The Brian Flores-led discrimination lawsuit against the NFL can proceed to open court and avoid the league’s arbitration process, a federal judge ruled Friday.
Flores, who is joined in the lawsuit by Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, sued the league and three teams in February 2022 after he was fired the previous month by the Miami Dolphins. Now the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, Flores alleged in his original suit that the league was “rife with racism” regarding its hiring practices when it comes to Black coaches.
The NFL argued Flores should go through the league’s arbitration process rather than the legal system, but Judge Valerie Caproni of the Southern District of New York sided with the plaintiffs.
“The court’s decision recognizes that an arbitration forum in which the defendant’s own chief executive gets to decide the case would strip employees of their rights under the law,” Flores’ attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb said in a statement. “It is long overdue for the NFL to recognize this and finally provide a fair, neutral and transparent forum for these issues to be addressed.”
The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A pretrial hearing has been set for April 3.
Flores was fired after going 24-25 record over three years without a playoff appearances. The Dolphins did have back-to-back winning seasons before Flores was dismissed.
He sued the NFL as well as the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Houston Texans. Flores interviewed with the Broncos in 2019 and the Giants and Texans in 2022.
Wilks, who was fired in December as the New York Jets defensive coordinator, joined the lawsuit by claiming the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 hired him as a “bridge coach” and didn’t provide him with a realistic chance to succeed.
Horton, who last coached in the NFL in 2019, alleged the Tennessee Titans didn’t offer him a genuine interview for the head coaching position in 2016.
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It’s clearly the case that Eagles fans will have a few regrets from the 2025-26 NFL season.
Credit: Unsplash
There were some high points, including an absolutely dominant 31-0 performance over the Raiders, and two tight road wins over Philadelphia’s ‘perceived’ Super Bowl rivals, the Chiefs and Bills, but there were enough low points, including a really disappointing loss to the Giants and a three-game winless streak across the early winter that really underlined the fact that the magic of last season would be difficult to repeat.
The upshot is that Eagles fans will be watching on a little enviously as the Seahawks and Patriots clash at Levi’s Stadium on February 8. The odds for Super Bowl LX are live, but did you know that some sportsbooks have already released the market for Super Bowl LXI.
It’s a common enough occurrence to see both markets running simultaneously, as it allows fans to get ahead of the game by diving into the futures markets for an event over a year away.
Eagles Are Respected in Super Bowl LXI Odds
Nevertheless, the markets make interesting reading for the Eagles. Where does the average fan think the team should be? Outright favorites?
Not as things stand, but the good news is that the sportsbooks retain ‘respect’ for the Eagles, putting them firmly in the top tier of contenders.
Here’s the Super Bowl LXI market as it stands today*
Now, a few things are apparent from this list. The first is that it feels like a little bit of a place-holding list. Moves across the offseason will transform the market, and you should also get a little movement after Super Bowl LX. A comfortable win for the Seahawks, for instance, will firm up Seattle’s odds. The Patriots will move should the Super Bowl go New England’s way.
A Season of Shocks Makes Predictions Difficult
There is natural hesitancy from sportsbooks at this point, so in most years, the Playoff teams tend to go back to the top of the markets, with the Super Bowl teams often pegged as the two favorites. But this was not an ordinary season, as numerous well-fancied teams fell by the wayside.
Look at the odds for teams like the Ravens, Chiefs, and Lions, all of whom missed the Playoffs.
As for the Eagles, we will have to wait and see. There are big decisions to be made across the roster, not least what to do with AJ Brown. There was definitely a sense of “it’s not broken, why try to fix it” going into the 2025 season. Changes were made, sure, but this offseason might see more pronounced decisions, and that will filter through to the betting odds.
Indeed, it will be intriguing to see where the Eagles will be placed next September. The core of the team is good enough to ensure that the ‘respect’ we talked about will stay, but other teams will surely make big moves too.
It’s going to be interesting because you get the sense that whatever the Eagles’ front office decides in the coming months could decide the direction of travel for a few seasons.
He was one of several known candidates the Giants interviewed, a list that included former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, and Mike McCarthy, who previously led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl title and the Dallas Cowboys to a playoff berth.
Giants welcome Harbaugh as head coach
“We are proud to name John Harbaugh as the next head coach of the New York Giants,” team president John Mara said in a statement. “Joe Schoen presented us an outstanding group of candidates, which allowed us to be deliberate and confident in this decision. Through numerous conversations, John consistently stood out for his conviction and vision for leading a winning organization, and we welcome him and his family to the Giants.”
“John is a proven winner whose teams are disciplined, resilient, and prepared,” Giants chairman Steve Tisch said in a statement. “His passion for the game, his ability to connect with players, and his experience leading at the highest level made him an outstanding fit for us, and we’re excited to move forward together.”
“Throughout our conversations, John stood out for his clarity, competitiveness and approach for building a sustainable winning program. He has a strong track record of developing players, building cohesive staffs, and setting a clear standard of accountability,” general manager Joe Schoen said in a statement. “We are excited to work with John in moving this team in the right direction.”
“I want to thank John Mara, Steve Tisch, Chris Mara, and Joe Schoen for the opportunity to lead the New York Giants,” Harbaugh said in a statement, in part. “To serve as this franchise’s head coach is a tremendous honor. I come from a football family, and I have deep respect for the history and tradition of this organization.”
