Everybody who takes the field in Tuesday night’s MLB games will have a No. 21 patch on their jersey.

That’s because Sept. 15 is Roberto Clemente Day, a day of remembrance for Pittsburgh Pirates legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and his charitable contributions, a legacy that lives on through the Roberto Clemente Foundation.

As for the right fielder’s on-field success, Clemente, who wore No. 21, was a force to be reckoned with. Here’s his MLB career (1955-72) by the numbers:

1A: Clemente is first in Pirates history with 3,000 hits, 4,492 total bases and 2,154 singles.

1B: On that note, he’s one of 33 players to hit the 3,000-hit mark. 

2A: Clemente was part of the Pirates’ 1960 and 1971 World Series triumphs.

2B: Clemente led the National League in hits twice: in 1964 and 1967.

2C: His career 95 wins above replacement are second in Pirates history and 37th in MLB altogether.

3: Clemente is third in Pirates history with 1,416 runs scored, 1,305 RBIs, 440 doubles and 166 triples.

4: He led the NL in batting average in four seasons: 1961, 1964, 1965 and 1967.

8.2: Clemente led NL position players with 8.2 wins above replacement in 1968.

10: Clemente logged a double-digit number of triples in 10 seasons, including leading the NL with 12 triples in 1969.

12: The number of Gold Gloves he won.

15: The number of All-Star nods he received.

18: Each of Clemente’s 18 seasons in the sport were spent with the Pirates.

200: He logged 200-plus hits in four seasons: 1961, 1964, 1966 and 1967.

240: The number of home runs Clemente hit.

300: Clemente finished with a .300 or higher batting average in 13 of his 18 seasons in the sport.

317: Clemente was a career .317 regular-season hitter, tied with Joe Harris for 66th in MLB history.

318: He was a career .318 postseason hitter in 113 plate appearances.

1966: Clemente won the 1966 NL MVP Award.

1971: Clemente was the 1971 World Series MVP, totaling 12 hits, two home runs and four RBIs while posting a .414/.452/.759 slash line in the seven-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

1973: MLB renamed the “Commissioner’s Award” the “Roberto Clemente Award” in 1973, which is an award “given annually to a player who demonstrates the values Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente displayed in his commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others.” Each of MLB’s 30 teams have a nominee for the award, with the league office naming one recipient of the honor during the World Series of that particular year.

2,305: Clemente is first in MLB history with 2,305 appearances in right field.

2,433: Clemente and Honus Wagner are tied for first in Pirates history with 2,433 games played.

Source

Let’s kick things off with a few things I didn’t see coming.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is the NFL’s passing leader.

Jordan Love threw for 387 yards (second-most) behind a bottom-10 offensive line — and still lost.

Jacoby Brissett looked like Jared Goff.

Drake Maye threw three interceptions, including one that sealed the Pats’ loss to the Seahawks. But Jaxson Dart took no unnecessary hits — and took care of himself and the ball — en route to the Giants’ decisive win over the Cowboys.

Caleb Williams looked like he could soon be the best QB on the planet. Trevor Lawrence also looked like he could soon be the best QB on the planet!

And last but not least, Patrick Mahomes got the ball out in 2.27 seconds on Monday night — fastest in the NFL among QBs taking five-plus dropbacks. He’s still the fastest gun in the (AFC) West. He wasn’t brilliant, but he remains great, overcoming the ACL injury, overcoming left tackle issues and overcoming the Broncos’ elite defense.

Welcome back to the QB Stock Market.

This isn’t your typical QB rankings. I’m focused on monitoring the fluctuations of starters’ performances throughout the season. No one — not even Josh Allen — is safe at the top. No one — not even Deshaun Watson — is stuck at the bottom. There is room for quick ascent — and rapid decline. We only have one week to evaluate, and so these rankings might surprise folks. One question holds most important: What have you done for your team lately?

Previous: Offseason | Preseason | Week 1

Cam Ward followed up a concerning preseason with a poor showing in Week 1. (Photo by Chris Carter/Getty Images)

–>

Baker Mayfield fumbled three times — and lost all of them — in a close loss to the Bengals. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

Aaron Rodgers finds Pat Freiermuth for six-yard TD, giving Steelers lead over Falcons | NFL Highlights

–>

In Week 1, Drake Maye’s performance against the Seattle Seahawks was reminiscent of how Josh Allen used to play against the New England Patriots.

Going back to 2018, Bill Belichick drew up nasty and exotic blitzes to spin Allen’s head. And because Allen couldn’t make sense of those blitzes, game after game, Belichick kept sending them. You could see how much joy Belichick took in the game plan, with disguises and wrinkles and eccentricity, specifically designed to beat up on Allen. Belichick must’ve looked forward to it.

And then their fifth matchup rolled around. It was 2020. Belichick thought he could fool Allen, as usual. But Allen passed for 320 yards and four touchdowns. It flipped the paradigm in the AFC East. Allen never looked back. And it was one of the many things that cost Belichick his job.

The Seahawks-Patriots rivalry feels like the same dynamic, with coach Mike Macdonald burying Maye with brain-twisting blitzes and disguises. To make matters worse, Maye’s three interceptions in Seattle were not overly complicated reads. They were simply egregious mistakes. The final interception was, easily, the worst decision of Maye’s career — nosediving the team’s chances in the worst way. It’s not just the Seahawks, though. Complicated defenses have a tendency to overwhelm Maye.

So this feels like the same dynamic — except that we don’t know if it’ll end like it did for Allen.

I expect Maye to jump back into the top 10. But it’ll depend completely upon an “aha” moment. It’ll depend completely upon Maye completing the Allen comparison, with that final developmental leap, not just by winning with talent — but by outsmarting defenses.

C.J. Stroud lost it for the Texans. 

That hurts to say, because he got the Texans in position for a win against the Bills. He kept it close the whole way, with 274 passing yards and two touchdowns. It was a good game until that last drive.

Trailing with minutes left, he drove Houston into scoring position — only to take a pair of sacks that ruined everything. For those two plays, he looked like the same deer in headlights that we saw in the playoffs against the Patriots. For those two sacks, he looked like the guy who was not deserving of a contract extension.

How do we reconcile those two plays with the rest of his performance?

Let’s start with the sack that was most egregious. And it wasn’t the one that ended the game.

