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Aaron Judge. Shohei Ohtani. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Juan Soto. The world’s biggest stars will be on display soon, and we don’t even have to wait until the MLB Playoffs for the stakes to be as high as they get. Twenty teams representing countries from around the world will compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and after a long wait, we finally have the full rosters. Who’s in? Who’s out? And who will reign supreme? JUMP TO A TEAM: Australia | Brazil | Canada | Colombia | Cuba | Czechia | Dominican Rep. | Italy | Japan | Great Britain | Korea | Mexico | Netherlands | Nicaragua | Panama | Puerto Rico | Chinese Taipei | USA | Venezuela AUSTRALIA BRAZIL CANADA COLOMBIA CUBA CZECHIA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ITALY JAPAN GREAT BRITAIN KOREA MEXICO NETHERLANDS NICARAGUA PANAMA PUERTO RICO CHINESE TAIPEI UNITED STATES VENEZUELA​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The United States is bringing its most talented roster ever to the 2026 World Baseball Classic with the hope of avenging its loss to three-time champions Japan in the 2023 championship game. But first, the two powerhouses will go through a gauntlet in the pool stage with the competition being as fierce and widespread as it has ever been. Here are 10 games that will be appointment viewing in the poool stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic: United States vs. Brazil (March 6, 5 p.m. on FOX) The U.S. will open its tournament against Brazil, which is making its first appearance at the tournament since 2013. Brazil went 3-1 in qualifying and secured the final spot in the tournament with a 6-4 win against Germany. Veteran infielder Leonardo Reginatto poses the biggest threat to the U.S., with the 34-year-old going 5-for-13 in qualifiers with three doubles and four RBIs. Great Britain vs. United States (March 7, 5 p.m. on FOX) Jazz Chisholm Jr. is representing Great Britain at the World Baseball classic, and the New York Yankees star is no stranger to the stars of the United States. In fact, he will go up against two of his Yankees teammates, Aaron Judge and David Bednar, and two of his New York Mets rivals, Nolan McLean and Clayton Holmes. Japan vs. South Korea (March 7, 2 a.m. on FS1) A historic rivalry will have its latest chapter at the Tokyo Dome in the pool stage. Japan crushed South Korea 13-4 in their last meeting at the tournament in 2023, with two-way superstar and 2023 World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani leading the way for Japan. But South Korea now has its own phenom in 22-year-old Do-yeong Kim, who was named KBO MVP in 2024 after finishing the season with 38 home runs and 40 stolen bases. Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic (March 8, 9 a.m. on FS2) The Dominican Republic has the third-best odds to win the World Baseball Classic, and for good reason. Its roster is stacked with Major League talent, headlined by New York Mets star Juan Soto. The Dominican Republic didn’t advance past the group pool in 2023, but the six-time Silver Slugger was a standout performer, going 6-for-15 at the plate with two home runs. Cuba vs. Puerto Rico (March 9, 4 p.m. on FS1) This won’t just be a battle of heavyweights; it very well could determine who advances out of a tough Pool A that also features Canada, Panama and Colombia. New Los Angeles Dodgers ace Edwin Diaz will star on the mound for Puerto Pico, while eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado will make his debut for Puerto Rico in 2026 after representing the U.S. in 2023. Mexico vs. United States (March 9, 5 p.m. on FOX) If the United States wants to finish at the top of Pool B, it will once again have to go through one of its oldest rivals in sports: Mexico. Led by Seattle Mariners star Randy Arozarena, Mexico finished ahead of the U.S. in 2023 pool play with a 3-1 record and 27 runs. Mexico made it to the semifinals but fell to Japan 6-5 in an instant classic. The U.S. might be out for revenge, but so too is Mexico. United States vs. Italy (March 10, 6 p.m. on FS1) Italy might not be one of the favorites to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but that was also the case when it made a surprise run to the quarterfinals in 2023. Now led by 2009 World Series champion Francisco Cervelli, Italy is in an even better position to make a deep run, and the U.S. will serve as a measuring stick for the Italians. Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela (March 11, 5 p.m. on FS1) The matchup between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela marks the only time in pool play that two teams with top-five odds to win the tournament will go head-to-head. Venezuela went 4-0 in pool play in 2023, which included a 5-1 win over the Dominican Republic. It reached the quarterfinals before losing to the U.S. 9-7 on a Trea Turner grand slam. Expect Ronaldo Acuna Jr. and Co. to be motivated going into this year’s tournament.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

After tearing his ACL in Week 15, amid a stellar first season with the Packers, Micah Parsons went into a pit. He couldn’t be himself as a player or father, restricted to resting on the bed and couch with pain meds. He didn’t feel like eating. He fell into a depression. He watched others live out his dream on the field. “Super Dad, Superman to super nothing,” Parsons told me. The superstar edge rusher opened up about his headspace in the immediate aftermath of his season-ending knee injury and what lies ahead in 2026 in an exclusive phone conversation with me during Pro Bowl and Super Bowl LX festivities in the Bay Area. A three-time All-Pro selection, Parsons spoke with me as a brand ambassador for the NFL Super Bowl Slots mobile game. My full conversation with the Packers star (responses have been condensed and edited for clarity): What would you like the public to know about your partnership with NFL Super Bowl Slots? Parsons: “Super Bowl Slots is the first-ever NFL-licensed free-to-play mobile game. A game that lets fans play free and rep all 32 NFL teams. [You get] NFL energy with the gameplay, including team branding and gameday style. You just have so much free-range and I just think if you love the NFL and you love football, this is literally the best game you can play. … It’s fun, and it causes you no trouble.” How did your partnership with the game come about? Parsons: “I think they match my style on the field and I match their style. … I think I’m what they’re looking for off the field, so we’re just going to take the aggressive approach and represent the brand and pushing it out there and letting people know how much I love the game as well.” What are the thoughts on the game itself and what people can expect when they play it? Parsons: “They should expect a game where you can play as much as you want, when you want. It doesn’t matter where you are if you kind of just like that free gambling buzz. I can keep getting coins. I can keep opening packs. I just think that’s the best part of the game. … You don’t have to wait on any ads. You can