San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall missed the first six games of the 2024 NFL season after being shot in the chest in an attempted robbery in August.

He was released from the hospital two days later and made a full recovery. He made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs and finished his rookie campaign with six catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ 47-24 loss to Arizona in Week 18.

After the game, Pearsall spoke about his season and forgiving the teenager who shot him in the attempted robbery.

‘I don’t know how he grew up so, I can’t judge him as a man just based off one action that he made,’ Pearsall said. ‘As violent as a crime as it was, God forbid him doing that to somebody else. I don’t ever want that to happen.’

‘For me, just being able to forgive him at the end of the day like, I have to be able to forgive him to have that weight off my chest,’ Pearsall continued. ‘At some point I do want to talk to the kid and make sure that, if I can create an impact on him in any way I think that would be really big. I think I’d be definitely open to doing that, for sure.’

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The suspect in the shooting, identified as a 17-year-old from Tracy, Calif., was charged with attempted murder and two other felonies.

Ricky Pearsall shooting timeline

Here’s a full recap of what happened to Pearsall and his recovery:

Aug. 31, 2024: Pearsall is shot in the chest in an attempted robbery while walking in the Union Square area of San Francisco on his way to an autograph signing event. The 17-year-old shooter was allegedly attempting to steal Pearsall’s watch, and both were shot in the incident.
Sept. 1, 2024: Pearsall is released from San Francisco General Hospital.
Sept. 2, 2024: San Francisco places Pearsall on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Sept. 9, 2024: Pearsall was on the sidelines for the 49ers’ opening game against the New York Jets. During the game, the first responders who helped Pearsall at the scene of the robbery were honored.
Oct. 19, 2024: The 49ers upgrade Pearsall from the reserve/NFI list to the active roster.
Oct. 20, 2024: Pearsall makes his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs. He has three catches for 21 yards on five targets and receives an ovation from the home crowd after his first career reception.

Ricky Pearsall stats

With wideout Brandon Aiyuk sidelined with a season-ending injury, Pearsall took on an increased role in the 49ers’ offense.

Pearsall finished the season with 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He was fourth on the team in catches and yards behind George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Deebo Samuel.

He also had three carries for 45 rushing yards.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The next era in WWE has arrived.

WWE started 2025 with one of the biggest shifts in the company’s history, aa its iconic Monday Night Raw made its Netflix debut. On air since 1993, Raw moved to the streaming giant for its first show away from cable, and it is expected to be a monumental night for WWE.

Four matches made up the card, all main event-worthy bouts. CM Punk and Seth Rollins finally put their feud in the ring, the right to wear the ula fala was determined in tribal combat, and the top rivalry in the women’s division entered another chapter with championship gold on the line. That doesn’t even include the many appearances that happen, including an ‘electrifying’ one and the start of the John Cena farewell tour.

Here is a recap of all the highlights and results from the first Monday Night Raw on Netflix.

Watch: Monday Night Raw post show

CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins

With no love lost between these two long-standing rivals, Punk and Rollins got right into it in trying to end the career of each other. They quickly went outside of the ring and tried to throw each other into the announcer’s table and the barricade.

Rollins got into a heated exchange with the referee, and the distraction gave Punk enough time to recover and drop kick his opponent. He then launched him off the top turnbuckle in a move not many would expect Punk to execute these days.

The two stars went back-and-forth, and Rollins even stole a page from Punk’s book with his own Go To Sleep. When Punk tried to do his own, Rollins caught in and landed another one of his opponent’s signature moves. He went for a pin that was unsuccessful. Rollins then had a few pin attempts that fell just short of getting the win. Fed up, Rollins tried to put it away with a vicious curb stomp. He went for another pin, but Punk was able to get his foot on the rope to end the attempt.

Rollins took Punk up the turnbuckle and landed a suplex, but it was countered with a Go To Sleep from Punk. Rollins stumbled and fell right back into the arms of Punk, who landed another Go To Sleep that did it. Punk got the pin and emerges the winner of this one.

Analysis: What a main event put on by some of the best performers to have been part of WWE this century. The clear hate between the two was evident and it made for some solid entertainment.

A case could have been made for either star to win, but Punk emerging on top surely resets Rollins’ positioning in the hierarchy of the company. This will likely send him down another dark path and wanting to seek redemption. On the other hand, Punk still has a stronghold over some bitter rivals. He got the best of Drew McIntyre, and now he has the upper hand on Rollins. It’ll be tough to take him down as he is headed toward a WrestleMania main event match.

Hulk Hogan returns, gets booed

”Hulkamania” is not running wild.

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan came out to greet the crowd, but it didn’t seem to go as well as he thought as the crowd booed him. There was a clear distaste for Hogan, as the crowd only got louder as Hogan spoke.

Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Uso wasted no time going after McIntyre, flying out of the ring to strike him before the bell even rang. McIntyre recovered quickly and sent Uso into the steel steps and then into the ring to officially get the action started.

From there it was McIntyre trying to brutally attack the man part of the OG Bloodline. Uso had to play defense and try to counter anything thrown at him, but McIntyre wasn’t letting control get away from him.

McIntyre was able to land a Claymore on Uso and the pin was unsuccessful. That didn’t seem like a problem, as McIntyre went back to work with constant punches and chops. He went for another Claymore, and it didn’t land cause Uso fell. McIntyre gloated about it, but he got caught by surprise. Uso snuck up and rolled away with the victory to stun McIntyre.

