Bob Harlan 1936-2026

Former Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan passed away yesterday at the age of 89.

From Team Historian Cliff Christl:

Bob Harlan was enough of a realist to sense the urgency required of him if he was going to achieve his goal of restoring Green Bay Packers football to a pedestal befitting the NFL's most storied and successful franchise.

He also was enough of a visionary to see the big picture and how business as usual would no longer allow the small-town Packers to stay the course on the path of sustainability.

Thus, Harlan's 18½-year tenure as the chief executive officer of the Packers resulted in one of the most remarkable on-field turnabouts in NFL history and secured the long-term financial future of the organization through its first stock sale in 47 years and the redevelopment of Lambeau Field.

Those crowning accomplishments will be Harlan's lasting legacy.

Harlan died Thursday, March 5, at age 89. He was still living in Green Bay at the time and had been recently hospitalized with pneumonia.

Harlan was elected CEO and the ninth president of the Packers on June 5, 1989, and served as head of the organization until Jan. 28, 2008. First hired by the Packers in 1971, Harlan worked for the organization for 37 years in all. He had been chairman emeritus since 2008.

"The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan," Packers President and CEO Ed Policy said today. "Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformational. From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club's on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure our unique and treasured flagship NFL franchise was on sound footing for sustained generational success."

On top of his tangible successes, Harlan also will be long remembered for his endearing and homespun leadership style.

"Bob's personal touch as president was something that we all can learn from," Mike McCarthy, Packers coach in Harlan's final two seasons as president, said in a recent interview. "He just had a way. He trusted you. I loved his leadership style.

"I thought he was incredible in front of the media, in front of the fans. His people skills were a tremendous gift. Ted (Thompson) used to call him 'the silver tongue' because we'd always say, 'No one can say it like Bob.' He was great for Ted and me. Special man. I'll always be so grateful to him."

Thompson served as Packers general manager from 2005-17.

In late November 1991 with the Packers having just suffered their ninth loss in 11 games as a continuation of a free-fall that had started 24 years earlier, Harlan fired Tom Braatz as vice president of football operations. Within a week, Harlan hired Ron Wolf in a more expanded role as general manager.

At the time, in the NFL world, firing the head of player personnel in the midst of a season was rarely done. Even more unusual was hiring a replacement in-season and immediately restructuring the lines of authority in a team's football operation.

But less than two years into his presidency, reality had hit home for Harlan. The Packers' 10-6 finish in 1989, his first year as CEO, was merely an aberration. What's more, the divided lines of authority at the time between Braatz and head coach Lindy Infante were doomed to fail.

In Wolf, Harlan hired someone who was groomed to succeed unlike the string of bad hires the Packers had made since 1968.

Wolf had 29 years of NFL experience in player personnel, mostly with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders over a period when they won three Super Bowls. Over his time there, Wolf had cut his teeth in the game and become a trusted advisor to Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Al Davis.

Harlan lured Wolf to Green Bay by giving him total authority over the football operation and then paved the way for his success by keeping his promise.

Over his first 75 days on the job, Wolf convinced the most coveted young coach on the market that year, Mike Holmgren, to come to work for the then woebegone Packers; and acquired Brett Favre, who in his first season solved the Packers' quarterback woes that dated to the start of Bart Starr's arm problems in 1968.

"He was a man of his word," Wolf said of Harlan after both had retired. "He said he was going to hire me to run the football operation and he wouldn't get in the way, and he never got in the way."

On the business side, two decisions that were crucial to the Packers growing their bottom line and remaining financially competitive were leaving Milwaukee after the 1994 season to play all of their home games in Lambeau Field, and pressing other NFL owners in 1997 to approve the franchise's first stock sale since 1950 and one that raised $24 million.

But nothing showed more vision on Harlan's part than the remake of Lambeau.

Around the time Lambeau Field turned 40 in 1997, through the lens of football fans and insiders, including the likes of John Madden, it was hailed as a bucket-list must and a shrine to pro football.

But what few realized other than Harlan and his financial experts on the executive committee was that the stadium was becoming economically obsolete before it was going to become physically outdated.

With those warnings in mind, Harlan formed a vision for a retro-redo of Lambeau that would become a daily destination for both Packers and other pro football fans; and then exhaustively worked to sell the idea first to state and local politicians and then to voters who would be asked to partly pay for the $295 million project.

"Without the redeveloped Lambeau, we would have run into financial oblivion," Packers treasurer John Underwood said in a 2004 interview. "Our profitability would have gone in a tank. We wouldn't have been able to build our corporate reserve account. We wouldn't have been able to pay the bonuses to win."

Under Harlan's leadership, the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI to cap the 1996 season, another NFC championship in 1997 and enjoyed 13 winning seasons over a 16-year span from 1992 to 2007. And the winning hasn't stopped. The Packers won another Super Bowl two years after Harlan retired and have made the playoffs 25 times in the last 34 seasons.

What was viewed as an anachronistic franchise mired in the longest losing cycle of its then 72-year existence when Harlan was elected CEO – or as Wolf put it, "the place where GMs and players went to die" – is now widely viewed as a model franchise.

