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Tom Brady coming out of retirement to play in flag football tournament

You couldn’t keep Tom Brady off the football field forever.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback’s post-playing days have treated him nicely. Brady quickly found a spot in the broadcast booth with FOX, serving on the network’s top team as an analyst. He continued to increase his influence by acquiring an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.

Now Brady is dusting off the cleats to play in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, according to a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports on Monday.

“I couldn’t be more excited to return to the field, get the competitive juices flowing alongside some of the game’s brightest stars and iconic legends, and bring a truly unique global sports event to fans everywhere during Riyadh Season,’ Brady said about his return to football.

Flag football is set to debut as a new event at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and continues to increase in popularity. Brady, who retired in 2023, will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

‘I have always admired the power of flag football and how it connects fans of all ages, and it’s awesome to be able to showcase the sport on such a global stage while joining together so many incredibly skilled athletes,’ Brady added. ‘I’m looking forward to partnering with Turki Alalshikh, Fanatics, OBB Media, my team at Shadow Lion and my friends at FOX Sports to showcase some fierce competition. And I will be bringing home the trophy.’

The competitive flag football tournament is set to take place on March 21, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the Kingdom Arena. It features a star-studded list of NFL players who will participate.

Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rob Gronkowski are among the participants for the three teams of eight players. The format is a round-robin tournament, with the top two teams competing for a championship.

Additional players will be announced in the coming months. According to the statement, those players will be from across the sports and entertainment industries.

Sean Payton, Kyle Shanahan and Pete Carroll are set to serve as the coaches for the teams.

While the focus remains squarely on Brady’s return to football, he isn’t ready to commit to playing the Olympics just yet.

‘We’ll see,’ Brady told reporters when asked if he would play in the 2028 games. ‘Let’s see how this game goes.’

Brady also pointed out that he thinks there will be plenty of interest in the event going forward.

‘I think there’s a lot of people gonna want to be involved in the Olympics, especially because football players have never had an opportunity to do that,’ Brady said. ‘It’s quite a ways away. I think for me it’s just exciting, I still love throwing the football.’

This tournament follows Olympic-style flag football rules, the statement indicates. Games will be played on a 50-yard field with two 10-yard end zones, a 5-on-5 format and two 20-minute halves.

All the action is set to be broadcast on FOX Sports and Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, with more details being revealed in the coming months.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Charlie Kirk’s views ran counter to what sports represent | Opinion

Several major sports leagues and teams held moments of silence for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk following his death.
Sports are often seen as a unifying force in society, but these memorials widened national divisions, Armour writes.
The White House commended the sports organizations for honoring Kirk, stating the tributes reflected admiration for his work.

In our most troubled, turbulent times, sports have been our healer. They’ve been a source of comfort and unity, one of the few places we know we’ll find common ground with our fellow Americans.

Not this past weekend, however.

With their moments of silence for Charlie Kirk, the NFL, NASCAR, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and some college football teams chose to glorify someone whose career was built on driving this country apart.

One of the beauties of sports is the idea that they are the great equalizer. Your color, gender, sexual orientation, how much money you have — it all becomes irrelevant when you step on the field. It’s your physical skill, determination and ability to play well with others that matters.

It’s why parents put their kids in sports at an early age, to help teach them the life lessons of commitment, cooperation and resilience. It’s why many of us continue to play as adults, a means of connecting with people we might otherwise not.

And it’s why we’re drawn to sports in the worst of times. They are our communal bond, a reminder that we’re stronger together than apart. They offer us a way to move forward — if we want it.

“The U.S. could learn a lot from our locker room. I think the people in this world could learn a lot from our locker room. You walk into our locker room, and you’ve got guys of different races, guys of different backgrounds, different religions. And you’ve got a team that loves each other,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said when he was asked about Kirk’s killing after Saturday’s game.

“Tons of differences, tons of differences. Where they come from, what they deal with. And, ultimately, you’ve got a team that loves each other,” Lanning said. “I think we’re missing some of that in our country.”

It cannot be one-sided, however, and that’s why the memorials to Kirk were so problematic.

Kirk did not simply disagree with people who looked, loved and believed differently than he did. He demonized and ridiculed them and did what he could to make their lives hell.

He denied the intelligence of former First Lady Michelle Obama and Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, among other rivals, saying that the Black women lacked the “brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a White person’s slot.”