Analysis: The frustrations will only continue to grow for McIntyre. Despite being in constant control for much of the match, he got caught letting down and loses.

This will likely only make McIntyre more upset with the OG Bloodline, and he might try to go after Uso once again. Watch your back Uso.

Jey Uso enters with Travis Scott

It was quite the “Yeet” entrance for Jey Uso with rapper Travis Scott, who is behind the new official song for Monday Night Raw, joined him for his entrance. The two made their way down the Intuitive Dome steps and partied with the crowd.

When the pair got to the ring, they made sure to “Yeet” with commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee.

The Undertaker celebrates with Rhea Ripley

The ‘Deadman’ is giving his congratulations to the new Women’s World Champion.

As Ripley made her way back down the ramp, the signature bell ring went off inside the Intuit Dome, turning the lights off and sending the crowd in a frenzy. Then the ‘American Badass’ music played and The Undertaker came out riding his motorcycle. He went around the ring and came back to be right next to Ripley. The two shared a look and raised their arms as the fireworks went off in the arena, signifying of the WWE’s legend approval of Ripley.

Women’s World Championship match: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley

The two heated rivals wasted no time trying to rip each other apart, trying put as much punishment as possible. But as the battled it out, Morgan’s partners in Dominik Mysterio and Raquel Rodriguez made sure to get their shots in whenever the referee wasn’t looking.

Because of the advantage, Morgan was able to establish some offense and even toyed with Ripley at some points. However Ripley took every shot and it only fueled her in turning the tide. With her dominant height and strength, Ripley threw Morgan around with ease. She landed a Riptide, only for the champion to kick out.

Seeing Morgan slipping, Mysterio and Rodriguez created a distraction that helped Morgan land an Oblivion on the steel chair, something she had done many times before. She went for the pin, but Ripley kicked out. Morgan then paid homage to Eddie Guerrero − or Mysterio − by doing the Three Amigos, the Guerrero shake and a frog splash. But the pin didn’t work after that.

Morgan was upset, and she tried to do another Oblivion, only for Ripley to catch it. She picked Morgan up and landed another Riptide. But one wasn’t good enough; she picked Morgan up for another Riptide and it was enough to put her away and reclaim the championship.

After the match, Mysterio tried to make up with Ripley by offering an embrace, and Ripley not only hit a low blow on her former love, but she hit the Riptide on him to punctuate her victory.

Analysis: ‘Mami’ is back on top. Ripley’s quest to reclaim her gold she never technically lost is finally complete, and she did it in spectacular fashion. The rivalry, even though it’s gotten stale at times, is the top thing in the women’s division, and it needed some change in order to maintain some approval with the fan base.

Ripley starts 2025 with gold around her waist, and it is very likely she’ll head into WrestleMania season with a solid chance to defend that title at WWE’s top event. But she definitely isn’t done dealing with Morgan, and there’s likely a rematch coming up in the near future, perhaps at the Royal Rumble.

John Cena emerges

Let the farewell tour begin.

John Cena came out to start his final year of wrestling, addressing the crowd with another ode to the move to Netflix. He said he couldn’t think of a better place to start the farewell tour than in Los Angeles, and talked about his wrestling roots in the area.

There’s been hope Cena would become a record 17-time WWE champion this year, but he said it’s “never going to happen.” He clarified that he has a better chance to win an Academy Award than win another title, but there are chances he could compete for it.

With a smirk to the crowd, Cena then announced he will enter the 2025 Royal Rumble for the chance to be a No. 1 contender at WrestleMania 41. He then made a strong prediction before signing off.

“I’m going to win the Royal Rumble,” he said.

Tribal combat for the ula fala and title of Tribal Chief: Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa

After locking up to start, Reigns threw Sikoa out of the ring. They locked up again outside, and Sikoa then took advantage, bouncing Reigns’ head off the announcer’s table. 

The momentum shifted once Sikoa brought the weapons out, throwing the steel steps at his opponent and using a chair afterward. After Reigns countered the shots, the competitors continued to go back-and-forth, taking any opportunity to land a brutal shot.

Reigns sent Sikoa through a table and went for the pin, but Tama Tonga came out to stop the referee. Jacob Fatu then emerged and went to work on Reigns, trying to help Sikoa secure the win. He landed a Samoan spike, but Reigns kicked out of the pin. Frustrated, Sikoa then hit the Samoan spike on the referee.

With Reigns outnumbered, Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso came out to neutralize the battle, and then teed off Sikoa. Reigns landed a spear, but there was no referee to count. By the time a new one came out, Sikoa kicked out to continue the mayhem.

Then another shocker: Kevin Owens emerged to take out Reigns, and Cody Rhodes came out to take care of his rival, taking the fight to the crowd.

Then it was Reigns and Sikoa left. The two tried to execute finishers on each other, and it was Reigns who landed the spear. His opponent was down, and Reigns did his war cry before landing another spear. He went for the pin, got it and Reigns is back as the Tribal Chief.

As Paul Heyman was about to put the ula fala on Reigns, The Rock entered. He took the ula fala and placed it on Reigns’ neck and they embraced.

Analysis: It was the same old chaos that happens in Tribal combat, and it ends with the “OTC” on top. It was refreshing to see both sides get right into the action rather than waiting for something to build.