"The management style here, there's nothing like it," said McCarthy, who is the second winningest coach in Packers history. "Ron Wolf taught me this. I was here only one year (as an assistant) with Ron in '99. But I heard Ron say this a number of times: 'Do not kill the golden goose that laid the golden egg.'

"We have a responsibility to this organization because no one has the setup that we have. It was always about football. You never heard about the business challenges. You never even heard those things in a football space back in those days."

Compared to his predecessors, Harlan never experienced the Packers' death-bed moments the way Andrew Turnbull, Lee Joannes and Emil Fischer had. And the mess Harlan inherited maybe wasn't as bad as what Dominic Olejniczak faced during a 1-10-1 finish in the first of his 24-year tenure as the franchise's president.

But the Packers were certainly at a crossroads in their history when Harlan was elected, and his tenure was arguably as consequential as that of any other president going back to 1923 when the franchise became a community property.

"Bob's biggest influence is everyone's looking at the Packers and seeing a really long string of success," former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said when Harlan was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2004. "People are looking at Green Bay and saying, 'What's the formula over there?'

"They've done it with class, they've done it with a focus on the game and a focus on the fans."

Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Harlan graduated from Marquette University in 1958, then spent six years as its sports publicity director. In 1965, he was hired by baseball's St. Louis Cardinals to head their community relations and speakers' bureau. Three years later, he became their public relations director.

Harlan was hired by the Packers In 1971 to be assistant general manager under Dan Devine. Over the next 18 years, he held various administrative titles with the team before being elected president and CEO.

Tributes to Bob Harlan:

Packers President and CEO Ed Policy:

"Bob had a profound impact on the organization and the people that worked here long after he became Chairman Emeritus. I am personally grateful for his generosity of time and wisdom in mentoring me over the years."

Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst:

"Bob Harlan set the standard for what the Green Bay Packers organization should be. His leadership reignited our franchise, not just in terms of success on the field, but in the culture and values that define who we are. He believed deeply in doing things the right way — treating people with respect, building trust, and always putting the Packers and the community first. Beyond his remarkable accomplishments, Bob was simply a great man — kind, humble, and genuine. He will be missed."

Former Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy:

"I will be forever grateful to Bob. He was extremely helpful to me when I started with the Packers. He made my transition to a very unique organization seamless. Bob was most responsible for Lambeau Field becoming the most iconic stadium in the NFL, and he left the Packers in great shape both on and off the field."

Former Packers Executive Vice President and General Manager Ron Wolf:

"Bob Harlan gave me an opportunity, and I am deeply indebted to him for that. His greatest trait, in my opinion, is that he was an honorable man, a man of his word, a man of character.

"He was an honor to know and a pleasure to work with."

Former Packers Head Coach Mike Holmgren:

"I was blessed and fortunate to have Bob Harlan as the team president for my first head coaching job. He set an incredible tone for the entire organization.

"He gave us the support we needed and let us do our jobs. He certainly had other things to do in the much larger spectrum of his work, but he also took the time to visit with me. One thing he'd always do was stop in and see me every week and ask, 'What can I do to help you?' That was him.

"Bob helped me become a good manager, a good coach, and to understand the responsibilities of leadership. That carried with me throughout my career. He was really good to me. I owe him a great deal. I'm honored to have worked for him."

Former Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy:

"Bob Harlan is the definition of what the Green Bay Packers embody. The foundation for continuous decades of success falls directly at his feet — and heart.

"I have so many meaningful memories and moments with Bob, but what I cherish most is the consistency of him showing up to my office every week, with a cup of coffee in hand, asking about Jessica and the kids — and never leaving without asking, 'Coach, are you getting everything you need?'

"As proud as Bob was of the Packers, that pales in comparison to the pride he had in his beautiful family. My heart pours out to Madeline, Kevin, Bryan, Michael and the Harlan family as they mourn and celebrate a tremendous husband, father, grandfather — and man."

Former Packers Quarterback Brett Favre:

"Bob Harlan's leadership of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding. Hiring Ron Wolf and supporting the trade that brought me to Green Bay changed my career. The organization believed in me and gave me the opportunity.

"He was so supportive of me during the challenges I faced in my career. Challenges my family faced, too. He was always there offering his support. He was a great and kind man.

"I appreciated the way he represented the Packers and connected so well with Packers fans. I also truly enjoyed his sense of humor and cherished the moments we shared over the years.

"I know winning the Super Bowl and bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay was a proud moment for him, what the team accomplished. It was incredible to be a part of the resurgence of this great franchise and Bob set the tone with his leadership."

Former Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers:

"Bob Harlan is a big reason that I was selected by the Green Bay Packers. In 2005 he hired Ted Thompson as GM, and Ted drafted me in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

"I really got to know Bob on the 2007 Packers Tailgate Tour. I think I speak for everyone who went on that trip when I say that we had an absolute blast during those four days and Bob was a big part of it for me!

