Former Detroit Lions defender Tracy Scroggins has died at the age of 56.
His family stated that he battled the effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Scroggins played 10 seasons for the Lions and ranks seventh in franchise history with 60.5 sacks.
He was one of nearly 5,000 players to file concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL.

Former Detroit Lions defender Tracy Scroggins has died at the age of 56, his family announced Feb. 9.

‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Tracy Scroggins,’ his family said in a statement provided to TMZ.

‘Tracy was a devoted father, cherished family member, and loyal friend whose life was marked by remarkable strength and perseverance. While many knew him for his career as a professional football player in the NFL, those closest to him knew him as a kind-hearted and generous man who cared deeply for his family and friends.’

The family also said in its announcement of Scroggins’ death that the 56-year-old had suffered symptoms suspected to be from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) during his post-playing career.

CTE is only diagnosable through a neuropathological autopsy performed after a person’s death. It was not immediately clear whether Scroggins’ family would have his brain tested.

‘Playing in the NFL gave Tracy the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream and to rise from poverty,’ the statement read. ‘However, unfortunately, the NFL was also ultimately the cause of his untimely demise. Tracy spent every moment of retirement courageously battling the devastating effects of CTE. While our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace.’

Scroggins was one of nearly 5,000 players to file concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL before the league’s sweeping concussion settlement in 2015.

Scroggins filed an additional claim against the NFL in 2016. His lawyer at the time – Tim Howard – stated his client was suffering from symptoms consistent with CTE.

‘He can’t remember where he is or where he’s going,’ Howard told USA TODAY Sports in 2016. ‘He hasn’t been able to hold a job over the last six years. Beyond memory issues, he suffers from depression and has angry outbursts.’

Scroggins was a defensive mainstay for Detroit

Scroggins played 10 NFL seasons, all for the Lions, after being selected in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft. The Tulsa product played 142 games and made 89 starts while playing both defensive end and linebacker.

Scroggins racked up 60½ career sacks – seventh-most in franchise history – and was named the No. 90 player in the ranking of the greatest players franchise history by the Free Press in 2019.

The Lions paid homage to Scroggins with a social media post shortly after his death was announced:

White sustained a bullet wound to his ankle during the shooting – which occurred ‘during an event in [San Francisco],’ per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. White’s injuries are not expected to be life-threatening or career-threatening at this time, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.

‘He is currently undergoing surgery at a local hospital,’ the 49ers said of White in their statement. ‘We will provide further updates when appropriate.’

White spent the first two-and-a-half seasons of his NFL career with the New England Patriots before being acquired by the 49ers ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. San Francisco sent a conditional sixth-round pick to the Patriots for White and a conditional seventh-round selection.

White played in nine games with the 49ers during the 2025 NFL season, making two starts. The 27-year-old racked up 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks after joining the team.

(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)

Lindsey Vonn has a complex tibia fracture that will require multiple surgeries following her crash and fall on Sunday, Feb. 8, when she was airlifted for medical treatment.

Vonn said the complex tibia fracture had no relation to a previous ACL injury she suffered. Additionally, she said in a long, heartfelt Instagram post that she has ‘no regrets’ about her decision to compete. It sounds like a nightmare for Vonn, who just recently returned from a torn ACL injury she suffered during a downhill event on Jan. 30. Again, her focus shifts to recovery and rehab.

What is a complex tibia fracture?

So, what’s a complex tibia fracture? Exactly how it sounds, complex.

It’s described as a traumatic injury involving multiple breaks in a bone and damaged soft tissue, according to the Yale School of Medicine. Surgery often involves surgeons who specialize in orthopedic trauma.

The tibia is the second largest bone in the human body. It’s what we call the shin.

Fractures are labeled ‘complex” when the bone breaks into bits and pieces, when the soft tissue surrounding the bone is severely damaged, or when the patient has other illnesses or injuries that complicate treatment and healing, according to Dr. Natalie Casemyr, assistant professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation at Yale Medicine.