It was expected Sikoa’s sidekicks would come out, but Owens was a surprise. Still, there was enough support for Reigns, and Rhodes coming out showed the two sides have mutual respect.

The battle in The Bloodline is still far from settled, and it will likely head toward WrestleMania. However, Reigns is back on top and ready to retake claim within the WWE, just like many fans have been waiting for.

The Rock appears

People didn’t have to wait long to see The Rock.

The WWE legend was first person to emerge from the entrance ramp, as the Intuit Dome crowd erupted once his music hit the speakers. He came out with the People’s Championship title he was given during WrestleMania 40 weekend, and he gave it to his daughters to hold before going in the ring.

The Rock recalled how tough it was to watch wrestling as a kid, and now it has evolved to being available worldwide. He announced Monday’s event set the record for the largest arena gate in the history of WWE.

But what happened next was a shock. The Rock thanked Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes for carrying the company ‘on his back’ the past year. The two were rivals at WrestleMania 40, and The Rock was now gracious to Rhodes, who was in attendance. The two sides acknowledged each other with respect. Later, they shared an embrace that had to stun the WWE crowd.

He then gave credit to Roman Reigns, the ‘original Tribal Chief’ as he is set to take on Solo Sikoa in tribal combat for the right to wear the ula fala. The Rock said he will be watching the result of the match closely.

Triple H kicks off show

The night starts off with WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque revealing the new ring for Monday Night Raw. He told the crowd the entire globe will be able to watch the show now that it is available to watch on Netflix. He did his signature ‘are you ready’ before the crowd erupted.

‘Welcome to the Netflix era,’ he yelled.

Watch: Monday Night Raw cold open

When is Monday Night Raw on Netflix?

The first Monday Night Raw on Netflix is Monday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. ET.

Where is Monday Night Raw on Netflix debut?

Monday Night Raw on Netflix will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. It will be the first wrestling event to take place at the arena since it opened in August 2024.

How to watch Monday Night Raw on Netflix: TV channel, streaming

Monday Night Raw will be available only on Netflix. Viewers will need a Netflix subscription to watch the event, and it’s available at no additional cost. Fans with any Netflix subscription tier will be able to watch.

Monday Night Raw on Netflix match card

Matches not in order

Women’s World Championship match: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Tribal combat for the ula fala and title of Tribal Chief: Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa
CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Who else will be at Monday Night Raw on Netflix debut?

There will be plenty more happening other than the scheduled matches for Monday. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Bianca Belair have been promoted for the show, but it’s unclear how they will take part. Rapper Travis Scott will perform the new Monday Night Raw theme song.

There will be some returns as well, including the arrival of Logan Paul.

Will John Cena return?

The farewell tour stars now as John Cena will kick off the final campaign of his storied wrestling career. The 16-time WWE champion announced in 2024 he would be retiring from in-ring competition in 2025 and plans to compete in several matches this year.

What about The Rock?

Get ready for the return of the ‘most electrifying man in sports entertainment.’ The Rock confirmed he will be part of the show.

‘I’ll come back home to WWE tomorrow night as we make history on Netflix and begin a new and exciting era,’ he said on social media on Sunday. ‘Tomorrow night is dedicated to my grandfather, the High Chief Peter Maivia, my grandmother, Lia Maivia and my dad, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson and my ancestors who have ALL paved the way.’

It’s unclear how The Rock will be part of the event, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to play a role in the tribal combat between Reigns and Sikoa. The last time The Rock appeared in WWE was in October, when he appeared at the end of Bad Blood and stared down Reigns and Sikoa.

Monday Night Raw stage

There’s nothing new inside the Intuit Dome when it comes to the Monday Night Raw stage. It is similar to how WWE has structured its shows which allows for people to sit in the seats behind the entrance ramp.

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The Chicago Bears are one of a handful of teams looking for a head coach this offseason. They’ve already requested to interview multiple candidates, including Detroit Lions coordinators Ben Johnson (offensive) and Aaron Glenn (defensive).

There’s another name in the mix for the Bears job: Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy.

Chicago has requested to interview McCarthy but the Cowboys coach is currently in an exclusive negotiating window with Dallas. They have until Jan. 14 to negotiate a new contract or he will be a free agent.

The Cowboys have not made a decision on whether or not to keep the Super Bowl-winning coach. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones endorsed McCarthy in an interview with 105.7 The Fan ahead of Week 18.

‘Well, I feel good about Mike McCarthy,’ Jones said, per Cowboys.com. ‘The main thing is, I like the job that he’s done, it’s unfortunate we’ve had the year that we’ve had, but I feel good about Mike.’

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The Bears enter the offseason with the reigning No. 1 overall pick — quarterback Caleb Williams — as well as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and the fifth-most salary cap space in the league.

Who are the Bears interviewing for head coach?

In addition to Johnson, Glenn and McCarthy, here are the other candidates the Bears have requested to interview for their vacant head coach position:

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken
Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith
New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka

Mike McCarthy contract

McCarthy signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys ahead of the 2020 NFL season. He has not signed an extension since then and his contract will expire on Jan. 14. Dallas has until then to negotiate a new deal.

Mike McCarthy stats

McCarthy has gone 49-35 in five seasons with the Cowboys and 1-3 in the playoffs.

Prior to that, McCarthy went 125-77-2 over 13 years with the Green Bay Packers. He went 10-8 in the playoffs including a run to a Super Bowl championship in the 2010 NFL season.

