WASHINGTON — D.C.-area residents have a message for President Donald Trump who is threatening to derail the Commanders’ pending football stadium deal unless the team restores its old name: Stay out of the city’s business and do your job.

Trump posted on Truth Social on July 20 that he may block a deal for the team to build a new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site if the team doesn’t switch back to its former name, considered offensive to Native Americans.

‘I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins,’ and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, ‘Washington Commanders,’ I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington,’ Trump posted.

Steve Mahoney, 62, said Trump has “bigger fish to fry” than pressuring the Commanders to change the team name. “Focus on lowering prices, everything else that he said he was going to do that he’s not doing,” he said.

Mahoney, who retired from a career in pharmaceuticals, has held onto his love for his hometown team, the Chicago Bears. Now a Washington resident, he wants Trump to let both the capital city and its football team handle their own affairs, Mahoney said.

“The fans have adopted the new name,’ Mahoney said, ‘and there’s no reason to change it back.”

Jessica Brown, 48, said she only pays “just enough attention” to the president to “know how he can affect my life.”

The stadium issue is apparently one of those cases. When it came to Trump’s threats to block the RFK Stadium deal, Brown didn’t hold back. “He should just keep his nose in his own lane,” she said.

Brown, a nurse from Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, said she supported the Commanders and other teams changing their names to avoid titles broadly seen as racist.

“You should just choose other names. There are so many others,” she said. Her advice for local leaders involved in the stadium deal – “ignore him.”

Two new names, and then one stunning season

In 2013, then-team owner Dan Snyder bluntly told USA TODAY: “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”

But once major corporate sponsors threatened to pull funding amid the George Floyd protests in 2020, Snyder and the league had little choice. Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians also underwent a name change around the same time and have been the subject of Trump’s recent nickname crusades.

The team rid itself of the former nickname in 2020 and went by “Washington Football Team” for two seasons before the “Commanders” rebrand in 2022.

When the Commanders were sold in 2023, the potential for another name change became possible, although it was not a priority for the new regime led by managing partner Josh Harris. In a news conference at the conclusion of a stunning season − which saw the often cellar-dweller team come within one game of the Super Bowl − Harris essentially quashed any idea of a name change.

The organization and players have embraced the “Commanders” name − as have exuberant fans thrilled with the team’s turnaround. But any name change would never have resulted in a reversion to the pre-2020 name.

Last year, both parties of Congress worked together to pass a bill that gave the local D.C. government a 99-year lease of the land on which the RFK Stadium site and the surrounding acreage sit on the banks of the Anacostia River near the eastern edge of the city. The Commanders played at RFK Stadium from 1961-1996 and have played at NorthWest Stadium in Landover, Maryland – considered one of the NFL’s worst stadiums – since.

That paved the way for the Commanders and D.C. to hammer out a $3.7 billion stadium deal, which was announced in April. The agreement would cost the District a projected $1.1 billion, while the Commanders are contributing $2.7 billion.

Trump’s threat called a move ‘to get attention’

Griffin Lafayette, a Raleigh, North Carolina native visiting Washington, called Trump’s threat to block the RFK stadium deal if the Washington Commanders don’t revert their name back to the original nickname “really stupid.”

“It’s just on his laundry list of things to complain about to get attention,” said Lafayette, a 25-year-old football fan.

Lafayette said he was “all for” ditching the team’s original name.

Gerald Collins, 66, said he doesn’t care about the team name, but he wants Trump to “stay out” of the RFK stadium deal.

“He isn’t a Washingtonian,” said Collins, a lifelong DC resident who works in construction. “What he’s doing is very wrong. He just wants to control things.’

Collins said he will always support the team no matter its name. He hopes the deal moves forward because it will bring the team back to the area where he watched them play when he was growing up.

Mayor confident stadium deal will get done

“I think the thing that we should focus on in D.C. is doing our part,’ Bowser said. ‘I have worked for the better part of 10 years to get our part completed, including getting control of the land, coming to an agreement with the team and advancing a fantastic agreement to the Council. So we need to do our part. Let’s focus on doing our part.”

It is now up to the D.C. City Council to approve the deal. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a skeptic of the proposal, has yet to set a specific date for a vote on it. Public hearings on the matter scheduled for July 29 and 30.

“No, it wouldn’t,” Bowser responded when asked whether the name being changed – even to the former name – would affect her support of the current stadium plan.   