On first-and-9 with 30 seconds left and goal-to-go, Stroud took a sack from Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker. The Texans’ win probability took the most pronounced hit of the entire game, sinking a full 38.7%, per Next Gen Stats. Stroud held the ball for 3.8 seconds — way, way too long. Because this wasn’t blindside pressure. It came right up the middle. Stroud watched Walker close in, and ducked into the sack, rather than throw the ball away.

Stroud didn’t look mentally ready for the play, which flipped the game in a matter of seconds. 

A few plays later, it was over. Bills edge Gregory Rousseau strip-sacked Stroud to end the game.

It was a third-and-18, and the Texans, essentially, sent their receivers for the end zone. Nobody was open. Stroud held the ball for almost four seconds (which is way too long). But you can’t blame him, given that he had just one more down and 25 more seconds to score.

Should he have thrown it away? Of course. Hindsight shows that, clearly. 

But I also understand why he wanted to make something happen — and risk the incoming pressure — by holding the ball a little longer. He wanted to eke out every opportunity to score on this play. I get that. In a weird way, I view this play differently than I did at the end of the game. So did the advanced stats, showing the Texans’ chances slipping 10.7% on the fumble.

The rest of the game, Stroud was efficient. He battled with one of the league’s best teams and quarterbacks. The body of work — on the whole — was good. It’s just that Stroud’s errors on the final drive were irreconcilable. And the brutal truth is that those errors are the only plays we’ll remember from this game.

Brou WAS WRONG about the Cowboys, Bills beat Texans, Will the Bears be the best offense? | FTF

–>

Leave it to the Dallas Cowboys to put together the worst defensive series in all of football in Week 1. The Cowboys were worse — on the whole and on the Giants’ final scoring drive — than the Panthers, who allowed 59 points in Week 1. Dallas’ defensive expected points added per play was .363 (32nd).

That’s because the Cowboys refused to cover the Giants’ checkdown option. So that’s exactly who Jaxson Dart threw to — three times in a row, including for a touchdown.

Yes, seriously. Giants running back Devin Singletary had three catches in the flat on three consecutive plays. And the third was a 9-yard touchdown.

It was pretty similar with every target to tight end Isaiah Likely, who had more room than he should have to operate in the middle of the field. Dart was 8 of 8 for 78 yards and two touchdowns when throwing to his new tight end.

But after a season where I faulted Dart constantly for doing the wrong thing (constantly), I have to give him his flowers here. He took what the defense gave him. That’s basically the first rule of quarterbacking. His completion percentage over expected was +10.9%, and he attempted a fairly modest 17.2% tight-window throws. His time to throw was just 2.64 seconds, showing he was quick to get the ball out of his hands.

It all speaks to a low-difficulty game plan against a low-talent defense.

Dart did what he had to do to get the W. And in this case, he didn’t have to do much. 

It wasn’t totally Jared Goff’s fault that the Saints got back into their opener in Detroit, eating away at a 14-point lead and sending the game to overtime. The Lions defense shoulders plenty of that blame. But when looking at Goff’s fourth quarter, you can see a series of failed third-down conversions where he made mistakes. That let New Orleans back into it.

On two third downs in the fourth quarter, Goff threw a pair of targets to Jameson Williams. In both instances, Goff made the catch more difficult than it needed to be. And there was a target for Amon-Ra St. Brown (another fourth-quarter third down) when Goff should’ve looked him off and found the second man in the progression. 

Williams, in particular, could’ve had a much bigger game if he and Goff had a cleaner connection. He had just four catches on his nine targets, and finished at a catch rate of 44.4% — 13.9% lower than expected, per Next Gen Stats. If Goff and Williams can figure out why, exactly, their connection grew frayed in this game, then this offense will benefit enormously.

But Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown are incredible in pressure moments, including in overtime when Goff fired what seemed like a dangerous ball for St. Brown — only for the All-Pro wideout to snatch the ball away from a DB on the way into the end zone.

Goff can be as precise as any quarterback in the NFL. But when he slips, even for three different third-downs, it can cost the Lions. Pocket passers — even good ones — have such a small margin for error.

I think we’re past the point of thinking that Brock Purdy is simply a product of his supporting cast. 

I think we’re also seeing that his supporting cast can thrust him into the top 10.

This 2026 roster might be better than the one that helped Purdy break out in 2023. While Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are absolutely superstars, I’m not sure we all view Brandon Aiyuk — or even Deebo Samuel — in that same light as we once did in 2023. Perhaps Purdy didn’t get the respect he deserved for helping those two receivers play at their peak.

Rams ‘outdone every way’ by 49ers, Purdy ‘fantastic’, Patriots in trouble without A.J. Brown? | FTF

–>

The crazy thing about this year’s team is that they’re sustaining the insane rate of injuries that’s typical only for San Francisco. For now, the 49ers are deep enough to withstand the rolling absences. Even with rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling exiting the opener in the first half, the 49ers stayed afloat with ample targets for Mike Evans and Samuel. And with rookie running back Kaelon Black looking more than capable in a (surprising) timeshare with McCaffrey, the All-Pro veteran will undoubtedly have fresher legs into December and January. 

This is all great news for Purdy.

He’s never going to land in the tier of QBs who defy circumstance: Lamar Jackson, Allen and Mahomes. (The tier that’s in reach for supertalents such as Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and perhaps even Trevor Lawrence.) But Week 1 against the Rams reminded that, even when things are imperfect (a good defense, a bad set of injuries, a brutal travel schedule in Australia), Purdy can be dangerous. He’s often going to exceed expectations.

There are a lot of throws that Caleb Williams makes that leave me in disbelief. But there was one throw on Sunday that left me wondering if he’s the only person on the planet who could’ve completed it. Allen and Mahomes could maybe pull this one off. But that uncertainty — that maybe — speaks to just how special it was.

“He couldn’t have put it in a better spot,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said of the pass.

OK, so let’s take a look. It’s a 22-yard touchdown to Cole Kmet.

Caleb Williams finds Cole Kmet for 22-yard TD, extending Bears’ lead over Panthers | NFL Highlights

–>

Williams rolled to the right — increasing the necessary air yards for the throw to 42.3 yards, per Next Gen Stats. And he had a 32% chance of completing the pass. There was even a pass-rusher closing in on the throw. Despite all that, Williams made this look effortless.

