Sports
Are the Giants less ‘clown show’ than the Jets? It’s getting harder to tell: Sando’s Pick Six
The New York Jets’ roots as a brash and unapologetic upstart, cemented by Joe Namath’s Super Bowl III bravado, differentiated them from the old-guard New York Giants for decades.
When the Jets had bombastic and playful Rex Ryan as their coach, the Giants had stern taskmaster Tom Coughlin.
When the Jets were going all-in on the polarizing Aaron Rodgers, the Giants were hoping the fifth and sixth seasons of nice guy Daniel Jones might turn out differently.
If the Jets aspired to be cryptocurrency, the Giants hoped to be the S&P 500. What’s the difference when both are competitively bankrupt?
The Pick Six column leads this week by examining how the Giants resemble the Jets, in results if not always process. If Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield mocking Giants fill-in Tommy DeVito during a 30-7 Buccaneers rout at MetLife Stadium helped drive home the point, great, but the evidence has been accumulating for years. The full Pick Six menu this week:
• No difference between Jets, Giants?
• Can Eagles threaten Lions atop NFC?
• Great week for Bills, not Chiefs
• Surviving the Will Levis roller coaster
• Should a HOF coach win most of time?
• 2-minute drill: Roman and Lamar
1. What is the difference between the ‘clown show’ Jets and classy Giants again? Do not look for it in the standings.
Daniel Jones’ recent farewell speech and the Giants’ decision to grant the quarterback’s request for his release reflected the latest major failure for an organization with two winning records over its past 12 seasons. But, as reaction after reaction after reaction after reaction noted, this latest failure was handled in a “classy” manner.
The Jets, meanwhile, give off “clown show” vibes even while having a (slightly) better record this season, and a similar record over the past dozen (Giants are 69-120-1, Jets are 66-124).
What’s the difference between the Giants and Jets again?
“The difference is, the Giants have won championships and have done so most recently (2007, 2011), so they have the most credibility capital to burn,” a coach from another team said. “That is all. They are burning through it.”
If that credibility didn’t run out when DeVito was promoted ahead of Drew Lock, who had been the backup to Jones all season, how about when the Giants fell behind Tampa Bay 23-0 at halftime and 30-0 through three quarters?
What about after the game, when rookie Malik Nabers, who wears jersey No. 1 after the Giants got permission from Hall of Famer Ray Flaherty’s heirs to use the long-retired number, called the team “soft as f—“? Or when star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence conceded the Bucs “beat the s—” out of the Giants?
“They beat the shit out of us today”
DL Dexter Lawrence on the “soft” #Giants pic.twitter.com/zvEDjSCpA3
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 24, 2024
These quotes could have been coming from the Jets’ locker room just as easily, except the team had a bye amid reports the relationship between Rodgers and owner Woody Johnson was strained.
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While the Jets have chased aging legends in Rodgers and Brett Favre, the Giants were slow to move on from highly drafted homegrown quarterbacks in Eli Manning and Jones. Those are differences, but what played out at the position this past week felt similar.
Johnson, per The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini, suggested to Jets coaches after four games that the team should bench Rodgers. He fired coach Robert Saleh a week later without consulting general manager Joe Douglas, per the report.
More recently, the Giants promoted DeVito over $5 million backup Lock as Jones’ replacement, which made zero sense unless DeVito’s popularity among some fans was a factor.
“That move made less sense than anything that has happened in the league this season,” one exec said.
How could a team make such a move? Well …
Giants owner John Mara previously lamented losing star running back Saquon Barkley to the rival Philadelphia Eagles in free agency because, in Mara’s words, Barkley was “the most popular player we have, by far.” To what degree was player popularity a factor in DeVito over Lock?
“It has to be the owner trying to drum up some local support playing off of last year’s success,” an offensive coach said. (The Giants’ defense was primarily responsible for the three victories DeVito started in 2023.)
If Mara influenced the DeVito decision, it’s bad. If the football people made it on their own, that might be worse.
Seven years ago, then-coach Ben McAdoo benched Manning in favor of Geno Smith when the Giants were 2-9, ending Manning’s streak of 210 consecutive regular-season starts (the third-longest streak in NFL history). Mara fired McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese the day after Smith lost his first start. Manning was reinstated as the starter. Smith never again played for the Giants. He later emerged as a productive starter for Seattle — better than any Giants starter since then, for sure.
Lock might or might not be another Smith, but the next coach or executive who thinks DeVito has a future as a starter will be the first I’ve encountered. The Giants finished Sunday with 245 yards — 10 fewer than Barkley gained on the ground (and 57 fewer than he gained in total) for Philadelphia on Sunday night — against a Tampa Bay defense that had allowed 425 per game over its previous six.
Despite all that, every logical football person would rather work for Mara than for the Jets’ Johnson. As one exec put it, “Mara, I respect. He might make his thoughts known, but I haven’t seen evidence he forces it. I think you could talk to him and make things make sense. Woody and his crew? Who knows? They might just do something on their own. That is scary.”
Even so, the Giants’ winning percentage (.457) since John Mara succeeded his late father, Wellington, as owner during the 2005 season ranks 22nd among win rates for all current owners since each took control. The Jets’ Johnson ranks 23rd with a .430 win rate since purchasing his team in 2000.
What’s the difference between the Giants and Jets again?
Not as much as the Giants’ two Super Bowl victories this century (with two wild-card teams that got hot) suggest.
Wellington Mara was the owner of record when the team hired Coughlin and traded for Manning on draft day in 2004. The Giants are 50-91-1 (.356) since Coughlin departed. That ranks 30th in the NFL.
“What we are watching (with the Giants) is, Paul Brown passes the Bengals to Mike Brown (in 1991) and all mayhem breaks out,” a veteran coach said.
One difference is that the Giants had Coughlin and Manning for roughly a decade after their ownership was passed to the next generation in 2005. In Cincinnati, those early 1990s Bengals teams were already transitioning away from their Super Bowl coach, Sam Wyche, and their Super Bowl quarterback, Boomer Esiason. They fell off faster.
The Giants are the ones free-falling now. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars (.338) and Jets (.310) have worse records since Coughlin resigned under pressure following the 2015 season.
What’s the difference between the Giants and Jets again?
The Giants do not have to worry about Mara landing his helicopter on the practice field and summoning their GM to the office for his firing, as Fox’s Jay Glazer reported Johnson did with Douglas last week (see video below at the one-minute mark).
