At a loss for words, man. Howard was just the best.

You might've seen the headlines about the quadruple amputee cornhole player who was charged with murder. Colleague Shwetha Surendran and I took a deeper look -- at how two lives, and a decadelong friendship, unraveled: www.espn.com/espn/story/_...

Former Alabama State guard CJ Hines has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in the NCAA point-shaving case, per court records. Hines is the 6th defendant out of 26 total) to formally plead guilty in the case.

Kalshi hasn't listed a market on the Kentucky Derby. Polymarket did, then took it down last week -- apparently at Churchill Downs' request. Why prediction markets might be staying away from horse racing: www.espn.com/espn/betting...

News: Marves Fairley has agreed in writing to plead guilty in the NCAA point-shaving case, per court doc. He'll be sentenced in New York, where he's been charged in connection with the alleged NBA gambling scheme. www.espn.com/mens-college...

Excited to get rolling today as a reporter on ESPN's investigative team. Still based in D.C. Still looking for compelling stories from any corner of the sports world. Reach out with ideas, tips, leaks, docs, gossip — or just to say hi! Email: [email protected] Signal: tschad.12

Incredibly grateful. And thrilled to continue working with so many brilliant colleagues from The Post. Onward!

On diapers, writing and baseball — from a new dad who can’t believe how lucky he is: open.substack.com/pub/colleges...

The Athletic is hiring Barry Svrluga, Adam Kilgore, Candace Buckner, Ava Wallace, Spencer Nusbaum and Jason Murray www.nytco.com/press/the-at...

An aptly brilliant farewell from @barrysvrlugawp.bsky.social and WaPo Sports

There's no pressure in sports like Olympic figure skating pressure.

I have rebranded my free newsletter as By Jesse Dougherty. Consider it an open-ended thing, going with the post-layoff winds, starting ... uh ... now? More on that here. I'd love it if you subscribed (or stuck with it if you already do): collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/rebrand

Do you sometimes watch the Winter Olympics and think ... who even does these sports? We analyzed the locations of more than 2,500 training facilities for Winter Olympic sports. Check to see what's near you — and which sports are hard to find. wapo.st/4qlkAKf

Will Lewis’s exit is long overdue. His legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution. But it's not too late to save The Post. Jeff Bezos must immediately rescind these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.

🔥🔥🔥

“We had the best writers in the country and did more with less, and we knew it with a swagger.” Sally Jenkins pays tribute to The Washington Post’s Sports section:

The Washington Post is shuttering its Sports section. As an employee, this is gutting. As a longtime reader, it is devastating. So much of what I learned and admired about sports journalism came from reading The Post. Working there was a dream. Just wish it would've lasted more than 5 months.

Here’s our story on the gambler accused of orchestrating one of the biggest matchfixing schemes in US history.  @postsports.bsky.social has long delivered some of the best sports reporting out there. I’m grateful to contribute to that legacy. #SaveThePost wapo.st/4tv5Co7

I went to the college Excel championships in Vegas, spending three days with people who REALLY love competitive spreadsheeting. Come along. Here's how that looked, sounded and felt: washingtonpost.com/sports/interactive/2026/college-excel-spreadsheet-championships/?itid=sf_sports_toptable_1_0

Person familiar confirms the following #Commanders coaches will not be back in 2026: -- Defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons -- Asst. LB coach Ryan Kerrigan -- Asst. DL coach Sharrif Floyd -- Player development coach Pete Ohnegian @aaronwilsonnfl.bsky.social was first.

It is ridiculous that this has dragged on this long. But Jordan Chiles is one step closer to having the saga of her bronze medal from Paris resolved.

#SaveThePost, Jeff Bezos.

More on new #Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones: - First-time NFL DC, but with play-calling experience - Local guy (shoutout Bishop McNamara) - DB focus to complement Dan Quinn's expertise in DL Full story w/ @tashanreed.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

Jones will be a first-time NFL defensive coordinator. He's been with the Vikings since 2022 and most recently served as a DC with LSU in 2021.

The Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Daronte Jones as their next defensive coordinator, person familiar confirms. Believe ESPN was first.

