Texas Tech University star quarterback Brendan Sorsby is planning to withdraw his lawsuit against the NCAA and declare for the NFL’s supplemental draft in a shocking move, foregoing his final year of college eligibility. 
Just over a week after a Texas state court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/court-rules-star-qb-can-return-after-ncaa-banned-him-over-gambling-admission">granted him an injunction</a> to suit up for the Red Raiders for the 2026-2027 season, Sorsby decided to leave college football for good and prepare for a potential career in the NFL. 
Both the spoken and legal backlash flooded in following the ruling on June 8, 2026. The University of Georgia and University of Nebraska were publicly boycotting facing Texas Tech on their schedule until the NCAA made a decision. Just hours before Sorsby’s decision, the Big 12 Conference, in which Texas Tech competes, sued the university to relieve the injunction he was granted.
Sorsby transferred from the University of Cincinnati to Texas Tech following two years with the program after spending his first two seasons with Indiana University. In those two seasons at Indiana, Sorsby wagered at least $90,000 — with some of his bets placed on the football team. The NCAA then banned Sorsby and took away his eligibility — but he sued the association and had regained it for next season.
Following the announcement, Sorsby took to social media to express his gratitude for those supporting his future endeavors.
“I am grateful for the support from my family, my Tech coaching staff, teammates, the community, and so many others who have encouraged me to address and learn more about this important issue,” Sorsby <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZoOnUOxP2u/?igsh=MW90NXB5ZGltM2x4dg%3D%3D">posted on his Instagram account.</a> “As my journey continues, I remain fully committed to and focused on being the best I can be, both on and off the field.”
In an attempt to continue his football career, Sorsby will apply for the NFL’s supplemental draft that will take place later this summer. The supplemental draft is a separate event from the NFL Draft that we see every April; teams will blind bid their 2027 NFL Draft selections for a player that was not able to declare for the draft due to an issue with their eligibility. The highest draft pick bid will draft that player and forfeit the pick in the following NFL Draft.
There have only been three players selected in the NFL’s supplemental draft in the last 15 years: Jalen Thompson in 2019, Josh Gordon in 2012, and Terrelle Pryor in 2011. All three had careers of at least seven years.
It is unknown whether any team will risk their future picks to select Sorsby, as his off the field concerns are what brought about his current predicament. NFL executives will have to decide whether Sorsby has learned from his six figure gambling decisions, or whether his football career will end in disappointment.

Cincinnati v Utah

Gambling QB Won His Eligibility Back. Now He’s Risking It All On A Shot At The NFL.

Football

Foreign influence

NCAA

The Chicago Bears <a href="https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2026/06/05/bears-new-stadium-hammond-move-board-vote/90421635007/">have taken another step</a> toward a multi-billion-dollar stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, and people are pissed off.
I&#8217;m a Carolina Panthers fan, I don&#8217;t particularly care where the Bears play from a geographic standpoint. It certainly would be lame for the &#8220;Chicago&#8221; Bears, one of the more storied franchises in the NFL, to play somewhere other than Chicago, but I&#8217;m not emotionally invested in it.
What I am emotionally invested in is preventing the pussification of American sport, which is why the Bears move is troubling to me. It&#8217;s troubling because they&#8217;re apparently going to build an indoor stadium wherever their new home is, be it in Indiana, Illinois, or elsewhere.
To put it bluntly, domed football stadiums are an affront to God. Football is the ultimate expression of American masculinity. It&#8217;s a battle of physical strength and endurance, toughness, and gladiator spirit. It is not for the faint of heart, and it is not meant to be played in prime conditions. In fact, one of the appeals of the game is that it can be played rain or shine, sun or snow, sweltering heat or frigid freeze.
Replacing Soldier Field with a dome is a pinch of salt in the wound. It&#8217;s one of the iconic venues of football. Again, I don&#8217;t care about the Bears either way, but even I get a little tingle up the spine when I tune into a primetime matchup at Soldier Field in December, maybe a dusting of snow covering the grass, that orange &#8220;C&#8221; in the middle of the arena. It&#8217;s up there with the Heinz, Lambeaus, and Arrowheads in terms of aura.
Domes are the antithesis of football, and dare I say America. They are fake in their presentation, communist in their value, and European in their softness. If I have to explain that to you, you just don&#8217;t get it.
The NBA has been destroyed by flopping losers. Soccer is never going to happen. Baseball is my favorite sport, but it is at the mercy of the elements. We can&#8217;t lose what makes football different, or America won&#8217;t have a true man&#8217;s game it can call its own any longer.

