Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he is closing in on becoming Germany’s next head coach after agreeing a ‘generous’ exit arrangement with Red Bull group. 

The former Liverpool manager says only formal discussions remain before an official announcement, with the DFB edging closer to appointing its preferred candidate.

Klopp Says Move Is Nearing Completion

Klopp has confirmed he is on the verge of taking charge of Germany after reaching an agreement with Red Bull that clears the biggest obstacle to his appointment. The 59-year-old, who became Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer in early 2025, said negotiations are progressing well.

Klopp explained that while his departure from Red Bull has been agreed, the formal process with the German Football Association (DFB) is still ongoing. According to Sky Sports Germany, Klopp could be officially unveiled as Germany’s new head coach on Friday if the remaining formalities are completed. The appointment would mark his return to management after leaving Liverpool in 2024.

Klopp Outlines Progress Towards Germany Job

Speaking to MagentaTV, Klopp admitted that the process is not yet complete but believes an announcement is close. “Nothing is final yet, but talks have been ongoing and everything is moving in the right direction,” Klopp said. “I’ve reached an agreement with Red Bull, a very generous one, so there’s really nothing standing in the way.”

He added that discussions within the DFB still need to be completed before anything is made official, stating: “However, many more discussions need to take place because we’re talking to a governing body and a lot of people need to be informed. Nothing has been decided, but we’re not far from being able to make an announcement. Ideally, it should happen in the next few days; the decision will be made.”

Götze Backs His former Mentor

The news has been met with widespread approval from within the German football community, including former stars who flourished under Klopp’s guidance. Mario Götze, the hero of Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph, believes his former Dortmund boss is the perfect man to revive the national side’s fortunes.

“What he understands, and what most coaches may not, is how to manage people,” Gotze said in an interview with The Athletic. “Managing players, managing expectations, putting people together as a whole, he understood that in the perfect way.

“He can be very sharp about what he wants and demands. That’s why he was so successful. I read an interview when he was at Liverpool: He said he has to put people who like each other together so they can perform at 120 per cent instead of 100 percent. That is what he did.”

Germany Hope Klopp Can Lead A Revival

Germany are looking to turn the page after a difficult period marked by three disappointing World Cup campaigns. The DFB views Klopp as the ideal figure to oversee the team’s rebuild, with his previous success at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool making him one of football’s most respected coaches.

Klopp is also expected to reshape the national team’s coaching structure, with plans to build a backroom staff capable of implementing the high-intensity style that defined his club career. Sporting director Rudi Völler is set to remain in his current role, providing continuity within the DFB.

The remaining discussions between Klopp and the DFB are expected to conclude in the coming days. 

If everything proceeds as planned, Germany will formally appoint their new head coach before attention turns to assembling his coaching staff and beginning preparations for the next phase of the national team’s rebuild.

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Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that leaders of the powerhouse league — some of them frustrated over the changes upending their industry — are having “real” conversations about breaking away from the rest of college sports, though that is not the preferred solution.

“They’re real,” Greg Sankey said Monday of talks with school presidents involving the SEC separating itself from the rest of the NCAA. “They’ve opined about the frustrations that bring them to the point of saying we should look at something significantly different.”

Sankey’s 45-minute meeting with reporters to kick off SEC football media days detailed the several issues that college sports is trying to find solutions for: Congressional legislation, litigation stemming from the new five-year eligibility rule, the future of the College Football Playoff and an overall lack of transparency regarding name, image and likeness payments to players.

Sankey acknowledged the conference’s unhappiness with the handling of all those issues, but also touted the league’s 13 national championships won last season across a variety of sports as a key reason it’s in no rush to move away from the current framework.

“There is meaning and value and I do think a national expectation that we participate in a national organization,” he said. “But that national organization must function in a healthy manner; otherwise, that simmering will continue”.

The SEC and Big Ten produced a 10-point paper about changes they would like to see to the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation in the Senate. The SEC and Big Ten are negotiating with lawmakers over potential tweaks.

Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman, the chair of the SEC presidents, released a statement saying conference leaders “have provided feedback from the perspective of university leaders who are trying to navigate the current state of college athletics.”

The SEC argues the bill does not go far enough in limiting the possibility of lawsuits against conferences and schools, and also needs better language to preempt state laws in favor of a national one regarding the tens of millions in NIL payments now so common at the top of college sports.

Sankey called the rollout of the recent NCAA rule that rewrote eligibility standards and has induced lawsuits — players mainly get five years to play five seasons — “magnifies frustration” among some in the SEC. Plowman said the SEC “applauded” how transfers and eligibility were addressed in the Senate bill.

