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2025 NFL Draft hats explained: What each team’s pin means

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2025 NFL Draft hats explained: What each team’s pin means

The 2025 NFL Draft on-stage hats were released on Friday, and this year’s look features a couple of elements that could spark debate.

Embroidered on each cap is the team name, logo and city or nickname. Then on the bill is an olive branch design that gives it a sea captain vibe. (There’s also a generic NFL hat for Roger Goodell or Rob Lowe.)

Here is every team’s hat:

Each cap also has a team-specific pin attached to it that highlights a bit of local flavor, with some that are more recognizable than others…

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 Carolina Panthers

This one is easy enough — the Carolina Panthers have a panther. Although it appears to have a severe underbite.

Chicago Bears

Following the logic of the Panthers’ pin, the Bears surely have a be— not so fast. The Bears have the flag of Chicago. Stay alert.

Cincinnati Bengals

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The Bengals’ pin is a throne, “representing the Bengals as the ruler of the jungle,” according to New Era. The Bengals have a real-life throne that they use in a pregame ceremony called “The Ruler of the Jungle” where a notable person leads the team’s “Who Dey” chant.

Cleveland Browns

Since Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, its pin is an electric guitar. Surely the only guitar pin in the collection, right? Just you wait.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos’ pin depicts the nearby Rocky Mountains. It also resembles, the Colorado Rockies’ logo, a team most locals try to forget about come football season.

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Detroit Lions

The Lions’ pin is a car wheel, which is fitting given the hat identifies Detroit as the Motor City.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals’ pin is several things. It’s shaped like the state of Arizona and includes design elements of the state flag, then sitting on the top right corner is a cardinal, which is also the state bird (UPDATE: Well, New Era claims the cardinal is Arizona’s state bird, but as many readers have pointed out in the comments below, it’s actually the cactus wren).

Atlanta Falcons

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It’s a Georgia peach, the state fruit, for the Falcons. Fun fact: Actual Falcons don’t eat peaches, they eat other birds and small mammals.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens’ pin is a Maryland Blue Crab, a local delicacy. Someone just needs to make an Old Bay Seasoning pin to go with it.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills’ pin is a buffalo. Not a chicken wing or a folding table. Just a buffalo.

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Green Bay Packers

A block of cheese would’ve been an obvious choice for the Packers, but New Era decided to go with a deeper cut: a bicycle, “referencing the team’s training camp tradition of riding kids’ bikes to and from practice.”

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars’ pin depicts the John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge, a bridge everyone outside of Jacksonville will learn about for the first time because of this pin.

Kansas City Chiefs

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The Chiefs’ pin bears the number “142.2.” No, that’s not Andy Reid’s favorite radio station, it’s the decibel level Chiefs fans achieved at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 29, 2014, achieving a world record for the loudest crowd noise. It happened during a Monday night game against the New England Patriots. They beat Tom Brady and the Pats 41-14 that night.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders’ pin is the silhouette of their home, Allegiant Stadium.  Of all the iconic imagery associated with the Raiders and Las Vegas, this choice is kind of surprising. Why not Al Davis’ sunglasses or a casino buffet?

Los Angeles Chargers

The Charger’s pin combines the California grizzly bear and star from the state flag with the franchise’s lightning bolt logo. The result is a symbol that looks like it’s teasing a sequel to The Flash where he has to defend California against a Kryptonian supervillain.

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Los Angeles Rams

The Rams’ pin is a mariachi jacket representing the Mariachi Rams, a group that plays at SoFi Stadium during every home game.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins pin is a wind-blown palm tree, referencing “the team’s speed and home state.” If they wanted to more clearly convey speed they should have done Mike McDaniel sprinting off the field at halftime, though.

Houston Texans

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The Texans’ pin reads “H-Town Made,” the team’s slogan. Why “H-Town” apparently it’s unclear who started it, but the ’90s R&B group with the same name might want to talk to a lawyer.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ pin is a hammer and anvil, which are used in the team’s pregame tradition. They would sell way more hats if it was of Caitlin Clark though.