It’s why so many Bears players and coaches told me there’s “no limit” to the offense when the 2024 No. 1 overall pick is at the helm. It’s why I’m bullish on the Bears having a real shot at making a run at making history and topping the 2013 Broncos’ scoring record. Williams was sensational (and so was the Bears’ run game). He didn’t even have to get Colston Loveland involved. Loveland, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden didn’t have to score a touchdown for Williams and Co. to put up almost 60 points.

Williams and Ben Johnson already had the NFL’s attention. Soon, they’ll have the NFL’s respect. And by the season’s end, 31 teams will be studying the Bears to figure out what they can copy.

Source

Week 1 gave us explosive offenses and a huge movement in the league rankings. Colin Cowherd dropped a whole new “Herd Hierarchy” on Tuesday’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” featuring a seismic shift in his top 10 teams entering Week 2.

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos weren’t the only ones left out of Cowherd’s top 10. The Los Angeles Rams also plummeted outside the rankings after a loss to the 49ers, followed by the news of Myles Garrett heading to injured reserve.

Cowherd still believes in the Rams, but without Garrett on the field, he simply can’t keep them in his top 10 as there are too many question marks. 

Given how unpredictable Week 1 turned out, plenty of teams still have time to work their way onto the list. But for now, here are Cowherd’s top 10 teams heading into Week 2.

Herd Hierarchy for Week 2: Chiefs back, Bears climb, Who will be on top this week? | The Herd

–>

10. Philadelphia Eagles

Cowherd’s Thoughts:  “The Eagles are maddening. Five three and outs… seriously? But it is the best roster in the NFL and Jalen Hurts leads the NFL in completions, touchdowns and pass attempts over 25-plus yards. I think they’re better without A.J. Brown. They’ll spread the ball around. I can’t keep [out] the best roster in football that I picked to win a division with one ugly outing.”

9. Cincinnati Bengals

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I have the Bengals as the second-most-improved team. I have them as a playoff team. I think Chase Brown is the best running back in the NFL. Nobody talks about his last six games. A touchdown and a half. They went and bought a defense and you could tell, much bigger, much faster and much more physical. Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Cashius Howell. The defense is different and every time Joe Burrow gets you know a little help, he’s a playoff quarterback.”

8. New York Giants

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I don’t care what any of you say. The Giants are talented. They have a culture issue, not a talent issue. Abdul Carter and Brian Burns on the edge. Tell me a better edge rushing tandem than those guys. [Malik] Nabers, Jaxson Dart, [Cam] Skattebo, Arvell Reese. How about Francis Mauigoa, the offensive lineman? 36 pass blocking snaps, didn’t allow a hit. Talent is not the issue. They could use another corner. It was a coaching, culture, and health issue. Jaxson Dart, Skattebo, Reese, Burns, Abdul Carter, Andrew Thomas. Dudes are not the problem. I had them as the most improved team.”

7. Kansas City Chiefs

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “Kansas City. Listen, maybe they’re low, but what I watched last night was something called a run game. You got to go back to Priest Holmes and Jamaal Charles. Like, wow. I mean, I like Kenneth Walker when he’s healthy. I thought it was really smart. They didn’t have [Patrick] Mahomes throw the ball down the field much. I thought it was a really smart, intentional game plan. Now, how much of it is like Bo Nix may not be the guy, and how much is the defense? We don’t know that. But it was Andy Reid off a bye, or Andy Reid in September is just no fun to play, but you got to admit, and many of you don’t want to… that was impressive.”

6. San Francisco 49ers

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “Listen, [Kyle] Shanahan’s 12-7 against [Sean] McVay, but again, it’s not that they won. We know they’re talented. We just don’t know if they’re going to last. I compared them to “Game of Thrones”. Great early, good in the middle and a lot of your favorite characters won’t be around at the end. I don’t know how healthy they’ll be, but their starters: Deebo [Samuel] and Mike Evans had 12 catches. They knocked the Rams on their keister for three and a half hours. There was nothing not to like. In Week 6, they could be out five starters, but today, Herd Hierarchy week one, I’ve got them at six.”

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I mean, I’m sorry, folks. What do you want me to say? The last 10 regular season games, they’re beating the you know what on everybody. I mean, I know Cleveland’s bad, but it’s not just Liam Cohen and Trevor Lawrence. Go look at their defense. They have six games allowing 10 or fewer points since the start of last season. They’re doing it on both sides. We don’t talk about them. We don’t want to talk about them. But it was that last year when they went to Denver and blew out the Broncos. It was like, yeah, I think they’re good. If they were in New York, if they were in Dallas, would we struggle looking at this team and saying they’re five? No, of course. They’re good. We got to own it.”

4. Chicago Bears

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “The first team with six rushing touchdowns in a season opener since the 1922 Canton Bulldogs. Here’s the thing: first it was Bill Walsh, then it was Andy Reid for 20 years, then it was Shanahan and McVay. We have found our next great offensive coach. Ben Johnson is different. I said I went to one practice and it was like whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. What am I watching? Rome Odunze now is healthy, folks. To drop 59 points is one thing. No defensive touchdowns. Colston Loveland didn’t have a catch. Now I don’t know if they can generate the kind of pass rush that can put great quarterbacks in discomfort. I don’t know if they can do that, but I said it last year. Caleb [Williams] is different. Ben Johnson’s different. This is different. This could be a Reid-Mahomes thing we’re talking about. It’s not just good. I’ve seen good. DeMeco Ryans, C.J. Stroud. Oh, I like those two working together. Now, this is not good. It’s special.”

3. Baltimore Ravens

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “Outgained the Colts by 255 yards. Daniel Jones looked like they didn’t want to get hit. I think everybody – Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen – everybody’s under pressure. It was impressive. I’ve fallen in love with Baltimore a lot in week one, two and three when Lamar’s healthy. But Jesse Minter, go look at the Chargers’ defense. He left. Go look at the Ravens’ performance. He arrived. I put them at three.”

2. Seattle Seahawks

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I [would] put them at one, but Sam Darnold’s not healthy. Seattle’s the only team in the league that can have 10 penalties, multiple turnovers, not play well and beat good teams. They did it last year against the Rams and the Texans. They didn’t play particularly well: 10 penalties, new offensive coordinator, out of sorts and they beat the Patriots and really shut them down totally in the fourth quarter. So I think between coach and general manager and depth of roster and speed, they’re not a top team with Drew Lock.

