We’re firmly in awards season with the 2024 college football regular season and conference championships complete.

While the 2024 Heisman Trophy will be awarded on Saturday, the nation’s top awards for each position were revealed on Thursday night, featuring some of the top names in the sport, including Heisman finalists Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty, to name a few.

Hunter, expected to be one of the first picks of the 2025 NFL draft, especially came home with some hardware after his outstanding two-way season as a receiver and cornerback.

Here’s the full list of college football awards for 2024:

College football award winners 2024

This section will be updated

Heisman Trophy

Winner: TBA Saturday

AP Player of the Year

Winner: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Biletnikoff Award (best receiver)

Winner: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player)

Judged by FWAA.

Winner: DE Kyle Kennard, South Carolina

Broyles Award (top assistant coach)

Winner: TBA

Burlsworth Trophy (top former walk-on)

Winner: LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

Butkus Award (top linebacker)

Winner: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

Bednarik Award (best defensive player)

Judged by Maxwell Club

Winner: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Davey O’Brien Award (top quarterback)

Winner: QB Cam Ward, Miami

Doak Walker Award (top running back)

Winner: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (top Division I coach)

Judged by FWAA

Winner: TBA

George Munger Award (top Division I coach)

Judged by Maxwell Club

Winner: TBA

Home Depot Coach of the Year

Winner: Curt Cignetti, Indiana

Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back)

Winner: S Jahdae Barron, Texas

Joe Moore Award (top offensive line unit)

Winner: TBA

John Mackey Award (top tight end)

Winner: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (top upperclassmen QB)

Winner: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Lombardi Award (outstanding lineman)

Winner: OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Lott IMPACT Trophy (defensive impact player of the year)

Winner: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Lou Groza Award (top placekicker)

Winner: K Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana

Maxwell Award (college player of the year)

Winner: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Outland Trophy (top interior lineman)

Winner: OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Paul Hornung Award (most versatile award)

Winner: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

Ray Guy Award (top punter)

Winner: P Eddie Czaplicki, USC

Rimington Trophy (top center)

Winner: C Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State

Shaun Alexander Award (freshman of the year)

Judged by Maxwell Club

Winner: TBA

Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end)

Winner: TBA

Walter Camp Award (college player of the year)

Winner: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

William V. Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman)

Winner: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Wuerffel Trophy (community service award)

Winner: OL Nick Dawkins, Penn State

The defending Super Bowl champions will soon get another key piece on offense.

Wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown received medical clearance to return to practice, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the sensitivity of the matter. Brown is expected to have his 21-day practice window opened soon.

NFL Media was the first to report the news.

Brown injured his sternoclavicular joint during the preseason and was placed on injured reserve in September. The speedy wide receiver signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in March. He spent his first three years in Baltimore and the last two seasons in Arizona before signing with the Chiefs. He has yet to play a regular-season game for Kansas City.

The Chiefs are optimistic Brown will be able to play before the end of the regular season.

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What Marquise “Hollywood” Brown can add to Chiefs offense

The Chiefs signed Brown to help Kansas City’s offense generate explosive plays. The sixth-year wide receiver has averaged more than 10 yards a catch in every season of his career.

Rashee Rice, who led all Kansas City receivers in catches and receiving yards last year, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Rice was the team’s leading receiver at the time of his injury.

The Chiefs acquired veteran DeAndre Hopkins in October to help fill Rice’s void at receiver. Hopkins is tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (4) despite only playing in seven games in Kansas City.

Brown and Chiefs 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy give the Chiefs two wide receivers who can stretch the field. While Hopkins is more of a possession receiver who thrives in short and intermediate routes. Plus, the Chiefs have nine-time Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce.

The Chiefs are averaging 227 passing yards a game. They averaged 246 yards last season. Brown provides Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense another weapon on the outside, considering he returns to form.

Hopkins, Brown, Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster could be the Chiefs’ top four wide receivers as they enter their postseason journey.