“That means student-athletes would not be able to transfer every year, putting their educations and team dynamics at risk — or toggle back and forth between professional teams and university teams with no intention of getting a degree,” she said.

The SEC remains the Power Four’s only holdout over expanding the 12-team playoff to 24. Sankey said more research is needed, especially regarding “media interest” — likely shorthand for media rights interest — in adding more games.

There is also the underlying issue of what an expanded playoff would do to conference title games. Symbolic of the wide range of opinions on that topic, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said in his own media session that he favored conference play-in games to determine CFP spots and he doesn’t think title games should be put on the chopping block.

“Throwing those away so you can get a bad matchup between 24 and 18 doesn’t make sense to me,” Drinkwitz said.

Sankey said he also wants more transparency about who pays players and for what. Among the SEC’s proposed changes to the Senate bill would be clearer guidelines for paying players, including “NIL, pay-for-play (which is not allowed), revenue sharing and other forms of compensation.”

The commissioner conceded that the SEC is not bent on getting its way regarding every issue that college sports is trying to solve. But as one of the biggest, richest and most influential leagues in a quickly changing business, it does want to lead the way.

“I think we do a better job now than has ever been done in college athletics,” Sankey said. “But we haven’t achieved that level of stability as we go through change that’s needed at this point.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Madrid was painted red and yellow on Monday as Spain returned home and embarked on an open-top bus parade to celebrate the country’s second-ever World Cup win with hundreds of thousands of fans lined up along the city’s streets.

Manager Luis de la Fuente and his squad touched down in the Spanish capital early Monday afternoon. Before hitting the parade route, the team headed to Zarzuela Palace for a formal reception, where they were congratulated by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as well as Spanish royals Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI.

Before the parade, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez congratulated the World Champions at Zarzuela Palace. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

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From there, the players boarded their open-air bus to navigate a sea of red and yellow, making their way toward the Plaza de Cibeles, where many supporters had been gathering at the iconic square since the early morning hours.

Many Spain fans celebrated well into Monday morning because the final was played across the Atlantic in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the final whistle blew just minutes before midnight local time in Spain.

La Roja secured the title in New Jersey after a 1-0 win against Argentina, with forward Ferran Torres delivering the winning goal in extra time.

Thousands of supporters lined Madrid’s historic avenues, cheering on the squad as the procession made its way toward Cibeles Square — the traditional epicenter for Spanish football celebrations.

Marc Cucurella, who played every minute at left back for Spain during the World Cup, was spotted holding up the trophy and celebrating with fans on the parade route.

Once the team arrived to Plaza de Cibeles, Cucurella got on the mic and sang along to a viral chant using his last name that went viral in 2024.

The last time Spain was World Champions, Lamine Yamal was barely old enough to walk. Sixteen years later, the 19-year old Barcelona star was in the middle of the championship celebrations as a key contributor.

Yamal wasn’t the only member of his family in the spotlight this summer though, as his younger brother Keyne stole the show with one viral moment after another. 

The forward spotted someone in the crowd holding a poster of Keyne, eventually got it passed to him and held it up on the bus for everyone to see.

Cucurella isn’t the only player on Spain that can sing on the mic, as Yamal was spotted singing along to Bad Bunny on the parade bus.

By the time the team arrived at Cibeles Square for the final ceremony, the energy was still high despite the night falling in Madrid.

Players were then introduced individually, with Spain’s captain and Golden Ball winner, Rodri, receiving one of the biggest ovations of the night.

The celebrations in Madrid signified the end to a 16-year championship drought for the country. 

 Spain’s captain, Rodri, recovered from a devastating knee injury in 2024 to lift the World Cup trophy and earn the Golden Ball two years later. (Photo By Jose Oliva/Europa Press via Getty Images)

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After fully transitioning from veterans that defined previous eras to a roster led by teenage stars, all-around midfielders like Rodri and a stellar defense that only conceded once all tournament, Spain’s day in the capital marked the arrival of a new team at the top of international football.

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Lamine Yamal received glowing praise after helping Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final. 

The 19-year-old produced another composed display on football’s biggest stage, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart claiming the Barcelona winger had “completed football” after adding a World Cup winners’ medal to his European Championship triumph.

The Passing Of The Torch In New York

In a moment that will be etched into football history, Yamal embraced a tearful Lionel Messi at the conclusion of the World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium. 