He continued, “I’m excited to begin assembling our staff and getting to work building our team. I would like to sincerely thank Steve Bisciotti and the Baltimore Ravens organization for 18 remarkable years, including the opportunity to become a head coach in the National Football League. My family and I are grateful for the welcome we’ve already felt, and we look forward to becoming part of the Giants family.”
What to know about John Harbaugh
During his 18-year run with Baltimore, Harbaugh won 180 regular-season games, 13 playoff games and the Super Bowl XLVII championship.
He was fired earlier this month after the Ravens finished 8-9 and missed the postseason, a fate secured by a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the season.
Under Harbaugh, the Ravens made the playoffs 12 times and were known for toughness, professionalism and accountability, traits the Giants hope to develop after going 4-13 in 2025 and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is greeted by head coach John Harbaugh after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Baltimore.
Terrance Williams / AP
Prior to taking over as head coach in Baltimore, Harbaugh served as the special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles for nine seasons before taking over as defensive backs coach in 2007.
When Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens, he had no head coaching experience at any level, including college. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Morehead State, Cincinnati and Indiana, from 1987-97.
John Harbaugh is the older brother of current Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
What Harbaugh is inheriting with the Giants
Despite their struggles over the last nine seasons, a period that included just one playoff appearance, the Giants remain a very attractive destination because they are one of the NFL’s legacy franchises, due in large part to their three Super Bowl titles and a history that dates to 1925.
The Giants also have some talent at key positions, most notably quarterback. Rookie Jaxson Dart took over as the starter in Week 4 and quickly showed off his dual-threat skills. The 25th overall pick in the draft finished with 2,272 passing yards, with 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also ran for 487 yards and nine scores.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reacts after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Adam Hunger / AP
New York navigated most of its lost season without two key starters on offense. Receiver Malik Nabers, who had 109 receptions, 1,204 yards and seven TDs as a rookie in 2024, suffered a knee injury in Week 4 and was lost for the season.
Bruising running back Cam Skattebo, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 draft, had 617 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns before he went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 6.
Defensively, linebacker Brian Burns, who signed a five-year, $141 million contract as a free agent in 2024, was a standout this season, finishing with 16.5 sacks.
Those bright spots aside, the Giants overall were a middling team on offense, averaging 22.4 points, and among the worst in the league on defense, allowing 25.8 per game.
Schefter reported that the Giants and Harbaugh are “working to finalize an agreement,” and that, barring any last-minute setbacks, a deal is expected to be completed soon. While contract details are still being negotiated, sources told ESPN that both sides are optimistic and that the hire could become official in the near future.
Harbaugh, 63, has been one of the NFL’s most respected coaches over the past two decades. He has served as the Ravens’ head coach since 2008, leading Baltimore to a Super Bowl XLVII championship and compiling a remarkable career record of 193–124, including a 13–11 postseason mark. He is also a former AP NFL Coach of the Year (2019) and holds the league record for most road playoff wins by a head coach.
Before becoming a head coach, Harbaugh built his résumé on special teams and defensive roles, coaching at Western Michigan, Pittsburgh, Morehead State, Cincinnati, Indiana, and Philadelphia before landing in Baltimore. His background as a special teams coordinator helped shape the Ravens into one of the league’s most consistently well-prepared and disciplined teams.
If finalized, the move would mark the end of an era in Baltimore and a massive shift in New York. The Giants have been searching for stability and leadership, and landing a Super Bowl-winning coach with nearly 200 career wins would instantly reshape the franchise’s direction.
The deal is not officially complete, but all signs point toward Harbaugh trading purple for blue in what would be one of the most significant coaching moves of the 2026 offseason.
The Dallas Cowboys have suffered back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2002 after a 34-17 collapse to the New York Giants on Sunday.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was pulled from the game at halftime, and defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected from the game after pulling off a Giants players’ helmet in between downs in the third quarter.
Prescott’s game and season ended after a first half in which he fumbled and passed for just 70 yards. He left the game with the league lead in passing yards for the season.
Kavontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Raheem Layne #43 of the New York Giants during the game on January 4, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In Prescott’s absence, the Cowboys were outscored 18-7 in the second half and the team got into a costly scruff with Giants opponents, resulting in penalties and the ejection. The Ezeiruaku ejection occurred after the Giants scored a touchdown to go up 22-10, and a brawl ensued with pushing, shoving and intentional face-mask grabbing.
Dallas defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was also assessed an unnecessary roughness penalty, which put the Giants at the one-yard line for the point after try, as New York went for two, going up 24-10.
Dallas never recovered, as backup quarterback Joe Milton threw a late interception en-route to a 17-point loss to finish the season.
Dallas went all-in at this year’s trade deadline in an attempt to bolster its playoff chances, trading a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick to the New York Jets for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. But it won’t pay off in the short term for the Cowboys after their 2025 failure. Williams is under contract until 2027.
Questions about whether the Cowboys would be competitive in 2025 were raised after the team traded star linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers ahead of the season. The Cowboys’ defense is 29th in the NFL this year without Parsons.