NFL games are a spectrum. Some are back-and-forth shootouts. Others are duds without much scoring at all.

The Los Angeles Rams have played games on each extreme in a four-day span and come out on top in both. Following their Week 14 shootout win over the Buffalo Bills, their Week 15 defeat of the San Francisco 49ers on “Thursday Night Football” landed more on the “dud” end.

The Rams took home the critical divisional win, 12-6, on a rainy night in Santa Clara.

The poor weather conditions played a major part in the low-scoring affair punctuated by drops, overthrows and many, many punts. In the end, neither team was able to find the end zone, so all of the scoring on Thursday night came exclusively in the form of field goals.

Ultimately, a Darious Williams interception of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy late in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Los Angeles.

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The win put the Rams within half a game of the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC West lead, and it sent the 49ers two games below .500.

Here’s the full story of how it happened:

Rams vs. 49ers highlights

Rams 12, 49ers 6: Joshua Karty extends lead with 18 seconds left

A third consecutive Rams drive ended with a field goal as Los Angeles built a seemingly unsurmountable six-point lead with 18 seconds remaining in the game.

Darious Williams’ interception set up the scoring drive, which went 69 yards on 13 plays and milked 4:56 of the game clock to give the 49ers precious few seconds to work with on offense.

Darious Williams intercepts Brock Purdy in the end zone

The 49ers made it into Los Angeles territory for a few plays, but an overthrown Brock Purdy pass intended for Jauan Jennings ended up in Darious Williams’ hands.

The Rams take over possession at their own 20-yard line after the interception and touchback.

Rams 9, 49ers 6: Joshua Karty gives Rams their first lead

Los Angeles has come up short in the red zone on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter. Still, Joshua Karty’s third field goal of the night was enough to give the Rams the lead for the first time.

It’s 9-6 Los Angeles with 9:28 minutes to go.

Matthew Stafford takes deep shot to Puka Nacua

On the first play of the Rams’ second fourth quarter possession, Matthew Stafford heaved a 51-yard pass down field to find Puka Nacua. The longest play of the game by far gave Los Angeles the ball on the 49ers’ 16-yard line.

However, the Rams were not able to achieve a first down and had to settle for another field goal attempt.

49ers 6, Rams 6: Joshua Karty ties the game

Despite having a second-and-3 at the 4-yard line to start the fourth quarter, the Rams are unable to get in the end zone. They settle for a 23-yard field goal instead.

It’s 6-6 with 13:38 left to play.

End of third quarter: 49ers 6, Rams 3

The only scores have been a few field goals so far through 45 minutes. However, the Rams will begin the fourth quarter on San Francisco’s 4-yard line.

The weather seems to have cleared up, setting up a potentially more exciting final 15 minutes of action.

49ers 6, Rams 3: Jake Moody puts the 49ers back ahead

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel dropped a third-down pass that could have resulted in a first down, so the 49ers had to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt.

Jake Moody knocked it through to stay a perfect 2-for-2 on the night, and San Francisco takes the lead once again, 6-3, with 8:23 left in the third quarter.

End of first half: 49ers 3, Rams 3

The first half of a game heavily affected by poor weather conditions was not much to write home about. The teams combined for just six points in a full 30 minutes of play, with each one kicking a single field goal.

The Rams will receive the second half kickoff.

49ers 3, Rams 3: Joshua Karty ties the game ahead of halftime

The Rams took advantage of their good starting field position, and after over 20 minutes without another score, their kicker nailed his 48-yard field goal attempt to tie the game at 3.

The 49ers will get one final possession with just over one minute to play before the half.

Weather playing major factor in 49ers vs. Rams

The rain is coming down heavily in Santa Clara, and it has limited both teams’ productivity. Receivers on both teams have been unable to haul in passes that hit them in the hands, and both quarterbacks have had some bad misses.

Additionally, there have already been several potential interceptions that hit defenders in the chest before falling harmlessly to the ground.