The topic has been of growing interest to Trump. On July 6, Trump told reporters that he wouldn’t have changed the name, although he elaborated that “winning” could make the name for palatable to him personally.

“Sounds like typical Trump being Trump,” he said. “If they wait long enough, he’ll get distracted, and it’ll go through.”

Kiekel, an engineer and Washington native, isn’t an avid sports follower, apart from some soccer. But he lives near the proposed stadium in the shadows of the U.S. Capitol.

“It’s tricky” because of Washington’s unique relationship with the federal government, Kiekel said. Questions over Trump and the federal government’s actual oversight of the land, especially under the new law, have emerged.

Don’t mess with success and leave the name, fan says

James Anderson, 47, said he hopes Trump’s threats don’t force the Commanders to revert to their former name, mainly because he wants the team’s good fortune to continue.

“They’ve been playing much better so I don’t want them to change anything again,” he said. Last season, the Commanders advanced to the franchise’s first NFC championship in 33 years.

Maureen Brown, 57, said it would be a “huge step back” if the Commanders returned to their former name.

“I don’t want to see them go back,” she said. “The Commanders is a fine name. ‘The Red Wolves’ would be good, too.”

Brown, who has lived in Washington for 18 years, said she has never seen a game because their current stadium is inaccessible without a car. The team moving to Washington − especially to her neighborhood − would give her plenty of chances to see her favorite player, quarterback Jayden Daniels, in the flesh. Daniels was the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year after a record-setting season in which the Commanders went 12-5 under first-year coach Dan Quinn.

Anderson, who works as security guard for federal buildings, moved to Washington from Texas 15 years ago and promptly dropped the Dallas Cowboys to support his new home team.

He said if the Commanders leave Maryland for a new stadium in Washington, he would be able to go to their home games.

“I was a Redskins fan much longer than I’ve been a Commanders fan,” he said. “But they have a good thing going now.”

Trump’s threats, he added, are “only about himself” – not the team or its fans.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: Trump threatens the Commanders.

You’d think Sol Ruca was born to wrestle.

She has flashy moves, an acrobatic specialist who can move just about any way she desires. She’s high-flying, willing to be the daredevil to make the crowd gasp while making it look effortless. The charisma has arrived and has blended with her in-ring talent. Plus, have you seen her finisher, the Sol Snatcher? 

She looks like a natural. Of all the women on the NXT roster, it’s fair to say she has the highest ceiling among the young crop of stars. 

That’s what makes this fact crazier: She has been wrestling for only three years.

“I still am pretty, pretty green,” Ruca told USA TODAY Sports. “I do feel like I am getting closer and closer to confidently saying, ‘I think I got this.’”

It certainly looks like she has the hang of it. The opportunities are crashing toward her like waves, and it’s like she’s on a surfboard, riding them flawlessly. She’s the NXT Women’s North American Champion and Women’s Speed Champion, the latter of which could be considered a main roster title. 

She has appeared on SmackDown, allowing more of the WWE universe to get a first look and be wowed by the talent. And it’s not just fans who are enthralled by her, but plenty of wrestlers are taking notice of “the future” of the business.

Getting into wrestling

Wrestling wasn’t part of Ruca’s childhood. Instead, it was gymnastics.

From Ontario, California, Ruca – whose actual name is Calyx Hampton – spent much of her youth at Wildfire Gymnastics in Orange County. Starting there at the age of 8, Ruca was already collecting hardware in California, winning state and regional titles during her 10 years with the club.

She committed to Oregon’s acrobatics and tumbling team before her senior year of high school. In Eugene, she was a vital member of a Ducks squad that reached the national semifinals every year she was there. 

It wasn’t until after Ruca graduated college that WWE reached out to her about trying out. She was a social media influencer, showing off her acrobatic skills that piqued the interest of WWE.

In March 2022, Ruca became one of the new recruits at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, and quickly impressed trainers. Although gymnastics and wrestling share some similar aspects, it was a dramatic learning curve for someone just getting in the business. Someone who really helped with learning the ropes was Alba Fyre. Ruca recalled a time Fyre was helping classes and when she locked up with her, Ruca realized “this is how it should feel. This is what it’s all about.” It clicked, and she was ready to run with it. 

Creating the Sol Snatcher

Ruca made her in-ring debut just three months after reporting. It was a hot first year, and she went viral when she debuted the Sol Snatcher, a springboard flip cutter that stunned fans.