The Inside Scoop with @JayGlazer! 👏
Jay breaks down what is going on with the 49ers, Giants and more!! pic.twitter.com/2kW0tOa155
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 24, 2024
The differences do not show up in how these teams have hired.
Mara and Johnson have combined to hire 13 head coaches (including interim coaches). The only one with a winning record during his tenure was Al Groh, who went 9-7 in his lone season with the Jets (2000).
Mara’s hires have a combined 50-91-1 (.356) record. Based on this, the team should put Coughlin (.531) in its Ring of Honor a second time.
| Mara Hire | Tenure | Record |
|---|---|---|
|
2022- |
17-27-1 (.389) |
|
|
2020-21 |
10-23 (.303) |
|
|
2018-19 |
9-23 (.281) |
|
|
2017 |
1-3 (.250) |
|
|
2016-17 |
13-15 (.464) |
|
|
2016-24 |
50-91-1 (.356) |
*Interim
Johnson’s hires have a combined 171-227 (.430) record — bad, but not as bad as Mara’s hires.
| Johnson Hire | Tenure | Record |
|---|---|---|
|
2024- |
1-5 (.167) |
|
|
2021-24 |
20-36 (.357) |
|
|
2019-20 |
9-23 (.281) |
|
|
2015-18 |
24-40 (.375) |
|
|
2009-14 |
46-50 (.479) |
|
|
2006-08 |
23-25 (.479) |
|
|
2001-05 |
39-41 (.488) |
|
|
2000 |
9-7 (.563) |
|
|
2000-24 |
171-227 (.430) |
*Interim
“It seems like the Jets are in disarray and the Giants are the prideful heirs to a great legacy,” a defensive coach said. “In reality, neither makes a lot of good decisions.”
Nearly a quarter-century after the Jets were rebuffed by Bill Belichick, only to settle for Groh, rumors persist that the Giants could bring back Belichick, their former defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells. Belichick passed up the Jets over what he called at the time “various uncertainties” regarding ownership shortly before Johnson purchased the team in 2000. There can be no uncertainties about Giants ownership now. It needs help.
2. The Philadelphia Eagles have won their past seven games and seem to be gaining momentum. Can they seriously threaten the Detroit Lions in the NFC?
After watching Barkley and the Eagles dominate the Los Angeles Rams 37-20, NBC’s Cris Collinsworth declared Philadelphia a team that could win it all.
The Athletic’s playoff model agrees, with a caveat. The model sees the Lions as about twice as likely to win the Super Bowl, 21 percent to 11 percent.
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How do NFL insiders see it?
“One game, head to head, yes, the Eagles could win, but if they played five games, Philly would lose at least three of them, maybe four of them,” an NFC coach whose team faced the Eagles said.
Another assistant from the NFC called the gap between the Lions and Eagles “substantial” even though a single game separates them in the conference standings.
“I don’t know if I trust Philly still,” he said. “There is something about if (Jalen) Hurts gets behind and they have to throw. Now, the defensive turnaround has been enormous for them.”
This was not a consensus view.
“I don’t think the Eagles are far behind because, with Saquon Barkley, they can run it on anybody,” an NFC exec said. “That would be a really good game. I don’t think the gap is as big as some think it is. Vic Fangio’s defense can be a little tricky, but I think they are buying in. They seem to be getting it, making calls, making adjustments.”
The Lions, Eagles and Packers are the only teams ranked among the NFL’s top 10 in EPA per play on both sides of the ball, led by Detroit (second on offense, third on defense), per TruMedia.
Two execs thought Green Bay was the NFC team most likely to threaten the Lions or Eagles.
“I like Jordan Love,” one of them said. “Something makes him short-circuit still, and that is just a growing pain you are going to have to live with. It’s like some of the stuff Josh Allen went with early on.”
The second exec questioned Minnesota because of Sam Darnold.
“I don’t see anyone else in Detroit’s category,” he said. “I don’t trust Darnold. I would say Green Bay because of their overall talent, and because I trust Matt LaFleur and I trust their playoff performance last year.”
The table below stacks all NFC teams by percent chance of reaching the playoffs, according to the model.
The Athletic’s playoff model projections: NFC
3. The Kansas City Chiefs won Sunday, but it felt like they lost. The Buffalo Bills did not play, but it felt like they won. Here’s why the Chiefs should be worried.
Bills coach Sean McDermott holds the NFL’s best regular-season record among head coaches (14-2) since an investigative report published Dec. 7, 2023 painted McDermott as an obstacle the organization had to overcome in order to win.
The three-part series by NFL writer Tyler Dunne for his “Go Long” website featured devastating testimonials from anonymous McDermott associates.
“This job’s too hard to fight from within and that’s what you do there,” one of the sources said. “You’ve got to overcome the head coach.”
McDermott’s intensity and its potential negative effects were something I’d explored earlier last season when suggesting the team needed its coach to find a new gear. The criticisms aligned with the Bills’ late-game struggles in pressure situations, but if we’re going to question McDermott when it appears his team might be on the verge of crumbling, we should appreciate the successes when things appear to be operating smoothly.
Head coach records since Week 14, 2023
Could this season be going much better for the Bills? They are 9-2 and riding a six-game winning streak after handling the Chiefs 30-21 in Week 11. They’ll come out of their bye with a home game against the depleted 5-6 San Francisco 49ers.
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Drama? There seems to be none in Buffalo.
“The coach and GM (Brandon Beane) had the foresight to get rid of the receiver (Stefon Diggs) because they knew it was detrimental to the quarterback and the atmosphere,” a coach from another team said. “All of sudden, they are playing with Curtis Samuel and draft picks and just whatever, and the quarterback is playing good. And then they add Amari Cooper.”
Any Bills fan watching the Chiefs struggle to a 30-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday has to like Buffalo’s prospects in a potential playoff rematch.
Against Carolina, Kansas City suffered its 10th-worst defensive EPA performance (-13.2) in 72 regular-season and playoff games since 2021, per TruMedia. The chart below identifies the Carolina game. The Bills’ offense is responsible for five of the Chiefs’ 18 worst defensive EPA games since 2021. Those games appear via blue dots.
Buffalo’s offense has averaged 11.3 EPA per game in the six most recent matchups, including playoffs, with Kansas City dating to 2021. Only 12 teams since 2000 have averaged 11.3 or better over a full season. The Bills’ offense has performed better across these six games against Kansas City than it has performed, on average, against the NFL’s other 30 defenses over the same period.