End of first quarter: 49ers 3, Rams 0

On a rainy night in Santa Clara, it’s been a game dominated by defense through the first 15 minutes. Jake Moody’s field goal five minutes into the game remains the only score of the game so far.

The 49ers have the ball on their own 36-yard line to start the second quarter.

Puka Nacua gives his best ‘helmet catch’ impression

On the first play of the Rams’ ensuing drive, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford targeted Puka Nacua on a 7-yard pass. The second-year receiver bobbled the ball initially before pinning the ball against a 49ers defender’s helmet and holding on as they fell to the ground.

Los Angeles was ultimately unable to advance any further and ended their drive on a second straight three-and-out.

49ers 3, Rams 0: Jake Moody starts the scoring

Following back-to-back three-and-outs, the 49ers made it into Rams territory thanks to a 33-yard catch-and-run by tight end George Kittle. San Francisco kicker Jake Moody knocked through a 53-yard field goal after the drive stalled at the Los Angeles 35.

It’s 3-0 49ers after five minutes of action.

49ers vs. Rams start time

Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 PT)
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California

The Rams travel north to Santa Clara to take on the 49ers in their home building.

49ers vs. Rams TV channel

Live stream: Amazon Prime Video 
TV channel: Fox 11 (Los Angeles market) | Fox 2 (San Francisco market)

‘Thursday Night Football’ will exclusively stream on Amazon Prime Video for a national audience.

Fans in the Los Angeles market hoping to catch the game on TV can watch on Fox 11, while those in San Francisco’s viewing market can watch on Fox 2.

Watch’Thursday Night Football’with a Prime Video subscription

Rams vs. 49ers predictions, picks

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the matchup between the Rams and 49ers will play out come kickoff:

Lorenzo Reyes: 49ers 28, Rams 23
Tyler Dragon: Rams 26, 49ers 21
Richard Morin: Rams 28, 49ers 27
Jordan Mendoza: Rams 25, 49ers 24

49ers vs. Rams live stream 

Live stream: Amazon Prime Video 

For viewers looking for the “TNF” matchup between the 49ers and Rams, you can tune to Amazon Prime Video. 

Watch’Thursday Night Football’with a Prime Video subscription

Who are the ‘Thursday Night Football’ announcers for Amazon Prime Video? 

Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for Prime Video, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) providing additional coverage.  

The Prime Video pregame, halftime and postgame shows feature Charissa Thompson as host, as well as former NFL players Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth as analysts.  

Taylor Rooks is the feature reporter for Prime Video’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ coverage. Albert Breer provides reports and analysis. 

49ers inactives vs. Rams

Both Nick Bosa and Dre Greenlaw will play against the Rams. For Greenlaw, Thursday night’s game represents his first on-field action since suffering a bizarre Achilles injury in Super Bowl 58 while running back onto the field.

While the 49ers offense will have Isaac Guerendo available, 11-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams is out.

QB Joshua Dobbs
LT Trent Williams
DL Khalil Davis
S Malik Mustapha
RB Israel Abanikanda
CB Rock Ya-Sin

Rams inactives vs. 49ers

RB Cody Schrader
LB Brennan Jackson
OL Dylan McMahon
OL Warren McClendon Jr.

Rams vs. 49ers odds, moneyline, over/under 

The 49ers are favorites to defeat the Rams, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 

Spread: 49ers (-2.5) 
Moneyline: 49ers (-150); Rams (+125) 
Over/under: 48.5 

Thursday Night Football best bets 

Looking to make the “TNF” game a little bit more interesting? Here are some of the best bets for tonight’s 49ers-Rams tilt. All odds are via BetMGM  as of Thursday. 

Kyren Williams OVER 73.5 rushing yards (-115); 
Matthew Stafford UNDER 0.5 rushing yards (-120); 
Kyle Juszczyk anytime TD (+750) 

Isaac Guerendo injury update 

Isaac Guerendo plans to play against the Rams on Thursday night, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 

He left Sunday’s win with what head coach Kyle Shanahan called a possible foot sprain. Guerendo didn’t seem too concerned about his availability for ‘Thursday Night Football,’ saying, via NBC Sports Bay Area, after the game that the team was just being cautious. 