Dallas gave its fans some hope with a three-game winning streak in November, rebounding from 3-5-1 to 6-5-1 and within striking distance of the seventh seed in the NFC. But a 44-30 primetime loss to the Detroit Lions Dec. 4 took all the air out and dropped Dallas’ playoff chances to just 8%. They went 1-3 in in their final four games after the Lions loss to fall to a losing record
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys fumbles the ball during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on January 04, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the Giants improved to 4-13 on the season for their third straight losing season. The Giants had a chance to secure the second or first pick in the NFL Draft with a loss on Sunday, but could potentially drop all the way to the seventh pick with the win.
The Giants also defeated the Cowboys and Eagles in the same season for the first time since 2020.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
J.J. McCarthy was knocked out of the Minnesota Vikings’ game against the New York Giants on Sunday with an injury to his throwing hand and did not return.
McCarthy was crushed by unblocked pass rusher Brian Burns on a strip sack with 24 seconds remaining in the first half. The 22-year-old quarterback walked off the field with trainers after the play that resulted in a fumble recovery and a touchdown for the Giants.
Rookie backup Max Brosmer replaced McCarthy. The Vikings went on to beat the Giants 16-13.
After the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell said he had no update on McCarthy’s injury.
“We’ll evaluate it and make sure we find out what’s going on there,” O’Connell said.
The head coach said he was encouraged by the young quarterback’s play before the injury.
“I thought J.J. was doing a lot of really good things and really, really unfortunate that he was not able to finish the football game,” O’Connell said. “He was, in my opinion, stacking — putting together a very nice performance again.”
McCarthy missed a game late last month while in concussion protocol and has also been sidelined by a sprained right ankle after his entire rookie year was wiped out by a torn meniscus in his right knee.
McCarthy was 9 of 14 for 108 yards passing, ran for a TD and had a would-be pick-6 negated by penalty before getting hurt in a game that has no playoff implications. The 7-8 Vikings were eliminated before beating Dallas last weekend, and the 2-13 Giants are now on a nine-game losing streak.
Vikings running back Jordan Mason and center Ryan Kelly also left Sunday’s game due to injury.
Their team plane experienced mechanical issues that required turning around shortly after departing Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, according to a team spokesperson. The Vikings were expected to arrive at Newark International Airport later Saturday night after boarding a second plane and departing just after 7:30 p.m. CST.
Minnesota is 6-8 and, like the 2-12 Giants, has been eliminated from playoff contention. The Vikings are coming off beating Dallas, with this game more about young quarterback J.J. McCarthy getting additional NFL experience.
NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Dec. 17, 2025.
NEW YORK (AP) — While Cam Skattebo has not played football for the New York Giants since undergoing season-ending surgery in late October, the rookie running back still has plenty of people around sports talking about him.
Skattebo attended WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” at Madison Square Garden, along with teammates Abdul Carter and Roy Robertson-Harris. After some back-and-forth banter during a skit, Skattebo shoved wrestler JD McDonagh from behind a barrier and got pushed back, with the clip going viral.
“Cam’s crazy,” Giants starting left tackle Andrew Thomas said Tuesday with a chuckle.
A handful of local radio hosts blasted Skattebo for risking his health by taking part in the show. Skattebo took to social media to defend himself.
“Honestly if you don’t like that I’m having a good time while dealing with a tough time, then just go ahead and unfollow and casually move on,” Skattebo posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m not able to play football and have the fun I’ve been having my whole life so I am doing things outside the box trying to find stuff to keep me happy. Enjoy the rest of y’all’s week and just don’t talk about me if you ain’t got nothing nice to say.”
Skattebo, who wore a jersey of Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe at the event, is recovering from a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle after getting hurt in gruesome fashion Oct. 26 in a loss at Philadelphia. In a video interview with Complex Sports over the weekend, Skattebo showed how well the injury was healing, and he was wearing a protective boot at the Garden.
The 23-year-old also was on the sideline Sunday at the Meadowlands on a scooter and sporting the boot.
ESPN New York’s Chris Carlin said he “could not have been angrier at the just remarkable stupidity shown by Skattebo. He was one of the lone bright spots of this team, and he thinks it’s a good idea to get involved like that.”
Co-host Bart Scott, who played 11 NFL seasons as a linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, was less vocally critical but still described Skattebo’s participation as “carelessness.”
“Whether you’re play wrestling or wrestling, it’s still a physical act,” Scott said.
“I’m not here to be the buzz kill or holier than thou or the headmaster or the dean of discipline, but, dude, use common sense,” Tierney said. “What happens if there’s a little beer or a little water or a little seltzer on the Garden floor and he slips and he loses control?”
Skattebo responded to that clip on social media by saying his foot was off the ground, adding, “Trust me wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize anything.”
Skattebo, along with quarterback Jaxson Dart, had brought an infusion of energy into the organization before going down. The fourth-round pick out of Arizona State had run for five touchdowns and had two more receiving in his first eight professional games.
Asked Tuesday on a video call with reporters about Skattebo at the Garden, second-year back Tyrone Tracy flashed a smile.
“I wasn’t there last night, but you best believe I was fighting,” Tracy said. “I was fighting at home, though, telling him to duck and sit down. Cam’s a wild man. Everybody knows that. He’s going to go out there and do what he do.”
New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo sent a social media post on Tuesday, seemingly addressing his recent controversy after engaging in a shoving match against WWE stars at Madison Square Garden for “Monday Night Raw.”