Bills offensive splits, 2021-24
| Opponent | Chiefs | Other 30 teams |
|---|---|---|
|
Games |
6 |
61 |
|
PPG |
27.5 |
27.2 |
|
TD/game |
3.5 |
3.2 |
|
EPA/play |
0.16 |
0.08 |
|
EPA/game |
11.3 |
5 |
|
Success gate |
47.0% |
46.2% |
|
Red zone TD % |
70.0% |
63.2% |
|
Turnovers/game |
0.5 |
1.4 |
|
Turnover EPA/game |
-2.2 |
-5.7 |
The production has remained steady across three Bills offensive coordinators even as the Chiefs’ defense has improved.
We do not yet know whether the Bills and Chiefs will meet again in the playoffs. If they do, the focus should be on what the Chiefs’ defense can do to stop Buffalo from producing even better against Kansas City than it produces against the other 30 teams. That seemed especially true Sunday after the Panthers nearly outscored Kansas City.
“I don’t see how Buffalo melts down unless they have a ton of injuries,” an exec said. “I’m not sure what the catalyst has been, except that maybe they have been off everybody’s radar long enough, and the offseason did not target them as much, and they are clearly operating better in those conditions than having the spotlight on them.”
4. Titans coach Brian Callahan loved how quarterback Will Levis played Sunday. It was a performance for the ages, in a way.
Will Levis took eight sacks and threw a pick six for the Tennessee Titans against the Houston Texans.
According to Pro Football Reference, which has unofficial sack data since 1960 (sacks became official in 1982), this was the 36th time since then that an NFL quarterback checked both those dubious boxes — at least eight sacks, at least one pick six — in the same game.
Here’s the deal: Levis was already on the list, despite Sunday marking only his 17th career start. He took eight sacks and threw a pick six in a 30-14 defeat to Green Bay in Week 3.
The difference Sunday was that Levis’ Titans won the game. Levis played a positive role in the outcome as well, completing 18 of 24 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. But the Titans’ 32-27 victory over the Texans was an outlier among outliers. Starting quarterbacks are now 3-33 (.083) since 1960 when taking eight sacks and having an interception returned for a touchdown.
Levis is the only quarterback to appear twice on the list. His penchant for taking sacks was already on my radar entering Week 12. I’d been looking for any statistical category for Levis that correlated with Tennessee winning. The answer was clear: Levis’ sack EPA was the key. His ratio of sack EPA in victories versus defeats was the most lopsided through any quarterback’s first 16 starts since 2007, per TruMedia.
That changed Sunday when the Titans lost 10.8 EPA on his sacks but still won the game.
The table below stacks Levis’ starts from best to worst sack EPA. The correlation with winning is stark.
Will Levis’ sack EPA, best to worst
| Yr-Wk | Opponent | Result | Levis Sack EPA |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024-4 |
W, 31-12 |
+0.0 |
|
|
2024-6 |
L, 20-17 |
+0.0 |
|
|
2023-12 |
W, 17-10 |
-1.1 |
|
|
2023-8 |
W, 28-23 |
-1.7 |
|
|
2023-13 |
L, 31-28 |
-1.8 |
|
|
2023-14 |
W, 28-27 |
-2.0 |
|
|
2023-11 |
L, 34-14 |
-5.1 |
|
|
2023-9 |
L, 20-16 |
-5.5 |
|
|
2023-10 |
L, 20-6 |
-6.0 |
|
|
2024-10 |
L, 27-17 |
-6.0 |
|
|
2023-17 |
L, 26-3 |
-7.5 |
|
|
2024-1 |
L, 24-17 |
-7.7 |
|
|
2024-11 |
L, 23-13 |
-7.9 |
|
|
2024-2 |
L, 24-17 |
-8.7 |
|
|
2023-15 |
L, 19-16 |
-8.8 |
|
|
2024-12 |
W, 32-27 |
-10.8 |
|
|
2024-3 |
L, 30-14 |
-16.2 |
Why so many sacks?
“I don’t think he’s naturally instinctive,” an offensive coach who studied quarterbacks in the 2023 draft said. “Bad things happen as a result.”
Callahan, who raised some eyebrows by using the word “dumb” to characterize a Levis fumble against the Jets in his Week 2 postgame news conference, sounded much different Sunday.
“I thought he played for the most part fantastic, particularly in the first half,” Callahan said. “You throw interceptions sometimes. To see him come back and fight was great. But I really was happy with the way he played. He put some great balls down the field. He did some really nice things and he protected the ball well outside the interception. That is what quarterbacking looks like.”
5. Should a Hall of Fame coach have a winning record most of the time?
The 29 coaches already enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame had winning records in 71 percent of their combined seasons.
No current coach with at least seven qualifying seasons in the role has posted winning records as frequently as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, whose 15 in 17 seasons equates to an 88.2 percent rate (one more victory this season will get him to 88.9 percent).
McDermott, Kansas City’s Andy Reid and Jacksonville’s Doug Pederson have already won or lost enough games for the 2024 season to qualify in their totals. The other coaches in the table below could still have winning or losing records this season, so 2024 was excluded for them.
Current HCs with 7-plus qualifying seasons
| Rank | Current Coach | Winning Seasons | % Winning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
15/17 |
88.2% |
|
|
2 |
7/8 |
87.5% |
|
|
3 |
6/7 |
85.7% |
|
|
4 |
21/26 |
80.8% |
|
|
5 |
13/17 |
76.5% |
|
|
6 |
12/17 |
70.6% |
|
|
7 |
10/16 |
62.5% |
|
|
7 |
5/8 |
62.5% |
|
|
9 |
4/7 |
57.1% |
|
|
10 |
3/7 |
42.9% |
The subject is topical because the Pro Football Hall of Fame plans to announce on Dec. 3 which retired coach will advance from the semifinalist to finalist round, a big step toward enshrinement.
I recently joined eight other members of the Hall of Fame Blue-Ribbon Committee in discussing and voting on the semifinalists: Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves, Chuck Knox, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert and Mike Shanahan among long-time head coaches, plus Clark Shaughnessy (primarily an assistant) and Bill Arnsparger (exclusively an assistant). We do not yet know which coach will advance.
These are fun candidacies to think through. I lean toward asking the most basic questions. How frequently does a head coach win? How consistently does the coach win when he changes organizations? How about when he changes starting quarterbacks? Does he take his teams to Super Bowls? Has he won a championship? How many?
