Category: NFL News

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ “Stadium of the Future” is a go, as the franchise and city approved an agreement on a $1.4 billion project on Tuesday that will keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville for “decades to come.” 

The proposal will see each side contribute $625 million to the project and Jacksonville would chip in another $150 million to get EverBank Stadium ready for construction beginning in 2026. The team will also not include any new taxes to pay for the rebuild.

With construction set to begin after the 2025 season, the Jaguars would play in front of a reduced capacity crowd in 2026 and then host home games in either Gainesville or Orlando in 2027. 

The updated look of EverBank Stadium was revealed last summer, representing the next step in the team’s efforts to transform downtown Jacksonville. The Jaguars plan to make the stadium four times as wide as the current one with interactive social areas and food local to the city. The stadium will include state of the art technology and a shade canopy to reduce heat retention by 70%.

As for other opportunities to improve the stadium? In announcing the stadium design last year, the franchise said the following changes will be made:

Shade on all seatsA 360-degree concourse
Wider concoursesIncreased space for football operationsBetter vertical transportationReplace HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems

The Jaguars, rumored for years to be a potential relocation franchise to London, have plans to remain in Jacksonville for the long term. This new stadium would ensure they’d remain in the market for another 30 years. The franchise chose to renovate EverBank Stadium instead of building a new one once the organization concluded it was structurally…

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New 49er Thomas explains why working with Shanahan has been eye-opening originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Logan Thomas has a decade of NFL experience, but joining the 49ers has been an eye-opening experience for the tight end, primarily because of coach Kyle Shanahan.

The 32-year-old Thomas shared his initial impression of Shanahan while speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area at Tight End University, the two-day camp hosted by 49ers All-Pro George Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce and NFL alum Greg Olsen.

“It’s very different,” Thomas said. “He sees it in from the inside out, and from the outside in. He sets things up. He’s like there are a couple of plays that might not hit big, but setting it up for something else.

“You really respect that as a player because you know he’s grinding the same way you’re grinding and he wants to get the best out of you and we’re going to get the best out of him and that’s what’s most important.

Thomas joined Kittle at TEU along with fellow 49ers free-agent signee Eric Saubert and San Francisco rookie Mason Pline not only to work on fundamentals but to get to know his new teammates a little more. The Virginia Tech product brings a pass catching element that could supplement the production of Kittle as a receiver.

“I think it’s a huge opportunity,” Thomas said. “Obviously I’m not George. I’m not the guy that’s running the show every single day, but I’m ready to be the support guy and carve out a role for myself and be the guy they need me to be.”

Thomas had multiple options to choose from as a free agent but prioritized joining an organization that had a winning culture, and where he felt he could could contribute. Still, he is ready to do the work to earn his spot on the offense.

“They are a well oiled machine,” Thomas said of the 49ers’ offense. “They know what they are doing, and don’t care if you know what they are doing. Still got to stop it. That comes…

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Don’t call it a comeback, but the running back position underwent a resurgence in the 2024 NFL offseason.

Just a year ago in the 2023 offseason, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley and Tony Pollard all failed to come to terms with their respective teams on long-term extensions with each settling for the franchise tag, and there had only been one running back to win the league’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in the last five seasons: Derrick Henry in 2020.  

This year, Jacobs, Barkley and Pollard all found multi-year contracts in free agency, as did many others at the position, and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey took home OPOY honors after leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,459) and scrimmage yards (2,023) while co-leading the league in touchdowns (21) along with Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert. San Francisco naturally rewarded CMC with a two-year, $38 million extension that runs his previously running back-leading average-per-year salary up $3 million, from $16 million APY to $19 million APY. 

Notable running backs to sign multi-year contracts this offseason

Christian McCaffrey re-signed on a two-year, $38 million extension with 49ersDerrick Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract with RavensJosh Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with PackersSaquon Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with EaglesRhamondre Stevenson signed a four-year, $36 million extension with PatriotsAustin Ekeler signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract with CommandersD’Andre Swift signed a three-year, $24 million contract with BearsTony Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75 million contract with TitansJoe Mixon signed a two-year, $19.75 million extension with Texans

The running back position may never hold as large of an importance as it once did in an NFL now geared toward the passing game, but the 2023 season proved that when utilized…

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Kittle applauds Purdy’s leadership, growth as 49ers QB originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

NASHVILLE, Tenn., — It was a 49ers reunion at the fourth annual Tight End University — a camp co-hosted by All-Pro George Kittle and Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce — and one common theme at the event was the positive state of Brock Purdy as the leader of San Francisco’s offense.

Kittle has not been on the field with Purdy since undergoing core muscle surgery during the offseason, but he has noticed the quarterback’s command of the players on the field.

“He looks like the guy, which is really nice,” Kittle told NBC Sports Bay Area. “He’s in the building every day and is the same guy every single day, consistent. He’s incredibly competitive. It’s fun seeing him yell at guys when they don’t hit their route depth or have the wrong landmark.”

Former 49ers tight ends Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley joined Kittle at the two-day event, and while they both now are part of the Atlanta Falcons’ organization, they remarked on how Purdy was able to take control of coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense in his debut season.

“Super proud of Brock,” Woerner said. “He handled everything like a pro, coming in starting as the third string. From where he started, and how he showed up every day, just continuing being a pro, and ready for his opportunity. And when he got it, everyone knows he took advantage of it, and has been crushing it.”

Dwelley, who was with Woerner during Purdy’s first offseason as a rookie, noticed from the start that the quarterback’s intensity was at another level, even with his limited rookie reps.