“I felt like I could pick up moves pretty quickly and the fundamentals pretty quickly, just because that’s what gymnastics was,” Ruca said. 

It took around a month for Ruca to come up with the Sol Snatcher. The original version of the move was to be a stunner instead of a cutter, but it meant Ruca landing on her bottom, which would eventually get painful.

“I had to workshop that a little bit, and decided that the cutter was just the best option for longevity and executing it flawlessly,” she said. 

Ruca practiced the move on a squishy ring at the performance center and eventually built up the courage to try it in a match. Now, she arguably has one of the most exciting finishers in the company. She wouldn’t say hers is the best in all of wrestling, but if you just consider the “flashy, flippy” wrestling, she’ll say she’s at the top. 

“I’m happy that I tried it when I did, because once I did that, it went viral, and I kind of just shot off from there,” Ruca added. 

How injury helped Sol Ruca

Ruca was picking up steam, but it came to a screeching halt when she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in April 2023. It could have been a major setback for someone on the rise.

Turns out it was a blessing in disguise.

For as impressive as Ruca was, it was a challenge learning to wrestle – especially when it was all new to her. Yes, you have to physically perform, but there are mental aspects that were really testing a former athlete.

“In order to really grasp professional wrestling, you need to know the psychology,” she said. “You need to know how to put a match together, and I think that is probably the hardest thing for most athletes. Being able to be in a match and be in the moment, instead of just doing all your stuff and hitting hard and doing all that, you have to actually put on a whole performance and put on a character in a show. 

“In athletics, you don’t get that opportunity. You have to be serious the whole time. So I think that’s another thing that athletes, as well as myself, struggle with at first.”

It was during her injury recovery when Ruca got to just take time to observe. Actually watch wrestling. See what the best of the business do. Just study it instead of studying and performing at the same time, which led to feeling a bit lost at times.

By the time she was cleared to return, Ruca was a “completely different person” who understood how to succeed.

“I had a better understanding of what I was doing. I had more of a set goal of how I want to be perceived and kind of like how I want to portray myself on TV,” she said. “I think just having that time off, it was tough, but I think it was definitely necessary for my career to be able to just take a step back.”

Since then, Ruca has been on a tear. She has become a bonafide wrestler, looking far from a person who is still in their formative years of being in the ring. Not only is she capturing attention for her skills, but she’s also stealing hearts with her personality. Ruca has also formed a partnership with Zaria, dubbed ZaRuca, that has become a fan favorite friendship.

It all led into what was a massive April for Ruca. She won the Women’s Speed title, and in the same week, won the NXT Women’s North American Championship in a thrilling six-person ladder match at Stand and Deliver, becoming one of the big winners of WrestleMania weekend.

She’s still a double champion, and now seemingly working almost any and all shows.

“It’s been crazy, to be honest,” she said. “Going from nothing to double champion and getting the opportunity, not only to work with NXT talent, but going up to Raw, Smackdown and defending the Speed title against people that I’ve never been in the ring with before. I just feel like I’m getting so much more experience this way, and I’m just improving every single time I go out there.”

Catching the eye of WWE stars

Ruca has certainly caught the eye of wrestlers on all levels of WWE. Jordynne Grace, who has officially been with the company for six months, has noticed who is the future of the company in NXT. She feels like she can tell who could be in the main event of WrestleMania one day.

When asked by USA TODAY Sports which star Grace thought of, the first one who came to mind was Ruca.

“You’ve seen her wrestle. It’s actually ridiculous,” Grace said. “She’s been wrestling, what, two to three years at this point? So, you can only imagine what she’s going to be able to do in the future.”

And she has the attention of arguably the most decorated woman in WWE. Charlotte Flair competed against Ruca in the fatal four-way tag team championship match at Evolution, and was the recipient of a Sol Snatcher. That interaction has the 16-time champion already itching for a match, knowing the potential.

“I’m looking forward to a one-on-one with Sol Ruca,” Flair said. “I just think the sky’s the limit for her.”

All of the opportunities and praise could certainly get to Ruca’s head, but it’s far from reality. A permanent residence on the main roster is the goal of every NXT star, but Ruca feels like her time on the brand is far from over. 

She still is constantly learning and in need of it, while wanting all critiques and criticism with it. She also feels like getting that main roster experience helps her training with fellow NXT stars so they can improve their stock.