Chicago Bears vs New England Patriots

Domes Are Communist And European — Save Soldier Field

Chicago Bears

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart recently came under fire from the Left — and one of his own <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/muslim-nfl-players-post-criticizing-pro-trump-teammate-backfires">teammates</a> — for introducing President Donald Trump at a rally, prompting the president to defend him this week. 
In an interview with <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-backs-giants-qb-jaxson-dart-rally-appearance-backlash">Fox News</a>, Trump was asked about the controversy and began by complimenting Dart’s appearance and skill on the football field.
“I wished I looked just like Jaxson,” Trump said. “I said, is he a male model or what? He’s a handsome guy, like a beautiful guy, and a, you know, conservative guy… He’s potentially a good quarterback, he’s a young boy and he just really started. And when he’s in the game, he moves the team.”
Trump then said that the pushback from the Left will only increase Dart&#8217;s popularity among conservative Americans. 
“So, when Jaxson gets harassed a little bit, he’s also loved more, because we have more people than they do,” Trump said.
Dart has endured sharp backlash from the Left due to his appearance at the Suffern, New York, rally last Friday, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/muslim-nfl-players-post-criticizing-pro-trump-teammate-backfires">criticism</a> from his Muslim teammate, edge rusher Abdul Carter.
Dart addressed his fellow teammates during a Tuesday team meeting to explain his actions and fix any conflict, and Carter has said that he and Dart have made up.
&#8220;Me &amp; JD6 are good!&#8221; he <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-jaxson-dart-addressed-donald-140151172.html">wrote on X</a>. &#8220;We spoke earlier as Men. Y&#8217;all can keep y&#8217;all narratives.&#8221;
Dart has not vocally backed Trump, but he has liked many MAGA-related posts on social media, as well as posted in an Instagram story last year that he was praying for Charlie Kirk’s family after the famed political commentator’s assassination.
Dart is not the first New York Giant to support Trump at a rally. Former Giants players Lawrence Taylor and Ottis Anderson both <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgeLzZk4InE">joined</a> the president at a New Jersey rally in 2024.

US-POLITICS-ECONOMY-TRUMP

After Leftist Meltdown Over NFL QB’s Rally Appearance, Trump Responds

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Sports

Trump Administration

Former NFL reporter Dianna Russini hits pause on her Spotify account after a playlist surfaces for &#8220;Mike&#8221; amid her scandal with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
First, there were photos; now, a playlist to add to the pile of online evidence showing the married Russini and Vrabel in a not-so-loyal light.
Thanks to <a href="https://x.com/DavidCovucci/status/2048914416704409689?s=20">David Covucci</a> of FOIAball, the online world is now aware of Russini&#8217;s playlist, titled &#8220;Turnin The Page,&#8221; that was shared with a user named Mike in December of 2022, which just so happens to coincide with a Tennessee Titans&#8217; four-game losing streak. Vrabel was the Titans coach at the time, which, of course, makes social media users believe Russini made Vrabel this playlist to help him turn the page on his season.
This could all just be happenstance, but according to <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/28/dianna-russini-spotify-playlist-mike-vrabel/#continued">TMZ</a>, the playlist includes songs Vrabel is known to play at practice.
The 15-song playlist starts out with &#8220;Cuff It&#8221; by Beyonce, followed by an array of genres including hits from Latto, Sam Hunt, Def Leopard, and KISS, among others.
If those artists sound good to you, unfortunately, Russini has scrubbed her entire Spotify profile after &#8220;Turnin The Page&#8221; went public and the &#8220;Mike&#8221; in question has now changed his profile name to &#8220;Tycar&#8221; — which, it can be argued, might be a combo of Vrabel&#8217;s two sons named Tyler and Carter.
The drama surrounding the former writer for The Athletic and current Patriots coach has exploded in recent weeks after cozy photos surfaced of the two this past March at a romantic resort in Arizona.
More bombshell photos released by <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/23/celebrity-news/dianna-russini-and-married-mike-vrabel-caught-kissing-at-nyc-bar-taken-6-years-before-scandal/">Page Six</a> showed the two kissing more than six years ago in New York.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/patriots-coach-makes-promise-as-smoochy-pics-add-to-russini-drama">Patriots Coach Makes Promise As Smoochy Pics Add To Russini Drama</a>
In the wake of the scandal, Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 and Vrabel said he would seek counseling, even missing Day 3 of the NFL Draft to prioritize family.
&#8220;My previous actions don&#8217;t meet the standard that I hold myself to,&#8221; Vrabel said ahead of the draft. &#8220;They don&#8217;t. And what I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and this football team, is for us to take the necessary steps together and to give them what I told them I&#8217;d give them, which is the best version of me. And that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re going to do. And that&#8217;s going to start, and that has started, and that&#8217;ll continue this weekend, and it&#8217;ll continue for however long it takes for me to give them and to complete that promise of giving them the best version of me possible.&#8221;
Vrabel returned to the Patriots Monday after taking Saturday and Sunday off to attend the counseling he vowed to. During the draft last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN that the coach&#8217;s situation does not fall under the NFL&#8217;s personal conduct policy and is instead a team matter.
Despite the public statements by Vrabel promising to be better for his family, neither he nor Russini have confessed to any kind of romantic affair.