49ers planning to get Deebo Samuel more touches 

The 49ers are a better team when they a variety of ways to get Deebo Samuel the ball, especially when the offense is missing players such as Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. The wideout is the second player in NFL history to register 4,000-plus receiving yards and 1,000-plus rushing yards in his first five seasons. 

Samuel should be a focal point of the 49ers offense if the team wants to defeat the Rams, get out of last place in the NFC West and make a late postseason surge. The 49ers seem to understand that after Samuel’s deleted social media post. — Tyler Dragon

Where is 49ers vs. Rams?

The “TNF” matchup between the 49ers and Rams is taking place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014. It was the host venue for Super Bowl 50, which was won by the Denver Broncos over the Carolina Panthers. Levi’s Stadium also will host Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8, 2026.

Rams vs. 49ers weather forecast

Game time temperatures at Levi’s Stadium will be in the mid-50s, according to AccuWeather. There is a good chance for precipitation during the game.

NFC West standings 

The Seahawks are currently in control of the NFC West, but the division is still very much up for grabs entering the remainder of the season. 

Seattle Seahawks (8-5) 
Los Angeles Rams (7-6) 
Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
San Francisco 49ers (6-7) 

Who holds the NFC West tiebreaker in race for division title? 

Los Angeles Rams 

The Rams have the clearest path to challenging the Seahawks. They could earn a head-to-head sweep over the Seahawks, which could prove critical in deciding a two-team tiebreaker. The Rams also have the most games remaining against the division among the four teams. That gives Los Angeles a chance to improve its 2-1 divisional record. 

Getting to four wins would position the Rams to win that tiebreaker category, provided they beat the Seahawks in Week 18.  

San Francisco 49ers 

No team has a bigger uphill battle to climb to win the NFC West than the 49ers. 

San Francisco only has one divisional win, and the best it can hope for in its two remaining head-to-head matchups is to split with the Rams and Cardinals. Both teams have already taken down the 49ers once this year. 

49ers playoff odds 

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the 49ers have odds of +1000 to make the playoffs entering Week 15. That gives San Francisco a 9.09% chance of qualifying for the postseason. 

49ers remaining schedule 

The 49ers’ remaining four opponents have a combined winning percentage of .596, per Tankathon. That is tied for the fifth-hardest remaining schedule among the NFL’s 32 teams. 

Below is a full look at San Francisco’s schedule: 

Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Rams (7-6) 
Week 16: at Miami Dolphins (6-7) 
Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions (12-1) 
Week 18: at Arizona Cardinals (6-7) 

Rams remaining schedule 

The Rams’ remaining four opponents have a combined winning percentage of .442, per Tankathon. That ranks 21st among the NFL’s 32 teams, meaning that Los Angeles will finish the season with an easier schedule than average. 

Below is a full look at Los Angeles’ schedule: 

Week 15: at San Francisco 49ers (6-7) 
Week 16: at New York Jets (3-10) 
Week 17: vs. Arizona Cardinals (6-7) 
Week 18: vs. Seattle Seahawks (8-5) 

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins? 

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 

The 49ers have eight total Super Bowl appearances and five rings to show for it, the most recent victory coming during the 1994 season in Super Bowl XXIX.

The Rams have played in five Super Bowls — winning two, most recently Super Bowl 56 against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

New England Patriots — 6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
Dallas Cowboys — 5
San Francisco 49ers — 5
Green Bay Packers — 4
Kansas City Chiefs — 4
New York Giants — 4

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Early Thursday morning, ‘Forbes’ released their annual list of the 50 most valuable sports franchises in the world.

Unsurprisingly, the Dallas Cowboys claimed the top spot for the ninth consecutive year, with the team valued at over $10 billion – the first team ever to cross that threshold. In fact, they are the only franchise to be worth more than $9 million.

