The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott following a postseason loss to the Denver Broncos.
Mike Tomlin, who coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 seasons, is not expected to coach in 2026.
The Steelers control Tomlin’s contract rights for two more years, requiring a trade for another team to hire him.
Speculation linking Tomlin to the Bills is considered illogical due to timing and contractual complexities.

Sean McDermott and Mike Tomlin are already connected by an alma mater, the two collegiate teammates at William & Mary.

But no, Tomlin will not be the next head coach of the Buffalo Bills, as the team fired McDermott on Jan. 19, two days after yet another heartbreaking postseason defeat, this time in overtime to the Denver Broncos.

For one, NFL Media reported, as has been common knowledge by this point, that Tomlin does not plan on coaching in 2026 and taking the year off. Perhaps he has designs on working in television or consulting or another endeavor to occupy his time. It almost surely won’t be in a full-time role on the sidelines, especially as the head coach of a NFL team.

The Pittsburgh Steelers – the team Tomlin coached for 19 seasons – control his employment rights for another two years. Should another NFL franchise, like the Bills, want to enlist Tomlin’s services prior to the expiration of his current contract, it would need to work out a trade for him. Recent examples include the Denver Broncos acquiring Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints for Denver’s first-round pick that year (2023) and a 2024 second-round selection. Bill Belichick wound up as head coach of the New England Patriots only after the Pats parted with a 2000 first-round pick, among other pick exchanges between New England and the New York Jets.

Whether the Bills are willing to provide that type of compensation is unknown. Same for whether Tomlin is intrigued by the idea of going from perpetually searching for a franchise quarterback to coaching one in Josh Allen. But because of the timing and the intricacies involved, the connecting of dots between the two parties is illogical.

A record streak of longevity achieved by LeBron James will officially come to an end this year at the NBA’s reimagined 2026 All-Star Game.

The Los Angeles Lakers star was not voted as starter for February’s NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, next month, after 10 players – five from each conference – were revealed during the league’s MLK Day coverage on Monday, Jan. 19.

It breaks a record run of 21 consecutive All-Star Games in which James has been selected as a starter, dating back to his second season in the league.

The five starters from each conference were chosen through voting conducted through the fans (50%), media (25%) and current players (25%).

The 41-year-old still has an opportunity to make this year’s All-Star Game as a reserve in his record 23rd season. Those will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 1 after being picked by the league’s coaches.

This year’s All-Star Game, scheduled to be played on Feb. 15, features a round-robin style USA vs. World format with the goal of having 16 American selections and eight international picks.

The NBA is trying again to jolt life into its All-Star weekend after years of waning interest from players and fans alike. The solution this year has been to attempt to replicate some of dynamics from the successful 4 Nations Faceoff event held in lieu of an NHL All-Star Game in 2025.

James was a late scratch from playing in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game after citing foot and ankle discomfort, though he did appear on the bench after being chosen as a starter.

His candidacy as an All-Star during got more complicated after he missed the opening 14 games of the Lakers’ regular season while dealing with sciatica. James was nonetheless averaging nearly 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists through, Sunday, Jan. 18.

James has been selected as an All-Star in every year of his NBA career except his rookie season (2003-04) and won All-Star Game MVP three times.

Indiana football has received loads of hype leading into the national championship game against Miami on Monday, Jan. 19. The No. 1 Hoosiers are 15-0 and are looking to cap off a perfect season with their first title in program history.

But second-year coach Curt Cignetti, who has led one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history, isn’t overlooking the No. 10 Hurricanes (13-2). He said Jan. 18 that Indiana isn’t falling for the ‘rat poison,’ an old adage made famous by legendary coach Nick Saban, one of his mentors.

‘I think the 8.5-point spread is a set up,’ Cignetti told SiriusXM on Jan. 18.

He explained why he thinks so earlier in the interview.

‘They’re athletic at all positions,’ he said. ‘They have great team speed, they have really good size. Their defensive line, the two ends are gamechangers. The inside guys are really good, they have depth there too. The linebackers run and hit. Corey (Hetherman)’s doing a great job coordinating the defense.

‘Offensively, the line’s big. Their starting running back is big, running really well. I think they do a great job of blocking. The receiving core is deep and athletic, and (Malachi Toney) obviously is an unbelievable weapon. I think he’s got 99 catches (with) no drops and can throw the ball on trick plays, too, and he’s a punt returner.

‘And the tight ends are good. And the special teams are good. The specialists are good. And they’re playing at home. And they didn’t have to travel.’

Thankfully for college football fans, there’s no more waiting involved. The Hoosiers and Hurricanes will battle it out at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, soon enough, and will find out if Cignetti’s premonition is correct.

Indiana vs Miami national championship game odds

Latest odds from BetMGM as of Monday, Jan. 19

Spread: Indiana (-7.5)
Over/under: 47.5
Moneyline: Indiana -325 | Miami +260

The Kansas City Chiefs could be looking to a familiar figure for a key post on Andy Reid’s coaching staff.

The Chiefs on Monday requested to interview Chicago Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy for their offensive coordinator vacancy, according to multiple reports.