NFL Related Stories

“But Drew Lock’s now been around. Now he gets first team snaps for the last eight to nine games because they played on Wednesday. So I think they drop to a number two or three team. If Sam plays, I put them at one.”

1. Buffalo Bills

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I have Buffalo in the Super Bowl. So again, like the Bengals and the Giants, I have Buffalo in the Super Bowl. Offensive coach, a greater sensibility, feel, touch and nuance with their star quarterback, told you D.J. Moore would fit. They drafted a lot of defensive guys in the last couple of years. Let’s see if they can play. But two touchdown drives of 96-plus yards. I thought they were the best team I saw, considering the opposition. Nobody does that to the Texans’ defense. Nobody does that to DeMeco Ryans. I mean, be honest… nobody does that. Josh Allen and the Bills did.”

Source

GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) — The Kansas City Chiefs had already gone 3-for-3 in short-yardage situations Monday night. But when they needed a yard on a fourth-and-1 early in the second half at their 40-yard line, they went to the sideline for not just two extra offensive linemen, but new nose tackle Khyiris Tonga as well.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid didn’t hesitate, calling for his jumbo package and adding 950-plus pounds of blocking from the sideline as they held a 14-7 lead over the Denver Broncos. 

They needed a yard from running back Kenneth Walker III, and on a night where he exceeded all expectations in his Kansas City debut, he gave them 60, running to the end zone for the signature moment in a resounding, welcome-back 31-10 victory.

“The moment he got the edge, I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it in practice. I saw it all last year in the playoffs. Once he gets the edge, he’s gone,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of his new teammate, signed from the Seattle Seahawks after earning Super Bowl MVP honors. “That’s what I’m talking about, be able to run physical like that but still be able to bounce it whenever it’s necessary and get going.”

Walker finished with 173 rushing yards, not only a career high but the most yards a Chiefs player has rushed for in the Mahomes era, since Jamaal Charles went for 226 in a 2012 game. Kansas City made it clear from the start they wanted to assert their offense on the ground, giving Walker seven carries on the opening drive to introduce him to the home fans and the rest of the NFL.

“I knew they were going to crash in, so when they crashed in, I just bounced it out,” Walker said. “I was one-on-one with the corner, I outran him and it was off to the races from there. 

“[The big role] means a lot. It means they trust me. It’s good to feel that way. When we first came out, we got the fourth down and we still ran the ball – they trust the run game and trust what we can do, we just want to keep stacking on that.”

One of those bonus linemen on the 60-yard touchdown was Josh Ezeudu, acquired from the Giants at the end of preseason for a 2028 seventh-round pick, and he’s quickly learned how much his new team values owning the line of scrimmage.

“I’ve only been here about three weeks now, but something that’s emphasized here is being physical,” Ezeudu told me. “We’re going to run that motherf—ing ball. I’m sorry, but it’s something we take pride in.”

The headline Monday night was Mahomes’ triumphant return after missing the end of last season with a knee injury, but the news was the Chiefs’ run game and what it could do to cement their return to the NFL’s top tier of playoff contenders. Tonga was signed away from the New England Patriots, where he enjoyed cameos on offense last season, playing 18 offensive plays as an imposing fullback. One of them was a fourth-and-1 in the AFC Championship Game against those same Broncos, helping Drake Maye move the chains.

“I’m just there whenever they call my number. I’m ready whenever,” Tonga told me. “I enjoy it. I’m just glad I’m on the field any time they have success.”

New Chiefs defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga also doubles as a blocker. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

–>

Backup tackle Jaylon Moore, also part of the jumbo package, said those plays are where the Chiefs can establish their identity with toughness and physicality, and even if it only yields a single yard, it’s always in high-leverage situations.

“We can assert ourselves and get a yard when we need it,” Moore told me. “It’s cool. We’re adding a thousand, a million, I don’t even know how many pounds that is.”

Even with just a regular line blocking for him, Walker was a real spark for the Chiefs against Denver. Locked in a 7-7 stalemate just before halftime and facing a third-and-10, Mahomes connected with Walker for an 11-yard conversion, and Walker followed with a 28-yard run to set up the go-ahead touchdown.

Could he be a difference maker for the Chiefs? They haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Mahomes’ rookie year in 2017, and they haven’t had a back go over 100 yards in any of their last 16 playoff games, dating back to their Super Bowl victory in the 2019 season. Mahomes has seen the newfound offensive balance as a potential missing piece since Walker arrived.

“I told you all, literally, like first press conference. Y’all were asking, what’s the difference with our offense? And I said, K9 (Walker),” he said. “Like, it’s just that simple. It’s the way he’s able to run the ball, catch the ball … it’s just a special ability to run the ball tough between the tackles and then when he does bounce it, he has the speed to go all the way and so we’ll utilize him.”

Walker, in just one game with the Chiefs, can also appreciate being able to run the ball against a defense that wants to stop him but must also account for the threat of a former MVP like Mahomes. He finished the game with 191 yards of total offense; the Broncos finished with 176 as a team.

“Definitely. They have to key in on Pat,” Walker said. “He’s the best quarterback in the league, so you can’t just get on the run game or he’ll throw the ball over your head. And he can run. He’s just a threat either way, so he makes the run game a lot easier.”

As NFL dads go, Jeremiah Trotter Sr. might be as proud as they come.

Trotter was in the car on the way to Philadelphia to see his son Jeremiah Jr. make his season debut with the Eagles on Sunday when he was watching his younger son Josiah’s NFL debut on his iPad, which was punctuated by an interception returned for a touchdown for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“If I tried to explain it, I couldn’t put into words how proud I am of them boys,” Trotter, himself an NFL linebacker who made four Pro Bowls in 11 seasons from 1998-2009, told me. “I’ve been there throughout the whole process, all the work and sacrifices they’ve made, and to see them doing what they love to do, to get to this level, a lot of things have to fall into place. They’re carrying on a legacy and it makes me super-proud when they make a play and drop the axe, showing homage to me. That’s the utmost respect and it means the world to me.”

Josiah Trotter became the first player in NFL history to get both a pick-six and a sack in his NFL debut, adding a game-high 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. Jeremiah, a third-year linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the Eagles as a rookie, had two tackles on special teams in the Eagles’ win Sunday.