New York Giants ownership raised a few eyebrows Monday morning with their decision to retain head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen after a dismal 3-14 season.

But in an interview with USA TODAY Sports a few hours after the team’s announcement, former Giants quarterback Eli Manning applauded the move as ‘the right decision.’

‘You’ve got to have that continuity,’ Manning said in an interview to promote Verizon’s Super Bowl FanFest. ‘To change things up has not worked. It has not worked for the Giants these last 10 years of changing every two or three years.

‘I think Brian Daboll has showed that he has won, two years ago in the playoffs. So I think the opportunity for them to go in, they’ve got to figure out the quarterback situation this year, but they have talent. They have guys around that are playing at a high level. It’s just building that great team culture. That just takes time, and I think it’s the right move to give him that time to do that.’

Manning, the former No. 1 overall draft pick, spent the entirety of his 16-year career in New York before retiring after the 2019 season. In his 12 seasons playing for head coach Tom Coughlin, the Giants won two Super Bowl titles and recorded an overall record of 102-90. In the nine seasons since, they’ve cycled through four full-time head coaches and gone 51-96-1.

All things Giants: Latest New York Giants news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Perhaps that’s why Manning, 44, is such a fan of NFL franchises seeking continuity − and why he was disappointed by some of the week’s other big coaching moves, including the New England Patriots’ firing of Jerod Mayo after one season.

‘Just giving a coach one year to try to change things up in New England with Mayo is tough,’ Manning said. ‘Coming off a bad year, you have a brand new quarterback that you take early that’s getting playing time and then you come in and change. One year, it’s hard to, again, create that culture, get the draft picks, develop players, get everybody going and playing the way you want it played.

‘I always kind of have the players and the coaches’ back on this, because none of it is usually deserving. But that’s just the business we’re in. Organizations, owners they want winning teams very quickly and right now.’

Manning spoke to USA TODAY Sports and other media outlets to promote the first-ever FanFest, which will allow fans in the 30 cities with NFL teams to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday from their home team’s stadium. The local events will feature local musicians, food from local restaurants and meet-and-greet opportunity with retired NFL stars like Tiki Barber, Derrick Brooks and Marshall Faulk.

‘I think it’s just an awesome experience for fans … just the opportunity for fans to go to the stadium, go on the fields and watch the Super Bowl, be in an iconic local venue,’ Manning said. ‘Obviously this is a giant Super Bowl party across the country, but it’s also very local.’

Manning said he will be in New Orleans during the week of the Super Bowl − which is when he will also learn whether he has been inducted to the Hall of Fame. (The Hall of Fame class will be announced Feb. 6, before the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.)

Manning is one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Hall and figures to be one of the most hotly-debated candidates for this year’s class. A four-time Pro Bowl honoree and two-time Super Bowl MVP, he ranks 11th all-time in touchdown passes thrown but also 12th in career interceptions.

When asked about the so-called hot takes surrounding his Hall of Fame resume, Manning demurred.

‘I consider an honor just to be included,’ he said. ‘It’s one of those deals where I can’t control it anymore. It’s out of my hands. I can’t throw any more touchdowns, I can’t throw any more interceptions, I can’t have good plays or get any more wins or losses. The information’s out there, the stats are out there and all I can do is sit and wait.’

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The first entrant in the 2025 Royal Rumble has been determined, and it’s going to be someone chasing a WWE record.

John Cena announced at Monday Night Raw in Inglewood, California that he will be competing in the men’s match on Feb. 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

There’s been hope Cena would become a record 17-time WWE champion this year, but he said it’s “never going to happen.” He clarified that he has a better chance to win an Academy Award than win another title, but there are chances he could compete for it.

With a smirk to the crowd, Cena then announced he will enter the 2025 Royal Rumble for the chance to be a No. 1 contender at WrestleMania 41. He then made a strong prediction before signing off.

“I’m going to win the Royal Rumble,” he said.

This year will be Cena’s final one competing for WWE. He hasn’t said how many events he plans to compete in, but he hinted at a heavy schedule that will likely have him wrestling in major premium live events.

Now the first one of the year, less than a month away, will have the 16-time WWE Champion hoping to make the main event at WrestleMania 41 in April and go for the record 17th title.

NFL teams once again didn’t wait until ‘Black Monday’ to take drastic action with their coaching staffs this season.

With Week 18 wrapping up Sunday and the playoff picture complete, four teams already find themselves with vacancies in their top jobs: the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. History suggests more firings are still to come, with dismissals of key assistant coaches also likely in several spots. And it shouldn’t take long for teams to begin moving on their searches, with interview requests sure to start filtering in.

Here are all the latest updates on coach firings and moves throughout the league on Monday:

Bears request Cowboys’ permission to interview Mike McCarthy for coaching vacancy

The Dallas Cowboys have yet to formalize their plans for 2025, but the Chicago Bears are lurking in the background as a potential option for Mike McCarthy depending on how things pan out.

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The Bears on Monday requested permission from the Cowboys to interview McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy, according to multiple reports.

McCarthy is still under contract through Jan. 14, so the Cowboys would have to grant permission for him to speak with another team.

On Sunday, McCarthy said his preference was to remain in Dallas.