The imagery was impossible to ignore; a passing of the torch from a 39-year-old icon to a 19-year-old phenom. Yamal, sporting the Barcelona number 10 shirt for his club, offered consolation to the man who arguably defined that very jersey.

The 1-0 victory for La Roja, secured by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute, ensured that Yamal became the youngest player ever to win both the European Championship and the World Cup. At just 19 years and six days old, he has achieved what many legends fail to accomplish in a lifetime.

Hart, De la Fuente Praise Teenage Star

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart singled out Yamal’s composure after the teenager was repeatedly challenged by Argentina throughout the final. 

The BBC Sport pundit said: “Not only did Lamine Yamal not react. He stood up to it. He was not rattled and he did not back down. He had the entire team trying to smash him. He just stayed real cool. It was real standout performance from him. Lamine Yamal is 19 years old. What a beautiful day for him. He’s 19 and has completed football.”

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente also praised the youngster’s contribution after the victory.

“He has played great football that will help him to mature and be even a greater footballer than he already is. He really sacrificed for the collective good. This is very important in my squad. In my opinion he played a great World Cup.”

Spain’s Perfect Starter

Despite entering the competition with concerns over a hamstring injury, Yamal started seven of Spain’s eight games at the 2026 World Cup and won every single one of them. 

That lingering issue appeared to hamper his usual attacking output, resulting in a somewhat underwhelming personal campaign with just one goal. Ultimately, his quieter tournament allowed teammate Pau Cubarsí to pip him to the FIFA Young Player award.

Yet, Yamal’s influence on the team’s historic success was absolute. Added to his six starts at Euro 2024, he has now won all 13 of his major tournament starts. 

This flawless run is the longest perfect streak for any European starter in major tournament history. His ability to balance individual brilliance with defensive discipline and tactical awareness has made him the undisputed jewel in Spain’s crown as they return to the summit of world football.

Yamal Looks To Build On Historic Success

Yamal will now return to club football having reinforced his status as one of the game’s brightest young stars after adding a World Cup winners’ medal to his European Championship triumph. 

At just 19, the Barcelona winger has already amassed a remarkable trophy haul. With De la Fuente continuing to place his faith in him, Yamal looks set to remain at the heart of Spain’s new era as the world champions aim to build on their latest success.

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Topps is creating a trading card of what became a famous photo during the World Cup of Argentina’s Lionel Messi holding Spain’s Lamine Yamal, the company said Monday.

Messi, whom many consider soccer’s greatest player, was photographed holding Yamal, then an infant and now a 19-year-old rising star. The two met in Sunday’s final, with Yamal and Spain defeating Messi and Argentina 1-0.

That game was a potential changing of the guard with the 39-year-old Messi perhaps playing in his final World Cup.

Playing for Barcelona at the time of the initial meeting with Yamal, Messi took part in a fundraising drive for UNICEF and wound up holding the player who could be the future face of the sport. Yamal has followed in Messi’s footsteps by becoming Barcelona’s standout player.

Reporting by The Associated Press

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FIFA opened an investigation Monday after Spain’s celebrations on beating Argentina in the World Cup final took an ugly turn when players briefly clashed on the field.

Video replays showed several players involved in a scuffle, including Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes.

He appeared to shove Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat. When Spain substitute Gavi jumped in to intervene, Paredes pushed him to the ground.

Spain captain Rodri also seemed to be hit in the stomach by Argentina defender Nahuel Molina as he ran past to join teammates celebrating the title win.

Molina later crowded Rodri, who was the target of a verbal confrontation by his former Manchester City teammate Nicolas Otamendi.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and other players rushed in to deescalate the situation.

FIFA said in a statement its “disciplinary committee has appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor to investigate potential breaches of the (FIFA disciplinary code) with regard to the post-match incidents.”

The brief statement gave no timetable for an investigation and did not name Paredes, who was not shown a red card after the game yet could face a suspension.

Spain needed extra time to win Sunday’s final 1-0 after Argentina was reduced to 10 men. Enzo Fernandez was sent off with a second yellow card in stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes.

The Argentina players stood facing their fans, with their backs to the podium, when Spain’s squad lifted the trophy. It was an unusual show of disrespect to the new champions, who had given their opponents a guard of honor to collect their medals.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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The 2026 MLB season is off to a blazing start, and history has already been made just a few weeks in.

We’re keeping track of all the major milestones reached and records broken across the league this season.

Here’s the latest:

Salvador Perez New Royals’ HR King

Salvador Perez is the new Kansas City Royals’ all-time home runs leader.