"Bob is one of the most naturally funny people that I met in the organization during my 18 years. Whether we were laughing on the bus for four days on the Tailgate Tour, embracing in the locker room after a game, or catching up at the holiday party every year, I lit up every day I got to see Mr. Harlan and give him a big hug.

"To me, Bob embodied the spirit of the Green Bay Packers and he truly loved leading the greatest franchise in the NFL. His kind heart, quick wit and steady hand will be remembered by Packers people forever.

"I'll always be thankful for my time with the legend, Mr. Bob Harlan."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:

"The entire NFL family mourns the loss of longtime Green Bay Packers CEO Bob Harlan. Bob restored the Packers' tradition of excellence, winning a Super Bowl and renovating Lambeau Field into the iconic venue it is today. He also contributed substantially to our league, helping ensure that all cities, large or small, could be successful. Bob came to Green Bay in 1971 and never left, spending more than half a century in his beloved community. Our thoughts are with his family and Packer fans everywhere."

Seattle Seahawks President of Football Operations/General Manager and former Packers Director of Football Operations John Schneider:

"Bob Harlan was such an amazing man. When I started working for the Packers, Bob let me know what authentic leadership looked like: you can be you and lead in a manner that isn't fake.

"I'm so blessed to have had Bob in my life as a mentor and he's a straight-to-Heaven person because of the way he treated people."

Former Milwaukee Brewers Owner and Major League Baseball Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig:

"I have had many wonderful relationships during my long career. My relationship with Bob Harlan was one of the most treasured I have ever had. He was a remarkable human being. He was very kind, very thoughtful and very smart.

We had a great relationship starting in the 1970s when I had just gotten the Milwaukee Brewers and he had joined the Green Bay Packers from the St. Louis Cardinals. I had actually known him even earlier when he worked for Marquette University.

I cannot emphasize what a significant role he has played in my life in so many ways. I am honored to have known Bob and have enjoyed every minute of our relationship over all these years. We always have helped each other through many tough and difficult times. And, of course, I have enjoyed the fruits of our friendship through so many happy and wonderful times.

In closing, he was one of the nicest, kindest, thoughtful, and most remarkable persons that I have had the pleasure of knowing. We helped each other through so many stadium challenges. He was the best and there was and is no doubt about that."

Pro Football Writer Peter King:

"Bob Harlan will go down as one of the most underrated figures in the storied history of one of the great franchises in American sport.

"There have been two significant hires in the last 75 years of the Packers — Vince Lombardi as coach in 1959 and Ron Wolf as general manager in 1991. It was Bob Harlan who went outside the box to hand the Packers football authority to one man, Wolf, instead of a football committee in 1991. It immediately paid dividends. Harlan hired Wolf knowing the organization needed to be shaken out of its two-decade losing lethargy. And in his first 16 months on the job, with Harlan's approval, Wolf hired Mike Holmgren as coach, traded for Brett Favre, and signed Reggie White in free agency. There has not been a better, more consistent winning team in the NFL since then.

"Bob Harlan is the man who made the decision that created this through-line to the Packers being contenders for the past 35 years. He hired Wolf, who trained successor GMs Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst. Harlan's ethos was that the only thing that mattered was the team. Wolf, Thompson and Gutekunst have made unpopular decisions with one thing in mind: They, like Harlan, knew they were stewards of one of the great public jewels in sports history and had to look at the future.

"When fans pack Lambeau Field or venture out to dinner in Titletown or brag about their great team, they do so knowing (or at least they should) that this incredible two-generation run of great football was set in motion by Bob Harlan."

Quotes courtesy of the Green Bay Packers

2026 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

Well, after two weeks of an “offseason,” the 2026 NFL season kicks off (pun intended) at the annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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THE 2026 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

The NFL Scouting Combine will be held February 23 – March 2, 2026 on Lucas Oil Stadium’s playing field, and in the stadium's suites for private, formal, 18-minute interviews. Informal, 15-minute interviews also take place in a designated lounge area within the stadium, where teams have tables to meet with prospects.

Over three hundred of the very best college football players are invited to participate in the Combine. top executives, coaching staffs, player personnel departments and medical staff from all 32 NFL teams will be on hand to evaluate the nation’s top college football players eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. This intense, four-day job interview is an exciting time for the athletes and a vital step in achieving their dreams of playing in the NFL.

• For this year's annual event, the league invited 319 players in total. The most players invited from one school is Texas A&M with 13. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will be the highest represented conference at the Combine with 115 players invited.

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CORE COMBINE DRILLS

Prospects will be evaluated through the following drills:

• 40-Yard Dash: Measures acceleration, speed, and explosion, with 10-yard splits often analyzed for "first-step" quickness.

• Bench Press: Evaluates strength and endurance by requiring players to lift 225 pounds as many times as possible.

• Vertical Jump: Measures lower-body, explosive power.

• Broad Jump: Tests lower-body, horizontal power.

• Three-Cone Drill: Assesses agility, fluid change of direction, and speed, particularly for defensive linemen and wide receivers.

