PYN MAG

Subscribe to Football 301

Apple Podcasts|Spotify|YouTube

Next, Nate reveals his latest first-round mock draft and dives deep into his favorite player-team fits, prospects to watch and more. Nate breaks down why he mocked Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders, RB Jeremiyah Love to the Kansas City Chiefs, Denzel Boston to the Los Angeles Rams and more.

(3:00) - Browns hire HC Todd Monken

(18:30) - Chargers hire OC Mike McDaniel

(31:20) - Other coaching cycle news

Advertisement

(47:50) - 2026 NFL Mock Draft picks 1-10

(56:50) - 2026 NFL Mock Draft picks 11-20

(1:05:30) - 2026 NFL Mock Draft picks 21-32

🖥️Watch thisfull episode on YouTube

full episode on YouTube

LPGA Tour Golf

Hataoka played the back nine at chilly Lake Nona Golf & Country in 4 under to pick up where she left off at the end of last season. She won the Japan Classic in a playoff with Yuna Araki in November for her first LPGA victory in nearly three years.

Thitikul is coming off not just her best season but one of the best in LGPA history.

She won the the Tour Championship in November for her third win of the year, finished second at The Evian Championship and fourth at the Women's PGA Championship, and the Thai star ended up with the lowest scoring averaging in the tour's 75-year history.

Thitikul had six birdies and a bogey Thursday to once again climb the leaderboard in a tournament open to LPGA winners from the past two seasons. Wannasaen had seven birdies during her round of 67, Grant birdied her last two holes to match them at 5 under, and Woad reached 6 under before a bogey at the par-4 finishing hole dropped her back.

Advertisement

Nelly Korda was joined by Amy Yang and Linn Grant another shot back.

The highlight for Korda, who finished second at the Tournament of Champions last year, came on the 406-yard, par-4 seventh. Her approach from the middle of the fairway bounced onto the green, rolled toward the hole and bounced off the flagstick, leaving her a tap-in birdie. Korda eventually reached 6 under before a couple of late bogeys left her with a round of 68.

Defending champion A Lim Kim was in a group at 3 under that included Lydia Ko and Ingrid Lindblad.

AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

ThePhiladelphia Eagleshave hiredGreen Bay Packersquarterbacks coach Sean Mannion to be their offensive coordinator, the team announced Thursday.

Mannion, 33, fills a pressing play-calling void after theEaglesfired Kevin Patullo, who served in the coordinator role for just one season after being promoted.

"It was quickly apparent in meeting with Sean that he is a bright young coach with a tremendous future ahead of him in this league," said Eagles coach Nick Siriann in a statement. "I was impressed by his systematic views on offensive football and his strategic approach. Sean's 11 years in the NFL have provided him a great opportunity to learn from and grow alongside some of the best coaches in the game. As a result, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to our team moving forward.

Advertisement

The Eagles spoke with several notable candidates for the position, including former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll – who waslater hired as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator– and former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Ultimately, however, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni opted for a candidate with just two years of coaching experience – and none with play-calling responsibilities.

Mannion joined the Packers' staff as an offensive assistant in 2024 before being promoted prior to last season. A third-round pick out of Oregon State in 2014, he was a longtime backup for the Rams, Vikings and Seahawks before retiring in 2023 and moving directly into coaching.

In Philadelphia, he'll look to re-establish an offense that floundered throughout Philadelphia's unfulfilled bid for a Super Bowl repeat. The Eagles ranked 19th in scoring and 24th in total offense for their lowest finishes in Sirianni's five-year tenure.

2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Eagles hire Sean Mannion for crucial offensive coordinator job

WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday the U.S. was decertifying Bombardier Global Express business jets and threatened 50% import tariffs on other aircraft made in Canada until the country certified a ​number of planes produced by U.S. rival Gulfstream.

"Further, Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through ‌this very same certification process," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a ‌50% Tariff on any and all aircraft sold into the United States of America."

It was unclear what planes beyond Bombardier's Global Express franchise would fall under Trump's increased tariffs, including the Airbus A220 commercial jets made in Canada.

FlightRadar24 said on X there were more than 400 Canadian-made planes operating to and from U.S. airports as of about 0100 GMT on Friday.

Data provider Cirium said there were 150 Global Express aircraft in service registered in the ⁠U.S., operated by 115 operators.

Bombardier, General Dynamics-owned Gulfstream and ‌Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's office did not immediately respond when asked for comment.

Trump said Canada has refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 jets. In April, the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union ‍Aviation Safety Agency certified the Gulfstream G800 jet. Transport Canada, which is responsible for Canadian certification, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

It was unclear how Trump would decertify the planes since that is the job of the Federal Aviation Administration, but he has made similar declarations in the past that were ​ultimately carried out, often with exemptions, by relevant agencies.

It was also not clear if the Federal Aviation Administration could revoke certifications for ‌planes based on economic reasons or what that would mean for American owners of the planes and whether that would prevent them from operating in the United States. The FAA can revoke an airplane's certification for safety reasons. The FAA declined immediate comment.

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Under global aviation rules the country where an aircraft is designed - the U.S. in Gulfstream's case - is responsible for primary certification known as a type certificate, vouching for the design's safety.