Credit: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Stephen Maturen via Getty Images

A Spotify Playlist We Can’t Pause: The Dianna Russini And Mike Vrabel Scandal

General

new england

Patriots

U.S.

Bill Clinton caused a minor commotion when he dropped by the pre-draft conference for the Dallas Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones stopped the meeting to get up and go greet the former president, which led to many comments online about the 90s vibes given off by the whole interaction.
&#8220;President Clinton is coming through the door,&#8221; Jones can be heard saying in a clip of the conference that’s circulating online. 
&#8220;Uh,&#8221; the Dallas Morning News reporter said as Jones told him he could still ask a question. The camera then focused on Clinton entering the press room. Jones didn’t fully answer the reporter before making his way over to Clinton, stumbling on his way to greet the former president. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cowboys?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cowboys</a> just stopped their pre-draft press conference because former President Bill Clinton showed up.
What the heck 😂😂😂 <a href="https://t.co/RLpLrK0ayh">pic.twitter.com/RLpLrK0ayh</a>
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/2046999343484354763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Look at this right here,” Jones says with a laugh. “Come in this house. Yes sir, Mr. President.”
“This guy was recently named the second most American to have started with very little and have accomplished a lot. Look at him, it’s important. There’s a great story about him,” the Cowboys owner added.
&#8220;He&#8217;s been a wonderful, not only President, but friend over the years, and I&#8217;m really happy to have you here today,&#8221; Jones said. He also told Clinton it was “unquestionably” the largest press conference in the NFL.
&#8220;Thank you, I&#8217;m glad to see you,&#8221; Clinton said. &#8220;Have a good draft day.&#8221;
The Cowboys visited Clinton at the White House after their three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s. The last time Dallas took home the Lombardi Trophy was in 1996.
Jones recalled one of the visits, saying Clinton recited the entire roster of the Arkansas Razorbacks at the time. Clinton replied by saying it’s now “a different world.” Jones mentioned how difficult it would be to take the field in today&#8217;s college games, prompting Clinton to joke that he&#8217;d be the &#8220;late Jerry Jones&#8221; if he did.
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones <a href="https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-make-final-decision-of-george-pickens-franchise-tag">confirmed</a> on Wednesday that the team will not pursue a long-term contract extension with wide receiver George Pickens, but that he’ll play the upcoming season under the franchise tag.