He said the Civil Rights Act was a “huge mistake.”

Kirk pushed for women to return to the stereotypical, stifling roles of the 1950s, telling Taylor Swift after she got engaged that she should “submit” to her husband. He also told the billionaire pop star, recognized as both one of the best songwriters of her generation and the savviest businesswoman, that “you’re not in charge.”

Kirk mocked Islam, promoted the racist Great Replacement theory, opposed same-sex marriage and said some gun deaths were “worth it” to preserve the Second Amendment. He said then-President Joe Biden should be “put in prison and/or given the death penalty for his crimes against America.”

(It’s telling that none of the tributes to Kirk included things he actually said.)

And though Kirk styled himself as a champion of free speech, he created an enemies list of college professors he disagreed with. The harassment some of these educators were then subjected to was so bad they feared for their safety. He proclaimed to be a Christian, yet too many of his words and deeds were the exact opposite of what Christ preached.

This brand of ugliness is tearing our country apart, and everyone — Democrat or Republican, red state or blue state — should be condemning it at full throat. Instead, Kirk was treated like a venerable statesman before several sporting events over the weekend.

‘These tributes reflect the widespread admiration for Kirk’s dedication to inspiring the next generation of American Patriots,’ the White House said in a statement Monday. ‘We commend these organizations for honoring a figure who championed the values that unite us all, and we join the nation in celebrating his legacy.’

The White House, and Kirk’s followers, see him in a way so many others do not. In a way that does not reflect what he actually stood for. The tributes and public memorials might have comforted his followers, but the same cannot be said for the rest of the country.

Sports has the power to bridge our country’s divides. These memorials to Kirk at sporting events only served to widen them.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

(This column has been updated with additional information.)

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Pentagon calls Charlie Kirk posts ‘domestic terrorism’; Dem warns discipline is ‘un-American’

The Pentagon is not backing down from its quest for consequences for those who celebrate Charlie Kirk’s killing, even as Democrats warn the move is ‘un-American’ and violates free speech protections.

The controversy underscores a clash between military discipline and First Amendment rights, with top Pentagon officials arguing that celebrating the killing of an American political figure is unacceptable conduct for service members — while Democrats counter that the crackdown risks punishing constitutionally protected speech.

‘Hunting down and prosecuting service members for their individual political beliefs is dangerous and un-American,’ Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger, wrote on X.

‘We must condemn political violence AND allow peaceful speech that doesn’t impact the chain of command.’

War Secretary Pete Hegseth and his team see it differently.

‘We will not tolerate military or civilian personnel who celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American,’ Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesperson, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

‘Every service member and civilian at the Department takes an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Those in our ranks who rejoice at an act of domestic terrorism are unfit to serve the American people at the Department of War.’

Already, Army Col. Scott Stephens was suspended following posts purportedly belonging to him that praised the killing. 

‘The death of Charlie Kirk in Utah was tragic. However, we can take comfort in the fact that Charlie was doing what he loved best — spreading hate, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and transphobia on college campuses,’ one post read.

Another Army Reserves officer was suspended over the weekend.

‘A monster died today,’ one post allegedly belonging to Maj. Bryan Bintliff, who went by ‘Bryan Harlow’ on social media, read. ‘It’s sad Charlie’s kids are traumatized for life, but it’s not a sad thing that he’s dead.’

Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday in Orem, Utah, while speaking to college students at Utah Valley University.

The Pentagon isn’t the only one rooting out those with distasteful commentary on the killing: the State Department has announced it would be scanning social posts to revoke visas of foreign nationals who do the same.

‘We shouldn’t be bringing people into this country. We should not be giving visas to people who are going to come to the United States and do things like celebrate the murder, the execution, the assassination of a political figure, we should not and if they’re already here, we should be revoking their visa,’ a senior State Department official told Fox News in an exclusive interview.

‘Why would we want to bring people into our country? They’re going to engage in negative and destructive behavior? It makes no sense.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Arch Manning pledges improvement after rough start to season

The Arch Manning era at Texas has gotten off to a rocky start, but the quarterback vows he and the Longhorns will improve.

‘I know the type of player that I am,’ Manning said on Monday, Sept. 15. ‘I know I’m going to play better and we’re going to be better as an offense.’

