NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • Former All-Pro defensive back Barry Wilburn dies in Tenn. house fire

    Former All-Pro defensive back Barry Wilburn dies in Tenn. house fire

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Wilbur Wood, baseball, 1941-2026

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Wilbur Wood, baseball, 1941-2026

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Phil Goyette, hockey, 1933-206

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Eddie McCreadie, soccer, 1940-2026

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Dave Giusti, baseball, 1939-2026

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Martin Chivers, soccer, 1945-2026

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    Billy Truax, football, 1943-2026

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    Jawann Oldham, basketball, 1957-2026

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Robert Pulford, hockey, 1936-2026

    Former NFL player and Super Bowl champion Barry Wilburn died early Feb. 6 in a house fire in Tennessee, his family confirmed on Saturday.

    Wilburn was 62.

    Television station WMC in Memphis reports that the Memphis Fire Department responded to a fire call in Orange Mound, Tenn., around 2 a.m. Friday morning. Firefighters found a victim unresponsive in a rear hallway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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    A standout defensive back at Ole Miss, Wilburn was selected in the eighth round of the 1985 NFL draft. He spent the first five years of his NFL career in Washington, where he led the NFL with nine interceptions in 1987 and was named first-team All-Pro.

    Cornerback Barry Wilburn celebrates after his interception in Washington’s 42-10 victory over Denver in Super Bowl XXII in San Diego.

    Wilburn recorded an interception of Denver quarterback John Elway in Washington’s 42-10 victory over the Broncos in Super Bowl 22.

    Wilburn also played for the Cleveland Browns in 1992 and for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and 1996.

    This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Super Bowl champion DB Barry Wilburn dies in Tennessee house fire

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  • North Dakota State in talks to join Mountain West for football

    North Dakota State in talks to join Mountain West for football

    North Dakota State and the Mountain West Conference are engaged in deep discussions on a deal that would bring the FCS powerhouse into the conference as a football-only member starting this fall, a source familiar with the negotiations told CBS Sports on Friday.

    A deal had not been finalized as of Friday night, but progress was being made toward an agreement that would elevate North Dakota State to the FBS level. Such a move would require a negotiated entry fee paid to the Mountain West, in addition to the NCAA’s $5 million FBS transition fee. The size of the Mountain West’s entry fee remains under discussion, a source said.

    If completed, the move would mark one of the most significant FCS-to-FBS transitions in recent history. North Dakota State has won 10 national championships since 2011, including its most recent title in 2024. They are 9-5 all-time against FBS opponents, with five wins over power conference programs.

    “North Dakota State University is regularly involved in conversations about the future of collegiate athletics, including conference affiliation,” the university said Saturday in a statement posted on X. “We are aware of media reports and will have no further comments.”

    The program has publicly signaled its desire to move to the FBS level in recent months under athletic director Matt Larsen and outgoing university president David Cook, who is set to become president at Iowa State University on March 1. Cook’s final day at North Dakota State is Sunday, potentially setting the stage for a notable final act.

    Larsen said last month that the school’s interest in exploring FBS membership was “as strong as it’s ever been.”

    “I would say in terms of our position, I think both myself and president Cook, we want to play at the…

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  • Falcons’ James Pearce arrested for battery, stalking girlfriend Rickea Jackson

    Falcons’ James Pearce arrested for battery, stalking girlfriend Rickea Jackson

    Imagn Images

    Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested on Saturday in South Florida on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (two counts), aggravated stalking and fleeing and eluding police, police reports show.

    Pearce, 23, fled the scene of a domestic dispute involving his girlfriend, WNBA star Rickea Jackson, according to Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez. Police said that Pearce later crashed at Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street before being placed in handcuffs. 

    Pearce was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. His bond has yet to be set.

    “We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami,” the Falcons said in a statement. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”

    Pearce, who was selected by the Falcons with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, recorded 10.5 sacks last season, which ranked No. 1 among all rookies in his class. He finished the 2025 season with 26 total tackles (17 solo), 10 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. The Falcons traded back up in the first round of the draft with the Los Angeles Rams last spring to select the former Tennessee product.

