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  • Titans free agents 2026: Chig Okonkwo, Arden Key headline list

    Titans free agents 2026: Chig Okonkwo, Arden Key headline list

    The NFL offseason is here. Unfortunately, as Tennessee Titans fans, we have been waiting for this since about week three of the 2025 NFL season. That’s really been the case for us the last two years. The Titans need a really strong offseason to change that for us in 2026.

    It starts with NFL free agency. The Titans are going to have somewhere around $100 million to spend this year. They won’t spend all of it in free agency, but they are going to be able to add some pieces to make the roster a lot better than it was last year. They can use help at just about every spot on the field.

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    The first step in the process is identifying guys they want to retain who are about to hit the market. There is a long list of guys who are going to hit the market.

    Titans pending free agents 2026

    Chig Okonkwo is the one guy from that list whom I will be upset if they don’t end up re-signing. They cannot afford to let an offensive playmaker walk when they have so few of them.

    Morgan Cox seems to be perennially on a one-year deal here since 2021. He’s one of the best long snappers in the league. They will probably try to bring him back again.

    Jihad Ward is another guy I’d like to see back. He showed some flashes last season, and with their lack of depth in the EDGE group, he’s a valuable guy to have.

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    Which three from this list are the most important for the Titans to try to retain before they hit the market?

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  • Former UNC football QB-turned-linebacker wins Super Bowl 60

    Former UNC football QB-turned-linebacker wins Super Bowl 60

    Football fans across the world tuned into Super Bowl 60 on Sunday night, with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks battling in a rematch from 11 years ago.

    Both teams locked into a defensive battle through the first three quarters, with Seattle holding a 12-0 lead until 30 combined points in the fourth. A pair of former UNC football stars, Drake Maye and Mack Hollins, connected for New England’s first score early in the fourth quarter.

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    While Maye and Hollins lost in their Super Bowl debuts, a 29-13 defeat, another former Tar Heel won his first Super Bowl trip.

    Chazz Surratt, a quarterback-turned-linebacker who played at North Carolina from 2017-2020, was part of Seattle’s first Super Bowl-winning squad since 2013.

    Through Surratt didn’t record a statistic, the Seahawks activated him from injured reserve days ahead of the Big Game. Surratt recorded 11 tackles in 11 regular season games for Seattle, playing primarily on special teams.

    Surratt played quarterback for Larry Fedora in 2017, starting seven of the nine games he appeared in, compiling 1,341 passing yards and eight touchdowns. Surratt added 210 rushing yards and five more scored on the ground, then redshirted 2018.

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    When Surratt played again in 2019, he turned into a First Team All-ACC selection, finishing as runner up for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In UNC’s COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Surratt finished as a Bronco Nagurski Trophy (best linebacker in football) semifinalist.

    Surratt began his NFL career with the New York Jets, which suffers from organizational-wide dysfunction to this day. Now with a winning team, Surratt is a Super Bowl Champion four years into his professional football career.

    Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on. Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North…

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  • Super Bowl 60 halftime featured real wedding after Bad Bunny flipped invitation

    Super Bowl 60 halftime featured real wedding after Bad Bunny flipped invitation

    Getty Images

    When you invite international music icon Bad Bunny to your wedding, you know it’s a bit of a longshot. What about inviting him to your wedding only for him to turn around and invite you to tie the knot during his Super Bowl 60 halftime performance? That scenario became reality for one lucky couple on Sunday night.

    Right before Lady Gaga made her surprise guest appearance at Levi’s Stadium, an officiant wed two people. That left everyone wondering whether it was real or part of the show. Well, the answer is both.

    According to NBC Sports, that was a real wedding, and it came about after the couple invited Bad Bunny to their nuptials. Bad Bunny couldn’t make it because he was busy performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, but simply brought the wedding to Levi’s Stadium.

    Including the wedding, Bad Bunny’s halftime show was quite the event. In addition to guest performances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, countless celebs could be spotted within the production. Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Karol G and Cardi B were among the A-listers on the set. It was a historic performance, and fans were raving about it when the festivities were over.

    The performance provided some much-needed energy in the building as the game on the field lacked for fireworks in the first half. The Seattle Seahawks took a 9-0 lead over the New England Patriots into the locker room before Bad Bunny took center stage.

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  • 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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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    Billy Truax, football, 1943-2026

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    Sports figures we lost in 2026

    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

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