Such injuries typically occur from car accidents, or in Vonn’s case a high-speed downhill ski crash, are of a different magnitude. The injury could have shattered or broke multiple bones in several places, Casemyr says on the Yale Medicine website.

Can Vonn recover from the injury?

Recovery is possible, however it can complicated sometimes.

“All the doctors involved have to work together to figure out the timing of surgical procedures and how to safely move the patient forward in treatment,’ Casemyr says on the website.

Still, it’s standard that such injuries require multiple surgeries, Casemyr says, adding they may be ‘done in several stages’ and sometimes multiple procedures can be done at the same time.

Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook continues to climb the NBA all-time ranks and showcase why he’s one of the greatest ever play the game.

Westbrook, 37, accomplished another scoring feat that very few have in NBA history.

The 18-year NBA veteran reached 27,000 career points during the Kings’ 120-94 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on Monday, Feb. 9.

He reached the plateau after knocking down consecutive free throw attempts with 6:46 left in the third quarter.

Westbrook has averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game for the Kings in the 2025-26 season. He’s appeared in 51 games. Not bad for someone who was a late signing prior to the beginning of the regular-season.

Westbrook became the second player to record at least 27,000 points, 10,000 assists, 8,000 rebounds, and record 2,000 steals in his career. The other player, LeBron James.

Watch Russell Westbrook highlight play

Despite losing the game, Westbrook turned back the clock against the Pelicans around the 7:39 mark of the third quarter.

Kings forward Precious Achiuwa took the ball the length of the court for a layup, that he missed. But Westbrook came swooping in over the top of Pelicans rookie Derik Queen and put one on his head.

Westbrook finished the game with 17 points, two rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes. Check out his highlight play, looking like ‘Vintage Westbrook.’

MILAN — The U.S. women’s hockey team is undefeated heading into Tuesday’s showdown with archrival Canada after defeating Switzerland 5-0 on Monday, Feb. 9 in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Americans got goals from Haley Winn, Joy Dunne, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter and Caroline Harvey to improve to 3-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 15-1. Ten different players have scored through the three matchups, highlighting the U.S. national team’s depth.

‘I think the second we got off the plane here, we had the confidence of knowing that we’re a great team and regardless of what it takes, we’re here to win,’ said forward Taylor Heise, who finished with an assist on Monday. ‘Whatever it’s going to take every single play, our team’s willing to do that. … I know every single person in the locker room is willing to sacrifice for the right and the left and that’s what makes a great team.’

Gwyneth Philips got the start in net as the USA rested Aerin Frankel. Philips said she came to Milan with ‘little expectations’ of seeing the ice, but kept herself prepared just in case the moment came.

It happened on Monday and Philips made the most of her opportunity. She made 20 saves, including several tough ones when the score was close. Ava McNaughton finished up with about two minutes left to get some Olympic action.

USA captain Hilary Knight had two assists to move one point behind U.S. Olympic record holder Jenny Potter (32). She remains tied atop the career goal list at 14, but her attention is on Tuesday’s showdown with Canada.

‘It’s about getting off our legs and recovering and prepping for tomorrow,’ Knight said.

Heise added that the team is focusing on getting some rest beforehand.

She said, ‘We’re sleeping girls, we got to get our beauty sleep and get some good food. We eat pasta, focaccia and pizza here all the time so I think we’re going to carb load it up tonight and kind of see what we can bring for tomorrow.’

USA TODAY Sports is in Milan and provided live updates from the USA vs. Switzerland game. Here are highlights:

When is USA vs Canada game?

The USA and Canada will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 10 (2:10 p.m. ET, USA Network) at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Canada star Marie-Philip Poulin was injured against Czechia and her status for the USA game isn’t known.

The USA is 3-0 and Canada is 2-0 after defeating Czechia 5-1 on Monday. Canada will also play on Feb. 12 after its scheduled opening game with Finland was postponed by a norovirus outbreak on the Finnish team.

