Bears vs. Rams, Williams vs. Stafford, McVay vs. Johnson. Who will head to Seattle for the NFC Championship? Game picks from @danwiederer.bsky.social, @danpompei.bsky.social, Greenberg, @nateatkins.bsky.social, @jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social and me, plus a key matchup, fun facts and more

Ben Johnson has engineered comebacks better than he’s explained them. That’s no fault of his because no one can explain what’s happened. My column on a season like no other. www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

From roughly when John Elway was the first of five quarterbacks chosen in the first round of the 1983 draft, the NFL has been called a quarterback league. But these days, it’s becoming a quarterback league in a different way. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

Kyle Shanahan is 8-4 in the postseason, with two wins in each of his four trips. The Niners are tied for third-most playoff wins since he arrived, behind only the Chiefs (17) and Eagles (10). Can he lead a flawed 49ers team to a win Sunday? ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

With 162 games behind him as a head coach, Sean McDermott is seeing things he couldn’t before. I wrote about how the head coach of the Bills has gotten here, and where he hopes to go.

I wrote about how struggles have shaped a former head coach who may be getting opportunities again soon. www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

Even Coles' closest friends didn't understand why he would choose to become a cop at age 47. The reasons date to his childhood. ✍️ @danpompei.bsky.social shares his story:

Everything Laveranues Coles has been through has prepared him to change lives. And if he can change lives, maybe he can help restore faith in an institution. I wrote for @theathletic about a wide receiver turned cop. www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

You could call Case Keenum the Bears’ No. 3 quarterback. But he’s really more of a fun uncle to Caleb Williams and others. I wrote about his one of kind football career for @theathletic. www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

More from @danpompei.bsky.social on Gallery's perseverance and journey after retirement: www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Robert Gallery went from wanting to obliterate defenders to wanting to kill himself. Now he's trying to save people like him. My story on an incredible journey. www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Robert Gallery went from wanting to obliterate defenders to wanting to kill himself. Now he's trying to save people like him. My story on an incredible journey. www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

👊

Thank you Allen

Thank you Richard. 🙏

John Abraham has lofty desires — he wants to be in the HOF. And he has humble aspirations — he hopes his daughters are not embarrassed by him. And if by some grace they could be proud of him, his suffering would have been worth it. I wrote about an incredible journey. www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Jerry Jones does things his way — for better or worse. But he's not the only owner to take this tactic. George Halas and Al Davis can relate. http://dlvr.it/TMndF2

Jerry Jones is transparent. He’ll answer all questions and is more available than any owner of anything in the history of everything. That makes him different from most. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

Bobby Wagner, 35, and Jayden Daniels, 24, don’t seem to go together any more than yesterday goes with tomorrow. But like yesterday and tomorrow, one lays the foundation for the other. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

To understand why Bucs GM Jason Licht doesn't draft "a-holes and douchebags," we have to know who he is. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/653...

The reality is, in the history of football heroes, there might not be a more unlikely one than Jake Bates. My story on the nearly unbelievable journey of the Lions kicker. www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...

When Les Snead drafted Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in the 2024 draft, he was trying to win football games, not produce a Disney movie. He might have done both. My story on a unique alliance. www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...

When Les Snead drafted Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in the 2024 draft, he was trying to win football games, not produce a Disney movie. He might have done both. My story on a unique alliance. www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...

In a league often devoid of sentimentality, one player-coach bond is unlike any other. I wrote about a rising star running back and an 86 year old legend. www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

James Harrison once lived like he played -- without brakes. Then he became a father. Then he started wondering what his purpose was. My story on what time has done to the man they called "Deebo." www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

Some play for money. Some play for glory. Some play for ego. Chris Godwin plays for others. I wrote about why the wide receiver took less -- much less to stay in Tampa. www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

Their bond as Michigan Wolverines began to form 25 years ago. It grew while winning a Super Bowl in Tampa. And now TomBrady is one of the main reasons John Spytek is GM of the Raiders. My story on a relationship that helped make NFL history. www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

The world said goodbye to Virginia Halas McCaskey this week. I tried to explain what she meant to it. www.nytimes.com/athletic/613...

She grew up waiting for Don Hutson to retire. She died waiting for Aaron Rodgers to retire. My story on a life like no other, a wonderful life. www.nytimes.com/athletic/324...

How should we measure the greatness of Andy Reid? By comparing him to coaches like Bill Belichick, Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Mike Holmgren and John Madden. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...

The college all-star game played Saturday in Mobile, Ala., is called the Senior Bowl, but the game between the Chiefs and Eagles a week from Sunday in New Orleans could be called the Senior Citizen Bowl. My story on older coaches having a moment. www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...

This football season Teddy Bridgewater made his debut as a high school coach, won a state championship and then tried to win a Super Bowl as the Lions' backup quarterback. What he really did was give hope to all he touched. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/607...

Why is a tear trickling down Trey Smith's cheek as the national anthem plays? If you knew how he got here, you'd understand. My story on the player who might soon become the highest paid guard in history. www.nytimes.com/athletic/604...

Think you know Mike Vrabel? My profile from a few years back. www.nytimes.com/athletic/280...

It's the end of an era today as the great Mark Bowen steps down as team physician of the Bears after treating everyone from Steve McMichael to Caleb Williams in a 33 year run. If everyone on the team performed like Bowen, the Bears would have several more Lombardis in their trophy case.

Kyle Van Noy has the fourth most sacks in the NFL, and his 11 hard seasons could be a case study in how the league fails to take advantage of players’ gifts. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/602...

Deion Sanders has led the 9-3 Buffs to the Alamo Bowl this weekend. Did anyone see it coming back when he was doing the Deion Shuffle? The answers may surprise you, as they did me. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/596...

As the Bears embark on yet another head coaching search, they should consider their history. My column. www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...

It’s a debate amongst NFL fans. And it’s possible no player has ever engendered a wider spectrum of emotions from his team’s fans. Eli Manning and the Hall of Fame argument that may never go away ⤵️

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, Eli Manning, who friends call "Easy," has handled it all in stride. And now, the Pro Football Hall of Fame debate. My profile is here. www.nytimes.com/athletic/598...

The NFL’s best athlete was made in Samoa, but Penei Sewell is a perfect fit in the Motor City. Just ask head coach Dan Campbell. "Calling him a cornerstone piece is selling him short. He's the slab under it all." @danpompei.bsky.social has more ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/592...

In Detroit, Penei Sewell is 6,700 miles from his home. But sometimes, it's as if he never left the Samoan village of Malaeimi. My story on his journey to becoming the best right tackle in the NFL. www.nytimes.com/athletic/592...

In Detroit, Penei Sewell is 6,700 miles from his home. But sometimes, it's as if he never left the Samoan village of Malaeimi. My story on his journey to becoming the best right tackle in the NFL. www.nytimes.com/athletic/592...

Top takeaways from NFL Week 13 action: What should Ravens do with Justin Tucker? Have Eagles pulled even with Lions? Are the Chargers contenders? www.nytimes.com/athletic/596...

One Thanksgiving week, the Harbaugh brothers staged a "wives' wingspan competition." Tonight, the quest for dominance continues. My story on a fascinating rivalry. www.nytimes.com/athletic/571...