“Absolutely. I have a lot invested here, and the Cowboys have a lot invested in me,” McCarthy said. “And then there’s a personal side to all these decisions. They all point the right direction. I think anytime you invest your time, energy, your belief, the connection you have, the relationships that are in place here, the understanding of what the organization can do and is willing to do. Those are all positive attributes that you take into account.’

The Bears also requested to speak with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, according to multiple reports.

Shad Khan addresses decision to keep Jaguars GM Trent Baalke

Doug Pederson’s dismissal by the Jaguars came as little surprise on Monday. But owner Shad Khan’s decision to keep general manager Trent Baalke stirred some intrigue.

In a news conference Monday, Khan pushed back against the notion that the Jaguars needed a ‘complete overhaul,’ saying full-scale changes would be ‘like shooting yourself in the foot.’ He also maintained that Baalke’s presence wouldn’t be an impediment to attracting a top coaching candidate.

“We have a very compelling case of what we can offer the head coach,’ Khan said.

Khan added that he’s hoping the next coach will shake things up, calling Jacksonville ‘the most predictable team’ on both offense and defense.

Antonio Pierce is confident he’s staying with Raiders

Amid the various action through Monday, the Las Vegas Raiders had yet to indicate one way or another how they plan to proceed for 2025.

But when Antonio Pierce met the media on Monday, he stated his confidence he would be back for another season.

‘I haven’t been told anything different,’ Pierce said in a news conference when asked if he expects to return.

Pierce added speculation about his standing was ‘coming from outside the building.’ He added he doesn’t envision making any changes to his staff, which would indicate that interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner will remain in the role after taking over for the fired Luke Getsy.

Seahawks fire offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb

After one season, the Seattle Seahawks have moved on from offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

Head coach Mike Macdonald, in charge of the defense, hired Grubb from nearby University of Washington to lead the offense after he helped lead the Huskies to the national title game last year. But the Seattle attack was inconsistent throughout the season, although quarterback Geno Smith continued his year-over-year statistical improvement. The Seahawks finished 28th in rushing yards as woes along the offensive line persisted.

Smith stumped for Grubb following the team’s win Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams, which put them at 10-7 on the season.

‘Our first year, obviously there were some ups and downs … I believe in this system,’ Smith said. ‘I think Grubb has exactly what it takes to be a good coordinator in this league. It’s his first year, man. Got to give the guy some grace.’

The Seahawks, evidently, did not agree.

Saints’ interview list starts to come together

The New Orleans Saints haven’t raced to begin the process of filling the void left by Dennis Allen’s firing, but the team is starting to put together its plans for its head coaching search.

The Saints requested to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, according to multiple reports. Glenn is a former protégé of Sean Payton who was an assistant coach in New Orleans from 2016-20 and has been widely linked to a possible return to the Saints.

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Another name emerges in Bears’ coaching search

The Chicago Bears are moving forward with their coaching search by requesting an interview with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, according to multiple reports.

Petzing, 37, helped the Cardinals finish 11th in total offense this season, with the seventh-ranked ground game pacing the attack. He is in his second year as the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator.

The Bears have already requested interviews with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, according to multiple reports.

Patriots make interview request after firing Mayo

The New England Patriots are moving quickly after firing Jerod Mayo on Sunday, as the team has requested an interview with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, according to multiple reports.

Johnson, who orchestrated the NFL’s top-scoring offense and is expected to one of the most in-demand candidates this cycle, can conduct virtual interviews with teams starting Wednesday given the Lions have a first-round bye. Johnson withdrew from the last two coaching cycles and is expected to once again be discerning about the openings he pursues.

The Patriots have been widely linked to former Tennessee Titans coach and New England standout Mike Vrabel, but Johnson could also be a strong candidate given the need to support Drake Maye after the quarterback’s promising rookie season.

NY Jets make requests for open GM, HC roles

Jets owner Woody Johnson has to find both a new GM and head coach this offseason and wasted little time in making requests Monday for employees of postseason-bound teams.

The Jets have asked to speak with Kansas City Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi, according to ESPN. They also requested Los Angeles Rams senior personnel executive Ray Farmer. Farmer was the general manager of the Cleveland Browns from 2014-15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager Mike Greenberg and Minnesota Vikings senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson also received requests, per multiple reports. The team has already met with former Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, ex-Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick about the role.

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik received his first request for a head-coach opening from the Jets, per multiple reports, as did Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. The team has met with former NFL head coaches Mike Vrabel and Ron Rivera regarding the opening.

Giants owner won’t put ‘time limit’ on Schoen, Daboll

With the Giants in desperate need of a quarterback, owner John Mara was asked about the timeline regarding the future of GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll if the team selects a rookie signal-caller in the draft and whether his commitment to them extended beyond next season.

‘I understand the question, but I’m not going to put any kind of time limit on it,’ Mara replied.

However, it does not appear the leash is long.

‘It better not take too long, because I’ve just about run out of patience,’ Mara said.

Whether Schoen and Daboll will enter the 2025 season on the hot seat, Mara replied: ‘We’re gonna have to see. I’m gonna have to be in a better mood this time next year than I am right now.’

Mara said he spoke to Daboll on Friday and encouraged the head coach to surrender play-calling duties on offense and hinted at moving on from defensive coordinator Shane Bowen after one season.

‘We stunk this year,’ Mara said. ‘The results on the field were not what we wanted them to be. There were a number of factors that went into that.’

