With less than a week left before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots kick off Super Bowl XL from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, there’s plenty of NFL news worth tracking leading up to the Big Game.
Commissioner Roger Goodell had his say on some important league matters in his state of the league address Monday. Among the topics Goodell answered questions on:
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Discussions with the NFL players union on expanding to an 18-game regular-season schedule. “It is not a given that we’ll do that,” Goodell said. “It is not something that we assume will happen. It is something that we want to talk about with the [NFLPA].”
Bill Belichick’s reported first-ballot snubbing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame vote. Goodell: “Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying. They’ve [Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft] contributed so much to the game.” The commish added that he expects them both to eventually be inducted.
As for the players in this Super Bowl, they took the stage for Media Night, which gives them an opportunity to showcase their personalities, avoid questions altogether or just take in the circus of football frivolity. (The Patriots’ sessions begins first before making way for the Seahawks later.)
Many eyes are sure to be on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on Monday night. Last week, Maye battled a shoulder injury and an illness and was listed as questionable on the initial Super Bowl injury report. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters he’s not worried about Maye’s throwing shoulder.
Patriots offensive tackle Morgan Moses, tight end Hunter Henry, wide receiver Mack Hollins, and linebackers Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane have also been listed as questionable.
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On the other side, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was limited but listed as game-ready on the team’s injury report after battling an oblique injury in the first two playoff games.
Seahawks offensive tackle Josh Cross, tight end Eric Saubert, wide receiver Jake Bobo, cornerback Josh Jobe, safety Julian Love, and linebackers Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas were among the other names who did not have a game designation listed on the team’s injury report. Seahawks fullbacks Robbie Ouzts and Brady Russell, and linebacker Chazz Surratt were listed as questionable.
In other news, barring any last-minute surprises, this year’s head coaching cycle is complete. On Sunday, it was reported that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, bringing in a coach from Seattle for the second straight season after firing Pete Carroll.
Kubiak’s deal with the Raiders cannot be finalized until after the Super Bowl. That means the Seahawks will look for their third offensive coordinator in three years, while Kubiak will start preparing for the Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick after the Super Bowl.
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The Arizona Cardinals announced that they had hired former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur on Sunday. LaFleur is the ninth coach and the fourth former offensive coordinator from Rams head coach Sean McVay’s tree to be hired as a head coach. The Rams now have a vacancy at offensive coordinator.
Though the head coach vacancies are filled for now, there are still several offensive and defensive coordinator openings to watch as the weeks roll on.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news and injury updates leading up to Super Bowl LX.
Live32 updates
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:35 PM PST
Ryan Young
Guillermo is the closest thing we’re gonna get to Bad Bunny making an appearance tonight.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:27 PM PST
Jason Owens
As Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye has access to the deepest well of Super Bowl knowledge that exists — Tom Brady.
Maye said that the Patriots legend and 7-time Super Bowl winner shared some words of wisdom that he’s carrying into Sunday’s game.
“I’ve met Tom a few times, and one of the best things he said is there’s not shortcuts to it. There’s no shortcuts to putting in the work.
“The proof’s in the pudding. And knowing that the shortcuts that people take, it’s not worth it. Get the most out of what you put into it. He’s been great at that. And he obviously showed that throughout his career.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:08 PM PST
Jason Owens
Stefon Diggs was put in a tough spot, asked to his favorite song by his girlfriend, Cardi B.
“I’m just gonna say they all 1,” Diggs answered.
He eventually came up with a proper answer:
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:58 PM PST
Jason Owens
This won’t go over well in the land of Dunkin’ Donuts.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, who started his career with the Chargers, was asked about a number of East coast vs. West Coast preferences, including his coffee choice between Dunkin’ and Starbucks.
“Personally, probably, I’m a Starbucks guy.”
That’s not the correct answer in New England.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:50 PM PST
Jason Owens
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel played for and won three Super Bowls with Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
He was asked Monday night about Belichick’s infamous Hall of Fame snub.