“Aye, honestly, if you don’t like that I’m having a good time while dealing with a tough time, then just go ahead and unfollow and casually move on. I’m not able to play football and have the fun I’ve been having my whole life so I am doing things outside the box trying to find stuff to keep me happy,” Skattebo wrote on X.
“Enjoy the rest of y’all’s week and just don’t talk about me if you ain’t got nothing nice to say.”
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) on the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 16, 2025.(Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Skattebo was criticized for engaging in the Monday night spectacle while he is rehabbing from a season-ending ankle injury, and the Giants trudge through a 2-9 season.
The controversial incident began when Dominik Mysterio, one of the trio’s three stars, started jawing with actor and comedian Andrew Schulz. While talking to Schulz, Mysterio — the son of wrestling legend Rey Mysterio — mocked the New York native, saying he was staring at the only champion the city had seen in years.
Mysterio then looked at Skattebo after asking how many years it had been since a New York team won a title and said, “Can you count, Cam? How many years? He don’t know. He can’t count.”
JD McDonagh, Domink Mysterio and Finn Balor confront Andrew Schulz and Cam Skattebo during “Monday Night RAW” at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2025 in New York City.(Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
That prompted Skattebo — who suffered his injury in a Week 8 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles — to stand up and get in Mysterio’s face.
Then, JD McDonagh began jawing at Skattebo, shouting at the Giants players before turning to the rookie.
“You guys gonna play defense for the first time this season?” McDonagh shouted before looking at Skattebo. “What are you gonna do?”
Skattebo shoved McDonagh to the ground, sparking a skirmish between Schulz, Giants players and the wrestlers before security broke it up.
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) leaves the field after an injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)
Among Skattebo’s Giants teammates in attendance was fellow rookie Abdul Carter, the team’s first-round pick, who was sporting a custom Giants WWE title belt on his left shoulder.
Skattebo finished his rookie season with 617 scrimmage yards (410 rushing, 207 receiving) and seven total touchdowns across eight games.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
During the New York Giants first defensive series, No. 3 overall pick and former Penn State star Abdul Carter was benched for what interim head coach Mike Kafka described as a “coach’s decision.”
When pressed on the matter after the game, Kafka reiterated it was a coach’s decision and he wouldn’t get into the details that led to Carter being benched. “That was a coach’s decision. It was my decision – we’ll keep the rest of that in house,” Kafka said.
Carter, meanwhile, was also mum on the benching. “I made a mistake during the week that was detrimental to the team,” Carter said. “That was the consequence of it. Got to live with it.”
While Kafka and Carter downplayed the benching after the game, a new report emerged on Monday morning suggesting Carter was benched because he “was asleep in the team facility at the time of the walk-through,” according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.
Carter’s tardiness at team meetings was accordingly a “trend” that fired head coach Brian Daboll let slide. The rookie linebacker saw the report from Duggan and offered some clarity. “Was not sleep, actually doing recovery. Nonetheless that’s on ME!” he said on social media before offering a more cryptic message.
“When the hate don’t work they start telling lies!” he said.
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Despite the punishment, Kafka remains hopeful of Carter’s ability.
“I love Abdul and what he brings to this team,” Kafka said. “The skill set he has, this guy loves ball. I’m excited to watch him attack this week of practice and continue to work and grow and be the great player that I think he is.”
The rookie has just 23 tackles and 0.5 sacks on the season.
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Aug 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) passes against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
The New York Giants always faced a difficult test against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium in Week 11. Without star rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, interim head coach Mike Kafka turns to quarterback Jameis Winston after New York’s fourth-quarter collapse to Chicago. Meanwhile, the Packers arrive in New Jersey on short rest following a disappoint losing effort to Philadelphia on Monday Night Football to finish off the NFL’s schedule in Week 10.
Week 11: Green Bay Packers (5-3-1) @ New York Giants (2-8)
Kick Off: 1:00 p.m. ET (Sun., 11/16/25)
Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
Green Bay enters as slightly more than a touchdown favorite (-7.5 points) on the road against New York. If the Packers offense operates like it has the last two weeks, there is a real opportunity for the game to fall shy of the 43.5 over-under total. Green Bay holds a winning record against the moneyline (5-3-1 record), but subpar records against the spread (3-6-0) and the over-under (4-5). The Giants have an even mark (5-5) against the over-under, but have struggled against the spread (4-6) and moneyline (2-8) this season.
The Packers are a road favorite with a 64% projection to win on Sunday, according to ESPN Analytics.
Best Bet: Jameis Winston 200+ passing yards
Winston will receive his first action of the 2025 campaign in Week 11 when he steps on the turf against the top-five ranked Green Bay defense. In three games against Green Bay, Winston owns a 1-2 record with 519 passing yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions thrown to defenders wearing the green and gold.
Jameis Winston will likely be the starting quarterback for the New York Giants this Sunday with Jaxson Dart under concussion protocol, interim head coach Mike Kafka said Wednesday.Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The 31-year-old last played against the Packers in the 2023 season. Winston relieved during Saints’ starer Derek Carr in a gutting 18-point fourth-quarter comeback win for Green Bay in September 2023. Winston completed 10 of 16 passes for 101 yards for New Orleans in the loss. The former first overall pick put up solid statistics over 12 games for the Cleveland Browns in the 2024 season. Winston completed 61% of his passes for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
NFL Week 11 Odds: Winston Passing Yards vs. Packers
The Florida State product has over 24,000 passing yards and 150+ touchdown passes in his career, and that doesn’t happen by accident. If Winston can limit the turnovers, he can help give New York a chance to claim victory on Sunday afternoon.