The Giants are picking third in a class that draft analysts say has two first-round talents in Cam Ward and Sheduer Sanders. The two teams ahead of them, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, are also seeking quarterbacks of the future, which once again puts the franchise in the awkward position of picking early in the first round but too late at the same time.

Finding a quarterback is ‘the number one issue’ entering the offseason, Mara said.

Cincinnati Bengals fire defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo

A strong finish to the season could not save Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, as Cincinnati let him go Monday after a 9-8 season that ended with the team missing the playoffs for the second straight season, according to multiple reports.

Anarumo’s defense, which improved throughout the season, surrendered 34 points or more in six games – all during the team’s 4-8 start. The late-season revival, even with a depleted secondary, wasn’t enough to convince head coach Zac Taylor and Bengals management to keep Anarumo around.

Anarumo was a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals head-coaching job during the 2023 offseason.

Which NFL teams could make coaching changes on Black Monday?

With the Jaguars (firing Doug Pederson) and Giants (keeping Brian Daboll), resolution came quickly for those teams Monday.

But a pair of other organizations are still expected to make their intentions clear: the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy worked this season on an expiring contract, though his deal runs through Jan. 14. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has praised McCarthy in recent weeks and the coach said after Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders – which dropped Dallas to 7-10 on the season – said he is interested in remaining with Dallas.

For the Raiders, head coach Antonio Pierce earned the job based on the reviews he received from players after he took over as the interim head coach in 2023. But the Raiders finished 4-13 and will pick sixth in the NFL draft.

The Tennessee Titans are expected to retain first-year coach Brian Callahan, and the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts clarified Sunday that Mike McDaniel and Shane Steichen, respectively, would return for 2025. That leaves five openings as of Monday morning – the three teams that fired their coaches during the season are looking for new ones, as are the New England Patriots (who let Jerod Mayo go after one year) and the Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars fire Doug Pederson after three seasons

Black Monday began in earnest with perhaps the most obvious move of the offseason: the Jacksonville Jaguars moving on from head coach Doug Pederson.

Before the season, owner Shad Khan claimed this was the most talented team in Jacksonville since he purchased the organization. But the Jaguars finished 4-13 and third in a dismal AFC South, and Pederson’s time was up despite a pair of 9-8 campaigns in his first two seasons (leaving him with an overall record of 22-29).

Pederson led the team to a division title in 2022, his first season, and a dramatic comeback victory in the wild-card round over the Los Angeles Chargers before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jags started the next year 8-3 but missed the postseason and Pederson, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl, never regained his winning ways.

In a statement, Khan thanked Pederson and indicated general manager Trent Baalke will remain in that role.

Giants’ Brian Daboll, Joe Schoen safe after disaster season

Only one New York team will be on the hunt for a new coach and GM this offseason.

Giants owner John Mara, in a statement Monday morning, said head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen will return for the 2025 season.

“As disappointing as the results of the season have been, (co-owner) Steve (Tisch) and I remain confident in the process that Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team,’ Mara said in a statement. ‘We look forward to the future and achieving the results we all desire.”

The Giants went 3-14 in 2024, their 100th season that was supposed to be a celebratory campaign. Instead, the brain trust hired three offseasons ago faced questions down the stretch of whether the would lose their jobs.

The ‘Hard Knocks’ capturing the internal conversations between Schoen and Mara regarding former running back Saquon Barkley, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and had a historic season, served as fodder that the GM’s job was in jeopardy. The product on the Giants’ end kept declining. Quarterback Daniel Jones was benched and released midseason, and the team snapped a 10-game losing streak – the longest in franchise history – in Week 17.

According to NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, the Giants had a team meeting at 8 a.m. ET followed by team brass debriefs.

Daboll was Coach of the Year following the 2022 season, which included a surprise playoff appearance and postseason victory. But the Giants went 6-11 last season and after one of the worst years in franchise history, Daboll made his case that better quarterback play – which he’d mostly been deprived of since 2022 – actually gives teams a chance of winning. Now it appears he and Schoen will have the chance to choose a franchise quarterback of the future.

What’s going on with Mike McCarthy and Cowboys? Coach, Jerry Jones address uncertain future

The Dallas Cowboys’ season ended the way it began: without Jerry Jones making a firm commitment to Mike McCarthy.

Following Sunday’s 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders that wrapped up a 7-10 campaign for Dallas, the owner continued his long-running approach of speaking highly of his head coach while stopping short of saying anything definitive regarding McCarthy’s job status for next season.

‘Mike’s one of the best coaches that I think there is,’ Jones said. ‘He was made the coach here because I thought that, and he’s done absolutely nothing to diminish my opinion of him as a coach.’

McCarthy, who is under contract through Jan, 14, made it clear he wanted to remain with the organization despite speculation he could pursue another opening.

“Absolutely. I have a lot invested here, and the Cowboys have a lot invested in me,” McCarthy said. “And then there’s a personal side to all these decisions. They all point the right direction. I think anytime you invest your time, energy, your belief, the connection you have, the relationships that are in place here, the understanding of what the organization can do and is willing to do. Those are all positive attributes that you take into account.’

Lions’ win could have ramifications for Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn in coaching searches

The Detroit Lions’ win over the Minnesota Vikings shaped the NFC playoff picture, but it also could have fallout for several teams’ coaching searches.

