NFL

6:00 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN DETROIT — The “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons had recently won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. Civil Rights advocate Nelson Mandela was not far removed from a historic visit to Detroit after spending nearly three decades in prison. A teenaged Jalen Rose — on the heels of leading Detroit

11:03 PM ET INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker was taken off the field on a stretcher after a violent collision late in the third quarter of Monday night’s NFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams. He was ruled out of the game with a concussion but did have movement and

6:13 PM ET HENDERSON, Nev. — Mike Mayock has been fired as general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders after three tumultuous seasons that produced a combined record of 25-24 and numerous on- and off-the-field controversies. “We have relieved Mike Mayock of his duties as General Manager of the Las Vegas Raiders. We thank Mike

7:00 AM ET Lindsey ThiryESPN Close Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times Previously covered the Falcons Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Inside the bowels of SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay strutted down the tunnel as a camera paced to capture every move,

11:39 PM ET ARLINGTON, Texas — A once promising season for the Dallas Cowboys ended in chaotic fashion Sunday after a 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild-card game at AT&T Stadium. To secure the win, the 49ers had to withstand a final-second comeback that saw the Cowboys reach the San

8:00 PM ET ARLINGTON, Texas — As they have so often — and in a finish befitting their historic rivalry — the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys battled to the bitter end of Sunday’s nostalgic NFC wild-card meeting. Ultimately, a strong Niners defensive effort combined with myriad Dallas mistakes allowed San Francisco to emerge

11:46 AM ET TAMPA, Fla. — Philadelphia Eagles starting defensive end Josh Sweat will miss Sunday’s playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after undergoing a medical procedure to address what the team described as a “life-threatening situation.” “On Tuesday night, Josh Sweat was admitted to the hospital. He underwent an emergency procedure due to

11:15 PM ET CINCINNATI — When you find your quarterback, things become possible that weren’t. The Cincinnati Bengals won a playoff game Saturday. It had been 31 years and nine days since the last time that happened. Only four players on the Bengals’ current roster were even alive yet. There was, at that time, no

8:40 PM ET Alaina GetzenbergESPN ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills started off Saturday night’s wild-card matchup against the New England Patriots with a bang. Quarterback Josh Allen found tight end Dawson Knox for an impressive score in the back of the end zone, giving Buffalo a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Allen

7:00 AM ET ESPN staff It’s playoff time in the NFL, and 14 teams all have a chance to win Super Bowl LVI. It begins this weekend with six wild-card games, before the winners join the Packers and Titans in the divisional round next weekend. Anything can happen in the NFL playoffs. Just ask the

12:30 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Five players, including dynamic pass-catchers Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams, are unanimous choices for the Associated Press 2021 NFL All-Pro Team. Joining the Los Angeles Rams‘ Kupp and the Green Bay Packers‘ Adams in receiving votes Friday from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media

8:04 PM ET HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have interviewed Brian Flores for their head coach opening, the team announced Friday night. The interview took place a day after the Texans fired David Culley for what general manager Nick Caserio called “philosophical differences.” Flores, who was fired by the Miami Dolphins on Monday after he

7:00 AM ET ESPN staff The NFL wild-card round for the 2021 season is stacked with great matchups, and we got you covered with what you need to know heading into the six-game weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game, a bold prediction for each matchup and, of course,

3:17 PM ET HOUSTON — The Texans have fired head coach David Culley, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly also was fired, a source told Schefter. On Sunday, after the Texans completed a 4-13 season, Culley said he expected to return for a second season. However, the Texans’ ownership and front

5:46 PM ET HOUSTON — When the Houston Texans hired David Culley, team chairman and CEO Cal McNair said the head coach’s “vision and ability to bring people together” was the reason the organization felt Culley was “our guy.” Not once in that news conference did McNair or general manager Nick Caserio speak about building

1:08 PM ET PITTSBURGH — JuJu Smith-Schuster is back. Kind of. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver returned to practice Thursday after the team designated the fifth-year receiver to return from injured reserve. The Steelers now have 21 days to activate him to the active roster. The team also activated wide receiver James Washington from the

8:36 PM ET ESPN News Services LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears interviewed former Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson and Cleveland Browns executive Glenn Cook for their vacant coach and general manager jobs Wednesday. The positions opened Monday when the Bears fired former coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace on the heels

11:18 AM ET Safety Eric Weddle is coming out of retirement to sign with the Los Angeles Rams for the playoffs after the season-ending injury to Jordan Fuller. Weddle’s return to the Rams was announced by his agent, David Canter, on Wednesday. Fuller, the Rams’ defensive signal-caller, suffered an ankle injury that will require season-ending