San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama prefaced what he said about the recent shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good as part of federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis with an initial disclaimer.

‘PR has tried,’ he said, ‘but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct (answer).’

The 22-year-old from France then expressed dismay and disgust over the incidents, but admitted he didn’t feel comfortable offering his complete thoughts on the situation as the debate over the Trump administration’s immigration tactics rages nationally.

‘Every day I wake up and see the news and I’m horrified,’ Wembanyama told reporters on Tuesday, Jan. 27. ‘I think it’s crazy that some people make it seem like, or make it sound like, it’s acceptable, like the murder of civilians (is) acceptable. Every day I read the news and sometimes I’m asking very deep questions about my own life. But, you know, I’m conscious also that saying everything that’s on my mind will have a cost that’s too great for me right now. So I’d rather not go into too many details.’

When asked later if being a foreigner in the United States played into his hesitancy, Wembanyama answered, ‘For sure.’

Wembanyama is the latest NBA player to be asked to comment in the wake of Pretti’s death in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, which led to the postponement of an NBA regular-season game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry and Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks forward and former Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as the National Basketball Players Association, have condemned the shooting publicly.

‘Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of the fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent,’ the NBPA said in a statement. ‘Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice.’

Wembanyama, in the midst of a breakthrough third season with the Spurs near the top of the Western Conference standings, followed the union’s lead.

‘It’s terrible. I know I’m a foreigner, and I live in this country, and I’m concerned,’ he said.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason priority will be determining who will quarterback the team, as Aaron Rodgers mulls his NFL future and prepares to hit free agency.

That said, if new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy has it his way, he would bring the 42-year-old Rodgers back to lead the team for at least one more season.

McCarthy was asked during his introductory news conference whether his best-case scenario for the 2026 season would be to have Rodgers at quarterback.

‘Definitely,’ McCarthy replied. ‘I don’t see why you wouldn’t.’

McCarthy and Rodgers have a longstanding relationship from their time together with the Green Bay Packers. The duo worked together for 13 seasons, beginning when the team hired McCarthy in 2006 – ahead of Rodgers’ second season – and ending when McCarthy was fired after the Packers posted a 4-7-1 record across the first 12 games of the 2018 NFL season.

Rodgers developed into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks under McCarthy’s tutelage, winning NFL MVP awards in 2011 and 2014. They also won Super Bowl 45 together, as Rodgers threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns while earning Super Bowl MVP honors in a 31-25 victory over the Steelers.

Despite the connection, McCarthy acknowledged that no such reunion between him and his long-time quarterback is imminent.

‘I have spoken to Aaron and that’s really where we are there,’ McCarthy said.

The 62-year-old coach further communicated he was impressed by what the 21-year NFL veteran was able to accomplish during his first season with the Steelers.

‘I watched most of the Pittsburgh games on TV and I thought he was a great asset for the team,’ McCarthy said of Rodgers.

McCarthy understands Rodgers will want to take time to weigh his decision whether to suit up for another NFL season.

‘When guys are up at that stage in their career, they need to step away and decompress a bit,’ McCarthy explained. ‘I think that’s very important. The game is so emotional. What these men commit to and what they put into it, I think that time away is important.’

Rodgers has not yet announced a timeline for a decision about his future. The veteran quarterback did not officially sign with the Steelers until June last offseason, though Pittsburgh had always appeared likely to sign him as the saga dragged on.

Whether the Steelers will be as patient in 2026 remains to be seen. That said, McCarthy expressed confidence in the two quarterbacks currently slated to be on Pittsburgh’s 90-man offseason roster – veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard.

‘It would be great to have Aaron back, but Will and Mason – I’m really excited to get started with those guys,’ McCarthy said.

McCarthy’s confidence in Pittsburgh’s quarterback room could allow the Steelers to slow-play the Rodgers situation and simply roll with what they have if the 42-year-old veteran decides to call it a career.