Matt Nagy’s contract expired at the end of the 2025 season, and he has interviewed with several teams for their head-coaching openings. Nagy had been set to have a second interview with the Tennessee Titans on Monday, per multiple reports.

The Chiefs are coming off their lone losing season in Reid’s 13-year tenure after finishing 6-11, with the offense ranking 21st in scoring and 20th in total yards.

Bieniemy, 56, served as an assistant on Reid’s staff from 2013-22. He was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for the final five years of his tenure, during which the team won two Super Bowl titles. Kansas City also led the league in total offense three times and ranked first in scoring twice.

Despite his work with two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and Co., Bieniemy received limited interest for head-coaching jobs. With Reid retaining play-calling duties, Bieniemy moved on after the 2022 season and became the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He remained with the team for just one year before being fired.

Bieniemy then was UCLA’s offensive coordinator for a year before returning to the NFL with the Bears.

The 32 things we learned from the divisional round of the 2025 NFL playoffs:

0. The number of takeaways the Chicago Bears had in these playoffs, likely a large reason they’re no longer in them. Chicago led the league with 33 in the regular season on its way to capturing the NFC North crown.

1. The number of times the San Francisco 49ers have lost in the divisional round under Kyle Shanahan, that decisively occurring in Saturday night’s 41-6 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. In the Niners’ four previous playoff trips with their coach, they’d always advanced at least as far as the NFC championship game.

2. The number of quarterbacks to make their first start of a season in the conference championship round − once the Denver Broncos’ Jarrett Stidham joins Roger Staubach, the Hall of Famer doing so in the 1972 season. TBD if Stidham, who’s taking over for injured Bo Nix (broken ankle) and will make his fifth-ever NFL start next Sunday, has better luck than Staubach, whose Dallas Cowboys lost 26-3 to Washington.

3. The number of times the Seahawks have been the NFC’s No. 1 seed prior to these playoffs. In every previous instance, Seattle has ultimately reached the Super Bowl.

4. As in the number of teams still vying to play on Super Sunday, the top-seeded Seahawks and Broncos joined Sunday by the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. Since the 2013 season, all four franchises have played in multiple Super Bowls, each winning at least one − though none have gotten that far since the Rams won Super Bowl 56 four years ago.

5. The number of fumbles (two lost) and interceptions committed by Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud over the past two games. No other player has done that in one postseason in NFL history.

6. The number of playoff games this year − of the 10 played − that have been decided by four or fewer points. Bravo, NFL.

7. The number of times the Texans have appeared in the divisional round in the history of their 24 seasons. Houston has yet to win there and remains the only NFL franchise to never advance to a conference championship game.

8. The number of playoff wins Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen has − the most in league history by a quarterback who’s never played in the Super Bowl.

9. The number of consecutive divisional round games won by the Patriots, a league record and one that dates to the 2011 season.

10. San Francisco saw its streak of seven straight divisional round victories come to an end.

11. It won’t detract from what’s expected to be an MVP season, but Rams QB Matthew Stafford didn’t throw a touchdown pass Sunday night, snapping a string of eight consecutive playoff appearances during which Stafford had thrown multiple TDs − one shy of matching the league record.

12. It won’t detract from what could be an Offensive Player of the Year season, but Niners RB Christian McCaffrey didn’t score a touchdown Saturday night, snapping a string of eight consecutive playoff appearances during which CMC had found the end zone − one shy of matching the league record.

13.Chicago QB Caleb Williams’ game-tying TD pass to TE Cole Kmet near the end of regulation Sunday night covered 51.2 air yards per the league’s Next Gen Stats.

14. The number of yards − officially − Williams’ throw traveled.

15. The number of different franchises Rams coach Sean McVay has faced in his 15 postseason games. Seattle will become his first repeat playoff opponent in next Sunday’s NFC championship game. McVay is 10-5 in the playoffs.

16. The Patriots are headed to their 16th conference championship game. Only the49ers (19) have played in more.

17. Talk about restoring order − since the New York Jets last made the playoffs, reaching the 2010 AFC championship game, the Patriots and/or Kansas City Chiefs have appeared in all of the conference’s title games.

18. With New England, Chicago, Seattle and Denver hosting games over the weekend, this marked the first time since 2010 that all four home teams in the divisional round differed from the four in the previous postseason.

19. And prayers up to the Arizona Cardinals, who are still in search of their next head coach, as they try to make headway in a division that saw its other three teams playing this weekend.

20. And, ICYMI, the Atlanta Falcons hired two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski on Saturday. No better way to avoid national coverage of a major − and laudable − organizational move than to announce it during a playoff doubleheader.

21. The number of playoff wins the Patriots now have at Gillette Stadium, the most by a team in one venue in league history.

22. New England had better remember to cover Frank Crum next weekend. Wait, who?

23. Shoutout to All-Pro Bears G Joe Thuney, who kicked out to left tackle Sunday against the Rams and anchored a unit that didn’t allow a sack of Williams − and against an excellent pass rushing unit. Thuney, who took over for injured Ozzy Trapilo, has made the move in the past − despite his suboptimal measurables for the position − and earned Offensive Player of the Year votes for doing so with the Chiefs in 2024.