Final score: USA 5, Switzerland 0

The USA pulls away with three third-period goals to remain undefeated at the Olympics.

USA makes goalie change

Ava McNaughton comes in to get some Olympic action. She gets big cheers when making a glove save and completes the shutout.

2 minutes left

5-0 USA.

USA goal: Caroline Harvey scores

Harvey has been dangerous all night and she scores her first goal of the Olympics. She also has two assists in the game. USA 5, Switzerland 0

USA goal: Alex Carpenter scores

Carpenter is on fire! She scored her third goal in as many Olympic games in the third period to extend the Americans lead to 4-0 over the Swiss. Unlike her first two goals vs. Czechia and Finland, Carpenter’s score didn’t happen on a power play. She scored on a breakaway at even strength. Hilary Knight and Joy Dunne were credited with the assist. Knight improves to 31 career Olympic points with the assist. She’s now one point away from tying Jenny Potter’s all-time U.S. career points record, which stands at 32 points.

USA goal is overturned

Less than two minutes after the Hannah Bilka goal, Hayley Scamurra scored to open the floodgates. But Switzerland challenged for goalie interference and the referees deemed it a successful challenge and wiped the goal off the board.

USA goal: Hannah Bilka scores

The U.S. women killed off the Swiss power play and got right back on offense. Hannah Bilka scored at the 41:17 mark to give the Americans a 3-0 lead over the Swiss. Taylor Heise and Caroline Harvey were credited with the assist. USA 3, Switzerland 0

Third period underway

2-0 USA, which is short-handed to start the period. But the American kill off the rest of the penalty.

Canada vs Czechia score

Canada leads 5-0 in the second period. Julia Gosling has scored Canada’s last two goals.

End of second period: USA 2, Switzerland 0

The first 40 minutes are officially in the books. The U.S. has dominated the first two periods, outshooting Switzerland 37-15, and has a 2-0 lead. Switzerland hasn’t been able to capitalize with an extra player on the ice and have not scored in 3:24 minutes of power play time.  The Swiss will open the third period on a power play after Abbey Murphy was called for an illegal hit. Can they score to stay close to the Americans?

Switzerland power play

Abbey Murphy is called for an illegal hit.

USA goal: Joy Dunne adds to lead

The Americans are feeling lots of joy after Joy Dunne scored an unassisted goal at 14:08 of the second period to extend their lead over Switzerland. Dunne puts the puck out front and it goes in off a Swiss player’s skate. It marks Dunne’s second goal of the 2026 Winter Olympics. USA 2, Switzerland 0

USA power play

Lena Marie Lutz is called for an illegal hit. Body contact is allowed in Olympics women’s hockey only if there is an attempt to get the puck. The USA gets three shots but Andrea Braendli stops them and Switzerland kills the penalty.

Energy level high inside arena

The energy is high at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. After the first period, the in-house DJ played “Imagine” by John Lennon during the intermission period and the spectators belted out the lyrics together. Some held up their cell phone lights and joined arms with their neighbors as they swayed back and forth. ‘Imagine’ has become the unofficial song of the Olympic Games with its message of world peace.

Second period underway

1-0 USA.

Women’s hockey scores

Host Italy beat Japan 3-2 and Germany beat France 2-1 in overtime in Monday’s earlier game. Canada and Czechia started at 3 p.m. ET. Canada leads that game 2-0.

End of first period: USA 1, Switzerland 0

The Americans’ opening goal came at the 6:04 mark from Haley Winn, the first goal of her Olympic career. Switzerland almost scored an equalizer during its first power play of the night, but goalie Gwyneth Philips made a nice save and the Americans were able to successfully kill off the power play to keep a lead. The Americans are outshooting Switzerland 18-6 through the first period. Switzerland had only six shots in its recent loss to Canada.

Switzerland power play

Rory Guilday is called for tripping. Goalie Gwyneth Philips is tested immediately but makes a great glove save on Rahel Enzler. USA kills off the penalty.