Bill Belichick won’t be headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

The former New England Patriots head coach, who won a record six Super Bowls in his 24-year tenure with the organization, was not selected for the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. reported Jan. 27.

Belichick was the singular finalist in the coaching category, but he did not receive the necessary 40 of 50 votes to make the cut, according to the report.

News of the vote sent waves of shock across the NFL world, with current and former players sharing disbelief that Belichick isn’t expected to be a first-ballot inductee.

‘I can’t be reading this right,’ former NFL All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt said on X. ‘This has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can’t be the actual NFL Hall of Fame. There is not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer.’

The Pro Football Hall of Fame released a statement following the ESPN report, saying it ‘does not comment on the voting of the Selection Committee and awaits the unveiling of the Class of 2026 at ‘NFL Honors’ on Feb. 5 in San Francisco.’

With 333 career victories including the postseason, Belichick is just 14 shy of Don Shula’s all-time record.

Belichick, 73, parted ways with the Patriots after the 2023 season and last year became the head coach at the University of North Carolina.

In 2024, the Hall of Fame revised its rules to reduce the waiting period for coaches to be enshrined from five years after holding their last position to one. Many interpreted this as putting Belichick on the fast track to Canton. Instead, he’ll have to wait until at least 2027.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whom Belichick coached under and clashed with repeatedly, is a finalist for the first time in the contributor category. ESPN said it was not known whether Kraft received the votes necessary for inclusion in the 2026 class.

The full Hall of Fame class will be revealed on Feb. 5 at the NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco.

Bill Belichick will not be making it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot after failing to receive the necessary 40 of 50 votes to be enshrined as a member of the Class of 2026.

Belichick’s omission shocked the NFL world. Many assumed the New England Patriots legend – who has more Super Bowl wins than any individual in league history to date – would be a shoo-in to be selected for the honor once eligible.

Instead, the 73-year-old will have to wait at least one more year before getting a chance to join the ranks of the NFL’s immortal coaches.

Here’s what to know about the NFL’s current Hall of Fame coaches and how Belichick’s resume stacks up against the best of the best.

What NFL coaches are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

A total of 29 NFL coaches have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since its creation in 1963. Below is a full look at the list, including the year they were inducted:

• George Allen (2002)
• Paul Brown (1967)
• Guy Chamberlain (1965)
• Jimmy Conzelman (1964)
• Don Coryell (2023)
• Bill Cowher (2020)
• Tony Dungy (2016)
• Weeb Ewbank (1978)
• Ray Flaherty (1976)
• Tom Flores (2021)
• Joe Gibbs (1996)
• Sid Gillman (1983)
• Bud Grant (1994)
• George Halas (1963)
• Jimmy Johnson (2020)
• Earl ‘Curly’ Lambeau (1963)
• Tom Landry (1990)
• Marv Levy (2001)
• Vince Lombardi (1971)
• John Madden (2006)
• Earle ‘Greasy’ Neale (1969)
• Chuck Noll (1993)
• Steve Owen (1966)
• Bill Parcells (2013)
• Fritz Pollard (2005)
• Don Shula (1997)
• Hank Stram (2003)
• Dick Vermeil (2022)
• Bill Walsh (1993)

Belichick – who has the third-most regular-season wins in NFL history and the most Super Bowls by any individual – is widely expected to eventually join the list. However, he will not do so in his first year of eligibility for a gold jacket.

Bill Belichick career record

Belichick is one of three NFL coaches to win at least 300 career regular-season games. He posted a 302-165 regular-season record across his 29 seasons as an NFL head coach, and trails only Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318) in terms of regular-season victories.

Additionally, Belichick leads the NFL in all-time postseason wins, posting a 31-13 playoff record while winning six Super Bowls, all with the Patriots. He has 332 total wins in his career, a number only bested by Shula’s 347 combined victories.

Belichick’s career winning percentage of .647 ranks 19th among 207 all-time qualifiers for the metric in NFL history.

Bill Belichick record without Tom Brady

One of the only sticking points in any potential debate about Belichick’s Hall of Fame credentials would be his record without Brady.