Other countries typically validate the decision of the primary regulator, allowing the plane into their airspace, but have the right to refuse or ask ⁠for more data. Following the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, European regulators delayed endorsement ​of some U.S. certification decisions and pressed for further design changes, sparking tensions with ​the FAA.

As part of continuing U.S.-Canada tensions, Carney on Tuesday denied he had retracted comments that irritated Trump, and said almost nothing was normal in the United States.

Carney, citing U.S. trade policy, last week urged nations to accept the ‍end of the rules-based global order ⁠that Washington had once championed. Due to U.S. tariffs on key Canadian imports, Carney is pushing to diversify trade away from the United States, which takes around 70% of all Canadian exports under terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade deal.

The FAA in December ⁠certified Bombardier's Global 8000 business jet, the world's fastest civilian plane since the Concorde with a top speed of Mach 0.95, or about 729 mph (1,173 kph). It was ‌certified by Transport Canada on November 5.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto, David Shepardson and Jasper Ward in Washington, Allison ‌Lampert in Montreal and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Jamie Freed)

The Florida Division of Emergency Management confirmed Thursday that the most recent incident at the former Baker Correctional Institution in northeast Florida occurred on Christmas Eve.

"Several detainees refused orders to return to their bunks and began advancing on staff," officials said in a statement. "One detainee became violent, striking an officer, so chemical agents were released to restore safety to detainees and guards."

The confrontation came nearly two months after an Oct. 29 incident, when detainees attempted to barricade themselves inside their housing unit while inciting violence and causing significant damage, officials said. Guards eventually used pepper spray to regain control. No injuries were reported, and everyone involved was medically cleared in an abundance of caution, officials said.

The northeast Florida facility is the second immigration detention center opened by the state of Florida, following "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Florida Everglades earlier last summer. The state is awaiting approval from federal officials to open a third immigration detention center in the Florida Panhandle and is also looking into a potential fourth detention facility in South Florida,Gov. Ron DeSantisannounced earlier this month.

DeSantis has said that there had been 10,000 arrests of people in the U.S. illegally in Florida during the past year through a state initiative with federal law enforcement, and that local law enforcement had made an additional 10,000 arrests for a total of 20,000 arrests. Under the state initiative, 63% of those arrested had a criminal arrest or conviction, DeSantis said.

Advertisement

Florida has led other states in constructing facilities to support President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, with DeSantis saying the Trump administration needs the additional capacity to hold and deport more immigrants. The Trump administration has trumpeted theRepublican governors' effortsto expand their immigration detention capacity, calling Florida's partnershipa modelfor other state-run holding facilities.

Attorneys for detainees at the Everglades facility have called the conditions deplorable, writing in court documents that rainwater floods their tents and officers go cell-to-cell pressuring detainees to sign voluntary removal orders before they're allowed to consult their attorneys.

Three federal lawsuits in Florida have challenged practices at the Everglades facility.

In one, detainees asked for the facility to be closed since immigration is a federal issue and agencies and private contractors hired by the state lack authority to operate it under federal law. That lawsuit ended this month after the immigrant detainee who filed the case agreed to be deported.

In a second lawsuit, detainees were seeking a ruling that would ensure that they have access toconfidential communicationswith their attorneys.

In the third lawsuit, a federal judge in Miami last summerordered the Everglades facilityto wind down operations over two months because officials had failed to do a review of the detention center's environmental impact. But an appellate court panel put that decision on hold for the time being, allowing the facility to stay open.

After the deaths of at leasteight peoplein connection to ICE since the start of the year – including the high-profile killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis – activists are demanding the permanent removal of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from towns and cities across the US.

For the first action on Friday, organizers, led by several student groups at the University of Minnesota, are calling for a "national shutdown", which means: "No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE." The "blackout" day, which many online are referring to as a "general strike", is an effort to "shut down the economy", organizers say.

On Saturday, organizers, led by the national grassroots organization 50501, will stage an "ICE Out of Everywhere National Day of Action", which will include a variety of protests, demonstrations, and vigils, in all50 states and Washington DC.

Related:The federal agents deployed in Trump's immigration crackdown – visualized

Why organizers are calling for a strike and 'ICE Out' protests

Across both days, organizers are calling for justice for the people detained by ICE and those killed at the hands of ICE or while in ICE custody. This includes cases that haven't gained widespread attention, such as 55-year-old Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos, who was killed while in ICE custody at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, on 3 January, ICE'sdetention of five-year-old Liam Ramosin Minnesota this month as he returned home from school, and the ICE shooting of 43-year-old Keith Porter Jr in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve.

Saturday's protests come amid growing national anger over the ICE killings of Good and Pretti in Minneapolis that were captured on video earlier this month. Polling this week from YouGov found that opposition to ICE has increased from earlier this month, with more Americanssupporting than opposingabolishing ICE.

"We are responding to people's outrage. We've seen the Overton window shifting," said Gloriann Sahay, a national coordinator with 50501. "We're seeing people from typically non-political spectrums get involved in this conversation and say: 'This doesn't feel like America.'"

