LONDON — Four minutes into the second half of Tottenham Hotspur‘s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, Spurs fans began singing the name of former manager Mauricio Pochettino. The visiting Toon army had earlier serenaded under-fire Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in the very first minute as a defiant show of support.
Who was pulling for Thomas Frank? By the end of another dismal Spurs performance, the Dane stood on the touchline with a vacant expression, sodden by the relentless swirling rain and listening to the ultimate insult: “You’re getting sacked in the morning” … from Tottenham fans.
How much longer can this go on? The club’s senior decision-makers recognize that no quick fix exists for the current malaise. Deep-rooted problems predate this head coach, and until now they have been reluctant to sack a likeable character in the knowledge that stability is required.
But with Frank getting booed off at halftime and full time, the short-term pain is becoming severe. Spurs are winless in their past eight Premier League games, their longest run without a victory since October 2008.
Frank oversaw a fine Champions League group stage campaign that saw them finish fourth and qualify automatically for the round of 16. Yet while Spurs were willing to neglect their domestic campaign in the hope of European glory last season, if they do the same this time, they could be relegated.
And that is why Frank’s position is under imminent, unprecedented danger. Spurs have won only two of their past 17 league games. They have taken 12 points in that time.
Frank sidestepped questions Monday about whether Tottenham were in a relegation battle. He can’t hide from it anymore. West Ham, currently in 18th place, were denied a win by Manchester United, who equalized in the 96th minute at London Stadium. Spurs are only two places higher and five points above the drop zone after Benjamin Sesko‘s goal, which occurred seconds before Frank walked into the postmatch news conference room to face questions about his future.
Because of their early exit from the FA Cup, Tottenham won’t play again for 12 days, until they host north London rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal. It was more than fair to ask whether he will be in charge for that game.
“Yeah, I’m convinced I will be,” he replied. “I understand the question, it is easy to point on me, but it is never only the head coach, or the ownership, or the directors, or the players, or the staff. It is everyone.
“If we do something right, we can build something that can last. Of course we are not in a top position now. Everyone knows — directors, ownership, myself — what position we are in and what we need to do better. And that’s what we are working very hard on.
“[I’m] 1,000% sure [I’m the right man to lead Tottenham]. I’m also 1,000% sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11, 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we have been facing.
“I know when you need to build something and you need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience. … We can only get through this together.”
All this, remember, against a Newcastle side enduring its own existential crisis and a manager in Howe who has engaged in a bit of soul searching in the past few days. “A bit is an understatement,” he said afterward.
Spurs started slowly and effectively allowed Newcastle to rediscover their confidence. Joe Willock had a goal disallowed on the stroke of halftime on VAR review for offside, but Tottenham still couldn’t get to the break level. Malick Thiaw scored in stoppage time with a goal that summed up the home side’s indolence. Spurs failed to close down the cross or react when goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario saved Thiaw’s initial effort. Archie Gray struck against the run of play in the 64th minute, but Newcastle responded just four minutes later as Jacob Ramsey swept the ball in after good work from Anthony Gordon.
Frank was left to defend firstly the clubs’ dreadful injury record — Wilson Odobert limped off here to exacerbate the situation — and the wider idea that sacking a head coach in difficult circumstances is the panacea many believe it to be.
“I understand the mechanism in football, no doubt about that. But I also think there are a lot of studies that say that is not necessarily the right thing to do,” Frank said.
“I know it is the only movement they have, but there are also plenty of situations where it is not the right thing to do. And the only thing I’ll focus on is fighting, doing the right thing together with everyone else.”
In the end, it was actually Howe who was left to speak up for Frank. “It is an incredible list of players they are missing, and I think that is really difficult,” Howe said.
“I think he is an outstanding manager. I’ve come up against him many times. I think he has all the attributes to be a top manager for this football club, and I hope he gets the time to show that.”
Frank faces a nervous wait to see if his time has run out.
Bad Bunny and Kid Rock compete for most Halftime Show viewers
The viewership battle between Bad Bunny’s official Super Bowl halftime show and Kid Rock’s conservative counterprogramming was never expected to be tight, and early numbers suggest it wasn’t.
Initial digital data from the 2026 Super Bowl points to a clear win for Bad Bunny, even as millions of viewers sampled both broadcasts during halftime.
Bad Bunny headlined the NFL’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday, 8 February, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, during the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
While official Nielsen ratings have yet to be released, early online indicators show his performance drawing a far larger audience than Turning Point USA’s rival “All-American Halftime Show”.