Belichick has coached nine full seasons without Brady, as well as the majority of the 2008 season and a handful of other games across their 20 years together in New England. Belichick’s squads have posted a combined record of 84-103 in games Brady did not start, including the postseason.

Comparatively, Belichick has a 248-75 record with Brady and has only won a single playoff game without him.

How many Super Bowls has Bill Belichick won?

Any concerns about Belichick’s record without Brady should be quickly quelled by his history of championship-level success.

Belichick has won a whopping eight Super Bowl rings during his career. Six came as the Patriots coach and the other two were while he was with the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells.

No individual has won more than Belichick’s eight Super Bowl rings. Brady leads all NFL players with seven, while football administrator Neal Dahlen also earned a combined seven across his time with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.

The Denver Nuggets are getting closer to getting their star back.

Center Nikola Jokić is on track to be reevaluated in a week after he hyperextended his left knee last month. On the official injury reports ahead of Denver’s games, the team has been ruling Jokić out with a bone bruise.

The Nuggets, though, can be cautious and deliberate with Jokić’s return; the team has remained competitive in the Western Conference without him and is 9-5 in that span.

Denver faces a tough test Tuesday, Jan. 27, however, as it hosts the Detroit Pistons, the No. 1 team in the East.

During his absence, Jokić has been active with the Nuggets on the sideline, being animated and vocal with his teammates, giving them a different perspective. Known as one of the more savvy basketball minds among players, Jokić’s input is undoubtedly a welcome sight for the Nuggets coaching staff.

During pre-game warmups, Jokić has ramped up his on-court activity recently, appearing on the floor and going through light dribbling and shooting. During these sessions, he has worn a black pad over the injured knee.

Jokić suffered the injury in a 147-123 loss Dec. 29 against the Miami Heat. The play came with just six seconds left in the first half. As Jokić was in the paint, shuffling his feet on defense, Nuggets forward Spencer Jones was pushed backward and Jones stepped on Jokić’s left foot. Jokić had been planting on the foot, causing his left knee to buckle and hyperextend backwards.

He lay on the court in apparent discomfort and grabbed at his knee. Trainers and medical staff tended to him, before he eventually got up and went into the locker room with a significant limp.

The day after, an MRI and medical testing came back clean and the team said Jokić would be reevaluated in a month.

The interesting thing to note with Jokić’s absence is that he’s likely to become ineligible for individual postseason awards. Jokić will miss his 16th game Tuesday night against Detroit; if he misses just two more games beyond that, he will not meet the 65-game threshold required for players to qualify for awards like Most Valuable Player and All-NBA selections.

Jokić, who is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game, had been a regular staple near the top of USA TODAY Sports’ NBA MVP power rankings prior to the injury.

Recently, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield caused a stir when he posted a critical message of Stefanski dating back to their time with the Cleveland Browns. Mayfield said he was ‘shipped off like a piece of garbage,’ and that he looked forward to their respective teams meeting on the field in 2026.

During his introductory press conference on Jan. 27, Stefanski responded to Mayfield’s comments, saying he has nothing but positive things to say about the passer.

‘Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,’ Stefanski said. ‘I love rivalries in sports, and obviously, Buccaneers-Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something I’m excited about. But I would not get into the specifics of those type of things, other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person, that’s a great team with a great player.’

The Mayfield-Stefanski pairing led to the 2020 NFL Playoffs, with Cleveland defeating their AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the wild-card round, the organization’s first playoff win since 1994.

They would lose to the eventual AFC champions Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.

Mayfield played a large part of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury which required offseason surgery. In July 2022, the passer was traded to the Carolina Panthers, ending the once-promising QB-HC pairing.

After his release from the Panthers, Mayfield made a pitstop with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, and then would sign with the Buccaneers ahead of the 2023 season.

Stefanski’s time with the Browns would come to an end following the 2025 season, a 5-12 campaign which saw a quarterback carousel featuring Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders all taking snaps.

