U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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The Boston Celtics star announced 741’s launch via Instagram and the brand’s official website, 741performance.com. According the press release, Brown “turned down over $50 million in endorsement deals from other major sneaker companies to pursue full ownership and creative control of his own brand.”

“The understanding of ownership and value is what’s important for the next generation of athletes,” Brown said. “It’s time to think different and be different… create new ideas. It’s time to create more value for everyone involved, from athletes to consumers to employees and the communities that support them.”

As for the “741” brand name, there’s a deeper meaning behind the numbers.

“The name “741” itself comes with a deep personal connection, stating that the number 7, 4, and 1 have appeared frequently in his life and represent spiritual awakening, hard work, and new beginnings. 741 is more than just a sneaker brand—it’s a statement about independence, creativity, and ownership.”

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Brown was influenced by late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s desire to start his own sneaker brand before his untimely passing.

“Kobe’s journey taught me about being fearless and pushing sports, along with society, to new heights. That’s the mindset I’m bringing to 741,” he said.

NBA fans will see Brown donning his new 741 sneakers throughout the upcoming season as he looks to lead the Celtics to their second consecutive title.

741 is available for pre-order at 741performance.com with products set to go live for sale on Oct. 22.

On Tuesday, officials announced that Sept. 27 would be Julien Alfred Day, as the 23-year-old known as “JuJu” returned home to the eastern Caribbean island where she once ran barefoot as a child.

“I’m truly lost for words,” she told Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and other government officials who gathered to celebrate her before organizing a motorcade for thousands of impatient fans waiting outside, some of whom came from as far away as London.

The gold medal that Alfred won in the 100-meter sprint at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the silver medal she earned in the 200-meter sprint hung around her neck.

She thanked her mother, the government, her coach and others, including “my village.”

“So many people have guided me along the way and helped me to get to this point,” she said as her voice broke. “It didn’t come easy. It was truly a rocky road. Many days I just wanted to give up.”

Alfred quit running when she was around 12 years old after her father died. Her coach convinced her to run again and then she moved to Jamaica as a teenager to train. At the University of Texas she became a multiple NCAA champion.

On Tuesday afternoon, fire-breathing dancers greeted Alfred as she prepared to climb into a blue sports car to start the motorcade. Fans high-fived her and requested selfies, with one young girl handing her a tennis shoe for an autograph as she smiled shyly.

“Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” yelled security as they tried to get Alfred into the car.

With a large St. Lucia flag draped on her back, Alfred waved and blew kisses to people lined up to greet her.

“Come on out, St. Lucia, let’s wave and join this celebratory moment!” said one woman who was narrating a live video of the motorcade as calypso music blared.

Gathered along the road were elderly people, young fathers holding babies and a group of schoolgirls in brown uniforms who chanted “JuJu! JuJu!” as they giggled and gathered around her for a hug as the motorcade slowed down.

Another woman shouted, “Love from Jamaica, my gyal!”

The hourslong motorcade wound its way through lush green mountains as the sky turned a soft pink. A group of motorcycle riders on the side of the road revved their engines for Alfred, while a fire station activated its siren as she rode past. Assistants provided Alfred with water and eye drops as she continued to greet people, rarely dropping her arms as fans crowded the motorcade, including one man waving a large palm frond.

When she reached her hometown of Ciceron, Alfred got out of the car and hugged the crowd waiting for her in the rain.

Prior to winning two Olympic medals, Alfred won a gold medal in the 60 meters at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, also a first for St. Lucia.

At the Olympics, she ran the 100-meter race in 10.72 seconds, beating favorite Sha’Carri Richardson and dedicating the win to her father.

“He believed I could be an Olympian. That I can be here,” Alfred said at the time.

Earlier this month, Alfred also won the women’s 100 meters during the Diamond League final 2024 athletics meet in Brussels.

The celebration for Alfred on the island of 238 square miles (617 square kilometers) is expected to continue for at least two more days, with a rally scheduled for Wednesday and a visit to a primary school on Thursday.

T.C. Brown, a local songwriter and producer, told the St. Lucia Times last week that he was inspired to write “Merci JuJu” in her honor.

He was quoted as saying that at the time of the win, everyone was saying, ‘Thank you, Julien Alfred. But, he said, referring to a local dialect, “Kwéyòl has a much sweeter way of expressing the message.”

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The 1988 Summer Olympics sabre champion awoke on September 10 to discover his prized possession missing. He is now offering to pass it on to the thief in his will if it is returned.

“For two weeks, I can’t calm down and be happy, because everything reminds me of my stolen Olympic gold medal,” Csongrádi told Hungary’s Sportal website. “I would give everything to the culprit, just bring back the worthless object that means nothing to him. Drop it in the mailbox, and if you want, I won’t leave it to a museum in my will, I’ll bequeath it to him.”

Csongrádi, 65, recounted the experience, saying he was sleeping when the thief broke in to his home and acquired the treasure.

He said the medal was securely placed in a cupboard “not visible” and “wrapped several times.” The burglar took a long time to shuffle through different drawers and doors and only left when Csongrádi yelled at home.

“I don’t know what you can do with something that’s a simple metal coating, so it’s not worth much in these markets. I just want my gold medal back,” Csongrádi added. “He could have taken other important things, but for some reason that was all he was interested in.”

The news was first dropped by Tamás Kovács, the former national team captain of the fencing team, in Hungarian on his Facebook page.

Translated to English, the post read: “Dear FB friends! Late on Tuesday night, the house of Olympic champion swordsman László Csongrádi was broken into and, among other things, the thief stole the Seoul Olympic gold medal, which has the words ‘Men’s saber team’ engraved on its rim! I ask my Facebook friends to share it, in case the news reaches medal collectors, market vendors, etc., because it is likely that he wants to exchange the stolen medal for money, which only means a lot to Laci Csongrádi, who contributed to the Olympic gold medal with her excellent fencing, when They beat the Soviet national team 4:8. The police started an investigation!!! Thanks in advance for sharing!”

The post has since been taken down.

Csongrádi won the gold medal in the team sabre competition at the 1988 in Seoul alongside György Nébald, Bence Szabó, Imre Bujdosó and Imre Gedővári

The incident was among others that included people stopping by the Bloomfield Township, Michigan, home uninvited and preceded the family’s move earlier this year to another home purchased by a limited liability company, the newspaper reported.

Campbell and wife, Holly, listed the 7,800-square-foot Bloomfield Township house for sale this month at $4.5 million. “It’s just that people figured out where we lived when we lost,” Dan Campbell told Crain’s Detroit Business.

“Man, I’ve got a job to do,” Campbell told reporters Friday. “My primary job here is to coach this team and have them prepared every week. I’ve got to do my job, and that’s the sole focus.”

The team finished the 2023 regular season with a 12-5 record, good for first-place in the NFC North Division. Detroit defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card game and got past Tampa Bay before losing the conference championship 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers.

The police report obtained by The Detroit News said that beginning New Year’s Eve police were notified that calls were being made to Campbell’s home and that three people had knocked on the door.

“All the people showing up at his home have all been service related (locksmith, roofing etc.),” according to the report. “No issues and Campbell has no idea how his info was leaked.”

An extra police patrol at the home was requested.

But the team’s Jan. 28 loss to San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game angered some fans. Campbell’s address and an expletive about the coach were posted on Snapchat and shared by his daughter’s classmate.

Late that night, people began showing up, frightening Campbell’s daughter who eventually left the house, the report said.

Lions security contacted Bloomfield Township police, telling them the address had been posted online.

“Vehicles and people did show up outside their residence but did not necessarily enter the property,” an investigator wrote.

An NFL security official contacted the police the next day about the classmate’s involvement on Snapchat. Police then contacted security at their private school. Investigators spoke with the boy’s mother, who told police she was “aware of the situation and that Mrs. Campbell had already contacted her and left her a message about (the classmate’s) post,” the report said.

The classmate later told investigators he saw a post with the address on Snapchat, copied it and posted his own story.

The security official at the school also learned that the boy and other classmates drove to Campbell’s home after the NFC Championship Game, parked on the street and yelled toward the house before driving away.

Bloomfield Township is northwest of Detroit.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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At the end of the letter, Fisher apologized to A’s fans upset with the team’s impending move to Las Vegas, with at least a three-year pitstop at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

“There are millions of dedicated and passionate A’s fans, in Oakland and around the world,” Fisher wrote. “Countless dedicated staff members and Oakland Coliseum employees have poured their hearts into this team, and their efforts have meant so much to our community. I know there is great disappointment, even bitterness. Though I wish I could speak to each one of you individually, I can tell you this from the heart: we tried. Staying in Oakland was our goal, it was our mission, and we failed to achieve it. And for that I am genuinely sorry.”

The A’s and the city of Oakland were working to get a new ballpark built at Howard Terminal, but the team ended those discussions last year and turned its attention to relocating to Las Vegas.

In April, the A’s announced they would move to Sin City and use Sutter Health Park as a temporary home until their Las Vegas ballpark is ready, presumably for the start of the 2028 MLB season.

A’s fans have spent the entire 2024 MLB season voicing their displeasure with Fisher’s decision to move the team.

The team begins a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, which will be an emotional time for A’s fans.

Favre, a retired NFL quarterback who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1992-2007, revealed the news Tuesday morning while appearing before a Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee hearing on welfare abuses. He is currently being sued by the state Mississippi over the receipt of funds, via speaking fees, that had been intended for poor women and children. He’s also been accused of improperly using his political connections to redirect welfare funds to his alma mater.

In his opening statement before the committee Tuesday, Favre claimed he was the victim of unscrupulous public officials and said he never knew he was receiving welfare funds.

“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others, and I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Favre said. “This is also a cause dear to my heart. Recently, the doctor, running the company pleaded guilty to taking TANF money for his own use.”

Favre has previously said in interviews that he suffers from memory loss likely due to repeated head injuries over the course of his career. The Parkinson’s diagnosis had not previously been disclosed.

Favre was invited to speak before the congressional committee by Chairman Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri as part of a hearing that examines how states are falling short on using welfare to help families in need.