George Allen, John Madden and Vince Lombardi are the only Hall of Fame coaches to produce winning records at a higher rate than Tomlin has produced them. They combined for 30 winning records in 30 seasons before the salary cap promoted parity.
The table below shows Allen, Madden and Lombardi leading the way among the 29 Hall of Fame coaches. I’ve slotted in the seven longtime head coaches who are Hall semifinalists this year.
| Rank | Coach | Winning Seasons | % Winning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
George Allen |
10/10 |
100.0% |
|
1 |
Vince Lombardi |
10/10 |
100.0% |
|
1 |
John Madden |
10/10 |
100.0% |
|
4 |
George Halas |
34/40 |
85.0% |
|
5 |
Tony Dungy |
11/13 |
84.6% |
|
6 |
Guy Chamberlain |
5/6 |
83.3% |
|
7 |
Mike Holmgren |
14/17 |
82.4% |
|
8 |
Ray Flaherty |
9/11 |
81.8% |
|
8 |
Curly Lambeau |
27/33 |
81.8% |
|
8 |
Don Shula |
27/33 |
81.8% |
|
11 |
Paul Brown |
20/25 |
80.0% |
|
12 |
Joe Gibbs |
12/16 |
75.0% |
|
13 |
Bill Cowher |
11/15 |
73.3% |
|
14 |
George Seifert |
8/11 |
72.7% |
|
15 |
M. Schottenheimer |
15/21 |
71.4% |
|
16 |
Bill Walsh |
7/10 |
70.0% |
|
17 |
Tom Landry |
20/29 |
69.0% |
|
18 |
Bill Parcells |
13/19 |
68.4% |
|
19 |
Jimmy Johnson |
6/9 |
66.7% |
|
19 |
Buddy Parker |
10/15 |
66.7% |
|
19 |
Bud Grant |
12/18 |
66.7% |
|
19 |
Steve Owen |
16/24 |
66.7% |
|
23 |
Chuck Noll |
15/23 |
65.2% |
|
24 |
Hank Stram |
11/17 |
64.7% |
|
25 |
Jimmy Conzelman |
9/15 |
60.0% |
|
26 |
Chuck Knox |
13/22 |
59.1% |
|
27 |
Don Coryell |
8/14 |
57.1% |
|
28 |
Sid Gillman |
10/18 |
55.6% |
|
29 |
Marv Levy |
9/17 |
52.9% |
|
30 |
Dan Reeves |
12/23 |
52.2% |
|
31 |
Fritz Pollard |
1/2 |
50.0% |
|
31 |
Tom Flores |
6/12 |
50.0% |
|
31 |
Tom Coughlin |
10/20 |
50.0% |
|
31 |
Mike Shanahan |
10/20 |
50.0% |
|
35 |
Dick Vermeil |
7/15 |
46.7% |
|
36 |
Weeb Ewbank |
7/20 |
35.0% |
This is only one lens through which to view coaches. In general, the lower a coach resides on that list, the more I think he needs special achievements for enshrinement (example: Marv Levy taking the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls). Dick Vermeil and Weeb Ewbank are the only Hall of Famers with winning records in less than half their seasons as head coaches.
6. Two-minute drill: Harbaugh Bowl is about more than that
While the Monday night game between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers focuses a spotlight on the Harbaugh brothers, that is not the only storyline.
The game also brings together Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and his former longtime offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, who now serves in that role with the Chargers.
Lamar Jackson with a long hesitation when asked how he’d characterize his time with his former offensive coordinator Greg Roman pic.twitter.com/1WpnS5OaWC
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) November 21, 2024
While Roman’s offense played a role in Jackson becoming a dual-threat star right away, the way Jackson smiled and paused when asked about his former coordinator during the week played into the idea that change was needed in Baltimore for the quarterback to take another step in his development.
“You have to develop your running quarterback into a passer at some point or you hit a ceiling,” a veteran offensive coach said. “You have to recognize that and make a move when you can, when you think you can hit it.”
Jackson’s production has returned to what it was at his best under Roman, except he’s been more productive as a passer, and less productive as a runner.
Some might have read Jackson’s response as an indictment of his former coordinator, but the situation could be more nuanced than that.
The relationship between Jackson and the Ravens seemed to deteriorate through the pandemic and what turned into a tense standoff regarding a new contract. Roman left the team in January 2023, when that relationship still seemed strained. The sides worked through those issues over a three-month period before reaching a $260 million contract extension.
Roman wasn’t with the Ravens during that time, so he wasn’t part of whatever healing process took place. All parties have moved on, and all seem to be in a better place than they were the last time Jackson and Roman were together on the Ravens.
If Roman’s offense was holding back Jackson, we might expect Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to bump up against a schematic ceiling at some point.
“They let Herbert run wild throwing the ball earlier in his career, and it didn’t work,” the offensive coach said. “Now, they have reined him in. Herbert has to take a step back for the good of the organization, and within it, he has to grow and come out the other side. You hope there is enough balance over time.”
• Packers roll: The Green Bay Packers’ 38-10 victory over San Francisco at Lambeau Field was about what should have happened without Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, Trent Williams or Brandon Aiyuk available to the 49ers. Is there much to read into this outcome, beyond the fact that the 49ers are in trouble?
“It’s a combination of injuries and then Kyle Shanahan’s late-game management, blowing all those leads earlier in the season,” an exec said. “They look tired, like Manti Te’o was saying before the season. They had a year like this before (in 2020). I want them to do well because I don’t want to see them get another stud in the draft after a down year.”
• Seahawks D: Seattle won while every other NFC West team lost, and its defense continued its recent improvement under first-year coach Mike Macdonald. The Seahawks rank sixth in defensive EPA per play since Week 9, a span of games against all three NFC West opponents. They held Arizona’s Kyler Murray to the ninth-worst statistical game of his 77-start career by EPA per pass play in the 16-6 victory.
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• On Washington: Will allowing two kick-return touchdowns in the fourth quarter and missing an extra point that would have forced overtime during an inexplicable home defeat to the Dallas Cowboys wind up defining this once-promising Commanders season?
It was a wild way to punctuate a three-game losing streak.
A 223-yard fourth quarter padded the Commanders’ offensive stat sheet, but that will not spare offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury from continued questions about staying power over the second halves of seasons. Washington finished with negative offensive EPA (-5.7) for a third consecutive game, all defeats, after enduring only one such game in the first nine weeks.
• Better late than never: Dallas, for all its struggles, is the only team to score more than 17 points in the final 9:00 of regulation this season. The Cowboys have done it twice (19 against Baltimore, 24 against Washington).