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North Carolina coach Bill Belichick talks with recruits prior to the Tar Heels’ game against Stanford on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Robert Willett
rwillett@newsobserver.com
Chapel Hill
In the final weeks of his first regular season as North Carolina’s head football coach, Bill Belichick said Friday night his focus remains solely with the Tar Heels.
With his name swirling around the New York Giants’ head coaching opening, Belichick said in a statement that he has no intention of leaving UNC for any NFL job.
“Despite circulating rumors,” Belichick said in a statement, “I have not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.”
The 73-year-old Belichick has a deep history with the Giants, having coached as defensive coordinator on two Giants Super Bowl-winning teams under head coach Bill Parcells following the 1986 and 1990 seasons.
“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families,” Belichick said in his statement. “The New York Giants played an important role in my life and in my coaching journey. It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach Parcells’ staff for over a decade.”
Belichick had never coached at the college level prior to this season. After struggling in the season’s first month, UNC (4-5, 2-3 ACC) is on a two-game winning streak entering Saturday’s game at Wake Forest.
The school’s veteran coach indicated Friday night he plans to continue coaching the Tar Heels following this season.
“Since arriving in Chapel Hill,” Belichick said, “my commitment to the UNC football program has not wavered. We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.
Jameis Winston will likely be the starting quarterback for the New York Giants this Sunday with Jaxson Dart under concussion protocol, interim head coach Mike Kafka said Wednesday.
Jaxson Dart remains in concussion protocol after leaving last week’s loss to Chicago, and with his status still uncertain, the Giants are preparing Winston to take the reins in Week 11.
For Winston, it’s another chance to prove he can still command a team. The former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has had a career defined by both talent and turbulence.
Now in his 11th season and fourth different team, Winston owns a 44–61 record as a starter, with more than 24,000 passing yards and over 150 touchdowns to his name. His big arm and aggressive style have always been a double-edged sword, capable of lighting up a defense or forcing a costly turnover. But for a Giants team searching for energy, his confidence and experience might be exactly what’s needed.
Kafka’s decision also signals a shift in direction for New York. Russell Wilson, who opened the season as the starter, has been passed over, and the move shows Kafka’s willingness to prioritize performance over reputation.
“He’ll do a great job, I have a lot of confidence in Jameis,” Kafka said Wednesday. “I have a lot of confidence in Russ, and he’ll be the backup as Jaxson [Dart] works through concussion protocol.”
At 2-8, the Giants are no longer playing for postseason position but for pride, progress, and evaluation. Kafka himself is auditioning for the permanent head coaching job, hoping to convince the front office to take the “interim” label off his title at the end of the season.
Winston’s start offers a new look at how this team can function under a different voice in the huddle and a different style behind center.
The opportunity carries weight for Winston personally as well. After bouncing around the league and spending time as a backup, he’s once again in a position to remind everyone why he was once viewed as a franchise cornerstone. His leadership, lightheartiness, and presence could provide much-needed relief for a locker room that’s endured a season full of heartbreak.
For Kafka, this marks his first big call as interim head coach — a calculated gamble on experience and upside. And for Winston, it’s a familiar scenario: another chance to take the field, take command, and perhaps rewrite the next chapter of his unpredictable but resilient career.
Kafka on Wednesday also named tight end coach Tim Kelly as the offensive coordinator.
“He’s a really smart coach who will help us tie in the run game, the pass game, does a great job with a lot of good experiences to bank on,” Kafka said.
The New York Giants are seeking a new head coach after firing Brian Daboll, and they may employ an interesting strategy when it comes to finding their best solution for Jaxson Dart.
The Giants have installed Mike Kafka — who had previously been serving as offensive coordinator — as interim head coach, and while some felt that Kafka would be gone by the end of the season, there appears to be a chance that he remains in New York.
Dan Duggan of The Athletic has revealed that the Giants may choose to keep Kafka on as offensive coordinator in 2026, which actually makes plenty of sense given that Dart would then not have to learn an entirely new system.
“This trial allows the Giants the opportunity to see if their coaching answer has been under their noses for four years. However, it will be an uphill climb for Kafka to show enough under these circumstances to earn the job full-time,” Duggan wrote. “Don’t sleep on Kafka potentially staying on as offensive coordinator, especially if a defensive-minded head coach is hired.”
Duggan feels that Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who served as New York’s defensive backs coach on 2018, is the favorite to land the head-coaching job, which would absolutely leave the door open for Kafka to stay.
Kafka has been with the Giants since Daboll initially came over in 2022, and based on the success that Dart has had during his rookie campaign, it may behoove New York to keep him on the staff.
Of course, as Duggan noted, that ultimately depends on who the Giants hire as their next head coach.
If New York decides to roll with an offensive-minded guy to run the show, it would be hard to imagine Kafka sticking around. There is even a chance that a defensive-minded head coach would want to handpick his offensive coordinator, so there is no guarantee Kafka stays aboard even under those circumstances.