Favre repaid just over $1 million in state welfare money he accepted for speeches where he didn’t appear. It was unclear, however, how much Favre would say during the hearing because a Mississippi judge in 2023 put a gag order on him and others as part of the suit.

Favre has repeatedly denied knowing that the money came from welfare funds, though text messages obtained during discovery show otherwise, plaintiffs allege.

Brett Favre and the Mississippi Welfare Funds Scandal

Mississippi has ranked among the poorest states in the U.S. for decades, but only a fraction of its federal welfare money has been going to families. Instead, the Mississippi Department of Human Services allowed well-connected people to waste tens of millions of welfare dollars from 2016 to 2019, according to Mississippi Auditor Shad White and state and federal prosecutors.

Favre is not facing any criminal charges, but he is among more than three dozen defendants in a civil lawsuit the state filed in 2022. The suit demands repayment of money that was misspent through TANF.

White, a Republican, said in 2020 that Favre had improperly received $1.1 million in speaking fees from a nonprofit organization that spent welfare with approval from the state Department of Human Services. White said Favre did not show up for the speeches. Although Favre repaid the $1.1 million, he still owes nearly $730,000 in interest, White said.

The TANF money was to go toward a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi. Favre agreed to lead fundraising efforts for the facility at his alma mater, where his daughter started playing on the volleyball team in 2017.

A nonprofit group called the Mississippi Community Education Center made two payments of welfare money to Favre Enterprises, the athlete’s business: $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018.

Court records show that on Dec. 27, 2017, Favre texted the center’s director, Nancy New: “Nancy Santa came today and dropped some money off (two smiling emojis) thank you my goodness thank you.”

“Yes he did,” New responded. “He felt you had been pretty good this year!”

New pleaded guilty in April 2022 to charges of misspending welfare money, as did her son Zachary New, who helped run the nonprofit. They await sentencing and have agreed to testify against others.

Favre said he didn’t know the payments he received came from welfare funds and noted his charity had provided millions of dollars to poor kids in his home state of Mississippi and Wisconsin, where he played most of his career with the Green Bay Packers.

The Ravens got in the win column for the first time this season with a Week 3 road victory against the Dallas Cowboys. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Co. ran all over the Dallas defense, but the team nearly squandered a 28-6 fourth-quarter lead before sealing the deal.

The Bills, meanwhile, are perhaps the NFL’s hottest team in the early going. Josh Allen led a Monday night beatdown over the Jacksonville Jaguars as the Bills rolled to 3-0, making them one of five undefeated teams entering Week 4.

Which team will come out on top in primetime? Here is how you can watch the Bills-Ravens showdown on NBC and Peacock.

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When is the Bills vs. Ravens Sunday Night Football game?

The Bills and Ravens will square off on Sunday Night Football on Sunday, Sept. 29, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

What time is the Bills vs. Ravens Sunday Night Football game?

Kickoff for Bills-Ravens is set for 8:20 p.m. ET.

How to watch the Bills vs. Ravens Sunday Night Football game

Bills-Ravens will air on NBC. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline) will be on the call for the game and for Sunday Night Football throughout the 2024 season.

Pregame coverage on NBC and Peacock starts at 7 p.m. ET with “Football Night in America,” as Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Matthew Berry and Jac Collinsworth get you ready for the game.

How to live stream the Bills vs. Ravens Sunday Night Football game

Live stream: Peacock, NBC.com

Mobile app: Peacock mobile app on Apple/Android, NBC mobile app

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

During the Buffalo Bills‘ home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3 Monday night, one fan held a sign that shot her shot at star quarterback Josh Allen.

“Josh, I just got married, but I’d leave my husband for you! P.S. He’s right here,” the sign read in all uppercase, as captured on television by New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Another fan was seen holding up a sign that read: “Our Josh Allen made your Josh Allen change his name.”

That was a nod to Jaguars star linebacker Joshua Hines-Allen, who used to go by Josh Allen — like the Bills star — but changed his name over the offseason as a tribute to his maternal family.

Allen, the Bills one, was superb against Jacksonville, dominating with 23 of 30 completions for 263 yards, four touchdowns and no picks while adding 44 rushing yards on six tries.

Buffalo moved to 3-0 on the young season, but its upcoming slate is challenging. It will embark on a three-game road trip to the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and New York Jets. All three sides are expected to contend in a tight AFC.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Buffalo Bills safety – who in January 2023 suffered a life-threatening cardiac arrest on the field during a game – recorded the first interception of his four-year career on Monday.  

The 26-year-old Hamlin picked off Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who overthrew receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and returned it 19 yards to help set up a Bills’ touchdown in the second quarter.

Hamlin, playing in the 37th game of his NFL career, celebrated by running down field with his arms spread, as many in the crowd held up three fingers to match his uniform number.

“Damar has been amazing,” Bills coach Sean McDermott when asked about Hamlin’s interception by ESPN before halftime on Monday. “What a journey he has been on.”

A first-half interception in a 17-point game early in the season typically isn’t cause for a raucous celebration. This was an understandable exception.

On Jan. 2, 2023, Hamlin collapsed on the field after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals during Monday Night Football. He was resuscitated on the field after members of the Bills’ medical and athletic training staff administered CPR. Hamlin then spent 10 days recovering and being monitored in hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo.

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Hamlin, a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was fully cleared to return to football in April. He returned to team drills in June of 2023 for the first time since his near-death experience.

Hamlin played in five games during the 2023 season, recording two tackles and finishing second in Comeback Player of the Year voting behind Cleveland Brown quarterback Joe Flacco.

Hamlin, who had started 13 games in 2022, made his first start since suffering cardiac arrest earlier this month in the Bills’ season-opening win against the Arizona Cardinals. 

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Biden reflected on the underdog story the team, which represents both New York and New Jersey, carried through its 2023 season. Gotham’s squad went from last in the league to defeating all its naysayers in a single year.

“You never gave up, and you kept the faith, as my mother would say,” Biden said. “You retool the roster, hired a new coach, something clicked. And after a tough season, you’re the final team to make the playoffs. The saying goes, winners simply win.”

He also noted that last year’s NSWL final set a league record with 25,011 fans attending the championship game at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

“I think it’s fair to say everyone — everyone — watches women’s sports,” Biden said.

Biden then welcomed to the stage former U.S. women’s national soccer team star Ali Krieger, who played with Gotham until her retirement last year. He noted that he was the vice president the last time he saw Krieger, who had been part of the 2015 Women’s World Cup championship team.

Krieger spoke on behalf of her teammates, who she said were “deeply honored” to be the first in the NWSL to be invited to the White House for such an achievement.

“Reflecting on my career, I recall times when women’s soccer lacked coverage and support,” Krieger said. “Our progress since those days has been remarkable, from our humble beginnings to becoming champions. Both Gotham and the NWSL have seen tremendous growth with more fans, greater engagement and increased recognition.”

The work, however, is far from over, Krieger added. Every time the players touch the field, Krieger said, they keep in mind the young girls who dream of a future in sports.

Though Gotham FC is the first NSWL team to reach the White House, it is not the only women’s soccer team to be invited. Two other now-defunct leagues have been formed in the U.S. since 2000— the Women’s United Soccer Association and the Women’s Professional Soccer league.

Former President Barack Obama invited the Sky Blue FC with the WPS league to the White House in 2010, which was the New York and New Jersey team at the time. The league shut down two years later.

The NWSL has been praised for its investment in the sport, increasing viewership both in stadiums and through broadcast partnerships. In June, the NSWL reported that attendance was up 42 percent year-over-year by the league’s 12th season.

Its players’ union recently negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement that gave more control to athletes about where they play, eliminate the draft and give free agency to all players. The contract also doubles the league-minimum salary while expanding parental leave and child care benefits for players.

“This moment is not just about titles or trophies, it’s about paving the way for them being the first is historic, but it’s even more important that we ensure we are not the last,” Krieger said.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

• An asteroid will soon enter Earth’s orbit as a temporary ‘mini-moon’
• TikTok removes Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik, citing ‘covert influence operations’
• Bad Bunny’s ‘La Velita’ remembers Hurricane Maria — and serves as a searing indictment

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The game, announced Monday, will be at Citypark, which opened for Major League Soccer’s 2023 season. The first game of the two-leg series will be Nov. 14 or 15. The opponent will be determined by group stage matches in October.

The U.S. has won the first three editions of the tournament, in 2021, ’23 and ’24.

Pochettino was hired to replace Gregg Berhalter, who was fired following the Americans’ first-round elimination at the Copa America. Pochettino’s first matches are friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 at Austin, Texas, and Mexico three days later in Guadalajara.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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The Pac-12 is also targeting Mountain West schools UNLV and Utah State, two of the people said, as it pivots away from a group of American Athletic Conference schools that announced they remain committed to their current league. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the Pac-12’s strategy is not being made public.

Meanwhile, the Mountain West received a commitment from Air Force to stay put in the conference after the school had drawn interest from the AAC, a person with knowledge of AFA’s decision told the AP on condition of anonymity.

Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, UTSA and the American Athletic Conference released a statement that made no mention of the Pac-12, but several people with knowledge of those talks told AP the rebuilding conference had targeted those schools as potential new members.

“While we acknowledge receiving interest in our institutions from other conferences, we firmly believe that it is in our individual and collective best interests to uphold our commitment to each other,” the schools said. “Together, we will continue to modernize the conference, elevate the student-athlete experience, achieve championship-winning successes, and build the future.”

The Pac-12 began to restock for a 2026 relaunch two weeks ago by landing Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State from the Mountain West to join Washington State and Oregon State, the only two Pac-12 schools left after a dramatic round of realignment took effect this summer.

The Pac-12 needs at least two more members in all sports to reach the eight required to be a recognized conference with access to NCAA championships and the College Football Playoff in 2026.