Their dad can now pick a game every weekend to cheer for his sons in person. When the Eagles are home, it’s a half-hour drive from their home in New Jersey. But this coming week, the eldest Trotter will fly to Tampa to see Josiah’s home debut with the Bucs, where Jeremiah Sr. played a single season in 2007.

“I see how serious he takes the game, how professional he is, doing things the right way,” his father told me. “You don’t skip any steps, and you’re not going to find anybody that works harder than him. I’m proud to know that all those conversations stuck with him.”

Much like Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and his father Antoine Sr., the Trotters talk constantly. 

“Every day, all day,” Trotter Sr. told me, saying his conversations with his sons take place before practice, between meetings, and constantly talking about football and playing linebacker at the highest level. 

Josiah Trotter is one of two sons of former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)

–>

Josiah’s position coach, Mike Caldwell, played linebacker with Jeremiah Sr. for their first four years together in Philadelphia, and Dad is also glad his son has a veteran next to him in Alex Anzalone, remembering both his days with a mentor and as one as well.

“I’ve been the young guy and I’ve been the old guy,” Trotter Sr. told me. “It means a lot to Josiah, too.”

Early in his days in Philadelphia, he remembers William Thomas telling him if he got a certain look and faked like he was dropping to the left, Drew Bledsoe would throw the ball directly to him, and sure enough, “by George, he threw the thing right to me.”

For now, the only question for father is which son he’s able to go see each week — in theory, Josiah and Jeremiah Jr. could meet up in the playoffs, and the Bucs and Eagles are scheduled to play in Philadelphia in 2027.

Week 2 Can Also Be Weird

You’ve heard by now about Week 1 outliers, like the Las Vegas Raiders beating the New England Patriots and J.J. McCarthy outdueling Caleb Williams in Chicago last year. In each of the last four years, at least one team making the conference championship game lost in Week 1, including the 2022 San Francisco 49ers (13-4) losing to the Bears (3-14). It’s certainly true, but Week 2 games are early enough to also produce strange outcomes. Last year, four teams that would go on to win division titles — including the Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars — lost to non-playoff teams in Week 2, more than any other week in the 2025 season.

Source

Coach Ryan Day might have been understating things slightly when he said there’s a lot that comes with a loss at Ohio State.

Last Saturday’s historic fourth-quarter collapse by the Buckeyes in their 24-23 loss at Texas has brought angst and second-guessing usually reserved for losses to arch-rival Michigan.

Day spent Tuesday’s news conference going through the post-mortem after experiencing only his second setback in 27 games in September while trying to outline his hopes of preventing the loss from snowballing and impacting the rest of the season.

“It’s extremely frustrating, it’s maddening and we’re excited to get back on the field and get going because the last couple of days haven’t been fun around here,” Day said. “Had some really good conversations with the guys. I think they’re going to be in a good mindset moving forward. We understand we have a lot of football ahead of us. So this highlighted some things that we got to get fixed.”

It was the first time in program history the sixth-ranked Buckeyes have lost when leading by at least 17 points at halftime. Going back to 2004, top-ranked teams in the AP Top 25 were 197-0 when holding a 20-point lead at any point in the fourth quarter. Ohio State was up 23-3 going into the final 15 minutes before the Longhorns scored on their final three drives.

Day might have been too aggressive at times — including a failed fourth-down conversion when the Buckeyes could have kicked a field goal — which he owned up to.

“When it’s time to go win the game, we all have to be on the same page and we have to live with the result. Just like we throw the ball on third-and-4 to Jeremiah (Smith) on a fade to go win the game (in the fourth quarter). Yeah, I absolutely own that. We didn’t have enough answers in the fourth quarter to go win the game, but we will moving forward.”

One late-game situation Day acknowledged he might do differently next time is letting a team score in order to have enough time to possibly go on a game-winning drive.

Day called his final timeout with 53 seconds remaining when Texas’ Hollywood Smothers was stopped on first-and-goal at the 1. Smothers ended up scoring two plays later and with 25 seconds on the clock.

“If we win the game, then it would’ve been the right decision. And in the moment you’ve got to make a hard decision and I decided to try to hold the line,” he said. “Ultimately would have loved to see what it would’ve looked like if they would’ve scored. So we’ll have to think about it when it happens again.”

Julian Sayin passed for 278 yards, but completed only five of 16 passes in the second half. The junior has a 75.9% completion rate in his two seasons as Ohio State’s starter, but it is 62.5% in losses.

Before opening Big Ten play on Sept. 26 against Illinois, the Buckeyes (1-1) host Kent State on Saturday.

Ohio State is averaging 59 points and winning by an average margin of 51.7 points in its seven matchups against MAC teams since Day took over as head coach in 2019.

The bigger concern is making sure the Buckeyes correct mistakes by the time they have crucial road tests next month against No. 18 Iowa, No. 4 Indiana and No. 12 Southern California.

“It’s see what we did wrong, try to improve those and make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Sayin said. “I think we have a good group of guys on our team. I think we can use this as fuel. I love the group of guys on the team and have a lot of confidence in them.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

Source

The Novig promo code FOXSPORTS unlocks a deposit $10, get $25 in Trade Credits welcome offer for new users on the sports prediction market. Novig runs as a peer-to-peer exchange, so every trade is matched against another user rather than priced by a house. New traders who register with promo code FOXSPORTS and fund an account with at least $10 receive $25 in Trade Credits.

Novig relaunched in August 2026 as a federally regulated exchange operated by Ludlow Exchange, LLC, which holds a Designated Contract Market designation from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That federal framework is why the platform is live in 47 states plus Washington, D.C., including California, Texas and Florida, where traditional online sportsbooks are not an option.

Novig is sports only, with no political, economic or pop culture markets, and it carries a 21 and over age requirement that is stricter than most prediction market platforms. Below is how the welcome offer works, what the Trade Credits can be applied to, and where Novig is available.

What Is the Latest Novig Promo Code for September 2026?

The current Novig promo code is FOXSPORTS. New users who register with the code and make a first deposit of at least $10 receive $25 in Trade Credits.