The actions build onlast weekend's mass mobilizationin Minneapolis, in which hundreds of businesses closed and thousands of people took to the streets on 23 January as part of a general strike to protest against the local immigration enforcement surge.

This week, news of the national strike spread far and wide on social media. Celebrities shared support, including singer Ariana Grande, who shared an infographic about the strike to her Instagram story and actor Pedro Pascal, who posted drawings of Pretti and Good on Instagram with the caption:"Pretti Good reason for a national strike."

What the strike and protests will look like

The two days of protest will draw on a variety of strategies, organizers told the Guardian. On Friday, student groups, including the Somali Student Association, Black Student Union and Graduate Labor Union at the University of Minnesota, will lead walkouts in the state and are asking their peers across the country to do the same. "Students are always at the heart of movements for justice across the world," the organizationswrote in a statement online. "We demand ICE out for good!"

The walkouts will be followed by protests on Saturday. 50501 is calling for protests at ICE detention facilities and field offices and for airport protests that target airlines transporting ICE detainees, including Global Crossing Airlines and World Atlantic Airlines, and at the offices of US members of Congress who back ICE.

The group has also announced plans to challenge Democratic lawmakers who have recently voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or to expand ICE's authority. Organizers say they are tracking votes related to immigration enforcement and intend to support primary challengers against incumbents they describe as "pro-ICE". Among the lawmakers named in the campaign are representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi of New York, Jared Golden of Maine, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

Advertisement

Organizers are calling on Congress to block DHS funding until ICE is dismantled and to pass legislation ending federal cooperation with local law enforcement. Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat,demanded Republicans agreeto new restrictions on ICE, including requiring agents to wear body cameras and no masks, before they would sign a bill to fund the DHS on Thursday to avert a partial government shutdown.

In Florida, organizers plan to continue holding vigils for people being detained and killed by ICE,protesting at Alligator Alcatraz, the south Florida immigration detention facility, and at the Sarasota school board to fight arecently passed resolutionthat calls for schools to cooperate with ICE. "Rapid response is not new to Florida," said Sarah Parker, a Tampa-based national coordinator with 50501. "We have the infrastructure, we have the will, and we are not giving up."

Other anti-ICE actions organizers are calling for

Beyond street protests, 50501 is also rolling out a series of pressure campaigns to disrupt what it sees as the infrastructure supporting immigration enforcement.

One of the most prominent is the "No Housing for ICE" campaign, which urges hotels to stop providing accommodations to ICE, CBP and DHS agents during operations. People are encouraged to call hotels, leave negative online reviews, organize demonstrations outside properties' housing agents, and book and cancel reservations to disrupt their ability to do business. The campaign follows previous actions in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and other cities, in which people have banged pots outside the hotel where ICE agents had checked in.

Another initiative, called "#DontServeICE", will target local businesses, restaurants, gas stations and retailers. Through social media and consumer boycotts, the movement wants to persuade businesses to refuse service to ICE agents in their communities.

The campaign also calls on chambers of commerce and business associations to adopt non-cooperation pledges and encourages consumers to boycottcompanies that have ties to ICE operations.

Free DC, a Washington DC organization supporting the Day of Action, plans to protest at all of the city's Target locations on 31 January. After ICEviolently detained Target employeesin a Minneapolis-area store earlier this month, activistscalled for a renewed boycottof the corporation. On virtual calls on 26 January, with more than 1,100 supporters, organizers said Target was just one corporation of many that they plan to boycott and pressure to take a stand against ICE.

Why protests are growing across the US

The protests reflect a broader and intensifying national struggle over immigration enforcement, police accountability and the role of federal agencies in local communities. Over the past decade, following family separations at the US-Mexico border and reports of human rights violations at detention facilities, ICE has been afocus for activistscalling forabolitionor significant reform and oversight.

In the past year, protests against ICE have intensified and spread across the country as communities and advocacy groups fight aggressive raids, deportations, racial profiling and deadly force at the hands of agents.

Related:Protests against ICE violence in Minneapolis – in pictures

Demonstrations erupted in major cities, includingLos Angeles,New York City,Portland, andChicago, with organizers staging rallies, marches, sit-ins, vigils, and strikes to draw attention to federal immigration policies and enforcement actions. Protests have also appeared in smaller cities such asMilwaukeeandOklahoma City, where hundreds of people have rallied against ICE operations and policy decisions. In the past month, thousands of people in Minneapolis marched through subzero temperatures to protest against a federal immigration enforcement surge and the deaths of Good and Pretti, among many others.

Saturday's actions are not an endpoint but part of a sustained campaign, 50501 told the Guardian. After the National Day of Action, the group plans to participate in an "Impeach Trump National Day of Lobbying" on 17 February. Organizers say they are committed to continuing their campaign until their demands have been met.

"The temperature has drastically changed," Sahay said. "It has increased from a burning fire to an inferno and I hope that people who have never taken up the call before come out for their neighbors and for the fabric of America."

Allen underwent surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal in his right foot Monday. The operation likely will require an eight-to-10-week recovery time for the 2024 NFL MVP, who said he aggravated the injury in Buffalo's 23-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 21.

The injury impacted Allen the following week in a 13-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and he later added right finger and left knee injuries when the Bills beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Despite hobbling around Thursday, Allen said he would be under center if the team were still playing.