Jones and Clinton

Former President Crashes Dallas Cowboys Pre-Draft Conference In Peak 90s Moment

Bill Clinton

Dallas Cowboys

Mike Vrabel addressed what he called &#8220;laughable&#8221; photos — of himself and now former NFL reporter Dianna Russini getting cozy in a bungalow in Arizona — on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the NFL draft.
The New England Patriots head coach has avoided the matter since <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/07/celebrity-news/new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-and-top-ny-times-nfl-reporter-dianna-russini-hold-hands-and-hug-at-luxury-hotel/">Page Six</a> published the bombshell photos of Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hanging out in a hot tub together at an exclusive couples retreat in Sedona.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,&#8221; Vrabel said to open the April 21 press conference.
&#8220;I understand I could have, you know, addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday very candidly as we began our off-season program.&#8221;
The married father of two said he decided to address the photos because he didn&#8217;t want his players to have to answer questions about him before he could address the team. As he heads into his second season leading New England, Vrabel said he didn&#8217;t want the off-the-field drama to distract from the NFL Draft which starts Thursday in Pittsburgh. The Patriots have the 31st overall pick.
&#8220;We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me,&#8221; Vrabel said. &#8220;We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction &#8230; the comments and questions that I&#8217;ve answered for the team and with the team, we&#8217;ll keep those private and to ourselves. I care deeply about this football team and I&#8217;m excited to coach them.&#8221;
Vrabel told the reporters this season he plans to attack each day with &#8220;humility&#8221; and &#8220;focus&#8221; while promising to be a better man.
&#8220;I can promise you, my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody, our fans most importantly, you will get the best version of me going forward,&#8221; Vrabel said.
As far as any disciplinary action for Vrabel&#8217;s personal interactions with Russini, who at the time of the March meet-up was an NFL reporter with The Athletic, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2026/04/20/mike-vrabel-dianna-russini-nfl-personal-conduct-policy-investigation/89700888007/">USA Today Sports</a> that Vrabel is not under investigation for any violation of the league&#8217;s personal conduct policy.
The policy, as it relates to non-NFL players, warns against &#8220;conduct that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others associated with the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL. We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL.&#8221;
Russini, a long-time NFL insider for NBC, ESPN, and most recently The Athletic, resigned from the New York Times-owned publication April 14 after it was revealed that her actions were under internal investigation.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/married-nfl-reporter-resigns-after-poolside-photos-with-coach-spark-scrutiny">Married NFL Reporter Resigns After Poolside Photos With Coach Spark Scrutiny</a>
Russini has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020, and they share two children. Vrabel has been married to his college sweetheart since 1999.
When Vrabel was asked about Russini directly on Tuesday, he kept mum: &#8220;I respect and I appreciate every single question, but I’m not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that. I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team.&#8221;

Credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Mike Vrabel Mounts PR Campaign Ahead Of NFL Draft, Ignores Questions On Dianna Russini Photos

Mike Vrabel

News

Scandal

Titans

Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore will not serve jail time after being convicted of stalking his ex-mistress, Paige Shiver.
Moore was instead sentenced Tuesday to 18 months of probation by Judge Cedric Simpson in Washtenaw County Court, as The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/14/sports/ex-michigan-football-coach-sherrone-moore-sentenced-to-probation-for-stalking-incident-involving-ex-mistress/">reported</a>. The former head coach appeared in court arm-in-arm with his wife, with whom he shares three children.
Prosecutors said Moore threatened to kill himself in front of Shiver, with whom he had been having a relationship. The 40-year-old had faced charges including felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. Shiver was Moore&#8217;s executive assistant during their two-year affair.
Details of the charges were first revealed during Moore&#8217;s arraignment in December, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sherrone-moore-charged-with-home-invasion-threatened-to-kill-himself-prosecutors-say">reported</a>.
According to prosecutors, Moore forced his way into Shiver&#8217;s apartment in mid-December, grabbed several butter knives and a pair of scissors, and threatened to take his own life after repeatedly calling and texting her. 
“I am going to kill myself. I am going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You’ve ruined my life,” Moore said, according to prosecutors.
First Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said Shiver, 32, was terrorized by a &#8220;series of very intimidating and terrifying statements and behaviors&#8221; inside the apartment.
Prosecutors said Shiver and Moore had been in an intimate relationship for years before she broke it off, which they argued led to Moore’s erratic behavior. 
Judge Simpson noted the seriousness of Moore’s crimes during sentencing. 
“You had no right to do what you did,” the judge stated, per the Post. “I know that [Shiver] was placed in fear. It was a traumatic experience that day for you. It was certainly a traumatic experience for her.&#8221;
“You had no right to spread your pain to her,” Simpson added. “I don’t know where your wife, Kelli, finds her strength… you, sir, took her for granted.”
Moore’s lawyer said he has taken steps to address his behavior since the incident. 
“Sherrone has engaged in counseling, gained insight into his life … recentered himself around his family and taken responsibility, expressing genuine remorse,” attorney Ellen Michaels said.
The judge ordered Moore to have no contact with Shiver. His probation is set to be reviewed in October.