just keep learning and going and choose whatever team you like.” Are you a gamer yourself? Parsons: “Madden. NCAA. Madden Mobile. Pretty much all those games. … I’m a big-time gamer.” Let’s pivot to football. It’s been nearly two months since you tore your ACL. How would you describe where your headspace is at this point in your rehab? Parsons: “You know, my headspace is extremely good. Obviously, taking it one day at a time. Getting stronger and better every day. I think mentally, I’m in a headspace where I know I’m getting stronger, I know I’m getting better. It’s just about taking the small wins every day. Embracing it for when it’s time for me to step on the field.” Was there a low point you had to work yourself through? Parsons: “I would say just not being myself. … Super Dad, Superman to super nothing. I’m on bed rest and couch rest all day. Can’t even get up to take a piss. Just very down on myself. You’re on these pain meds. You’re not feeling like yourself. You’re not eating. You’re depressed. You’re watching people live your dream. “To now, out here at the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, finally being able to walk again and just realizing where I’m at and thanking God every day for the small wins I have. Every week I’ve gotten better to where I’m feeling like myself and I can play with my kids again, and I can be the best man I can possibly be off and on the field.” What did it take to pull yourself out of that dark space? Parsons: “For me, [it was like] I can’t stay here, man. I can’t stay here. I was surrounded by a bunch of love between my lady, my kids, my mom. Just so much love that I was just like, ‘I have to get better for us. I have to get better for my teammates.’ And that’s what it is. A bunch of people convincing you that you can be better, you’re going to get better. “The bright side is I have people going through the journey as well with me. Maybe different injuries, same injuries, knowing that I’m not the only one who’s been through it and I can come over this hump.” Immediately after the season, you were very supportive of coach Matt LaFleur amid the uncertainty about his job status. Knowing that he has been officially extended now, how excited are you knowing that he’ll be your head coach moving forward? Parsons: “I’m super excited about that. Matt is my guy. He’s such a great guy. … We’re going to lead this team to the Super Bowl. I think we have the best coach possible. I hope they’re ready to go when I get back, to put our heads down and just go to work.” What can we expect when you’re back in 2026, whenever you are fully healthy? Parsons: “Everyone will probably say ‘Was this guy even injured?’ I’m going to hit the ground running and be the best player on the field.” In Who Is?, we’ll help you get to know breakout stars, newcomers and more with this Q&A series.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Thomas Brown spent three seasons working alongside good friend Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams. So when he was hired as tight ends coach and passing game coordinator for the Patriots this season, Brown was looking forward to working with another great offensive mind. He certainly hasn’t been disappointed, getting an up-close look at how Josh McDaniels works his magic with second-year quarterback Drake Maye. “No. 1, he’s a great teacher and communicator,” Brown told me on Super Bowl Opening Night when I asked what makes McDaniels special. “But also, I think for any really good offensive coach or playcaller, it’s being able to adapt to the guys that you have around you, from a personnel standpoint and skill-wise. “Obviously, he spent a lot of time with Tom Brady. But with the other quarterbacks he’s had, he’s adapted his offense to fit best for those guys. It’s being able to understand those nuances. The verbiage is a little different. And some of the ways he approaches certain situations are a little different than what I’ve experienced in the past, which is also great to be able to add to what I already know. So, it’s been great to be a part of.” This is McDaniels’ third stint with the Patriots, returning to the place where he won six Super Bowls as an innovator on offense with Brady. On Sunday against the Seahawks, McDaniels will try for a seventh title. He was a great hire for Mike Vrabel, and in his first year back in New England, McDaniels has Maye playing at an MVP level, which is a big reason why the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl after a seven-year absence. It’s not surprising that Vrabel, in his first season as New England’s head coach, has leaned on McDaniels, who is coaching in his 10th Super Bowl as a Patriots assistant. At the suggestion of the OC, the team reportedly waited until this week to install several elements of their game plan for Sunday. “No one has more experience than Josh with this,” Vrabel told the media. “And he felt like we needed to do something to keep them engaged and stimulated, so they weren’t looking at some things for the second or third time.” McDaniels took a year off from coaching after being fired by the Las Vegas Raiders midway through the 2023 season — the second time he’s been let go as a head coach. During his year-long sabbatical, McDaniels said he spent time attending the practices of several pro and college teams — including the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Boston College, Ohio State and USC — to observe some of the best coaches in the business. “[I watched] the way they structured their practices, how they talked to the quarterback,” McDaniels said. “What they did in team periods to scheme. There were little things I certainly picked up on that were great. “If you get an opportunity to go watch these guys work, it doesn’t take you very long to learn something that you can use and benefit from. I thought it was a great experience for me.” McDaniels has put those observations to good use working with Maye. The North Carolina product led the NFL in passer rating (113.5), finished third in passing touchdowns (31) and fourth in passing yards (4,394) during the regular season. Maye also led the league in completion percentage (72%) and yards per attempt (8.9). In his 13 seasons as New England’s offensive coordinator, McDaniels has led the Patriots to eight top 10 rankings over that time, including the league’s No. 1 ranked offense in 2007, 2012 and 2017. This season, the Patriots posted the No. 3 ranked offense in the NFL, averaging 28.8 points per game, second in the league. McDaniels said the key to Maye’s exponential growth was meeting the 23-year-old where he was and teaching him to be patient in his daily approach. “An important part of our process was where are we starting with Drake?” McDaniels said. “If we don’t know that, we’re probably going to make some mistakes early. So, to figure out where he was at the very beginning of our process was important for us because we knew where we were going to pick up and start from. “And then take it as far as we could. And we’re still doing that.” [RELATED: How Might a Super Bowl Win Impact Patriots QB Drake Maye’s Legacy?] New England backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs has learned from some of the best offensive minds in the game, including Kyle Shanahan, Kevin O’Connell and Kevin Stefanski. “It’s a lot on the quarterback, but in a good way,” Dobbs said at Opening Night. “The quarterback is the orchestrator of the offense. He has to understand what plays we’re running, why we’re running it, what were seeing from the defense and what are our solutions to the problems the defense might present to us. “[McDaniels] had one of the greatest signal-callers ever running it for a long time. He’s a great mind in the NFL and he does a great job of getting the most out of his players. And that’s shown in our play this year.” McDaniels’ adaptability and innovation are great, but what stands out to Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane, who played for McDaniels with the Raiders, is his ability to relate to the players he coaches. “His dedication to the game and love for people got him to be the great coach that he is today,” Spillane said at Opening Night. “You’ve got to be able to connect with people and relay a message. And he’s obviously able to do that well with his offensive players. “You can tell a person about X’s and O’s all day, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to make that connection for them to really feel it and understand it at the highest level.” McDaniels’ ability to make that connection with Drake Maye has brought the Patriots to the brink of another title.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A month before the New York Jets traded away a quarterback they once thought would be their savior, general manager Joe Douglas was gushing in his praise of Sam Darnold. He called him “a dynamic player … with unbelievable talent” and he raved about his “outstanding potential.” In hindsight, of course, it seems like meaningless bluster — an executive trying to inflate the value of an asset he was trying to sell. Except it wasn’t. At least not completely. “It wasn’t a lie, I don’t think,” a former Jets assistant coach told me recently. “We really liked him. The timing and circumstances just weren’t right for Sam.” In a nutshell, that’s the story of Darnold’s short, disappointing tenure in New York that began with enormous promise and ended in the perception of failure. And it’s why the Jets traded him away weeks before the 2021 NFL Draft, sending him on a winding road that ultimately led to Super Bowl LX. Over the past two seasons, including this one with the Seattle Seahawks, the 28-year-old Darnold has proven to everyone he’s always had the talent. It just never had a chance to fully develop in New York. That’s a very familiar story when it comes to Jets quarterbacks over the past 50 years, but Darnold was the one they thought would be different. In fact, it was a rare stroke of good fortune for their cursed franchise that Darnold fell in their laps in the 2018 Draft. They had been stumbling along with aging veteran quarterbacks the previous two seasons (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown) and traded three second-round picks to move up from No. 6 to No. 3 in the first round. But they thought they’d be choosing between Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen (they didn’t appear to have much interest in Josh Allen at the time) when they were on the clock. Then the Cleveland Browns surprised everyone by pivoting to Mayfield with the first overall pick. And when the New York Giants locked in on running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2, the Jets got their man. And they were thrilled to land the USC quarterback. Jets vice chairman Christopher Johnson, who was running the team back then while his brother, Woody Johnson, was serving as the ambassador to the United Kingdom, said at the time “I honestly think you are going to look back 20 years from now and say this is the moment the Jets shifted into a new gear, that they became a great team.” Well, not quite. Things started off well enough for Darnold. He game-managed his way to a shocking 48-17 win in Detroit in the season opener of his rookie season (when, just a few months after turning 21, he became the youngest starter at QB since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger). He threw for 334 yards in a loss to the Dolphins the next week. All in all, his rookie season was typical of the ups and downs of a young quarterback. In 13 starts (he missed three games to a foot injury) he completed 57.7% of his passes for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. By the end of the season — particularly after a 341-yard, three-touchdown performance in an overtime loss to the Packers in Week 16 — everyone thought the arrow was pointed up. And then it wasn’t. Todd Bowles was fired after that 4-12 season and the Jets made the dubious choice of replacing him with recently fired Dolphins coach Adam Gase. Then Darnold missed three games early in his second season after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. He returned in Week 6 by throwing for 338 yards in a win over Dallas, but it quickly became apparent that the illness had taken its toll and Darnold just wasn’t the same. The next week was the infamous “ghosts” game, when he threw four interceptions in a 33-0 loss to the Patriots and NFL Films caught him on a mic admitting he was “seeing ghosts” as he tried to decipher Bill Belichick’s defensive scheme. He struggled with the fallout, and with picking up Gase’s offense, a lot over the next two years. His last season in New York was the worst. Darnold missed four games with a shoulder injury and clearly regressed, completing just 59.6% of his passes for 2,208 yards with 9 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 starts. “By that point, he was broken,” the then-Jets assistant told me. “Everyone could see it. But we didn’t think he was finished when we got him. We just thought injuries and being on a bad team had really hurt him. I don’t remember anyone on the staff thinking he was a bust.” In fact, when Robert Saleh was hired to replace Gase in 2021, he lavished huge praise on Darnold in his opening press conference — and he apparently really meant it. “He’s got an unbelievable arm talent,” Saleh said at the time. “He’s fearless in the pocket. He’s got a natural throwing motion. He’s mobile. He’s extremely intelligent. He’s tough as nails. His reputation in the locker room is unquestioned.” Multiple sources back then said Saleh “loved” Darnold and made that clear during the interview process. He and his staff would have been fine moving forward with Darnold in the fourth year of his NFL career. They even saw promise in his three-year numbers (59.8 completion rate, 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns, 39 interceptions) despite his 13-25 record. But there were other forces at play. Thanks to a 2-14 campaign, the Jets were holding the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft (after an 0-13 start, they won two of their last three games, costing themselves a shot at eventual No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence). And the more Douglas, heading