"I'm not even lying, if we had a game this week, I would figure it out to play the game," he said. "It's a little painful right now. But it wasn't a crazy surgery. So, not too long. OTAs, I'll be back and it shouldn't hinder anything."

Allen, 29, also threw his support behind team management and Brady, his former offensive coordinator and now head coach.

Brady, 36, replaced Sean McDermott, who was fired after compiling a 98-50 record over nine seasons but failing to reach the Super Bowl.

"What I saw was an owner and a family that is doing everything they can to bring a Lombardi (Trophy) to Western New York," Allen said. "I saw a general manager (now team president of football operations Brandon Beane) that's as motivated as ever. ... I truly believe in the direction of this organization, starting at the top."

Brady spent the past four seasons on McDermott's staff. He was Allen's quarterbacks coach in 2022 and 2023 and added interim offensive coordinator duties in November 2023 after the firing of Ken Dorsey. He was promoted to the full-time OC job in 2024.

Now, Brady said he is ready to guide the Bills to new heights.

"I didn't take this job to shy away from expectations," Brady said Thursday. "I sure as hell did not do that.

"I'm embracing it. I'm understanding it. And I'm meeting it full on. I know what I signed up for and we're going to embrace it because no one rises to low expectations. I want what this city wants. I want what Mr. (Terry) Pegula deserves."

In 2025, Brady's Buffalo offense ranked fourth in the NFL in yards (376.3 per game) and points (28.3). In 2024, Allen won league MVP honors and the Bills became the first team in NFL history to score at least 30 rushing and 30 receiving touchdowns in a single season.

Brady first grabbed headlines in 2019 as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach during LSU's 15-0 run to the national championship. He won the Broyles Award as the top assistant in college football for his work with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

--Field Level Media

Poor weather last weekend forced thepostponementof two scheduled Sunday games: Dallas at Milwaukee and Detroit at Memphis.

The Nuggets-Grizzlies game has been rescheduled for March 18, while the Mavericks-Bucks game now will take place March 31.

The dates have been changed for two other upcoming games to accommodate the weather-related schedule shifts. Memphis will host Dallas on March 12 rather than April 1. A Grizzlies home game with the New York Knicks will be April 1 instead of March 18.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

"I actually made it in '23 as well when I was in San Francisco," Darnold said, alluding to his one-season stint as the 49ers' backup. The response drew some laughs.

He continued by crediting Seattle's defense and his offensive teammates, and all the work they've put in from OTAs to now.

There's no doubt a top-flight Seahawks defense that allowed the fewest points per game this season keyed Seattle's run, and by extension Darnold's success. Butthere's no denying Darnold's remarkable turnaround, either, even if he's too humble to illustrate it at the podium.

He's the fourth quarterback in NFL history to guide two different franchises to 14-win seasons. The others: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Jared Goff.

Now, playing for his fifth team, Darnold is about to start in a Super Bowl, two years removed from watching one on the sideline with no telling if he'd start in any kind of game again.

How did we get here?

Let's rewind to 2018, when Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson heard their names called (in that order) in the first round of a memorable draft, and chart how their NFL careers have gone to this point.

2018 NFL season

No. 1 overall: Baker Mayfield (Browns)

The Cleveland Browns drafted Mayfield No. 1 overall out of Oklahoma, where he won the Heisman Trophy. By Week 3, Mayfield's number was called. He stepped in for an injured Tyrod Taylor and delivered the Browns' first win in 635 days — against Darnold's Jets. Mayfield jolted Cleveland, but that spark wasn't enough to save the job of head coach Hue Jackson. Cleveland's 7-8-1 record was its best since 2007. Mayfield's 27 touchdown passes went down as a rookie record.

No. 3 overall: Sam Darnold (Jets)

Darnold landed with the New York Jets, who selected the USC quarterback No. 3 overall. Still 21 years (and 97 days) old,Darnold became the youngest QBto start a season opener since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. He threw a pick 6 on his first pass but ended up winning that first game. Darnold's first season was a roller coaster. He tossed three touchdowns in two games and was picked off at least three times in two others. He missed three games with a foot injury, and the Jets finished 4-12.

No. 7 overall: Josh Allen (Bills)

The Buffalo Bills traded up five spots to draft Allen No. 7 overall out of Wyoming, taking a big swing on the cannon-armed dual threat who once was an unknown JUCO quarterback. Allen started the season backing up Nathan Peterman, but after Peterman posted a 0.0 passer rating in Week 1, Allen got the nod. He didn't relinquish the keys to the offense, although an elbow injury cost him four games. Ultimately, he completed just 52.8% of his passes, and the Bills went 6-10, however, his team-leading 631 yards on the ground turned heads.

No. 10 overall: Josh Rosen (Cardinals)

Rosen went to the Arizona Cardinals as the 10th pick in the draft, and he quickly announced that"there were nine mistakes"made ahead of him. That didn't age well. Granted, the UCLA quarterback was thrust into a beyond-dysfunctional offense that season, but he threw 11 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in 13 starts and clocked out with a 66.7 passer rating. The Cardinals fired head coach Steve Wilks after the season and hired Kliff Kingsbury before drafting Kyler Murray No. 1 overall the following year. Rosen was traded to the Miami Dolphins, benched three games into the following season and never started in the NFL again.

