When the NFL planned its slate of Christmas Day games, it was expecting a showcase of playoff-bound teams led by marquee quarterbacks. It’s getting something much different. So who are the backup quarterbacks starting on Christmas Day?

For years, Timberwolves fans were caught in the middle of a messy divorce between the team and Kevin Garnett. But Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez finally delivered the long-awaited reconciliation. "It was crystal clear that was one of the most impactful things we could do."

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he apologized to Draymond Green after a heated argument on Monday that saw Green leave the bench for the majority of the third quarter. "Over the 12 years we’ve been together, this has happened occasionally, and I’m not proud of it.”

James Nnaji, the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has committed to Baylor 👀 He has been granted four years of eligibility and becomes available immediately.

The NBA has turned Christmas into an all-day event — even LeBron feels the pull between work and family. Is the league overdoing it?

A lawyer for Heat guard Terry Rozier asked a court judge to dismiss the federal government’s case against him after prosecutors charged him as part of an expansive sports gambling indictment. He argues that the crimes they alleged are governed by state law. www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

Five NBA games are on the menu this Christmas. That’s a lot of basketball. In fact, it’s too much basketball. The NBA and NFL are dreaming of a green Christmas. Never mind the TV overload. Think of all the people working them. www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

British climber Oscar Onley has signed for INEOS Grenadiers in one of the biggest transfers of the cycling offseason so far. 📝 @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social 🔗 theathletic.com/6917014/?sou...

The Thunder have lost four games this season. Two were by the Spurs.

COOPER THE HOOPER. ◻️ 33 PTS ◻️ 14/21 FG ◻️ 4/6 3-PT ◻️ 9 REB ◻️ 9 AST The Dallas Mavericks rookie turned 19 years old two days ago.

Ben Simmons has purchased an ownership stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a team in the Sports Fishing Championship, the league announced Tuesday. He now serves as the team’s controlling operator.

As winners of the Boca Raton Bowl, Louisville celebrated by eating baked beans out of the trophy 🫘🏆 Only in college football...

DK Metcalf has an appeal hearing Tuesday regarding his altercation with a Lions fan during Sunday’s game. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin declined to discuss specifics until the appeal is decided, but emphasized his support for his WR.

A new era is starting in the NHL, and there’s plenty for hockey fans to be excited about in the year ahead. The ‘Quinnesota era’ is one of them.

Is there a Steph Curry without Steve Kerr? The Warriors coach gives his take on The Athletic Show, live now on Amazon Fire TV. 📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKkj...

“Ethical basketball” was born as a talking point in an ideological battle waged online for years now. It’s an ode to a straight-up version of the game most people grew up playing. And now, it’s a movement that Victor Wembanyama, a student of the game, is preaching to the masses.

Cameron Boozer is on pace to become the first Division I player in 40 years to average at least 23–10–4 😳

The NFL Pro Bowl rosters are here. 29 teams were represented in the selections, with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints left out of the mix.

The National Women’s Soccer League has introduced a roster mechanism to allow teams to pay certain players up to $1 million above the current salary cap.

Jake Chatzky (Jets Jake) is the director of social media for “New Heights,” the podcast featuring Jason and Travis Kelce. Before a Chiefs game in January, Chatzky walked into the Kelces’ suite and met Taylor Swift for the first time. She, somehow, already knew his name.

Trevor Lawrence is back in control. The Jaguars franchise quarterback is riding the hottest four-game stretch of his career.

What a year it’s been for women’s basketball in 2025 🏀 Let’s hand out some gifts (winners) and coal (losers) 🎁: http://dlvr.it/TPzNQp

Philip Rivers, in case you haven’t heard, is a father of 10 and grandpa of one. He’s packed on a few pounds around his midsection. And yet, this much is undeniable: The dude can still play.

Ten teams have already clinched playoff berths, but a lot remains up in the air after some crazy finishes in Week 16. With two weeks of the regular season remaining, the race for the top seed in each conference is still wide open.