• Classic Mayfield: Watch this Baker Mayfield postgame interview and laugh while he sounds like a kid trying to convince his parents he didn’t take the car out the night before. How did he keep a straight face?
“Tribute to Tommy, yeah. He’s a good dude, he’s got swag.”
Baker Mayfield on his celebration referencing Tommy DeVito today: pic.twitter.com/yZQ1TqquG0
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 24, 2024
(Photo of Tommy DeVito: Elsa / Getty Images)
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As I put finishing grades on prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, I find myself wishing it were as strong of a class as the 2024 version.
Based on the rookie film, last year’s draft class certainly hasn’t disappointed in the NFL. Here is a look at The Athletic’s All-Rookie team:
Quarterback
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Round 1, No. 2 overall)
Because of the season Bo Nix had, this was a much closer race than anyone expected. From start to finish this season, though, Daniels was the best rookie quarterback.
He engineered a dramatic franchise turnaround, leading a Commanders team that won just four games a year ago to a 12-5 finish. Daniels passed for 3,568 yards and accounted for 31 total touchdowns, finishing No. 1 among rookies in completion percentage (69 percent), yards per attempt (7.4) and passing first downs (204).
.@JayD__5 made history while clinching a playoff berth for the Washington @Commanders on Sunday!
Daniels is the ONLY rookie in @NFL history to have 3+ passing TDs and 125+ rushing yards in a single game. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TdLlSTkHrG
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 31, 2024
Daniels is a high-completion passer, but it’s what he brings with his legs that separates him. He set a rookie QB rushing record (891 yards) and finished 10th in the NFL with 28 carries of 10-plus yards. He also scrambled an NFL-high 75 times, so it will be interesting to see how that number fluctuates over the next few seasons.
A common thread between Daniels and Nix? Both were five-year starters in college, and that experience certainly played a part in their successes.
Second team: Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (Round 1, No. 12)
In most years, Nix runs away with Offensive Rookie of the Year. His finished the regular season with 3,775 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions, adding 430 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. And, like Daniels, Nix played a critical part in leading his team to double-digit wins and the playoffs.
The two things I liked best about Nix as a prospect: He understood where to go with the football, and his scrambling gave defenders fits. The main concerns, however, were how much he relied on the quick game in college and how he struggled when his eyes sped up on him. All credit to Nix and Sean Payton for the QB’s development. He’s been proving a lot of people wrong, including me.
Honorable mentions: Caleb Williams (Bears), Drake Maye (Patriots), Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons), Spencer Rattler (Saints), Joe Milton III (Patriots)
GO DEEPER
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Running back
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 4, No. 125)
Just four running backs rushed for 1,100-plus yards while averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry this season: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and … Irving. He played only 45.2 percent of Tampa’s offensive snaps and had single-digit carries in eight of 17 games, but Irving proved to be a valuable part of the Bucs’ run to an NFC South title — Tampa finished 6-1 in its final seven games and Irving averaged 119.1 total yards per game during that stretch.
The sixth back drafted in April, Irving finished No. 1 among all first-year running backs in rushing yards (1,122), rushing touchdowns (eight) and receiving (47 catches for 392 yards). Some soured on him during the draft process due to his average testing (4.55-second 40-yard dash and 29.5-inch vertical, at only 192 pounds), but his instinctive run qualities and pass-catching skills made it easy to appreciate Irving’s skill set.
Bucky Irving scores!
NFC South in their sights.
📺: #NOvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/nBRgpPWSxS— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
Second team: Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants (Round 5, No. 166)
In basketball terms, Tracy would be that high-energy sixth man who can swing games when he catches fire. The Purdue product was a threat to rip off an explosive play any time he touched the ball — he finished with six carries of 20-plus yards (one more than Bijan Robinson). Tracy (839 yards) was the only rookie back other than Irving to top 500 yards rushing.
Honorable mentions: Ray Davis (Bills), Isaac Guerendo (49ers), Braelon Allen (Jets), Trey Benson (Cardinals), Audric Estime (Broncos)
Wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1, No. 23); Malik Nabers, New York Giants (Round 1, No. 6)
LSU teammates a year ago, Thomas and Nabers took the NFL by storm — despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play.
Thomas finished with a rookie-best 1,282 receiving yards, third most in the NFL behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. He had the fastest “flying 20” at the combine, so it was no surprise that he proved to be a big-play weapons almost immediately, producing a league-best five catches of 50-plus yards. He felt like a steal on draft night, and that is even more true now.
Nabers, meanwhile, finished third among all NFL receivers with 109 catches (behind only Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown), even though he missed two games. His 1,204 receiving yards ranked seventh in the league, and he was one of the best at making defenders miss in space and moving the chains. Nabers is (already) knocking on the door of being considered a top-five NFL receiver.
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Second team: Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (Round 1, No. 4); Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (Round 1, No. 28)
Harrison’s production pales in comparison to expectations, but he still had a very respectable rookie campaign. He finished fourth among first-year receivers with 822 receiving yards, and his seven touchdowns tied with Nabers and Ladd McConkey for second most among rookies. On 108 targets, Harrison was tagged with just one drop.
Worthy wasn’t considered a first-rounder by most teams, due to his lack of size and the undisciplined areas of his game. Although those concerns popped up in almost every game Worthy played, the Chiefs leaned into his explosive talent to maximize his impact. Worthy finished with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, three rushing).
Honorable mentions: Rome Odunze (Bears), Keon Coleman (Bills), Jalen McMillan (Buccaneers), Xavier Legette (Panthers), Troy Franklin (Broncos)
Slot receiver
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 2, No. 34)
In an exceptional wide receiver draft, the Chargers addressed their offensive line in the first round and trusted the depth of the class. And the strategy worked — Los Angeles traded up a few spots to secure McConkey, whom many around the league believed would be a first-rounder.
McConkey finished with the ninth-most receiving yards (1,149) among all wide receivers and showed off his shiftiness after the catch (14 forced missed tackles). Despite two fumbles, he was one of the most reliable rookies (74.8 percent reception rate when targeted). Most importantly, McConkey stayed healthy, missing just one game.
LADD. Chargers take a 17-0 lead.
📺: #LACvsNE on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/7dO9Ch30WH— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2024
Second team: Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos (Round 7, No. 235)
I don’t think many predicted Vele to have the same number of receiving touchdowns as Deebo Samuel, Puka Nacua or George Pickens. But he found a home in Denver and took advantage of his playing time. With 70 percent of his snaps coming in the slot, Vele finished with 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns.