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  • USD football promotes Matt Vitzthum to head coach following Johansen’s exit

    USD football promotes Matt Vitzthum to head coach following Johansen’s exit

    Feb. 7—VERMILLION, S.D. — The University of South Dakota has opted for stability in its football program, promoting Matt Vitzthum to head coach following the departure of Travis Johansen.

    USD Athletic Director Jon Schemmel announced Friday afternoon that Vitzthum will become the 32nd head coach in Coyote football history, as USD chose to stay in-house to fill the vacancy.

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    Johansen departed Vermillion after one season as head coach and seven seasons overall on the Coyote staff to take the defensive coordinator position at Rutgers University, a Big Ten Conference program. His move created a sudden opening, and Schemmel moved quickly to elevate Vitzthum, noting familiarity with the program and proven success at multiple levels of college football.

    Vitzthum completed his second season on the USD coaching staff in 2025 and most recently served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Helping with play-calling duties alongside offensive coordinator Tim Morrison, Vitzthum played a key role in guiding the Coyote offense this past season.

    His impact was especially evident in the development of quarterback Aidan Bouman, who enjoyed another standout season under Vitzthum’s guidance. In 2025, Bouman threw for more than 2,000 yards for the third consecutive year and posted a career-best 26 touchdown passes, further cementing his place among the top quarterbacks in USD history.

    Vitzthum originally joined the Coyotes ahead of the 2024 season as the wide receivers coach under former head coach Bob Nielson. In his first two seasons at South Dakota, the program reached at least the FCS quarterfinals both years.

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    During his debut season on staff, USD advanced to the FCS semifinals for the first time in program history, marking a significant milestone for the program and reinforcing Vitzthum’s…

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  • Hunter Henry Odds, Predictions & Projections for Super Bowl 60

    Hunter Henry Odds, Predictions & Projections for Super Bowl 60

    The New England Patriots will find it tough to move the ball against an elite Seattle Seahawks defense at Super Bowl 60 on Sunday.

    That said, Seattle has been vulnerable against tight ends, which is why we’re betting on the Hunter Henry odds and backing him to have a big game.

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    Find out more in our latest Super Bowl predictions for Sunday, February 8.

    Hunter Henry best bet for Super Bowl LX

    Hunter Henry Over 39.5 receiving yards (-110)

    Hunter Henry logged 45+ receiving yards in five of his last seven regular-season games before racking up 64 yards against the Chargers in the Wild Card Round.

    Although the New England Patriots tight end had just three catches for 17 yards over the last two rounds, he has a more favorable matchup at Super Bowl 60.

    The Seattle Seahawks have an elite defense, but have been vulnerable against tight ends. They allowed the sixth-most yards (1,080) to the position during the regular season. In the playoffs, they gave up 59 yards to Jake Tonges and 62 to Colby Parkinson.

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    Seattle plays zone at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL, and Henry boasted the fourth-highest receiving grade among tight ends against zone coverage per Pro Football Focus.

    Hunter Henry Super Bowl same-game parlay

    Drake Maye’s passing yards prop is hard to ignore.

    The Patriots pivot spreads the ball well, and Sunday should bring the best passing weather Maye has seen in two months. With New England listed as 4.5-point underdogs, he could face a negative game script.

    I’m expecting Maye to target Henry and his running backs on short and intermediate routes. That should lead to more tackling opportunities for Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, who is often asked to cover tight ends and backs. The standout rookie has tallied 6+ total tackles in four of his last seven games.

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    Hunter Henry Super Bowl SGP

    Hunter Henry Over 39.5 receiving yards

    Drake Maye Over 223.5 passing yards

    Nick Emmanwori Over 5.5 tackles + assists

    Join our FREE Big Game Prop Bingo…

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  • Ex-Virginia receiver Jahmal Edrine arrested on rape, abduction charges

    Ex-Virginia receiver Jahmal Edrine arrested on rape, abduction charges

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    Former Virginia wide receiver Jahmal Edrine was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of rape and one count of abduction following a months-long investigation by the Albemarle County Police Department. 