Did a lot of work and pressure find Ruca quickly? Sure, but she’s ready for it. She’s excited to “show the world what I got,” proving she has the makings of a major star. There’s no telling how far Ruca can go. 

Not bad for someone just getting into wrestling.

“I love where I’m at, and can’t wait to keep doing it,” Ruca said.

It’s time to put it in all-caps.

WE ARE THE COMMANDERS.

Go ahead, Josh Harris. C’mon, Roger Goodell. With a new NFL season kicking off as training camps open – and even more notably, with the Commander-in-Chief wrapping his roll back the clock nonsense with a threat to thwart efforts to build a new stadium for Washington’s cherished football team – it’s a perfect time to double down on values.

So, Donald Trump wants the NFL franchise to reinstate the racial slur as its name?

Somebody – and especially Harris, the franchise’s owner, and Goodell, the league’s commissioner – needs to set the record straight. Publicly. Again. Just because.

If you’re proud to be called the Washington Commanders and dedicated to moving forward with the name that was instituted in 2022, just say so.

Instead, as of Monday afternoon, the NFL and Commanders have given us crickets.

What a shame.

When contacted on Monday by USA TODAY Sports, the Commanders had no comment or statement regarding the remarks Trump posted on social media. The NFL did not respond to a request for a response.

Trump also suggested that the Cleveland Guardians go back to their former name and quite nobly, the team had a quick response and reiterated how excited it is to continue building its brand as the Guardians. No confusion there.

By contrast, the Commanders (and the NFL) have dropped the ball by hiding in silence.

Sure, the issue has played out over decades and Harris, who purchased the franchise from Dan Snyder in 2023 for a record price of $6.05 billion, has repeatedly stated that the old name – the “R-word” – isn’t coming back.

And no, every time an individual or group demands that they revert back, there’s no need to respond.

This, however, is a different circumstance that begs for a statement from a franchise that has reinvigorated its fan base with the promise of quality football on top of a new generation of leadership. The don’t-dignify-the-insult-with-a-response option doesn’t cut it here, given the grandstand that reignited the topic.

Never mind that it’s highly questionable, if not doubtful, that Trump could block efforts by the team and D.C. City Council to seal the deal for the proposed $4 billion stadium on the grounds of RFK Stadium.

He declared, “I may put a restriction on them if they don’t change the name back.”

Perception: You’ve been punked by the playground bully.

Given the journey of the Commanders and the NFL to change from the previous name and previous ownership regime to restore the value of a signature franchise, there’s something to be said for standing their ground on principle.

In other words, letting it slide looks rather weak.

The team deserves for the preseason buzz to focus on expectations attached to the second NFL season with phenomenal quarterback Jayden Daniels, not on whether Trump will try to muck up a deal for a new stadium based on an issue that has come and gone.

Oh, the stench of politics. The Commanders and the NFL are better off with Trump in their corner, with the league’s tentpole draft coming to D.C. in 2027 fueling momentum for a new stadium that projects for a 2030 completion.

By not responding publicly to Trump on the name-change issue, though, the Commanders and NFL have seemingly chosen to try not ticking off the bully who has chosen to scream in your face. Sad.

Then again, this line-in-the-sand stuff from Trump was destined to happen at some point for the NFL. During his last term, Trump disparaged the league – including its owners and players – over the national anthem protests. His venom appealed to his base, predictably, yet also forced the NFL to react.

This doesn’t compare to the anthem protests, but some of the same racial insensitivity exists. And it’s no surprise that in targeting the NFL again, Trump is stooping so low to dangle the bait.

Which is exactly why, as a matter of principle. the Commanders and the NFL need to double down on their convictions.

Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: On X: @JarrettBell

On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social

In an effort to host more baseball games in more unique locations, the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves are set to play a game at Bristol Motor Speedway, the legendary auto racing track in Bristol, Tennessee, on August 2nd.

This will be the first-ever MLB game played at a NASCAR track, and the teams involved are going all-out for their part in league history.

On Monday, July 21, the Cincinnati Reds unveiled the uniforms they plan to wear for the contest: white jerseys equipped with classic checkered flag patterns and numbers in the same style seen on drivers’ cars.

The Braves also revealed their jerseys, which will feature similar NASCAR-inspired numbers, as well as a new ballcap designed by New Era with hod rod flames across the brim.