Sherrone Moore

Former Michigan Football Coach Sentenced After Stalking Ex-Mistress

College Football

College sports

Crime

Michigan

University of Michigan

Mike Vrabel is executing a different type of defense this week as the New England Patriots coach and former Super Bowl champ responds to photos capturing him in a pool with veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Vrabel and Russini, both married, were caught holding hands, hugging, and lounging in the water recently at a resort in Sedona, Arizona.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and top NY Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini hold hands and hug at luxury hotel <a href="https://t.co/BpPD0ScwBQ">https://t.co/BpPD0ScwBQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/xrdqqmgDUC">pic.twitter.com/xrdqqmgDUC</a>
— Page Six (@PageSix) <a href="https://twitter.com/PageSix/status/2041644814626615436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
The pictures, first published by the New York Post&#8217;s Page Six, appear to show more than an off-the-record conversation between the NFL coach and the reporter for The Athletic, though both deny any wrongdoing.
&#8220;These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,&#8221; Vrabel told the <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/07/celebrity-news/new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-and-top-ny-times-nfl-reporter-dianna-russini-hold-hands-and-hug-at-luxury-hotel/">Post</a>. &#8220;This doesn’t deserve any further response.&#8221;
A &#8220;Page Six Spy&#8221; reported Vrabel and Russini had breakfast on the patio of the Ambiente Sedona luxury resort on March 28 before hitting the pool and lounging together in a hot tub.
Russini&#8217;s representative says she was in Arizona on a girls&#8217; trip with a group of friends, though no one else is visible in the published images.
&#8220;The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,&#8221; Russini told The Post.  &#8220;Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.&#8221;
Russini, who worked for ESPN for years before joining The Athletic, has been married to Shake Shack exec Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020. The couple has two young sons.
Vrabel has been married for more than two decades. They have two sons; the oldest played for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots coach and NFL insider have a long professional history, too. Before taking over in New England, Vrabel spent six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the team Russini regularly covered in Nashville during her time at ESPN.
The Athletic is standing by its senior NFL insider, who also hosts the &#8220;Scoop City: Inside the NFL&#8221; podcast.
&#8220;These photos are misleading and lack essential context,&#8221; Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, told The Post. &#8220;These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.&#8221;
After the weekend in Arizona, both Vrabel and Russini attended the NFL&#8217;s annual meetings in Phoenix.
Russini later filed a report to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7167284/2026/04/02/annual-nfl-coaches-photo-2026-edition-plus-no-1-qbs-pro-day/">The Athletic</a> about her interactions with NFL coaches in Arizona. The first line of the piece reads: &#8220;The NFL offseason means … controversial headlines.&#8221;
The NFL offseason drama now involving Vrabel and Russini continues as the league moves toward Draft Day later this month.

Credit: Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire/Chris Graythen via Getty Images

‘It’s Laughable’: Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Downplays Poolside Photos With Married NFL Reporter