• Promo code: FOXSPORTS
• Welcome offer: Deposit $10, get $25 in Trade Credits
• Minimum deposit: $10
• Credit structure: Five Trade Credits of $5 each, straight trades only
• Eligibility: New users only, 21 and over, physically located in an eligible state

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting and prediction market partners. If you sign up or place a trade, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Novig Promo Code FOXSPORTS Details

Promo Code	FOXSPORTS
Welcome Offer	Deposit $10, Get $25 in Trade Credits
Offer Type	Deposit and get
Bonus Amount	$25, issued as five Trade Credits of $5 each
Minimum Deposit	$10
Credit Restrictions	Straight trades only, each credit applied in full, not valid on Make Orders
Qualifying Contract Price	$0.60 or lower, which is -150 or longer in American odds
Expiry	30 days from the date the credits are issued
Withdrawable	No, Trade Credits must be used on the platform
Age Requirement	21 and over
Eligible States	47 states plus Washington, D.C. Not available in Arizona, Michigan or Nevada
Regulator	Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Exchange Operator	Ludlow Exchange, LLC

 

The $25 arrives as five separate $5 Trade Credits rather than one lump sum. Each credit has to be applied in full to a single straight trade, so credits cannot be split across positions, stacked on one position or combined with another promotion. Credits also cannot be attached to a Make Order, which means they only work when you take a price already sitting in the market.

Contracts have to be priced at $0.60 or lower for a credit to apply, which rules out heavy favorites and pushes the credits toward closer markets. All five credits expire 30 days after they are issued, so the offer works best for traders who plan to be active in the first month. New users can claim the deposit $10, get $25 in Trade Credits offer with promo code FOXSPORTS.

Novig Promo Code Terms and Conditions

• Promo code FOXSPORTS must be entered during registration.
• New users only. One welcome offer per person, per household and per payment method.
• Users must be 21 or older and physically located in an eligible state at the time of registration and trading.
• A first deposit of at least $10 is required to trigger the $25 in Trade Credits.
• Trade Credits are issued as five credits of $5 each and are not withdrawable as cash.
• Each credit must be applied in full to a single straight trade on a contract priced at $0.60 or lower.
• Trade Credits cannot be used on Make Orders, cannot be split and cannot be combined with other offers.
• Trade Credits expire 30 days after issue.
• Identity verification is required before any deposit or trade is accepted.

How to Claim the Novig Welcome Offer

1. Use this link to click here and start the Novig sign up process.
2. Enter your legal name, date of birth, email address, phone number, home address and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
3. Enter promo code FOXSPORTS during registration so the welcome offer attaches to the new account.
4. Complete identity verification, which Novig requires before any deposit or trade is accepted.
5. Make a first deposit of at least $10 using an online bank transfer, debit card, credit card or Apple Pay.
6. Receive $25 in Trade Credits and apply one credit when you select a qualifying trade on a contract priced at $0.60 or lower.

What Is Novig?

Novig is a sports prediction market where users trade event contracts against each other. Instead of betting into a line set by a sportsbook, traders buy and sell yes or no contracts priced between $0.00 and $1.00, with the price reflecting the market’s view of how likely that outcome is.

The company launched in 2024 as a sweepstakes platform and moved to a federally regulated model in 2026. Its exchange entity, Ludlow Exchange, LLC, received a Designated Contract Market designation from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in June 2026, and the regulated app went live on August 4, 2026. Existing users were required to accept the new exchange agreements before they could continue trading.

The name points at the business model. A sportsbook builds a margin, known as the vig, into both sides of a line. Novig takes no position in the market and charges fees on matched trades instead, which is why prices on the exchange can sit closer to true probability than a sportsbook line on the same game.

Novig has also pushed hard on sports partnerships. It became the first prediction market to sign with an MLB club through a multi-year deal with the New York Mets, and it is an MLB authorized prediction market, which gives it access to official league data for settling markets.

How Novig Prediction Markets Work

Every Novig market is a yes or no question tied to a verifiable sports outcome. Contracts settle at $1.00 if the outcome happens and $0.00 if it does not, and the price you pay is the cost of taking that position.

Contract Pricing

A contract priced at $0.60 implies a 60 percent chance of the outcome. Buy that contract and a correct call returns $1.00, a profit of $0.40 per contract. A contract at $0.35 implies a 35 percent chance and returns $0.65 in profit if it settles at $1.00.

• Contract at $0.60: risk $0.60 to win $0.40 per contract, roughly -150 in American odds
• Contract at $0.50: risk $0.50 to win $0.50 per contract, roughly +100 in American odds
• Contract at $0.25: risk $0.25 to win $0.75 per contract, roughly +300 in American odds

Take Orders and Make Orders

Taking an order means accepting a price another trader has already posted, which fills instantly when liquidity is there. Making an order means posting your own price and waiting for someone to match it, which can get you a better number but may never fill. Welcome offer Trade Credits only work on Take Orders.

Combination Contracts

Novig supports combination contracts, which bundle several legs into a single position that only pays if every leg hits. The structure is the exchange version of a parlay, with the combined price reflecting the probability of all legs landing together.

Selling Before Settlement

Positions can be sold back into the market before an event finishes. If the price moves in your favor during a game, you can exit for a profit rather than waiting for settlement, and you can cut a position that has moved against you.

What You Can Trade on Novig?

Novig is sports only. There are no political, economic, weather or entertainment markets on the platform, which is a deliberate difference from the broader exchanges. Sports coverage runs across the major North American leagues and the biggest international events, so traders following NFL odds can find the same games they would at a sportsbook.

Leagues Covered

• Pro football and college football
• Pro basketball and college basketball
• Baseball
• Hockey
• Soccer
• Tennis and golf
• UFC and combat sports

Market Types

• Game winner markets, the exchange equivalent of a moneyline
• Point spread markets
• Total points markets, over and under
• Player performance markets
• Season long futures, including division, conference and championship markets
• Combination contracts that link multiple legs into one position

Where Is Novig Legal in the United States

Novig operates under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rather than under state gaming law, which is why it reaches far more of the country than a licensed sportsbook does. Eligibility is decided by where you are physically located when you trade, not by your state of residence, and the app checks location at sign up and at every trade.

• Available in 47 states plus Washington, D.C.
• Not available in Arizona, Michigan or Nevada
• Age requirement is 21 and over, which is stricter than the 18 and over standard used by most prediction markets

The federal structure is the reason Novig is live in states with no legal online sportsbook at all. Traders in California and Texas can use the platform, and so can traders in Florida, where retail and online betting run through a single operator. Fully regulated betting states such as New York and Pennsylvania are eligible as well.

For a wider view of which platforms are available in the two biggest prediction market states, see our guides to the best prediction markets in Texas and Florida.