Turning Point USA’s pre-recorded alternative, led by Kid Rock and featuring Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, aired during the halftime window and wrapped up shortly after the second half began.
According to figures reported by the New York Times, the stream reached as many as 6.1 million concurrent viewers on YouTube.
By contrast, Bad Bunny’s halftime show, which included guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, appears to be tracking among the most-watched in Super Bowl history.
By the afternoon of Monday, 9 February, the NFL’s official YouTube upload of the halftime performance had already surpassed 35 million views.
Turning Point USA’s stream had reached around 20 million total views since posting, with most of that audience arriving after the live broadcast had ended.
While the final television figures are still pending, last year’s Super Bowl halftime show, headlined by Kendrick Lamar, drew 133.5 million viewers, setting a record for the event.
The early digital response suggests Bad Bunny’s show is following a similar trajectory.
Turning Point USA positioned its show as an answer to conservative criticism of the NFL’s choice of performer.
“The All-American Halftime Show is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom,” spokesperson Andrew Kolvet said ahead of the broadcast.
The debate spilled into the political arena during the game.
President Donald Trump, who said he did not attend the Super Bowl because Levi’s Stadium was too far from Washington, D.C., criticised the halftime show on Truth Social while watching from his golf club in West Palm Beach.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” Trump wrote, adding that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying.”
The timing of the post underlined a key point of the night, even some of Bad Bunny’s loudest critics were watching the official NFL broadcast, reinforcing the scale of the cultural moment and the challenge of drawing viewers away from it.
Kid Rock later shared his own reaction during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingrahm Angle.
“Like most people, I didn’t understand any of it,” he said of the Spanish-language performance.
“I saw there’s a lot of dancers and a lot of big to-do stuff. And, you know, he said he wanted to have a dance party; it looked like he had one.”
He added, “Not my cup of tea, but I don’t fault that kid for doing the Super Bowl, getting in front of a global audience. I fault the NFL for putting him in that position and Turning Point for having to come out and have an alternative for people to watch. You know, it’s just — poor kid.”
The Super Bowl itself concluded with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots 29–13, but when it came to halftime viewership, the early signs point clearly in one direction.
Despite vocal opposition and a well-publicised alternative, Bad Bunny’s performance dominated attention, proving once again just how difficult the Super Bowl halftime stage is to compete with.
SC ruling against Tiger Global prompts I-T Dept to issue notices to 7 overseas VC and PE firms over treaty benefit claims
Tax notice (Representative Image)
Buoyed by the Supreme Court’s ruling denying tax treaty benefits to US investment firm Tiger Global, India’s tax authorities have, over the past two weeks, issued notices to at least seven overseas venture capital and private equity firms.
The Income Tax (I-T) department has sought extensive information from these funds to assess their “substance” in Mauritius and Singapore — jurisdictions commonly used by foreign investors to channel investments into India. In several notices, officials have specifically cited the Tiger Global judgment.
GAAR May Be Invoked
Tax officers from Mumbai and Bengaluru are seeking detailed disclosures from these offshore entities, many of whose scrutiny assessments are set to become time-barred on March 31, 2026.
The cases under review involve investors who have sold stakes in Indian companies — directly or indirectly — without paying capital gains tax, relying on India’s tax treaties with Mauritius and Singapore.
The department believes that gathering additional details about the funds’ operations in these jurisdictions will strengthen its position as it finalises scrutiny orders, sources told Economic Times. Assessments for tax year 2023–24 must be completed before the end of the current financial year.
The funds have been asked to provide information on sources of capital, bank account signatories, directors’ roles, ultimate beneficial ownership, operating expenses, and the nature of their presence in Mauritius and Singapore. They must also disclose details of buyers, including whether any transactions involved related parties.
“The scope and depth of these inquiries suggest a clear intent to extend the principles emerging from the Tiger Global ruling to a broad range of previously accepted Mauritius holding and fund structures,” said Parul Jain, head of international tax at Nishith Desai Associates. She noted that authorities may invoke judicial anti-avoidance principles and escalate certain cases to the GAAR panel. GAAR — the General Anti-Avoidance Rule — was introduced to curb aggressive tax planning.
Jain also cautioned that with the department seeking information about transaction counterparties, parallel proceedings against buyers for alleged failure to withhold taxes cannot be ruled out.