The NFL dominated this year’s rankings, with 29 of their 32 teams earning spots on the list. Only the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals failed to crack the top-50. The Bills were part of last year’s list.

Soccer clubs were notably absent from the list. Only seven teams made the cut, and the highest-valued – Real Madrid – came outside the top-10, tied for No. 12 at $6.6 billion with the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, seven European soccer clubs dwarfed the number of MLB teams (3) that made the list.

Here’s everything to know regarding Forbes’ latest list.

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‘Forbes’ list of most valuable sports teams of 2024

Dallas Cowboys – $10.1 billion
Golden State Warriors – $8.8 billion
Los Angeles Rams – $7.6 billion
New York Yankees – $7.55 billion
New York Knicks – $7.5 billion
New England Patriots – $7.4 billion
New York Giants – $7.3 billion
Los Angeles Lakers – $7.1 billion
New York Jets – $6.9 billion
San Francisco 49ers – $6.8 billion
Las Vegas Raiders – $6.7 billion
Philadelphia Eagles – $6.6 billion
Real Madrid – $6.6 billion
Manchester United – $6.55 billion
Chicago Bears – $6.4 billion
Washington Commanders – $6.3 billion
Miami Dolphins – $6.2 billion
Houston Texans – $6.1 billion
Boston Celtics – $6 billion
FC Barcelona – $5.6 billion
Green Bay Packers – $5.6 billion
Denver Broncos – $5.5 billion
Los Angeles Clippers – $5.5 billion
Los Angeles Dodgers – $5.45 billion
Seattle Seahawks – $5.45 billion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $5.4 billion
Liverpool F.C. – $5.37 billion
Pittsburgh Steelers – $5.3 billion
Atlanta Falcons – $5.2 billion
Cleveland Browns – $5.15 billion
Los Angeles Chargers – $5.1 billion
Manchester City– $5.1 billion
Minnesota Vikings – $5.05 billion
Baltimore Ravens – $5 billion
Bayern Munich – $5 billion
Chicago Bulls – $5 billion
Houston Rockets – $4.9 billion
Tennessee Titans – $4.9 billion
Kansas City Chiefs – $4.85 billion
Brooklyn Nets – $4.8 billion
Indianapolis Colts – $4.8 billion
Dallas Mavericks – $4.7 billion
Jacksonville Jaguars – $4.6 billion
Philadelphia 76ers – $4.6 billion
Boston Red Sox – $4.5 billion
Carolina Panthers – $4.5 billion
New Orleans Saints – $4.4 billion
Paris Saint-Germain – $4.4 billion
Toronto Raptors – $4.4 billion
Arizona Cardinals – $4.3 billion
Phoenix Suns – $4.3 billion

Why aren’t there more soccer teams?

Forbes notes that while soccer has a much more global reach and appeal, ‘nothing beats the commercialization of American pro sports.’ On average, an NBA team will earn $230 million per year in TV deals, while an average NFL team will earn $380 million. For perspective, one of the most valuable European soccer teams, Atletico Madrid, earned $382 million in total revenue last year. According to Forbes, they are the 13th-most valuable soccer club in the world.

How has the value of franchises increased in recent years?

Pro sports are only becoming more popular by the year. Just this year, the average team within the top-50 jumped from a value of $5.12 billion to $5.78 billion, a near 13% increase. In 2015, the average value of each top-50 team was just $1.76 billion.

NFL football continues to be the biggest riser. Just 10 years ago, there were only eight NFL teams in the top-50. Each of the three top spots used to be European soccer teams, but American sports have taken a hold of the global market over the last decade.

Which team grew the most since last year?

The biggest growth of any professional sports team between 2023 and 2024 was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which saw their franchise’s value increase by 29% this year. They were 37th on Forbes’ list a year ago. Now, they are 26th.