The 36-year-old catcher, who was the team’s designated hitter on Saturday, hit a solo home run in the seventh inning of the Royals’ July 25 road win over the Detroit Tigers, putting him first in franchise history with 318 home runs. Perez, a five-time Silver Slugger and five-time Gold Glover, passed Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 home runs over his 21 seasons with the Royals (1973-93).

This season, Perez has totaled 15 home runs and 44 RBIs, while having a .210/.257/.367 slash line. Last season (2025), Perez hit 30 home runs and totaled 100 RBIs, and he led the American League in home runs (48) and RBIs (121) in 2021.

Perez has spent his entire 15-year MLB career with the Royals: 2011-18 and 2020-26; he missed the 2019 season due to an elbow injury.

Nolan Arenado Hits 2K

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado registered his 2,000th career MLB hit against the Athletics on July 20, smacking a double to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning. In doing so, he became the 297th player to reach the 2,000-hit mark.

On the season, the five-time Silver Slugger and 10-time Gold Glover has totaled 13 home runs and 44 RBIs, while boasting a .244/.317/.423 slash line.

Cristopher Sánchez Breaks Franchise Record

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez made history on Wednesday afternoon against the San Diego Padres, extending his scoreless streak to 41⅔ innings. The mark breaks a 115-year-old franchise record previously held by Grover Cleveland Alexander.

Cristopher Sánchez has continued his dominant season against the Padres, building a Cy Young-caliber season. He is now 5-2 with a 1.62 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, along with 86 strikeouts across 72.1 innings pitched.

Pirates Walk to Record

The Pittsburgh Pirates got their steps in against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, May 2. They walked seven times in one inning, tying the record for the most walks by a team in a single inning ever in an MLB game, per ESPN. The only other two times that’s happened were in 1909 and 1983.

José Ramírez Proves Baserunning Prowess

José Ramírez added to his case to be considered one of his generation’s most complete stars on Saturday, May 2. He stole his 300th career base, swiping third in the fifth inning of the Cleveland Guardians’ game against the Athletics. After getting his 300th career swipe, Ramírez is only nine homers away from having 300 career home runs and 300 career stolen bases. 

Nick Kurtz Matches a Barry Bonds Mark

Nick Kurtz joined some pretty exclusive company on Friday, May 1. He became just the third player in MLB history to walk in 20 consecutive games, tying Barry Bonds for the second-most consecutive games with a walk. However, Kurtz’s streak came to an end on Saturday, May 2, falling two short of the consecutive games with a walk record. That record is held by Roy Cullenbine, who walked in 22 straight games in 1947. 

Kyle Schwarber Inches Closer to 400 Homers

Kyle Schwarber has been one of the game’s top power hitters for much of his career. He further proved that on Thursday, April 30, when he hit his 350th career home run. At the time, Schwarber became just the ninth active player to hit 350 career blasts. 

Aroldis Chapman Near Record for Relievers

Aroldis Chapman is almost the top strikeout-thrower ever for a reliever. He threw his 1,341 career strikeout on April 26, passing Goose Gossage for second place among career strikeouts among relievers. As of Saturday, May 2, Chapman is 22 strikeouts from Hoyt Wilhelm for the all-time record. 

Chris Sale Reaches Milestone Number

Chris Sale became just the fourth active pitcher to log 150 career wins on April 26, reaching that mark when he pitched six shutout innings in their victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Los Angeles Dodgers Break Their Own Homer Record

Hitting five home runs in their 12-3 victory on the road against the Colorado Rockies on Apr. 20 — including two homers apiece from Max Muncy and Dalton Rushing — the Dodgers’ moved their home run total to 42, which is a franchise record through the first 22 games of a season, according to ESPN.

Of those 42 long balls, Muncy accounts for a team-high eight of them — and just nine RBIs, surprisingly — with Rushing blasting seven of his own. Elsewhere, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and outfielder Andy Pages have each hit five home runs, with 12 players on the Dodgers having hit at least one homer thus far.

Los Angeles owns the best record in MLB at 16-6.

Cincinnati Reds Continue Historic Start In Tight Games

The Reds sit atop the National League Central with a 13-8 record to start the season, and the early success comes on a historic note. The Reds are now the fourth team in history to win each of their first 10 games decided by one or two runs in a single season. That places them in rare company alongside the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers, the 1966 Cleveland Indians and the 1946 Boston Red Sox. 