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Zags

Adding Gonzaga would give the Pac-12 one of the best men’s basketball programs in the country. The Bulldogs have thrived in the West Coast Conference, reaching the NCAA Tournament every year it has been played since 1998, with two Final Four appearances and eight seasons of at least 30 victories. Gonzaga does not have a football program.

The school has in the past talked to the Big East about conference affiliation, and the Big 12 has discussed potentially adding Gonzaga to its strong men’s basketball lineup, as it did with UConn earlier this year. The Zags have also become a perennial tournament team in women’s basketball.

Still, their addition would still leave the Pac-12 in need of two more schools that play football.

Money matters

One person with knowledge of the discussions between the Pac-12 and AAC schools said the conference’s pitch included a projected $12 million to $15 million annual media-rights distribution to each school. The schools were also presented with options to join solely in football and basketball to alleviate travel costs associated with other sports programs making trips across one or two times zones.

All the Pac-12 schools are in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. The Pac-12 was targeting new members in the Central time zone as a way to potentially increase value for potential television partners.

Leaving the AAC would have been costly for the schools. The conference’s bylaws require a 27-month notification for departing schools and a $10 million exit fee. An early departure, which would be necessary, would cost more. When UConn left the AAC to return to the Big East it cost the school $17 million. The AAC received $25 million from SMU for an expedited move to the ACC this year.

The Pac-12 and its four newest members are already on the hook for about $110 million in exit fees and penalties to the Mountain West.

Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has declined to detail how that cost will be shared by the incoming schools and conference, which is sitting on about $250 million in revenue the previous iterration of the Pac-12 was in line to receive this year and next.

A football scheduling agreement between Oregon State, Washington State and the Mountain West, which was not renewed for next year, includes a poaching penalty of more than $10 million per school that increases as the number of schools the Pac-12 takes increases.

The penalty would be $12 million if the Pac-12 takes one more Mountain West school, and increases to $12.5 million for the next one. That’s on top of a $17 million exit fee.

Still, the precarious state of the Mountain West provides an opportunity for the Pac-12 to circle back on those schools.

Trying to pull Texas State from the Sun Belt Conference would be far less costly for the Pac-12 and give it a school in the Central time zone.

Mountain West

MWC Commissioner Gloria Nevarez is working to get long-term commitments from the conference’s remaining eight members, including football-only Hawaii. Even if it it sustains no other losses, the Mountain West will need to add at least one more school.

UTEP and New Mexico State from Conference USA make geographic sense, but that league recently had its members sign a grant of rights that could make it more difficult and costly for them to move.

Pulling schools up from the second-tier of Division I football would also be an option. Sacramento State from the Big Sky and Texas-based Tarleton State from the Western Athletic Conference, have shown interest in making the jump.

The Seattle Seahawks clobbered Miami’s offensive line and sacked Skylar Thompson five times in Sunday’s 24-3 loss. They shut down the Dolphins’ playmakers. And they burned Miami’s defense for a 71-yard touchdown.

“Consistency has to be found from the nucleus in the group,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “The guys that truly know the offense have to really be on it. And we have to just keep chopping wood and get better fast.”

And now the Dolphins could be turning to their third quarterback in four weeks.

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Tua Tagovailoa, on injured reserve with a concussion, watched from the sideline on Sunday as Thompson went down in the third quarter.

Thompson was slow to get up after Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson hit him for a sack, and he was slightly hunched over at the midsection as he ran off the field.

He returned for the next series but stayed down after completing a pass to running back De’Von Achane. Thompson remained on his back for a few minutes before sitting up and walking directly to the locker room.

McDaniel later said Thompson suffered a “painful” rib injury and that the quarterback would be further evaluated Monday. McDaniel didn’t say what the next steps would be for the Dolphins.

“I think you have to look at everything, and you have to find a way to give your team a best chance to win,” he said. “In 2022, this was something that happened to us as well. And ultimately the rest of the league does not care, nor should they. We have to find a way to get better collectively. And it’s going to take a better effort by everyone, including myself, or starting with myself.”

The injury to Thompson came a little over a week after Tagovailoa suffered his third diagnosed concussion in two years during a loss to Buffalo. Tagovailoa will miss at least three more games as he works through the NFL’s concussion protocol.

If Thompson misses time, Tim Boyle and Tyler Huntley are the other quarterbacks on Miami’s roster. The Dolphins signed Huntley off the Ravens’ practice squad last week, and he served as the third quarterback Sunday.

Boyle replaced Thompson and finished with 79 yards passing.

“Business as usual. Nothing’s going to change,” Boyle said. “I have a pretty good routine, Year 7 at this point. (I will) watch my film, look at my corrections and move on to the next team after the 24-hour rule.”

Even before his injury, Thompson struggled in his first start since 2022. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 107 yards and looked uncomfortable under center as the Dolphins struggled to move the ball.

McDaniel took part of the blame for Miami’s offensive ineptitude, which included just 205 total yards and 3.7 yards per play.

“I don’t think it was as much of the quarterback as it can easily be made out to be,” he said. “I think it was the overall orchestration and execution of plays down in and down out. And I have to look at that hard in terms of myself to what we’re doing, what we’re good at and how to play clean football.”

What’s working

Ball security and takeaways. The Dolphins did not turn the ball over on Sunday after three turnovers against Buffalo. Miami also intercepted Geno Smith twice.

What needs help

Discipline. Eleven penalties were accepted against Miami for 85 yards, including pre-snap penalties on offense and issues on special teams. McDaniel said some of Miami’s self-inflicted wounds were a result of not handling the road environment well enough. Seattle’s Lumen Field is known as one of the loudest stadiums in football, but Sunday was certainly not Miami’s first time playing in a raucous road environment.

Stock up

DT Zach Sieler had three tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Sieler also came up with an interception on a deflection by Calais Campbell in the third quarter.

Stock down

The entire offense. The Dolphins recorded just 13 first downs, were 1 for 12 on third down and 0 for 2 in the red zone. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the NFL’s leading receiving duo from 2023, combined for just seven catches for 66 yards. The pair had seven catches for 65 yards against Buffalo in Week 2.

Injuries

LT Terron Armstead already was playing through a shoulder injury and got poked in the eye in the second quarter. Armstead and CB Kendall Fuller also are in the concussion protocol after being evaluated during the game.

Key number

112 — The number of rushing yards the Dolphins are allowing per game. Miami has allowed five rushing touchdowns this season.

Next steps

The Dolphins will look to regroup against the winless Titans, who also have had issues on offense. Miami hosts Tennessee on Monday night.

The 21-year-old Michigan State defensive back needed a moment in the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home he shares with five younger siblings. He has a lot on his plate, more than most college students and certainly more than most student-athletes.

His mother, Gala Gilliam, died of breast cancer a month ago and without a father in the family’s life, Smith has become the head of the household while studying criminal justice and playing major college football. He became the legal guardian for four siblings on Sept. 11.

“My cards were given to me,” Smith said softly with a steely gaze, standing on a small porch behind the home as the sun set on a recent evening. “I didn’t choose my deck of cards.”

His 19-year-old sister, Aleion, is in charge while he is gone for about 12 hours most days to be a student and athlete. Appreciating her selfless sacrifice, Smith said he hopes to help her find a way to start taking classes next semester while juggling her role with the family.

Smith looks and sounds determined to help his siblings be happy, healthy and safe. His teammates watch in awe.

“I couldn’t even begin to imagine if I was in his situation,” linebacker Jordan Hall said. “He’s in a tough spot, but he is one of the strongest guys I have ever known.”

The family

Smith grew up in in Detroit, recalling how he was homeless at times and hopped from house to house to find places to sleep. He was a three-star prospect at River Rouge High School and attended the University of Cincinnati for two years.

After Smith’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 during his sophomore season with the Bearcats, he transferred last year to be closer to home. The life lessons from his mom continued.

When Smith, holding his 2-year-old sister, arrived at a recent fundraiser, each of his other siblings introduced themselves to people there to support the family and shook their hands while making eye contact.

“That’s from my mom,” he said.

She was trying to prepare him for what was to come before she died Aug. 19. She was 41.

“She used to tell me everything: ‘Get hard’ and all of that,” he recalled. “And I see why she was under a lot of stress.”

Smith keeps notes on his phone to help manage busy days that start before dawn, when he is up to make sure his two sisters and three brothers are awake before he leaves for school. Smith gets a lift from a teammate or a ride-hailing service to make the 4-mile trip to campus for therapy on his surgically repaired shoulders and meetings with the football team before going to classes and practice.

His eldest sister gets their 16-, 15- and 11-year-old brothers — Armond, Avaugn and Arial — ready for school. There are two varieties of Cap’n Crunch atop the refrigerator in a kitchen that didn’t have a table or chairs during a recent visit.

The school-age brothers rely on a ride-hailing company to get them to school and back while their oldest sister cares for their toddler sister, Amaira.

“Me and my sister got to work together to keep this all afloat,” he said. “While I’m in college sports, she’s got to be able to take care of everything that I can’t do, like pick up where I left off, while I’m taking care of business.”

He and the siblings he is now responsible for at least have a home thanks in part to a GoFundMe campaign.

Student caregivers

While Smith’s story is unusual in college sports — the NCAA does not track the number of athletes whose day-to-day activities include caring for a dependent — a 2020 study from the National Center for Education Statistics found 19.5% of undergraduate college students had a dependent and 5.5% of them were responsible for non-child dependents. Other research shows student-caregivers are disproportionately from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups.

Ray Ray McElrathbey was a 19-year-old freshman at Clemson in 2006 when he took over custody of his 10-year-old brother because of his mother’s drug problems and his father’s gambling addiction. Initially, they lived solely off McElrathbey’s scholarship and later the NCAA approved a plan where donations were administered by a local bank and distributed to Ray and Fahmarr. His story was the subject of “Safety,” a Disney movie.

When McElrathbey was a child and saw “Angels in the Outfield,” it inspired him because he felt there were other children out there like him. These days, he does speaking engagements and shares his message of hope with young people.

“Just kind to speak to those kids in a similar situation like I was growing up and have them have something to inspire them is the greatest gift,” he said.