There were only four other teams in the top-50 to grow by more than 20% in the last year: the Los Angeles Chargers (23%), Brooklyn Nets (25%), Green Bay Packers (22%), and Boston Celtics (28%).

The University of North Carolina has agreed to pay new football coach Bill Belichick $10 million a year, according to a term sheet the university released Thursday afternoon.

While the agreement is for five years, only the first three years’ pay is guaranteed in case Belichick is fired without cause.

The annual pay figure is double what North Carolina had been paying recently fired coach Mack Brown. It would make Belichick the sixth-highest paid college football coach at a public school for the 2025 football season, according to the USA TODAY Sports annual salaries database and contracts obtained through open-records requests.

Among coaches at public schools, Belichick will trail Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, Florida State’s Mike Norvell and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer. Southern California’s Lincoln Riley was paid $10,043,418 during the 2022 calendar year, according to the university’s most recently available tax records – the only documents available because USC is a private school.

Belichick’s deal also provides him with a $100,000 expense annual expense account and the possibility of getting $3.5 million a year in bonuses. Among the bonuses, a total of $250,000 looks to be routinely attainable: $150,000 for the team playing in a non-CFP bowl game, which generally requires a record of at least 6-6 (UNC’s record this season), and $100,000 for the team having a single-year NCAA Academic Progress Rate figure of 950 to 969 (the team has exceeded 950 in each of the past three years).

In addition, the term sheet says North Carolina will provide:

   –$10 million as an ‘assistant coach salary pool.’ (This season, UNC is paying nearly $7.4 to its 10 primary assistants, according to information obtained from the school by USA TODAY Sports. The NCAA Division I Council this past summer eliminated its 10-person limit on the number on-field assistant coaches at schools other than service academies.)

   –$1 million for strength and conditioning staff.

   –$5.3 million for support staff, including funding for a new general manager position with pay ‘not to exceed $1.5 million.’ During a news conference Thursday, Belichick said that role will be taken by Mike Lombardi, a former NFL executive. Alabama GM Courtney Morgan is due to make $825,000 next season.

 –$13 million as what the term sheet called ‘revenue sharing.” This is presumably a figure that represents the total amount of money the university plans to pay to football players as consideration for the use of their name, image and likeness if a federal judge grants final approval in April to the proposed settlement of antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and the Power Five conferences.

So far, North Carolina is the first school to publicly disclose as part of a coach’s employment terms the amount it intends to provide football players for their NIL rights.

Under the settement’s terms, schools are expected to be allowed to pay their athletes, across all sports, $20 million to $23 million for their NIL rights.

(This story was updated with new information.)

Now wouldn’t this be a treat: Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft back together…as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. 

How fitting. How spicy. 

Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl triumphs that marked one of the most glorious dynasties in NFL history. Yet his unceremonious split earlier this year with Kraft, one of the league’s most prominent owners, goes down as one of the most intriguing break-ups in NFL history. 

It’s possible that both will be enshrined with busts in Canton in August 2026. 

For Belichick, who officially bolted from the NFL on Wednesday in a stunning move to become the coach at the University of North Carolina, it’s likely a slam-dunk that he’ll be selected during his first year of eligibility in the coaches category.  

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Of course, that would mean the new Tar Heels coach would skip to the front of the line – ahead of worthy candidates such as Mike Shanahan and Tom Coughlin – with no more than one coach selected in each class. 

(Full disclosure: I’ve been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection committee since 1998 and also serve on the revised, nine-member coaches sub-committee.) 

Belichick, 72, wasn’t eligible for the Class of 2025, which will likely include Mike Holmgren (selected as the lone coaching finalist), because the Hall of Fame’s bylaws stipulate a one-year waiting period for coaches. Previously, there was a five-year waiting period to induct coaches, matching the timeline for modern-era players. 

The longer wait for coaches was instituted a few years ago in response to the candidacy of Bill Parcells (inducted in 2013), which forced voters to consider whether he would return to coaching after previously making a comeback. One other coach in recent years, Joe Gibbs, came back to coach Washington again (2004-2007) after he was inducted in 1996.   