No. 32 overall: Lamar Jackson (Ravens)

The Baltimore Ravens traded back into the first round and used the last pick of Day 1 to scoop up Jackson, who, despite winning the Heisman Trophy at Louisville, fell in Round 1 because of concerns about his passing ability. A midseason hip injury to Joe Flacco opened the window for Jackson. Head coach John Harbaugh stuck with the rookie when Flacco healed up. In Jackson's first seven regular-season starts, he posted a 6-1 record and logged 556 rushing yards. When he struggled in a wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Harbaugh didn't return to Flacco.

2019 NFL season

Baker Mayfield, Browns slip up under big expectations

The Browns traded for Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason and received plenty of hype. Mayfield became the first Browns quarterback since Tim Couch to start 16 games in a season. Despite the franchise finally finding continuity under center, his sophomore campaign was a disappointment. He threw 21 interceptions, and the Browns regressed to 6-10.

Sam Darnold 'sees ghosts'

Darnold went viral for the wrong reasons during his second NFL season. He was diagnosed with mononucleosis,leading to this memeand a three-game absence. Then, during the first half of a 33-0 loss to the New England Patriots, the "Monday Night Football" broadcast captured a soundbite of a strugglingDarnold admitting he was "seeing ghosts."But the Jets won six of their final eight games, and Darnold posted a 13:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio in that span.

Josh Allen leads Bills back to playoffs

Although Allen increased his completion percentage to 58.8%, he ranked last among qualifying quarterbacks in that category for the second straight season. That said, he doubled his touchdown pass total and led five game-winning drives. He brought the Bills back to the playoffs, except they suffered an overtime loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.

Lamar Jackson wins his first NFL MVP

Jackson won the first of his two NFL MVP awards. He piled up 43 touchdowns — 36 through the air and 7 on the ground — and rushed for 1,206 yards, the most a quarterback has ever picked up with his legs in a single season. The Ravens secured the AFC's No. 1 seed at 14-2. Baltimore went one-and-done again, though, bowing out to the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs.

2020 NFL season

Baker Mayfield leads Browns to winning record, playoff win over Steelers

With a win over the Titans — one in which Mayfield authored four first-half touchdown passes — the Browns improved to 9-3, guaranteeing their first winning season in 13 years. After ending a 17-year playoff drought, the Browns took down their rival Pittsburgh Steelers in wild-card competition. The win was Cleveland's first in the playoffs since the 1994 campaign. A fumble-turned-touchback doomed the Browns against the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round, but Kevin Stefanski's first season as head coach was a breakthrough.

Sam Darnold's time as Jets starter comes to an end

The Jets took a massive step back in Darnold's third and final season as the team's starter. Riddled by injuries, they started 0-13 and wound up 2-14, including 2-10 with Darnold under center. He missed four games with an AC joint sprain, and he tallied more than 250 passing yards just once all season. New York's 15.2 points per game were a league worst that season.

Josh Allen's career takes off

Allen's completion percentage rocketed up to an eyebrow-raising 69.2% in Year 3. He threw 37 touchdown passes and ran for eight more scores. Allen even caught a touchdown, too. He was runner-up for NFL MVP, and his 13-3 Bills were runner-up in the AFC, falling in the conference title game to the Chiefs. But first, they swept the Tom Brady-less Patriots and, for the first time since 1995, won the AFC East.

Lamar Jackson wins first playoff game

For the second straight season, Jackson eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground.No NFL quarterback had reached that rushing milestone twice before. Jackson also notched his first playoff win in the wild-card round against the Titans. But the Ravens suffered a divisional-round exit to Allen's Bills in a defensive battle that banged up Jackson.

Advertisement

2021 NFL season

Baker Mayfield's time in Cleveland ends in drama- and injury-plagued fashion

Mayfield labored through a torn labrum on his non-throwing shoulder —an injury that eventually required surgery— and had to navigate Odell Beckham Jr. drama, which saw the star receiver's dadpost an Instagram video and several comments that appeared to disparage Mayfielddays beforeBeckham was released by the Browns. Mayfield dealt with a horde of outside noise, including questions about his job security,and even death threatsas Cleveland trudged toward an 8-9 record. Whileit initially appeared as if the Browns would stick with Mayfield for the 2022 season, they pursued Deshaun Watson.

Sam Darnold traded to Panthers

Leading up to the draft,the Jets sent Darnold to the Carolina Panthersin exchange for a 2021 sixth-round pick, as well as second- and fourth-round picks in 2022. He got some immediate payback, defeating Zach Wilson and the Jets in the season opener. Darnold piloted Carolina to a 3-0 record andrushed for five touchdowns in his first four games. Except, after the Panthers' hot start was extinguished,a fractured scapula in Darnold's throwing shoulder caused him to miss five games. That led toCam Newton's brief return. Darnold didn't win another start that season.