ESPN

The Athletic

Twenty-five centuries ago, Thucydides wrote of heroic men that their story, after death, “abides everywhere without visible symbol, woven into the stuff of other men’s lives.” We know them when they are gone by their enduring effect upon us, and upon those who knew them — and upon those whom they never knew, but who live and flourish in the shade of their works. The hero lives beyond his own.
That was the late great Coach Lou Holtz in full. After 89 years on the field, he has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beloved-notre-dame-football-coach-lou-holtz-dies-at-89">gone on</a> to his reward — and he also lives on, among us, in the lives he transformed, and in the country he served.
He was the greatest of men — a college football hall of famer, a devoted father, and a faithful Christian.
He was also one of my best friends. I had the opportunity to reflect upon his friendship, and his example, at his visitation and memorial in South Bend, Indiana this week. Seeing the men and women gathered there — the friends and family, and just as importantly the Americans who he never knew but knew him — it was impossible to miss the simple truth. Lou Holtz was a heroic man. It was a quiet heroism, a modest heroism, and a heroism he would have denied with all sincerity. But his life was one of heroism all the same.
Selfless service and a solid personal example, you see, can be heroic in their way. He possessed both in full.
<div id="attachment_1060871" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1060871" class="size-large wp-image-1060871" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-864x576.jpg" alt="GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: ESPN reporter Lou Holtz looks on during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</div>
Coach Holtz was a source of inspiration to me ever since we first met 33 years ago at the 1993 Cotton Bowl game, where Texas A&amp;M played Notre Dame, and I was the Cotton Bowl Queen. It was a cold, cold day out, but it turned out to be the beginning of a warm, lifelong friendship.
Coach Holtz famously said, “God did not put us on this earth to be ordinary.” And his extraordinary life proves that he lived up to those words better than most.
We could point to his many victories on the field, as the only college football coach in history to lead six different programs to bowl games and four different programs to final top 15 rankings.
But those victories are just part of the story — the fruits of a lifelong commitment to servant leadership.
In addition to serving as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, Coach Holtz was active in national politics for many years. Decades after we first met, we reunited when I was at the helm of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. As the years went on, we developed a bond over a shared vision for America that solidified under President Trump. Coach Holtz was an early supporter of the president, who awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020 — an honor that was well deserved.
Coach Holtz was a great American, a great coach, a great man. But most important in the eyes of God: he was a good man. He was never content with merely speaking about the Gospel — he was intent on putting it into practice. His decades of charitable work, most recently through the Holtz’s Heroes Foundation, served communities in need and provided scholarships to former student-athletes facing financial, physical, or mental hardships.
In 2021, he helped me launch the America First Policy Institute, which he later told me was the most important team he would ever be a part of. Instead of kicking his feet up, he spent his final years coaching America back to greatness and inspired countless Americans along the way — including me. The last time I saw him, he was still working, still laboring, still leading for the causes he held dear — God and America.
Whether on the football field, on the civic field, or on the field of faith, Coach Holtz carried the ball and kept the flame of greatness alive. Although he’s no longer with us, his dedication to truth and goodness lives on in the lives of those he impacted. There are so many who will walk in the paths he set forth without knowing it was him who gave them the opening drive. But we who know, we who loved him, we will always remember.
Thank you, Coach, for your life, for your example, and for your faith. We won’t let you down.
* * *
Brooke L. Rollins is the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Disclaimer: Brooke Rollins is writing in her personal capacity as a private citizen and the views expressed herein are solely her own.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Remembering Lou Holtz, The Coach America Needed

Bible

Charity

Coach

NCAA football

Notre Dame University

Opinion

Secretary of Agriculture

Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz has died at the age of 89, the university <a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/legendary-national-championship-coach-lou-holtz-passes-away/">announced</a> on Wednesday.
A cause of death was not immediately stated.
Holtz was considered one of the most influential coaches in college football history, winning 249 games as a collegiate head coach. He began his coaching career at William &amp; Mary in 1969 and spent one season in the NFL before returning to college football.
One hundred of those wins happened at Notre Dame, where he served as head coach from 1986 until 1996.
“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. said in a statement published on their website.
“Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University.”
The statement went on, “Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”
Holtz called coaching for Notre Dame “the dream of a lifetime.” 
&#8220;I remember at school that we would pray every Friday before a game for Notre Dame&#8217;s success,” he said, per <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48103098/legendary-football-coach-commentator-lou-holtz-dies-89">ESPN</a>. “So, it&#8217;s just part of our religion. It&#8217;s a part of the way we are, and the football team should reflect the values of Notre Dame. That means we had to play with great enthusiasm, we had to play together. We had to play with great character, great integrity, but we also should be playing for our lady on the Dome.&#8221;
After retiring from coaching, Holtz worked in television, including spending more than a decade with ESPN.
The coach was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, the university website noted, and was the man behind several honored Notre Dame football traditions including the “Play Like A Champion” sign in the locker room.
Holtz was also a close friend and longtime supporter of Donald Trump. The president honored Holtz with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in December of 2020 for his contributions to the nation. 
Holtz is survived by his four children, Luanne, Lou “Skip” Junior, Kevin and Elizabeth. The latter three graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
&#8220;He was successful, but more important he was Significant,&#8221; his son Skip <a href="https://x.com/CoachSHoltz/status/2029313222537253174">shared</a> on X.