into his second draft in New York, scouted the available quarterbacks, the more he fell in love with BYU’s Zach Wilson. Douglas also knew that days after the draft they’d have to make a decision on the fifth-year option on Darnold’s rookie contract, which would have paid him a guaranteed $18.9 million in 2022. Darnold had $4.6 million (and a $9.8 million salary cap hit) coming to him in 2021 already. And $28.7 million against the cap over two years would’ve been a huge commitment for a quarterback who was the lowest-rated starter in the league over his first three years. Douglas was open about that after the fact, calling the trade “an opportunity to hit the reset button financially, so to speak.” Yet they discussed keeping Darnold anyway. Douglas even conceded that they liked him enough that if they hadn’t been picking so high, “We’d fully be comfortable moving forward with Sam.” Saleh, according to sources, even pushed the idea of drafting a quarterback and keeping Darnold either as a bridge, or letting the two quarterbacks battle it out. “I do remember that,” the assistant told me. “Though I’m pretty sure we all knew that would never work.” That, of course, could have been a disaster, especially in the New York market, and it wouldn’t have made much sense financially either. And the coaches, as much as they liked Darnold, clearly understood. “I don’t remember a lot of fighting about it,” the assistant coach told me. “There was a lot of respect for Sam and belief in his abilities. But in the end, I think everybody knew it was best to move on.” There was a feeling around the NFL back then that it was best for Darnold, too. The Jets, at the time, were a bigger mess than usual and were seemingly dragging Darnold down with them. It didn’t help that he wasn’t especially durable during those three seasons, missing a total of 10 games because of injury and illness. He was also about to play under his third head coach and offensive coordinator and in his third offensive system, and Douglas hadn’t exactly built a powerhouse around him. Darnold had yet to play with a single 1,000-yard receiver or rusher, all while scrambling behind dozens of different combinations along the offensive line. “That was no place for a quarterback to grow,” an AFC scout who followed the Jets back then told me. “I honestly thought they had ruined him for good. But it was pretty clear he had to get out.” So Douglas made the decision to shop him around — though he insisted at the time that he was only answering calls from other teams. He got immediate interest from the Denver Broncos, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Commanders. Douglas set the price of a second-round pick, modeling it after the deal the Arizona Cardinals got in 2019 when they sent Rosen to the Dolphins (for a second and a fifth) just one year after they drafted him 10th overall — seven picks after the Jets took Darnold. Once the Panthers met the asking price — sending a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft and second- and fourth-round picks in the 2022 draft to the Jets — the deal was done. One month later, the Jets drafted Wilson, swapping one presumptive franchise savior for another. That decision, of course, became just the latest in a series of disasters for the Jets. Wilson proved to be far worse than Darnold ever was (6,325 yards, 23 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, and a 12-21 record as a starter). The Jets actually moved on from him after two years when they acquired the aging Aaron Rodgers. Only Rodgers ruptured his Achilles four snaps into the 2023 season, giving Wilson a second chance in New York. It didn’t go well, of course, and Wilson was released after his third season. Saleh was fired just a few games into the following season, followed by Douglas about a month later, and then Rodgers at the end of the 2024 campaign. The Jets, in the five years since trading Darnold, have cycled through nine different starting quarterbacks. So, was trading Darnold a mistake? “I mean, in hindsight, sure,” the scout told me. “But if you’re realistic, there was just no chance — no chance at all — that he was going to find any success in New York.” Darnold didn’t find much success in Carolina either, but he showed enough in his 17 starts there that Kyle Shanahan brought him to San Francisco as a backup in 2023, two years after trying to acquire him from the Jets. He ended up in Minnesota a year later and had a breakout season, only to walk in free agency because the Vikings were committed to playing unproven top-10 pick J.J. McCarthy after drafting him No. 10 overall in 2024. This year, Darnold became only the second QB in NFL history to win 14 games in consecutive seasons — and he appears to have finally found his football home in Seattle. “We’re happy for him. Truly,” the former Jets assistant told me. “It probably never would have happened with us. But he deserves it. One thing I think everyone in the organization agreed with is that he really was a great kid.” “He’s a great example of two things: how an organization can ruin a quarterback, and why you don’t give up on talent,” the scout told me. “It doesn’t happen with everybody, but sometimes these guys just need to get to the right place.” In the Big Picture, we contextualize key moves and moments so you can instantly understand why they matter.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A lot was different in sports the last time that the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks met in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, 2015. The San Francisco Giants had just won their third World Series in five years (2010, 2012 and 2014); Ohio State defeated 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks in the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship the month prior; projected lottery picks Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow were leading Duke on what became a National Championship season; the Golden State Warriors were ascending into an NBA powerhouse under first-year head coach Steve Kerr and went on to win the franchise’s first championship in 40 years. But, sticking with the NFL, here’s what was happening with all 32 teams when Patriots rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line to ultimately seal the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl triumph in franchise history: AFC East New York Jets The Jets fired Rex Ryan after six seasons in the wake of a 4-12 campaign. Remember Michael Vick in the Hess look? He started three games and appeared in 10 games altogether for the Jets in 2014. Miami Dolphins The 2014 season was the coming-out party for running back Lamar Miller, who rushed for a career-high 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry. He also tallied 275 receiving yards. Buffalo Bills While they missed the playoffs for a 15th consecutive season, 2014 marked the first time since 2004 that the Bills finished with a winning record (9-7). A glaring bright spot for Buffalo was its pass rush, as the Bills led the NFL with 54.0 sacks. Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus each earned All-Pro honors, while the two defensive linemen and Jerry Hughes all totaled double-digit sacks. New England Patriots The Patriots were seeking their first Super Bowl victory in a decade and doing so against the backdrop of controversy. While New England won their AFC Championship Game matchup against the Colts with ease, 45-7, the latter reported to the NFL that the game balls the Patriots were using were underinflated, which led to “Deflategate.” AFC North Cleveland Browns The 2014 season was a chaotic one that saw the Browns in the hunt for a playoff spot. Granted, they came up short. What was part of that chaos? Rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy Award winner, made two starts for Cleveland. Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers’ offense was a well-oiled machine. Ben Roethlisberger led the NFL with 4,952 passing yards; Le’Veon Bell rushed for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns, while also totaling 83 receptions for 854 yards; Antonio Brown led the NFL in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698), while reaching the end zone 13 times. Baltimore Ravens Two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler Steve Smith Jr. had his debut season with the Ravens, with the veteran wide receiver racking up 79 receptions for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati Bengals The Bengals were consistently a reputable team under head coach Marvin Lewis. With that said, the 2014 season was more of the same for Cincinnati in the playoffs, as the Bengals lost in the wild-card round for a fourth consecutive year and fell to 0-6 in the postseason under Lewis. AFC South Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck led the NFL with 40 passing touchdowns and led the Colts to the AFC Championship Game, which included beating Peyton Manning and the Broncos on the road in the divisional round. Houston Texans Defensive lineman J.J. Watt was imposing his will on the NFL, totaling 20.5 sacks and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014 for the second time in three seasons and earning All-Pro honors for a third consecutive season. Jacksonville Jaguars Former UCF quarterback Blake Bortles wrapped up his first season in the NFL, who selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft; the Jaguars finished 3-13 in what was their second season under head coach Gus Bradley. Tennessee Titans The Titans went 2-14 in a season that saw three quarterbacks start at least five games: Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst and Jake Locker. Three months later, they drafted Mariota with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. AFC West Kansas City Chiefs In what was the team’s second season under Andy Reid, the Chiefs missed the playoffs. They would go on to make the playoffs in each of the next 10 seasons. Oakland Raiders Oakland fired head coach Dennis Allen after an 0-4 start, with Tony Sparano taking over on an interim basis. Rookie quarterback Derek Carr started all 16 games for the Raiders, totaling 3,270 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 76.6 passer rating, while completing 58.1% of his passes. Denver Broncos Broncos wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders combined for 212 receptions for 3,023 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2014, with each logging triple-digit receptions. San Diego Chargers Safety Eric Weddle earned his second-career All-Pro honor, totaling one interception, two forced fumbles, eight passes defended and 114 combined tackles. NFC East New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr. had a historic rookie season with the Giants, racking up 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 regular-season games. Of course, Beckham reeled in a three-fingered touchdown catch in a Week 12, prime-time matchup. Dallas Cowboys Dallas lost to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional round. The lasting image? Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant appeared to have a fourth-down reception at the Packers’ 1-yard line, but the play was overturned to an incompletion, as it was ruled that Bryant didn’t maintain control of the ball all the way through the ground. Washington Washington wrapped up its first season under head coach Jay Gruden, which was a 4-12 campaign that saw three quarterbacks make at least four starts: Robert Griffin III (seven), Kirk Cousins (five) and Colt McCoy (four). Philadelphia Eagles Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin logged 85 receptions for a career-high 1,318 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, linebacker Connor Barwin had arguably the best season of his NFL career in 2014 with the Eagles, totaling a career-high in sacks (14.5), forced fumbles (two) and combined tackles (64); Barwin earned a Pro Bowl nod. NFC North Green Bay Packers The 2014 season saw quarterback Aaron Rodgers win NFL MVP honors, but it ended in heartbreak for the Packers, as they blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship and went on to lose in overtime. Detroit Lions Sticking with the playoff theme, the Lions led the Cowboys in the fourth quarter of their wild-card round matchup when a flag was thrown on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a third-and-1 with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter that would’ve given Detroit a first down in opponent territory. However, the officials picked up the flag, Detroit punted and Dallas took the lead for good on the next possession. Minnesota Vikings The 2014 season was the first NFL campaign for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who made 12 starts. Across the 13 combined games that he appeared in, Bridgewater totaled 2,919 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions and an 85.2 passer rating, while completing 64.4% of his passes. He also rushed for 209 yards and one touchdown. Chicago Bears The Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman after two seasons and a 5-11 record in 2014; they went a combined 13-19 from 2013-14. NFC South Carolina Panthers The Panthers won the NFC South with a losing record (7-8-1), but they then defeated the Cardinals in the Wild Card Round. In the regular season, Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen each totaled 1,008 receiving yards, while linebacker Lou Kuechly led the NFL with 153 combined tackles. Atlanta Falcons Atlanta, which had missed the playoffs and posted losing records in back-to-back seasons from 2013-14, was on the verge of hiring Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator of the Seahawks, as its new head coach after firing seven-year head coach Mike Smith. New Orleans Saints The Saints missed the playoffs in 2014 in what would be the first of three seasons where they missed the postseason (2014-16). In the 2014 regular season, Saints quarterback Drew Brees led the NFL with 4,952 passing yards, while it would end up being tight end and then-three-time Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham’s last season in New Orleans. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide receiver Mike Evans totaled 68 receptions for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns in his 2014 rookie campaign with the Buccaneers. The significance? Evans would go on to total 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of the first 11 seasons of his NFL career. NFC West Seattle Seahawks Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch led the NFL in rushing yards for a second consecutive season in 2014 (13). Lynch also delivered the “I’m here so I won’t get fined” line to questions that he was asked at Super Bowl week. Seattle entered Super Bowl XLIX as the defending Super Bowl champions. San Francisco 49ers The 2014 NFL season was Jim Harbaugh’s last as the head coach of the 49ers, with him going on to be the head coach at his alma mater Michigan. Over Harbaugh’s four seasons in the Bay Area (2011-14), the 49ers went a combined 44-19-1 in the regular season and 5-3 in the postseason, highlighted by reaching Super Bowl XLVII. Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals were in their second season under head coach Bruce Arians, winning double-digit games in both seasons and making the playoffs in 2014. St. Louis Rams Defensive end Robert Quinn led the NFL with five forced fumbles in 2014, while also logging 10.5 sacks, six passes defended and 46 combined tackles.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NFL’s trade deadline, compared to most other professional sports, is still a fairly low-key event, but the few deals that are made each year are usually playoff contenders trying to add a missing piece to put them over the top. They don’t always immediately work out, see the Indianapolis Colts trading for star cornerback Sauce Gardner this year. But over history, you can certainly point to timely trades that not only helped teams get to the Super Bowl, but helped them win a championship as well. So, with the help of FOX Sports Research, we decided to look back at the 10 best in-season trades that led to a Super Bowl appearance in NFL history, as Rashid Shaheed has helped the Seattle Seahawks reach Super Bowl LX. 10. TE Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos (2015) If you don’t remember this one, it’s OK. Davis had a great run with the 49ers (two seasons with 13 touchdown catches!) but midway through the 2015 season, they traded him to Denver for two sixth-round picks. This wasn’t the 55-touchdown season for Peyton Manning; this was the nine-touchdown season for Manning, where they largely won with their defense. Davis caught 20 passes for 201 yards and no touchdowns. He played in all three playoff games but never caught a pass and had only one target. He then finished his career with four years in Washington. 9. WR Kadarius Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs (2022) Toney was a first-round pick of the Giants who’d barely played in his second season when Kansas City sent a third- and sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft to acquire him. He had modest contributions in the regular season — three touchdowns — but saved his biggest impact for the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII. He caught a 5-yard touchdown pass for the lead in the fourth, then, after the ensuing drive, fielded an Eagles punt and returned it 65 yards to the 5-yard line to set up another touchdown. Two years later, he was out of the league at 25, but he picked the most important day of his career to make two game-changing plays. 8. WR Emmanuel Sanders to the San Francisco 49ers (2019) Sanders was playing for a 2-5 Broncos team when they traded him to the undefeated 49ers for a 2020 third-round and a pick swap, moving up from the fifth to the fourth round. Sanders had big games for San Francisco that year, logging 112 yards and a touchdown to beat the Cardinals, along with a 157-yard performance and a score to beat the Saints. He had a quiet Super Bowl, catching three passes for 38 yards. Down 24-20 with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter, he got open behind the Chiefs’ secondary, but Jimmy Garoppolo overthrew him and the 49ers would lose. Sanders moved on to the Saints and Bills for his final two seasons. 7. LB Kyle Van Noy to the New England Patriots (2016) Van Noy had just one sack in 2.5 years in Detroit, and the Lions traded him to the Patriots in 2016 for a meager pick swap — moving up from 239th pick to the 215th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. where the Lions drafted a quarterback who never played a snap. Van Noy, who is still playing today, had seven tackles in the playoffs for New England that year and split a sack in the third quarter in the Super Bowl against the Falcons as the Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to win a championship. 6. WR Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks (2025) Seattle was already off to a 6-2 start when it traded fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2026 draft to the Saints for receiver Rashid Shaheed, soon to be a free agent. The spark he’s given the Seahawks has been huge, earning Pro Bowl honors after being the only player in the league to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns this season. Then he did it again in the playoffs, returning the opening kick against the 49ers 95 yards to set the tone for a 41-6 rout in the divisional round. He had two return touchdowns in three seasons with New Orleans, but three in a half-season with Seattle is another level. He’ll be a priority among Seattle’s free agents next month. 5. DE Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers (2023) Young, a former No. 2 overall pick for Washington who had been limited by injuries, was acquired by San Francisco for a 2024 third-round pick. He was quiet during the regular season, getting 2.5 sacks in nine games, but came through in the Super Bowl, sacking Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter. San Francisco would end up losing to the Chiefs in overtime, and Young signed with the Saints in free agency. 4. RB Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles (2017) Ajayi had made the Pro Bowl in 2016, rushing for 1,272 yards for the Dolphins, but midway through 2017, they traded him to the Eagles for a 2018 fourth-round pick. Ajayi combined with LeGarrette Blount for an effective 1-2 punch. Ajayi had a 46-yard touchdown in his Philadelphia debut, and was a workhorse in the playoffs, averaging 63 rushing yards in three playoff games. He had nine rushes for 57 yards in their Super Bowl LII victory over the Patriots. 3. OLB Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams (2021) Miller had been to eight Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with the Broncos, but the Rams sent Denver second- and third-round picks in the 2022 draft to add an elite pass-rusher. He had five sacks in the last four games of the regular season, had one each in playoff wins over the Cardinals and Eagles, then stepped up biggest in the Super Bowl against the Bengals, with two sacks in the second half to set up a comeback win for the Rams. He was gone to Buffalo a month later, but his short time in Los Angeles included a Super Bowl win. 2. CB Mike Haynes to the Las Vegas Raiders (1983) Haynes is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and had made six Pro Bowls with the Patriots, but he held out in 1983 and eventually was traded to the Raiders, netting a 1984 first- and 1985 second-round pick. Haynes would play seven seasons for the Raiders and make three more Pro Bowls. That first year, in an easy Super Bowl win over Washington, Haynes intercepted a Joe Theismann pass in the fourth quarter. 