year for the Packers' playoff game against the Bears, which was broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.

"To address this, Senator Baldwin’s For the Fans Act would require major leagues to provide a live, free option for all local fans, defined in our bill as the state where the home team is based."

So, Packers fans outside of the local market will still need to watch the game on Netflix or NFL+.

Games played on other streaming sites, or even the NFL Network, have been made available to fans on local television.

NFL ANNOUNCES THAT INAUGURAL THANKSGIVING EVE GAME BETWEEN PACKERS AND RAMS WILL BE STREAMED ON NETFLIX

A few years ago, the NFL realized Black Friday could be an option for fans to gather around their televisions, and it found another as hometown bars will be packed the night before the big holiday.

The NFL has dipped its toe into holidays, also becoming the new king of Christmas.

Netflix holds the rights to five NFL games in 2026, including the league’s first-ever game in Australia. The streaming service will have five regular-season games as well as the NFL Honors through 2029. It had been carrying two games on Christmas Day since 2024.

While Netflix's push into live sports has drawn some criticism, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the strategy is not aimed at securing full-season rights packages for any sports league.

"We’re not bidding on whole season of sports, including the NFL," Sarandos told FOX Business Network's "Mornings with Maria" on Tuesday. So far, Sarandos' comments have held true with Netflix prioritizing marquee events, including Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and the New York Yankees' opening-day shutout of the San Francisco Giants.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

However, federal scrutiny into sports fragmentation has brought the topic of live sports on streaming services to the forefront.

Fox News' Chantz Martin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

4 NFL teams to invest in and short at the sportsbooks after the 2026 regular-season schedule release show

Fri, 15 May 2026 06:32:12 -0400

Time to lock in. For me, the NFL season officially begins after its schedule release show.

Because, honestly, betting on regular-season baseball sucks, the NBA Playoffs don't have that many games going on right now, and I don't bet hockey.

Instead, I just do deep dives into the roster moves, coaching changes and regression metrics to begin investing in NFL futures.

So, in celebration of the NFL's new fiscal year, here are four teams I'm buying stock in or shorting this season.

Carolina Panthers: NFC South (+310)

This is an easy fade candidate after winning the NFC South last season with a losing record (8-9), going 7-3 in one-score games, which usually regress year over year (see the Kansas City Chiefs' record in one-score games in 2024 and 2025) and has the third-toughest schedule this season.

Plus, every year, five teams that made the playoffs the previous year don’t return to the postseason.

However, the Panthers made two huge additions to their defense, including LB Devin Lloyd and pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips, who were Pro Football Focus’s (PFF) fourth- and 15th-ranked free agents. Lloyd was a second-team All-Pro last season and PFF’s third-best linebacker in the NFL.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The Miami Dolphins traded Phillips to the Eagles before Week 10 last season, and he made a big impact on Philadelphia’s defense. From Weeks 1-9, the Eagles ranked 17th in defensive EPA/play, per RBSDM.com. After acquiring Phillips, Philly’s defensive EPA/play went to seventh from Weeks 10-18.

More importantly, the NFL is a quarterback-driven league and I’m a believer in Panthers QB Bryce Young as a franchise quarterback worthy of a second contract.

Young was third in fourth-quarter comebacks last season and second in game-winning drives, which is the essence of playing quarterback.

Carolina’s offensive line is solid at every position and WR Tetairoa McMillan won the 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Between their defensive additions and my hunch that Young will improve, I’ll take the PANTHERS to win the NFC South (+310) again, which is the softest division in the NFL.

Denver Broncos: UNDER 7.5 alternate wins (+280)

I might have to eat crow if the Broncos make the playoffs again this season, but I refuse to believe QB Bo Nix, who fractured his ankle in Denver's win over the Buffalo Bills in the 2026 AFC Wild Card Round, is a franchise guy.

Frankly, I could just be a hater and stuck on my pre-draft analysis of him because what I wrote about Young’s fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives last season applies to Nix.

Regardless, I’m holding the line with my Nix instinct because I just feel like his success is a combo of dumb luck, his surrounding talent and Denver head coach Sean Payton’s smoke-and-mirrors offensive scheme.

The Broncos traded for WR Jaylen Waddle this offseason, but he is more of a No. 2 guy than a game-breaker and wide receivers are overrated in terms of impacting wins and losses.

Meanwhile, they have a ton of signs pointing toward regression this season, such as its first-place schedule (11th-easiest), above-average injury luck (eighth in "adjusted games lost to injury," per FTN Fantasy), and going an unsustainable 11-2 in one-score games.

Denver’s first six games are brutal, too. The Broncos play Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 1, the reigning AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, the Super Bowl 2027 betting favorite Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4, at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5 and the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 5.

CHARGERS TROLL THE PATRIOTS IN SCHEDULE RELEASE VIDEO WITH A NOT-SO-SUBTLE VRABEL-RUSSINI REFERENCE

Furthermore, the AFC West has two legitimate Super Bowl contenders, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers, both of whom have better odds of winning the division, conference and Lombardi Trophy.

Since team win total bets don’t usually come down to a half-game, there is value in their alternate win totals, Under and Over, aka "playing the longtail".

And I don’t like laying -110 or worse for a future. Hence, I’m betting BRONCOS UNDER 7.5 ALTERNATE WINS (+280) at DraftKings with the notion that they face-plant this season and Nix gets exposed.

Tennessee Titans: OVER 8.5 Alternate Wins (+250) & Robert Saleh to win NFL Coach of the Year (+1000)

The Titans are +320 to make the playoffs at DraftKings and the Over for their 8.5-alternate win total is +250, which isn’t that much lower. There’s a solid chance they win 9+ games and don’t make the playoffs.

Also, if Tennessee wins what I think will be a competitive AFC South this season, between the Titans, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, Saleh’s odds to be the NFL Coach of the Year will close lower than +1000 and the Titans are just +800 to win the division.

THE COLTS CHANNELED "THE SIMPSONS" FOR THEIR SCHEDULE RELEASE, AND IT'S A MASTERPIECE

That said, I endorse them hiring Saleh to be their head coach, and I like their core: Saleh, first-year offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, QB Cam Ward.

It didn’t work for Saleh when he was the New York Jets’ head coach from 2021 to Week 5 of 2024. I’m not holding that against him, though, because the Jets are cursed. If you don’t believe me, ask any NYJ fan; they’ll tell you.

Anyway, Saleh is a good defensive coach and that side of the ball wasn't the problem while he was their head coach. His downfall with the Jets was that the organization couldn’t find a quarterback.

But Saleh doesn’t have an excuse with the Titans. Ward is his franchise quarterback and Daboll, who also had a bad quarterback in New York, with the Giants.