• 20-Yard Shuttle (5-10-5): Tests lateral quickness, agility, and acceleration.

POSITION-SPECIFIC DRILLS

• Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/Running Backs: Gauntlet drill (running across the field catching passes), route running, and catching passes from quarterbacks.

• Offensive Linemen: Mirror-dodge (agility), "wave" drills, and punch drills to evaluate footwork, hand placement, and hip mobility.

• Defensive Linemen/Linebackers: "Running the hoop" (flexibility/bend), linebacker coverage drills, and pass-rush moves.

• Defensive Backs: Backpedaling, fluid hips, and catching drills to simulate coverage.

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COMBINE LIVE DRILLS SCHEDULE

Live coverage will be aired on NFL Network

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 (PK, DL, LB)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 1:00pm – 7:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 1:00pm – 8:30pm ET
Drills Begin: 3:00pm ET

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 (TE, DB)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 1:00pm – 7:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 1:00pm – 9:00pm ET
Drills Begin: 3:00pm ET

SATURDAY, FEBRUARUY 28 (QB, WR, RB)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 11:00am – 7:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 11:00am – 8:30pm ET
Drills Begin: 1:00pm ET

SUNDAY, MARCH 1 (OL)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 11:00am – 4:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 11:00am – 4:30pm ET
Drills Begin: 1:00pm ET

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NFL SCOUTING COMBINE HISTORY

National Invitational Camp (NIC), more commonly known as the NFL Scouting Combine, began in 1982 when National Football Scouting, Inc. first conducted a camp for its member NFL clubs in Tampa, Florida. The key purpose then, same as it is today, was to ascertain medical information on the top draft eligible prospects in college football. The inaugural NIC was attended by a total of 163 players and established a foundation for future expansion.

During the first three years, two additional camps were held at different times to collect similar information for teams that did not belong to National Football Scouting. However, in 1985 all 28 NFL teams decided they would participate in future National Invitational Camps with the goal of sharing costs for the medical examinations of draft eligible players. After brief stints in New Orleans (1984, 1986) and Arizona (1985) the camp was moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where it has been operated since 1987.

As football and the art of evaluating players has evolved, so has the NFL Scouting Combine. While medical examinations remain the number one priority of the event, athletes will also participate in a variety of psychological and physical tests, as well as formal and informal interviews with top executives, coaches and scouts from all 32 NFL teams. NIC is the ultimate four-day job interview for the top college football players eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Who is eligible to be invited to the NFL Combine?

• All college seniors are eligible for the NFL Combine immediately following their final year of collegiate eligibility.

• Any underclassmen who declare for the NFL draft and satisfy all NCAA and NFL requirements are eligible to participate.

• Additionally, an athlete who is not playing collegiate football may qualify under a special circumstance in the year that correlates to his natural draft year had he been playing college football. He must first contact the Player Personnel Department at the NFL Office in New York (212-450-2000) to verify eligibility for the upcoming NFL Draft.

How are players selected for the NFL Combine?

All 32 NFL teams are invited to participate in selecting the draft-eligible prospects to participate in the annual NFL Scouting Combine. National Football Scouting and BLESTO scouting are also invited to provide input. ALL eligible players are reviewed and voted on by the participating teams/scouting organizations and each prospect receiving the necessary number of votes, by position, is then extended an invitation. National Football Scouting manages the selection process and works with all NFL team scouting departments to finalize the annual roster. The evaluation process is subjective and therefore not a perfect science, but the goal of the Combine and the NFL teams is to invite every draft-eligible prospect who will be drafted in the ensuing NFL Draft.

• What players are told to bring

“Workout gear will be provided, but you must bring your own running shoes. Due to the cold climate, we suggest you bring a sweatsuit, warm jacket, gloves and hat.”

“Additionally, you will spend periods of time waiting for examinations and between events, so we recommend bringing mobile devices, iPads, or books to occupy your downtime.”

• How many players are invited to attend the NFL Scouting Combine?

The number of athletes per position varies from year-to-year depending on the available talent. However, they are able to accommodate and process up to 335 total athletes each year.

• Can a player not invited to attend the NFL Scouting Combine still be drafted?

Yes. Many players who enjoy successful careers in the NFL did not attend the NFL Combine.

• If a player is not selected to attend, what can they do?

Once the selections have been made and the participant list is finalized, any athlete who is not invited should begin training for his pro day at his University. An athlete’s performance in college games is the basis for all player evaluations, and NFL personnel will be able to further evaluate your speed and skills at their pro day.

2025 Commemorative Tickets

The 2025 Commemorative Tickets arrived this week. Since the team went to electronic tickets, they send these out after the season (to those who request them), and the score of each game is printed on each one.

Super Bowl LX

Seahawks, Patriots set to meet in Super Bowl 60

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New England (17-3) at Seattle (16-3)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. EST, NBC.

Series record: Seahawks lead 11-9

Last meeting: Seattle beat New England 23-20 in overtime on Sept. 15, 2024.