USA goal: Haley Winn opens scoring

It didn’t take long for the U.S. women to get on the board against Switzerland. Haley Winn found the back of the net to get the Americans an early advantage. Caroline Harvey and Hilary Knight were both credited with an assist. Knight is now up to 30 career points in the Olympics and is only two points away from tying Jenny Potter (32) as the all-time U.S. Olympic points leader. USA 1, Switzerland 0

Chance for USA’s Taylor Heise

Switzerland’s Andrea Braendli makes a glove save on Taylor Heise’s breakaway.

Early USA-Switzerland action

Shots are 2-2. Switzerland had only six shots in its last game against Canada.

Game underway

USA’s Gwyneth Philips vs. Switzerland’s Andrea Braendli in net.

Where to watch U.S. women’s hockey vs Switzerland today

TV channel: USA Network
Streaming options: NBCOlympics.com | NBC Olympic App | Peacock

USA Network will broadcast Monday’s U.S. women’s hockey Group B matchup against Switzerland at the Milano Cortina Olympics. Streaming options for the game include NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympic App (with a TV login).

You can also stream the game on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service.

What time is U.S. women’s hockey vs Switzerland today?

Date: Monday, Feb. 9
Time: 2:40 p.m. ET
Location: Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan)

Puck drop between the U.S. women’s hockey team and Switzerland is set for 2:40 p.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 9 from Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan.

Gwyneth Philips is starting U.S. goalie

Gwyneth Philips will get her first start of the tournament. Aerin Frankel, who started the first two games, isn’t dressed and Ava McNaughton is backing up.

U.S. women’s hockey team lines

USA all-time record vs. Switzerland

The USA has won all three previous meetings by a combined tally of 23-0. The Americans won 8-0 in their last meeting in Beijing in 2022.

U.S. women’s first game at Santagiulia arena

The U.S. women’s hockey team is playing its first game at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena after playing two games at Rho Ice Hockey Arena.

There had been concerns about the arena, where construction had been behind schedule, but the U.S. men’s team practiced there on Sunday and gave a thumb’s up.

‘It looks good,’ said Auston Matthews, shortly before he was officially named men’s team captaincy. ‘I can’t imagine having to put together something like this with a limited amount of time, and I thought they did a pretty good job. The setup’s good, the rink looks good. The ice is solid. It’s never going to be perfect, but it’s cool. I think it looks pretty good.’

U.S. women’s hockey roster for 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Here is the full U.S. women’s hockey roster for the Milano Cortina Olympics:

Goaltenders: Ava McNaughton; Aerin Frankel; Gwyneth Philips.
Defenders: Lee Stecklein; Cayla Barnes; Caroline Harvey; Megan Keller; Rory Guilday; Haley Winn; Laila Edwards.
Forwards: Kirsten Simms; Kelly Pannek; Grace Zumwinkle; Hayley Scamurra; Britta Curl-Salemme; Hilary Knight; Tessa Janecke; Hannah Bilka; Joy Dunne; Alex Carpenter; Kendall Coyne Schofield; Taylor Heise; Abbey Murphy.

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CORTINA d’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn has a complex fracture in her tibia that will require multiple surgeries.

Vonn made her first comments since her horrific crash in the Olympic downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8, saying in an Instagram post that she knew the risks involved.

‘While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets,” Vonn said. ‘Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself.

“I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.”

Vonn made clear that her torn ACL had nothing to do with the crash. She injured her left knee – she also had bone bruising and meniscus damage – in another crash on Jan. 30 in the final downhill before the Milano Cortina Olympics.

Skiing with a torn ACL is not unheard of, and Vonn said her knee was stable and strong. She did intensive rehab between the crash and the Olympics, as well as pool workouts and plyometrics. She completed two training runs without issue, including posting the third-fastest time in the second one.

‘In downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches. I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash,” Vonn wrote. “My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever.”