Yet, Daboll won the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year award and at least had a small part in developing Josh Allen when he was the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from 2018-21. Together, Saleh and Daboll could work.

The biggest question is, "How good is Ward?" Well, I’m a shareholder in "Ward as a franchise quarterback" and I’ll buy more of his stock if you’re selling. Ward has 90% arm strength; he’s athletic enough to play the position in 2026, makes throws on the run and plays with his legs.

By drafting Carnell Tate fourth in the NFL Draft last month, the Titans are at least trying to get Ward a No. 1 wide receiver. And they signed a solid slot receiver, Wan’Dale Robinson, in free agency.

In fact, Tennessee spent the most in free agency this offseason, so Daboll and Saleh got to build a roster that fits their systems.

If Ward is who I think he is, Saleh makes their defense league average and Daboll returns to being a good offensive coordinator, the Titans can overperform their betting odds this season.

For the record, I'm betting three-fourths of a unit on Tennessee's alternate win total and the other quarter-unit on Saleh winning NFL Coach of the Year.

Minnesota Vikings: NFC North (+550)

I’m buying stock in the Vikings signing QB Kyler Murray on a team-friendly deal this offseason after he pretty much busted as the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Murray has something to prove and could get a raise if he has a solid year in Minnesota this season. Sam Darnold is an example of a castoff quarterback who had something to prove and did so with the Vikings.

With that in mind, this is a great second chance for Murray, who has a higher ceiling and floor than QB J.J. McCarthy. Murray has made the playoffs once and two Pro Bowl teams. He is one of the elusive runners in football and has a cannon.

Whereas the Vikings immediately regretted choosing McCarthy over Darnold last offseason. McCarthy was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league last year and Darnold won a Super Bowl. That’s a tough look and it effectively got their now-former general, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, fired at the end of last season.

Nonetheless, Minnesota fourth-year head coach Kevin O’Connell can build a winning team around Murray as his quarterback. O’Connell has a 43-25 career record with 13- and 14-win seasons with Darnold and Kirk Cousins and won the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year award.

The Vikings have one of the best pass-catching crews in the NFL, featuring a top-five game-breaker in the business, Justin Jefferson, WRs Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings and TE T.J. Hockenson.

Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores is one of the best defensive minds in football and will get another NFL head-coaching job.

My biggest concern is the division. The NFC North is the most competitive division in the league and all four teams could win it.

The bottom line is that, considering their talent and coaching staff, the Vikings could be the NFL’s "worst to first" team this season and their +550 odds to win the NFC North should be closer to +400.

_____________________________

Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants.

The Colts channeled "The Simpsons" for their schedule release, and it's a masterpiece

Thu, 14 May 2026 22:02:22 -0400

The NFL schedule release has turned into an arms race among teams' social media departments to see who can get the most attention.

I don't care about that.

All I care about is that the Indianapolis Colts just threw down the greatest schedule release of all time. And I'm not just saying that as a die-hard fan of "The Simpsons."

I mean, I am, but that's not the only reason I'm saying it.

For the 2026 season, the Colts' cromulent, Simpsonized schedule release video was kind of a two-parter.

The first part was a reworking of the long-running primetime sitcom's iconic opening sequence that was jammed full of very funny NFL Easter eggs, starting with a classic Bart Simpson chalkboard gag that reads, "WE WILL NOT INCLUDE TYREEK HILL IN THESE VIDEOS."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Then, the second part was the actual schedule reveal, and that was where this went from being cool to being brilliant. Each game was introduced with a clip from the show that fits it perfectly, starting with the Colts' Week 1 date with the Baltimore Ravens.

That one used a clip of "The Simpsons'" adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" from Season 2's "Treehouse of Horror." Pour yourself a Duff and maybe gnaw on a pink donut, because this is a masterpiece you will probably watch several times.

Just speaking from experience.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Perfect. No notes on this end.

Honestly, with more than 800 episodes, every NFL team could do a Simpsons schedule release video, and there wouldn't be too much overlap.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

I kind of dig these schedule releases, because they honestly get better and better.

I think we're probably only about a year or two from James Cameron directing one of them... and then directing five more sequels no one asked for.

Chargers troll the Patriots in schedule release video with a not-so-subtle Vrabel-Russini reference

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:43:56 -0400

The Los Angeles Chargers have the reputation of producing the NFL's best schedule release videos and the only people they disappointed Thursday evening might be the New England Patriots, that team's fans, coach Mike Vrabel and former reporter Dianna Russini.

Because in their video, the Chargers went there.

They referenced the relationship between the Patriots' head coach and the former reporter in their video.

The entire Halo-themed video is worth your 6:13 viewing time.

NEW YORK TIMES INVESTIGATING NFL REPORTER DIANNA RUSSINI AFTER PHOTOS WITH PATRIOTS COACH MIKE VRABEL EMERGE

But in Week 12, when the Chargers host the Patriots at SoFi Stadium, the video makes that point by showing a couple of militiamen on ATVs headed into the playoffs when suddenly they get a message.

"NYPost sent you a message," pops up on the screen.

And suddenly the militia guys wipe out.

It was, you'll recall, the New York Post's Page Six that first published photos of Vrabel and Russini lounging by a pool, and in a hot tub, and holding hands and embracing on the roof of a private bungalow in Sedona, Ariz., the first week of April.

Those photos and several others, released by both the Post and other online publications, eventually led to Russini resigning from The Athletic and deleting her social media presence.

Vrabel, meanwhile, stumbled though multiple press conferences while trying to both avoid and explain the issue without ever really providing details. He missed the final day of the NFL Draft while flying to Utah and seeking "counseling" after what he called painful conversations with his family.

This was not the first time the Patriots got tagged as the team with a coach who had a cozy "relationship" with a reporter. The club was swamped with snarky comments when it saluted fans on Mother's Day.

PATRIOTS MOTHER'S DAY SALUTE TURNS INTO A TROLL FRENZY

The Chargers didn't merely pick on the Patriots and their "situation."

They went after every opponent in some form or fashion.

They mocked the Ravens for their aborted trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. They went after the New York Jets for their inability to intercept passes after that team failed to collect even one interception on defense in 2025.

And aside from making reference to the Vrabel-Russini situation, the Chargers also pointed out the Patriots played an easy schedule last season.

"Conquer the cupcakes," the video flashes.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The NFL, by the way, does not oversee, approve or disapprove of team schedule release videos. So, the league is washing its hands of what the Chargers or any other teams might do to troll the Patriots.