Tufts University professor Emma Armstrong-Carter, who has done research on children caregivers, said these young people show amazing strength and don’t want to be pitied.

“Isn’t it incredible that these young people are able to overcome so many challenges and support their families in ways that are necessary and meaningful?” Armstrong-Carter said. “There’s a need for more institutional support to help them thrive.”

Smith and his family are able to afford renting a house in the state capital, paying for utilities, bills, food and ride-hailing services thanks to waves of financial support. The GoFundMe effort has raised more than $60,000, and he makes some money through name, image and likeness deals. Michigan State has helped through a student assistance fund. Two fundraisers were hosted at a McDonald’s in Lansing and an IHOP in Livonia set up by former Michigan State football players Jason Strayhorn and Sedrick Irvin and promoted on their “This is Sparta MSU” podcast.

Road trips are part of the calendar and the Spartans don’t play two home games in a row until the end of the season in November, though two bye weekends will give Smith more time at home.

One of his mother’s close friends, Yolanda Wilson, whose son, Nick Marsh, is a standout freshman receiver and former high school teammate, has been a source of support.

“I’m going to be there no matter what,” she said. “That’s a promise I made to their mother. And they have everybody here backing them up. So, it’s going to be a hard transition as it is, but we’re going to be that tight-knit community and have their back.”

The love is not lost on Smith.

“Me and my family are very happy, very appreciative and grateful,” he said. “There’s a lot of love Spartan Nation has shown us these past few months. It’s been a rough time, but to be able to take some of the stress off of my shoulders and show me a lot of love is a blessing and has warmed my heart.”

When Smith gave The Associated Press access to his home one recent evening, three siblings were upstairs in their bedrooms while a teenage brother was napping on a sectional couch in a living room without a TV or table. His toddler sister giggled between drinks from a sippy cup.

“It just puts a smile on my face to see them happy,” he said while watching video clips from practice on his phone.

Smith’s sadness comes and goes, but he knows his mother would want him to carry on.

“I can feel her living through me,” he said. “Almost like I hear her voice telling me how proud she is of me.”

___

AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli contributed.

Kyle Larson won the Bristol Night Race for the second time in his career, this time by leading 462 of 500 laps – more than any driver in Hendrick Motorsports history and more than any Bristol winner since 1977.

While Larson locked his way into the next round, four drivers were eliminated from the playoffs – Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs and Harrison Burton. That leaves Larson and 11 other contenders still battling for the title.

Next up, the Round of 12 gets underway Sunday (3 p.m. ET, USA Network) at Kansas Speedway. How does the field stack up after Bristol? Here’s our latest NASCAR power rankings:

1. Kyle Larson

Last week: 3

Five wins is the most of any driver this season, and now he’s heading to a track that he won at in May. Since joining Hendrick in 2021, Larson has two wins and six top-10s in seven starts at Kansas. Back-to-back wins is certainly on the table for the 2021 champion.

2. Christopher Bell

Last week: 2

Even though he hasn’t won since June, Bell is putting together the most consistent stretch of his career. The 29-year-old Oklahoma native was fifth at Bristol, giving him six top-six finishes in his last eight races. Looking ahead, he’s started on pole in consecutive Kansas races.

3. Tyler Reddick

Last week: 1

Reddick faded in the first round after winning the regular season title. He earned the 17th-most points over the last three races (h/t Trey Ryan), with finishes of 27th at Watkins Glen and 20th at Bristol. Reddick will have to step it up in the Round of 12 as the competition tightens up.

4. Ryan Blaney

Last week: 6

Blaney charged through the field on Saturday to finish sixth despite a poor qualifying run. The defending champion easily advanced through the first round, and the Round of 12 sets up nicely for Blaney. He’s a three-time winner at Talladega, which is arguably his best track.

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5. Denny Hamlin

Last week: 7

Hamlin was the only driver to jump from below to above the cut line at Bristol thanks to his fourth-place finish and 13 stage points. So, while he hasn’t won since April, it’s clear that this team is still capable of getting the job done. The four-time Kansas winner will look to get off the schneid this weekend.

6. Chase Elliott

Last week: 8

It had been over two months since Elliott’s last top-five, so Saturday’s second-place run was critical. The No. 9 team has proven to be consistent and among the best at limiting damage, but Elliott hasn’t had race-winning speed for much of the year. Perhaps this is a sign that they can turn it around for the rest of the playoff run.

7. Joey Logano

Last week: 4

Logano wrecked in Stage 2 and rode around laps down to finish 28th. Luckily for him, it didn’t matter for his championship hopes because he already advanced with his Atlanta win. But now that the points are reset for the Round of 12, Logano is back on the chopping block.

8. William Byron

Last week: 5

Byron finished 17th at Bristol after earning six stage points and running inside the top-10 for most of the night. It all fell apart in the final stage, when he just kept fading farther and farther back. Without a win since April, Byron needs to turn things around quickly if he hopes to win his first Cup title.

9. Alex Bowman

Last week: 10

The first round was an impressive three-race stretch for Bowman, who clinched his spot in the Round of 12 with a ninth-place finish and 13 stage points at Bristol. He led 34 laps on Saturday, which was his most in a race since September 2022, when he led 107 laps at … Kansas.

10. Austin Cindric

Last week: 9

Cindric followed up consecutive 10th-place runs with a 13th at Bristol to handily advance. The Round of 12 could come down to Talladega, as Cindric is one of the best superspeedway drivers. He’s never finished better than 11th in six Kansas starts, so the odds are stacked against him. 

First four out: Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Suarez

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According to a press release from his attorney, Hill has retained a legal team after that tense confrontation with Miami-Dade Police officers during a traffic stop back on Sept. 8.

Body camera video that has since gone viral on social media captured the tough police take down as Hill was pulled out of his car and detained over allegations of careless driving just hours before the Dolphins’ season opener against Jacksonville.

A 27-year veteran of the department who was involved in the incident, Officer Danny Torres, has been placed on administrative duty.

An employee profile released by the Miami-Dade Police Department showed Torres served as many as 50 days of suspension in six different incidents between 2014 and 2019.

The longest suspension was for 20 days. He also received four written reprimands.

“It is already clear that well before this incident, Miami-Dade County should have fired Officer Torres,” attorney Jeffrey Neiman said in Monday’s press release. “Instead, the County repeatedly returned Officer Torres to the street permitting him to use his police authority to terrorize people.”

Hill and his legal team are also demanding Congress pass the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” which aims to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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Some will look to improve a few games above .500, while others will hope to avoid falling further, and Week 4 starts off with a pivotal matchup.

The Dallas Cowboys will be at the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football with both sides at 1-2, the former feeling more disappointed with their start than the latter.

The early window on Sunday will feature eight games, chief among them being the Minnesota Vikings at the Green Bay Packers, the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints at the Atlanta Falcons.

Just four games form the late window, with the Kansas City Chiefs heading to Los Angeles to face the Chargers, while the New England Patriots will be at the San Francisco 49ers.

Sunday Night Football will feature a colossal AFC showdown as Josh Allen and the unbeaten Buffalo Bills will be at Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore, especially, will attempt to steer clear from a 1-3 start.

Monday Night Football will have a doubleheader, with the Seattle Seahawks at the Detroit Lions being an intriguing NFC clash. Seattle, specifically, will puts it 3-0 record on the line against its toughest opponent yet.

Here’s a look at the full Week 4 schedule:

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U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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Only difference is he has never played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Atlanta Falcons safety intercepted Mahomes on Sunday for the sixth time of his career, the most of one active player against another. Simmons picked off a pass in the end zone that was intended for tight end Noah Gray with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Simmons, a former All-Pro for the Denver Broncos who faced the Chiefs twice a season, signed a one-year deal with the Falcons as a free agent in the offseason. But even with the uniform change, he remains Mahomes’ kryptonite.

He has now intercepted Mahomes in four straight games that the two have played against one another. No other player in the NFL has intercepted Mahomes more than twice in his career.

Mahomes has 67 career interceptions in the regular season, with Simmons accounting for nearly 10 percent of the picks. 

Who is Justin Simmons?

Simmons is a 30-year-old safety for the Atlanta Falcons who has been named All-Pro four times in his career.

When was Justin Simmons drafted?

Simmons, a Boston College product, was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

How many interceptions does Justin Simmons have?

Simmons has 31 interceptions over his nine-year career. He had a league-high six interceptions in 2022. 

How many games has Justin Simmons played against Patrick Mahomes?

Simmons has faced the Chiefs 16 times, with Mahomes starting in 12 of those games, including Sunday’s matchup.

How many times has Justin Simmons intercepted Patrick Mahomes?

Simmons now has six career interceptions against Mahomes. Four of those picks have come in the red zone, with two being in the end zone. Here are each of Simmons’ interceptions against Mahomes…

• Sept. 22, 2024: Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs (second-and-8 at Atlanta 14-yard line, first quarter)  
• Oct. 29, 2023: Kansas City Chiefs 19, Denver Broncos 8 (fourth-and-27 at Kansas City 14-yard line, fourth quarter)
• Oct. 12, 2023: Denver Broncos 24, Kansas City Chiefs 9 (third-and-8 at Denver 15-yard line, first quarter)
• Jan. 1, 2023: Kansas City 27, Denver Broncos 24 (third-and-10 at Denver 10-yard line, second quarter)
• Dec. 15, 2019: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Denver Broncos 3 (second-and-8 at Denver 9-yard line, fourth quarter)
• Oct. 28, 2018: Kansas City Chiefs 30, Denver Broncos 23 (first-and-10 at Kansas City 36-yard line, fourth quarter)

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Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins are again facing questions about who will be under center at quarterback moving forward.

“All that matters is that we win, however that we get it done,” Seattle QB Geno Smith said. “I’m not really particular about that, but 3-0, it’s a great start.”

Smith threw for 289 yards and a 71-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf, Zach Charbonnet rushed for two TDs, and the Seahawks beat Miami 24-3 on Sunday where the attention turned to another injury suffered by a Dolphins quarterback.