Newsbusinesstax After Tiger Global Ruling, I-T Dept Issues Notices To Foreign VCs, PE Funds
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American-born Team China Olympic skier Eileen Gu came under immense scrutiny on social media this week after making comments about President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess.
Gu, who was born in San Francisco, is the highest-paid Winter Olympic athlete in the world, making an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone in partnerships with Chinese companies, including the Bank of China, and western companies. Gu has said she represents China for her mother, who was born there.
Gu has never spoken out against China’s alleged human rights abuses, including the nation’s alleged systematic campaign of repression against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Gold medalist Eileen Gu of China celebrates during the medal ceremony for the women’s freestyle skiing big air at the 2022 Winter Olympics Feb. 8, 2022, in Beijing.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
However, Gu has commented on Trump’s criticism of Hess for expressing “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. in Milan Cortina.
“I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so unrelated to the spirit of the Games. It really runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be,” Gu told reporters Monday.
“The whole point of sport is to bring people together. … One of the very few common languages, that of the human body, that of the human spirit, the competitive spirit, the capacity to break not only records, but especially in our sport, literally the human limit. How wonderful is that?”
Gu also claimed she had been “caught in the crossfire” herself.
“As someone who has got caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes,” Gu said. “I hope that they can ski to their very best.”
Eileen Gu celebrates winning the gold medal after competing in the Freestyle Skiing Women’s Halfpipe Final during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Genting Snow Park.(Danielle Parhizkaran/USA Today Sports)
Gu’s comments have incited backlash on social media, with many critics pointing out that Gu has never spoken out against China for its alleged human rights violations.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom blasted Gu in a lengthy X post, calling her a “traitor.”
“Eileen Gu is a traitor. She was born in America, raised in America, lives in America, and chose to compete against her own country for the worst human rights abuser on the planet, China. She built her fame in a free country, then chose to represent an authoritarian regime while cashing in on endorsements linked by watchdog groups to mass detention and forced labor camps. When human rights come up, she disappears,” Kanter wrote.
“That’s not neutrality. That’s a choice. She chose to play for a country responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of its own people and that is running concentration camps right now, instead of the country where she was born and given opportunity.”
Hudson Institute senior fellow Michael Sobolik also pointed out Gu’s silence on China’s alleged persecution of Uyghurs and the political imprisonment of individuals who oppose Xi Jinping.
“Listen, it’s fine for athletes to criticize the U.S. president. It also isn’t that interesting because it happens all the time. What’s interesting about this story … is that Eileen Gu is an American skier competing for China. No mention about whether the CCP’s genocide of Uyghurs ‘runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be.’ No criticism of Xi Jinping for the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, Pastor Ezra Jin, Gulshan Abbas, or China’s many other political prisoners,” Sobolik wrote on X.
“If you criticize America but won’t say a word about the CCP, that says a lot about you. If you’re an American athlete that leverages the freedom this country has given you to represent an authoritarian regime, that says even more.”
Republican communications specialist Matt Whitlock echoed similar criticism of Gu in an X post.
“Can’t imagine a worse voice on this topic than an athlete who threw away her American citizenship for Chinese Communist Party endorsement deals. Does Eileen Gu have any criticism for Xi Jinping for genocide, slavery, and arresting dissenters?” Whitlock wrote.
Several other X users spoke out against Gu.
Trump has been one of the most discussed figures at this year’s Winter Olympics, and several athletes have made suggestive criticisms of his handling of the U.S., including Hess.
Trump made a scathing post on social media, calling Hess a “real loser.”
“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” he wrote.
“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Hess originally said of representing the U.S., “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.
China’s Eileen Gu reacts at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
“I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.
“I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.”
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.
When you look up at the night sky, it seems deep black with bright stars scattered across it. That familiar view leads many to assume that the universe itself must be black. But astronomers have asked a different question: If all the light from every star and galaxy were combined into a single shade, what would the universe’s colour be? In 2002, a team of astronomers undertook this exact calculation and came up with a surprising answer. Instead of black, the average colour of the light from the universe is a very light beige, a shade they affectionately named “cosmic latte“.This finding came from analysing observations of hundreds of thousands of galaxies. Researchers measured all the visible light emitted by these galaxies and combined it into one “cosmic spectrum.” When that spectrum was converted into a single visual colour using standard colour science methods, the result was a creamy off-white tone. This represents a true average of all visible light from the universe, not how any single person would see the sky from Earth.The name “cosmic latte” may sound silly, but it is based on real scientific research. This average colour can help astronomers learn about the universe’s big properties and how the light from all stars has changed over time. It also shows how the light we get from galaxies that are far away changes depending on the age and type of star.