New York Jets

The Jets’ pin is the Statue of Liberty’s torch, which is perfect for this. But New York has so many iconic symbols. So which did the Giants get?

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New York Giants

The Giants’ pin is a subway car. Oh.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles’ pin is the Liberty Bell, because of course it is. And because I guess a tush push pin could be seen as inappropriate.

New Orleans Saints

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The Saints pin is an umbrella — another one that most probably wouldn’t expect. The parasol umbrella is “a popular symbol of New Orleans culture,” according to New Era. Larry Holder informs me that in the ’80s, late Saints owner Tom Benson would dance on the field with a parasol after wins. Once someone explains to this year’s Saints draft picks what the 1980s were I’m sure they’ll find that fascinating.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings pin is, of course, a viking helmet. Very cool and very obvious.

New England Patriots

The Patriots’ pin is the 22-story lighthouse at Gillette Stadium, the tallest “lighthouse” in the country. It may or may not have been where Bill Belichick watched Tom Brady’s 2021 Super Bowl win.

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Washington Commanders

The Commanders’ pin is a hog, referencing both the team’s mascot, Major Tuddy (who is a hog), and Washington’s famed offensive line from the ’80s, nicknamed “The Hogs.” Except, this looks a bit more like Babe: Pig in the City than a hog.

Tennesse Titans

And here’s another guitar. The Titans’ pin is an acoustic guitar, though. But country music can use electric guitars, too. And rock music can use acoustic guitars. Guitar stereotyping needs to stop.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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The Steelers’ pin is of the Roberto Clemente Bridge, one of Pittsburgh’s many bridges. That makes two bridge-themed pins in this collection now. And up next we have the San Francisco 49ers. I bet we all know what their pin is gonna be, right?

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners’ pin is… a fog horn? So wait, the Jaguars have the John T. Alsop Jr. bridge, the Steelers have the Roberto Clemente Bridge, but the 49ers don’t have the Golden Gate Bridge? New Era’s out here throwing curveballs.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks’ pin is a Sasquatch wearing a 12th man jersey. The team famously considers its fans to be their 12th man on the field, but why a Sasquatch? According to New Era, it represents “the fact that Big Foot lives in the Pacific North West.” A lot of cryptozoologists working at New Era, apparently.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers’ pin is a skull, as in their logo.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys’ pin conveys the long-standing claim that they are America’s team. This pin will likely annoy everyone who isn’t a Cowboys fan.

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.

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(All photos: New Era) 

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NFL free agency 2026: Dolphins will release Tua Tagovailoa; ‘legal tampering’ set to start

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NFL free agency 2026: Dolphins will release Tua Tagovailoa; ‘legal tampering’ set to start

NFL free agency is here!

Well, kind of.

The league’s so-called legal tampering period begins Monday at 9 a.m. PT, when teams are allowed to start negotiating with the agents for players who are about to become unrestricted free agents. No contracts can actually be signed, however, until the the start of the new NFL league year, which is Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT.

So, basically, fans will start finding out what moves their teams make and where various players will land starting Monday morning.

Hours before the legal tampering period started, the Miami Dolphins announced they will release longtime quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The 2023 All Star will count $99 million against the Dolphins’ salary cap, the biggest dead cap hit in NFL history. The money can be split over the next two seasons if Tagovailoa is designated a post-June 1 release.

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In six years with the Dolphins, Tagovailoa went 44-32 as a starter, completing 68% of his passes for 18,166 yards with 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl in 2023.

“Wearing this jersey and representing this city has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” Tagovailoa wrote Monday on Instagram, adding: “I also carry deep regret that I couldn’t get the job done and bring a championship home to this city. Miami deserves that, and I’ll always wish I could have delivered it for you.”

Who are some of the other big names in the free agency market? As far as quarterbacks are concerned, Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis could be a hot commodity. Daniel Jones is a free agent after a strong season with Indianapolis, although the Colts placed the transition tag on him and can match any offer.