Novig Deposits, Withdrawals and Fees

Novig has no withdrawal fees and no withdrawal minimum. Deposit fees depend on the method, with online bank transfers free and card and wallet deposits carrying a processing fee.

Method	Deposits	Withdrawals	Fee
Online bank transfer	Yes	Yes	No fee, $1 minimum deposit
Debit card	Yes	Yes	3% deposit fee, no withdrawal fee
Apple Pay	Yes	Yes	3% deposit fee, no withdrawal fee
Credit card	Yes	No	3% deposit fee, issuer cash advance fees may apply
Venmo	No	Yes	No fee

Because the exchange takes no vig, Novig earns on trading fees applied to matched orders. Those fees are charged on the trade itself rather than being priced into the line, which is the core difference between exchange pricing and sportsbook pricing.

Novig vs. Traditional Sportsbooks

Novig can look like a betting app on the surface, but the mechanics underneath are different. You are trading with other users at prices they help set, and the platform is regulated as a derivatives exchange rather than as a sportsbook.

Feature	Novig	Traditional Sportsbook
Who you trade against	Other users on the exchange	The sportsbook itself
Pricing format	Contracts priced $0.00 to $1.00	American odds such as -110
Cost structure	No built in vig, fees on matched trades	Vig priced into the odds
Regulation	Federal, Commodity Futures Trading Commission	State gaming regulators
Availability	47 states plus Washington, D.C.	Varies state by state
Early exit	Sell a position back into the market	Cash out where the book offers it
Setting your own price	Yes, through Make Orders	No
Age requirement	21 and over	21 and over in most states

 

Traders who want both options can run an exchange account alongside a sportsbook account and price shop between them. Our guides to the best sports betting apps and the latest sportsbook promos cover the licensed operators available in each state.

Novig Points Rewards Program

Novig Points is the platform’s loyalty program and the closest thing it offers to an ongoing promotion for existing users. Points earned through trading activity set your tier and your share of a monthly prize pool, which has run into six figures since the regulated relaunch.

The program sits in its own tab in the app, with sections for tracking points, completing challenges and reviewing how points are earned. There is no separate promo code for existing users.

Novig App Review

• App ratings: 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store and 4.3 out of 5 on Google Play as of September 13, 2026
• Market depth: pro and college football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, golf and UFC, with no non sports markets
• Standout feature: Make Orders, which let traders post their own price rather than accept the one showing
• Rewards: Novig Points, a monthly points race tied to a cash prize pool

Novig was built app first and only added a desktop platform later, so the mobile experience is the more complete one. The home screen leads with the biggest games of the day, search pulls up individual events quickly, and the order interface makes it simple to switch between taking a price and posting one.

Novig Pros and Cons

Pros

• Available in states where online sportsbooks are not, including California, Texas and Florida
• No house edge built into pricing, which can mean better numbers on popular markets
• Make Orders let traders set their own price instead of taking the posted one
• Positions can be sold before settlement to lock in a profit or cut a loss
• Sports only focus keeps the app simple for fans who do not want politics or economics markets

Cons

• The 21 and over requirement is stricter than the 18 and over rule at most rival platforms
• No political, economic, weather or entertainment markets
• Liquidity can be thin on smaller markets, which widens spreads and slows fills
• Welcome offer credits carry price limits, cannot be split and expire in 30 days
• Not available in Arizona, Michigan or Nevada

Other Prediction Markets to Consider

Novig is one of several federally regulated platforms offering sports event contracts. Welcome offers and market coverage change often, so compare current terms before signing up anywhere.

• Kalshi promo code, the deepest market catalog of any CFTC regulated exchange
• Polymarket promo code, the other market leader in US prediction markets
• Best prediction markets, our full comparison of the platforms available in the United States

Responsible Trading

Event contract trading carries real financial risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Trade only what you can afford to lose, and use the tools below if trading stops feeling like entertainment.

• National Problem Gambling Helpline: Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER
• NCPG Financial Trader Health and Safety Initiative: Resources built for event contract and derivatives traders, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET
• SAMHSA National Helpline: Free and confidential referral service, 1-800-662-HELP
• SelfExclude: Self exclusion across participating prediction market platforms

Novig also builds responsible trading controls into every account. Available settings include Time Out, trading limits, deposit limits, order limits and permanent account closure, and limits can be requested through in app support.

Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Participants must be 21 or older and physically located in an eligible state. Event contract trading involves a risk of loss and is not suitable for all traders.

Novig Promo Code FAQs

What is the Novig promo code?

The Novig promo code is FOXSPORTS. New users who enter the code during registration and deposit at least $10 receive $25 in Trade Credits. The code has to be entered at sign up, it cannot be added to an account after registration.

What is the Novig welcome offer?

Deposit $10 and get $25 in Trade Credits. The credits arrive as five separate $5 credits, each applied in full to a single straight trade on a contract priced at $0.60 or lower, and they expire 30 days after being issued.

Is Novig legal in my state?

Novig is available in 47 states plus Washington, D.C. It is not available in Arizona, Michigan or Nevada. Eligibility is based on where you are physically located when you trade, so the app is the final word on whether you can open an account.

How old do you have to be to use Novig?

You must be 21 or older. That is stricter than most prediction market platforms, which set the minimum at 18, so traders between 18 and 20 who are eligible elsewhere will not be able to register with Novig.

Is Novig real money?

Yes. Novig moved off its sweepstakes model in August 2026 and now runs as a real money exchange through Ludlow Exchange, LLC, a Designated Contract Market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

How is Novig different from a sportsbook?

A sportsbook sets the odds and takes the other side of your bet, with a margin built into the price. Novig matches you against another trader and charges a fee on the matched trade instead, and positions can be sold back into the market before an event settles.

Do Novig Trade Credits expire?

Yes. Trade Credits expire 30 days after they are issued. They also cannot be withdrawn, split across trades, applied to Make Orders or used on contracts priced above $0.60.

Is there a Novig promo code for existing users?

No. Novig does not run a promo code for existing accounts. Ongoing value comes through Novig Points, the loyalty program that awards a share of a monthly prize pool based on trading activity.

Source

Lionel Messi might have one last dance with Argentina after all.

Despite announcing his international retirement, the 39-year-old Inter Miami star was included Tuesday in Lionel Scaloni’s 28-man Argentina squad ahead of three home friendlies.