Lou Holtz

Beloved Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz Dies At 89

Death

Before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots even kick off for Super Bowl LX in San Francisco on Sunday, the game will already be in the record books as the first Super Bowl to feature two teams that missed the playoffs the previous season.
The unusual Super Bowl matchup is a fitting ending to a season that saw the downfall of past seasons&#8217; dominant teams and the rise of new talent. At the beginning of the 2025 season, neither the Seahawks nor the Patriots were expected to compete for a Super Bowl. The Seahawks, coming off a 10-7 record in 2024, were overlooked in a stacked NFC West division this year. The Patriots, meanwhile, were believed to be in the middle of a long rebuild with a young quarterback after finishing with just four wins last season.
But now, both teams have clawed their way to the biggest game in sports.
At first glance, Super Bowl LX seems to lack the intrigue that NFL fans are accustomed to. There&#8217;s no dynasty looking to collect more hardware and there&#8217;s no superstar quarterback who&#8217;s expected to dominate the game. But Super Bowl LX has plenty of storylines to make it a must-watch game.
<h3>Redemption on Both Sides</h3>
<div id="attachment_1040521" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040521" class="wp-image-1040521 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />SEATTLE, WASHINGTON &#8211; JANUARY 25: Sam Darnold (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)</div>
When Seattle runs out of the tunnel and onto the field at Levi&#8217;s Stadium, it will be led by quarterback Sam Darnold, whose NFL career appeared to be reduced to playing full-time backup just two years ago. Darnold was picked No. 3 overall in the 2018 draft by the New York Jets with the hope that he would become the team&#8217;s franchise quarterback. The hype around Darnold in New York, however, lasted only three seasons as he went just 13-25 with the Jets before he was traded to the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2021 season.
In Carolina, Darnold played well in some games, but dealt with injuries and battled to remain a starter before he was let go and signed by the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. In San Francisco, Darnold backed up young QB Brock Purdy and made his first Super Bowl appearance, but he didn&#8217;t contribute much to the Super Bowl run, only appearing in one game all season.
In 2024, Darnold got another chance on a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, where he became the starting quarterback and led the team to a surprising 14-3 record and a playoff appearance. Darnold&#8217;s solid season with the Vikings wasn&#8217;t enough to keep the critics off his back as many analysts and commentators slammed him for choking in big games down the stretch. His impressive record with the Vikings also wasn&#8217;t enough to keep him in Minnesota as the team opted to let Darnold go, and he was quickly signed by the Seahawks.
Many thought of Darnold as a reliable veteran who could lead a team to some wins while it continued to build up the offensive line and receiving core, but despite leading the league in turnovers this season, Darnold did enough to lead the Seahawks to the best record in the NFC and a dominant playoff run.
<div id="attachment_1040523" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040523" class="wp-image-1040523 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />DENVER, COLORADO &#8211; JANUARY 25: Mike Vrabel (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)</div>
There&#8217;s a redemption arc on the New England sideline, too, where head coach Mike Vrabel is hoping to win a Super Bowl in his first year with the Patriots after being fired by the Tennessee Titans in 2023. Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker, is also looking to become the first person in NFL history to win Super Bowls as a player and a coach for the same franchise.
Vrabel&#8217;s journey to the big game was likely not what he envisioned. Just a few years ago, Vrabel appeared destined to be the man to lead the Tennessee Titans into glory. Under Vrabel, the Titans made a remarkable playoff run in 2018, defeating Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots and then beating the AFC&#8217;s best team, the Baltimore Ravens, to reach their first AFC championship game since 2002. The Titans would eventually lose to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who went on to win Super Bowl LIV.
Vrabel reached the playoffs with the Titans again in 2020 and 2021, attaining the #1 overall seed in the AFC in 2021. The Titans, however, struggled in those playoff appearances, losing in the wild card round to the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 and getting upset by the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round in 2021.
In a shocking decision, the Titans fired Vrabel after rough seasons in 2022 and 2023. Vrabel took a break from coaching the following season before he was hired by the Patriots ahead of the 2025 season. In just one season with New England, Vrabel has already proven that he should have never been fired, but a Super Bowl ring would put an exclamation point on his return to the NFL.
&#8220;From Day 1, he set that standard. That culture,&#8221; Patriots linebacker Harold Landry <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-players-laud-mike-vrabel-for-setting-standard-for-super-bowl-turnaround">said</a> of Vrabel. &#8220;And he brought in guys to kind of help him with that message. [Vrabel] is just at the forefront of it all. Guys have a lot of respect for him because he&#8217;s been here and done it as a player.&#8221;
<h3>Rematch of the Unforgettable</h3>
<div id="attachment_1040525" style="width: 864px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040525" class="wp-image-1040525 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-854x576.jpg" alt="" width="854" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-854x576.jpg 854w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-300x202.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-768x518.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px" />GLENDALE, AZ &#8211; FEBRUARY 01: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots intercepts the pass at the goal line late in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</div>
The Seahawks and Patriots last met in the Super Bowl on February 1, 2015, in Glendale, Arizona. It&#8217;s a game that won&#8217;t be soon forgotten — no matter how hard Seahawks fans try to erase it from their minds. Simply saying the phrase &#8220;2nd down from the one-yard-line&#8221; or the name &#8220;Marshawn Lynch&#8221; is all that&#8217;s needed to evoke memories of that unforgettable game when Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7rPIg7ZNQ8">inexplicably decided</a> to throw the ball on a game-deciding play from the one-yard line instead of handing it off to one of the league&#8217;s most dominant running backs, and Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler jumped the route and intercepted Russell Wilson.
Of course, this year, Carrol is not calling plays on the Seattle sideline, and Wilson and Lynch won&#8217;t be lining up together. New England&#8217;s team is no longer defined by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick&#8217;s dynasty, but the shadow from that 2015 Super Bowl still looms, and if Seattle lines up at the New England one-yard line late in the 4th quarter, there will be no escaping the comparisons to the play call from more than a decade ago.
<h3>An Opportunity for History</h3>
<div id="attachment_1040527" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040527" class="wp-image-1040527 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />DENVER, CO &#8211; JANUARY 25: Drake Maye (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)</div>
While Sam Darnold goes for redemption, 23-year-old Patriot Drake Maye is seeking to become the youngest starting quarterback to ever win the Super Bowl. If he hoists the Lombardi trophy on Sunday night, Maye — who is 23 years and 162 days old — would surpass Steelers great Ben Roethlisberger, who won his first Super Bowl at 23 years and 340 days old.
Maye, who was taken by the Patriots as the third overall draft pick in 2024, became one of the NFL&#8217;s most consistent quarterbacks in his second season. Maye ranked fourth this season in total passing yards at 4,394, which was just ahead of Darnold&#8217;s 4,048 yards. Maye was also third in the NFL in total touchdown passes with 31.
The New England quarterback has a lot to live up to after Brady&#8217;s two decades of MVPs and Super Bowl championships for the Patriots. But the young gunslinger Maye is off to an impressive start, and if he gets his Super Bowl ring on Sunday alongside his new head coach, things in New England will look eerily similar to 2002 — only Maye would be one year younger than Brady was when the all-time great won his first Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LX