Last game: The Seahawks beat the Rams 31-27 in the NFC championship game. New England beat Denver 10-7 in the AFC championship game.

Patriots offense: overall (3), rush (6), pass (4), scoring (2).

Patriots defense: overall (8), rush (5), pass (9), scoring (4).

Seahawks offense: overall (T-7), rush (T-10), pass (8), scoring (5).

Seahawks defense: overall (6), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (1).

Turnover differential: Patriots plus-3; Seahawks minus-3.

Patriots player to watch

QB Drake Maye. In his second season, Maye has thrived working for the first time with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Maye is the fourth quarterback since 2000 to win each of his first three career playoff starts, joining Tom Brady (won first 10), Joe Burrow (three) and Jake Delhomme (three). Maye is also the first quarterback in history to win three games against top five defenses in a single playoffs — the Chargers (No. 5), Texans (No. 1) and Broncos (No. 2).

Seahawks player to watch

RB Kenneth Walker III. The fourth-year running back has been on a roll since Zach Charbonnet was injured. In the playoffs, Walker has averaged 4.7 yards per carry, and has 256 yards of total offense with four touchdowns rushing. Walker will have to work for his yards against New England’s run defense, but he’s been able to rise to the occasion in the playoffs.

Key matchup

QB Sam Darnold against the Patriots secondary. While Darnold has played through an oblique injury the past two games, he impressed during the win against the Rams. Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with three touchdowns in the NFC title game. He will have his work cut out against a Patriots defense that allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards per game in the regular season, as well as the fourth-fewest points per game.

Key injuries

Seahawks: Left tackle Charles Cross, who has been limited because of multiple injuries since mid-December, was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. Darnold was limited because of his oblique injury. Safety Nick Emmanwori, who broke up three passes in the NFC championship game, injured his ankle during Wednesday’s practice. Emmanwori said Thursday that he expects to play in the game. He was a full participant on Friday. FB Robbie Ouzts is listed as questionable for the game.

Patriots: After being limited in one practice with a right shoulder issue during the Super Bowl bye week, Maye returned to full participation on Wednesday… LB Robert Spillane, who injured his ankle in the AFC championship game, is questionable along with DL Joshua Farmer (hamstring), DE Harold Landry (knee).

Series notes

The Seahawks have won three in a row against the Patriots, but New England holds ultimate bragging rights with its 28-24 win against Seattle in Super Bowl 49. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson with 20 seconds remaining in the game. Each of the past six games between these two teams has been decided by seven or fewer points. While the Seahawks were still in the AFC, they won five games in a row against the Patriots from 1989-1993. New England won the first three games in this series, including a 31-0 shutout Oct. 9, 1977.

Stats and stuff

The Patriots are making their 12th Super Bowl appearance. They are 6-5 in their previous 11… With a win Sunday, the Patriots will break a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history… With a victory, New England would also join the 1981 San Francisco 49ers, the 1999 St. Louis Rams, the 2001 Patriots, the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles and the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the only teams to follow a losing record with a Super Bowl victory… The Patriots are the sixth team to have reached a Super Bowl after winning five or fewer games the previous season. The Rams and Patriots were the only teams to win the Super Bowl from that group… The Patriots were 9-0 on the road this season. They are the first team in NFL history to play at least nine games on the road and win them all… DT Milton Williams will play in his second consecutive Super Bowl. He won a ring with the Eagles last season… Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson led the NFL with four TD runs of 50–plus yards (52, 55, 65 and 69) this season. It tied the league record for the most in a season by a rookie joining Saquon Barkley (2018) and Lenny Moore (1956)… CB Marcus Jones returned an interception for a touchdown in the divisional round against the Texans. With another, he will join Asante Samuel as the only Patriots player with two in a single postseason. He’d also join Ty Law as the second Patriots player with a pick-6 in a Super Bowl… CB Carlton Davis III had two INTs in the divisional round against Houston. With a third on Sunday he would join Rodney Harrison, Ty Law and Fred Marion as the only Patriots players with at least three in a single postseason… Seattle earned its first division title since 2020, and 12th in franchise history… The Seahawks have 14 regular-season wins for the first time in franchise history. The Seahawks previous franchise record for wins in a season was 13, which happened in the 2013 and 2005 seasons. Seattle won the Super Bowl after the 2013 season. Seattle went 10-7 last season and hasn’t had a losing season since 2021 under Pete Carroll… The Seahawks had five players selected to the 2025 All-Pro team, matching a franchise record, with WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba earning first-team honors and DT Leonard Williams, CB Devon Witherspoon, LB Ernest Jones IV, and P Michael Dickson making the second team… Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL in receiving yards this season, has also had 100 or more catches in consecutive seasons. He had 119 catches in the 2025 season… Seahawks TE A.J. Barner has set single-season career highs in receptions (52), yards (519) and touchdowns (six)… Ernest Jones IV had five interceptions this season for Seattle, tied for second most in the NFL. Jones also had one in Seattle’s divisional round win over the 49ers… Kenneth Walker III tied Shaun Alexander’s record for TD runs in a playoff game with three in Seattle’s divisional-round victory over the San Francisco 49ers… Sam Darnold had his most yards passing in a game of the season when completing 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards against the Rams in the NFC championship game.

