The Seattle Seahawks won against the Los Angeles Rams with a score of 31-27, earning a spot in the Super Bowl for the first time since 2015. Russell Wilson, a former Seahawks quarterback, shared support for current quarterback Sam Darnold and encouraged him ahead of the big game against the New England Patriots.
Key Facts
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship Game.
The Seahawks will play in their first Super Bowl since 2015.
None of the current Seahawks players were on the team during their last Super Bowl appearance.
Russell Wilson, who played for the Seahawks for 10 seasons, supported current quarterback Sam Darnold online.
The Seahawks will face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Russell Wilson praised Sam Darnold's progress over the last two years.
The Seahawks have one of the top defenses in the NFL this year.
On ESPN's "First Take," Stephen A. Smith suggested that Ryan Clark should have been interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coaching job. His remarks surprised many, including Clark himself, and led to widespread criticism online. The Steelers recently hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach.
Key Facts
Stephen A. Smith is a commentator on ESPN known for making bold statements.
On January 26th, during "First Take," Smith suggested that Ryan Clark should be interviewed for the Steelers' head coaching position.
Ryan Clark was surprised by the suggestion and displayed a shocked reaction on camera.
There was significant online backlash, with many commenters disagreeing with Smith's opinion.
The Pittsburgh Steelers recently hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach.
Ryan Clark played 13 seasons in the NFL, eight of them with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Clark has no prior coaching experience, which is typically considered important for head coaching roles.
Before the Steelers announced their new hire, former quarterback Philip Rivers was also considered for a head coaching position but withdrew from consideration.
WWE Women's Champion Jade Cargill expressed concern about a possible wardrobe malfunction during wrestling matches, worrying it might lead to being fired. She relies on her hairstylist to maintain her look, which is crucial for her image in the ring.
Key Facts
Jade Cargill is the current WWE Women's Champion.
She is concerned that a wig malfunction during a match could cost her job.
Cargill relies on her hairstylist, Shanaé B., who travels with her to maintain her look.
Maintaining her hair color and style is an expensive but necessary part of her brand.
Cargill explains that fans may not understand the complexities of keeping a wig secure during matches.
She has not defended her wrestling title since winning it in late 2025.
Houston Astros player Jose Altuve will not play for Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic because his team asked him not to. This decision follows his thumb injury in the previous tournament in 2023. Despite his absence, Team Venezuela has other strong players lined up.
Key Facts
Jose Altuve plays for the Houston Astros and is a nine-time All-Star.
He will not play for Team Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Astros requested Altuve not to participate after he injured his thumb in the 2023 tournament.
In past tournaments, Altuve showed varying performance statistics, with a .214 batting average in 2023.
Altuve expressed his wish to play for Venezuela, citing it as an honor to represent his country.
Team Venezuela's potential roster includes players like Ronald Acuna Jr. and Salvador Perez.
Team Venezuela has made it out of pool play in the last two tournaments.
They face teams like the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands in the 2026 tournament.
Sam Darnold will not participate in the Pro Bowl due to his role in the upcoming Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Jared Goff, a former Super Bowl quarterback, will replace Darnold in the Pro Bowl. Goff is familiar with the area where the Pro Bowl events will take place near his hometown in California.
Key Facts
Sam Darnold is preparing to start in the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.
This Super Bowl marks a historic moment as Darnold is the first USC Trojan to start as a quarterback in this event.
Jared Goff will replace Sam Darnold in the Pro Bowl.
This is Jared Goff's fifth Pro Bowl appearance and his third with the Detroit Lions.
Goff played his first two Pro Bowls with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Pro Bowl and Super Bowl events are both held in California, close to Goff's hometown.
Drake Maye, of the New England Patriots, broke the record for being the second-youngest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl.
The Houston Astros have signed 26-year-old catcher Freuddy Batista, who previously played with the Seattle Mariners for eight seasons. Batista showed strong performance in his recent season and opted for free agency in November prior to joining the Astros.
Key Facts
The Astros acquired catcher Freuddy Batista on January 16.
Batista spent the last eight years with the Seattle Mariners.
He played a total of 445 games for the Mariners.
Batista had a strong offensive season, with a .928 OPS in 67 games.
He chose free agency in November before signing with the Astros.
Batista has hit 54 home runs and accumulated 261 RBIs in his career.
He has also played in the Dominican Winter League but in a limited capacity.
The Astros aim to strengthen their catcher lineup after losing Victor Caratini to free agency.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are working to enhance their team for the next season. They have already signed two top players and might trade for CJ Abrams from the Washington Nationals. Abrams is a talented young player and could fit well in the Dodgers' lineup.
Key Facts
The Dodgers are aiming for their third consecutive championship next season.
They have signed Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker, top free agent players, this offseason.
CJ Abrams, a 25-year-old All-Star from the Washington Nationals, might be traded to the Dodgers.