And if the Patriots are upset with this mere 10 seconds of video on an opposing team's video because it brings up an uncomfortable situation, they're probably in for a long season of mocking by opposing fans.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Jennifer Lopez's dress holds on for dear life at her Netflix event, Trump powers through some wine & Kay Adams

Thu, 14 May 2026 15:35:29 -0400

Over the hump and safely into the back half of the week. Whew. We made it. Now, we're just gutting it out for 24(ish) more hours, and we're off to the (weekend) races.

And hey! We've even got a full day of NFL schedule leaks to bide the time! My favorite tradition every season is happening right now. Right this very second, actually.

It's when the NFL teases its grand 2026 schedule reveal at 7 p.m. tonight on ESPN, only for the entire thing to be leaked throughout the day by beat writers. So, naturally, by the time we actually get to the telecast, it's moot because we already know the whole thing.

The best. Happens every year, like clockwork. I used to love this date on the calendar, but my Dolphins are going to most likely be horrific this season, so I'm not expecting much. I do love a good 1 p.m. kickoff, though, and they will undoubtedly be getting plenty of those, so not all is lost.

PAIGE SPIRANAC AND HER MOM STUN THE INTERNET, LANE KIFFIN'S INCREDIBLE SHOT AT OLE MISS & THE NFL DID IT AGAIN

Anyway, welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Jennifer Lopez lets it rip during a Netflix event promoting her new rom-com coming out in a couple of weeks. Can't wait!

What else? I've got Eric Church delivering just an all-time college address, Charles Barkley yelling at America for being anti-gay, and Bryson DeChambeau had himself a MORNING at Aronimink. What's happened to this guy? Goodness.

OK, grab you a glass of wine with the president, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!

Jennifer Lopez has a new movie coming out for those interested

It's always wild to me when I remember that Trump doesn't drink. It's one of those random factoids you easily forget, but then you're always equally stunned when you remember.

I couldn't imagine doing his job and not drinking. Goodness, does that sound horrible. Dealing with #THEMOB every single day, and not going home at night and pouring a nightcap (hey!) sounds almost impossible to me.

You can tell he's never indulged, either, just by watching that clip. Look at his face after he takes the sip. Pure disgust. He nearly spits it back out.

It took every single ounce of power for him to keep it down. Watch it again, slowly. I've been there. I've felt that. Your body wants nothing to do with what you just gave it, but you have to keep it down. It's a battle, and it's not one you always win.

But Trump won this one, and it took guts. The China trip is off to a good start! No idea what he's doing there, but I'm putting this one in the win column.

OK, let's get this class started by checking in with Jennifer Lopez as she promotes her new Netflix movie that none of you will watch, "Office Romance."

Eric Church delivered a humdinger at UNC

Looks like J-Lo still has it at 56, not that there was ever really a doubt. Obviously, her co-star you're looking at there is Brett Goldstein, who played Roy Kent in "Ted Lasso." For some really in-the-weeds fans out there, he also played an important role on "Shrinking," which is the best show on TV at the moment.

Anyway, these two have a new Netflix rom-com coming out with a totally original plot:

Jackie, President and CEO of Air Cruz, runs a tight ship in her business, including a rigid anti-fraternization policy for all her employees. When a new sexy lawyer begins working for her, that policy becomes very tested.

Can't wait!

OK, let's cut the cord and head on over to Chapel Hill, where Eric Church delivered the best commencement speech I've ever seen last weekend.

I don't usually get sappy and serious around here — this might be the first time — but this is worth a few minutes later on when the kids are finally in bed and you're scrolling during King of Queens reruns:

PGA madness, MLB madness & Kay is ready for the schedule release!

Whoaaaaaaaa Nellie! What a speech. It's not often I stop and watch something for 18 minutes anymore. Does anyone? But I watched the whole damn thing this morning. And then I watched it again.

You don't get college speeches like this much anymore. This is probably considered a throwback by today's standards, especially on a college campus.

Those places can be cesspools. I don't need to explain why, because you all already know. It's probably why these 10(ish) minutes from Eric Church are so refreshing.

Church talked about faith, which, again, is a slippery slope in 2026 — especially on a college campus. The libs must've been FUMING watching this.

Faith? Family? Morals? I'm sure they'll all hit on these topics at the next DNC this summer!

OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big Thursday night. First up? Let's tee it up!

What a start to the tourney! Bryson is all over the map. We've got guys missing tee times. Guys hooking drives into the next county. Jason Day doing Jason Day things. What a sport.

It's almost as good as baseball! After last night, though, I think MLB still comes out on top ... barely:

Goodness gracious. Just incredible. I've never seen that happen to a first baseman. Hell, I've never seen it happen to a fielder, period. Only the Mets.

Baseball season is starting to heat up, boys and girls. Dog days of summer are just around the corner. Strap in. We're in for a big one.

Until, of course, the NFL returns. Remember a few minutes ago when I told you about all the leaks today? Well ...

We've already got all of Week 1, all of Thanksgiving week, and all of Christmas. And the "release show" isn't for another six hours at the time of this writing.

Again, a tradition unlike any other.

PS: Why does the NFL feel like we need to see a Super Bowl rematch again? That was one of the worst Super Bowls in recent memory! Why do we need it AGAIN to start the new season? I don't get it.

OK, that's it for today. Good Thursday class, everyone. Here's Kay Adams gearing up for the schedule release to take us into a big night.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

Did Eric Church nail it? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

Restaurant associations urge Congress to act as NFL Sunday Ticket streaming switch threatens bar revenues

Thu, 14 May 2026 15:21:04 -0400

FIRST ON FOX – Small business owners are sounding the alarm about changes to NFL Sunday Ticket that will force bars and restaurants to deal with technical and financial concerns as they pivot from satellite to streaming.

The Iowa Restaurant Association and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, which each represent thousands of independent restaurant and bar owners, sent worried letters to high-powered GOP lawmakers in their states urging them to act on "a significant shift in the commercial distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket that threatens to impose immediate and substantial burdens on small businesses" across their states.

The panic comes after streaming service EverPass Media announced it would become the exclusive commercial option for NFL Sunday Ticket starting with the 2026 season. The Iowa letter was sent to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, while the Wisconsin edition went to Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, who chairs the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust.

BROADCASTERS URGE CONGRESS TO REEXAMINE SPORTS BROADCASTING ACT AS GAMES SHIFT TO STREAMING PAYWALLS

"NFL Sunday Ticket, the out-of-market package that allows fans to watch games unavailable on local broadcast, has long been a cornerstone of the Sunday business model for bars and restaurants. For many establishments, Sunday afternoons during football season represent their highest-traffic and highest-revenue period of the week. Customers gather specifically to watch their teams, generating critical revenue that supports jobs, employee income, and already narrow operating margins," Iowa Restaurant Association CEO Jessica Dunker and Wisconsin Restaurant Association CEO Kristine Hillmer wrote in letters obtained by Fox News Digital.