Josh Allen becomes highest-paid QB in NFL history, but 13 seconds doom Bills

Allensigned a six-year contract extension with Buffalobefore the start of a season that saw the Bills fend off Mac Jones and the Patriots for the second of their five straight AFC East crowns. Allen emerged as an MVP favorite,particularly after he beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. But he was up and down in the back half of the regular season. In the playoffs, though, he delivered his A game. Allen thumped the Patriots in a wild-card rout and then threw for 329 yards and four more touchdowns versus the Chiefs in a divisional-round classic. That is, beforeMahomes engineered a game-tying drive in the final 13 seconds of regulationand a game-winning drive in overtime.

Lamar Jackson battles health issues amid worst season as full-time starter

Jackson's worst statistical seasonincluded back issuesanda non-COVID illness, and that campaign ended with him sidelined by an ankle injury. His 3.4% interception rate was, and still is, the highest of his career. He was sacked 38 times and rushed for just two touchdowns. Early on, Baltimore strung together a five-game win streak,which featured a 19-point comeback and a banner day from Jackson against the Indianapolis Colts, but the Ravens eventually missed the playoffs at 8-9.

2022 NFL season

Baker Mayfield traded to Panthers, then spends key time with Rams

With the writing on the wall about his Browns future, Mayfield thanked Cleveland and, soon after,demanded a trade. In the summer, he got one — to the Panthers, who still had Darnold. Mayfield's time in Carolina was short-lived, though. In fact, he wasreleased just five monthsafter he was traded there. Later in the season, he spent acareer-reviving five-game stretch with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams.That proved significant.

Sam Darnold loses QB battle to Baker Mayfield, season ends in sputtering fashion

Following Mayfield's arrival in Carolinaand what the Panthers at least described as a quarterback competition, Darnold was relegated to backup status. Darnold began the season on IR due to a high ankle sprain he sustained in the preseason finale. By late November, well after head coach Matt Rhule was fired,Darnold was back under center, replacing Mayfield, whom the Panthers soon released. Darnold went 4-2 as Carolina's starter under interim coach Steve Wilks, but the Panthers missed the playoffs and moved on from Darnold in the offseason.

Josh Allen dominates in regular season again, but Bills stumble in divisional round

Allen beat the Chiefs in the regular season (again), orchestrateda 21-second game-winning drive versus a pesky Detroit Lions teamand laterput on a fourth-quarter clinic to top the Dolphins. Allen recorded at least 4,000 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns for the third consecutive season. That said, in a seasonBuffalo ultimately played for Damar Hamlin, the 13-3 Bills fell to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Lamar Jackson's late season knee injury kicks up contract extension drama

Aknee injury lingeredfor Jackson and ended up sidelining him for the Ravens' final six games, including the playoffs. Yes, Baltimore still made the postseason at 10-7, but lost in the wild-card round to the Bengals. Jackson played the season on the final year of his rookie deal, betting on himself afterhe and the Ravens failed to reach terms on a contract extension.That made for an eventful offseason (see below).

2023 NFL season

Baker Mayfield replaces Tom Brady as Bucs starter, helps win division and playoff game

After Tom Brady finally retired,the Buccaneers signed Mayfield. He beat out Kyle Trask for the starting job, and he didn't give it up. Mayfield continued his resurgence in Tampa Bay, throwing 28 touchdowns and only 10 picks as the Buccaneers maintained their hold over the NFC South. Theyeven unraveled a reeling Philadelphia Eagles team in the playoffsand gave a storybook Lions squad a fight in the divisional round.

Sam Darnold begins career rejuvenation — as a 49ers backup

Darnold agreed to a one-year deal with the 49ersandearned the QB2 job. Although Darnold started only one game — while the 49ers rested starters ahead of a run to the Super Bowl — he developed in Kyle Shanahan's offense, and that proved important in future seasons.

Josh Allen, Bills finally get playoff home game against Chiefs … and lose again

A season marred by inconsistency on offense led tothe firing of OC Ken Dorsey. Joe Brady replaced Dorsey as Buffalo's play-caller, getting the bump from his role as quarterbacks coach and restoring balance to a unit that needed more from its run game. The Bills followed through down the stretch. Allen was a big part, naturally, rushing for eight touchdowns as Buffalo ended the season 6-1 with another division title under its belt. That helped the Bills earn home-field advantage over the rival Chiefs in the divisional round … but theyended up losing to Kansas City, again.

Lamar Jackson delivers second MVP campaign after offseason contract drama

Jackson's contract dispute got worse. He publicly announced thathe had requested a trade in March, but in April the standstill endedwith Jackson signing a five-year deal. He repaid Baltimore with his second MVP season. Jackson piled up 24 passing touchdowns, ran for five additional scores and totaled 4,499 scrimmage yards. The Ravens grabbed the top seed in the AFC again after going 13-4. Butthey ultimately lost at home in the AFC title game to the Chiefs, who were on the verge of their third Super Bowl ring in five years.

2024 NFL season

Baker Mayfield finally secures big payday and has career year

Mayfield scored a three-year, $100 million extension with the Buccaneersand backed that up with the best season of his career. He tossed a career-high 41 touchdowns against 16 picks to go along with his 4,500 yards through the air. Mayfield also rushed for 24 first downs, then a career high, and three scores. He led Tampa Bay to its fourth NFC South title in a row. He endeared himself to his teammates and fans with his fearless play,even in a wild-card loss to the Washington Commanders.