The Aug. 2 game will count as a Reds home game and will be proceeded by games against the Braves at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park on July 31 and Aug. 1.

The game will be held a little more than a month before the speedway, know as ‘The Last Great Colosseum,’ hosts NASCAR’s annual Bristol Night Race on Saturday, Sept. 13. The baseball field will be set in the middle of the track’s infield.

Are there any other specialty pieces of gear for this game?

Rawlings has designed new batting helmets directly modeled after racing helmets for this game.

Furthermore, Reds’ catcher Tyler Stephenson has already revealed a custom chest plate for the game, modeled after the movie ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.’

The straps on the back of the protector include the famous line from the movie: ‘If you ain’t first, you’re last.’

Has Bristol hosted other major sporting events?

Bristol Motor Speedway anually hosts two NASCAR weekends a year – one in the spring and one in late summer or early fall.

Partnership with MLB: The Show

The Bristol Motor Speedway ballpark as well as the Reds’ and Braves’ specialty uniforms are expected to be available to play with in the popular baseball video game MLB: The Show 25.

What other fanfare will be at the Speedway Classic?

There will be a pregame concert headlined by Tim McGraw, Pitbull, and Jake Owen. Owen will host a full day of musical sets in a dedicated fan zone at the venue, per Bristol Motor Speedway. The Commissioner’s Trophy is also expected to make an appearance, giving fans a once in a lifetime opportunity to take photographs with baseball’s most coveted trophy.

The Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive play-caller for the 2025 NFL season.

Cowboys players, coaches and staff arrived in Oxnard, California for training camp this week. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott are back and healthy for the franchise’s first season under coach Brian Schottenheimer.

On defense, star edge rusher Micah Parsons leads the way as former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus takes over on that side of the ball.

Parsons, the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Parsons and the Cowboys have yet to agree on a long-term extension.

Parsons attended minicamp, and his team attempted to secure an extension last offseason but was denied as the team prioritized extensions for Lamb and Prescott. It’s no surprise Parsons’ contract was a big line of questioning for Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones at the opening day of training camp.

‘Just because we sign him doesn’t mean we’re going to have him,’ Jones said. ‘He was hurt six games last year, seriously. We’ve signed, I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year in Dak Prescott. So there’s a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you’re thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.’

To be clear, Parsons missed four games in 2024, not six as Jones states here. Parsons still managed 12 sacks in 13 games and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth year in a row.

‘Contracts are four, five years, okay?’ Jones continued. ‘There’s a lot of water under the bridge if you step out there and do something in the first two or three. You can get hit by a car. Seriously.’

When asked if he had talked to Parsons yet in these negotiations, Jones said he hadn’t.

‘I’ve talked with people that have talked to him, let’s put it like that,’ he said. ‘I don’t necessarily talk to these agents or I don’t necessarily talk to attorneys and I do stuff everywhere. And I don’t necessarily talk to the people that are hired to do certain things. I talk to the principals 90% of the time.’

Parsons has been one of the best players in the NFL since entering the league in 2021. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was a first-team All-Pro in his first season. He’s made two All-Pro teams since then: a first-team nod in 2022 and second-team in 2023.

He’s entering his age-26 season this year and could command a record-breaking contract if left to the open market next offseason.

The NFL’s 2025 season won’t officially kick off until September, but fans won’t have to wait that long to see their favorite players re-take the field.

In July, all 32 of the NFL’s teams will open their training camps. That will kickstart the official preparations for the 2025 season and will lead into the league’s slate of preseason games, which will feature the professional debuts of many prominent rookies.

Still, it will be hard for NFL junkies to wait that long before seeing their teams in action. That’s why many will consider attending a day or two of training camp to see their squads in action.

Fans of teams who host their training camps locally will find that easy to do, provided they can make the sessions that are open to the public. However, fans of teams like the Dallas Cowboys – who perennially host their training camp in California – will have to plan well in advance to see their team on the practice field.

Here’s what to know about the locations and dates of each NFL training camp for 2025.