    The investigation began Aug. 25 after a victim reported being sexually assaulted the previous day, according to police. The case was later presented to a grand jury, which returned indictments on Feb. 2. Police took Edrine into custody Thursday where he is held without bond at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. Both charges are felonies. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

    The University of Virginia acknowledged the arrest and confirmed Edrine is no longer enrolled at the school. In a statement to Wahoos247, chief communications officer and university spokesperson Brian Coy said the university is aware of the matter and will cooperate fully with law enforcement, but is prohibited by federal student privacy laws from commenting further.

    Edrine, 22, transferred to Virginia from Purdue ahead of the 2025 season and became one of the Cavaliers’ top offensive contributors. He finished the season as the team’s second-leading receiver with 46 catches for 564 yards and one touchdown. Virginia won a program-record 11 games and lost in overtime to Duke in the ACC Championship Game.

    A 6-foot-3, 221-pound native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Edrine previously played at Florida Atlantic from 2021-22 before transferring to Purdue, where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He missed the 2023 season after suffering a season-ending injury during fall…

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  • Former first-round pick Darron Lee charged with first-degree murder of girlfriend

    Former first-round pick Darron Lee charged with first-degree murder of girlfriend

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    Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday. Lee is also facing a charge of tampering with evidence.

    Lee, 31, was identified as the suspect and was arrested on Thursday at the scene. According to the release, deputies responded to a residence in Ooltewah, Tennessee, where first responders located the victim and attempted life-saving measures before she was pronounced deceased.

    Additional charges could be pending following the investigation. Lee is being held at the Hamilton County prison, according to inmate records, and has a court date set for Feb. 11.

    Lee was selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Jets at No. 20 overall. Lee also played for the Kansas City Chiefs (2019) and Buffalo Bills (2020). He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 but did not appear in a game after being placed on injured reserve ahead of the 2021 campaign. In college, Lee was a standout at Ohio State and helped lead the defense during the Buckeyes run to the 2014 national championship.

    Lee was arrested in 2023 for assault and domestic violence. According to the arrest report, Lee pushed a woman “against the wall, throwing her to the floor and striking her face and head 8 to 9 times with his closed fists.”

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  • Super Bowl 2026: Patriots QB Drake Maye, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori off injury report

    Super Bowl 2026: Patriots QB Drake Maye, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori off injury report

    The two big injury questions for the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots before the Super Bowl have been answered.

    Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been dealing with a right shoulder injury. But he was a full participant in Friday’s practice, as he was on Wednesday and Thursday, and had no designation on New England’s injury report.

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    Safety Nick Emmanwori was not listed on Seattle’s Friday injury report and is expected to play on Sunday. Just to emphasize the point — and perhaps swipe at the uproar that Emmanwori’s injury caused — Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald had a memorable quip when sharing the safety’s status with reporters.

    “No designation for Nick,” Macdonald told ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler. “Turns out he’s alive.”

    Emmanwori, 21, became an impact player for Seattle’s secondary as a rookie, compiling 81 tackles, 11 passes defended, 9 tackles for loss, 4 quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks and 1 interception in 11 games during the regular season.

    During the postseason, he’s made 8 tackles with 4 passes defended and 1 fumble recovery in two games.

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    Maye, 23, nearly won the NFL MVP award in his second professional season, finishing with 23 first-place votes (and 361 points) in balloting while Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford earned 24 first-place votes (with 366 points).

    The Patriots QB completed 72% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He also rushed for 450 yards and 4 scores on 103 carries. His completion percentage and average yards per pass (8.9) led the NFL.

    In three postseason games, Maye has thrown for 533 yards while completing 56% of his passes with 4 TDs and 2 INTs.

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