How astronomers calculated the universe’s average colour
In the early 2000s, astronomers Karl Glazebrook and Ivan Baldry led a project using data from the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, one of the largest sky surveys of visible galaxies ever conducted up to that time. This survey mapped the light from more than 200,000 galaxies in the sky, measuring the brightness of the light at different wavelengths.The scientists didn’t look at each galaxy by itself. Instead, they put all of this information together to make one spectrum of the light that can be seen in the universe. This is the cosmic spectrum, and it shows all the light that stars, gas, and other things in the universe give off. After scientists put together the cosmic spectrum, they used computer programs and colour-matching methods that are used all over the world to change it into a colour that people can see.The final colour is a light beige with the code #FFF8E7. This number comes from standard digital colour systems and lets cosmic latte be used in graphics and educational materials.
Why the universe isn’t black even though space looks dark
It might seem strange to say that the universe has a colour when space looks dark. The reason has to do with how we define colour and how our eyes see light. Most of the sky doesn’t have a visible light source, so space looks black. Photons from faraway stars and galaxies are too faint to see without telescopes. But scientists don’t get darkness when they add up all the light that can be seen from every bright object in the universe.The electromagnetic spectrum has a lot of different types of light, but visible light is the only one that people can see. By adding up the visible wavelengths that stars of all ages and types give off, scientists were able to make a composite colour. The cosmic latte is beige-white, which means it has light from both young blue stars and older red or yellow stars.This average colour has changed over the course of cosmic time. Early in the universe’s history, massive, short-lived blue stars dominated light emission. As those stars aged and faded, and more long-lived red and yellow stars became common, the average light shifted slightly toward longer wavelengths, giving today’s average colour its warmer hue.
The science behind the name “cosmic latte”
After the average colour was computed, the research team held an informal poll to choose a name. Options included playful suggestions such as cappuccino cosmico, big bang beige and skyvory. The name cosmic latte won out because it closely represented the creamy, pale colour produced by the calculations.As per reports, the term caught the public’s imagination and has since been used by NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day project, science outlets and textbooks to describe the universe’s average colour. The adoption of a familiar coffee reference makes it easier for readers and students to visualise this otherwise abstract scientific result.
What this tells us about the universe
It’s not just interesting that the universe has a colour that is average. It helps scientists figure out how light from stars spreads out over time in the universe. The cosmic spectrum tells us about the ages, numbers, and evolution of stars. The universe’s overall light signature changes as bigger stars die out and cooler stars take their place.Cosmic latte doesn’t change how the universe looks to someone on Earth, but it does show how stars have formed over billions of years and how the mix of light has changed. It shows how astronomical data can give us new information about the universe as a whole by looking at a familiar question in a new way.
Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.
Multiple Authors
Super Bowl LX is in the books. The Seattle Seahawks, who entered the season with a 1.1% chance to win the Super Bowl based on ESPN Analytics projections, beat the New England Patriots 29-13 to take home the Lombardi Trophy.
Now begins the process of building the Super Bowl LXI champions through an offseason that will be characterized, in part, by the usual imbalance of available quarterbacks relative to demand. Nearly a third of the NFL could be seeking a new quarterback this offseason, but the 2026 draft is projected to be particularly light at the position, and no stars are looming in free agency.
Off the field, the NFL will need to reconcile the concussion rate on its redesigned kickoff and also consider whether to empower replay officials with the authority to throw flags in certain situations.
The offseason process will begin accelerating in the coming weeks. Teams can begin using the franchise tag Feb. 17, and the scouting combine opens Feb. 23 in Indianapolis. There are 29 days remaining before NFL teams can (legally) begin contacting pending free agents and 72 days until the NFL draft in Pittsburgh.
Let’s take a closer look at how the 2026 offseason will shape up for its teams, players and league decision-makers.
Who will retire?
Based on age alone, at least two likely Hall of Fame players are candidates: quarterback Aaron Rodgers and tight end Travis Kelce. (Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, 38, said last week that he plans to play in 2026.)