NFL training camp locations

Below is a look at the NFL’s training camp locations by team for 2025:

Arizona Cardinals: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Atlanta Falcons: IBM Performance Field, Flowery Branch, Georgia
Baltimore Ravens: Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills, Maryland
Buffalo Bills: St. John Fisher University, Rochester, New York
Carolina Panthers: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago Bears: Halas Hall, Lake Forest, Illinois
Cincinnati Bengals: Kettering Health Practice Fields, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland Browns: CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Berea, Ohio
Dallas Cowboys: Staybridge Suites, Oxnard, California
Denver Broncos: Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, Englewood, Colorado
Detroit Lions: Detroit Lions Training Facility, Allen Park, Michigan
Green Bay Packers: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Houston Texans: Houston Methodist Training Center, Houston, Texas
Indianapolis Colts: Grand Park, Westfield, Indiana
Jacksonville Jaguars: Miller Electric Center, Jacksonville, Florida
Kansas City Chiefs: Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Missouri
Las Vegas Raiders: Intermountain Health Performance Center, Henderson, Nevada
Los Angeles Chargers: The Bolt, El Segundo, California
Los Angeles Rams: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California
Miami Dolphins: Baptist Health Training Complex, Miami Gardens, Florida
Minnesota Vikings: TCO Performance Center, Eagan, Minnesoa
New England Patriots: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
New Orleans Saints: Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, Louisiana
New York Giants: Quest Diagnostics Training Facility, East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Jets: Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, New Jersey
Philadelphia Eagles: NovaCare Complex, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Steelers: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
San Francisco 49ers: SAP Performance Facility, Santa Clara, California
Seattle Seahawks: Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Washington
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: AdventHealth Training Center, Tampa, Florida
Tennessee Titans: Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Washington Commanders: OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park, Ashburn, Virginia

NFL training camp dates

Here are the dates for all 32 teams, including separate rookie report dates when applicable:

Arizona Cardinals: July 22
Atlanta Falcons: July 23
Baltimore Ravens: July 22 (Rookies: July 15)
Buffalo Bills: July 22 (Rookies: July 15)
Carolina Panthers: July 22 (Rookies: July 21)
Chicago Bears: July 22 (Rookies: July 19)
Cincinnati Bengals: July 22 (Rookies: July 19)
Cleveland Browns: July 22 (Rookies: July 18)
Dallas Cowboys: July 21
Denver Broncos: July 22 (Rookies: July 16)
Detroit Lions: July 19 (Rookies: July 16)
Green Bay Packers: July 22 (Rookies: July 18)
Houston Texans: July 22
Indianapolis Colts: July 22 (Rookies July 21)
Jacksonville Jaguars: July 22 (Rookies: July 19)
Kansas City Chiefs: July 21
Las Vegas Raiders: July 22 (Rookies: July 17)
Los Angeles Chargers: July 16 (Rookies: July 12)
Los Angeles Rams: July 22
Miami Dolphins: July 22 (Rookies: July 15)
Minnesota Vikings: July 22 (Rookies: July 20)
New England Patriots: July 22 (Rookies: July 19)
New Orleans Saints: July 22
New York Giants: July 22 (Rookies: July 15)
New York Jets: July 22 (Rookies: July 19)
Philadelphia Eagles: July 22
Pittsburgh Steelers: July 23
San Francisco 49ers: July 22 (Rookies: July 15)
Seattle Seahawks: July 22 (Rookies: July 15)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: July 22 (Rookies: July 21)
Tennessee Titans: July 22
Washington Commanders: July 22 (Rookies: July 18)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going retro. On their throwback uniforms. Occasionally.

Monday morning, the team revealed its new − or old, depending on your perspective − uniforms, a nod to the Steelers’ inaugural team in 1933, when they were known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Steelers last sported a version of this look in 1994, when the NFL celebrated its 75th season and clubs throughout the league delved into a throwback experience that became common in later years.

Monday’s announcement touted the 1933 unis for igniting a “legacy that would come to define grit, resilience and the soul of Steel City football. Steeped in heritage, this uniform celebrates both the origins of the city and Steelers football.”

Like the 1994 editions, the ‘new’ throwbacks feature the Pittsburgh city crest, though it will now reside on the shoulder, instead of the chest, with the (white) numbers in their customary position. The predominantly gold jersey has horizontal black stripes, including one shaped like a V around the collar. The pants are beige. And this time, the Steelers will wear matte gold helmets adorned with their logo and a gray facemask after using the black ones insignia-free in 1994.

Shop Steelers 2025 throwback uniforms

‘The first time I saw it, my jaw dropped because we haven’t worn a jersey like that in a while as a team,’ linebacker Alex Highsmith said in a team news release. ‘It’s all so cool. I would say the helmet is my favorite part of it. That yellow matte helmet is just sick. I think it’s a cool new look.