Messi has yet to confirm whether he will join the team, but the head of Argentina soccer said the icon accepted the invitation for the Oct. 6 game against Benin in Buenos Aires for what will be a grand finale.

“After a conversation with senior national team coach Lionel Scaloni, we decided to invite the best player in the world — our icon, our captain Lionel Messi — so that he can have the farewell he deserves on October 6,” said Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association.

Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and helped the Albiceleste reach the final at the 2026 edition.

“Furthermore, having received Lionel’s acceptance,” Tapia said, “we want to invite all the Qatar World Cup champions to join him, along with their families, to witness the ‘last tango’ of the world’s best player.”

Earlier, Argentina had announced it would face Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin in its first batch of friendly matches following Messi’s retirement from the national team after a 21-year spell.

The country’s soccer association said the home match against Bolivia will take place Sept. 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.

The Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires will host the friendlies against Burkina Faso and Benin on Oct. 3 and Oct. 6, respectively.

Focus also turns to the future of Scaloni, whose contract expires in December. Scaloni had hinted he might step down following the 1–0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final on July 19.

Three Argentina players — Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada — were recently handed bans by FIFA for a scuffle after losing the the World Cup final. Paredes received a 10-match ban.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

Source

It wasn’t often that Bill Belichick was an underdog during his NFL coaching days. That’s not the case now that he’s in his second year as UNC’s head coach.

With that in mind, his Tar Heels have my attention for college football Week 3.

And when it comes to underdogs in NFL Week 2, you might be surprised that I’m backing the Jets against the Packers. 

Let’s dive into it.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Bill Belichick 3-0 to start the season? 

For all the turmoil the Tar Heels endured this offseason — and frankly, since Belichick took over as head coach in December 2024 — UNC has a chance Saturday to notch its third win of the young season. 

Former general manager Michael Lombardi resigned a couple of weeks ago, and Belichick’s son, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, is on medical leave from the team as rumors swirl about conduct in the building. 

However, on the field, UNC started the season with an upset victory over TCU, followed by a 35-3 win over East Tennessee St. 

Will “Chapel Bill” strike again in Week 3? (DeFodi Images/Getty Images)

–>

This week, the Tar Heels draw a Clemson team that has gotten off to an underwhelming start in 2026 and will star backup quarterback Tait Reynolds. Not only is Reynolds a backup, but he is a 19-year-old true freshman.  

Oddsmakers expect very few points in this one. With an Over/Under set at 43.5, it’s the second-lowest total on the board this week, with only Wyoming and Central Michigan (39.5) lower. 

In what could be an ugly, low-scoring game, I will defer to the experience and defensive wisdom of Bill Belichick. I expect him to show the young Reynolds things he’s never seen in terms of coverage and blitz packages. Clemson has seen better days as a program, and I think “Chapel Bill” pulls off the upset on Saturday.

Hill’s Pick: UNC moneyline (+145)

The last time the Jets started 2-0 (in football, at least) was 2015, when Todd Bowles was the Jets’ head coach and Ryan Fitzpatrick was the quarterback. 

Over a decade later, the Jets host the Packers in Week 2 with a chance to be the surprise story of the early season. 

The Packers lost their last five games of the 2025 regular season, lost again in the playoffs after blowing an 18-point lead, and are now 0-1 to start 2026 after coughing up yet another double-digit lead in Week 1 against the Vikings. 

Geno Smith will lead the charge as the Jets try to pull the upset over the Packers (Justin Ford/Getty Images).

–>

The Jets throttled the Titans in Week 1, winning 23-10 and holding the Titans to three points and just over 100 yards of total offense, until a garbage-time touchdown in the final minutes. 

The Jets look much improved from last year, and I’ll take them to upset a Packers team that seems to have a real problem closing out games.

Hill’s Pick: Jets moneyline (+170)

Source

James Rodriguez, one of the most talented midfielders in Colombian soccer history, announced the end of his 15-year international career Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Rodríguez recently signed with Atlético Nacional — concluding a long stint playing abroad—and has now decided to step aside from the national team.

“After many years, matches, moments of joy, and tough times, I feel the moment has come to close a chapter of my life: my journey with the Colombian national team,” Rodríguez said in a video posted to his social media channels. “Wearing the jersey was a dream, but also an enormous responsibility.”

Rodríguez made his senior national team debut in October 2011 in a victory over Bolivia in La Paz. His crowning achievement came three years later at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he scored six goals in five matches to win the Golden Boot.

“I was fortunate enough to experience moments I never imagined — World Cups, goals, and unforgettable nights; victories that made us believe and defeats that made us stronger,” Rodríguez said. “From the moment I joined the national team, I wanted to leave the jersey in a stronger position when I eventually moved on, and looking back at the journey, I feel I achieved that.”

That breakout performance in Brazil earned him a move to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, where he spent six seasons and collected two La Liga titles. His club career also included stints with Bayern Munich and Everton.

(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

–>

Since 2022, he has bounced around with stints with Olympiakos in Greece, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Rayo Vallecano in Spain, Club León in Mexico and Minnesota United in the MLS, where he played just six matches.

“I had the honor of wearing the number 10 jersey and the captain’s armband; I tried to do so with respect, responsibility, and an awareness of what Colombia represents,” he added. “I had good days and difficult ones, but I never stopped feeling proud of these colors.”

Internationally, Rodríguez also played in the 2018 World Cup and the 2026 edition, matching Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón for the most tournament appearances by a Colombian player. He also captained Colombia to the 2024 Copa América final — the country’s first appearance in the title match in 23 years. He finishes his international career with 31 goals in 131 appearances.

“I leave with peace of mind because I know I gave absolutely everything; thank you for every memory, every hug, and every moment,” added Rodríguez.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

The United States will play the second leg of its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium on Nov. 17, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Tuesday.

The first leg of the series will be on the road on Nov. 14 at an opponent to be determined next month. The winner advances to a semifinal to be played from March 22-30 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Starting a four-year cycle under coach Mauricio Pochettino, who took over in 2024, the U.S. has upcoming friendlies against Peru (Sept. 26 in Orlando, Florida), Chile (Sept. 29 in St. Louis), Mexico (Oct. 3 in Glendale, Arizona) and Canada (Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota).

The U.S. lost a 2025 Nations League semifinal to Panama at SoFi, and Mexico beat Panama for the title. The U.S. won the championship in 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source