Honorable mentions: Jalen Coker (Panthers), Ricky Pearsall (49ers), Malik Washington (Dolphins)
Tight end
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 1, No. 13)
The easiest decision on this All-Rookie team, Bowers had arguably the best debut season for a tight end in NFL history.
Despite the Raiders’ below-average quarterback play, Bowers led all NFL tight ends in catches (112), receiving yards (1,194) and first-down grabs (58) and finished second in catches of 20-plus yards (15). He broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end, and his drops were rare (three on 139 targets). Bowers’ touchdown total (five) doesn’t match the rest of his production, but that is more a reflection of the team than the player.
TE Brock Bowers (@brockbowers17) has now passed Puka Nacua (105 in 2023) for the most receptions in a single season in #NFL history by a rookie.#RaiderNation | @Raiders pic.twitter.com/OUSaxE69Mi
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) December 29, 2024
Second Team: AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 121)
There was a massive gap between Bowers and the next-best rookie tight end. Barner gets the nod because he was reliable catching the football and solid as a blocker. He finished with 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns, joining Bowers as the only rookie tight ends with multiple TDs.
Honorable mentions: Ja’Tavion Sanders (Panthers), Theo Johnson (Giants), Erick All (Bengals), Cade Stover (Texans)
Offensive tackle
Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 1, No. 5); JC Latham, Tennessee Titans (Round 1, No. 7)
The Chargers passed on Nabers, but I don’t know many who believe they made the wrong choice. That is how good Alt has been.
He is incredibly consistent with his steps, hands and body movements to frame up rushers and win with leverage. And he is doing all this at a position he hadn’t played before this season. This is going to sound hyperbolic, but based on Alt’s performance and development, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ascends to be the league’s top right tackle at some point the next few seasons.
While Alt moved from the left side to the right, Latham made the reverse transition and played well in his first season at left tackle. It was far from perfect, and he had understandable struggles for a rookie, but Tennessee can feel comfortable it has its long-term left tackle.
Second Team: Taliese Fuaga, New Orleans Saints (Round 1, No. 14); Roger Rosengarten, Baltimore Ravens (Round 2, No. 62)
Unsurprisingly, Fuaga was the only rookie tackle close to Alt as a run blocker. And his improvements in pass pro at left tackle over the final month were encouraging (see his tapes vs. the Commanders and Buccaneers). Similarly, Rosengarten was outstanding as a pass blocker at right tackle over the final two months (10 pressures and one sack allowed in his final eight starts).
Honorable mentions: Olu Fashanu (Jets), Amarius Mims (Bengals), Brandon Coleman (Commanders), DJ Glaze (Raiders), Tyler Guyton (Cowboys), Matt Goncalves (Colts)
GO DEEPER
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Guard
Dominick Puni, San Francisco 49ers (Round 3, No. 86); Jackson Powers-Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 2, No. 44)
There were 25 offensive linemen drafted before Puni, but he would be one of the first offensive linemen off the board if a redraft happened today. Not only did Puni play at a high level for a rookie, especially in the run game, he was reliable, starting all 17 games and leading his team in snaps played.
Powers-Johnson got a late start this season due to injury and went through his share of hiccups early. But he improved as the season progressed and his confidence increased, which allowed him to lean on his movement skills and physicality. His versatility was a strong selling point, and he showed that with eight starts at guard and six at center.
Second Team: Mason McCormick, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 4, No. 119); Layden Robinson, New England Patriots (Round 4, No. 103)
McCormick had a few “welcome to the league” moments (see his tape vs. the Ravens), but there were more positive moments in his debut season, as he started the final 14 games. Robinson wasn’t nearly as consistent, but the positive flashes — especially after he moved to left guard — were encouraging.
Honorable mentions: Dalton Tucker (Colts), Isaiah Adams (Cardinals), Christian Mahogany (Lions), Jordan Morgan (Packers)
Center
Zach Frazier, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 2, No. 51)
As good as Alt and Puni have been, there is a strong case to be made that Frazier was the top first-year offensive linemen. Although his length and athleticism are more solid than exceptional, he already looks like a veteran with his strength at contact and ability to outmaneuver defenders. I think people get tired of hearing about wrestling backgrounds for offensive linemen, but with Frazier, you can clearly see how his skills on the mat translate to the NFL.
Second Team: Graham Barton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 1, No. 26)
In most years, Barton would have been a shoo-in for the top rookie center. He seemed to have at least one penalty a game, an area of his game which needs to improve (flags were an issue for him in college, too). But Tampa has to be thrilled with his development.
Honorable mentions: Tanor Bortolini (Colts), Cooper Beebe (Cowboys), Beaux Limmer (Rams)
Edge rusher
Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams (Round 1, No. 19); Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins (Round 1, No. 21)
Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and Jonathan Greenard are the only players who created more pressures this season than Verse (77). To put that number in perspective, only Nick Bosa had more pressures as a rookie over the last dozen years. When Von Miller won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, he averaged 4.4 pressures per game; Verse averaged 4.5 this season.
Bro is DIFFERENT. 😮💨
📺: @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/VUQdP9PSA0
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 3, 2024
Robinson’s impact was more gradual. After tallying 14 pressures over the first eight games, he accounted for 42 over the second half of the season to finish with 56 — three more than T.J. Watt.
Second Team: Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts (Round 1, No. 15); Jonah Elliss, Denver Broncos (Round 3, No. 76)
As the first defensive player drafted, Latu had a bit of a disappointing season with just four sacks. But he led all rookies with three forced fumbles and showed enough promise off the bench that the Colts can be excited about a sophomore jump. Elliss, who finished third among rookies with five sacks, proved to be a quality subpackage rusher.
Honorable mentions: Chris Braswell (Buccaneers), Dallas Turner (Vikings), Marshawn Kneeland (Cowboys), Austin Booker (Bears), Javon Solomon (Bills), Jalyx Hunt (Eagles)
Defensive tackle
Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams (Round 2, No. 39); T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, No. 38)
Fiske finished as the rookie leader in sacks (8.5) and collected 51 pressures, three behind Quinnen Williams. He always had the twitchy urgency and quickness to make an impact in the NFL, but the continued development with his hands was awesome to see.
Selected one spot before Fiske, Sweat generally was viewed as a potential first-round pick based on size and ability, but questions about his weight and off-field consistency removed him from several boards. The Titans rolled the dice and, so far, that gamble has paid off. Sweat might never be a playmaker as a pass rusher, but he destroys gaps in the run game and has better range than his 360-pound size would suggest.