‘And then with the jersey, I love that. I am just really excited to wear it.’

Pittsburgh will initially break out the new/old uniform October 26, a ‘Sunday Night Football’ date at Acrisure Stadium with the Green Bay Packers. If the Steelers are fortunate, Aaron Rodgers will also recapture his classic form as he attempts to defeat his original squad and become only the fifth quarterback in league history to notch a win against all 32 of its teams.

The Steelers have long sported one of the NFL’s iconic looks, their largely unchanged black and gold uniforms topped with a helmet utilizing the logo exclusively on the right side – the familiar Steelmark symbol used by the American Iron and Steel Institute with the trio of hypocycloids identifiable to both the team and city. The “Color Rush,” aka Dark Knight, version used in recent years features basic black aside from the gold numbers and stripes on the sleeves and pants.

But the team’s throwback attempts have been something of a mixed bag.

From 2007 to 2011, the team would periodically wear jerseys similar to the Dark Knight option along with white pants and a gold helmet. During subsequent years, when the NFL forced teams to use just one helmet shell, the Steelers tried a throwback getup from 2012 to 2016 that included socks and jerseys featuring horizontal black and gold striping, notoriously referred to as the team’s bumblebee phase. The Dark Knight Color Rush version replaced it in 2017.

WINNERS AND LOSERS: Who benefits from Steelers OLB T.J. Watt’s mega-extension?

Keen NFL fashion observers will have also noted the recurring return of the ‘Steel Curtain’ look associated with the team’s 1970s dynasty, though it basically only requires the addition of a gray facemask and an altered jersey number font.

Shop Steelers 2025 throwback uniforms

The Steelers, along with every other team, will be permitted to wear alternate and/or throwback uniforms a combined total of four times this season, up from three in previous years.

The Kansas City Royals are expected to call up veteran southpaw Rich Hill on Monday. Hill, 45, would become one of only five people over the age of 45 to play in the majors post-2010 (Jamie Moyer, Omar Vizquel, Bartolo Colon, Tim Wakefield), and the first since 2018.

Hill is expected to join the team Monday night as the Royals get set for a series against the Chicago Cubs. Currently, the Royals have no starter listed for Tuesday’s game.

Should Hill end up pitching for Kansas City, the Royals would be the 14th team he has played for in his career, tying Edwin Jackson for the most teams played for in MLB history. Jackson retired at 35 following the 2019 season after pitching for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers in his final season.

What teams has Rich Hill played for?

Chicago Cubs (2005-2008)
Baltimore Orioles (2009)
Boston Red Sox (2010-2012, 2015, 2022, 2024)
Cleveland Guardians (2013)
Los Angeles Angels (2014)
New York Yankees (2014)
Athletics (2016)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-2019)
Minnesota Twins (2020)
Tampa Bay Rays (2021)
New York Mets (2021)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2023)
San Diego Padres (2023)
Kansas City Royals (2025)

Rich Hill 2025 minor league stats

Across nine starts in Triple-A this year, Rich Hill has pitched 42 innings with a 5.36 ERA and 1.62 WHIP, while striking out 61 batters.

From the Horseshoe through Beaver Stadium, jumbo-size Michigan Stadium, the Rose Bowl and three different Memorial Stadiums, Big Ten football venues rank among the most iconic in the Bowl Subdivision.

But none are as uninviting as Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium. For decades, the Horseshoe has hosted memorable national champions and helped maintain the Buckeyes’ place among the sport’s most dominant programs.

There’s the annual “White Out” game at Penn State. Michigan’s record-setting capacity. The beauty of Pasadena at dusk. The unforgettable atmospheres at schools such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and more.

From top to bottom, it’s hard to top the history and tradition found at these Big Ten venues. In terms of pure intimidation, though, there’s a very clear group at the top (and bottom). Here’s how USA TODAY Sports ranks Big Ten home fields from nastiest to kindest for visitors:

1. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State

Trips to the Horseshoe are basically a guaranteed loss for teams in and out of the Big Ten, unless you’re Michigan. (The Wolverines have taken two in a row at home in the series.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, Ohio State has been dominant at home, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. The Buckeyes have turned the ‘Shoe into maybe the most hostile locale in the sport.

2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State

“White Out” games are among the most unique home-field sights in college football: Nittany Lions faithful across the board dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the Bowl Subdivision.