A week after losing Tua Tagovailoa to the third concussion in the past two years, the Dolphins watched Skylar Thompson suffer a chest injury in the second half, leaving Tim Boyle to try to lead the charge back from a 17-3 deficit.

Boyle was unable to direct a comeback and the Dolphins (1-2) were stuck back in a place of uncertainty about their QB situation.

Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Thompson suffered a painful rib injury.

“You have to look at everything and you have to find a way to give your team the best chance to win,” McDaniel said. “I think in 2022, this was something that happened to us as well and ultimately the rest of the league does not care, nor should they. So, we have to find a way to get better collectively.”

Thompson was hurt in the third quarter, staying down after being shoved by Dre’Mont Jones following a pass to De’Von Achane. But the injury was likely suffered on the previous drive when Thompson was sacked by Tyrel Dodson and was hunched over at the midsection as he ran off the field.

Thompson was 13 of 19 for 107 yards before leaving. He was also sacked five times.

Seattle is the first team since the Steelers in 1979 to start 3-0 and hold each of those opponents to under 150 yards passing. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for seven catches for just 66 yards.

“It’s such a dangerous team. You know the usual suspects,” Macdonald said. “When they get their hands on the ball you’ve got to take great angles, you need inside-out pursuit, you’ve got to set the edge. I thought our front played incredibly hard.”

Tagovailoa made the trip to Seattle just over a week after suffering the concussion against Buffalo on Sept. 12. The Dolphins expressed confidence that Thompson would be able to step in and keep their potent offense moving.

But all Miami could manage was Jason Sanders’ 23-yard field goal in the first quarter. Miami had just 205 total yards.

“I’ve never won a game scoring three points, so I think collectively starting with me it has to be better. We have to get it figured out fast,” McDaniel said.

Miami had a chance to pull within one score early in the fourth quarter following Smith’s second interception of the game — a pass that was deflected by Calais Campbell and grabbed out of the air by Zach Sieler. Miami reached the Seattle 3, but failed on four attempts and turned the ball over on downs.

Seattle answered that defensive stand with a 98-yard scoring drive, capped by Charbonnet’s 10-yard TD run with 4:55 left. Charbonnet finished with 91 yards rushing on 18 carries, while Smith was 26 of 34 passing, including the long TD toss to Metcalf.

Seattle improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2020.

“We always talk about closing the game and for the offense that was our opportunity to go close the game … and just be on the attack right there. I think we did a great job,” Charbonnet said.

Seattle’s offense was humming early with Smith throwing for 133 yards in the first quarter. The big shot came on the final play of the first quarter when Metcalf used a double move to flash open and Smith found him for his seventh career touchdown catch of 50 yards or more.

But after that opening quarter it was a rather miserable afternoon for the Seahawks on that side of the ball with drives often stymied by penalties. The teams were each flagged for 11 accepted penalties with several more declined or offsetting.

“I think that’s the only thing that stopped us today was the stupid penalties that we had,” Metcalf said.

Injuries

Along with Thompson, the Dolphins lost starting left tackle Terron Armstead (eye) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) to injuries in the first half.

Seattle lost significant depth on the defensive line as rookie first round pick Byron Murphy II (hamstring) and Leonard Williams (ribs) were both lost to injuries in the first half. Both were ruled out at halftime.

Up next

Dolphins: Host Tennessee next week on “Monday Night Football.”

Seahawks: At Detroit next week on “Monday Night Football.”

___

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One week after starter Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion, backup Skylar Thompson left the game midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Thompson had what coach Mike McDaniel called a painful rib injury, leaving the Dolphins with more questions at the most important position on the field after just three weeks of the season.

Thompson’s final play was a 5-yard pass to De’Von Achane with 9:46 left in the third, but he took a hard shot on the previous drive when Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson hit him for a sack, one of five he took on the day.

Thompson finished 13 of 19 for 107 yards, and was replaced by Tim Boyle at quarterback.

“Half the pain or half of the frustration for him, I think was, he was really trying to find a way to not come out of the game,” McDaniel said. “And ultimately, it was pretty painful. He fought through it, but we’ll get a chance to look at him tomorrow.”

Thompson was slow to get up following the hit from Dodson and was slightly hunched over at the midsection as he ran off the field. He returned for the next series, but stayed down for several minutes after completing the pass to Achane. Thompson remained on his back for a few minutes before sitting up and walking directly to the locker room.

The injury to Thompson came a little over a week after Tagovailoa suffered his third concussion in the past two years in a loss to Buffalo. Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, meaning he’s not an option for the Dolphins for at least four games.

McDaniel didn’t reveal what the Dolphins’ plan is for the upcoming week if Thompson is unable to go for Miami’s home matchup against Tennessee next Monday night. Miami did sign Tyler Huntley off the Ravens’ practice squad earlier this week and he served as the third quarterback Sunday.

McDaniel sounded optimistic that the rest of the highly regarded offense would be able to bounce back, even with the team going through a roller-coaster couple of weeks under center.

“I think consistency has to be found from the nucleus in the group,” McDaniel said. “The guys that truly know the offense have to really be on it and we have to just keep chopping wood and get better fast. … Those things happen, and you know, every single season, there’s teams that find a way to win football games when their starter, or even their backup, is out.”

It was the third significant injury for the Dolphins in the game after left tackle Terron Armstead (eye) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) were injured in the first half.

Fuller was hurt during the first quarter, was evaluated then ruled out early in the second half. Armstead’s injury was announced late in the second quarter and Kendall Lamm stepped in as his replacement.

Seattle lost significant depth on its defensive line with injuries to Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams in the first half. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald didn’t have updates on either injury.

___

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U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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The early games on Sunday in Week 3 weren’t particularly close for the most part, with five of the seven games decided by double digits. There were several upsets and a few surprising standouts, though, so let’s get into it all.

Here are all the winners and losers from Sunday’s action:

Winner: Malik Willis revenge game

There wasn’t much thought given to the Tennessee Titans trading Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers for a seventh-round pick. But a month later, the outcast quarterback got his revenge.

Willis put together another strong performance in relief of Jordan Love. The third-year pro went 13 of 19 for 202 passing yards, 73 rushing yards and two total touchdowns in the dominant 30-14 road win. In limited action for Tennessee over his first two seasons, Willis had just one total touchdown with four fumbles and three interceptions.

The Packers are now in an excellent position with their starting quarterback seemingly on the verge of returning from a knee injury. Matt LaFleur’s team is 2-1, with a home game against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings looming next Sunday.

Loser: Russell Wilson’s job security

Russell Wilson hasn’t played a snap this season due to a calf injury. It might be a while before he returns, and it’s not because of the injury.

After another respectable showing, Justin Fields has Pittsburgh at 3-0. The former Chicago Bears quarterback hasn’t been perfect, but he’s done just enough to keep his team unbeaten. It’ll be hard to bench the quarterback who hasn’t lost a game, even if Wilson returns to full strength soon. The veteran was questionable going into Week 3, so it appears he could be healthy in the near future.

Sunday was perhaps Fields’ best showing of the season, going 25 of 32 for 245 yards with a passing and rushing score in the 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. This is a situation to monitor as the year goes on.

Winner: Malik Nabers is a star

The New York Giants are finally in the win column, and it’s mostly due to their first-round pick.

Malik Nabers was once again a standout for the Big Blue. He followed up his 10-catch, 127-yard Week 2 outing by amassing eight receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Most of his damage came in the first half, as the Giants took a 21-7 lead over the Cleveland Browns and held on late for the 21-16 victory.

While the Giants might not win a ton of games this season, they can rest easy knowing they didn’t miss on their top draft pick. Nabers has 23 receptions, 271 yards and three touchdowns through his first three games, making him the first player in NFL history with over 20 receptions, 250 yards and three touchdowns in his first three games (h/t Tony Holzman-Escareno).

Loser: Saints high-powered offense

Klint Kubiak’s offense was unstoppable through two weeks. But on Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles put an end to the New Orleans Saints’ dominance.

The Eagles went down to Louisiana and secured a 15-12 win, though it wasn’t pretty. Derek Carr and Co. led 3-0 through three quarters, with Philly passing up on two field goals and coming up empty on six straight possessions to open the game. Two Saquon Barkley touchdowns in the fourth quarter put the Eagles ahead 15-12, and Reed Blankenship sealed the deal with an interception in the final minute.

Carr had just 142 passing yards and the Saints mustered 3.1 yards per carry against a stout Eagles D-line. Now at 2-1, the Saints travel to Atlanta in Week 4 for a date with the rival Falcons — a team that just beat the Eagles.

Winner: All of Minnesota

The first three games of 2024 couldn’t have gone any better for the Minnesota Vikings.

Starting with the offense, Kevin O’Connell has turned Sam Darnold into an early MVP contender. The former first-round pick was stellar again in their Week 3 win over the Houston Texans — 17 of 28, 181 yards and four touchdowns. He has 657 yards and eight touchdowns through three games for the undefeated Vikings.

Then there’s the defense, which Brian Flores has completely transformed in his second season as coordinator. The unit held C.J. Stroud’s offense to just seven points and two turnovers on Sunday. That was one week after limiting Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers to 17 points and two turnovers. It’s still early, but Minnesota is looking like a legitimate contender with its combination of coaching, skill players and steady QB production.

Loser: Trap games

Fresh off a monster road win over the Detroit Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a no-show in Week 3.

The previously 0-2 Denver Broncos marched into Florida and left with a 26-7 win over the previously 2-0 Bucs. Rookie QB Bo Nix had his best game yet for Denver, completing 25 of 36 passes for 216 yards and adding a rushing touchdown. The Bucs offense had just 223 yards and two turnovers in the loss.

Winner: Avoiding 0-3 records

Multiple teams entered the day with 0-2 records, with some contenders in the mix, too. In the late window, the Carolina Panthers bested the Las Vegas Raiders 36-22 behind Andy Dalton’s vintage performance, becoming the first QB this season to record at least 300 yards passing coupled with three-plus touchdowns. Carolina may not be a contender, but it’s definitely an important result nonetheless.