"For nearly three decades, NFL Sunday Ticket was delivered to commercial establishments via satellite, a system well-suited for multi-screen environments. That model is being replaced at the benefits of Everpass Media, a joint venture between the NFL and RedBird Capital, which holds exclusive commercial distribution rights and is requiring businesses to adopt its proprietary streaming-only platform," Dunker and Hillmer continued. "This transition is being imposed without adequate consideration of the operational realities facing small businesses."

Dunker and Hillmer believe the issues are "not simply the shift to streaming, which already contributes to fragmentation across consumer viewing platforms," but also that current streaming technology has not "demonstrated reliable performance in commercial settings" such as bars and restaurants.

FCC BOSS WANTS TO MAKE LIFE LESS FRUSTRATING FOR SPORTS FANS, SAYS STREAMING SHIFT A ‘REAL PAIN FOR CONSUMERS’

"A neighborhood sports bar may operate 20 or more screens simultaneously — something satellite systems handle with consistency. Streaming introduces risks of buffering, synchronization failures across screens, and significant bandwidth demands. Many smaller establishments lack the infrastructure to support this model without costly upgrades," Dunker and Hillmer wrote.

"These technical concerns are compounded by financial strain," they continued. "Restaurants and bars that have already invested heavily in satellite equipment are now being required to incur additional expenses for new hardware and expanded broadband capacity to support Everpass."

The restaurant associations also noted that some establishments will be forced to maintain multiple distribution systems.

"It isn’t at all clear that this is legal. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 was created to extend a limited antitrust exemption so that leagues could negotiate carriage with broadcasters," they wrote, urging Grassley, Fitzgerald and their colleagues to consider "transition protections," "accountability standards" and "Congressional oversight of the NFL and its affiliated distribution entities to ensure compliance with antitrust law and fair treatment of small businesses that rely on this content to sustain their operations."

"Sunday football is not merely entertainment — it is an essential economic driver for restaurants and bars ... We urge you to stand with small business owners who are being placed at a disadvantage by this abrupt and costly transition," the restaurant associations wrote.

NFL LAUNCHES LOBBYING BLITZ AT FCC TO DEFEND ITS MEDIA MODEL AS STREAMING SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES

The NFL declined comment when reached by Fox News Digital. Everpass did not immediately respond.

Everpass has billed the move as NFL Sunday Ticket "entering a modern era," touting a platform "built specifically for the realities of commercial environments, where multiple screens, busy staff, and high customer expectations demand consistency and control."

Everpass venues receive "business-grade streaming reliability for high-traffic environments," "centralized control across every screen with EverPass Core," "plug-and-play hardware designed for commercial environments," "dedicated support from setup through kickoff" and "flexible packages designed around venue needs," according to its website.

"We understand that transitioning to a streaming-based solution for NFL Sunday Ticket may require planning, from connectivity and hardware to overall venue readiness. That’s why our team is committed to helping customers make the transition with confidence and be fully prepared before kickoff. Our goal is simple: make sure your venue is ready well before the first Sunday of the season, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering a great experience for every guest who walks through the door," Everpass’ website continues.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sen. Grassley and Rep. Fitzgerald's offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

NFL’s grossly expanded national schedule is making RedZone and Sunday Ticket less essential

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:56:55 -0400

By continuing to increase the number of national broadcasts, the NFL has diluted the value of both RedZone and Sunday Ticket.

The 2026-27 season will begin on a Wednesday, followed by a Thursday night game from Australia. The league will also debut its first-ever Thanksgiving Eve broadcast this year, leading into three games on Thanksgiving and one on Black Friday. Another game is set for Christmas Eve, with three more scheduled for Christmas Day.

Beyond that, the NFL is extending its late-season Saturday package to four weekends, spanning Weeks 15-18. In total, the league will stage a record nine international games this season, all of which will air nationally.

And all of that comes on top of the league’s usual lineup of three windows on Sunday and one Monday.

JEMELE HILL BECOMES SURPRISING VOICE OF REASON IN CAITLIN CLARK-MORGAN WALLEN "CONTROVERSY"

The NFL saw the risks of overloading the national schedule last season. By midseason, there simply were not enough relevant teams to justify the number of standalone broadcasts.

Last Christmas, five of the six participating teams were either already eliminated from playoff contention or ultimately missed the postseason. On Thanksgiving, only one of the six teams in action reached the playoffs.

The Sunday slate used to be elite enough that fans could justify paying for Sunday Ticket to access every out-of-market matchup. This season, YouTube will charge returning subscribers roughly $480 for the package. However, the more games siphoned into standalone broadcasts, the fewer games remain in the traditional 1 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. windows, leaving Sunday Ticket with less to offer.

Take Thanksgiving week as an example. By Sunday morning, 10 teams will have already played. Another six teams will appear in the national Sunday afternoon slot, "Sunday Night Football" or "Monday Night Football." That leaves just eight games for paying Sunday Ticket viewers.

The same dynamic applies to RedZone. The channel was once essential to the Sunday viewing experience. It was the most efficient and thrilling way for viewers to follow every meaningful moment across a crowded Sunday slate. Yet with fewer games in the early and late windows, RedZone has become less of a necessity.

By mid- to late season, any game of substance will likely air nationally. Keeping track of the other, less consequential games may then only appeal to sports bettors and fantasy football players.

At the same time, fans are now required to pay for multiple streaming platforms — including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Peacock — to access the full NFL schedule. That added fragmentation could reduce consumers’ willingness to also pay for premium products such as Sunday Ticket and RedZone.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

More broadly, the NFL is eroding the scarcity that helped turn the sport into America’s dominant television property.

Sundays used to feel distinct. The concentrated schedule created a sense of occasion and urgency that is diluted when games are spread across Thursdays, occasional Wednesdays, Friday holidays, Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and multiple streaming-exclusive windows.

For the first time in decades, NFL games are beginning to feel skippable. There are simply too many of them spread across too many days. The combination of an overloaded schedule, international travel and shortened preparation time increasingly produces mediocre matchups in premium television windows.

The NFL is unlikely to reverse course because of concerns about the quality of play. The league has shown little evidence that competitive aesthetics matter as much as media rights growth and inventory maximization.

However, if the continued expansion of national windows ultimately weakens premium properties such as Sunday Ticket and RedZone, the league may eventually reconsider whether it has stretched the product too far.

Super Bowl champion Michael Irvin defends Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, tells critics to look in the mirror

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:27:56 -0400

Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin has a message for those criticizing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former reporter for The Athletic Dianna Russini.

Irvin, 60, said that people need to look in the mirror and their own issues before going off on others.