Rodgers, 42, did not commit either way after the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ wild-card playoff loss, but it’s worth noting that the Steelers hired his former Green Bay Packers coach — Mike McCarthy — after Mike Tomlin’s resignation. Kelce, 36, said he would spend some time after the season talking to his family before deciding whether to return to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rodgers’ decision will be one of the first dominoes to fall on what is a relatively thin group of free agent quarterbacks.
Which other QBs could move?
At least six and up to 10 teams will be seeking a starting-caliber quarterback this season, whether it is the Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the No. 1 pick, or the Minnesota Vikings, who want competition for J.J. McCarthy.
The Raiders will almost certainly draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick, but the rest of the teams will gauge their options via free agency or trades.
The top pending free agents include Rodgers, Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, Gardner Minshew and Jimmy Garoppolo. If Rodgers plays in 2026, it seems likely it would be for the Steelers. The Colts have expressed strong interest in bringing back Jones, who tore his right Achilles tendon in Week 14. Two veteran quarterbacks under contract, the Raiders’ Geno Smith and the Atlanta Falcons‘ Kirk Cousins, are candidates to be released.
Though Mendoza is the clear top pick in the draft, the rest of the quarterback class is tough to parse. In his recent mock draft of Rounds 1 and 2, ESPN’s Matt Miller included only two passers: Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson, whom he had going to the New York Jets in the middle of the second round.
In addition to the quarterbacks, several other veterans could be available via trade. Atop the list is Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, whose 2025 season ended early because of a torn right meniscus. Crosby, 28, might not want to go through another rebuilding process with the Raiders, who recently hired their fourth coach in the past four seasons.
At this time of the year, it’s hard to know what the free agent class will look like. One way or another, through the franchise tag or contract extensions, many players whose contracts are expiring will remain with their current team by the time free agency begins.
But for now, the theoretical free agent list includes edge rushers such as Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) and Odafe Oweh (Chargers). Teams in need of an offensive tackle might consider Rasheed Walker (Packers) or Braden Smith (Colts). Alontae Taylor (Saints) might be the best cornerback available. After a monster year in 2025, receiver George Pickens (Cowboys) is in line for a big deal. Running backs Breece Hall (Jets) and Travis Etienne Jr. (Jaguars) can make big impacts on an offense in different ways.
Who will get contract extensions?
The 2023 NFL draft class is eligible for contract extensions. Here is a partial list of the players you’ll be hearing about in the coming month, based in part on Pro Football Reference’s approximate value metric.
Nearly a third of NFL coaches have been replaced, a total of 10. When the dust settles, however, a bigger trend will emerge.
Coinciding with that turnover, nearly two-thirds of teams (21) will have a new offensive coordinator. For comparison, there are 13 new defensive coordinators in 2026.
Not all of the offensive coordinators will have playcalling duties, but 16 teams will have new playcallers via a change at offensive coordinator or head coach. In other words, half of the league’s teams will be revamping their offenses at some level. That increases the chances for new schemes, or unique applications of existing schemes, in a way that will make the 2026 season a bit less predictable than it otherwise would have been.
What can be done regarding inclusivity?
Of those 10 new head coaches, one comes from a minority background — the Tennessee Titans‘ Robert Saleh. That leaves the NFL, whose players are roughly 54% Black, with three Black head coaches: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ Todd Bowles, the Houston Texans‘ DeMeco Ryans and the Jets’ Aaron Glenn.
That outcome coincided with the NFL’s decision to put its annual Accelerator program, designed to connect diverse candidates directly with league owners and decision-makers, on hiatus in 2025. The league plans to bring back the program in some form this year, and Goodell stressed this month his commitment to labor diversity through the Rooney Rule. But that philosophical pledge did not match outcomes during the 2026 cycle.
“There’s got to be more steps,” Goodell said. “So, we’re reevaluating everything we’re doing … including every aspect of our policies and our programs to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, rather than yesterday.”
How will the NFLPA transition?
The NFL Players Association has yet to name a permanent replacement for executive director Lloyd Howell, who resigned last summer. David White has been serving in the interim since then, and NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin said the union is continuing to work with a search committee to source candidates. White was a finalist when Howell was named to the job in 2023, but White has not yet been informed if he is a candidate during this round, Reeves-Maybin said.
White said earlier this month that the union has “stabilized the operations” and has been “strengthening our foundation.” But it almost goes without saying that the NFLPA needs a permanent leadership structure before moving forward on the biggest issues it faces, from the potential of an 18-game season to collective bargaining negotiations and player health and safety.