Under manager Terry Francona, the Reds have now consistently found ways to close out tight games in the late innings. The pitching staff has helped drive that success. They’ve posted a 3.46 ERA to keep games within reach this season, while the offense has struggled to a .203 batting average. Even so, the Reds have still managed to find ways to win, turning a steady run of close games into one of the most unusual starts in franchise history.

Munetaka Murakami’s Historic Early MLB Power Surge

The Chicago White Sox are already seeing an immediate impact from their offseason signing of infielder Murakami. He has now reached seven home runs, the most by any Japanese-born player through his first 21 MLB games. 

The milestone also includes surpassing Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who hit five home runs in his first 21 MLB games. Murakami is hitting .209 on the season with seven home runs, 14 RBIs and a .909 OPS. His early production has put him in rare company among Japanese-born players and highlights how quickly he has adjusted to MLB pitching.

Los Angeles Dodgers Break Their Own Record

The defending back-to-back World Series-champion Dodgers are 15-4, marking the first time in 49 years that they’ve started a campaign with said record. As of Apr. 18, that record (78.9% winning percentage) is the best in MLB.

Moreover, Los Angeles has won five of its first six series, including a road series against the Blue Jays, whom they defeated in the 2025 World Series. Regarding individual standouts, outfielder Andy Pages has driven in 21 runs, while boasting a .412/.453/.691 slash line; catcher Will Smith owns a .300 batting average; as a pitcher, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani has posted a 0.50 ERA through his first three starts. 

As a collective, the Dodgers are first in the sport in home runs (35), batting average (.287), on-base percentage (.364), slugging percentage (.499), opponent batting average (.193) and WHIP (1.05) and are second in combined team ERA (3.07). The last time that Los Angeles got out to a 15-4 start, the 1977 season, it reached the World Series. Granted, the Dodgers lost the 1977 World Series to the Yankees.

José Ramírez Homers Against All MLB Teams

Ramírez has officially made more baseball history. The iconic third baseman and 13-year veteran is now the first Guardians player to hit a home run against all 29 other MLB teams. 

He accomplished the feat against Braves starter Martin Perez at Truist Park on Saturday, April 11. Ramírez pulled the 82-mph pitch down the left-field line, clearing the stadium’s fence on a 403-foot solo shot. No other slugger in the Guardians organization has at least one homer against every other team, per The Sporting News.

“Proud of myself,” Ramírez said, per MLB.com. “Thank God for that, but I’m really proud of that accomplishment.”

Ramírez’s 287 career home runs, all with the Guardians’ franchise, rank second behind Jim Thome (337). The four teams that Ramírez has homered against the most are the Tigers and White Sox (35 HRs), Royals (32) and Twins (27).

That was just the second history-making moment Ramírez had that week. On Monday, April 6, the 33-year-old appeared in his franchise-best 1,620th career game, snapping a mark held by Terry Turner for nearly 108 years.

Stay tuned for updates.

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Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy says the team wants to monitor Jacob Misiorowski’s workload coming out of the MLB All-Star break.

The first example of that came on Monday night.

Misiorowski worked just four innings in an 8-3 victory over the New York Mets that marked his first appearance since pitching seven innings in a July 7 victory at the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers scratched Misiorowski from a scheduled July 12 start in Pittsburgh against the Pirates due to arm fatigue, and he didn’t pitch in the All-Star Game last week despite getting selected to the team for a second straight year.

“I think we take that as kind of a reset,” Murphy said before the game. “Now I think we have to build him back up and make sure that we are mindful of it.”

Misiorowski struck out six Monday while allowing one unearned run, four hits and a walk. Twenty-six of his 65 pitches went at least 100 mph, and he topped out at 104 mph on a first-inning fastball to Juan Soto. He reached 102 mph on 12 pitches, though all but one of them came in the first inning.

Murphy noted after the game that limiting Misiorowski to four innings wasn’t simply a matter of being careful with the flamethrowing right-hander. He said it was more a matter of “just being mindful of when a guy’s not right.”

“We would have probably let him go further if his delivery and his legs felt great,” Murphy said. “I think he was a little bit out of it. The long layoff kind of affected his delivery and everything else. I think it was important to notice that and get him out of there then. The velo dropped. He couldn’t find the rhythm on his heater and went to off-speed stuff.”

Misiorowski acknowledged that it felt a little more difficult than usual pitching Monday after such a long layoff.

“Of course,” Misiorowski said. “I felt like I wasn’t in my legs as well as I should have been, but I felt halfway decent. Good enough.”

The Brewers have reason to be careful with their star as he makes his way through his first full season in the big leagues.