All of the buzz and excitement surrounding Manning has turned into frustration and concern in Austin as the preseason Heisman Trophy candidate hasn’t met the lofty expectations set on him. He struggled in the season opener against Ohio State and was able to shake off a shaky start against San Jose State in Week 2, although coach Steve Sarkisian had to downplay rumors his quarterback was injured.

The narrative didn’t get better in Week 3 against UTEP. Manning and Texas struggled against the Miners; he was 5-for-16 with 69 yards and an interception in the first 30 minutes, including 10 consecutive incompletions as he was unable to hit his receivers. Boos rained down in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium as the team went into halftime with a 14-3 lead.

Manning finished 11-for-25 passing for 114 yards − a career low in games he has started − with one touchdown and an interception. 

It has caused worry as the No. 7 Longhorns wrap up non-conference play and prepare for an SEC schedule that includes Florida, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Texas A&M. Texas will play 0-3 Sam Houston at home on Saturday, Sept. 20.

‘It’s frustrating because I know I’m better than that,’ Manning said. ‘But you know, we’re going to be better this week and get clicking on offense. I’m excited to get going.’

Sarkisian had a similar belief in Manning. After he said his quarterback played ‘athlete football’ against UTEP, Sarkisian said he expects Manning is ‘going to right this ship quickly.’

‘I think you learn a lot about yourself through adversity and overcoming adversity,’ Sarkisian said. ‘To have some of this adversity that he has right now, and when he gets on the other side of it, I think all of this is going to serve not only well for him but well for us as a team. Love the challenge for him.’

The 2-1 Longhorns host the Bearkats at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium at 8 p.m. ET.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Appeals court blocks Trump from firing Fed’s Lisa Cook, setting stage for SCOTUS clash

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Monday blocked President Donald Trump from immediately firing Lisa Cook from her role on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the latest in a high-stakes court fight that is almost certain to be quickly appealed to the Supreme Court.

The 2-1 ruling from Judges Gregory Katsas, Michelle Childs, and Brad Garcia keeps in place a lower court order handed down last week by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, which reinstated her to her role on the Fed’s Board of Governors.

Judge Cobb said in the preliminary injunction last week that Trump’s attempt to fire Cook likely violated the Federal Reserve Act and Cook’s due process protections. That decision prompted the Trump administration to appeal the case to the higher court for emergency relief.

‘When Governors by misconduct or gross neglect erode the foundations of such confidence, the President acts properly and lawfully by removing them,’ Justice Department attorneys said in appealing the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C.

The 2-1 ruling from the appeals court is a near-term blow to the Trump administration. It comes after Trump announced on social media last month that he would be firing Cook from her position on the independent Fed board due to allegations of mortgage fraud.

Cook’s lawyers immediately sued Trump over his attempt to remove her far before the end of her 14-year tenure, arguing that he did not have sufficient cause to do so. Cook has denied any wrongdoing.

The landmark case is the first attempt by a sitting president to oust a Federal Reserve governor ‘for cause,’ and it is almost certain to be kicked to the Supreme Court for review. 

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Ryan Routh’s SUV looked ‘lived in,’ filled with passports, phones and notes, FBI special agent testifies

An FBI evidence specialist testified Monday that Ryan Routh’s black Nissan Xterra was cluttered with clothing, tools and handwritten notes — and appeared as though someone had been living in it — when she searched it the day after his arrest.

FBI Special Agent Cindy Barrois, an Evidence Response Team leader in the Miami Field Office, said the Xterra’s back seats were folded down with what looked like a mattress.

‘It appeared the vehicle was lived in,’ she said. 

In court Monday, she displayed six cellphones collected from the SUV, Routh’s expired Hawaii driver’s license, a valid U.S. passport and handwritten notes — including a list with ‘pipe,’ ‘C-clamp,’ ‘blanket,’ ‘pillow,’ ‘tape,’ ‘paint,’ ‘green poncho’ and phone numbers. 

Another note listed flight options to Mexico and Colombia under the name ‘Bryan Wilson.’ A separate Bank of Hawaii paper read, ‘Make tourniquet.’

Routh is on trial representing himself for federal charges filed against him for allegedly attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump exactly one year ago on Sept. 15, 2024. 