“He really kind of came in and he just had the mindset that he didn’t really care about anything else going on,” Dwelley said. “He was really to himself and focused on learning the playbook as best he could, as fast as he could, and doing the best with every opportunity he got during that training camp.

“I don’t know if…

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Tom Brady might be considered the GOAT, though he says there is another quarterback whom he considers as the NFL position’s ‘gold standard.’ 

Brady gave that title to former longtime rival Peyton Manning, who was on hand for Brady’s recent induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Manning was there to honor Brady, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion took a moment to pay homage to Manning and the impact he had on his career. 

“I think that I could never have been the type of player that I was without having someone like Peyton that I had to aspire to be like,” Brady said at his Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony held at Gillette Stadium. “And I looked at him as the gold standard for quarterback play, and I still do.” 

Manning had taken the mantle from Brett Favre as the NFL’s premier quarterback when Brady was beginning his legendary run as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. In fact, Brady’s first career victory in the NFL came against Manning’s Colts. That game was the start of a historic rivalry between the era’s top-two quarterbacks. 

“They liked me here … because I always lost here,” Manning joked during the ceremony while alluding to his lack of success in Foxborough that included losses in consecutive postseasons. “I’m much more popular than Eli [Manning] here, I promise you that. But no, absolutely, you knew when you were playing against a Tom Brady team, you better be at your best, because if you weren’t, Tom Brady was going to beat you every time.” 

In all, Brady won 11 of his 17 career matchups against Manning. Manning, however, went 3-2 against Brady-led teams in the playoffs that included a 3-1 record in AFC Championship games during his years with the Colts and Broncos. Combined, Manning and Brady won nine Super Bowls, 14 conference titles, eight league MVPs and six Super Bowl MVPs during their respective careers. 

While their rivalry was real, so too is the…

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The Jets play the 49ers in Week One on Monday Night Football, and Jets running back Breece Hall says that gives him the opportunity to show he belongs on the same field with the NFL’s best.

The best, according to Hall, is 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, and Hall sees opening the season against McCaffrey as an opportunity to show the football world that Hall is an elite running back too.

“It’s on me,” Hall said of raising his game this year, via the New York Post. “I feel like right now McCaffrey’s the best in the league. To me, he sets the standard. We’re going to see him in Week One. . . . It’s exciting just to see where I stand and really let everyone see my full talent now that I’m healthy.”

Hall was off to a great start in his rookie year in 2022 before suffering a torn ACL in his seventh game. He returned to play all 17 games in 2023, but he said the knee was affecting him for much of the season. Now, Hall says, he’s fully prepared to show off everything he can do.

“I’ve gotten better this offseason. I’m a lot leaner. I feel a lot healthier. My knee feels a lot better. I just feel like I’m back to my old self,” he said.

Hall also said a healthy Aaron Rodgers will transform not just the Jets’ passing game, but also their running game.

“It will take a lot of pressure off me,” Hall said. “I won’t have to go against as many one-high boxes. I’m going to go against a lot of two-high boxes, which creates more space for me to work with. People aren’t going to be able to just sit in one-high because Aaron’s going to dice them up. I’m excited for sure.”

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NFL legend and former Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders has revealed that he experienced a “health scare” during Father’s Day weekend. Sanders’ scare was heart related. 

While he didn’t provide an update on his condition, Sanders wrote on social media that he is “taking this opportunity to prioritize my health and well-being.” 

“It was unexpected and served as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant about our physical well-being, even when we are feeling fine,” Sanders wrote. “I am grateful for the amazing doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for providing me with needed care. My family and I are thankful for your prayers and support during this time.” 

Sanders, 55, currently serves as an ambassador for the Lions. He was recently seen at the 2024 NFL Draft, which was held in Detroit. During the draft, Bill Belichick said that Sanders was the most difficult opponent to defend during his 49 years as an NFL coach. 

In January, Sanders and former 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana served as honorary captains for the NFC Championship game, which was won by the 49ers over Sanders’ Lions. Last September, Sanders became the first Lions player to have a statue built in his honor. In November, Amazon Prime released a documentary on Sanders detailing his career and his decision to retire despite being less than 1,500 yards away from breaking Walter Payton’s all-time career rushing record. 

A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Sanders is the first player to rush for over 1,000 years in each of his first 10 seasons. He won four rushing titles during his 10-year career (that spanned from 1989-98) and in 1997 became the third player in history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a…

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Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray says the arrival of rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. takes Arizona’s offense to new heights.

“I think that takes us to another level,” Murray said, via ESPN. “When you got a guy out there that is capable of winning one-on-ones, obviously he’s got to go do it and he knows that. We all know it, but as far as manipulating coverage and stuff like that, you got a guy out there that can do that and even if he’s not open, he’s open. I’m excited to be able to build that with him, but when he does what he does, yeah, I fully expect our offense to be top of the league.”

Everyone on the team recognizes that the No. 4 overall pick is special: Harrison said at the beginning of the offseason he made a point of lining up behind the veteran wide receivers during drills, trying to show that he knows his place as a rookie, but it quickly became clear that he belongs at the front of the line.

“I didn’t want to come in here with a big head,” Harrison said. “I knew I had to earn everything, so just simple things like that. Let them go in front as they rightfully deserve. And then they kinda allow me to go in front now because they understand what I can bring to the team.”

If Murray is right, what Harrison brings to the team is a completely different offense, one that’s among the NFL’s best.

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