Misiorowski already has pitched 115 innings this season. He worked 141 1/3 innings last year, including his regular-season totals in the majors and minors plus his 12 postseason innings during Milwaukee’s run to the NL Championship Series.

The Brewers (63-37) have the best record in the major leagues and lead the Chicago Cubs by seven games in the NL Central. Misiorowski has been baseball’s best pitcher, and the Brewers’ chances of making a deep postseason run likely depend on him staying healthy and effective.

Misiorowski hasn’t allowed an earned run in eight of his last 13 starts, and he owns a 9-2 record and 0.87 ERA during that stretch. He has a 1.57 ERA and 173 strikeouts this season to lead the majors in both categories.

The 24-year-old said after Monday’s game that he’s hopeful he can go longer in his next start and can ramp his way back up quickly after this recent time off. Misiorowski had spent the offseason preparing for the greater workload he expected to encounter this year.

“The offseason last year, we focused on legs and doing all that stuff to get myself ready for this track of the year,” Misiorowski said. “I feel good where I’m at. Ready to go.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Yes, we did an NFL Half-Decade Team last year, but if you’re a strict follower of the Gregorian calendar, we’re technically only halfway through the decade now. If you’re not a strict follower, consider this an update.

In any case, the NFL in the 2020s has already featured quarterback brilliance, record-shattering receiver play and iconic postseason thrillers. Over the past six seasons, legends such as Tom Brady have retired, current stars like Josh Allen are leaving their mark and new stars such as Bijan Robinson are emerging.

But who’s been the best of the best since the start of the decade? 

Here’s my 2020s NFL Half-Decade Team:

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Yes, Mahomes’ numbers have regressed the past few seasons, but that’s due in large part to a worsening supporting cast at wide receiver. Though other quarterbacks have posted more impressive numbers recently, when you combine individual and team success, Mahomes remains the gold standard at the quarterback position post-Tom Brady. 

Since 2020, Mahomes has led the Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances (three of which came in a row, from 2022-24), including back-to-back victories. Only one other quarterback, Jalen Hurts, has more than one Super Bowl appearance in that span. 

Mahomes’ best season of the decade so far came in 2022, when he led the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passing TD rate and won his second career MVP award. 

Running Back

Henry has been the NFL’s most consistently dominant running back over the last six seasons, rushing for at least 1,100 yards five times. And the one season he didn’t (2021), he missed nine games due to injury — and still rushed for more than 900 yards. 

A five-time Pro Bowler, Henry in 2020 became the eighth player in league history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He came close again in 2024, rushing for 1,921 yards in his first season with the Ravens after eight years with the Tennessee Titans. The 32-year-old has reached double-digit rushing TDs in eight consecutive years. 

Wide Receivers

Since 2020, no wide receiver has more combined first- and second-team AP All-Pro nods than Jefferson (4), whose numbers have been impacted recently by the Vikings’ instability at quarterback. But Jefferson has still produced six straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. 

His LSU teammate, the Bengals’ Chase, is one of the NFL’s most dominant players. Chase leads the NFL with 360 targets over the past two seasons, a span in which he’s caught 252 passes for 3,120 yards and 25 touchdowns. The former fifth overall pick won the league’s receiving triple crown in 2024. 

Adams is one of two receivers with three first-team All-Pro nods since 2020 (the other is Tyreek Hill), and the 33-year-old has become a highly effective WR2 in recent years. Last season with the Rams, he led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns. 

Former college teammates Justin Jefferson (18) and Ja’Marr Chase (1) have taken the NFL by storm in the 2020s. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Tight End

The 36-year-old Kelce, entering what could be his final NFL season, leads all tight ends with two first-team All-Pro nods over the past six seasons. He’s been a diminished version of himself in recent years, but he still hasn’t had fewer than 800 receiving yards in any season since his rookie year in 2013, when he appeared in just one game.

An 11-time Pro Bowler, Kelce began the 2020s with a career-high 1,416 receiving yards and followed that with two more seasons of 1,100-plus receiving yards. 

Left Tackles

Williams has been the gold standard for left tackles in the 2020s to this point, earning three first-team All-Pro nods (2021-23) and a second-team selection last season. 

Thuney, who has starred for three teams over the past six years (Patriots, Chiefs, Bears), leads all left guards with three first-team All-Pro selections in the past half decade, all coming since 2023. 

Joe Thuney talks about winning the inaugural Protector of the Year award during NFL Honors in February. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

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Center

The Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey has a strong case here, but Kelce leads all centers with three first-team All-Pro selections since 2020, despite the fact that he’s been retired for two years. Kelce was named to five straight Pro Bowls to close out his career. 

