The Raiders have added a veteran presence to their QB room in Kirk Cousins. Here's more on how Cousins will fit with Aidan O'Connell and (most likely) future No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

NFLPA executive director JC Tretter opposed the use of replacement refs in a joint statement released today with the referees' union. “If player safety truly matters, trained professional officials on the field are not negotiable.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Five NFL rule changes approved in Phoenix: 3 involve kickoffs, but most notable is a change geared toward preparing for an NFLRA work stoppage and the use of replacement refs in 2026 www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

More on all the NFL rule changes that were approved Tuesday during the annual league meeting, via @jaynabardahl.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Negotiations between the NFL and referees union for a new CBA have grown contentious over the past week. I sought to answer: • What are the sticking points? • How does the NFL find officials? • What happened during the last referee work stoppage? www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

The NFL Referees Association provided this statement yesterday regarding ongoing CBA negotiations with the league. www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

The NFL will kick off the 2026 season on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the home of the Super Bowl LX champion Seahawks. 49ers-Rams in Melbourne, Australia, will be on Thursday. www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

A rule proposal on the table at next week's NFL owners meetings is focused on preparing for the possible need for replacement officials in 2026. The league and NFL Referees Association are still negotiating a new CBA. www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams filed four new trademark applications on Monday, including for both the name “Iceman” and a new logo using the nickname. www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

Commonly bemoaned by athletes as a lengthy and rigorous process, what exactly does an NFL physical entail? I spoke with a former NFL team physician to learn more. www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Tyler Linderbaum was asked how he's handled the drama between his former team and new team this week. "Obviously would love Maxx to be here and play with him. I've gone against him; he's not fun to go against. ... Just his ability to lead a team is pretty special." www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Trey Hendrickson has passed his physical and signed his deal with the Baltimore Ravens. A formality? Normally. Important this week? Yes. www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

The Seahawks do not plan on franchise-tagging Ken Walker, meaning the reigning Super Bowl MVP is set to become a free agent www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Carson Beck talks about his formal interview with the Miami Dolphins. Beck just led the Miami Hurricanes to the CFP title game after transferring from Georgia. www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Quarterback Drew Allar on where he's at in his recovery after a broken ankle ended his season at Penn State in October. He also said he will throw at the combine, but not participate in other drills. www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Fernando Mendoza updated his LinkedIn after leading Indiana to its first national championship. So, from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, it wasn’t surprising to hear him bluntly declare his job status. “Right now, I’m unemployed,” he said. www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Titans GM Mike Borgonzi gave some thoughts on the top three edge prospects in this year's class: Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain Jr. & David Bailey. Tennessee has the fourth pick. "They bring a little bit different flavor."

Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort said "all options are on the table," regarding the QB situation for 2026. "We've got (Murray), (Brissett) and (Slovis) all under contract. ... We're going to look at every avenue to improve, and we're going to continue to go through our process."

Projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza won't throw at the Scouting Combine. So, I asked @theathletic.com draft expert Dane Brugler for other players to watch during drills this week in Indy. www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Live updates from coach, GM availability at the NFL Scouting Combine today www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

The NFL's two-week franchise tag window opened today. Here's what it means and the top players who might get tagged. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

The Seahawks' season-opener as defending champs and 49ers-Rams in Melbourne will split games on Wednesday and Thursday in Week 1. The reigning SB champs usually get to open the season, but travel logistics may result in the Melbourne game being played first.

The NFL will kick off the 2026 season on a Wednesday. This was expected, a league source clarified to me. With Labor Day falling on Sept. 7, the league can't host a Friday Week 1 game (due to the Sports Broadcasting Act). www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

What an amazing experience covering Super Bowl LX for The Athletic. All of the stories are here, including my review of the $180 burger ... www.nytimes.com/athletic/aut...