The Giants definitely have offensive talent. Their two best weapons — Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo — are both out for the season, but when they return in 2026, Dart will suddenly have a decent group of playmakers at his disposal. New York will also have a tough decision to make on wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who is slated to hit free agency.
The Giants are just 2-8 on the season and have lost four games in a row. They will look to snap their skid against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, but they will likely have to do it without Dart, who suffered a concussion in Week 10.
For more on the New York Giants and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Andrew Van Ginkel was coming off the best season of his career, picked for the Pro Bowl for the first time after a promising debut with the Minnesota Vikings that featured 11½ sacks and two interception returns for touchdowns from his edge rusher position for a 14-win team.
Then came the neck problem that kept him out of a significant portion of training camp. After working his way back to play in the opener at Chicago on Sept. 8, Van Ginkel landed on his head that night to trigger a concussion that also aggravated the initial injury. He sat out the following week, returned with two sacks in just eight snaps during the blowout of Cincinnati on Sept. 21 and found himself in the training room again with a concerning recurrence of the neck trouble.
Van Ginkel hasn’t played since, the epitome of this rough start for the entire Vikings team. The experience of watching from the sideline while a defense that was one of the most disruptive and productive in the NFL over the last two years skidded off track was just as painful.
“It’s brutal. There’s nothing worse,” said Van Ginkel, who had not missed a game in six years since he was a rookie with Miami. “This is why we play the game, to get out there and earn the respect of our teammates and our coaches and all the fans that watch. It’s been eating at me. I can’t wait to get back on the field.”
His time appears to have arrived. Van Ginkel was a full participant in practice this week. While he was listed as questionable on the final injury report on Friday, coach Kevin O’Connell said he expects Van Ginkel to play at Detroit on Sunday.
“I feel really good with where I’m at. I’ve been able to practice in a limited role the past couple of weeks and been able to ramp it up,” Van Ginkel said after practice on Wednesday. “Just being able to get back on the field and get some team reps in has been a great progression.”
As well as fellow edge rusher Jonathan Greenard has played this season, he can’t do it all, and 2024 first-round draft pick Dallas Turner has not filled Van Ginkel’s void the way the Vikings hoped he would.
For all his pass-rushing prowess, Van Ginkel also ought to help fortifying the edge of the defense against the run that has been startingly vulnerable this season. The Vikings could also use a reappearance of his superpower.
Van Ginkel’s touchdowns last year came off quick-twitch interceptions of screen pass attempts by Daniel Jones (New York Giants) and Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets), and he was oh-so-close to a few more later in the season.
“He’s just got a real good feel for the sets where those types of plays come in, with the players that those types of plays go to,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said earlier. “He’s certainly in a small circle of guys who have that feel and that knack, and that’s why you put him out there. That’s a big part of today’s NFL game, getting the ball out quick.”
For a player whose value is built around quickness, the deliberate pace of recovery and treatment for this injury has required plenty of patience.
“It’s been a long process. I’ve been careful with how I’ve been able to handle this and going through the motions of progressing well so I can get back on the field and help this team win,” Van Ginkel said. “That’s kind of why we’re taking the steps that we’ve been taking, so I can be confident and be prepared to go out there without thinking about anything, just going out there and playing football.”
The Vikings ruled out fullback C.J. Ham (hand) for the second straight game. He missed the first four games with a knee injury. Another key part of the run blocking crew, tight end Josh Oliver (foot) will be inactive along with third cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion).
Starting offensive tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill were both listed as questionable to play on Sunday, but O’Connell said Friday he’s feeling good about their availability.
Note: The above video first aired on Oct. 9, 2025.
New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has won over fans since taking over as the team’s starting quarterback in late September, and one of those fans is franchise legend Eli Manning’s son, Charlie.
The two-time Super Bowl champion revealed during ESPN’s “ManningCast” on Monday that Charlie is dressing up as Dart for Halloween. Manning said Charlie wants to wear Dart’s signature chain to school every day.
“(Charlie’s) got the chain, which is nice. The problem is he’s wanting to wear it. We got it last week, and he wants to wear it to school every day,” Manning said during the broadcast.
Eli Manning and New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (Imagn)
Peyton Manning teased his brother and asked him if it hurt that Charlie picked another Giants quarterback over himself, and Eli said, “It hurts a little bit.”
While Charlie’s Halloween costume might hurt the Giants legend, Dart loves it.
New York Giants player Jaxson Dart reacts after a touchdown during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles in East Rutherford, N.J., Oct. 9, 2025.(Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
“I think it’s awesome. I’ve met Charlie a few times. Obviously, I’ve been around Eli a lot, and yeah, I think maybe, like, he said he’s a little disappointed it wasn’t him. But it’s just a cool relationship, and I think it’s awesome,” Dart told reporters Thursday.
The NFL named Dart the Offensive Rookie of the Month for October. In four games, Dart had the most total touchdowns (10) and rushing touchdowns (seven) and best passer rating (90.0) among all rookie quarterbacks.
The New York Giants’ Jaxson Dart reacts after a game against the Philadelphia Eagles Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.(Seth Wenig/AP Photo)
The last Giants player to be named Offensive Rookie of the Month was wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014, when he won it in both November and December. The former LSU star went on to be voted the Offensive Rookie of the Year at the end of that season.