1. DE Fred Dean to the San Francisco 49ers (1981) Dean had made the Pro Bowl and was first-team All-Pro in 1980 with the Chargers, but was somehow making about $70,000 — less than his brother-in-law, a truck driver, he noted — and eventually was traded to San Francisco, which doubled his salary to $150,000. Dean had 12 sacks in 11 games with the 49ers in 1981, and he added another in their Super Bowl win over the Bengals that year. He played his final five seasons in San Francisco, getting four sacks in the 1984 playoffs on the way to another championship.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Seahawks’ acquisition of Rashid Shaheed ahead of November’s trade deadline has turned into one of the best midseason moves in recent NFL history. Needing reinforcements for a banged-up receiver room, Seattle general manager John Schneider sent the Saints fourth- and fifth-round picks in this year’s draft for the 2023 All-Pro return specialist. And Shaheed, who signed with New Orleans in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of Weber State, has delivered in a massive way. He was named to his second Pro Bowl as a returner in 2025, delivering electrifying moments on both offense and special teams to help the Seahawks reach Super Bowl LX, where they’ll face the Patriots on Sunday. “It was a great move initially,” coach Mike Macdonald said last month of acquiring Shaheed. “But from my perspective and the coaches’ perspective, he’s a player that we really respect.” Here are three ways Shaheed has transformed the Seahawks: 1. Scoring punch on special teams This is where Shaheed has made the biggest impact, giving the Seahawks one of the NFL’s most feared special teams units. In 11 games with Seattle, including the playoffs, the two-time Pro Bowler has three return touchdowns. The first came in Week 14 in Atlanta, where he returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards in a Seahawks win over the Falcons. Two weeks later, Shaheed had a 58-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter of an overtime win over the Rams. Then in the divisional round against the Niners, he returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, sending Lumen Field into a frenzy and setting the tone for a dominant playoff victory over a division rival. “When he’s catching the ball in kickoff return,” Macdonald said after the game, “[opponents are] like, ‘Oh, here we go, we’ve got to contain this guy.’” 2. Stretching the field on offense The threat of Shaheed downfield can make it more difficult for opposing defenses to cover the Seahawks’ other pass-catchers, most notably Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was the NFL’s leading receiver in 2025 (1,793 yards). Shaheed averaged 15.1 yards of depth on his routes and ran a vertical route at a 50.9% rate with Seattle in the regular season, according to Next Gen Stats. He averaged 12.5 yards per reception with the team in the regular season, up from 11.3 with the Saints in his first nine games of the year. His 51-yard reception on the Seahawks’ opening drive in the NFC Championship Game against the Rams set up a touchdown for running back Kenneth Walker III. From Week 10 (when he joined the Seahawks) through the end of the regular season, Shaheed recorded the third-highest playtime percentage among the team’s wide receivers, trailing only Smith-Njigba (80.0%) and Cooper Kupp (77.0%). The former Saint had 15 receptions for 188 yards in nine games with Seattle in the regular season. He also had seven carries for 64 yards, including three first downs, in those appearances. “He can run every single route, and his speed is dangerous,” Smith-Njigba said in December. “So teams have got to respect that, especially if you’ve got eyes on me or whoever.” [RELATED: 3 Keys to Victory for the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX] 3. Speed, speed, speed A track star in high school, Shaheed is one of the NFL’s fastest players. His speed has made a talented Seahawks team even more dynamic on offense and special teams. According to Next Gen Stats, he averaged 15.16 miles per hour on his routes with the Seahawks in 2025, which would be the fourth-fastest in the NFL across the regular season among receivers who ran at least 250 routes. Ahead of the NFC Championship Game, he’d averaged 17.53 mph across his 16 kick returns since joining Seattle (including postseason), the fourth-fastest mark among the 47 players with at least 10 returns in that span, per NGS.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM (WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.) — A snow-delayed race that featured rain and sleet had drivers spinning out as they battled each other and their rain tires Wednesday night in NASCAR’s preseason exhibition Clash. So maybe it was appropriate that Ryan Preece, a short-track modified standout from the Northeast who had not won a Cup points event, captured the marathon that took 2 hours, 20 minutes on the historic quarter-mile at Bowman Gray Stadium. “I’m a quarter-mile killer,” Preece said. “When it comes to this style of racing, it’s what I grew up doing. … It’s not a points race, but winning means everything. Man, I’m just speechless.” Here are my takeaways: 1. Big Win For Preece Preece often wears his emotions, and his excitement after the victory was obvious. He has 223 Cup starts with seven top-five finishes, and he enters his second year with his best Cup opportunity competing for RFK Racing. How he intended to celebrate tells everything about the 35-year-old Preece. After the win, he planned on driving seven hours to Florida to compete in some short-track events at New Smyrna Speedway, just about 30 minutes south of Daytona, before getting in his Cup car next Wednesday. Preece will race in both a late model and modified that he and his family own. He obviously thought he would have more time to get to New Smyrna until the race ,originally scheduled for Sunday, was postponed to Wednesday because of a weekend snowstorm. “I’ll celebrate in New Smyrna,” Preece said. “I race, man. It’s what it’s about. This is going to make that drive a hell of a lot better because seven hours, I figure I’ll get to … New Smyrna about 7 a.m. “We’ll just grind it out.” Just like he did to win the Clash in leading the final 45 laps. 2. Denny Hamlin Perseveres Hamlin persevered to a fifth-place finish, following Preece, William Byron, Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suarez across the finish line. Among those five, Hamlin was involved in the most cautions, finding himself turned at least a few times during the race. Considering his last few months — losing the Cup title in