Vonn hooked her arm around the fourth gate on the Olimpia delle Tofane course, which spun her around and flung her into the hard, snow-covered surface. She then tumbled end over end several times before coming to a stop.

Vonn was treated on the hill for roughly 13 minutes before being loaded into a helicopter and, five minutes later, airlifted to a local hospital. After an assessment there, she was transferred to Ca’Foncello Hospital in Treviso, about two hours away. She underwent surgery later that day, and both the hospital and U.S. Skiing said she was in stable condition.

‘Similar to ski racing, we take risks in life. We dream. We love. We jump. And sometimes we fall. Sometimes our hearts are broken. Sometimes we don’t achieve the dreams we know we could have. But that is the also the beauty of life; we can try,’ Vonn wrote in her Instagram post.

‘I tried. I dreamt. I jumped,’ she said. ‘I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.’

Vonn is among the greatest skiers of all-time, a three-time Olympic medalist whose 84 World Cup wins are behind only Mikaela Shiffrin and Ingemar Stenmark. Vonn was forced to retire in 2019 because of the physical pain from a series of injuries to her right knee.

But after having a partial knee replacement in April 2024, Vonn felt so good she began contemplating a comeback.

‘I retired in 2019 because my body said no more, not because I didn’t want to continue racing,” Vonn told USA TODAY Sports in October. “So I feel like this could be an incredible moment to end this chapter of my life and move forward in a really exciting and peaceful way.”

Cortina was a big part of that.

Cortina has always been one of Vonn’s favorite places. She made her first World Cup podium there, winning a bronze medal in the downhill in 2004, and 12 of her 84 World Cup victories came there. To ski in an Olympics there, maybe have those be her final races, seemed a fitting end.

“It’s such a special place for me,” Vonn said in October. “I don’t think I would have tried this comeback if the Olympics weren’t in Corina. If it had been anywhere else, I would probably say it’s not worth it.

“But for me, there’s something special about Corina that always pulls me back.”

Vonn had mixed results after she returned to the World Cup circuit in 2024, but she finished the season with a silver medal in the super-G at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho. After a full off-season to train and fine-tune her equipment, the 41-year-old Vonn was unstoppable.

She won the season’s first downhill, in St. Moritz, and another in Zauchensee. She was on the podium in all five downhill races, and two of the first three super-Gs.

Vonn led the downhill standings, putting her in position to join Mikaela Shiffrin as the only skiers to win nine season titles in a single discipline. Vonn also was second in the super-G standings and sixth in the overall.

What is a complex tibia fracture?

A tibia fracture is a break in the shin bone that is an emergency needing immediate treatment.

‘Your tibias are some of the strongest bones in your body. It usually takes a lot of force to break one,’ according to the Cleveland Clinic. ‘You probably won’t be able to stand, walk or put weight on your leg if you have a broken shin bone.’

A complex fracture involves multiple breaks in a bone and damaged soft tissue, according Yale Medicine. Symptoms include extreme pain, numbness and, sometimes, a bone that protrudes through the skin. Treatment involves stabilization and surgery.

Lindsey Vonn injuries list

Here’s a list of Vonn’s significant injuries throughout her career:

January 2026: Torn ACL in left knee.
January 2019: Impact injury to peroneal nerve.
November 2018: Torn lateral collateral ligament and meniscus in left knee, three tibial plateau fractures from crash during training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.
November 2016: Fractured humerus in right arm from crash during training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.
August 2015: Broken ankle from crash during training in New Zealand.
February 2016: Multiple fractures in left knee from crash during World Cup super-G in Andorra.
December 2013: MCL sprain in right knee.
November 2013: Torn right ACL from crash in training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.
February 2013: Torn ACL and MCL in right knee and tibial plateau fracture in right leg following crash in super-G at world championships.
February 2010: Broken right pinkie from crash in giant slalom at Vancouver Olympics. (Where she’d previously won the downhill gold.)
December 2009: Microfractures in left forearm after crash during giant slalom in Lienz, Austria.
February 2009: Severed tendon in right thumb cutting open champagne bottle at world championships in Val d’Isère, France.
February 2007: Sprained right ACL after crash during training at the world championships in Åre, Sweden.