Barrois testified in court Monday the vehicle was ‘not organized,’ and included food, tools, gloves, a disposable tablecloth and a .45-caliber cartridge casing in the glove box. Photos shown to jurors included the passport in the driver’s area, multiple phones and where they were found, and a close-up of the .45 casing. 

She also pointed to alleged stickers on the Xterra that appeared to have been blacked out with spray paint, showing drip marks. Items presented in court from the SUV included a red Harbor Freight flashlight, an Akaso camera battery, a black metal rod like those used in chain-link fences, multiple pairs of work gloves, a black mask, poncho and zip tie in a Ziploc and a large quantity of orange earplugs.

Prosecutors also walked jurors through receipts they say place Routh in Palm Beach County, Florida, for weeks: cash overnight-parking slips from a Marathon gas station in South Bay, Florida, dated Aug. 14 (eight nights), Aug. 21 (six nights), Aug. 29 (six nights), Sept. 5 (six nights) and Sept. 12 (four nights), plus local receipts from Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and McDonald’s. 

Jurors also saw two unopened cans of Vienna sausages and a 56-ounce SunnyD bottle allegedly found in the car, along with a SunnyD receipt. Barrois said North Carolina and Ohio license plates were recovered under the driver’s seat; a North Carolina registration in the glove box listed Routh’s daughter, Sara Ellen Routh.

Routh, representing himself, asked whether some items ‘could have been in there for years’ and why one photo showed the .45-caliber casing in the glove box and another did not. For the first time in the trial, the prosecution came up after Routh’s cross-examination to ‘re-direct’ the witness with further questioning.

Routh also said there were dress clothes in the SUV and referenced a note that read, ‘If you need this car moved text,’ listing numbers for ‘Sarah’ and ‘Oran.’

Later, FBI Evidence Analysis Request Coordinator Erin Farais testified about items removed from the SKS rifle. She said a fingerprint was found on tape from the gun but did not identify whose it was.  

When Routh asked whether removing tape affected scope accuracy testing, Judge Aileen Cannon told jurors, ‘This case isn’t about how accurate the gun shoots.’

Court staff told media that trial exhibits will be made public only after the proceedings conclude. 

Routh also told the judge he hadn’t decided whether to call his son, Oran, to the witness stand. Judge Cannon noted ‘a lot of work’ had gone into arranging his transport. 

Prosecutors said additional FBI forensic witnesses — including a firearms/toolmark examiner — were slated to follow.

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Manchin says he wanted GOP to win Senate to stop Democrats’ quest for ‘raw political power’

Former Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., wanted Republicans to win the Senate last year in order to prevent Democrats’ pursuit of ‘raw political power.’

In his new book, ‘Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense,’ set to be released on Tuesday and obtained by Fox News Digital, the former West Virginia Democrat-turned-Independent ripped into his ex-political party, tore into former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., while lauding the relationship that he had with President Donald Trump.

Manchin made waves when he and former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who also left the Democratic Party to become an Independent, bucked Schumer and voted against the move to nuke the Senate filibuster in 2022.

He recalled that vote in his book and the pressure he felt from Schumer and Senate Democrats to fall in line on that and other key votes during Biden’s presidency.

Manchin accused Schumer of wanting a vote he ‘could broadcast to the radical left to prove his loyalty’ and said the then-Senate majority leader didn’t actually believe that getting rid of the filibuster was the right thing to do, but rather to fulfill his ‘only priority’ of maintaining control of the Senate.

‘Because of what I knew — and what I had seen firsthand — I wanted Republicans to win the Senate majority in 2024,’ Manchin wrote. ‘I believed it was the only hope for preserving the Senate as an institution. I truly believed that, if in power, Republicans would uphold the filibuster, the last guardrail preventing total partisan rule.’

‘Schumer and the Democrats had already shown their hand — eliminating the filibuster would have been their first order of business,’ he continued. ‘They had no interest in protecting the Senate’s role as the deliberative body. They only cared about raw political power.’

The quest to end the filibuster is also why Manchin wouldn’t endorse former Vice President Kamala Harris in her run against Trump.

‘She knew this was the Holy Grail and the only hope we have to preserve any bipartisanship and maintain our democracy,’ Manchin said.

He also outlined an early fight he had with Biden where, when Democrats were trying to ram through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in the early months of his presidency in an evenly-divided Senate, Manchin rejected it.