Sam Darnold's renaissance hits overdrive in Minnesota, but questions linger

The Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year deal in March, and then took former Michigan star J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick in the 2024 draft. But whenMcCarthy underwent season-ending surgeryto repair a torn meniscus, Darnold was up for a full season of work. He made the most of it, throwing 35 touchdown passes and guided the Vikings to 14 wins and back to the postseason. But a rough final two games ofa special season, culminating in a wild-card faceplant versus the Rams,begged the question if Darnold's success was sustainable.

Josh Allen wins first MVP award, but guess who beats Bills in playoffs

Now it was Allen's turn to finally win MVP. He posted an impressive 28-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, accompanied by a dozen rushing scores. Allen finished strong, throwing, catching and running for touchdownsin the snow against the 49ers,scoring six touchdownsagainst the Ramsand continuing his superhero waysversus the Lions.In the playoffs, the Bills crushed the Broncos and squeaked by the Ravens to reach the AFC title game. That's whereMahomes and the Chiefs denied them once more.

Lamar Jackson has another MVP-level season

Jackson reallycould have won MVP, too. He was surgical. In fact, Jackson led the NFL in touchdown percentage, just as he did in 2019. He accounted for 45 total touchdowns, 41 of them through the air, and he threw a mere four interceptions. Plus, he rushed for 915 yards. With running back Derrick Henry also in the backfield, the Ravens ranked third in the league in points per game. They were top 10 in scoring defense as well. Butanother agonizing playoff defeatthrew a wrench in a potential Super Bowl run.

2025 NFL season

Baker Mayfield's Bucs capsize, setting up important offseason

Despite injuries to key playmakers, Mayfield engineered a 5-1 start,effectively announcing himself as an MVP candidate. But the Buccaneers capsized in the back half of the season. Following back-to-back losses to start November,Mayfield suffered an injuryto his non-throwing shoulder during a third straight defeat. Hejuggled more injuries down the road, and Tampa Bay missed the playoffs,losing a division tiebreakerafter beating the Panthers in Week 18. Now it feels like Mayfield is looking at more competition in the Bucs' QB room this offseason, at the very least.

Sam Darnold has Super Bowl season after signing with Seattle

Darnold signed a three-year deal with the Seahawks reportedly worth $100.5 millionafter the Vikings let him walk. Darnold was QB1 after Seattle traded Geno Smith right after he got there, and he spearheaded an offensive revamp under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. En route to Darnold's second straight Pro Bowl, he threw for 25 touchdowns and 4,048 yards,establishing an impressive rapport with league-leading receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Additionally, the Seahawks cracked the top 10 in rushing yards per game. They won an NFC West that featured three playoff teams, including the Rams, whom Seattle took down in the conference title game this past weekend. Now they face thePatriots in Super Bowl LXon Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif.

Josh Allen's Bills take steps backward, which prompts coaching shakeup

Buffalo's offense was streaky. The Bills had the NFL's leading rusher in James Cook. At times, they were unstoppable in the second half, hence some surprising comebacks, likethe one against the Ravensandthe one against the Patriots. But a defense that struggled against the run, a limited receiver room and, ultimately,five turnovers in a divisional-round loss to the Broncosdid Buffalo in.Sean McDermott was firedafter leading the Bills to seven double-digit-win campaigns in nine seasons at the helm, andJoe Brady was promoted to head coachfrom his position as offensive coordinator.

Lamar Jackson battles more injuries, enters new era with Jesse Minter as head coach

Say Jackson's list of 2025 injuries 10 times fast, and you have a new take on the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." This season, the dual-threat quarterback was hampered by hamstring, knee, toe, ankle and back injuries. His hamstring setback forced him to miss three games. He was one of several Ravens banged up at the time, as Baltimore slumped to a 1-5 start. Huntley got Baltimore back on track, and Jackson returned toput his team in position to win the AFC North, but he was never quite right. The Ravens blew fourth-quarter leads to the Patriots and Steelers and missed the playoffs. After 18 seasons as head coach,John Harbaugh was fired, and the Ravens hired Chargers defensive coordinator (and former Baltimore assistant)Jesse Minter as the next head coach.

Advertisement

The agreement will see the Department of Homeland Security funding bill separated from a package of five other bills. Programs funded by the five-bill package will be funded until the end of September. DHS will be funded for two additional weeks to allow lawmakers to negotiate on other provisions in the package.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Immigration Enforcement Minnesota

The manarrested for Tuesday's attack, Anthony Kazmierczak, faces a charge of forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Omar, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Authorities determined that the substance was water and apple cider vinegar, according to an affidavit. After Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with the liquid, he appeared to say, "She's not resigning. You're splitting Minnesotans apart," the affidavit says. Authorities also say that Kazmierczak told a close associate several years ago that "somebody should kill" Omar, court documents say.

Kazmierczak appeared briefly in federal court Thursday afternoon. His attorney, Jean Brandl, told the judge her client was unmedicated at the time of the incident and has not had access to the medications he needs to treat Parkinson's disease and other serious conditions he suffers from.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster ordered that Kazmierczak remain in custody and told officials he needs to see a nurse when he is transferred to the Sherburne County Jail.