Redemption, Rematch, And Records: Super Bowl LX Is Filled With Great Storylines

New England Patriots

San Francisco

Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell promised reporters that Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny would refrain from spouting divisive rhetoric during the big game on Sunday.
Goodell responded to questions about potential political statements from the singer, saying, “I think Bad Bunny, and I think that was demonstrated last night [at the Grammys], is one of the great artists in the world, and that’s one of the reasons we chose him.”
“But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on and that this platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents, and to be able to use this moment to do that,” he continued, per <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/02/nfl-roger-goodell-bad-bunny-political-statements-ice-super-bowl-lx-1236706763/">Deadline</a>. “I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.” The NFL commissioner&#8217;s statements come as rumors circulate that the Puerto Rican singer, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, is planning to wear a dress to the event. Ocasio has been outspoken in his political views so far and didn’t mince words during his Grammys acceptance speech.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out,” the singer said from the stage during the awards ceremony Sunday night. “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans,” he added.
Ocasio previously referred to ICE agents as “motherf*ckers” and “sons of b*tches” in a video he posted to Instagram. The three-time Grammy Award-winner said during an interview that he didn’t book any tour stops in the United States because he was worried ICE agents would target concert attendees.
“There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said.
Goodell previously defended choosing Bad Bunny as the halftime performer at Super Bowl LX after significant backlash following the announcement last fall.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfl-commish-gives-update-on-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-amid-backlash">said</a> of the performance. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”
Turning Point USA announced it would host an alternative event to rival the Super Bowl halftime show, as many Americans questioned the selection of Bad Bunny as the headliner.
The lineup for “The All-American Halftime Show” was announced Monday. Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett will take the stage in a show TPUSA says will celebrate faith, family, and freedom, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/turning-point-usa-unveils-star-studded-all-american-halftime-show-to-rival-super-bowls-bad-bunny">reported</a>.
“We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” Kid Rock said in a statement, per Fox News. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible, or is it? He said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.&#8221;

Bad Bunny

NFL’s Goodell Promises Bad Bunny ‘Understands’ His Role For Super Bowl

Roger Goodell Implies Bad Bunny Won't Get Political At Super Bowl Like He Did At Grammys

Halftime Show

Roger Goodell

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