Right Guard

Martin retired after the 2024 season, but he still paces right guards with three first-team All-Pro selections in the decade to this point. 

Right Tackle

The Eagles’ Lane Johnson is in the conversation, but Sewell has been the league’s most dominant right tackle since being drafted No. 7 overall in 2021. He has been named a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons and a Pro Bowler in four consecutive years. 

DEFENSE

Edge Rushers

Since 2020, no edge rushers have more first-team All-Pro selections than Garrett and Watt, who have five and three nods, respectively. 

Traded from the Browns to the Rams in a blockbuster deal this offseason, the 30-year-old Garrett registered 23.0 sacks last season, setting a single-season NFL record. The 31-year-old Watt has led the NFL in sacks three times over the past six seasons, including a career-high 22.5 in 2021. 

Interior Defensive Linemen

Arguably the best defensive tackle in modern NFL history, Donald has been retired the past two seasons (though he has hinted at a 2026 return). He was still in peak form for his four seasons in the 2020s, winning his third Defensive Player of the Year award and being named a first-team All-Pro three times.

Jones’ pass-rush production has dipped the last couple of seasons, but he has the best résumé in the past half decade among players at his position not named Donald. The Chiefs star made first- or second-team All-Pro every season from 2020-24, and he has 54.5 sacks over the past six years.

Inside Linebackers

Warner and Smith lead all inside linebackers with four and three first-team All-Pro selections since the start of 2020, respectively.

Before missing 11 games last season due to injury, Warner made four All-Pro teams in the previous five seasons, recording at least 125 tackles each year and totaling 38 pass breakups. Smith has been a first- or second-team All-Pro five times since 2020, and he has recorded at least 130 tackles in six straight years. 

Cornerbacks

Surtain, a two-time first-team All-Pro, is the only cornerback to claim a Defensive Player of the Year award since 2020. In his award-winning season of 2024, the four-time Pro Bowler amassed a league-high 132 yards returned off interceptions. 

The Texans’ Derek Stingley wins the recency debate here and the Colts’ Sauce Gardner was exceptional at the start of his career (2022-23), but Ramsey gets the second outside cornerback spot. He hit his prime at the start of the 2020s — he earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro selections in 2020 and ‘21 – and has remained an effective player in his early 30s playing more at safety. 

Star corner Surtain turned receiver in 2024 when he got his hands on the football. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Nickelback

An electrifying slot-safety hybrid, James has received an All-Pro nod as slot cornerback twice in the three years the position has been on the AP ballot, leading all players. 

Safeties

Since 2020, Hamilton is the only safety with two first-team All-Pro nods. Baltimore’s 2022 first-round pick, one of the NFL’s most versatile defenders, has recorded at least nine pass breakups in three consecutive seasons. 

Baker has arguably been the league’s most consistently excellent safety over the last half decade, despite playing for bad Cardinals teams for most of his career. The 2017 second-round pick has been named to seven straight Pro Bowls. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Special Teamer

Gray played just five games last season between two teams, the Broncos and Buccaneers, but he made three All-Pro teams between 2019-24 with the Saints (first team in 2021) as a core special teamer. That’s not bad for an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2018.

J.T. Gray (48) forces a fumble by Bengals punt returner Trent Taylor on Oct. 16, 2022, in New Orleans. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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Punter

Cole is the only punter with two first-team All-Pro selections in the 2020s. His 48.5 yards per punt career average is the highest in NFL history. 

Placekicker

The Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey has an argument here in a small sample size (2023-25), but Tucker gets the edge. The former Ravens kicker was named to three All-Pro teams and four Pro Bowls between 2020-23. 

Punt Returner

Jones has been named to two All-Pro teams since 2022. His 14.3 yards per punt return career average is the highest in league history. 

Marcus Jones returned two punts for touchdowns last season, including this 94-yarder vs. the Giants in December. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

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Kick Returner

Nixon was a Pro Bowl cornerback last season, but he was a dominant kick returner earlier in the decade. He earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods in 2020 and 2021 after leading the NFL in both kick returns and kick return yardage. 

Long Snapper

The 38-year-old DePaola has made four consecutive All-Pro teams (two first team, two second team). He’s the only long snapper with that many All-Pro nods since the start of 2020s.

NFL Related Stories

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The only constant in life is change, and in the NFL, that can mean a million different things. One of those changes could be a team’s appearance, and we’ve already seen multiple teams announce new jerseys for next season.