24. Shoutout to Chicago’s Colston Loveland, whose 193 receiving yards are a record for a rookie tight end in a single postseason.

25. Stidham, who was drafted nearly seven years ago by the Tom Brady-era Patriots, is at least accustomed to filling big shoes. He replaced then-Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr for his first two NFL starts in 2022, then replaced then-Broncos QB Russell Wilson for his next two starts in 2023.

26. Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles isn’t worried about Stidham.

27. How about the 2024 draft class of quarterbacks? Next Sunday, New England’s Drake Maye will join Nix, Williams, and the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels with multiple playoff starts − all occurring within their first two seasons.

28. How about the 2018 draft class of quarterbacks? Remarkably, Seattle’s Sam Darnold − drafted third overall by the Jets nearly eight years ago − could be its first to reach a Super Bowl, even though Allen, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield have enjoyed far more personal success to date than Darnold, who’s currently with his fifth squad.

29. Darnold, the only quarterback to win at least 14 regular-season games in consecutive years but with different teams, is also the first since Brady to start postseason games for different franchises in successive years.

30. Here’s to wishing a future Lombardi Trophy to Allen and his Bills, if only to spare him a legacy of being included among the ‘best to never win a championship.’

31. Speaking of legacy-making opportunities, only Stafford − remember when his Detroit Lions lost to the Jets 48-17 in Darnold’s debut to open the 2018 campaign − has won a Super Bowl among the four quarterbacks who will start next weekend.

32. So let’s enjoy the infusion of new blood, Stafford notwithstanding, the upcoming championship weekend set to be the first in 15 years devoid of Brady and/or Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, who is missing his first AFC title game since becoming the Chiefs’ QB1 in 2018.

Among those donning cream and crimson at tonight’s College Football Playoff national championship game will be notable Indiana alum Mark Cuban.

The Dallas Mavericks minority owner has played a key role in helping Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers build this roster through donations and NIL fundraising. Cuban and Cignetti both hail from Western Pennsylvania and were even born in the same hospital. That connection has bonded the two as Indiana reaches football heights never seen in Bloomington.

‘I never thought,’ Cuban said on Monday’s ‘First Take’ of seeing IU in a national title game. ‘The highlight when I was at IU was going to the Holiday Bowl with coach (Lee) Corso, right? No, never in my wildest dreams. We barely even went to football games, let alone thought we might succeed.”

Cuban was on the sidelines for IU’s Peach Bowl win over Oregon, and told Front Office Sports he had made another donation to Indiana’s athletic department during the Hoosiers’ CFP run.

“It wasn’t about designing a program that just went and outbid everybody, it was putting together a program and an organization and a culture,’ Cuban said Monday. ‘All the things you need to do to win, no matter what the sport is.”

Cuban, who played rugby at Indiana, hadn’t been a major benefactor for IU football prior to Cignetti’s hire. So what changed?

“It wasn’t any one thing, it was just who he was,’ Cuban said about what attracted him to Cignetti. ‘He didn’t come in and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to do all these grand things.’ He’s just, ‘This is how we do it. I have a specific way, it’s always worked. There’s no reason why it’s not going to work again.’ I’m like investing in an entrepreneur in ‘Shark Tank’. He’d been there and done that, he had an approach. He has a system. The way he designs everything, the way he builds organizations. That’s really what connected me.”

Indiana and Cignetti have used the transfer portal to rebuild the Hoosiers roster and build a roster capable of competing for a national championship. A key part of the portal is how programs spend the player-revenue sharing from the House vs. NCAA settlement, in addition to NIL.

“I saw it with the Mavs in the NBA, there’s kind of like a salary cap. You have to know how to build a team,’ Cuban said. ‘You have to know what kind of players to go after. It’s not about winning the portal. It’s about getting athletes and players who want to, know their role, work to fill that role, know what their position is with the team, and having an organization and coaches that understand you’re not getting players who are coming in for four years to develop, then they’re great when their seniors. You’re coming in, like coach says: ‘I want production, not potential.’ And understanding that is big.

‘And then the other thing I love about the program. They talk about no five stars, limited four stars. What that means to me, they’re not out there trying to outbid everybody. We’re not talking about, ‘We got the most expensive quarterback, and we outbid everybody else.’ Not at all. To me, when a program does that, that’s a desperate program. Putting together the exact right player. When you hear about Fernando (Mendoza) talking about his conversation with CigGPT as I like to call him, about what it takes to win the Heisman, Cig was very clear: It takes a team to win the Heisman. If you don’t have the right players around you, if you don’t have the right people knowing their roles around you, you aren’t going to win the Heisman. And to me that says it all. Successful teams in the NBA, and across all sports, they have a culture, they have a system, they have coaches and administrators who know how to put those pieces together, but you get athletes that you can fit into those roles. That’s what we’ve done better than anybody.”

National championship TV channel on today

TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The CFP championship game between Indiana and Miami will air nationally on ESPN, with Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) calling the game and Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath serving as sideline reporters.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, which requires a valid cable login to access, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

National championship time: When is Indiana vs Miami today?

Date: Monday, Jan. 19
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Indiana and Miami are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 19 from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.