With the Lions having a bye, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn can now conduct virtual interviews for head-coaching roles starting Wednesday. Had Detroit lost, they would have had to wait an additional week.

Johnson is seen widely as one of the most in-demand coaching candidates after withdrawing from consideration during the last two hiring cycles. Glenn has kept the Lions defense rolling despite a bevy of injuries, and he has been linked to both the Jets and the Saints openings given his history with each franchise as a former player and assistant coach, respectively.

Next up for Patriots: Mike Vrabel?

On a day designed to be defined by on-field action, the Patriots turned heads with what they did after the completion of another trying year.

Robert Kraft fired coach Jerod Mayo after only one season in what the Patriots owned called ‘one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.’

With Kraft making an abrupt pivot on the coach he appointed to be Bill Belichick’s successor, USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell sees the Patriots positioning themselves for one candidate in particular: Mike Vrabel. The former Tennessee Titans coach – and Patriots Hall of Famer after his storied playing career – is arguably the most enticing candidate on the market, and he already interview with the Jets last Friday.

Antonio Pierce mum on status with Raiders after loss

After the Las Vegas Raiders fell to the Los Angeles Chargers in their season finale, Antonio Pierce had no interest in ruminating on where he stood with the organization.

‘No comment,’ Pierce said when asked about his job security.

The Silver and Black continue to keep everyone in the dark regarding Pierce’s future. There’s been little insight as to the team’s plans since owner Mark Davis said at the league meeting in early December that he was ‘very disappointed’ with this season’s results.

Despite Las Vegas falling to 4-13, several players – including record-setting rookie tight end Brock Bowers – backed Pierce amid the ongoing uncertainty. Now it’s up to Davis to make clear if he wants to bring back the coach he saw fit to make his full-time head coach after his successful interim stint or start from scratch.

Pederson holding out hope on Jaguars future

Doug Pederson might have had the hottest seat of any coach entering Week 18, but the leader of the Jacksonville Jaguars is still optimistic he’ll be given a reprieve.

‘I’ll find out this week,’ Pederson said after a 26-23 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts dropped the Jaguars to 4-13 on the season. ‘It’s hard to speculate right now. Emotions are running. I hope I’m still here, honestly. I feel like we have the makings of being a good football team. Our main guys need to get healthy, we need to continue to work hard. I’m optimistic and hopeful that happens.’

Owner Shad Khan seemed to put the pressure on before the season by saying this season’s iteration of the Jaguars was the best team to be assembled in franchise history. He gave Pederson a vote of confidence after a 1-4 start and did not make a move after Jacksonville suffered its greatest deficit ever in a defeat with a 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions.

No changes in Indianapolis as Irsay backs Shane Steichen, Chris Ballard

Being eliminated by a 45-33 loss to the New York Giants in Week 17 ramped up speculation that the Indianapolis Colts could shake things up by dismissing coach Shane Steichen and/or general manager Chris Ballard. After the season was completed Sunday, owner Jim Irsay moved quickly to confirm the duo would be sticking around another year.

“I’ve been evaluating our entire operation, and I believe in Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen and our collective ability to make the improvements needed to take us to the next level in 2025,” Irsay wrote in a statement posted to social media. “I know fans who want an immediate change in leadership will be disappointed. That means we all have a lot to prove, so we’ll get back to work and keep doing what we can to earn your support and make you proud to be a Colts fan.”

The Colts have not been to the playoffs since the 2020 season and last won the AFC South title in the 2014 campaign. Since then, every other team in the division has claimed the crown at least twice.

Dolphins sticking with Mike McDaniel, Chris Grier

Despite acknowledging that the Dolphins ‘fell short of our expectations this season,’ owner Stephen Ross said he will keep coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier in place.

‘Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability,’ Ross said in a statement Sunday. ‘However, continuity in leadership is not to be confused with acceptance that status quo is good enough. We will take a hard look at where we have fallen sort and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships.’

Miami finished 8-9 for the Dolphins’ first losing season since 2019.

One of the first offseason tasks for McDaniel and Grier: get clarity on how to proceed with Tyreek Hill after the five-time All-Pro wide receiver indicated he would like to leave.

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue remaking their World Series-winning roster — and this time have dealt away a homegrown, two-time World Series champion.

Gavin Lux, who drove in the game-tying run in the Dodgers’ Game 5 World Series clincher, was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday for minor league outfielder Mike Sirota and a competitive-balance pick.

Lux, 27, was chosen 20th overall in the 2016 draft by the Dodgers and debuted in September 2019. He was long regarded as their potential shortstop of the future and after Corey Seager’s departure following the 2022 season, was prepared to take on that role.

But Lux tore both the anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his right knee in spring training 2023, sidelining him for the season. Lux was set to start at short again this year, but after struggling in spring training, gave way to Mookie Betts and was shifted to second base.

Lux batted .251 with 10 homers and a league average .703 OPS this season, producing 2.1 WAR. He started 11 of the Dodgers’ 16 postseason games. Yet he became at least somewhat expendable when the Dodgers signed Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, joining the club’s middle infield options in Betts — expected back as starting shortstop — Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

With the Reds, Lux will be expected to pair with shortstop Elly De La Cruz as the club’s double-play combination on most nights. The club is expecting promising infielder Matt McLain back from shoulder surgery, but McLain could also be deployed in the outfield or around the infield. At the least, McLain and Lux give the club both right- and left-handed hitting options at second base, where a vacancy developed after the trade of Jonathan India to Kansas City for pitcher Brady Singer.