"We all want to jump in personal lives," Irvin said during a recent appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Dude, if I just get a peek at your history, I’m sure it’ll tell me something. We all forget that we have done s--- when we’re talking about somebody else, and then we want to castrate and kill them."

The Dallas Cowboys legend said that people don’t know what they are dealing with, yet they are teeing off on Vrabel and Russini.

"Life happens," Irvin said. "We’re trying to use people in football to be the measuring stick for all the righteousness. And then we act like, ‘I can’t believe this person did this.’ It’s a person, and people do things. Sometimes it’s not right, but we’re not in their homes."

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"We don’t know what they’re dealing with. And we wanna sit here and say, ‘Man, they shouldn’t do this.’ You don’t know what they’re dealing with. Get out of it. Leave it alone. It’s not your business."

Vrabel married his wife, Jen, in 1999, and they have two sons together. Russini married her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, in 2020, and they share two kids together.

The pair was seen holding hands and hugging at a luxury hotel in Arizona in March, and photos of their interaction were first released in April. After the initial report, Vrabel said the photos show a "completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day," Russini said.

More photos have leaked of the pair being seen together.

Russini has since resigned from The Athletic. Vrabel stepped away from the team during the final round of the NFL Draft indefinitely to seek counseling and be with his family.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

NFL's Thanksgiving holiday schedule that features five games is definitely no turkey

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:20:46 -0400

The old joke is that the NFL is so popular (and brazen) that it stole Sundays from the church. Well, the league's 2026 schedule, which will be unveiled Thursday evening, is trying to snatch the Thanksgiving holiday from the turkey.

The NFL is playing five games over the Thanksgiving holiday, and for the first time this year the league is going a step further by playing a game on Thanksgiving eve.

So, for those keeping score, the week of Thanksgiving will look like this on the NFL calendar: The league will play its regular slate of Sunday games on Nov. 22, then a Monday night game on Nov. 23, then the new Thanksgiving eve game on Nov. 25, three Thanksgiving Day games on Nov. 26, a Black Friday game on Nov. 27, then come back with a regular slate on Sunday, Nov. 29.

That's NFL games on six of eight days in late November.

NFL ANNOUNCES THAT INAUGURAL THANKSGIVING EVE GAME BETWEEN PACKERS AND RAMS WILL BE STREAMED ON NETFLIX

The league will kick off the holiday with its first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game featuring the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams on Netflix. That promises to be a good matchup of two playoff teams from a season ago.

Then on Thanksgiving Day, the league will come with its usual feast of three matchups at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. — both on Fox — and then the 8:20 nightcap. And those matchups are also fire.

It begins with the Chicago Bears visiting the Detroit Lions.

This is where we should acknowledge that in past years, the first game on Thanksgiving Day was something less than an appetizer to major action because the Lions were not often good and the NFC North was not often strong top to bottom.

Well, the Lions have been much better in recent years and the division was the only one in which all its teams were above .500 in 2025. This season, the Lions, Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Packers are all playoff contenders.

So it stands to reason that a Lions versus Bears matchup to start Thanksgiving Day will be a game with playoff implications.

Then the NFL is going for the gusto — or, as the league defines gusto, viewers.

The late-afternoon game will match the Philadelphia Eagles at the Dallas Cowboys. The Thanksgiving night game will have the Buffalo Bills at the Kansas City Chiefs.

And the league's goal for those two games is to try to attract the biggest audience to view a regular-season game in NFL history. The Cowboys and Eagles are expected to compete for the NFC East title, while the Bills and Chiefs will continue a rivalry born out of multiple memorable regular-season and playoff meetings that pitted quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes against one another.

So, both these games have the makings of providing big viewership numbers on a holiday when most people are home.

The only problem with these two games back to back is they provide little opportunity for a post-meal nap on Thanksgiving.

The current record-holder for the most-watched NFL regular-season game is the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game on Nov. 27, 2025. It averaged 57.23 million viewers.

All the NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have been confirmed by the league. The Black Friday game has not, but multiple reports have the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Denver Broncos at 3 p.m. (ET) on Amazon Prime.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

And, again, the Steelers and the Broncos were both playoff teams in 2025.

So, that's five games around the Thanksgiving holiday featuring 10 teams with playoff expectations this season, and seven of which reached the postseason last season.

That's quite the menu.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

49ers star George Kittle talks about encountering a 'half-dollar' spider in the middle of the night

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:56:42 -0400

San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle is no stranger to taking defenders on in the middle of the field, but he found himself in a battle against a different kind of beast early Wednesday night.

Kittle, 32, took to social media to retell his tale against a ginormous spider.

"At 4 a.m. this morning, as I laid in a deep slumber, I was called to action by my wife, who had discovered a spider the size of a half-dollar in the bathroom. Without hesitation, I arose to combat the intruder," Kittle posted to X.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Kittle, who has been rehabbing after tearing his right Achilles tendon during the playoffs, used his equipment to eliminate the threat.

"Claire handed me the slant board I’ve been using for rehab, and I immediately knew the spider had no chance. It took but 1 attempt to strike down my opponent. I received hugs and kisses for my bravery and fell back asleep with confidence. Have a day, gentlemen," Kittle posted with a spider emoji.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Kittle can only hope his successful and courageous takedown of the massive spider is how his rehab goes. The former Iowa star sustained the injury during the 49ers’ 23-19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said last month that "there’s a chance" Kittle could play Week 1 during an appearance on the "Rich Eisen Show."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

If Kittle plays Week 1, it would be a huge boost to the 49ers’ offense. The seven-time Pro Bowler has been dynamic in his nine-year career.

Last season, in 11 games, Kittle caught 57 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. In his career, the two-time All-Pro has caught 595 passes for 8,008 yards and 52 touchdowns.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend shares emotional message ahead of birth of late Cowboys player’s daughter

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:39:40 -0400

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Catalina Mancera thanked supporters in an emotional message as she celebrated the unborn child she shares with late Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.

In November, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Frisco Police Department confirmed that Kneeland died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase in Texas. The 24-year-old recorded his first NFL touchdown just days before his death.

Mancera recently held a baby shower attended by friends and family. She shared photos from the special event Monday on Instagram, writing, "Words can’t explain how thankful I am for the people God has placed in my life. In such a hard season, the love and support surrounding me have made everything feel a little brighter."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

She continued with a heartfelt thank-you to friends and family, crediting their love and prayers with helping carry her through a difficult time.

"I’m so grateful for everyone who came out to celebrate me and baby, and even those who couldn’t make it but still showed love from afar. I also want to thank my family for throwing me such a beautiful shower in Michigan. I want to thank both of our families for all the love they’ve poured into me during this time. I’ll never forget the kindness, prayers, and support that have carried me through all of this," the Instagram caption concluded.