    Super Bowl LX game program cover.

Pittsburgh’s Downtown Campus — 2026 NFL Draft

The first look at Pittsburgh’s renderings for their version of the NFL Draft — April 23-25, 2026.

2025 Season Ticket Holder Handbook

Now that the 2025 Green Bay Packers season is over and things have settled down, I thought maybe some of you might enjoy seeing the Season Ticket Holder Handbook. All you need to do is have your name come up on the waiting list, send the Packers a large seat license fee, followed by a large amount of each year for the tickets, and you will get this in the mail as well. 2026 will be my 35th year as a season ticket holder.

Denver backup QB and ex-Patriot Jarrett Stidham is all that’s keeping New England from Super Bowl

ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW ENGLAND (16-3) at DENVER (15-3)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 2:00 p.m. CST, CBS/Paramount+
Series record: Broncos lead 31-24.
Last meeting: Patriots won 26-23 in Denver on Dec. 24, 2023.
Last week: Patriots beat Texans 28-16; Broncos beat Bills 33-30 in overtime.
Patriots offense: overall (3), rush (6), pass (4), scoring (2).
Patriots defense: overall (8), rush (6), pass (9), scoring (4).
Broncos offense: overall (10), rush (16), pass (11), scoring (14).
Broncos defense: overall (2), rush (2), pass (7), scoring (3).
Turnover differential: Patriots plus-3; Broncos plus-1.

The NFL’s conference championship games feature both No. 1 seeds, two division rivals and a backup quarterback making his first start of the season. The Denver Broncos (15-3) host the New England Patriots (16-3) in the AFC title game on Sunday. It was Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady the previous time they met in the playoffs 10 years ago. Now, it’s backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for the Broncos against second-year standout Drake Maye.

All that stands between the New England Patriots and their first trip to the Super Bowl since Tom Brady left is a backup quarterback that they already know pretty well. The team that Brady led to six NFL titles — and 13 conference title games — will play Denver (15-3) on Sunday for the AFC championship against one of the QBs who filled in as his successor. 

Jarrett Stidham, who was selected by New England (16-3) in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, will make his first start since 2023 as a sub for Bo Nix, who broke his ankle near the end of the Broncos’ playoff victory over Buffalo on Saturday. Stidham spent two years in New England as a backup. When New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was coaching in Las Vegas, he gave Stidham a try there; coach Mike Vrabel said he also looked into Stidham when he was in Tennessee and again last summer, before the veteran backup re-signed with the Broncos. “I guess it was kind of ironic,” Vrabel said on Monday, praising Stidham’s accuracy, athleticism and decision-making. “He’s really decisive in the games that we went back and watched.”

The Patriots beat Houston 28-16 on Sunday to return to the AFC championship game for the first time since winning their sixth Super Bowl in the 2018 season, Brady’s second-to-last year in New England. Drake Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns; he also had an interception on an end-of-half desperation pass and fumbled four times, turning it over twice, in a wintry mix that also contributed to the four interceptions thrown by Texans QB C.J. Stroud.

Patriots player to watch

Drake Maye. The MVP finalist had three touchdown passes in the Patriots’ divisional round win over Houston. It marked the 13th time in team history that a quarterback had thrown at least three TD passes in a playoff game. It was also the most since Tom Brady had three in Super Bowl 52 against Philadelphia.

Broncos player to watch

Jarrett Stidham. Bo Nix’s backup hasn’t thrown a pass in two seasons and the only snap he played this season came on a kneel-down at the end of a blowout over the Dallas Cowboys. Stidham has appeared in 20 games with four starts in his six-year NFL career and the Patriots tried to sign him last spring before he re-signed with Denver for $12 million over two years.

Key matchup

Maye versus Denver’s defense. The Broncos led the league with a franchise-record 68 sacks this season and sacked Josh Allen three times. They also forced Allen to turn the ball over four times after he had gone six straight playoff games without a turnover. Allen had two fumbles and two interceptions, including one in overtime. In the playoffs, Maye has been sacked 10 times, thrown two interceptions and fumbled six times, losing three of them.

Key injuries

Patriots: LB Harold Landry III (knee) has been ruled out. CB Carlton Davis (concussion protocol) and LB Marte Mapu (hip) are both questionable. ... WR Mack Hollins, who has been on injured reserve since Dec. 27 with an abdomen injury, was activated on Saturday. He played in the first 15 games of the season prior to going on IR, catching 46 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns.

Broncos: RB J.K. Dobbins, who returned to practice this week for the first time since foot surgery in mid-November, was ruled out. ... WRs Troy Franklin (hamstring) and Pat Bryant (concussion) both participated in practice this week. C Luke Wattenberg appears ready to return from injured reserve. He went on IR with a shoulder injury last month.