Abrams is under contract with his current team until 2028.
Abrams has achieved 57 home runs over the past three seasons.
The Dodgers are considering Abrams for a second base position, despite his defensive challenges at shortstop.
If the Dodgers acquire Abrams, it could affect the playing time of other players like Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is a key player for the New York Yankees, known for his strong performance last season. He is entering a contract year, and there is talk of extending his contract to keep him with the team. Chisholm expressed a desire to remain with the Yankees, but negotiations could require a significant financial commitment.
Key Facts
Jazz Chisholm Jr. plays for the New York Yankees.
He had 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases last season.
Chisholm is one year away from becoming a free agent.
There is discussion about extending his contract this spring.
The Yankees do not usually give contract extensions, but Chisholm might be an exception.
Chisholm wants to stay with the Yankees and loves playing in New York.
Financially, any contract extension might be similar to Willy Adames' $182 million deal.
A contract for Chisholm could exceed $150 million.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been added to the Pro Bowl roster as a replacement. Sanders is the first Cleveland Browns quarterback to make the Pro Bowl since 2008. He had a challenging rookie season but showed potential, leading to consideration for a starting role next year.
Key Facts
Shedeur Sanders is a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
Sanders was added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster as a replacement.
Three originally selected Pro Bowl quarterbacks are unavailable due to the Super Bowl or injuries.
Sanders is the first Browns quarterback in the Pro Bowl since 2008.
He was drafted in the fifth round of the NFL draft, despite expectations of a first-round pick.
In his rookie season, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and had ten interceptions.
He ranked 41st out of 42 quarterbacks in passer rating for the 2025 season.
Sanders showed potential despite a challenging environment and may compete for a starting spot next year.
Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, who played for the Baltimore Orioles last season, is now a free agent again. He wants to sign with another Major League Baseball (MLB) team instead of returning to Japan, where he played for 12 years.
Key Facts
Tomoyuki Sugano is a pitcher from Japan.
He joined the Baltimore Orioles for the 2024 MLB season.
Before MLB, Sugano played 12 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan.
Sugano was very successful in Japan, winning several awards.
His earned run average (ERA) was 1.67 in Japan in 2024 and 4.64 in MLB last season.
Sugano has stated that he is not interested in returning to play in Japan.
He is looking for offers from other MLB teams for the upcoming season.
Sugano's walk percentage last season was very low, meaning he rarely gave batters free bases.
The San Francisco Giants have signed 31-year-old Harrison Bader to a two-year contract. Bader, known for his strong defense, played for the Philadelphia Phillies last season.
Key Facts
Harrison Bader signed with the San Francisco Giants for two years.
Bader is 31 years old.
Last season, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Bader has also played for teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Minnesota Twins.
Over his career, he has hit 88 home runs and stolen 105 bases.
Bader won a Gold Glove Award in 2021 for his defensive skills.
He achieved career highs in several batting statistics last year.
A cap worn by Don Bradman, a famous Australian cricket player, during a 1947-48 series against India has sold for a record A$460,000 (about £232,000) at auction. The cap will be displayed in an Australian museum.
Key Facts
Don Bradman wore the "baggy green" cap during a cricket series against India in 1947-48.
The cap sold for A$460,000 at auction, setting a record for the highest price paid for a cap worn by Bradman.
Bradman gave the cap to Indian cricketer Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni, whose family kept it for 75 years.
The cap has inscriptions with both Bradman's and Sohoni's names on the inside.
Bradman's Test batting average of 99.94 is the highest in the sport's history.
The auction included a 16.5% buyer's premium, bringing the total amount to A$535,900.
The cap will be displayed in an Australian museum by its anonymous buyer.
The previous record for a Bradman cap was set in 2024, selling for A$479,700.
The Los Angeles Rams, led by coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford, lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, ending their chance at the Super Bowl. Following the loss, McVay reacted strongly when asked about Stafford's potential retirement, emphasizing Stafford's MVP status. Stafford's future with the Rams remains uncertain, though reports suggest he wants to continue playing.
Key Facts
The Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game.
Matthew Stafford, the Rams' quarterback, was involved in the closing moments but the team lost.
Sean McVay responded sharply to questions about Stafford's retirement, highlighting Stafford's MVP status.
The game saw a critical error by the Rams' punt returner contributing to the loss.
Reports before the game indicated Stafford wants to play for the Rams next year, but his future is unclear after the loss.
Coach McVay said they were focused on the present during the season, not planning for the future yet.
Indiana University's football team won its first national championship recently. After the victory, their star wide receiver, Omar Cooper Jr., announced he will enter the 2026 NFL draft instead of playing his final college season. Cooper was a key player, leading the team in receiving during the championship game.
Key Facts
Indiana University's football team won its first national championship.