Grew up reading @postsports.bsky.social section every morning with my cereal. It inspired me to go into journalism. It was a dream to start my career there and to learn by working around the very best. I still read it every day and it continues to produce incredible work. #SaveThePost

People ask me what my favorite part of working at The Post is and I often tell them my granddad. A native Washingtonian, he’s an avid sports fan. When I was hired in 2021, it was a full-circle moment for my family. Serving local readers like him is a privilege. #SaveThePost

Just wanted to take a minute, for no particular reason whatsoever, and celebrate some of the brilliant work that my @postsports.bsky.social colleagues have done in recent weeks. These stories take time and resources. They're also what make The Post so great. All gift links/free to read...

Late to the party on this one, but can confirm Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones is interviewing today for the Commanders' DC vacancy. NFL Network was first. Jones is the ninth known candidate for the gig, but two (Flores/Gannon) are no longer in play.

Videos verified by The New York Times show the man federal agents shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday was holding a phone, not a gun, before the agents took him to the ground and shot him. At least 10 shots appear to have been fired within five seconds. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Steelers DC Teryl Austin has interviewed for the Commanders' DC vacancy, person familiar confirms. @nickijhabvala.bsky.social was first. Won't find many candidates with more experience. Austin has spent 10 seasons as a DC in the NFL or college.

Breaking: FBI is investigating Colts owner Jim Irsay’s death & the doctor who oversaw his addition recovery treatment. In August, we reported that people close to Irsay were concerned about how much opioids & ketamine Dr. Harry Haroutunian was prescribing. wapo.st/4bIXfyv

Al Harris will interview for the Commanders' DC vacancy, person familiar confirms. ESPN first reported. Harris, who was on Dan Quinn's staff in Dallas, becomes the 6th known candidate for the gig. Joins Patrick Graham, Joe Cullen, Dennard Wilson, Karl Scott and Jonathan Gannon.

Indiana football compiled a .384 winning percentage in the 25 seasons before this one. No national champion performed worse during the stretch preceding its title, according to a Washington Post analysis.

Stapleton has been on staff since 2024. Played a big role in the development of RT Josh Conerly Jr. this year.

The #Commanders are promoting Darnell Stapleton to offensive line coach and Shane Toub to assistant offensive line coach, person familiar confirms. ESPN first reported. Stapleton spent last season as asst. OL coach, while Toub was quality control.

With Sean McDermott reportedly out in Buffalo, this is officially the most chaotic coaching cycle in decades. The NFL hasn't had 10 head coaching vacancies in a single offseason since 2006.* (*This excludes internal succession plans, such as Bowles replacing Arians in TB.)

More details and conceptual images of RFK 2.0, from a 35-page document that has been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission for review.

Another piece to the #Commanders coaching staff: Danny Etling is being hired as assistant QBs coach, person familiar confirms. @mzenitz.bsky.social first reported. Etling and OC David Blough were college teammates at Purdue in 2014. Will join D.J. Williams in the QB room.

FWIW: My understanding is the ancillary buildings in the renderings are basically placeholders. Those buildings will be parking garages, retail space, etc. but the design could change significantly.

Stadium news: The #Commanders have released conceptual renderings of their new stadium, the first since they hired HKS as their lead architect. washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

The #Commanders are hiring D.J. Williams as their new QB coach, person familiar with the matter confirms. ESPN was first. Williams is the son of Washington legend and current team exec Doug Williams. He spent last year as Falcons' QB coach.

The #Commanders are interviewing Brian Flores for their DC vacancy today, a person familiar with the situation confirmed. NFL Network was first on that. Can also confirm the team interviewed Karl Scott, as ESPN reported, and is meeting with Jonathan Gannon tomorrow.

Among other things, the first person account from the reporter shows that despite Everything, WaPo reporters and editors are still avidly doing the work.

John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin had been the two longest-tenured head coaches in the NFL by a significant margin. Now, it's Andy Reid (2013) followed by Sean McDermott, Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan (all 2017).

The #Commanders have requested an interview with D.J. Williams for their QB coach vacancy, person familiar confirmed. ESPN was first. Also can confirm they've requested an interview with Mike Bercovici for the same position, as reported last night.

The #Commanders need a roster reset — and they're in a strong position to do so. My offseason roster guide breaking down their free agents, potential extensions, cap space, draft picks and more 🔗⤵️ www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

One last thought on David Blough: His leap from asst. position coach to coordinator isn't unprecedented in the NFL, but it's damn close. Climbing the coaching ladder is a slog. It's rare to skip steps. Only guy I'm aware of who did this before Blough? Grant Udinski, last year.