Series notes

The Broncos have a 4-1 edge in the playoff matchups between the teams, winning all four games in Denver. The two most recent meetings were in the AFC championship games during the 2013 and 2015 seasons, and were both won by the Broncos. Denver’s 20-18 win in the 2015 AFC title game on Jan. 24, 2016, was the final meeting between quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Stats and stuff

This will be the Patriots’ 13th appearance in the AFC title game in the past 25 seasons… The Patriots (Mike Vrabel) and San Francisco 49ers (George Seifert 1989, won the Super Bowl) are the only teams in the Super Bowl era to go undefeated on the road with a new head coach… Vrabel is attempting to become the eighth coach in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl in his first season with a team… Maye has completed 3 of 10 deep passes (20 or more yards) through his first two playoff games. The Broncos didn’t allow Buffalo’s Josh Allen a completion and intercepted him twice on nine deep pass attempts in the divisional round… With a win, Maye would become the first quarterback to win three playoff games against top-five defenses in the same postseason: the Chargers entered the playoffs ranked fifth, the Texans ranked first, and the Broncos ranked second… Maye has been strip-sacked 11 times this season, including the playoffs. The Patriots have recovered six of Maye’s fumbles on sacks, with three recoveries by LT Will Campbell. The only other quarterbacks strip-sacked 10 or more times since 2020 are Matt Ryan (11 in 2022), Derek Carr (10 in 2021) and Kirk Cousins (10 in 2021)… Maye is one of three quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era with five or more turnovers and 10 or more sacks. He joins Russell Wilson (2014, lost in the Super Bowl) and Roger Staubach (1973, lost in the NFC championship game)… WR Stefon Diggs has played in 16 postseason games and has 75 receptions for 965 yards and five touchdowns. He needs 35 yards to become the 18th NFL player to reach 1,000, and the third Patriots player. Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are the only Patriots players to eclipse the mark… Diggs has played in the most postseason games among all Patriots players with 16. CB Carlton Davis III is second with 11 postseason games… LB K’Lavon Chaisson has three sacks this postseason. With another he’ll joint Willie McGinest (five in 2003 and 4½ in 2005) and Garin Veris (four in 1985) as the only Patriots with at least four in a single postseason… The Broncos are 18-5 all time in home playoff games since their first one in 1977 during the “Orange Crush” era… This is Denver’s 11th appearance in the AFC championship game… Stidham is 1-3 in his four NFL starts with his only victory coming against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 31, 2023… K Wil Lutz made all four of his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra points against Buffalo last week. His four field goals are one shy of the franchise playoff record of five set by Brandon McManus in the playoffs following the 2015 season… Last week OLB Nik Bonitto became the third player in Broncos history to force two fumbles in a playoff game. By stripping the ball from Josh Allen twice, Bonitto joined Von Miller (against Carolina in Super Bowl 50) and Tom Jackson (against Dallas in Super Bowl 12)… ILB Alex Singleton’s 14 tackles last week, including 11 solo, were the most by a Denver defender in a playoff game this century… DE Malcolm Roach is coming off a big game against Buffalo. He had 1½ sacks and recovered a fumble.

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The Seahawks and Rams meet for the third time, this time with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line

ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 24, 2026

LOS ANGELES RAMS (14-5) at SEATTLE (15-3)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 5:30 p.m. CST, FOX.
Series record: Seahawks lead 29-28
Last meeting: Seattle beat the Rams 38-37 in overtime on Dec. 18.
Last week: The Rams beat Chicago 20-17 in overtime in the divisional round on Jan. 18. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-6 in the divisional round on Jan. 17.
Rams offense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (1), scoring (1).
Rams defense: overall (17), rush (12), pass (19), scoring (10).
Seahawks offense: overall (T-7), rush (T-10), pass (8), scoring (5).
Seahawks defense: overall (6), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (1).
Turnover differential: Rams plus-15; Seahawks minus-4.

The Rams are seeking their third straight road win after eliminating Carolina in the wild-card round and beating Chicago 20-17 in overtime last week. Stafford and coach Sean McVay led them to a Super Bowl title four years ago and this will be the team’s 12th NFC championship game. The No. 1 seed Seahawks routed the 49ers 41-6 to advance to their fifth conference title game and first in 11 years. Darnold has struggled against the Rams. Los Angeles sacked Darnold nine times and intercepted him once in a 27-9 wild-card victory last season when he was with Minnesota. In Week 11, Darnold threw four picks in a 21-19 loss to the Rams. He nearly rallied the Seahawks to victory but Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field goal at the end. On Dec. 18, Darnold tossed two interceptions and was sacked four times as Seattle fell behind Los Angeles by 16 points in the fourth quarter. But the Seahawks stormed back to tie it up, including a wacky 2-point conversion, and won 38-37 in overtime when Darnold connected with Eric Saubert on another 2-pointer. The Rams had allowed 30 points per game over a five-game stretch before holding Caleb Williams and the Bears to 17. With Stafford, All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua and star wideout Davante Adams, the Rams led the league in yards and scoring at 30.5 points per game. The Seahawks were third in scoring (28.4) and their defense featuring defensive tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and cornerback Devon Witherspoon gave up the fewest points (17.2 per game).