Nikola Jokić didn’t show much emotion after leading the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship. However, when it comes to horses…

Despite the loss, Philip Rivers turned back the clock for the Colts in primetime 🔥 ◽️ 23/35 comp/att ◽️ 277 pass yards ◽️ 2 pass TD ◽️ 1 INT

BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa put up the first triple-double of his collegiate career. ◽️ 33 PTS ◽️ 10 REB ◽️ 10 AST ◽️ 11/13 FG

The last three 49ers QBs to throw 5+ TDs in a single game: ◽️ Brock Purdy ◽️ Steve Young ◽️ Joe Montana

With the Colts' loss, three teams officially punch their ticket to the NFL playoffs: ◽️ Jacksonville Jaguars ◽️ Los Angeles Chargers ◽️ Buffalo Bills

NEWS: The Kansas City Chiefs will be moving from Missouri to a domed stadium in Kansas in 2031, Gov. Laura Kelly confirmed.

Michael Jordan was likely the first NBA player to have his own private trainer. Now, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr tells @zenakeita.bsky.social that most of his roster does. Watch the full interview on The Athletic Show here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKkj...

NEWS: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is considered day to day after suffering a back injury in Sunday night’s loss to the Patriots. Following an MRI on Monday, coach John Harbaugh said Jackson had no damage beyond a “significant” back contusion. Details: www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

Winter is here. How’s your NBA team doing?

The Notre Dame-USC series will go on hiatus for at least the next two seasons after the schools failed to reach an agreement on a new deal to keep one of college football’s most historic intersectional rivalries active.

The Athletic spoke with more than 20 people, including current and former staff members, players, school officials and women who interacted with Sherrone Moore on social media, on the condition of anonymity so they could speak candidly about him.

For one of college football’s most polarizing programs, that path from red-hot title hopeful to first team out left a scar. “Getting snubbed, this hurt more than losing the national championship game, I can confidently say that.”

Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause Dec. 10, alleging “credible evidence” that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member. Interactions with women over social media shed light on Moore’s behind-the-scenes behavior.

The Jaguars were presumed to be headed for a spanking against the hottest team in football. Staring them in the face was a Broncos team that owned the NFL’s best record and hadn’t lost since the last day of summer.

Not even a month ago, the Steelers had lost five of seven games and fans were chanting to “Fire Tomlin.” Now, when you turn on sports talk radio or the network TV, they’re talking about how the Steelers could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.

Mike Vrabel inherited a four-win team. The New England Patriots were a mess. So, you’d think a playoff berth and a 12-3 record would elicit some well-deserved partying. Instead, the scene Sunday night felt like business as usual.

Drake Maye’s first 300+ yard passing game helped propel the Patriots to their 12th win and clinched New England a playoff spot 🔥 Is there a QB in the NFL who means more to his team right now than Maye?

Saturday’s blowouts reignited criticism of the CFP. But James Madison and Tulane aren’t the problem — the College Football Playoff structure is.

The 49ers haven’t even played in Week 16 yet, and they’re already in 🔥 Pittsburgh’s win over Detroit clinched San Francisco a playoff spot, with the Niners still in striking distance of the NFC’s top seed.

The Chicago Bears clinch a playoff spot, marking their first postseason appearance since the 2020-21 season.

Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, the nation’s leading scorer, notched her third 40-point game this season in a win over Kansas 🔥

The New York Jets made NFL history on Sunday, setting the record for most consecutive games without intercepting a pass (15). If they go two more weeks without one, they will set an unbreakable record: an entire season without a single interception 😳

DK Metcalf seemingly had an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan 😳

Texas A&M sweeps Kentucky to achieve their first women's volleyball national championship in school history 🏆

Justin Jefferson set the record for the most receptions by a player in their first six seasons in NFL history, passing Jarvis Landry 🔥 H/T NFLPlus on X

The Giants have had it rough this season. What will Week 17 hold?