Biden ripped into Manchin for standing in the way of an early victory.

‘As the drama began, I got a call from the president, and was he hot,’ Manchin wrote. ”If you kill this f— bill, I will never speak to you again,’ he promised. Anyone who knows Joe Biden —­ and I have known him for a very long time —­knows he’s got a very bad temper. He calls it his ‘Irish.’ I call it unfortunate. But if he was going there, so was I.’

”Your actions are reckless,’ I spat back. ‘You’re sending a f—­ check to everyone. And if you missed anyone, it was only by mistake.’’

The legislation ultimately passed after a compromise was reached, but Manchin noted that he later regretted ‘capitulating on the American Rescue Plan.’

He also described having a far better relationship with Trump, who he considered a fellow ‘outsider,’ than Obama, and noted that Obama reached out to him twice during his entire presidency: once after he won re-election to the Senate in 2012 and again in 2015 to persuade him from voting against his nuclear deal with Iran.

‘From the start, President Trump had an open line of communication with me. I spoke to him more in the first two years of his presidency than I did to President Obama during all eight years of his time in office,’ Manchin said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Schumer, Obama and Biden for comment but did not immediately hear back. 

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Valkyries guard wins WNBA Most Improved Player

When All-Star Kayla Thornton was lost to a right knee injury in mid-July, many wondered if the Golden State Valkyries would be able to continue on a postseason pace.

In stepped Veronica Burton, who lead the Valkyries in nearly every statistical category – points (11.9), assists (6.0), steals (1.1) and blocks (0.6) – and on Monday, Sept. 15, she was named the WNBA Most Improved Player. Burton’s game is well-rounded, demonstrated by the fact she’s one of five players to average at least 10 points, 5 assists and 1.5 made 3-pointers a game, joining Kelsey Plum, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Skylar Diggins.

Burton is the only player on the Valkyries roster to start all 44 games. She played 29.2 minutes per game, compared to 12.7 with the Connecticut Sun last season. Burton’s points per game are nearly four times her previous career high of 3.1 in 2024.

Burton, who was drafted No. 7 overall by the Dallas Wings in 2022, is known as a defensive stalwart. She won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year her freshman season at Northwestern. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase wanted to see more offense after getting Burton is the expansion draft.

‘I challenged her. I challenged her to memorize sets, I challenged her to memorize possessions, and I’m challenging her now to recognize certain defenses,” Nakase told Yahoo Sports in early August. ‘And so with that type of openness with like, ‘whatever you need, coach,’ I mean, literally every game, I feel like she’s surprising (people with her improvement).’

In honor of being named the Kia WNBA Most Improved Player, Burton will receive $5,150 and a trophy.

Golden State, which was the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season, is down 1-0 in the best-of-three opening series to the Minnesota Lynx. The Valkyries play host to the Lynx on Wednesday, Sept. 17 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN) at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Everything to know about Raiders vs. Chargers on ‘MNF’

The wild AFC West might be up for grabs in 2025, and on ‘Monday Night Football,’ another crucial divisional matchup takes center stage.

The Kansas City Chiefs have started the season 0-2 for the first time since 2014, maybe cracking the window of opportunity open for Monday night’s opponents, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders.

While there’s plenty of football left in 2025, the 0-2 start for the Chiefs and the 1-0 starts for the Chargers and Raiders might offer a glimmer of hope for a non-Chiefs winner since 2015.

The Chargers may have laid a small bit of a blueprint of how to defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs when they took them down in Brazil in Week 1. Behind a sharp Justin Herbert and a surprisingly pass-heavy offensive attack, Jim Harbaugh’s squad flew back stateside with a season-opening win.

It wasn’t as pretty for the Raiders in Week 1, but they came away with a win of their own vs. the New England Patriots to kick off the Pete Carroll era. Notably, first-round pick Ashton Jeanty didn’t burst on the scene as some expected; Jeanty finished his NFL debut with 19 carries for 38 yards.

His path doesn’t get much easier vs. the Harbaugh-coached defense on Monday night. But maybe Jeanty will give Carroll a birthday present by way of powering a Raiders win.

The Chargers and Raiders jockey for position in the division in an after-dark edition of ‘Monday Night Football.’ USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the matchup below.

What time does Raiders vs. Chargers start?  