“I’m confident that Bill will get in. I don’t know the process. I know that everybody’s talking about the process. However the vote needs to go, I know that Bill is a Hall of Fame coach whether he’s gonna be in the Hall of Fame this year, next year or the year after that. He’s a Hall of Fame coach.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:46 PM PST
Jason Owens
Patriots recever Mack Hollins isn’t a fan of wearing shoes. Or a shirt — even in the cold New England weather.
He wasn’t shirless for Monday’s media session. But he left his shoes behind.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:40 PM PST
Jason Owens
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels echoed Drake Maye’s confidence in playing through the right shoulder injury that surfaced on last week’s injury report.
Asked if he had any concerns about Maye being limited, McDaniels told reporters: “Nope.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM PST
Jason Owens
Drake Maye says he’s sticking to his routine this week. No need to mess with what works ahead of the biggest game of his career.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:23 PM PST
Jason Owens
Drake Maye showed up as questionable on Friday’s practice report with illness and right shoulder designations, cause for concern in New England.
He says he’s just fine. He just told reporters that he threw in practice Monday as much as he normally would and that it “felt great.”
“Feeling good,” Maye said. “I’ll be just fine.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:18 PM PST
Jason Owens
Mike Vrabel is also live, but not drawing as much attention as Drake Maye.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM PST
Jason Owens
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:01 PM PST
Jason Owens
Drake Maye’s not there yet, but media are.
The Patriots quarterback and his “questionable” tag (illness/shoulder) from Friday’s practice report will be the center of attention from Monday’s early Patriots session with media.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:46 PM PST
Ryan Young
There has been talk about increased activity from ICE during the Super Bowl and Bad Bunny’s halftime show in the lead up to the big game. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said ICE agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl after Bad Bunny, who is an American, was announced as the performer, too.
Roger Goodell, though, said he sees “no change” in security preparations for the game and stands by Bad Bunny.
“This platform is used to unite people.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:44 PM PST
Jason Owens
Goodell was asked about the perception that teams interview Black head coaching candidates strictly to satisfy the Rooney Rule with no intention of hiring them. The question was raised after a coaching cycle with 10 new head coaches did not produce a new Black head coach.
“I would probably dispute your context of the question. I think the Rooney Rule has been seen as a positive by our clubs by giving them an opportunity to look at a diverse set of candidates. They make the choice ultimately. I think it’s shown them the value of that to look at talent where you might not know it or you may not see it.
“We’re in a competitive league. People are challenged. We had 10 openings this year. Teams are trying to get the coach that they think can win.”
Goodell was also asked to name the most important African-American in the history of the NFL. He didn’t offer an answer.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:36 PM PST
Jason Owens
Goodell was asked about Bill Belichick’s reported omission from the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. He spent most of his answer clarifying that the NFL has nothing to do with who gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“We have no say in the voting process. … We are not involved in it.”
He eventually said this about Belichick’s candidacy:
“Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying, same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft, he’s also a candidate. They’re spectacular, they’ve contributed so much to this game, and I believe they’ll be Hall of Famers. “
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:25 PM PST
Ryan Young
Whether it’s after this Super Bowl or sometime in the future, Roger Goodell believes that the Seahawks “will need to be sold.”
There was a report last week that a sale was coming after Super Bowl LX, and the league is reportedly pressuring the Paul Allen estate to get a sale done, but it’s unclear if that will be the case.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:23 PM PST
Jason Owens
Goodell didn’t offer much detail on the league’s response when asked about New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch appearing in the latest batch of Epstein files:
“We are going to look at all the facts. … “We’ll take it one step at a time. We’ll get the facts first.”
He also declined to commit to a league investigation.
“We’ll continue to follow any of the facts that come up, and we’ll determine if we open an investigation or not based on those facts.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:21 PM PST
Ryan Young
While it feels like the NFL is working toward an 18-game season, Roger Goodell said there has been “very little” discussions there.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:18 PM PST
Jason Owens
After a hiring cycle in which none of the 10 new head coaches hired are Black, Goodell acknowledged that the league has “more work to do.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:16 PM PST
Jason Owens
Goodell expressed confidence in game officials, but said that there was room for improvement on how the game is officiated amid another season filled with officiating controversy,
“If there’s an obvious error, we need to be able to fix it,” Goodell said. … “We need to expand that. We need to bring that into other categories, potentially personal fouls.”