Later, the Los Angeles Rams overcame a double-digit deficit to top the San Francisco 49ers with a late field goal. Matthew Stafford led the way for L.A. despite not having Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp available, while Brock Purdy combined superbly with Jauan Jennings for his career-best outing in the 27-24 loss. The Rams should be in the wild card mix, so ending their 0-2 skid against a divisional foe is a vital boost.

The final game of the late window saw the Baltimore Ravens hold off the Dallas Cowboys 28-25. Baltimore held a 28-6 lead but nearly saw it collapse in its entirety after a hot fourth quarter by Dallas. Both teams are now 1-2, but this was a game Lamar Jackson and Co. could not afford to lose, and they pulled off the win on the road.

Loser: Dolphins’ QB situation

With Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve for the next few weeks, the Dolphins called upon QB2 Skylar Thompson to help keep the season afloat. But the Dolphins are starting to sink, as Thompson struggled against the Seattle Seahawks and left early due to a chest injury.

Tim Boyle, 29, took over but didn’t do much, either. Miami lost 24-3 and fell to 1-2, with the running game not succeeding, too, as De’Von Achane led with just 30 yards on 11 carries. Mike McDaniel will have to sort things out quickly while Tagovailoa remains out, but it doesn’t look promising.

Winner: Lions bounce back

After a disappointing home loss against the Bucs, Detroit turned it around on the road with a solid performance on all fronts. Jared Goff didn’t light up the stat sheet but turned in a 198-yard, two-touchdown, one-pick outing as David Montgomery rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown with Jahmyr Gibbs adding 83.

Detroit’s defense did will limiting the shifty Kyler Murray to 21 of 32 completions for 205 yards, one touchdown and one pick while James Conner mustered just 17 rushing yards on nine tries. Marvin Harrison Jr. caught Murray’s sole touchdown throw, but logged just five catches for 64 yards on the day.

Loser: Bryce Young

The Bryce Young trade rumors may get louder heading into Week 4 after Dalton lit up the stat sheet. Time will have to tell if Dalton is just in a purple patch, but the 36-year-old isn’t the long-term option for Carolina as QB1. Still, it’s not a great look for Young if Dalton can step in and guide his team to a 30-burger right off the bat.

It’ll be interesting to see how head coach Dave Canales and Co. plays this out. Do you keep benching your former No. 1 overall pick to play a quarterback for short-term gain or let the youngster play through it for more pain?

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The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback exited Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third quarter after appearing to aggravate an ankle injury.

Herbert limped off the field with just under seven minutes remaining in the third quarter of a 10-10 game and is questionable to return. He was replaced by backup Taylor Heinicke. 

Herbert entered the day listed as questionable after his ankle was rolled up on during the third quarter of last week’s victory over the Carolina Panthers. He did not practice on Wednesday ad was limited on Thursday.

Herbert helped the Chargers get out to their first 2-0 start since 2012 and led them to a 7-0 start against the Steelers on Sunday with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston late in the first quarter. Herbert had completed 12 of 18 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown at the time of the injury.

The Chargers acquired the 31-year-old Heinicke in a preseason trade with the Atlanta Falcons. He has started 29 games over his seven-year career, primarily for the Washington Commanders in 2021 and 2022.

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Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was 77. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.”

“Beyond the field, Mercury was a devoted father, a loving brother, a loyal friend, and a pillar in the community,” his family wrote in the statement. “His presence extended far beyond football, as he touched the lives of many throughout his time in Miami.”

Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons, finishing with an NFL-best 12 in 1972 and then 10 more in 1973.

Those two seasons — the best in Dolphins’ history — just happened to be the best of Morris’ eight-year career as well. He rushed for a career-high 1,000 yards in 1972, then ran for 954 more along with a league-best 6.4 yards per carry the following season.

“I think Shula gave everybody a different kind of direction and purpose being coached by this guy,” Morris said in 2008. “We were middle-class people and middle-class fans, and Shula was a blue-collar worker. And he had kind of a work ethic that really allowed you to see that if you work hard and you do what you’re supposed to do, then things are going to turn out for you — not all the time but you adjust to that and do what’s necessary to try to do as best you can.”

Morris made no secret of being filled with pride about the 1972 Dolphins being the first — and still only — undefeated and untied team in NFL history, pulling off a perfect season.

He also tried to make this clear: No, the Dolphins were not rooting against the teams that came close to matching their feat of perfection and did not have champagne on ice waiting for the moment that the last unbeaten team in a season gets defeated.

“And for the record, we DO NOT TOAST every time an unbeaten team loses,” Morris posted on social media in 2015, when the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers started 14-0 before losing the next-to-last game of their regular season. “There’s no champagne in my glass, only Canada Dry Ginger ale! Ha!”

That sense of humor also got pointed at his beloved Dolphins at times. When Miami was 0-8 in the 2007 season, on its way to a 0-13 start and 1-15 record, Morris offered another of his many memorable quips.

“The Dolphins are not embarrassing me, because our record’s at the top of the heap,” Morris said. “That’s not my team. People say, ‘Your team is doing bad.’ I say, ‘My team all has AARP cards.’”

Morris had some personal struggles after his football career ended, most notably being sentenced to 20 years in prison after his 1982 conviction on cocaine trafficking charges. He fought the conviction, admitting he used cocaine — in part to deal with numerous lingering injuries — but never sold the drug. His conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court in 1986 and Morris became a motivational speaker urging people to avoid drugs.

“Was I bitter? Not really,” Morris wrote in his book “Against The Grain,” published in 1998. “I would not recommend three days in jail to anyone, much less three years. But I must be honest: I needed to go through what I did to develop the character I had when I became a free man.”

Morris went into the Dolphins’ Walk of Fame in 2013. He remains fourth on the team’s all-time rushing list with 3,877 yards behind Csonka (6,737), Ricky Williams (6,436) and Ronnie Brown (4,815).

Norris started on pole position ahead of Verstappen and steadily built a large lead for his third career win. All have come this year.

There were two brief moments of jeopardy when the McLaren driver first locked his brakes and touched the barriers, prompting concern he’d damaged the front wing, and later when a rear tire brushed another. But Norris seemed largely unaffected as he cruised to the win.

“It was an amazing race. A few too many close calls,” Norris said. “It’s not that you’re necessarily over-pushing. Sometimes it can be that you’re just chilling too much. Maybe it’s a bit of both. I don’t know what it is, but it’s tricky.”

With such a big lead, staying focused was one of Norris’ challenges. Races in Singapore have a habit of turning on strategy calls, or if a crash brings out the safety car and brings the cars back together. Norris had to stay alert, but there was no safety car — a first in Singapore history.

Verstappen came in second for Red Bull in a race that was largely uneventful after he held off Lewis Hamilton into the first corner at the start.

Oscar Piastri, the winner for McLaren in Azerbaijan last week, moved up from fifth on the grid to finish third after passing Mercedes’ Hamilton and later George Russell for the final podium place.

Verstappen seemed relaxed Sunday, holding onto second and minimizing the damage to his lead, which was trimmed from 59 to 52 points.

“I think on a weekend where we knew that we were going to struggle, to be P2 is a good achievement. Of course we’re not happy with second,” he said. “Now we just have to try and improve more and more and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

Six rounds of the championship remain, starting with the United States Grand Prix next month, and three of those offer extra points with sprint races.

Daniel Ricciardo’s place in F1 with Red Bull’s second team RB could be under threat. Still, the Australian made a small but potentially vital intervention in the championship fight.

Ricciardo stopped for fresh tires late on and set the fastest lap of the race on his way to finishing 18th. That deprived Norris of the extra point for fastest lap that he seemed set to secure.

“Thank you, Daniel,” Verstappen said over the radio.

Russell was fourth, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, while seven-time champion Hamilton had to settle for sixth after Mercedes’ strategy left him on older tires than his rivals at the end of the race.

Carlos Sainz Jr. was seventh for Ferrari after crashing in qualifying, with Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin eighth and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg ninth.

Tenth place was all Sergio Perez could manage in a season where he has frequently struggled to match the pace of his Red Bull teammate Verstappen.

Owen Larson was placed on the window, half in the car, half out, as his dad drove a victory lap around Bristol Motor Speedway with his son holding the No. 1 finger in the air. He later joined his dad atop the car during Saturday night’s victory lane celebration.

“We had a little boys’ weekend here this weekend,” Larson said. “We’ll bring some hardware home tonight, too.”

Larson dominated the first elimination race of NASCAR’s 10-race playoff portion of the season by leading all but 38 of the 500 laps at the track in Bristol, Tennessee — the most laps led ever in a race by a Hendrick driver. It easily moved him into the second round of the playoffs, while former NASCAR champions Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr., as well as Ty Gibbs and Harrison Burton, were eliminated from the 16-driver field.

“I’ve had a lot of good cars since I’ve come to Hendrick Motorsports, but man, that was just great execution all weekend by the team,” Larson said. “We dominate a lot of races but we might not close them all out, so it feels really good to close one out here.”

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The first of three elimination races in the 10-race playoffs began with Denny Hamlin, Truex, Keselowski and Burton all below the cutline and facing elimination from the 16-driver field.

Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner with four career wins at Bristol, was never really worried and finished fourth.

“My aspiration was winning,” Hamlin said. “It’s as good as what we’ve been here the last couple times. It’s all offense from this point forward.”

Burton, who used a surprise win at Daytona last month to qualify for the playoffs in the final few weeks before he loses his seat with Wood Brothers Racing, was doubtful to recover enough to advance and finished 35th. Keselowski, the 2012 Cup champion, and 2017 champion Truex had a better shot at salvaging their playoffs but both came up empty.

Truex was penalized for speeding on pit road, taking him out of contention to advance, and Keselowski just didn’t have the pace. Joe Gibbs Racing had two of its four cars eliminated from the playoffs as Ty Gibbs was also penalized for speeding.

“That was just unfortunate there,” said Gibbs, who finished 15th. “Speeding penalty is on me. It’s my fault.”

Keselowski finished 26th and lamented the lack of speed in his RFK Racing Ford.

“Didn’t have the pace we wanted. We ran as hard as we could, there just wasn’t anything there,” Keselowski said. “Just gotta be faster.”

Truex is retiring from full-time racing at the end of the season.

“That kind of screws up your whole season,” Truex said of the speeding penalty. “It’s on me. It was my mistake. Just really sad for my guys. We had a really good car. I hate I screwed it up, would have at least tried to see what we could do.”

Larson, meanwhile, led 462 of 500 laps, the most since Cale Yarborough led 495 laps in 1977. Larson’s laps led is the most ever by a Hendrick driver and marked the fifth win of the season for the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet.

It’s an impressive stat considering the Hendrick team has fielded cars for Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr., among others.

“That’s pretty awesome because there’s been some legendary Hall of Famers race for Hendrick Motorsports, and we’ve all grown up watching Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson dominate,” Larson said. “So pretty cool to get my name on another record at Hendrick Motorsports.”

Daniel Suarez, who finished four laps down in 31st, squeezed out the final spot into the second round of the playoffs by 11 points over Gibbs.

Also advancing were Chase Elliott, who finished second, Christopher Bell, who finished fifth, regular-season champion Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Austin Cindric and Alex Bowman.

Hendrick’s entire four-car Chevrolet lineup advanced, as did all three Ford drivers from Team Penske. But Toyota lost a pair of JGR entries, and Ford lost two cars in Keselowski and Burton.

Bubba Wallace finished third behind Larson and Elliott as the highest-placing non-playoff driver.

LaJoie’s final ride

Corey LaJoie had already been told by Spire Motorsports it was not bringing him back next year, which gave him the rest of this season to finish out strong.

Then Spire threw him a lifeline with an unusual driver swap with Rick Ware Racing that will move Justin Haley into the Spire No. 7. LaJoie will replace Haley at RWR starting next week at Kansas Speedway.

While Haley’s deal guarantees him the seat in 2025, LaJoie will have to earn the RWR ride. But in the meantime, he wanted one final good finish with Spire. He qualified ninth and was running 11th when he was involved in a crash that essentially ended his career with Spire.

Up next

NASCAR opens the second round of the playoffs at Kansas Speedway, where Reddick won last fall and Larson won in May. Bell takes a six-point lead over Larson into Kansas.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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Ward tossed TD passes of 6 yards to Isaiah Horton, 5 yards to Xavier Restrepo and 76 yards to Sam Brown, the latter putting Miami (4-0) ahead for good late in the second quarter. Damien Martinez rushed for three TDs, including a pair of 1-yarders that finished long drives that built the lead to 36-15 in the third quarter.

Receiver Sean Atkins had 11 catches for 125 yards and also threw a 12-yard TD pass to quarterback Byrum Brown for USF (2-2).

The Bulls led 15-14 with 2:36 remaining in the first half after getting field goals of 58 and 51 yards from Nico Gramatica and 45 yards from John Cannon to give an announced crowd of 58,616 hopes an upset was in the making.

Ward entered the night needing 89 yards to reach 15,000 for his career and got there on a 22-yard completion to Horton late in the first quarter. Moments later, he threw 6 yards to Horton for a touchdown that finished an eight-play, 90-yard drive that gave the Hurricanes a 14-9 lead.

The only other active college quarterback with more than 15,000 passing yards is Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, whose career total entering Saturday was 15,779 in 53 games at three different schools. Ward reached the milestone in the 48th game of a career that began at FCS Incarnate Word, where he threw for 6,908 yards in two seasons.

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound quarterback spent the last two years at Washington State, passing for 6,968 yards there. He’s thrown for 1,439 yards in Miami’s first four games to become the first to start a stint at the school with four consecutive 300-yard games and hike his career total to 15,315.

Ward finished Saturday night 24 of 34 passing with one interception on a throw that glanced off the hands of Restrepo in the first quarter. Jordan Lyle finished Miami’s scoring with a 90-yard TD run in the closing minutes.

USF, in its second season under coach Alex Golesh, gave a Top 10 opponent problems for the second time in its last three games. The Bulls got Miami’s attention when they played No. 4 Alabama close before a fourth-quarter collapse left them with a 42-16 loss.

It was 14-13 going into the fourth quarter against the Crimson Tide, though, and Saturday night they only trailed 22-15 after Cannon missed a 31-yard field goal that would have trimmed the deficit to four just before halftime.

Ward threw for five touchdowns and Miami amassed a school-record 750 yards total offense in the previous week’s 62-0 rout of Ball State. His three TD passes against USF raised his season total to 14.

The takeaway

Miami: The Hurricanes passed what amounted to their first real test after opening the season with lopsided wins over Florida (41-17), Florida A&M (56-9) and Ball State (62-0). Now, they turn their attention to the start of Atlantic Coast Conference play.

USF: Golesh clearly has the Bulls, who begin the American Athletic Conference portion of their schedule next week, headed in the right direction after inheriting a team that went 1-11 two years ago. The one-time Tennessee offensive coordinator led a six-win turnaround to 7-6 in 2023.

Poll implications

Miami, which has scored 209 points in its four games, figures to protect its standing in the Top 10.

Up Next

Miami hosts Virginia Tech in ACC opener next Friday.

USF has its AAC opener at Tulane next Saturday.

___

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Abrams is not expected to play for the big league team for the rest of the season.

“I’m not going to give specifics or talk about specifics because I need to keep these guys and everything on the down low,” Martinez said before the Nationals’ 5-1 victory over the Cubs. “I’ve got other guys out there that I want to support. I’m going to support CJ. He’s a big part of our Nats family, and he will be. At this point, for me, it’s the right thing to do.”

Abrams, who turns 24 on Oct. 3, is hitting .246 with 20 homers, 65 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.

The decision to option Abrams to Triple-A Rochester will cost the player $18,885. His contract calls for a $752,400 salary while in the major leagues and $362,100 while in the minors, and he will get the lower rate of pay for the final nine days of the 186-day season.

Brodie Van Wagenen, Abrams’ agent, declined comment.

Rochester did not qualify for the International League postseason and plays its final game on Sunday. Martinez said Abrams will not play for the Red Wings. He will fly to Washington and then travel to the team’s training complex at West Palm Beach, Florida.

Ward entered Saturday night’s game against South Florida needing 89 yards to get there and went over on a 22-yard completion to Isaiah Horton in the first quarter of the eighth-ranked Hurricanes’ 50-15 victory.

The fifth-year senior joins Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel as the only active college quarterbacks with more than 15,000 passing yards. Gabriel, whose career total entering Saturday was 15,779 in 53 games at three different schools, played parts of three seasons at UCF and then spent 2022 and 2023 at Oklahoma before moving on to Oregon.

Saturday’s game was the 48th of Ward’s career. He spent his first two collegiate season at FCS Incarnate Word (throwing for 6,908 yards there) and the last two years at Washington State (throwing for 6,968 yards there). He has 1,439 yards in Miami’s first four games this year, becoming the first to start his career at the school with four consecutive 300-yard passing games and pushing his total to 15,315.

Ward was 24 of 34 passing for 404 yards and three touchdowns against USF. He was intercepted once.

“He’s been great for a long time,” said Miami receiver Isaiah Horton, who had a TD catch Saturday night. “As soon as he got on campus, he made his mark instantly. I love playing with him.”

All-time leaderboard

In addition to Gabriel and Ward, the other quarterbacks officially recognized by the NCAA to have topped 15,000 yards passing are:

— Case Keenum, 19,217 yards at Houston from 2007-11. Keenum now plays for the Houston Texans and will miss this season because of injury.

— Timmy Chang, 17,072 yards at Hawaii from 2000-04. He’s now the school’s head coach.

— Tyson Bagent: 17,034 yards at Division II’s Shepherd from 2018-22. He’s now the backup for the Chicago Bears.

— Landry Jones, 16,646 yards at Oklahoma from 2009-12. He made five starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2015-17.

— Bo Cordell, 16,265 yards at Division II’s Tusculum from 2009-13, before going on to play for Montreal in the CFL.

— Graham Harrell, 15,793 yards at Texas Tech from 2005-08. He’s now offensive coordinator at Purdue.

— Sam Hartman, 15,656 yards at Wake Forest and Notre Dame from 2018-23. He is a rookie with the Washington Commanders.

— Austin Reed, 15,550 yards at Division II’s West Florida and then Western Kentucky from 2020-23. He’s now on the Bears’ practice squad.

— Bo Nix, 15,351 yards at Auburn and Oregon from 2019-23. He’s the starter for the Denver Broncos.

— John Matocha, 15,102 yards at Division II’s Colorado School of Mines from 2019-23. He was in camp this year with Toronto of the CFL.

— Ty Detmer, 15,031 yards at BYU from 1988-91. He played 14 NFL seasons.

___

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U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

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The Wolverines (3-1, 1-0) overcame losing a 14-0 lead in the first half and coughing up two fumbles in the second half. They won with a 10-play, 89-yard TD drive, with Mullings doing most of the work.

He capped it with his second touchdown of the game, this one running behind a fullback in a jumbo package that left little doubt where the ball was going.

!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/HMTgB8YgGI

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) September 21, 2024

The Trojans (2-1, 0-1) went ahead 24-20 midway through the fourth when Miller Moss threw his third touchdown pass, a 24-yarder to Ja’Kobi Lane.

Update: No. 11 @uscfb has the lead at The Big House.#B1GFootball on CBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/fjvHm074Bv

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 21, 2024

USC’s last chance ended with a fourth-down throw coming up short of the line to gain near midfield.

Mullings had a career-high 159 yards rushing, including a 53-yard scoring run to put the Wolverines ahead early, and Donovan Edwards had a 41-yard run to give them a two-touchdown lead.

Donovan Edwards finds a gap. Donovan Edwards takes it in! pic.twitter.com/qm9pC9CWX0

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) September 21, 2024

Moss was 28 of 51 for 283 yards with a season-high three touchdowns and a costly interception.

Dang, that was pretty 😍 pic.twitter.com/F6ILFsYsn7

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) September 21, 2024

USC’s Woody Marks ran for 100 yards on 13 carries, and ripped the football out of defensive tackle Kenneth Grant’s hand after he recovered the big defensive tackle had recovered a fumble for Michigan.

Moss bounced back from throwing a pick-6 to Will Johnson that gave the defending national champions a double-digit lead in third quarter with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jay Fair later in the quarter and his third touchdown pass to Lane with 7:01 left in the fourth.

Michigan needed a touchdown, trailing by four, in the final minute to win because USC defensive tackle Gavin Meyer blocked the extra point after Johnson’s interception return for a touchdown.

It also needed the clutch score because Edwards fumbled to set up a Trojans touchdown, Grant’s fumble helped the Big Ten newcomers score — and Michigan didn’t have a passing threat.

Alex Orji made his first start at quarterback and was 7 of 12 for 32 yards and ran 13 times for 43 yards.

The takeaway

USC’s revamped defense under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn held up well in the second half against an opponent that couldn’t pass. And then broke on Mullings’ long, tackle-breaking run and couldn’t complete the goal-line stand.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore earned his first signature win as Jim Harbaugh’s successor, making enough moves that panned out in what was potentially a pivotal game in his first season.

BANGED UP

USC receiver Makai Lemon left the in the first quarter after taking a hit while covering a punt. Trojans tight end Lake McRee was hit hard on his left knee, taking another target off the field for Moss.

Johnson left the field in the second half with an apparent injury.

Poll implications

Michigan may move up for the first time this season in the AP Top 25 and will extend a 51-straight week run of being ranked since early in the 2021 season and USC might slip a little in the poll.

Up next

USC hosts Wisconsin on Saturday.

Michigan hosts Minnesota on Saturday.

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani launched his 50th home run of the season into the left field stands at loanDepot Park in the 7th inning as L.A. routed the Marlins 20-4.

Video from Only in Dade showed a mad scramble among fans after the ball landed with one man eventually claiming victory and hoisting the ball in the air.

OHTANI MAKES HISTORY

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Experts believe the ball could be worth hundreds of thousands or possibly millions.

That’s because the home run was no ordinary homer, it placed Ohtani in a category all his own.

With that home run, one of his three hit that day, and a stolen base earlier in the game that was one of two in the game, Ohtani became the first member of the 50-homer, 50-stolen base club.

Five other players, beginning with Jose Canseco in 1988, have joined the 40-40 club, but Ohtani is the first to reach 50-50.

The fan who ended up with the ball has not yet been publicly identified or announced an intention to sell.

Other valuable baseballs that made their way into the stands in recent years included Albert Pujols’ 700th career home run in 2022 that sold at auction for $360,000 and Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball hit later that year that was auctioned for $1.5 million.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Miami by 16 1/2.

Series record: Miami, 5-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Miami is seeking to finish what would be a perfect 4-0 record in nonconference games, plus a third win against a Sunshine State opponent already this season. South Florida has a chance to beat a top 10 team for the first time in nearly 17 years — the Bulls are 0-8 in such games since topping then-No. 5 West Virginia 21-13 on Sept. 28, 2007.

KEY MATCHUP

Miami’s ballcarriers vs. South Florida’s ballhawks. The Bulls have already shown that they’re excellent at knocking footballs loose this season, getting five takeaways off of fumbles in the season’s first three games. The Hurricanes know they have to protect the football; wasted possessions are how upsets can happen.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Miami: LT Jalen Rivers is back after a two-game absence with a neck injury, and his experience is going to be needed against South Florida’s stout defensive front. He’s the key to the blocking scheme that Miami uses to protect QB Cam Ward.

South Florida: Dual-threat QB Byrum Brown won’t be the highest-profile player on the field, however he’s just as important to the Bulls as Ward is to Miami. The junior was one of just two FBS players to throw for over 3,000 yards while running for 800-plus last season. The other was Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Through three games, Brown has thrown 448 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He’s also rushed for a team-leading 254 yards and a pair of scores.

FACTS & FIGURES

Ward is 89 passing yards from 15,000 in his college career, including his time at Incarnate Word and Washington State. … The teams met six times from 2005 through 2013 but, until now, haven’t played since. They’ll play at Miami in 2025 and 2028. … USF scored 23 points in its lone win over Miami, back in 2010. In Miami’s five wins over USF, the Bulls averaged 10 points. … USF has lost 18 consecutive games against Top 25 opponents. The Bulls’ last win over a ranked team was on Oct. 28, 2016, a 52-45 win over then-No. 22 Navy. … Miami has outscored opponents by 133 points so far this season, the third-best differential nationally entering the week behind Tennessee (178) and Ole Miss (159). … The Bulls (who have already faced Alabama and lost 42-16 after a fourth-quarter collapse) will be one of two teams to already face two top 10 opponents this season. Kent State — which plays No. 10 Penn State on Saturday — is the other.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Rodgers’ passing totals in the first two weeks of this year were 167 and 176 yards, well below his career average of roughly 255 yards per game.

He wasn’t alone with the meager numbers, however. 

Through the first two weeks (and one game) of the NFL season, offensive output, particularly passing, has taken a considerable dip, and the explanations for why are all over the board.

The numbers are pretty stark.

The current per-game passing yard average through one game of Week 3 is 192.7, per Pro Football Reference. If that number holds, it would be the lowest passing yards per game number since 1992, when the average was 187.6. The leaguewide number of passing attempts per game — 30.3 — would also be its lowest since ‘92. 

Overall, NFL teams are currently averaging 21.4 points per game, the fifth straight year the scoring average has decreased, and the lowest points per game total since 2006. From 2020 to this season, the same period scoring has steadily declined, the average passing yards per game has dipped by almost 50 yards from 240.2 (the third-highest mark ever.)

Last season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 yards, the lowest total for a passing yards leader since 2017. In 2011, when Rodgers won his first MVP, five players threw for more than 4,624 yards despite there being one less regular season game on the schedule. And three even threw for at least 5,000. 

So what happened? Did every NFL team finally start listening to the person who walks in on Monday morning whose main contribution to the football conversation is “My team needs to run the ball more?”

It’s complicated.

There are several theories as to why the passing game has been muted and scoring numbers have decreased. 

There’s Yahoo’s Nate Tice — who wrote about the decrease in offense last season — who believes an overall decline in offensive line play is limiting how teams can attack defenses.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell offered his own theory, which in part says defenses have caught up to offenses in terms of disguising their intentions and attacking weaknesses. 

Another popular line of thought is that defenses are taking away the deep pass by playing more “two high,” defense (also known as Cover 2) in which two safeties are far off the line of scrimmage and covering half the field to take away any big plays over the top.

As ESPN’s Mina Kimes explains, the rate of defenses playing the two-high safety look is much higher than it was five years ago — when passing and scoring were up.

But it’s not only that teams are playing more Cover 2, the problem may also be that modern NFL teams are worse at attacking what is not a novel concept. As CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin outlined, data shows teams are simply worse at running effectively as a whole, despite defenses inviting them to do so.

Another theory is that, well, maybe the quarterbacks are just worse.

Obviously, there is far from any consensus on why exactly NFL offenses have slowed down. And it’s arguable if the slowdown is even a problem. The leaguewide scoring average increased by nearly four points per game from the turn of the millennium to 2020, and over that time many fans and players alike (especially defensive players) lamented the inability of defenses to fight back against offenses. Not only did coaches realize the power of the pass, the league seemingly capitulated to offenses with rule changes that made moving the ball downfield easier.

This season, defenses are finally getting some measure of revenge. Maybe this is simply a late summer blip — some people think the lack of preseason is the culprit — or maybe this is a sign that it’s time for offenses to innovate once again. 

Whether or not this is the new normal, or why this is all happening, the decrease can definitely be felt. While Rodgers walked off with 281 yards and 24 points Thursday night, the Patriots only managed three points. 

Their two quarterbacks combined for only 120 yards.

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here:

• Panthers-Raiders game marks a first for the NFL with two women presidents at the helm
• ‘A dream come true’: Why Titans head coach Brian Callahan hired his father
• Dolphins placing QB Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve

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About 50 team members participated in the voluntary, 45-minute workout session on campus Monday, according to Patrick Collins, Tufts executive director of media relations. The session was led by a Tufts alum and recent graduate of the BUD/S Navy SEAL training program.

Collins said 12 members of the lacrosse team have been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is “a serious medical condition that can lead to permanent disability or death.” It occurs when muscle breaks down, often from overexertion, and releases its contents into the bloodstream. Symptoms can appear similar to heat-related illnesses and dehydration. The only way to determine if you have it is through testing.

Five of the student athletes remain hospitalized, Collins said, adding that both the number of confirmed cases and the number of those hospitalized could change.

“Our thoughts are with the players and their families, and we are hoping for their quick return to good health under the care of local medical experts,” Collins said. “Meanwhile, we are closely monitoring the condition of the rest of the team and have postponed all team practice activities until each team member has been evaluated and medically cleared to return to participation.”

Because of the seriousness of the situation, the university said it is appointing an external, independent investigator to conduct a thorough review, “with a goal of taking any steps needed to support the safety of our student athletes.”

The school said they are unable to release additional details until their investigation is complete.

Tufts University, located in Medford and Somerville, has about 6,700 undergraduate students. The men’s lacrosse team won its fourth NCAA title in May, defeating RIT.

U.S. Soccer announced Kilgore’s departure on Tuesday.

Kilgore served as interim U.S. head coach after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down last summer following the Americans’ loss in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Under Kilgore, the team went 10-1-3 and won the CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. She returned as an assistant when Emma Hayes took over as coach in late May. Hayes led the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience,” Kilgore said in a statement. “What this group has accomplished during a time of transition is a testament to all involved and I believe an indication of continued success to come.”

The 44-year-old Kilgore did not indicate her next move. She was previously an assistant with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and was the head coach of the UC Davis women’s team.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.