What changes could be made to the kickoff rules?
Sound familiar?
When the kickoff return rate spiked to nearly 80% early in the season, NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson declared the multiyear project to revive the play as “mission accomplished.” After years of high touchback rates, the league found a set of rules that incentivized teams to kick returnable balls and for the receiving team to do just that. The league rate for the season landed at 74.5%.
But the second part of the project was to ensure a low concussion rate, an outcome that remained in doubt after the end of the 2025 season.
The number of concussions was expected to rise as the NFL added another 1,157 returns compared with 2024. But the goal has been to bring the rate — the number of concussions per return — as close to a normal NFL play as possible, which was about 0.4% in 2025. That hasn’t happened yet. In fact, the concussion rate on kickoffs nearly doubled from .87% in 2024 (the first year of the dynamic kickoff rules) to 1.69% in 2025.
There were some corresponding benefits, including better field positions that led to the lowest number of punts per game (7.1) since at least 2000. That led to six fewer concussions on punts in 2025 than in 2024. The 2025 rate was still lower than it was before the NFL implemented the dynamic kickoff, but the league has already asked special teams coaches for feedback on scheme and tackling behaviors that might have impacted concussion rates in 2025, according to NFL chief football administrator Dawn Aponte.
Said Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing health and safety: “As we said when we first introduced this play, we were going to learn a lot. And we are in the process of learning a lot, both on the game-play side, as well as on the health and safety side to better understand it.”
Will owners allow replay officials to throw flags?
Multiple NFL executives, including commissioner Roger Goodell, have floated the possibility of expanding replay reviews to allow certain penalties to be added, not just retracted, if there is clear and obvious evidence on video. Owners have largely viewed this option as a red line (except for a one-year experiment in 2019 to review pass interference) to support their general belief that games should be officiated on the field and backstopped only from the booth.
But after several high-profile misses on rules related to player safety, particularly hits to the head and face masks of quarterbacks, a campaign is underway to change owners’ minds.
“If there’s an obvious error, we need to be able to fix it,” Goodell said. “And I think technology can help that.”
Should there be more flags for hip-drop tackles?
NFL officials threw only two flags for illegal hip-drop tackles in 2025, the league’s second season after creating the rule. There were roughly 30 fines, according to Aponte, about the same number as in 2024.
The full rule book definition — which requires a tackler to grab the runner with at least one hand, unweight himself by swiveling and dropping his hips or lower body, and then land on the ball carrier’s legs or trap them below the knee — can make it difficult for officials to see in real time. But Aponte said players and teams have pushed for more flags to be thrown, which will spark discussions with the competition committee and officiating departments.
Financial penalties can change tackling behaviors over time, but meanwhile, teams don’t want obvious hip-drop tackles to affect the outcome of games.
What will result from challenges to arbitration?
One former coach and one current coach have active litigation against the NFL that, in different ways, is attempting to override the league’s in-house arbitration process. The league will continue to contend with both cases this offseason.
Generally speaking, NFL contracts call for work disputes to be settled through that process, not the courts. But longtime coach Jon Gruden, who resigned as the Raiders coach in 2021, has convinced a Nevada court to consider a lawsuit that accuses the NFL and Goodell of attempting to destroy his career by leaking private emails. Gruden’s attorneys are seeking testimony from Goodell and multiple owners.
Meanwhile, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is fighting to keep his dispute with the league and its owners over hiring practices in court. Flores’ lawsuit dates back to his firing as the Dolphins’ coach after the 2021 season and his contention that some teams engaged in “sham” interviews as he sought another job in the weeks after.
Tush push redux?
Even after NFL owners nearly banned it — and some league officials promised to try again in the near future — a handful of teams continued using a steady diet of the specialty short-yardage play. Overall, there were slightly more tush push plays in 2025 (112) than in 2024 (101).
The Eagles (27) and Bills (17) continued to account for much of the trend, but other teams began experimenting with using tight ends rather than quarterbacks to take the snap, most notably the Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
There have been no immediate clues on whether owners will revisit the issue during their scheduled meetings in March and May. It was slightly less effective in 2025, converting first downs at a rate of 76.8% compared with an 82% rate from 2022 to 2024, but that isn’t likely to be enough of a drop for teams to stop using it on their own.
Is an 18-game season linked to the international schedule?