The Giants are 2-3 in Dart’s starts and 2-6 overall this season. They take on the San Francisco 49ers (5-3) at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
The New York Giants will be shorthanded when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8 due to an ominous step backward from one of their starters, safety Jevon Holland.
Holland is in his first season with the Giants, spending the first four years of his career with the Miami Dolphins. One of the top free-agent safeties on the market this past offseason, Holland has started all seven games for the Giants so far.
It is a blow against any opponent, but especially the defending Super Bowl champions. It’s also just one of several late announcements made by the Giants one day before their NFC East showdown.
“The following Giants players will not travel with the team to Philadelphia,” Giants.com senior editor Dan Salomone posted on X on Saturday, naming Holland, cornerback Paulson Adebo, and defensive lineman Chauncey Golston.
Holland received an additional note that he was “downgraded to OUT.”
The Giants listed Holland as doubtful on their final injury report of the week, with Adebo and Golston already ruled out. Fortunately for the Giants, there were no changes to the statuses of DE Brian Burns, kicker Graham Gano, or DL D.J. Davidson, who are all questionable.
It is all hands on deck for the Giants’ 29th-ranked defense, which also ranks 23rd in scoring.
The Eagles enter this contest ranked 26th overall offensively. However, they are 14th in scoring and snapped a two-game skid in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Giants are coming off a deflating loss to the Denver Broncos, and are 1-2 in their last three outings. As the road team, and one with a rookie in Jaxson Dart at quarterback, personnel losses like Holland loom large.
Even through offensive inconsistencies. An Offensive Coordinator nobody seems confident in, and a run game that seems to be non-existent. The Eagles have a wide receiver looking to put up career high numbers if he can keep pace for 10 more games.
Racking Up The Yards
After putting up 183 receiving yards against the Vikings on Sunday. Devonta Smith set a new career high for most yards in a game. Surpassing his previous total of 169 which came against the Commanders in 2022.
With a total of 504 receiving yards through 7 games in the 2025 campaign. Smith currently sits at 9th across the league in receiving yards, sitting just behind Christian McCaffrey’s 516 and above Drake London’s 469.
But will Smith be able to keep pace?
The Eagles offense has shown struggles for 7 weeks and has yet to play a full four quarters. Are all of their woes to be blamed on the offensive lines play? Or are the problems stemming from an inexperienced play caller?
10 Games To Go
With 10 games left in the season, Smith is currently on pace for a total of 1,224 receiving yards. Potentially surpassing his previous high of 1,196 yards which he achieved in the 2022 season.
On top of being able to set a new high for receiving yards, Smith is on pace for 92 receptions on the year. Just 3 shy of his 95 reception total, also from the 2022 season.
Both are achievable if the Eagles offense is able to continue putting up performances similar to Week 7. Has Kevin Patullo finally found a rhythm that doesn’t stall the offense during pivotal drives? Or did the Eagles talent on offense manage to over power the Vikings defense?
This Sunday, the Eagles take on the Giants in their first Kelly Green game of the season. With a laundry list of players on the Thursday injury report, will they be walking in to another trap against Jaxson Dart & Cam Skattebo? Or did the Eagles learn their lesson after a 34-17 loss to send them to 4-2 two weeks ago.
Back at home at Lincoln Financial Field (and the Vet before it), it’s a history of playoff victories and pivotal points in Eagles history.
The Eagles face the Giants again this week in South Philly, looking to get one back on their division rival after they flat-out got embarrassed by them two weeks ago up at MetLife Stadium.
Before they try to settle the score, here’s a look back at some favorite Eagles-Giants memories at the Linc, and some old highlight packages along with them…
The Tanner McKee Game
Jan. 5, 2025, Week 18 – W, 20-13
The Eagles were all set. At 13-3, they were locked in as the NFC’s No. 2 seed, with divisional round home-field advantage in the playoffs.
There was still a reason to play their starters, or one of them, in what was rendered a meaningless Week 18, as Saquon Barkley was pushing for the NFL’s single-season rushing record.
Head coach Nick Sirianni made the call to sit everyone in the end, though, which handed the keys to third-string QB Tanner McKee and the Eagles’ reserves, up against all of the New York Giants’ starters playing for whatever shred of pride they had left.
But McKee took it from them. He stayed cool and collected in the pocket, and tagged the Giants for 269 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-41 passing.
He caught a floundering division rival completely off guard, but his Eagles teammates watching from the sideline? Hardly.
“Man, did you see Tanner McKee just throwing dimes all over the field?” starting center Cam Jurgens quipped afterward. “He’s fun to watch. We get to see him dice up our scout team. It’s just fun watching him go out there and make plays.”
The harder they fall
Jan. 21, 2023, NFC Divisional Round – W, 38-7
The 2022 Eagles broke out and tore through the regular season with a defense that had piled up sacks to a record degree, and with an offense that had threats all over the field and saw Jalen Hurts make his way into the MVP conversation.
They were a juggernaut entering the playoffs. The Giants, who rode Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones to a surprise playoff berth and then an upset over the Vikings in the Wild Card round, hoped to stand in their way, but their luck ran out in brutal fashion.