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The Atlanta Falcons believed they were opening a potential Super Bowl window when they signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal during the 2024 NFL offseason.

Two years later, Atlanta is expected to release Cousins, as USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon reports.

Where will Cousins go next? The 37-year-old should have plenty of options should he decide to play a 15th NFL season. Here’s a look at some of the veteran’s best fits as he prepares to hit free agency for the third time in his career.

Kirk Cousins landing spots

Minnesota Vikings

Cousins spent six seasons with the Vikings from 2018-23 before joining the Falcons. Could a reunion be in store between the two parties in 2026?

Minnesota is widely expected to bring in a veteran quarterback to challenge J.J. McCarthy for the starting job ahead of the 2024 first-round pick’s third season. Cousins would be a natural fit given that he thrived in Kevin O’Connell’s offense across his final two years with the Vikings.

Cousins started 25 games under O’Connell’s tutelage and posted a 17-8 record. He completed 67.1% of his passes for 6,878 yards, 47 touchdowns and 19 interceptions and was playing at an MVP level before a torn Achilles prematurely ended his 2023 season.

Cousins would be an ideal mentor for McCarthy and could serve as a solid stopgap if the 23-year-old’s struggles continue into the 2026 season. And ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in a recent appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ the 37-year-old quarterback hasn’t ruled out returning to Minnesota.

‘I asked Kirk about Minnesota last week, and I didn’t get a no, but I didn’t get a yes,’ Schefter said. ‘It’s possible, but there are a lot of things out there that are possible with him.’

Pittsburgh Steelers

While the Vikings would offer Cousins familiarity, he might not have a chance to start ahead of McCarthy. That could lead the veteran to look for a fourth team ahead of his age-38 season, and the Steelers could be a reasonable landing spot.

Pittsburgh has been searching for a franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 NFL season. Cousins wouldn’t be a long-term option for the team, but he could represent a high-floor stopgap for new coach Mike McCarthy.

Of course, Cousins’ candidacy with the Steelers will depend on whether the team brings back Aaron Rodgers for a second season. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reports ‘odds are increasing’ for Rodgers to return to Pittsburgh in 2026 after helping the Steelers win the AFC North.

Rodgers and McCarthy worked together for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, so that may make the 42-year-old McCarthy’s preferred aging quarterback to trust.

New York Jets

The Jets once again find themselves in a tough position evaluating their options at quarterback. They landed the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which looked good until Dante Moore decided to return to Oregon for another season.

The Jets could still consider a quarterback like Ty Simpson with one of their two first-round picks, but adding a veteran stopgap like Cousins would take pressure off them as they evaluate the draft. That would give them leeway to pass on Simpson if they aren’t interested in the Alabama product and use the team’s two top-16 picks to address their many other areas of need.

For Cousins, this would be a marriage of convenience more than anything. The Jets represent Cousins’ best opportunity to both get paid – they have the fourth-most cap space for the 2026 season, per OverTheCap.com – and have a shot at starting during the 2026 season, so perhaps he can sell himself on pairing with Aaron Glenn and Frank Reich.

Cleveland Browns

It won’t necessarily be easy for the Browns to make a play for Cousins. They have a lot of money tied up at quarterback presently, as the final season of Deshaun Watson’s five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract carries an astronomical $80.7 million cap hit.

Still, the Browns can’t be ruled out of the potential Cousins sweepstakes. They could use a solid, veteran quarterback to compete with Watson and Shedeur Sanders for their starting job, and it’s easy to imagine a scenario where Cousins wins the job and emerges as a solid mentor for Sanders.

Miami Dolphins

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report that the Dolphins appear set to move on from Tua Tagovailoa during the 2026 NFL offseason.