Here are the teams that have released a new uniform and/or rebranded their entire look for the 2026 NFL season:

New York Jets

The New York Jets have declared a whiteout.

Gang Green will be wearing a white helmet with a base white jersey and pants in its 2026 home opener against the Green Bay Packers. On that note, the Jets have asked their fans to dress the part in a whiteout.

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore released “The Next Flight” uniform collection on Apr. 16. This collection features two new helmets. The first one is “The Darkness Helmet,” which has black talon stripes and a two-toned front-facing Ravens logo with red eyes, and the other is the “Purple Rising” helmet, which features a front-facing team logo and can be worn with multiple uniforms. Every team jersey has “Midnight Purple” in the numbers, a color-theme which can be seen on various parts of the attire, and the collar of the uniform is also designed to be a raven spreading its wings, with the claws of said bird being in place of stripes down the pants.

Meanwhile, the gold drop shadow has been removed from the perimeter of the numbers in favor of the midnight purple stroke, which is also the theme of the shield patches. Plus, the team’s white jerseys now say “Baltimore” under the collar, instead of “Ravens.”

Los Angeles Rams

Add the Rams to the list!  

Los Angeles dropped its first new look for the 2026 season on Apr. 16. The Rams’ chest tag has been removed, 3D bumper logos were added to their helmets and a modern horn sleeve has been added to their pants. They also have the option to wear white pants, while the white “LA” in their logo is now yellow. 

The bold font of the team’s jersey is more refined.

“As we look ahead to the next decade of Rams football in LA, this refresh is about sharpening what already defines us,” Rams Chief Marketing Officer Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick said in a statement. “It’s a modern refinement—elevating our identity with clarity and purpose while carrying our history forward, and matching the toughness, precision and competitiveness of our team.”

The Rams also revealed two alternate jerseys later this year and have removed the primary gray “Bone” look from the rotation.

The “Classic” jersey is the golden “Sol” look with blue accents on the shoulders. The “Fearsome” jersey is white with blue accents, and paired with a helmet that harkens back to the team’s old school design of white rams’ horns.

Washington Commanders

The Commanders are set to have a new look for the upcoming season. They unveiled a fully redesigned uniform set, blending elements of the franchise’s past with a bold, modern identity.  The updated look, according to the team, signals a new era, pairing refreshed aesthetics with a nod to the team’s longstanding tradition.

The Commanders will retain their burgundy home and white away uniforms, although those jerseys received an updated look to help blend in the old era with the new. They also introduced a new “Hail Raiser” alternate set. The all-black look is paired with a matching black helmet, featuring a Spear W logo decal on both sides.

Owner Josh Harris told reporters at the owners meeting in March that the team was focusing on the vision behind the redesign and how it connects to the franchise’s identity moving forward.

“The priority is honoring our past and then looking to the future; updating but not forgetting about our heritage, who we are and honoring that,” Harris said. “And we have a bunch of things up our sleeves. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but we’re going to continue to embrace our past, but then update it. And so, stay tuned.”

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta announced on Apr. 2 that it’s rolling out a new base uniform. The home look features a black helmet with a red uniform and white numbers and pants, whereas the road appearance features a black helmet with a white uniform, red numbers and the option for either black or white pants. The Falcons will break out throwback red helmets on occasion.

“While the uniforms are the most visible elements of our brand, it’s just one piece of where our brand shows up,” Falcons Chief Marketing Officer Shannon Joyner said in an interview with the team’s website. “Our brand shows up in a variety of spaces from uniforms, to what you see in terms of buildings and the stadium, all the different fan gear, all the different places where our brand shows up — through that lens, and through thoughtful research, analysis and consideration, our brand is in a really strong spot, and we have had a lot of positive growth of our brand since we switched to our current design set with the bird logo in the early 2000s, so we wanted to continue to invest in that.”

Tennessee Titans

On Mar. 12, Tennessee revealed a new look that pays homage to its Houston Oilers’ roots.

The Titans’ home look features a blue jersey and white pants, while the road look features a white jersey and the option for either light blue or white pants. Meanwhile, “TITANS” is stitched across the chest for the home jersey, while “TENNESSEE” is stitched across the chest for the road jersey.

“We wanted to come up with something that took the best parts of all of that and bring it together in a way that makes sense,” Titans President and Chief Executive Officer Burke Nihill said in an interview with the team’s website.

“I feel like we’re building on the legacy of what got us here, and we’re doing it in a way that is going to set the course of this organization for decades to come in a pretty special way.”

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