the final laps at Phoenix, his 23XI Racing team pretty much winning its antitrust trial against NASCAR and his father dying in a house fire that also severely injured his mother — Hamlin had hoped to find a little bit of normalcy by getting back in a race car. “It was a good preseason [race], but I think once we get to Daytona, things will start to get a little bit more normal, things will be a little more serious. And you’ll know the stakes are going to get high here in 10 days [with the Daytona 500],” Hamlin said. 3. Fuel Call Controversy With the exhibition race not counting caution laps and the caution flying 17 times, NASCAR opted after a few drivers ran out of fuel to allow all cars to pit for fuel. The thing is, at least Chase Briscoe’s team felt they had filled up their tank full prior to the race just for such a scenario. Briscoe, who led 35 laps, ended up sixth, and his crew chief James Small was less than pleased. “I didn’t know all the circumstances that were going on, but I know James was not thrilled with the situation,” Briscoe said. “It definitely after that, it kind of killed me. And a lot of guys were doing adjustments, and you weren’t supposed to be doing adjustments. … Kind of frustrating a little bit.” NASCAR also let William Byron, who ran out of fuel to bring out the caution where NASCAR opted to allow everyone to refuel, to regain his position. Considering it was an exhibition event, there likely will be discussions over how it was handled, but hard feelings should subside quickly. 4. Daniel Suarez Shines Suarez, in his first outing for Spire Motorsports after spending the last five years at Trackhouse Racing, posted a solid result. He was his typical fiery self, and it appeared at times that he raced his former Trackhosue teammates harder than others. “I race people the same way they race me,” Suarez said. “I love everyone. If they give me love, I give love. If they give me hate, I give hate.” 4 ½: What’s Next The Cup Series heads to Daytona, but the discussion will be whether this event continues at Bowman Gray Stadium. It’s a historic venue — owned by the city of Winston-Salem with the facility doubling as the football stadium for Winston-Salem State University — and NASCAR has staged the Clash there the last two years to generate excitement of going back to its roots. As this event showed, racing in February can be a challenge. The area had a rare significant snowstorm — more than eight inches fell Saturday — and the race was run in frigid temperatures that included at one point ice pellets falling from the sky. It resulted in the final half of the race being run in the wet with rain tires – and 13 times NASCAR waved the caution flag for spins or wrecks. “I don’t think you can judge a race or a track off of that weird weather circumstance,” said Ryan Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series champion. “I think this place, honestly, judging off the first half, put on a good show. “Just the way [in the rain], calamity as it would be with anyplace. I appreciate the fans sticking around all night. I bet that was brutal in those aluminum grandstands. Cold asses up there.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, and we’re just months away from seeing the world’s biggest sporting event hit the shores of North America. The U.S. men’s national team take on Paraguay in its opener on June 12 in Los Angeles, so that leaves plenty of time to talk about who will be in the starting XI for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. We all have our thoughts, but let’s turn to FOX Sports soccer analyst Stu Holden on how he thinks the USA could line up for the World Cup: Matt Freese has solidified his spot as the starting goalkeeper since last summer after a stellar showing at the 2025 Gold Cup. The NYCFC keeper looks to be the favorite for Pochettino and has the inside track over 2022 World Cup starter Matt Turner or other veteran options. But what about the defensive backline? That’s where things get interesting amid debate about whether the team is better suited with three defenders or a more traditional four-man look. Holden predicts a three-man lineup with Alex Freeman (newly signed to Spanish side Villarreal), Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards, and 38-year-old Tim Ream. “If you look at my back three, the thing I love about this lineup is it has a lot of flexibility. We’ve seen Pochettino play with four in the back, three in the back. He likes to build out with four. … But don’t get lost in the semantics of how the formation looks because that changes in and out of possession,” Holden said. Flanking those three as wing-backs are Antonee “Jedi” Robinson and Tim Weah. It’s been encouraging for USA supporters to see Jedi return to Fulham amid a knee injury that kept him out for most of the season. Opposite to him is Weah, whose versatility may give him the inside edge over Sergiño Dest at the moment. “Antonee Robinson is back and healthy, so great to see. I’m going to have him in the left wing-back position,” Holden said. “And then on the other side is Tim Weah, who’s been playing really well for Marseille. I like that he can get up, get back defensively. But also, with his speed, he’s a threat for opponents.” Who does Pochettino lean on in the midfield? That will depend on if Tyler Adams, who has been out of action for his club Bournemouth due to an MCL injury, can get back into the mix. If so, Holden has him paired up with Lyon’s Tanner Tessmann, a surprising choice over all-everything midfielder Weston McKennie. “[Midfield] is where it gets a little bit iffy. Tyler Adams, if we get him back and healthy, I love him in the middle of the field. But next to Tanner Tessmann – I love his size, his passing from that position. And maybe I thought about putting McKennie there, but if you’ve watched McKennie recently, man, the guy’s playing like a striker, scoring goals, assisting.” That means Holden has McKennie, who has been in incredible form for Juventus, further up in the attack alongside scoring threats Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun. “I love that little triangle the three of them can form. But also I’ve seen with McKennie, a little bit of flexibility, a little bit of freedom. You’re starting to see the best of him and man, the guy can score some goals and make some stuff happen.” Pulisic has battled some lingering injuries with AC Milan of late, but he’ll be a surefire starter in the summer for the USA. Balogun, now in his second full season at Monaco, will have some stiff competition from PSV’s Ricardo Pepi, currently nursing a broken arm and was on the verge of a move to Fulham. And don’t sleep on a pair of English Championship strikers in Patrick Agyemang (Derby County) and Haji Wright (Conventry City) who have been on fire lately. “Balogun is still up front. And then Christian Pulisic, I like him being on the left, cutting inside, can also get in and out,” Holden said. “This formation, for me, is a team that I would feel really confident about rolling out game one against Paraguay and getting the win.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports