Straight from the Super Bowl LIX Media Center in New Orleans, the most interesting storylines from around the NFL during Super Bowl Week. Refresh hourly for live updates. New editions daily.
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025
Rest in peace: Virginia Halas McCaskey, matriarch and principal owner of the Chicago Bears, has passed away. She was 102. McCaskey was the oldest child of Hall of Famer George Halas.
Russell Wilson rumors leaving Las Vegas — and Pittsburgh: Insider Jay Glazer said Thursday morning that a Russell Wilson reunion with Pete Carroll and the Raiders “ain’t going to happen.” Glazer said Wilson isn’t returning to Pittsburgh, either.
Burrow points to cap space: Tom Brady and Joe Burrow are the only two living quarterbacks to beat Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, so Burrow’s confidence is unique. Burrow made a morning appearance on FS1’s Breakfast Ball and doubled down on his belief that the Bengals can keep their offense together. Cincinnati needs to sign Ja’Marr Chase — the NFL’s triple-crown wide receiver — to a new contract. The team also has to figure out a way to retain unrestricted free agent Tee Higgins, who figures to demand big money on the open market. However, Burrow said he’s willing to discuss restructuring his own contract to keep his receivers. “Keeping everybody we had last year is obviously ideal,” he told Mark Schlereth. “I think we can do it. I know we all want to stay together and want to make it happen, so we’ll see what happens. But I’m confident that the guys involved are going to be able to do what it takes to get it done.” The quarterback added he has faith in the Brown family to spend what’s necessary, and the Bengals have cap space to do it. Burrow also picked his own conference, the Chiefs, to win on Sunday.
Browns on the clock: Cleveland is trying to get a stadium built and now needs to navigate a Myles Garrett trade request. Garrett was on Radio Row Wednesday in New Orleans, telling the Rich Eisen Show that he loves Cleveland but isn’t aligned on the team’s timeline for winning a Super Bowl, something he cares more about than money or Hall of Fame recognition. Plus, Denzel Ward said Wednesday that if Garrett leaves, Ward also would have to consider his future. But the Browns were a playoff team as recently as 2023. They have the No. 2 overall choice in the draft. Could they acquire a quarterback like Kirk Cousins, who enjoyed success with Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota and return to the postseason as early as 2025? After all, a year ago no one thought Washington would advance to the NFC Championship.
Lamar could win third MVP: Should he earn a third MVP at Thursday’s NFL Honors, Lamar Jackson would likely become the best QB in NFL history to never win a Super Bowl.
Chip Kelly took interesting road back to NFL: Brandon Graham and Lane Johnson were with the Eagles when Chip Kelly was their head coach from 2013-15. After Philadelphia fired him in 2015, he endured a 2-14 season as 49ers head coach. Kelly took a year off and then worked his way back at the college level, first as head coach UCLA (2018-23). But last year, he gave up his head-coaching role to become offensive coordinator at Ohio State and help lead the Buckeyes to a national championship.
Jaguars have their man: Liam Coen has hired Grant Udinski, 29, as his first offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. One of the fastest-rising coaches in the league, Udinski interviewed with five teams in the past month for offensive coordinator jobs. He joins the Jaguars from Minnesota, where he was the assistant quarterback coach. Earlier, Nate Scheelhaase became the fourth reported candidate to either withdraw from the Jaguars’ consideration or have his team block Jacksonville’s interview request. Last week, Coen’s former team blocked his request to interview both Buccaneers offensive-line coaches, Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci, for the Jaguars’ OC role. And on Tuesday, Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg opted to stay in Tampa Bay rather than interview for the Jacksonville GM position.
Previous editions of the Radio Row Rodeo: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday
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