Date: Monday, Sept. 15
Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) 
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

What TV channel is Raiders vs. Chargers on today?  

TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo, ESPN+ 

ESPN will be the broadcast home of the Monday night clash between the Raiders and Chargers. Chris Fowler will be on the call handling play-by-play duties. He will be flanked by Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick.

Watch ‘Monday Night Football’ with Fubo (free trial)

Raiders vs. Chargers live betting odds, moneyline, over/under

Raiders vs. Chargers injury report

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This high profile rookie RB looks to revive a legendary franchise

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Jeanty is being mentored by former running back Marshawn Lynch and is playing for Lynch’s former coach, Pete Carroll.
The Raiders drafted Jeanty to improve a rushing attack that was the worst in the NFL last season.

HENDERSON, NV – The pregame meal is the same every gameday for Las Vegas rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty’s tradition is to eat egg whites with spinach and preferably watermelon and blackberries as fruit. If he’s feeling extra hungry, he’ll indulge in some French toast. When the Raiders have a primetime game like Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jeanty will have some pasta for lunch.

Enough protein and carbs to take on the load of being the Raiders’ feature running back.

By the time Jeanty takes the field for pregame warmups, he’s ready to go and fired up.

Well, actually, the former and not the latter. Jeanty prefers to go into a game calm.

“I’m a gospel guy these days. It used to be rap,” Jeanty told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive interview. “I like to just be kind of more calm. I feel like rap kind of gets me too over the top, ready to crash out. I just need to chill before the game.”

Jeanty’s pregame music choice is fitting because it’s almost like divine intervention that he landed with the Raiders at the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Jeanty’s grew up watching running back Marshawn Lynch when he starred for the Seattle Seahawks for then head coach Pete Carroll. Fast forward to now, Carroll is head coach of the Raiders, Jeanty is his star in the backfield and Lynch is a mentor figure for the rookie.  

“Following the footsteps of lguys like Marshawn. He’s been around,” Jeanty said. “He’s been giving me advice.”

Furthermore, the Raiders selection of Jeanty was a full-circle moment for his agents Al Beglinger and Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports. Beglinger and Organ are Bay Area natives and lifelong Raiders fans.

“The first picture in my life as a baby was wrapped in a Raiders blanket,” Beglinger recalled to USA TODAY Sports.

To put the icing on the cake, Jeanty is the two agents’ first ever first-round pick.

“We had to keep our composure and keep our cool,” Organ said to USA TODAY Sports. “Like this is crazy. Our first first round draft pick is a Las Vegas Raider…We were like, ‘Wow, what are the odds to that.’”

Jeanty is fresh off a final collegiate season at Boise State in which he amassed 2,601 rushing yards, the second-highest single-season rushing total in FBS history. A rushing output that earned him the right to be a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Statistics and accolades that made him an ideal fit in Las Vegas.

Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. and other left-handed quarterbacks in NFL history

The Raiders had a massive need at running back prior to the 2025 draft. Las Vegas had the worst rushing attack in the NFL last season. The franchise hasn’t had a running back eclipse 1,000 rushing yards since Josh Jacobs in 2022. Las Vegas paltry ground game is why many mock drafts predicted Jeanty would wind up in Silver and Black.

“The run game wasn’t very explosive last year or in the past few years, so I think that’s why they really made the commitment to get me. Get a guy who can make big plays and really get the run game rolling,” Jeanty said. “It’s a big deal, honestly, just that they have that belief in me. That gives me all the confidence in the world. Whether things are going good or bad, that you know this organization, everybody around has trust in me, and brought me here specifically for that reason.”

Jeanty already reached the end zone for the first time in his NFL career in a 20-13 Week 1 win against the New England Patriots.

“I’m so excited for him,” Raiders quarterback Geno Smith said. “Just as he grows throughout his career, throughout the season, all the experiences.”

Jeanty’s got bigger goals in mind, though. He hopes he can contribute to the Raiders achieving more team success. The Raiders have finished below .500 the past three seasons, and the franchise hasn’t earned a playoff berth since 2021.

If Jeanty helps the Raiders get to the postseason and he surpasses 1,000 yards rushing along the way, he might have some NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year hardware, too.

His pregame traditions are a sign he’s prepared for the challenge.

“It’s definitely possible,” a smiling Jeanty said. “It’s definitely something I want to win for sure.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

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