Second Team: Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks (Round 1, No. 16); Jer’Zhan Newton, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 36)
Injuries robbed us of seeing Murphy at full-go, but the flashes were enough to explain why he was so coveted in the draft. The same could be said about Newton, who started slow but has been a welcome part of the Commanders’ defensive line rotation.
Honorable mentions: Elijah Chatman (Giants), Mike Hall Jr. (Browns), Kris Jenkins (Bengals), Evan Anderson (49ers), Leonard Taylor III (Jets), Jonah Laulu (Raiders), Maason Smith (Jaguars), DeWayne Carter (Bills)
GO DEEPER
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Linebacker
First team: Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay Packers (Round 2, No. 45); Payton Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 3, No. 98)
Part of Cooper’s appeal as a prospect was his do-everything skill set, which was on full display this season. Despite missing a few games, he led all rookies with 13.0 tackles for loss (No. 2 among all NFL off-ball linebackers). After he returned from injury, Cooper played like one of the best defenders — not just rookie defenders — in the league.
Edgerrin Cooper has a sack tonight. Now he has an interception 🙌
📺: #GBvsSEA on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Pr0cXreRKn— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2024
Wilson had a terrific year, too, defending the run, dropping in coverage and blitzing the pocket. Most importantly, he stayed healthy for all 17 regular-season games and was one of the Steelers’ best coverage players on kicks and punts (300 special-teams snaps).
Second Team: Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 118); Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams (undrafted)
An off-and-on starter, Knight led all rookie linebackers in tackles (88) — not too surprising, considering he had 140 tackles last season at UTEP. He plays like a rabid dog against the run, with the instincts and play personality that directly lead to production. Speights ranked top 20 in the NFL with 60 tackles over the final two months of the season. He also has the lowest missed-tackle rate (5.7 percent) among rookie linebackers.
Honorable mentions: Trevin Wallace (Panthers), Marist Liufau (Cowboys), Jaylon Carlies (Colts), Junior Colson (Chargers), Winston Reid (Browns), Darius Muasau (Giants)
Cornerback
Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1, No. 22); Mike Sainristil, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 50)
Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, Terry McLaurin, Nabers — Mitchell faced some of the NFL’s best wide receivers and more than held his own. Despite not registering an interception (he had his chances), his snap-to-snap consistency made him the league’s most impressive first-year cornerback. Over the final 12 games, Mitchell allowed more than 35 receiving yards in a game just once. He also finished with 12 passes defended.
The second outside corner spot was much more competitive, but Sainristil gets the edge. He led all rookies with 14 passes defended and committed just two penalties, despite leading all first-year players in defensive snaps played (978). His competitiveness in coverage and against the run jumped off the screen — he finished with 93 tackles, second most among rookies.
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Second Team: Nate Wiggins, Baltimore Ravens (Round 1, No. 30); Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans (Round 2, No. 42); Tarheeb Still, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 5, No. 137)
With his pick six in Week 18, Wiggins finished his rookie campaign with more touchdowns than touchdowns allowed. The only rookie corner to allow a lower reception rate than Wiggins was Lassiter (47.8 percent of targets resulting in a catch). And I couldn’t leave off Still, who finished second among rookies with four interceptions while posting 10 passes defended and committing just one penalty.
Honorable mentions: Terrion Arnold (Lions), Renardo Green (49ers), Josh Newton (Bengals), Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (Titans), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Saints), Max Melton (Cardinals), Kris Abrams-Draine (Broncos)
Nickel cornerback
Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 2, No. 40)
After missing most of the first five weeks, DeJean entered the Eagles’ starting lineup and played like one of the best nickels in the league. You could make a strong argument that he was the best run defender among all first-year players, and he didn’t allow a touchdown on 71 coverage targets. Add his impact on special teams, and DeJean has been a home run for Philadelphia — especially for a second-rounder.
Second Team: Andru Phillips, New York Giants (Round 3, No. 70); Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 3, No. 89)
Phillips was an outstanding run defender this season and flashed in coverage. One of the concerns with him as a prospect was that he produced zero interceptions in 38 career games at Kentucky, so his first career NFL interception in Week 17 great to see. Despite missing four games due to injury, Smith finished his rookie season as one of only five NFL players with at least three forced fumbles and two interceptions — he was the first rookie to post those numbers since 2018.
Honorable mentions: Beanie Bishop Jr. (Steelers), Jarrian Jones (Jaguars), Chau Smith-Wade (Panthers), Christian Roland-Wallace (Chiefs)
Safety
Calen Bullock, Houston Texans (Round 3, No. 78); Tyler Nubin, New York Giants (Round 2, No. 47)
In a lot of ways, Bullock lived up exactly to his scouting report — both the good and the volatile. With his range in coverage, he led all rookies in interceptions (five) and allowed just 42.3 percent receptions when targeted. However, his questionable play strength was an issue, especially as a run defender. Despite the hiccups, Bullock proved to be an integral part of DeMeco Ryans’ defense, playing almost 1,000 snaps.
Rookie Calen Bullock has his 3rd interception of the season!
📺: #HOUvsGB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/deEHrMJmr3— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Nubin led all rookies in tackles (98), even though he missed four games. One of the reasons the Giants drafted him in the top 50 was his ball production in college (13 career interceptions), but he didn’t record an interception and registered just one pass breakup as a rookie — those numbers will need to improve next season.
Second Team: Evan Williams, Green Bay Packers (Round 4, No. 111); Kamren Kinchens, Los Angeles Rams (Round 3, No. 99)
If he hadn’t missed five games (and parts of others) due to injury, Williams likely would have made the first team. Regardless, he had a much better season than anyone anticipated, and the Packers can feel optimistic about their free safety situation moving forward. Kinchens allowed four touchdown passes this season, but he posted four interceptions and led all rookies in interception yards (123).
Honorable mentions: Malik Mustapha (49ers), Javon Bullard (Packers), Demani Richardson (Panthers), Jaylen McCollough (Rams), Cole Bishop (Bills), Jaden Hicks (Chiefs), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Cardinals), Dell Pettus (Patriots)
Kicker
Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 6, No. 212)
Second Team: Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings (Round 6, No. 203), Joshua Karty, Los Angeles Rams (Round 6, No. 209)
GO DEEPER
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Punter
Tory Taylor, Chicago Bears (Round 4, No. 122)
Second Team: Ryan Rehkow, Cincinnati Bengals (undrafted); Matthew Hayball, New Orleans Saints (undrafted)
(Top photos of Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers: Kara Durrette, Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
A coalition of women’s advocacy organizations have called on President-elect Donald Trump to demand the NCAA change its policies regarding trans athletes in women’s sports.