In any event, the credentials say more than enough for Belichick, even if there were demerits for “Spygate.” Belichick ranks second in NFL history for total career coaching victories (333), which includes the six Super Bowl wins with the Patriots. He also won two Super Bowl rings as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator. And he’s won more postseason games (31) than any coach in NFL history. 

And now he’s eligible for Canton for the Class of 2026, as Hall of Fame spokesman Rich Desrosiers confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. Said Desrosiers, “Our bylaws stipulate a retirement from professional football for one full season.” 

In other words, Belichick could go 0-for-the-ACC and it wouldn’t affect his Hall of Fame case. 

Meanwhile, Kraft, 83, has been passed over for 13 years in consideration as a finalist in the contributor category, despite his own exemplary credentials. 

Kraft, who hired Belichick in 2000 against the advice of several NFL powerbrokers he consulted (including Paul Tagliabue and Carmen Policy), gets credit for those Patriots Super Bowl victories, too. And his clout on the league level – including his role as chairman of the NFL’s media committee that negotiates the massive TV deals, plus his role in labor talks with players that was significant in ending the 136-day lockout in 2011 – furthers the case for his Hall of Fame bust. 

Besides, with contemporary NFL owners such as Jerry Jones, Eddie DeBartolo and the late Pat Bowlen honored with Hall of Fame status, it seems to be merely a matter of when rather than if Kraft will get a Hall call. 

And if it turns out that Belichick and Kraft will share the stage while inducted into the Hall of Fame, it would represent quite the juicy twist to their connection as powerbrokers for one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties. 

NEW YORK — What exactly constitutes a dynasty in professional sports? Steve Cohen helped define it to Juan Soto during lunch as the Mets owner attempted to sell the superstar outfielder on his vision for the franchise.

Soto wanted to know how many World Series Cohen was hoping to secure across the next decade. The billionaire owner candidly offered: ‘Two to four.’

That vision of a fruitful future in Flushing helped Soto begin to warm to the idea of migrating to a different borough and landing with the Mets. A cool, record $765 million contract probably did not hurt. Neither did the efforts of the rest of the Cohen family, including co-owner Alex Cohen, in helping Soto feel comfortable in his new home.

On Thursday afternoon at Citi Field, the Cohens’ grand vision of producing a consistent, bona fide World Series contender came into clearer focus as Soto stepped onto the dais in the Piazza Club and thrust on a hat and white jersey garnished with royal blue and orange.

‘What they showed me, how the organization runs things and how they’re going to manage things and how they look at the future, I think it was one of the things that opened my eyes a little bit more,’ Soto said as he stepped into the spotlight as the highest paid player in the history of sports. ‘What they’ve been constructing and building to take all the way up to 15 years, 20 years, you never know. But definitely that was one of the things that opened my eyes more was how hungry they are to win a championship and make a dynasty with the New York Mets.’

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The afternoon was something of a fantasy for the Mets organization, and they pulled out all of the stops to welcome one of the most elite hitters of his generation to Flushing.

Dozens of members of the Mets organization outlined a border of seats that stretched to the bar in the club. As Soto emerged in a navy-blue suit, black turtleneck and with a No. 22 chain around his neck, the staffers showered the team’s new generational talent with applause.

The Mets set up 22 seats for Soto’s family, or the ‘Soto Supreme Court,’ as his agent Scott Boras dubbed the 26-year-old’s support system. A lunch of Latin American cuisine, including carne asada, roasted pernil, tostones and arroz con gandules awaited.

Soto’s arrival was a celebration for all involved.

‘It’s obviously a huge move,’ Steve Cohen said. ‘I think it puts an accent on what we’re trying to do. It accelerates our goal of winning championships, but more important, I kind of said it in our locker room after one of our playoff victories, my goal was to change how the Mets were viewed. I think we’re really on the path of changing that.