If Miami does that, the team could look to target Malik Willis as a replacement. After all, the Dolphins’ new brain trust of coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan both come from the Green Bay Packers, where Willis thrived as a backup over the last two seasons.

However, if the Dolphins miss out on Willis, Cousins could be a solid Plan B. Miami’s new offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, comes from the Shanahan coaching tree and overlapped with Cousins for two seasons in Washington back in 2012 and 2013.

Could Kirk Cousins retire?

Yes, Cousins will at least contemplate retirement, as Schefter implied his Feb. 9 appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show.’

‘I think he’d like to play, but he’s going to consider all his options,’ Schefter said of Cousins. ‘That could include TV, that could include retirement, whatever it is that he wants to do, he’ll have the option to do it.’

Cousins served as a guest analyst on CBS’ ‘NFL Today’ show during the 2025 NFL playoffs. He filled in for Matt Ryan after the former Falcons quarterback was named the team’s president of football at the start of the 2026 offseason.

So, if Cousins does decide to call it a career, his most likely landing spot could end up being on television.

That said, Cousins gave a strong indication he wants to continue playing during an interview with USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon at Super Bowl 60.

‘Looking forward to playing in ’26,’ Cousins said. ‘Just don’t know what it’ll look like.’

The New England Patriots struggled to protect Drake Maye throughout their 29-13 Super Bowl 60 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Rookie left tackle Will Campbell absorbed a lot of blame for the offensive line’s poor performance. The 22-year-old allowed a whopping 14 pressures – the most by an individual during the 2025 season, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats – against Seattle’s elite defensive front.

In total, Campbell surrendered 29 pressures across the Patriots’ four-game playoff run and was credited with allowing four of the 21 sacks Maye took during New England’s Super Bowl run, per Pro Football Focus.

Campbell’s struggles in pass protection have led to much discourse about his future. Many have brought up pre-draft concerns about the LSU product’s 32 5/8-inch arm length while wondering whether the 2025 NFL Draft’s No. 4 pick would be better served moving inside to guard long-term.

That said, many former NFL offensive tackles have come out in support of Campbell after his Super Bowl showing. They have opined the 22-year-old’s issues are more about technique – which can be corrected –than they are about arm length.

Former New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead believes Campbell’s issues primarily stem from him not having ‘a solid foundation.’

‘His feet are constantly moving backwards before contact on 90% of these reps!’ Armstead wrote in a post to X. ‘Damn near impossible to anchor against power if your feet are not in the ground!!!’

Justin Pugh – who carved out an 11-year NFL career with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals despite having 32-inch arms – offered a similar take. He wrote that arm length may ‘slightly’ impact Campbell, but the bigger issue was that the rookie is ‘still learning.’

Several others – including former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Willie Anderson, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and noted offensive line scout Duke Manyweather – also identified areas for improvement for Campbell, ranging from ‘mastering better sets’ to improving his ‘punch timing.’

Campbell will have an entire offseason to work through the issues that plagued him at the end of his rookie season and to further distance himself from the MCL sprain that affected him beginning in Week 12 of the 2025 NFL campaign.

And while the Patriots could shore up their offensive tackle depth during the offseason, they don’t seem likely to give up on Campbell as their full-time blindside blocker after just one season.

The New England Patriots struggled to protect Drake Maye throughout their 29-13 Super Bowl 60 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Rookie left tackle Will Campbell absorbed a lot of blame for the offensive line’s poor performance. The 22-year-old allowed a whopping 14 pressures – the most by an individual during the 2025 season, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats – against Seattle’s elite defensive front.

In total, Campbell surrendered 29 pressures across the Patriots’ four-game playoff run and was credited with allowing four of the 21 sacks Maye took during New England’s Super Bowl run, per Pro Football Focus.