Our Bodies, Our Sports, the first and only coalition of women’s advocacy organizations fighting for fairness in women’s sports in the country, issued a letter to the president-elect requesting that he use his influence to have the NCAA take action “to protect the rights and opportunities of collegiate female athletes,” a press release read.
“We write now to ask you to also use your powerful voice to urge the NCAA to take action and clarify participation rules to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes,” the letter read, in part.
President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Oct. 15, 2024 in Atlanta. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“The NCAA’s controversial and unscientific Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy continues to allow men to participate in women’s sports – taking away women’s opportunities to compete, roster spots on teams, medals, and safe and fair competition,” the release read.
This letter to the president-elect comes ahead of the 2025 NCAA Convention, which takes place from Jan. 14-17 in Nashville, Tennessee. The week is filled with issues, forums, business sessions and award presentations.
The letter also comes after a federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to redefine sex in Title IX as “gender identity,” striking it down nationwide.
FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN BIDEN ADMIN’S TITLE IX REWRITE
The ruling came in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky Northern Division in Cardona v. Tennessee on Tuesday.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti celebrated the ruling with a post on X. “Another massive win for TN and the country!” the post read. “This morning, a federal court ruled in our favor and vacated the Biden admin’s radical new Title IX rule nationwide.
“The court’s order is resounding victory for the protection of girls’ privacy in locker rooms and showers, and for the freedom to speak biologically-accurate pronouns.”
The NCAA logo is displayed on center court as work continues at The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh for the NCAA college basketball tournament on March 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
The Supreme Court has previously rejected the Biden administration’s emergency request to enforce parts of a new rule that would have included protection from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX.
As for the NCAA’s current transgender participation policy, it allows trans athletes to play in a “sport-by-sport approach,” which “preserves opportunity for transgender student-athletes while balancing fairness, inclusion and safety for all who compete.” The governing body says its policy aligns with that of the “Olympic Movement.”
Part of the NCAA’s policy requires transgender student-athletes to provide documentation that meets the 2010 NCAA policy, plus meet the sport standard for documented testosterone levels at three points in time: Prior to competition during regular season, prior to the first competition in an NCAA championship and prior to any competition in the “non-championship segment.”
Our Bodies, Our Sports consists of the following member organizations: Independent Women’s Forum, Independent Council on Women’s Sports, Women’s Declaration International USA, Champion Women, International Consortium on Female Sport, Concerned Women for America, Women’s Liberation Front, Independent Women’s Law Center, Young Women for America, Independent Women’s Voice, and Independent Women’s Network.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“We stand together in honor of the generations of women who came before us and in defense of all the women and girls who will come next,” the letter to Trump ends. “We ask for your help in demanding that the NCAA finally act to restore fairness and opportunity in collegiate sports and we thank you for standing with us.”
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
In our sporting corner of the world, betting is everywhere.
Consider Major League Baseball: The league has official gaming partners, the broadcast home of its “Sunday Night Baseball” showcase boasts an official sportsbook, and the Dodgers’ World Series celebration was sponsored by a local resort and casino. On the television screen, the bottom line provides updates on odds as well as scores.
You can bet on the next pitch, the next home run, the next game, the next World Series. You might enjoy betting on sports, or you might disdain it.
Betting on tragedy? Profiting off the pain of our community? We all should condemn that.
Polymarket, which bills itself as a “prediction market,” invited you as of Thursday to stake some bucks on 18 questions related to the Southern California wildfires, including these: How many acres will the Palisades wildfire burn by Friday? Will the Palisades wildfire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday? When will the Palisades wildfire be 50% contained? Will all L.A. wildfires be fully contained before February?
“My guess,” said Nathaniel Fast, director of the USC Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making, “is that most people don’t like the idea of individuals betting on or making money off disasters and catastrophes.”
Polymarket aims to set the chance of something happening, then harness collective opinion to adjust that probability in real time.
For instance, with the chance of the Palisades wildfire being 50% contained by Jan. 19 set at 86% on Thursday, you would take “yes” and could win $102 or would take “no” and could win $571. The market adjusts the chance, and in turn the chance adjusts the market.
In a statement to The Times, a Polymarket spokesman said: “These markets address the same questions being discussed across cable news and X. We’ve proven that prediction markets can be an invaluable alternative information source for those seeking real-time quantitative data.”
Said Fast: “I have a hard time imagining that people are logging onto Polymarket to decide whether or not to evacuate.
“On the other hand, though, if they are able to demonstrate repeatedly in events like this that they really can generate accurate forecasts, I think it’s possible that, in the future, this could prove to be a useful tool.”
In the torrent of social media misinformation generated by an event and its immediate aftermath, prediction markets driven in part by social media run a risk of their own.
On its site, Polymarket says this is one criterion for the company opening a prediction market: “Is there social good or news value in understanding the probability generated by the market?”
Said Fast: “It could create the incentive to influence events or, in the case of wildfires, it could lead to a callous attitude toward others’ suffering. If we are gamifying life-and-death issues, it could really negatively influence culture and society in a way we don’t like.”
Polymarket offers odds on such topics as the NFL playoffs, whether Donald Trump will follow through on his pledge to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, whether Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift get engaged this year, and how many times Elon Musk will tweet in a given week.
All good. But this is not the first time Polymarket has used disaster as the basis for investment.
In 2023, after the submersible Titan was lost at sea en route to the Titanic, Polymarket asked: “Will the missing submarine be found by June 23?” Mother Jones found two investors, one who bet yes and one who bet no.
“Despite taking opposite sides of the bet, thanks to clever playing of the odds,” Mother Jones reported, “both … came away with thousands of dollars.”
Polymarket does not. According to the company spokesperson, Polymarket “does not charge fees on any market and currently does not generate any revenue.”
That might be the only thing worse than a company profiting off human misfortune: a tech startup enabling lots of people to profit off human misfortune.
The Polymarket statement to The Times started this way: “We express our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by these fires and appreciate the heroic work underway by first responders and everyday Angelenos.”
The statement is hollow so long as people still can stake their dollars on the calamities befalling everyday Angelenos. Polymarket should take down those wildfire odds. Those six historic words from 1954 ring true today: Have you no sense of decency?
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