‘We’re never going to stop. We’re always in a constant state of improvement, but that’s my goal. My goal is that the Mets are going to be a premier, one of the elite teams in Major League Baseball.’

Thursday’s festivities had been practically fantasized about since David Stearns became the franchise’s first president of baseball operations prior to the 2024 season. Soto’s name was at the top of the upcoming free agent list for the 2025 season but following an offseason trade to the crosstown Yankees, there was doubts about an impending departure from the Bronx.

Stearns said the preparation for the pursuit of Soto began last August. The Mets’ run to the National League Championship Series might have helped put the Mets in a better spot but the Yankees went one step further. Soto had one of his best seasons in his seven-year career, belting a career-high 41 home runs and scoring 128 times, while plating 109 runs.

‘The way he thinks about hitting is a gift,’ Stearns said. ‘I mean, this is not only a physically gifted athlete, physically gifted hitter, this is someone who spends a lot of time thinking about his craft, observing other players. There’s a reason he’s as good as he is, and I think a lot of it is the thought that goes into his approach and how he goes about it.’

After a weekslong pursuit, optimism waned on Saturday night, with Stearns putting the Mets’ chances at less than 50%. The bidding began to hit historic levels. But Cohen would not be denied.

‘I can think pretty well on my feet, and adjust pretty quick,’ Cohen said. ‘That’s what I do for a living in the markets. And so, I always say, ‘I don’t quit. I don’t create the world. I gotta live in the world that’s being created around me.’ And I wasn’t the only bidder. That was the market, and so we’re lucky enough that he chose us.’

Despite a strong season with the Yankees across town, Soto said that it came down to a family decision. The Cohens outlined a family-centered culture, with Steve’s accessibility and openness with his players. Stearns touted his approach to roster-building, complete with the team’s financial resources and the young talent waiting in the wings.

That message resonated with Soto.

‘What they show and what they have in the table, it’s seems like they’re a right family,’ Soto said of the Cohens. ‘A family that wants to win, but they want to take care of their players and families. That’s one of the things that always … it was a better thing for me to move forward.’

And on a blustery Thursday afternoon in December, the Mets organization reveled in landing one of baseball’s top free agents and perhaps a reclaimed identity as one of the major players in the sport. Now, Soto shares in a major piece of the responsibility in taking that vision one step further.

‘I think that’s why you play baseball, to be a championship player and try to win and try to win as many as you can,’ Soto said. ‘At the end of the day, you can have all the stuff and everything but if you don’t win, it’s kind of hard.’

Legendary college basketball announcer Dick Vitale is once again cancer free.

The ESPN analyst announced on Thursday that ‘Santa Claus came early’ after he learned a scan he had in the morning of a lymph node in his neck had come back clean of cancer.

‘Yes I’m cutting the nets down baby it’s my National Championship!’ he said in a post that also promoted the Jimmy V Foundation, which funds cancer research and is named after Vitale’s friend, the late college basketball coach Jimmy Valvano.

The positive update comes after Vitale announced his cancer had returned in June. It was the fourth time Vitale had been diagnosed with cancer in three years. 

He previously said in August 2021 that he received treatment for melanoma and was additionally diagnosed with lymphoma months later in October 2021. He declared he was ‘cancer free’ in August 2022, but doctors later diagnosed him with vocal cord cancer in July 2023. He again announced that he was cancer free in December 2023 following six weeks of radiation therapy.

Vitale hasn’t been on the call for a college basketball game since 2022 as he dealt with his cancer battle, especially since his vocal cord cancer prevented him from speaking. In March, he told USA TODAY Sports through text messages that it would take time before he could get enough strength back in his voice to call games. He hoped if the vocal cords healed properly, he would be able to get back to his announcing duties this season because he yearns to be back inside college arenas.

‘I miss so much the entire college spirit at the games as I always love being able to share time with the players, coaches, fans, media and especially my ESPN colleagues,’ Vitale said.