COWBOYS DOMINATE RAIDERS AFTER HONORING MARSHAWN KNEELAND IN FIRST GAME SINCE LINEBACKER'S TRAGIC DEATH

Mancera previously said her due date is in June.

Kneeland was a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and appeared in 18 games for Dallas.

Police said officers responded to the scene on Nov. 6, 2025, and found a vehicle that had crashed near the southbound lanes of a local parkway. Kneeland fled on foot.

Authorities also said Kneeland contacted his family via text message prior to his death to tell them goodbye, police told dispatchers, according to audio obtained and reviewed by People.

Shortly after the tragedy, the Cowboys released a statement, saying, "It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family."

Last year, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said a scholarship fund had been created for Kneeland’s daughter.

"We want to make sure she is taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives—it’s very important to our guys and to us," Schottenheimer said. "The organization has been amazing, we’ve started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund where we can all give and support Catalina."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Schottenheimer also revealed that the team launched a memorial fund honoring Kneeland and supporting Catalina. Schottenheimer also recalled some of the memories he shared with the late pass rusher.

"Marshawn loved the words ‘one love,’" Schottenheimer explained. "So, we talked a lot about love as we grieve."

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

NFL announces inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game between Packers and Rams will be streamed on Netflix

Wed, 13 May 2026 18:31:26 -0400

The NFL has found yet another day to take over.

The league announced Wednesday its inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game will be played this year between the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams on Netflix.

A few years ago, the NFL realized Black Friday could be an option for fans to gather around their televisions, and it found another because hometown bars will be packed the night before the big holiday.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The NFL has dipped its toe into holidays, also becoming the new king of Christmas.

The Packers and Rams played each other each season from 2020 to 2024 (the 2020 campaign bout was during the playoffs) but did not face off in 2025.

The Packers have walloped the Rams in recent memory, winning 16 of their last 21 meetings dating back to 1992, including 10 of their last 11.

AN NFL GAME THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING IS OFFICIALLY 'TOO MUCH FOOTBALL'

Oddly enough, before their 2024 bout, each of their prior four meetings was in Green Bay, but this will now mark back-to-back contests in Los Angeles.

The last time the two teams met Oct. 6, 2024, Tucker Kraft had two touchdowns for the Packers, including one that went for 66 yards.

The Rams tried their best at a fourth-quarter comeback, but Green Bay came away with a 24-19 victory on the road.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The game will be broadcast on Netflix. The streaming service will also broadcast the Rams' Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, two Christmas games and a Week 18 Saturday game.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Florida Attorney General subpoenas NFL as part of new probe into Rooney Rule and other DEI programs

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:41:21 -0400

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who in March put the NFL on notice that the league's Rooney Rule may violate the state's Civil Rights Act, on Wednesday issued a subpoena as part of a formal investigation to determine if the league has been discriminating in its hiring practices and other matters of employment.

The subpoena sent to the NFL offices in New York -- a copy of which was obtained by OutKick and Fox News -- orders the league to appear at the Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General, Office of Civil Rights, in Tallahassee on June 12 at precisely 9 a.m.

The subpoena compels the NFL to produce extensive records dating back to 2020 (and earlier for some items) covering the Rooney Rule, the Offensive Assistant Mandate, Resolution JC-2A, the Accelerator Program and the Mackie Development Program. It seeks internal policies, communications with government agencies, legal challenges (including those tied to the Brian Flores lawsuit), compliance tracking, enforcement actions and detailed hiring datahiring data -- including candidate race and sex.

Notably, the subpoena zeroes in on how the NFL defines "minority," verifies demographic status, and uses race or gender in hiring decisions or incentives. It also demands evidence of the league’s intent and justification for these programs.

NFL ROONEY RULE AND OTHER DEI INITIATIVES MAY SOON BE IN RETREAT

The Florida attorney general also wants the NFL's communications with the EEOC, United States Department of Justice, or other federal or state agency concerning the Rooney Rule, Resolution JC-2A, the Offensive Assistant Mandate, the Accelerator Program, or the Mackie Development Program.

This sweeping investigative demand makes it obvious that the AG is investigating practically every Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program related to coaching, front office and other executive advancement initiatives that might provide an advantage for one class of people while ignoring or not serving another class.

The NFL had no immediate comment.

ROGER GOODELL AND ART ROONEY SAY ROONEY RULE NOT GOING ANYWHERE

But this should not come as a big surprise.

Uthmeier originally delivered a letter dated March 25 containing "a word of caution" to the league, contending that the Rooney Rule "brazenly violates Florida law" and outlining to the league how its rule violates the Florida Civil Rights Act.

Uthmeier wrote, "the Rooney Rule and its offshoots require precisely what Florida law forbids. They require teams to limit, segregate, and classify applicants for certain employment and training opportunities because of race and sex. And they do so in a way that tends to deprive applicants of opportunities for employment."

In that initial letter of contact, the AG gave the NFL until May 1 to reply. The NFL did indeed respond within the allotted time but the response from NFL General Counsel Ted Ullyot did not satisfy Florida's chief law enforcement officer.

Uthmeier on Wednesday continued to press the issue in a letter obtained by OutKick and Fox News. In his correspondence, the AG contends the NFL actually changed its website page for the Rooney Rule.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"My office appreciates the NFL’s stated commitment to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. We also appreciate how quickly the NFL changed its website in response to our letter, as well as the NFL’s assertion that it no longer requires the consideration of race or sex in the hiring of at least one offensive assistant," Uthmeier wrote.

"Unfortunately, neither your letter nor the changes to your website assuage our concerns over the NFL’s violations of Florida law. In fact, they raise new ones."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Uthmeier continued to take aim at the Rooney Rule: "You also claim the Rule "does not license clubs to consider race or sex in making hiring decisions. But according to your own statements, its very point is to do just that. "Through hiring best practices, the Rooney Rule aims to increase the number of minorities hired in head coach, general manager, and executive positions.

"Or to quote the NFL’s own Executive Vice President, "the Rooney Rule and other policy adjustments are necessary" "[u]ntil [the NFL] see[s] organizations doing the right thing for the right reasons in hiring individuals."

"In the end, year after year, the NFL has bemoaned the hiring of 'white' coaches rather than 'coaches of color.' This obsession with hiring based on race is wrong. It also violates Florida law."

Wednesday's step by Florida is ultimately intended to have the NFL relieve the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from having to apply what the attorney general deems are illegal hiring practices for the clubs' most visible employees, namely coaches and personnel department executives.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Former Texas A&M star running back abruptly retires after one weekend of NFL rookie minicamp

Wed, 13 May 2026 07:57:54 -0400

Former Texas A&M running back Le'Veon Moss took one look at the rebuilding Miami Dolphins and decided the NFL wasn't for him.