Veteran quarterback Kyler Murray was informed by the Arizona Cardinals last week that they will be letting him go at the start of the new league year. The Atlanta Falcons have made a similar announcement regarding Kirk Cousins. Other available veteran quarterbacks include Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson and Marcus Mariota.

Teams in need of a running back might be interested in the services of Kenneth Walker III, who will be a free agent just weeks after he was named Super Bowl LX MVP as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Travis Etienne of the Jacksonville Jaguars could also find a new home.

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This also seems to be a big year for free agent edge rushers (including Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson and Boye Mafe) and wide receivers (including Alec Pierce, Mike Evans, Romeo Doubs, Rashid Shaheed and Jauan Jennings).

Check back here for updates as teams begin making moves.

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ESPN star rips iconic college basketball team with $22M roster for disappointing season

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ESPN star rips iconic college basketball team with M roster for disappointing season

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team may still make the NCAA Tournament, but Dick Vitale thinks this iconic program should be much better than their 19-12 record this season considering their whopping $22 million roster. 

The legendary ESPN college basketball analyst didn’t hold back his feelings about the Wildcats as they played Florida during Saturday’s prime SEC matchup. After the Gators hit some free throws to extend their first-half lead to 26-19, Vitale started to lay into the Wildcats.

Head coach Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats in a game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats on March 7, 2026, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. (Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire)

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“I’m going to say this right here, I’ve done several Kentucky games, win or lose, $22 million this team [which has been reported] in terms of the NIL for their players,” he said, per Awful Announcing. “I think in $22 million, they could have put together a better roster than they did. I really do.”

The Wildcats ended up losing by a score of 84-77, and Vitale continued about Kentucky near the end of their 12th loss of the season. 

“I’ll tell you one thing, you don’t want to walk out of here thinking you got a moral victory,” Vitale said, referencing a hard-fought game against the No. 5-ranked Florida team. “Moral victories don’t count at this level of basketball. And you hear some of the people, ‘We played them close. We played them tough.’ 

“The bottom line is you’re Kentucky. You’re Kentucky. And you’ve got to leave here with a win, especially at home. There are no moral victories. Come on. I don’t want to hear that.”

Collin Chandler and Jasper Johnson of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate in the first half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Rupp Arena on Jan. 24, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

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The Wildcats were once the top program in the country under former Coach John Calipari, who left for Arkansas after being unable to make a long March Madness run in recent seasons, including a shocking first round upset to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 

The Wildcats have been coached by Mark Pope since, and they made the Sweet 16 in last year’s tournament before losing to Tennessee. 

Kentucky Jasper Johnson in action vs Michigan State at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on Nov. 18, 2025. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated )

But this year, Kentucky is 10-8 in SEC play, and now face the No. 9 seed in the upcoming tournament this week. The winner of each conference earns a tournament berth, but the Wildcats know good seeding in the NCAA Tournament requires a strong run heading into Selection Sunday this upcoming weekend. 

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The Wildcats will start their SEC Tournament play on Wednesday against No. 16 LSU. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Chargers agree to deal with former Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold

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Chargers agree to deal with former Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold

The Chargers bolstered their efforts to protect quarterback Justin Herbert all while diversifying their offense by agreeing to a multiyear deal with veteran fullback Alec Ingold on Sunday, the team announced.

Ingold’s deal with the Chargers reportedly is for two years and $7.5 million.

Ingold will be no stranger to the Chargers’ plans on offense. He played the past four seasons in Miami under coach Mike McDaniel, the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator. Last year he caught eight passes for 52 yards and ran the ball twice in 17 games.

Ingold caught 47 passes for 372 yards and rushed for 34 yards in 20 carries in four seasons with the Dolphins. He also had two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown.

Before his time in Miami, Ingold played three seasons with the Raiders.

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The deal comes two days after the Chargers signed veteran center Tyler Biadasz to take over for the retiring Bradley Bozeman. They agreed to terms on a one-year deal with edge rusher Khalil Mack on Saturday.

With the free agency negotiation period set to begin Monday at 9 a.m. PDT, the Chargers remain in strong position to be significant players in the free-agent market. They rank among the top-five teams in salary cap space, per Overthecap.com.

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