Kazmierczak also faces state charges in Hennepin County for terroristic threats and fifth-degree assault, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday.

"This was a disturbing assault on Rep. Omar, who is frequently the target of vilifying language by fellow elected officials and members of the public," Moriarty said. "The trust of our community in the federal government keeping politics out of public safety has been eroded by their actions. A state-level conviction is not subject to a presidential pardon now or in the future."

The attack came during a perilous political moment in Minneapolis, wheretwo people have been fatally shotby federal agents during the White House's aggressive immigration crackdown.

Kazmierczak has a criminal history and has made online posts supportive of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Omar,a refugee from Somalia, has long been a fixture of Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric. After she was elected seven years ago, Trump said she should"go back" to her country. He recentlydescribed her as "garbage"and said she should be investigated. During a speech in Iowa earlier this week, shortly before Omar was attacked, he said immigrants need to be proud of the United States — "not like Ilhan Omar."

Omar blamed Trump on Wednesday for threats to her safety.

Advertisement

"Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket," Omar told reporters.

Trump accused Omar of staging the attack, telling ABC News, "She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her."

Kazmierczak was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989, has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence and has had numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. There are also indications he has had significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.

In social media posts, Kazmierczak criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as "angry and liars." Trump "wants the US is stronger and more prosperous," he wrote. "Stop other countries from stealing from us."

In another post, Kazmierczak asked, "When will descendants of slaves pay restitution to Union soldiers' families for freeing them/dying for them, and not sending them back to Africa?"

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol bya mob of Trump supportersbefore dipping slightly, only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Officials said they investigated nearly 15,000 "concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed against Members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex" in 2025.

Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed.

Follow the AP's coverage of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar athttps://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar.

A 17-year-old boy in Benton, Arkansas died on Jan. 24 after he collided with a tree while being pulled on a sled by an all-terrain vehicle, according to a Saline County Sheriff's Office news release obtained by USA TODAY.

The next day, two 16-year-old girls died in Frisco, Texas, a Dallas suburb, after their sled, pulled by a Jeep Wrangler, also struck a tree, according to Facebook posts made by the Frisco Police Department.

And on Jan. 27, an 11-year-old boy was reported dead after a sledding incident in Staunton, Virginia,The News Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

As of Jan. 29, at least 81 deaths have been reported that are thought to be related to the winter storm or successive freezing temperatures, according to research by USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network.

Snow, ice and freezing rain plummeted much of the country between Jan. 23 and Jan. 26. Now, meteorologists are forecastinganother winter stormto strike the East Coast on Saturday, Jan. 31, moving across the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday, Feb. 1, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center said on Jan. 27. Meteorologists, however, do not expect the upcoming storm to be near the size of last week's.

Winter weather:US cities face dangerous temps, prolonged outages

Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A major winter storm is forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to tens of millions of Americans across two dozen states starting on Friday and continuing into the weekend.
See here, Keith Wilson, of Milwaukee, walks with frozen eyelashes down East State Street in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 2026. The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch across Wisconsin with windchills between 30 and 40 below zero.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Joe Gegelbach loads his trunk with ice melt at the Home Depot as he potential winter storm Evansville, Ind., Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Orangetown Highway Department crews load salt on snow plows in preparation for the snow storm at their facility in Orangeburg, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos

Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Awinter stormbrought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.

Two similar sledding incidents in one weekend

On Saturday, Jan. 24, Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a serious injury involving a 17-year-old boy who had struck a tree while being pulled on a sled by an ATV, the news release states. Emergency responders provided immediate medical assistance, however the boy succumbed to his injuries on site. The incident remains under investigation by the Saline County Sheriff's Office.

Advertisement

A similar incident happened a day later in Texas.

At around 2:26 p.m. local time on Jan. 25, the Frisco Police Department responded to a call involving a sledding crash. The 16-year-old girls were transported to local hospitals following the incident, and both succumbed to their injuries, the department shared in a series of Facebook posts.

In aFacebook postmade on Jan. 28, the Frisco Police Department clarified that there has been no indication of alcohol involvement by the involved teens.

The incident remains an open investigation with assistance from the Denton County District Attorney's Office. The Frisco Police Department cannot share the girls' names because they are minors.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Frisco Police Department at 972-292-6010. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by texting FRISCOPD to 847411 or via the Frisco PD mobile app.

How to stay safe while sledding this winter

TheNational Safety CouncilandNationwide Children's Hospitaloffer the following advice for staying safe while sledding this winter:

• Make sure all sledding equipment is in good condition, without sharp edges and cracks.

• Ideally, sleds with steering and hand brake features are best, as they allow for more control than flat sheets, snow discs or innertubes.

• For extra protection, wear a snow sports, multi-sport or bicycle helmet.

• Sled on spacious, gently-slopped hills with a level run-off so the sled can easily stop.

• Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, like rocks, fences or poles.

• Do not sled on or around frozen lakes, streams or ponds.

• Sit on top of the sled with feet pointing downhill. Never sled head first.

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her atgcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Sledding accidents lead to 4 children dying, authorities say