OK. That's probably not how it happened. But, as a Dolphins fan, I'd get it. Lord knows I'd do the same thing.

Moss, 23, abruptly retired Tuesday, just four days after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. The former Aggies player signed last week ahead of Miami's rookie minicamp, and was placed on the reserve/retired list Tuesday afternoon.

The All-SEC running back played in 32 career games for A&M, finishing with 1,767 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.

His College Station career was cut short due to a pair of nasty injuries, including a torn ACL and MCL in 2024, and an ankle injury last season against Florida.

Le'Veon Moss dealt with injuries, but the NIL could've played a role

Obviously, the injuries will be blamed for Moss quitting after just four days in the league. That's fair, and probably true. Those are tough injuries to come back from as a running back.

CHIEFS EXEC ON HOW NIL DEALS ARE SHRINKING NFL DRAFT TALENT POOL, KEEPING COLLEGE PLAYERS IN SCHOOL LONGER

But, folks will rightfully point to the NIL as a reason, too. In the pre-NIL days, college players needed the NFL to survive. This was all they had. This was their job.

Not anymore.

I don't know what Le'Veon Moss made at Texas A&M, but I'm quite sure it was more than he would've made a few years ago. Maybe he built a nest egg for himself and his family, and decided he didn't need the NFL? It's plausible.

49ERS VOID GUARANTEED MONEY IN BRANDON AIYUK'S CONTRACT FOR 2026 SEASON AFTER BIZARRE SITUATION: REPORTS

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson also reported that Moss will have to return "most or all" of the $258,000 guaranteed in his contract.

Don't know what "most" means, but I'd love to hear that conversation.

Anyway, it's a shame. Moss was a good player, and, frankly, landed in the perfect spot. The Dolphins are in full rebuild mode for 2026, which means if you're on the team, you have a shot at making the team. He was expected to compete for the No. 2 spot behind De'Vone Achane, another Texas A&M star.

Unfortunately, life had other plans.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Or, you know, he spent a few days in an NFL practice and decided it wasn't for him.

Either-or.

Super Bowl champ Charle Young dead at 75

Wed, 13 May 2026 07:40:28 -0400

Former NFL star Charle Young, who won a Super Bowl title with the San Francisco 49ers, has died, the team said on Tuesday. He was 75.

The team mourned the loss of Young in a post on X.

"The 49ers mourn the passing of former TE Charle Young," the team wrote. "Our organization sends its deepest condolences to the Young family and friends."

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Young was a standout tight end at USC before he went pro. The school released a statement on his death, highlighting his collegiate and pro football career.

"Fight On Forever, Charles Young," the school added in a post on X.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Young with the No. 6 overall pick of the 1973 NFL Draft. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in three of his four seasons with Philadelphia before he joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. He spent three seasons in Los Angeles.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Young joined the 49ers in 1980 and was a part of the 1981 Super Bowl-winning season. He had one catch for 14 yards as San Francisco topped the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. He scored a touchdown in a divisional round game against the New York Giants in the playoffs leading up to the title win.

He later played three years for the Seattle Seahawks.

He had 418 catches for 5,106 yards and 27 touchdowns in 187 NFL games. He was also an All-Pro and the 1973 UPI Rookie of the Year.

In college, Young helped USC to a national championship in 1972 and was an All-American selection. He had 62 catches for 998 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Trojans.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Young was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Netflix co-CEO clarifies streaming giant’s live sports strategy amid NFL lineup expansion, federal scrutiny

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:13:24 -0400

Streaming giant Netflix’s push into live sports has ranged from the WWE and Formula 1 to select MLB and NFL games.

While the initiative has drawn some criticism, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the strategy is not aimed at securing full-season rights packages for any sports league.

"We’re not bidding on whole season of sports, including the NFL," Sarandos told Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria" on Tuesday. So far, Sarandos' comments have held true with Netflix prioritizing marquee events, including Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and the New York Yankees' opening-day shutout of the San Francisco Giants.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Sarandos holding a firm line on the company's stance comes amid ongoing federal scrutiny into the NFL, and more broadly, the trend of sports rights growing more fragmented. Some have argued the trend makes it most costly and ultimately difficult for fans to view games.

NFL FACES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE AFTER FANS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION WITH STREAMING PIVOT: REPORT

However, federal scrutiny into sports fragmentation has brought the topic of live sports on streaming services to the forefront.

"Remember, most folks are paying for television through pay-television packages that are much more expensive than Netflix," Sarandos said, suggesting that despite being technically free, broadcast networks are most often bundled within paid services.

As of May, Netflix’s introductory ad-supported tier starts at $8.99 per month. The standard plan begins at $19.99 per month, while the premium tier starts at $26.99 per month. Prices can increase if subscribers add additional members. The basic plan has been discontinued.

"As viewers move a little bit from linear more and more into streaming and on-demand, if the games aren’t there, it seems kind of ridiculous. You don’t run in the opposite direction of the American consumer," Sarandos continued.

This fall, Netflix will once again have an exclusive window for a Christmas Day NFL doubleheader while expanding its overall footprint to five games during the 2026 season. The league’s first-ever game in Australia in Week 1 will stream exclusively on Netflix, while a Thanksgiving Eve matchup will also be included in the California-based company’s expanded NFL rights package.

"This is something that is great for the consumer because it gives an inexpensive, very affordable way to watch sports, and television, and movies, and kids programming, and podcasts, and play games. All those things for $8.99 is an amazing proposition for consumers," Sarandos said, addressing regulatory scrutiny of sports streaming rights and whether exemptions should apply when non-linear platforms acquire a share of a league’s inventory.

"It’s great for the leagues that they have an active competitive base of folks bidding for those games, so that’s valuable. I think it’s an important part to the American success story of the economy, is that you can lean into it and be competitive, and you have to deliver."

Amid concerns that only a select number of tech companies could wind up controlling premium entertainment, Sarandos countered, arguing, "I’d say people probably said the same thing when pay-television, which most people are probably watching this show on right now, came in and took the place of TV over the antenna. This is kind of a natural evolution of technology and consumer demand."

A Fox News poll in March indicated that 72% of sports fans think major sporting events should stay free on broadcast TV, amid reports that the NFL is considering allowing teams to sell the rights to preseason games to streaming services.

NFL fans who want access to every game need to purchase YouTube TV for a cost of $82.99 a month and add "NFL Sunday Ticket" for another $378 for the season. You can also purchase "NFL Sunday Ticket" ad hoc for $378 for the year and watch it on YouTube. (YouTube offers new users a $276 rate for the season on both YouTube TV and YouTube, which you can only get once). YouTube often offers early bird specials that could decrease the price somewhat.

NFL fans would need to add three more streaming services to watch all the games. Those are – Netflix ($8.99/month), Amazon Prime Video ($8.99/month) and Peacock ($10.99/month).

The combination of all of those streaming services would cost a minimum of $623 annually if you've never owned "NFL Sunday Ticket" and the annual price spirals higher if you are a returning customer and/or add YouTube TV. These costs do not include the fees that come with basic cable packages or high-speed Wi-Fi that is needed to accommodate the platforms.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Front Office Sports reported the annual NFL Honors ceremony, which takes place in the days leading up to the Super Bowl in the host city, is expected to move to Netflix beginning in February. The 2027 Super Bowl is scheduled to kick off on Feb. 14 from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Christen Goff is back for SI Swimsuit, adding to her bikini legacy with two appearances in the same year

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:33:24 -0400

It's fair to say that bikini season has arrived. Not that the annual launch of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue marks the beginning of bikini season or anything, but it's for sure underway and there's no stopping it now.

Speaking of not being stopped, Christen Goff is in that category. The mom and NFL WAG, 32, has built quite a bikini modeling legacy for herself over the years, and she did it one bikini shoot at a time.

The Swim Search winner and Rookie of the Year turned SI Swimsuit veteran can add her name to the short list of models who have appeared in both a digital and print issue in the same year. There will be more who do it, but she's one of only a select few to be at the forefront of the honor.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Christen was one of the NFL WAGs, alongside singer Normani, Brittany Mahomes, Haley Cavinder, Ronika Love and Claire Kittle, who heroically battled the cold weather for the February digital cover.

She was the only one of them to make the list of 34 models appearing in this year's issue. It's her fifth consecutive time landing a spot in the annual magazine.

Christen marked the occasion, as one in her situation does, with some traditional behind-the-scenes content followed by some of the finished product. See the finished product she shared on Instagram here.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK CULTURE COVERAGE

Not bad for a model with big dreams. Big dreams that included one day following in the footsteps of another Sports Illustrated Swimsuit legend by the name of Kate Upton.

Christen Goff, the First Lady of the Detroit Lions, hasn’t landed the allusive print cover. Not yet anyway, but you have to believe her time will come. In the meantime, she's continuing to build an impressive résumé.

It's the one bikini shoot after another approach that's landed her in five straight SI Swimsuit issues.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Pro-Palestine protester who interrupted Super Bowl LIX halftime show found guilty in court

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:16:34 -0400

The Super Bowl LIX halftime performer who turned protester when he unfurled a pro-Palestinian flag on the field of the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans has been convicted in court and faces a fine and possible jail time.

Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu was found guilty of resisting police, according to the Associated Press.

Nantambu, 41, faces a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Although he was originally enlisted to be part of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime performance on Feb. 9, 2025, things went sideways when he pulled a flag of Sudan and Palestinian territories sewn together out of his wardrobe and ran across the field waving the flag.

SUPER BOWL LIX SECURITY TACKLES PERSON WITH FLAG SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS, SUDANESE DURING HALFTIME SHOW

Security and law enforcement personnel chased Nantambu, but he refused to comply with their commands to stop, according to Louisiana State Police.

Nantambu eventually surrendered. He was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly.

Chief Judge Juana Marine-Lombard this week found him guilty only of the resisting an officer charge, which is a misdemeanor.

"We appreciate the chief judge's careful consideration of the evidence and the decision to hold this individual accountable for resisting law enforcement officers who work every day to protect our communities," Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Although Nantambu's sentencing may or may not result in actual jail time, he does face a steep penalty from the NFL.

The NFL previously banned Nantambu from all future league events for life.

The Kansas City Chiefs' social media team may have finally jumped the shark when it comes to schedule releases

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:41:01 -0400

When it comes to schedule releases for NFL franchises, at least in my humble opinion, less is more.

If I want to know who my team is playing this coming season, I would like for that information to be packaged and presented to me in one neat, easy-to-read graphic.

Call me old fashioned, but I don't need an influencer who's never watched a down of football dressing up as different team mascots to tell me who the Dolphins play during week 8.

NFL schedule releases used to be quaint; then the Tennessee Titans released their, admittedly, very funny and original "bachelorette party meets man-on-the-street" video a few years back, and every other social media manager has been playing catch-up ever since.

BILLS RECRUIT NBA LEGEND ALLEN IVERSON FOR CREATIVE NFL SCHEDULE RELEASE

Very good. Very good.

Except for the fact that this single video is the point of origin for a nuclear arms race regarding "creative" schedule releases on social media, where each year, teams have to one-up themselves and others with topical and increasingly outlandish concepts.

From the Los Angeles Chargers making a Minecraft-themed schedule release to the Buffalo Bills using Allen Iverson as a stand-in for artificial intelligence (get it, they both have the initials "A.I."?), it's been getting increasingly rough on these internet streets.

COLTS DELETE VIDEO DEPICTING DOLPHINS STAR TYREEK HILL BEING CONFRONTED BY AUTHORITIES AMID PAST ARRESTS

But one team may have just jumped the shark and pressed the big red button in the nuclear age of schedule releases, giving us a schedule release so awful that I had to question whether this was a parody account or not.

"Hey, guys! What's really popular on the internet these days? Chicks making sourdough? I don't understand the youths, but let's roll with it! Ha, get it?"

Just throw me off a bridge.

CHIEFS DYNASTY TIMELINE: HOW LOVABLE LOSERS BECAME AN EVIL EMPIRE OF TAYLOR SWIFT FANS AND REFEREE FORTUNE

Yes, that is the official Kansas City Chiefs social media account, and that is actually what they decided to go with for their schedule release in the year 2026.

I'm being told this is some reference to Taylor Swift, which I can't decide if that makes it slightly better or a lot worse.

Some post-grad is getting paid more than most of you reading this article to come up with this concept and then staple some cutouts of clams and barbecue onto stock images of sourdough bread.

Then again, if the Chargers' "help-wanted" ad ad for their social media position taught us anything, that probably isn't the case.

Either way, there wasn't a ton of effort put into this, which I would normally appreciate, but not when that lack of effort is coupled with trying to jump on some internet trend that is currently experiencing its 15 minutes of fame.

In three years when the fad of baking sourdough bread is nothing but a distant memory, everyone needs to come back to this Chiefs post to point and laugh.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Hell, why wait? This thing is getting eviscerated online as we speak.

Lane Kiffin isn't even getting dragged this hard, and he called his former school "segregated."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Just remember, folks, if you ever feel like a failure at your job, know that an entire room full of marketing, PR and social media experts greenlit THAT as a schedule release for their multi-billion-dollar corporation.

But, hey, any press is good press, right?