NFL owners have been talking for years about shifting their 20-game schedule (three preseason plus 17 regular season) to two preseason and 18 regular-season games. They have also made clear their interest in expanding their international reach. And they’ve never pretended that growing revenues is anything other than a top priority, for them and players.
Earlier this year, New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft connected those three goals in a concise way that clearly illustrates the league’s business priorities for this offseason and beyond.
In a radio interview with 98.5-FM, Kraft said, “We’re going to push like the dickens now to make international more important to us.” He spoke as if an 18-game season is a certainty — even though the NFLPA has yet to agree — and endorsed Goodell’s plan to schedule enough international games (16) for every team to play in at least one every season.
Kraft implied that the league is close to reaching its domestic revenue ceiling. But with an 18-game regular season and more international expansion, he said, “We can keep long-term labor peace” by sharing those higher revenues through the existing split in the collective bargaining agreement.
It remains to be seen how the NFLPA will respond to upcoming proposals. In a news conference last week, the NFLPA’s White said: “Our members have no appetite for an 18th game.”
Rescuers in Italy reported Monday that at least a dozen skiers, climbers and hikers died over the past week in a record-setting tragedy in the country’s mountainous terrain.
While authorities said 11 of the 12 victims were killed in avalanches triggered by exceptionally unstable conditions on ungroomed backcountry slopes, The Associated Press reported a total of 13 deaths.
The incidents occurred just as the Winter Olympics began in the region last Friday. Authorities stressed that the game sites — located in Lombardy on the Swiss border, Cortina d’Ampezzo in Veneto, and Val di Fiemme in Trentino — remain safe, well-maintained and closely monitored.
Italy’s specialist mountain-rescue organization revealed that the fatal disasters were caused by weak layers of fresh snow, unstable enough that the passage of a single person could trigger an avalanche.
Vigili del Fuoco crew members dig through heavy snow while conducting a mountain search and rescue operation.(Vigili del Fuoco)
The main issue is caused by “persistent weak layers in the snowy cloak, often covered by fresh snow or wind: conditions that make detachments unpredictable and easily triggered even by the passing of a single skier or alpinist,” the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps said. “The dangerous points are many and difficult to identify, even for an expert.”
The country’s Alpine Rescue Corps spokesperson, Federico Catania, added that recent snowstorms have prompted visitors to take advantage of the fresh slopes, “and as a result, the number of accidents, and therefore fatalities, has increased proportionally,’’ the AP reported.
Two Vigili del Fuoco crew members stand inside a helicopter next to an open door during a snowy mountain operation.(Vigili del Fuoco)
Italy’s national fire and rescue service, Vigili del Fuoco, reported that over the weekend, two people died and one was seriously injured in Alpe Meriggio in Valtellina after being caught in an avalanche that fatally buried at least one of the victims.
The Associated Press also reported that three people died in avalanches in Trentino and one in neighboring South Tyrol.
Another two were reportedly killed in separate avalanches near the Marmolada glacier, two hikers along the Apennine range and an ice climber in Valle d’Aosta.
Vigili del Fuoco crew members conduct a helicopter rescue over a mountain area.(Vigili del Fuoco)
Outside such regions, Catania said that people skiing in managed areas should not face any significant risks, the AP reported.
“There is no danger for people skiing within managed ski resorts, and in particular no risks to the Olympic sites,’’ Catania said. “All of these areas are constantly monitored and are generally safe regardless of Olympic events.’’
Prior to the start of the Winter Olympics, Vigili del Fuoco said that crews would maintain safety measures for all visitors to the sites.
“For the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Italian National Fire Brigade has implemented an enhanced rescue structure to ensure the safety of athletes, delegations, spectators, and citizens, while also ensuring the continuity of the regular service,” the organization said.
Bonny Chu is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital.
The FBI’s release of surveillance images in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie marks a notable development in the investigation, indicating authorities believe the images could help identify a subject they are seeking more information about.
Former “America’s Most Wanted” producer Jonathan Winfrey said the decision to release the images suggests investigators believe they are focused on the right individual and are seeking public assistance to move the case forward.
“They’re probably pretty certain that this is the guy they want to get,” Winfrey said. “This is America’s Most Wanted right now. They want this guy, and they want to catch him fast.”
Winfrey said the FBI’s public release of the images indicates investigators are looking for additional tips to help confirm the subject’s identity.