Sirota, 21, was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2021 draft but opted to attend Northeastern University. Cincinnati drafted him in the third round last July; he has yet to make his professional debut.

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Dana White, President and CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is stepping out of the octagon and into the tech boardroom. On Monday, it was announced that White would be joining Meta’s board of directors.

Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp.

‘I’ve never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta’s board. Iam a huge believer that social media and AI are the future,’ said White.

White isn’t the only one excited for his new venture. Meta co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in his own statement that he believes White will ‘add a depth of expertise and perspective that will help us tackle the massive opportunities ahead with AI, wearables and the future of human connection.’

Has White ventured into tech before?

No. This will be White’s first step into the world of social media and AI, but he is a huge fan of what Meta is trying to accomplish.

‘I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside,’ White said. ‘There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level.’

Outside of UFC though, White has struggled to find similar success in his other ventures. In 2021, White served as an executive producer on the short-lived surfing show The Ultimate Surfer, which was canceled after one season due to low ratings. More recently, White co-founded a slap fighting competition called Power Slap, which aired on TBS in 2023. Much like The Ultimate Surfer, it did not last. TBS did not renew their deal with White, and now the competition streams exclusively on the platform Rumble.

Of course, those failures pale in comparison to the massive success of UFC. Much of that success has been due to White’s role managing the company’s global business, an expertise that will be invaluable to a company like Meta operating on a similar worldwide scale. White’s influence in sport speaks for itself. In 2023, he was named one of Sports Illustrated‘s most influential figures; in 2024, he was given similar honors from Sports Business Journal and Variety.

Who else joined White on Meta’s board of directors?

White was not the only addition to Meta’s board of directors. Alongside White comes Exor CEO John Elkann and tech investor Charlie Songhurst.

Who is on Meta’s board of directors?

Meta now has 13 board members:

Mark Zuckerberg
Peggy Alford
Marc L. Andreessen
John Arnold
John Elkann
Drew Houston
Nancy Killefer
Robert M. Kimmitt
Charlie Songhurst
Hock E. Tan
Tracey T. Travis
Dana White
Tony Xu

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Entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. and streaming provider FuboTV agreed Monday to merge their online live TV businesses.

The deal would combine Hulu + Live and the sports-heavy FuboTV and would clear the way for the launch of Venu Sports, a streaming venture from Disney’s ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox.

Venu Sports was originally supposed to launch this fall but was delayed by an antitrust lawsuit brought by Fubo. In August, a judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the new sports streaming service, saying it could ‘destroy competition and inflate prices for consumers.’ Hearings in the case were set to begin Monday.

Disney, Fox and Warner agreed to pay $220 million to Fubo to resolve the legal dispute. Disney also said it would provide a $145 million term loan to Fubo in 2026.

If the deal passes regulatory scrutiny, what would the Hulu + Live and FuboTV tie-up mean for sports fans? More choice and more complexity.

What Hulu + Live and FuboTV deal would mean for sports fans

The combined entity, which would be 70% owned by Disney, does not yet have a name. It would have more than 6 million subscribers, making it the second-largest all-digital TV service after YouTube TV.

On one hand, the deal would give sports fans more options for watching live sports.

As part of the deal, Fubo would be able to create a new sports and broadcast service with several Disney networks as well as its ESPN+ streaming service. Consumers would still be able to subscribe to Hulu + Live TV and Fubo separately.

ESPN also plans to launch a stand-alone ESPN streaming service Flagship later this year.

What about ESPN and Venu Sports?

Venu Sports said in August that its service would cost $43 a month and offer some of the most watched live sports on TV including the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NFL and college teams – significantly cheaper than a traditional cable bundle, which can cost $100 a month or more. Sports fans would be able to bundle Venu Sports with other services such as Disney+, Hulu or Max. 

What’s coming? More choice and complexity

With the Hulu + Live and Fubo tie-up, sports fans would have more choices but would still have to navigate a highly fragmented marketplace because of the high-stakes competition for sports rights.

Sports dominate the most viewed programs on television so all players in the traditional and digital TV space compete for the rights to broadcast games from the NFL and other leagues to boost viewership. That means games are scattered across broadcast, cable and the internet, creating a confusing jumble for sports fans.

“Are consumers lacking options? No. But what consumers really want does not exist in the market and never will. They want one service to go and get every piece of sports content they could possibly ever get. That is not going to happen,” said Dan Rayburn, a streaming media industry analyst. 

Will you have to pay more to stream live sports?

The Hulu + Live and Fubo deal could offer more options in piecing together a television line-up, but the cost of watching live sports keeps going up. Would this deal make things better or worse?

Rayburn said it is not yet clear. The bottom line: Higher subscription costs and frequent price hikes have become an unfortunate fact of streaming life, testing consumer loyalty. 

Whether or not the deal goes through, consumers are unlikely to get a respite from the ever-increasing monthly subscription fees that can add up to hundreds of dollars.

“Every streaming service has raised pricing multiple times since their services launched, whether it’s on demand or live, and that is going to continue,” Rayburn said.

Mike Proulx, research director at Forrester, said consumers should brace for higher costs ‘as they piecemeal together their television lineups.’

What’s more, Proulx expects more deals in 2025 ‘as television’s distribution model shifts to be primarily online.’