Campbell’s struggles in pass protection have led to much discourse about his future. Many have brought up pre-draft concerns about the LSU product’s 32 5/8-inch arm length while wondering whether the 2025 NFL Draft’s No. 4 pick would be better served moving inside to guard long-term.

That said, many former NFL offensive tackles have come out in support of Campbell after his Super Bowl showing. They have opined the 22-year-old’s issues are more about technique – which can be corrected –than they are about arm length.

Former New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead believes Campbell’s issues primarily stem from him not having ‘a solid foundation.’

‘His feet are constantly moving backwards before contact on 90% of these reps!’ Armstead wrote in a post to X. ‘Damn near impossible to anchor against power if your feet are not in the ground!!!’

Justin Pugh – who carved out an 11-year NFL career with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals despite having 32-inch arms – offered a similar take. He wrote that arm length may ‘slightly’ impact Campbell, but the bigger issue was that the rookie is ‘still learning.’

Several others – including former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Willie Anderson, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and noted offensive line scout Duke Manyweather – also identified areas for improvement for Campbell, ranging from ‘mastering better sets’ to improving his ‘punch timing.’

Campbell will have an entire offseason to work through the issues that plagued him at the end of his rookie season and to further distance himself from the MCL sprain that affected him beginning in Week 12 of the 2025 NFL campaign.

And while the Patriots could shore up their offensive tackle depth during the offseason, they don’t seem likely to give up on Campbell as their full-time blindside blocker after just one season.

Kenneth Walker III was named Super Bowl 60 MVP after the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 victory.
Walker rushed for 135 yards, the most in a Super Bowl since Terrell Davis in 1998.
He is the eighth running back in NFL history to win the Super Bowl MVP award.

SAN FRANCISCO – A day after winning Super Bowl 60 MVP, a soft-spoken Kenneth Walker III was asked how the last 24 hours changed him.

“I feel the same. I don’t think it changed much,” a smiling Walker said during the Seattle Seahawks’ Feb. 9 press conference.  

Walker might feel the same, but his career resume received a significant boost.

Walker joined an exclusive list on Feb. 8 as the eighth running back in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP.

Walker rushed 27 times for 135 yards in the Seahawks’ 29-13 win, compiling 161 yards from scrimmage. Walker’s ground total was the most rushing yards by a player in the Super Bowl since Terrell Davis rumbled for 157 yards in Super Bowl 32. Walker is also the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since Davis won the award for that 1998 performance.

“It’s a blessing to be in this position. It’s a short list (of running backs to win MVP),” Walker said. “It means a lot to have my name on that list.”

What made Walker’s performance more special is the fact he did it in front of his father, Kenneth Walker Jr., who had never seen his son play in the NFL in person before Sunday night.

“It was good just to have my family here at this stage. It meant a lot, especially for my dad, because he usually don’t like to come to games with big crowds. So, it meant a lot to have him there.”

Buy Seahawks championship pages, gear

Walker was the only consistent threat on Seattle’s offense throughout the first half. He rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries in the first 30 minutes. The running back had runs of 29 and 30 yards in the second quarter that set up a successful Jason Myers field goal. He hauled in a short pass from Sam Darnold and raced down the field for a 20-yard gain in the third quarter that led to another Myers field goal.

The 25-year-old running back displayed some elusiveness and was tough to bring down upon first contact. He forced nine missed tackles for an extra 79 yards, per Next Gen Stats.

From postseason to offseason, Walker will demand headlines

Walker’s Super Bowl 60 win and MVP performance capped off a stellar postseason for the running back. Walker gained a postseason-high 313 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the playoffs. Additionally, his 417 yards from scrimmage in the playoffs led all players. He registered more than 100 yards from scrimmage in all three of Seattle’s playoff games.

The Seahawks running back will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason as Seattle’s top free agent entering the 2026 season. He proved to be invaluable during the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run.

Walker’s contract is something Seahawks general manager John Schneider is going to have to worry about in the near future. But right now, Walker earned himself a trip to Disneyland as the Super Bowl 60 MVP.

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