Now, Stefanski and Mayfield will be reunited on the field – only under much different circumstances.

• Indiana’s recent championship marks the first time a new program has won a national title since 1996.
• Oregon is considered the most probable contender, having recently reached the playoff semifinals.
• Factors like NIL investments, transfer portal success, and conference stability are key to a team’s championship potential.

Beating Miami in the College Football Playoff championship made Indiana the Bowl Subdivision’s first first-time national champion since Florida in 1996.

Since the start of college football’s modern era in 1936, only 31 programs have now won at least one officially recognized national title by finishing atop either the final US LBM Coaches Poll or Associated Press poll.

While Brigham Young was part of the defunct Western Athletic Conference when it won the title in 1984, every champ of the modern era is currently a member of a Power Four league.

That leaves 37 Power Four programs without this piece of hardware. The Hoosiers’ rapid turnaround has every one of these teams thinking: Why not us?

Of this group, these 10 programs are the most likely to join Indiana as first-time champs:

1. Oregon

Oregon has been knocking on the door of a national title starting this century, and even played for all the marbles in 2010 and 2014. The Ducks have gone a combined 26-3 since joining the Big Ten, showing their adaptability and staying power, and advanced to the playoff semifinals this season after getting bumped from last year’s quarterfinals. With Dante Moore back for his junior year, Oregon’s time may come as soon as 2026.

2. Texas Tech

Major investments in talent acquisition and roster management have made Texas Tech one of the fastest risers of the NIL and transfer portal era. The Red Raiders took a big leap this past year in capturing the program’s first outright conference title since 1955, and after another top-ranked transfer haul will enter the 2026 season as the unquestioned Big 12 favorite. Like the Ducks, Tech could take the next step this fall.

3. Baylor

Baylor has the resources to mirror Tech’s transfer-driven path to the playoff. Each of the Bears’ past three full-time coaches have at least played for the Big 12 crown, proving that there is a foundation in place for sustained success; consistency has been lacking, though, especially under current coach Dave Aranda.

4. Arkansas

The 1964 Razorbacks went 11-0 but finished No. 2 back when the two major polls were finalized before teams completed their seasons in bowl games. Arkansas has finished in the top six of either major poll six times since then, most recently in 2011. On one hand, the program has high expectations, a history of off-and-on success and a spot in the SEC. On the other, it’s never been harder to climb the ladder in the SEC.

5. Kentucky

Like Indiana, Kentucky is a basketball school with the financial resources to pay for an elite football roster. The Wildcats flexed their muscle with this year’s impressive transfer class, led by a major investment in Notre Dame transfer quarterback Kenny Minchey. Even more so than Indiana and Arkansas, though, Kentucky is always expected to earmark a significant chunk of NIL resources toward the men’s basketball program, leaving open the question of whether the school will ever fully fund its football team on the level needed to compete for and win an SEC title.

6. Virginia Tech

It’s been a lost 15 years for a program that played for the title in 1999 and was one of the most successful Power Four programs of the early 2000s. Hiring James Franklin and increasing its athletics budget by about $229 million over the next four years indicates Tech’s commitment to competing for ACC titles and the playoff. A wide-open and often unpredictable ACC will only help the Hokies.

7. South Carolina

Like Arkansas, South Carolina faces the challenge of scaling the SEC. The Gamecocks nearly earned an at-large bid in 2024, however, and have done a good job under Shane Beamer of landing the sort of difference-making players (LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart, Nick Emmanwori) who can carry a team to the playoff. Building the depth needed to win three of four playoff games will be the Gamecocks’ biggest challenge.

8. SMU

SMU is on much firmer ground now as members of the ACC and has the right coach in Rhett Lashlee. Since joining the league, the Mustangs have earned one playoff bid in 2024 and were in the thick of this year’s conference race until the final weekend of the regular season. While the university has a much smaller alumni base than the biggest schools in Texas, SMU has the funding to retain key players such as quarterback Kevin Jennings, who could’ve triggered a national bidding war had he entered the portal after this season.