I spoke to Ken Walker's college RBs coach to learn more about what motivates Walker and why the Seahawks' starting back has largely avoided the spotlight entering Super Bowl LX with a contract discussion on deck. www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

NFL executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent said the league will discuss the tush push in the offseason after a year in which the officiating of the play was under fire. www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

What's it like behind the scenes of the Super Bowl halftime show? I asked camera operators to tell me stories from their POV. “I’ve had people ask me, ‘How did they do that rain effect?’ No, it was raining." “We had never thought, ‘Oh, what if Usher falls?’” www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

We're one week away from Super Bowl LX! Here's a deeper look at the makings of the halftime show, and this year's selection of Bad Bunny as headliner. www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Kevin Ortiz embarked on a journey this year to attend a home game for every NFL team. He never attended an NFL game before this season. He’s traveling to each game completely alone. And he’s doing it all in his wheelchair. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Kevin Ortiz made it to every NFL stadium this season. His goal? To highlight wheelchair accessibility in each of them. “What’s crazy is once I put it out there, everybody said, ‘You can do it.’"

In 2007, Mike Flynt set out to right a regret that had haunted him since he first was a college player. He brought national attention to Division III Sul Ross by becoming the oldest college football linebacker in NCAA history at 59 years old. www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Travis Kelce detailed the 'frustrating' collision that sent Xavier Worthy out of the game against the Chargers. "I just got to be better, man. I’m 13 years in the league, there’s no excuse for me running into my own guys like that.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Chargers Teair Tart was not ejected for this because the hit was open-handed. But the decision is drawing plenty of attention with the NFL supposedly cracking down on unsportsmanlike actions this season. www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

Worthy has now been ruled out for the rest of the game.

The Chargers lead the Chiefs 10-0 early in the second quarter. Live updates from @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Xavier Worthy is questionable to return with a shoulder injury. He collided with Travis Kelce on the Chiefs' opening drive. www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

Tonight's Chiefs-Chargers game will be free to watch on YouTube. Here's what you need to know: www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

Last year's Brazil game drew criticism over the slick field conditions. The NFL invested in a renovation of the turf at Corinthians Arena to increase traction ahead of tonight's matchup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

NFL average ticket prices for the 2025 season via StubHub Eagles, Lions, Packers, Raiders, Bears among top five most expensive, all average over $400 a piece www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell may have dropped an Easter egg as to who the next Super Bowl halftime performer could be during an interview on “Today.” “We would always love to have Taylor play.”

Six of the NFL's 15 full-time female coaches are working in strength departments. Who are they? And how did they find their fit in the weight room? Big thanks to these coaches for sharing their stories with me. www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...

Rome Odunze knows what's ahead of him entering his second NFL season. “I can now play the game freely in a way that I know where I need to be when I need to be there," he said at minicamp last week. More on his offseason development: www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

News out of NFL league meetings: • New onside kick rule allows teams to declare onside kick at any time they are trailing, not just the fourth quarter. • Detroit withdraws its proposal to reseed the playoffs. www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

For two decades, Howard Katz has been at the center of each year’s NFL schedule. He’s the unknown planner behind every NFL fan’s fall Sundays. And Wednesday will mark his final football masterpiece ahead of retirement. http://dlvr.it/TKkz1D

Details on the NFL 2025 international schedule: • Vikings travel to Dublin, London in back-to-back weeks. • Game in São Paulo, Brazil, with the Los Angeles Chargers as the designated home team, is still to be announced. www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Tom Brady said he texted Shedeur Sanders after the former Colorado quarterback's slide in the NFL Draft. Brady, a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, also said he was not involved in any evaluation processes involving Sanders. www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

The deadline for NFL teams to exercise the fifth-year option on 2022 first-round draft picks is Thursday. Here's where each player stands, including Drake London, Aidan Hutchinson, Derek Stingley Jr. and others. www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

Shedeur Sanders will — at best — be the sixth quarterback off the board. His slide has turned into a free fall entering Day 3. www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

The second round is complete. Shedeur Sanders is still waiting. Three QBs have been selected so far (Cam Ward, No. 1 to Titans; Jaxson Dart, No. 25 to Giants; Tyler Shough, No. 4 to Saints). www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

Deion Sanders posted a video on Instagram of Shedeur responding to his Day 1 slide. "We all didn't expect this but I feel like with God anything is possible. ... This is fuel to the fire. ... Tomorrow's the day. We're going to be happy regardless." www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...