3. Autzen Stadium, Oregon

Autzen became a house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak before an epic loss to Southern California in 2011. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years.

4. Michigan Stadium, Michigan

The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that’s selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. It may not be the loudest in the conference, but it might be the most iconic.

5. Husky Stadium, Washington

There are few scenes in college football more aesthetically pleasing than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington – what locals call “sailgating.” Historically, Husky Stadium has been seen as maybe the loudest spot in the FBS when things are going right for Washington.

6. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa

In addition to goosing Iowa’s Big Ten chances – the Hawkeyes are 22-6 at home since 2021 – Kinnick is home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. “The Hawkeye Wave” is already an indelible part of the college football fabric.

SPECIAL PLACE: Inside the unique Iowa wave tradition

7. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin

At the end of the third quarter, Wisconsin fans will “Jump Around” to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial, one-game hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers’ development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema.

8. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska

A decided lack of success at home in recent years dunks the Cornhuskers down this list. But when Nebraska is playing well, Memorial Stadium provides one of the best home-field advantages in college football. And even when the program is struggling, Memorial Stadium’s deep wealth of history captures your attention and is sure to be sold out.

9. L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Southern California

The Coliseum’s art-deco-influenced design speaks to the venue’s extensive history as the host not just for USC football but also multiple Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, NFL regular-season games and more. While it can be hit or miss, the Coliseum ratches up the intensity for opponents such as Notre Dame or rival UCLA.

10. Spartan Stadium, Michigan State

Spartan Stadium hosted one of the defining matchups of the 20th century during the famous (or infamous) 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966. More recently, Michigan Stadkum turned in a dominant run at home under former coach Mark Dantonio, though that edge has diminished this decade with the program’s downturn.

11. Huntington Bank Stadium, Minnesota

The newest stadium in the Big Ten (for now, as we’ll see), Huntington Bank Stadium’s capacity of just over 50,000 makes it one of the coziest venues in the conference. The open-air site will also turn frigid and occasionally snowy later in the year, though that doesn’t stop locals from enjoying a Dilly Bar in the cold temps.

12. Memorial Stadium, Illinois

After suffering a major dip in attendance during the woebegone days of the late 2010s, Illinois has reestablished a home-field advantage since Bielema was hired in 2021. The Illini averaged almost 55,000 fans per home game last year, the program’s most since 2009. Illinois won six home games last season for the first time since 2001.

13. Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue

We won’t penalize Purdue for incorrectly calling its oversize bass drum the “World’s Largest Drum.” (There’s nothing wrong with a little hyperbole.) Ross-Ade has been inhospitable at times throughout its history: in the 1930s, the 1960s, the late 1970s and most recently during the Joe Tiller era (1997-2008).

14. Memorial Stadium, Indiana

The home-field edge was alive in 2024, at least, when IU sold out its final four home games in Curt Cignetti’s debut and drew a record single-season total of 386,992 fans. While not the case historically, the Hoosiers showed that Memorial Stadium can bring the noise when the team is competitive.

15. SECU Stadium, Maryland

As a men’s and women’s lacrosse venue, SECU Stadium can be hard to beat. Football? There’s a national title banner hanging inside (1953), and SECU (long known as Byrd Stadium) also hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for an upset of North Carolina in 1957. But the stadium doesn’t wobble the knees of Big Ten opponents.

16. SHI Stadium, Rutgers

The environment can be intimidating, as Washington found out last September. Back in the program’s Big East days, then-and-now coach Greg Schiano helped Rutgers turn SHI Stadium (then called Rutgers Stadium) into a surprisingly unfriendly host. That hasn’t always been the case in the Big Ten, though.

17. Rose Bowl, UCLA

There’s the Rose Bowl game – one that has long defined college football’s postseason – and there’s the Rose Bowl itself, which shares an address with the bowl game but little of the pageantry and hoopla (or fans). UCLA’s home stadium is at least 30 minutes or so from campus, longer depending on traffic, and while the crowd will show up for rivals such as USC there is little in the way of an obvious home-field advantage.

18. Ryan Field, Northwestern

The Wildcats will play their games in 2025 at Northwestern’s soccer and lacrosse stadium while extensive renovations are completed at Ryan Field. When done, Ryan will be a slightly cozier, much more 21st-century venue “engineered to create a powerful homefield sound advantage at games,” the school said. We’ll have to wait and see where it ranks when complete.