9. Louisville

Louisville played for the ACC title in Jeff Brohm’s debut and won at least nine games in each of the past two years, though the Cardinals’ conference win total has dropped from seven in 2023 to five in 2024 to four this season. While that drop is notable, the 2025 team beat Miami, lost to SMU by a point and dropped overtime games to Virginia and California. Louisville should be an ACC contender for as long as Brohm leads the program.

10. Houston

Houston’s basketball program has grown into one of the nation’s best. Could football follow the same path? The school has invested in the program by hiring Willie Fritz, who posted a six-win jump in his second season. The Cougars are also trending upwards in the Big 12, though it’ll take an even bigger financial commitment to catch up with Texas Tech atop the conference.

Bill Belichick will not be making it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot after failing to receive the necessary 40 of 50 votes to be enshrined as a member of the Class of 2026.

Belichick’s omission shocked the NFL world. Many assumed the New England Patriots legend – who has more Super Bowl wins than any individual in league history to date – would be a shoo-in to be selected for the honor once eligible.

Instead, the 73-year-old will have to wait at least one more year before getting a chance to join the ranks of the NFL’s immortal coaches.

Here’s what to know about the NFL’s current Hall of Fame coaches and how Belichick’s resume stacks up against the best of the best.

What NFL coaches are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

A total of 29 NFL coaches have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since its creation in 1963. Below is a full look at the list, including the year they were inducted:

• George Allen (2002)
• Paul Brown (1967)
• Guy Chamberlain (1965)
• Jimmy Conzelman (1964)
• Don Coryell (2023)
• Bill Cowher (2020)
• Tony Dungy (2016)
• Weeb Ewbank (1978)
• Ray Flaherty (1976)
• Tom Flores (2021)
• Joe Gibbs (1996)
• Sid Gillman (1983)
• Bud Grant (1994)
• George Halas (1963)
• Jimmy Johnson (2020)
• Earl ‘Curly’ Lambeau (1963)
• Tom Landry (1990)
• Marv Levy (2001)
• Vince Lombardi (1971)
• John Madden (2006)
• Earle ‘Greasy’ Neale (1969)
• Chuck Noll (1993)
• Steve Owen (1966)
• Bill Parcells (2013)
• Fritz Pollard (2005)
• Don Shula (1997)
• Hank Stram (2003)
• Dick Vermeil (2022)
• Bill Walsh (1993)

Belichick – who has the third-most regular-season wins in NFL history and the most Super Bowls by any individual – is widely expected to eventually join the list. However, he will not do so in his first year of eligibility for a gold jacket.

Bill Belichick career record

Belichick is one of three NFL coaches to win at least 300 career regular-season games. He posted a 302-165 regular-season record across his 29 seasons as an NFL head coach, and trails only Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318) in terms of regular-season victories.

Additionally, Belichick leads the NFL in all-time postseason wins, posting a 31-13 playoff record while winning six Super Bowls, all with the Patriots. He has 332 total wins in his career, a number only bested by Shula’s 347 combined victories.

Belichick’s career winning percentage of .647 ranks 19th among 207 all-time qualifiers for the metric in NFL history.

Bill Belichick record without Tom Brady

One of the only sticking points in any potential debate about Belichick’s Hall of Fame credentials would be his record without Brady.

Belichick has coached nine full seasons without Brady, as well as the majority of the 2008 season and a handful of other games across their 20 years together in New England. Belichick’s squads have posted a combined record of 84-103 in games Brady did not start, including the postseason.

Comparatively, Belichick has a 248-75 record with Brady and has only won a single playoff game without him.

How many Super Bowls has Bill Belichick won?

Any concerns about Belichick’s record without Brady should be quickly quelled by his history of championship-level success.

Belichick has won a whopping eight Super Bowl rings during his career. Six came as the Patriots coach and the other two were while he was with the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells.

No individual has won more than Belichick’s eight Super Bowl rings. Brady leads all NFL players with seven, while football administrator Neal Dahlen also earned a combined seven across his time with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.