They beat the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Omar Cooper Jr., a top player, announced he will enter the 2026 NFL draft.
Cooper decided to skip his final college season.
He had 69 catches, 937 yards, and 13 touchdowns in the 2025 season.
Cooper made a significant impact in the championship game with 71 receiving yards.
The Phoenix Suns face challenges as both Devin Booker and Jalen Green suffer injuries, impacting the team's performance. Booker injured his ankle during a game against the Atlanta Hawks, while Green re-aggravated a previous hamstring injury. These setbacks mean the team will play upcoming games without its starting backcourt.
Key Facts
Devin Booker injured his right ankle in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Booker is expected to miss at least one week and will be re-evaluated later.
Booker was leading the Suns in points and assists this season.
Jalen Green re-injured his right hamstring shortly after returning from a long absence.
Green had only played two games after missing 33 games due to his hamstring.
Head coach Jordan Ott provided an update, indicating no new issues with Green's MRI.
The Suns will play their next games without their key players, relying on other squad members.
The Baltimore Ravens hired Jesse Minter as their new head coach after parting ways with John Harbaugh. There is uncertainty about the future of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who may explore opportunities with other teams after his contract ends in two years.
Key Facts
The Ravens missed the playoffs after losing their final regular-season game to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
John Harbaugh, the former head coach, will now lead the New York Giants.
Jesse Minter, previously with the Los Angeles Chargers, is the new head coach for the Ravens.
Lamar Jackson, the Ravens' quarterback, has two years remaining on his current contract.
Jackson has not commented publicly on the team's decision to hire a defensive-minded head coach.
There is speculation that Jackson may leave the Ravens in 2026 when he becomes a free agent.
Jackson has won two MVP awards and several division titles with the Ravens but has not played in a Super Bowl.
Teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins might be interested in Jackson if he chooses to leave.
The Philadelphia Eagles are having a hard time finding a new offensive coordinator. Several candidates, including Declan Doyle from the Chicago Bears, have turned down the job. The Eagles are considering other candidates to fill the position.
Key Facts
The Philadelphia Eagles are looking for a new offensive coordinator after firing Kevin Patullo.
The Eagles have been rejected by several candidates for the position.
Mike McDaniel, Bobby Slowik, Zac Robinson, and Arthur Smith chose other positions over the Eagles job.
Charlie Weis Jr. also declined the position to stay at LSU.
Declan Doyle, the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator, decided to stay with the Bears.
The Eagles' offense struggled in 2025, ranking in the lower half with less than 200 yards and just over 20 points per game.
The Eagles are now considering Brian Daboll, Jim Bob Cooter, and Matt Nagy as potential candidates for the role.
In Chelsea's 3-1 win against Crystal Palace, a debated penalty was given after a video review. The referee decided to award the penalty even though some believed the arm position of Palace defender Jaydee Canvot did not fit the criteria for a handball offense based on current football rules.
Key Facts
The debate involved a penalty awarded to Chelsea in their match against Crystal Palace.
Referee Darren England watched video replays before deciding on the penalty.
Palace defender Jaydee Canvot blocked a shot with his arm, which was by his side.
VAR official Matt Donohue argued it should be a penalty, saying the arm stopped a goal.
The International Football Association Board (Ifab) states that not all handballs stopping goals are penalties.
A recent rule change clarified how handball offenses relate to goal-scoring opportunities.
The decision to give a penalty was controversial and may be reviewed by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel.
An inquest determined repeated heading of a football likely contributed to the brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), in former footballer Gordon McQueen, who died in 2023. McQueen's career involved frequent head impacts, and these impacts were found to be a significant factor in the development of his CTE and his eventual death from pneumonia, vascular dementia, and CTE.
Key Facts
Gordon McQueen was a footballer who played for Scotland and several clubs, including Manchester United.
McQueen was diagnosed with vascular dementia and died in 2023 at age 70.
An inquest found that repeated heading of the football likely led to his brain disease, CTE.
CTE and vascular dementia contributed significantly to McQueen's death.
A coroner found that head impacts in McQueen’s career contributed to his brain condition.
CTE symptoms include cognitive decline and behavioral changes.
Defenders in football, who head the ball often, have a higher risk of developing CTE than goalkeepers.
The Philadelphia 76ers will play against the Charlotte Hornets without Joel Embiid and Paul George, who are both missing due to knee management issues. The players are being rested as a precaution because the team has a game against the Milwaukee Bucks the next day.
Key Facts
The Philadelphia 76ers will face the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center.
Joel Embiid will not play due to left knee injury management.
Embiid appeared healthy in a recent game but is being rested to prepare for a back-to-back game schedule.
Paul George is also not playing due to knee issues.
This is George’s twentieth game missed this season because of his knee injury.
The 76ers game against the Hornets is scheduled for Monday at 3:00 p.m. EST.