The Eagles had them crushed by halftime. The Giants couldn’t hope to cover anyone, playoff Kenny Gainwell became the new unsung hero of Philadelphia sports lore, and the Linc was breathing easy and celebrating a trip to the NFC Championship on the way to a 38-7 final – a familiar playoff score from the last Super Bowl run.
Eagles/Giants Week! The 2022 Divisional Round Beatdown:
The 2022 Eagles swept the Giants 3-0 and the cherry on top was the 38-7 beatdown in Round 2 of the playoffs getting out to a 28-0 1st half lead and the game was over by halftime.
Carson Wentz and the Eagles had rallied back from highlight-reel Odell Beckham Jr. catches and a resurgent Eli Manning performance to bring the game down to a field goal kick with one second left.
It was just that rookie kicker Jake Elliott would have to make the shot from 61 yards away.
But he nailed it. Elliott got the distance and put the ball just inside the right upright, and the Eagles mobbed their new kicker as they improved to 2-1, in what would become one of the key moments that propelled them to their first-ever Super Bowl.
Wild Card Westbrook
Jan. 7, 2007, NFC Wild Card – W, 23-20
The Eagles rallied into the playoffs with Jeff Garcia at quarterback, and in the Wild Card round, against the Giants, Brian Westbrook kept the run going for one more week into New Orleans.
Westbrook took off on an unreal 49-yard touchdown run and had 141 rushing yards in total, Garcia fired a 28-yard laser to Donte’ Stallworth for a score late in the first half, and down to the wire tied 20-20, Westbrook marched them in close to bring the game down to a David Akers field goal.
Akers made the kick, the Giants were going home, Philadelphia celebrated, and a season once thought to have gone down along with Donovan McNabb and his torn ACL instead lived another week.
Grand T.O.pening
Sept. 12, 2004, Week 1 – W, 31-17
The Delaware Valley had waited an entire summer for this: Terrell Owens’ Eagles debut.
The Eagles finally had their true No. 1 receiver for Donovan McNabb, and along with him, the hope that they had the final piece to break through and, at long last, get to the Super Bowl.
The start of it all couldn’t have been drawn up any better.
Week 1 at home against the Giants, McNabb and Owens carved New York up and connected on three touchdown passes, with the new star receiver flexing and then flapping his wings in celebration upon each score.
The Eagles pummeled the Giants, 31-17, and it was one of those games where you just knew right away, after repeated NFC Championship failures, that this year was going to be different.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton gave New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart his flowers after an epic come-from-behind win for the Broncos Sunday.
But Payton wanted to face the veteran Super Bowl champion quarterback the Giants have behind Dart, Russell Wilson.
“They found a little spark with that quarterback,” Payton said of Dart during his postgame press conference after Denver’s 33-32 victory. “I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that change would’ve happened long after our game.”
Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos talks to quarterback Russell Wilson on the sidelin during a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium Aug. 11, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz.(Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
While Payton could’ve simply meant Dart gave his team problems — the Giants held a 26-8 lead late in the fourth quarter before a thrilling comeback — Wilson didn’t appreciate the words from his former Broncos coach.
These two have obvious history, and Wilson viewed his former head coach’s comments as “classless.”
“Classless… but not surprised… Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media,” Wilson posted on X with some laughing emoji and his famous #LetsRide hashtag he used while a member of the Broncos from 2022-23.
Wilson’s “bounty hunting” comment is also a jab at Payton’s scandal while head coach of the New Orleans Saints. The NFL found Payton’s squad guilty of placing a bounty on targeted players, leading to the head coach’s season-long suspension in 2012 as part of the severe punishment from the league.
The relationship between Wilson and Payton was rocky, to say the least, after the former was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Broncos in 2022. It didn’t last long for Wilson. Payton benched him in 2023, and he was released during the 2024 offseason despite Denver taking on a whopping $85 million in dead money.
Wilson ended up going 11-19 in his starts for Denver with zero playoff appearances.
Sean Payton and Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos look on from the sideline during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High Nov. 19, 2023, in Denver.(Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
Wilson wasn’t happy with his benching in 2023, especially after he said the Broncos threatened to bench him earlier that year if he did not waive an injury guarantee in his contract. Wilson had $37 million guaranteed if he could not pass a physical on the fifth day of the new league year in March 2024.
Greg Penner, the Broncos’ owner and CEO, denied the team ever threatened Wilson. He said the franchise wanted to negotiate “in good faith” about contract adjustments, though Wilson said he would be getting the NFLPA involved. The NFLPA later sent a letter to the Broncos stating that any threat would be a violation of the league’s CBA.
Still being paid by the Broncos, Wilson signed a veteran minimum deal for one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Giants signed Wilson this past offseason, as well as Jameis Winston, to provide a veteran presence around Dart, who New York traded back in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to snag out of Ole Miss.
Head coach Brian Daboll made it clear all through training camp that Wilson was the starter for his team, but after three straight losses to open the season, the switch was made to Dart. Dart won his first NFL start in a massive upset over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos’ AFC West nemesis, at MetLife Stadium in Week 4.
Russell Wilson of the New York Giants looks on from the sideline during the national anthem before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.(Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Dart and the Giants should’ve been victorious in Denver, too, but a collapse of epic proportions ensued with Wil Lutz drilling a game-winning field goal to cement the biggest comeback win this season in the NFL.