This image released by the FBI shows an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance in Tucson, Arizona, on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.(Provided by FBI)
“They’re releasing the data because they want that additional help,” he said.
Images Raise Questions About Surveillance Awareness
Winfrey said one detail that stands out is the subject’s apparent familiarity with surveillance cameras.
“This guy obviously knew how to disconnect those cameras or knew about those cameras,” Winfrey said, referencing reports that a doorbell camera at Guthrie’s Tucson home was tampered with.
Based on his experience covering fugitive cases, Winfrey said crimes involving that level of awareness are often not random.
“Most of the time it was not random,” he said. “There was always some kind of a resentment or there was some kind of a connection involved.”
This image released by the FBI shows an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance in Tuscon, Arizona, on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.(Provided by FBI)
Winfrey said investigators will likely be examining whether the subject had prior access to the property or any familiarity with the victim.
Early Border Theory Shifted With New Information
Winfrey said his initial thoughts included the possibility of cross-border criminal activity, given Tucson’s proximity to Mexico and cases he has previously worked on involving kidnappings for ransom.
“Before I heard this news this morning, I was assuming Tucson’s very close to the Mexican border — it could have been someone who came across,” he said.
That assessment changed, he said, after learning authorities believe the images show a single individual.
“Now with this new news about it looks like it’s one individual, I don’t know what he’s thinking,” Winfrey said. “Is it a quick grab? Is it some kind of cash thing? Or is there more motive behind it?”
“It’s all hands on deck. This is a high-profile case,” he said. “They’re digging deep and they’re probably keeping it close to the chest because they want to catch this guy.”
He added that investigators are working quickly to prevent further harm.
“They’re busting their asses right now,” Winfrey said. “They want to catch this guy before he does anything harmful — to Ms. Guthrie or anybody else.”
This image released by the FBI show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance in Tuscon, Arizona, Sunday, February 1, 2026.(Provided by FBI)
Winfrey said he believes authorities have more information than they are sharing publicly at this stage.
“I think these guys know a lot more than they’re letting on to the public,” he said.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
Stepheny Price is a Writer at Fox News with a focus on West Coast and Midwest news, missing persons, national and international crime stories, homicide cases, and border security.
If you own a television, especially the modern type, you may have noticed a small USB port on the side or back of the screen. Many people use their TVs without realising what that one port can do. Often ignored, that post can unlock several useful features and turn your telly into something more than just a device used for watching shows and playing videos.
Most modern smart television sets come equipped with at least one USB port, yet many people do not know what it is for. That one port can help turn your TV into a more functional device, with features like storage and recording, and you can also plug in a mouse or keyboard to browse.
One of the most useful ways to use your television’s USB port is to plug in a flash drive to expand its storage. Most modern sets come with limited storage, and if you ever run out of space for apps or updates, you can always plug in an external storage device through that port and use that extra memory.
Some televisions also support recording shows directly onto a connected USB device. So, next time, you miss your favourite program due to time constraints, you can save it on the TV itself by recording it into a basic recording system, similar to a digital video recorder, without the need for extra equipment.
The USB port also supports common video formats, which makes it easy to play movies, personal videos, and home recordings on a bigger screen. Instead of crowding around a phone or a laptop, which comparatively have smaller screens, one can just plug in a USB drive and enjoy their content together on the television with minimal setup.
Besides watching content, storing or recording, the USB port can also change what you do on TV. Many smart TVs allow users to connect a keyboard and mouse to browse the Internet, provided there is a proper connection. This can be helpful for searching online or using apps.
If you love playing video games, turn to your TV ASAP for a bigger, better display. Some modern television sets allow users to connect a game controller through the USB port. This lets users play compatible games directly on their telly without needing a separate gaming console. While it is not on par with gaming systems, it is a good option if you are into casual gaming at home.
Another practical use of the USB port is screen mirroring. With a USB-C to USB-A adapter, one can connect their smartphone to the TV and display its screen on a larger screen. This can come in handy when you are presenting something or participating in online meetings and need a bigger screen.
If you thought these were the best uses of the USB port, wait until you plug your phone’s charger into it and watch it become a power source. Since TVs are plugged into power sockets, one can charge their phones, tablets, or other such devices through them. Remember, only devices with lower power than your TV.
Such a feature comes in handy when all the sockets in your home are occupied by other devices, your adapter is missing, or you forget to bring your charger. You can also charge your device while watching something on your TV. So, which one of these features do you think is most useful?