Rams player to watch

RG Kevin Dotson returned after missing three games because of an ankle injury, and Los Angeles’ top offensive lineman didn’t miss a beat, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ best run-blocking interior lineman during the divisional round. The Rams finished with 111 yards rushing, and coach Sean McVay regretted going away from his successful ground game. Dotson was hurt on the first drive of the wild 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks, and the drop-off from Dotson to backup Justin Dedich was a key factor in swinging the NFC West and top seed in the conference to Seattle.

Seahawks player to watch

RB Kenneth Walker III. Not only did Walker tie Shaun Alexander’s record for TD runs in a playoff game with three in last week’s victory, but he also rushed for a season-high 116 yards. Because Zach Charbonnet is out for the remainder of the playoffs with a knee injury, Seattle will turn almost exclusively to Walker to churn out yards on the ground.

Key matchup

WR Cooper Kupp against the Rams secondary. Kupp had his most receiving yards in a game since Nov. 9 in the Seahawks’ 41-6 win over the 49ers in the divisional round. In two games against the Rams, his former team, Kupp has six catches for 62 yards this season.

Key injuries

Rams: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has been limited because of a shoulder injury but is expected to play Sunday. Los Angeles’ secondary is already short-handed after Ahkello Witherspoon sustained a season-ending shoulder blade injury against Carolina in the wild-card round… OLB Byron Young was held out of practice this week as a precaution because of knee soreness… S Quentin Lake missed practice Wednesday because of illness.

Seahawks: QB Sam Darnold (oblique) was limited in practice on Wednesday, after injuring it last week. TE Elijah Arroyo (knee) and LB Chazz Surratt (ankle) were both full participants after being ruled out for last week’s game. T Charles Cross (foot) did not practice on Wednesday, nor did fellow tackles Josh Jones (knee, ankle) nor Amari Kight. RB George Holani (hamstring) was a full participant on Wednesday. LB Uchenna Nwosu (hamstring) was a limited practice participant, as was FB Robbie Ouzts (neck).

Series notes

The Rams have won four of the past six games played in Seattle, but fell in an overtime thriller last month… Each of the past five games between the Rams and Seahawks have been decided by one score, including Seattle’s 38-37 overtime win on Dec. 18… The Seahawks are 17-8 against the Rams in Seattle. These franchises seldom played until realignment in 2002, when the Seahawks moved from the AFC West to the NFC West… The Rams are 2-0 against the Seahawks in the playoffs, with both victories coming in Seattle following the 2004 and 2020 seasons… Coach Sean McVay led Los Angeles to a 30-20 win in an NFC wild-card playoff game on Jan. 9, 2021, but there were no fans at Lumen Field because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stats and stuff

Rams: They’re in the conference championship game for the 12th time after going 5-6 record in their previous trips. Sean McVay is 2-0 in such games, guiding Los Angeles over the New Orleans Saints after the 2018 season and the San Francisco 49ers after the 2021 season… This is the first time McVay is facing a repeat opponent in the playoffs, having seen 15 different opponents in his first 15 postseason games… The Rams are 3-0 against NFC West opposition in the playoffs under McVay, knocking off the Seahawks after the 2020 season and the Arizona Cardinals and 49ers en route to their Super Bowl title following the 2021 season… QB Matthew Stafford failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in nine playoff games with the Rams and the second time in his postseason career overall when he failed to find the end zone last week against the Bears… RB Kyren Williams had two rushing touchdowns in Chicago, his first playoff scoring runs in five career playoff games… CB Cobie Durant can become the first Rams defender to intercept a pass in three straight playoff games. He picked off Bears QB Caleb Williams twice, giving him three interceptions this postseason… The Rams are converting 27.6% of third downs in the playoffs, the lowest mark among the four remaining teams. They were 5 for 16 (31.3%) against Chicago.

Seahawks: Seattle earned its first division title since 2020, and 12th in franchise history… The Seahawks have 14 regular-season wins for the first time in franchise history. The Seahawks’ previous franchise record for wins in a season was 13, which happened in the 2013 and 2005 seasons. Seattle won the Super Bowl after the 2013 season. Seattle went 10-7 last season and hasn’t had a losing season since 2021 under Pete Carroll… The Seahawks had five players selected to the 2025 All-Pro team, matching a franchise record, with WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba earning first-team honors and DT Leonard Williams, CB Devon Witherspoon, LB Ernest Jones IV, and P Michael Dickson making the second team… Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL in receiving yards this season, has also had 100 or more catches in consecutive seasons. He had 119 catches in the 2025 season… Seahawks TE A.J. Barner has set single-season career highs in receptions (52), yards (519) and touchdowns (six)… Ernest Jones IV had five interceptions this season for Seattle, tied for second most in the NFL. Jones also had one in Seattle’s divisional round win over the 49ers… Kenneth Walker III tied Shaun Alexander’s record for TD runs in a playoff game with three in last week’s victory.