Inside: Your primer on the NFL’s franchise tag: how it works these days, why one star is likely to receive it and its controversial history. Plus, meet the league’s youngest staff members. This article is from Scoop City, The Athletic’s daily NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. Yesterday, shortly before the NFL franchise-tag window opened, Sports Illustrated reported the Bengals plan to place their non-exclusive franchise tag on 26-year-old WR Tee Higgins, with the hopes of then signing him to a long-term deal. That also happened last year,...

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Chargers to open 2025 season in Brazil as NFL returns to São Paulo - The Athletic

Los Angeles will be the designated home team for the second regular-season game in the South American country.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

SheBelieves Cup 2025: USWNT roster, key matchups and how to watch - The Athletic

What to expect from the 10th SheBelieves Cup, featuring the U.S. women's national team

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Crystal Dunn opens up about leaving NWSL for PSG - The Athletic

Veteran is part of a small wave of players who have left the NWSL for Europe.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

The USMNT wild card with a penchant for the unpredictable - The Athletic

Matko Miljevic may not be atop the U.S. depth chart, but he brings fiery qualities to the table that the current group is lacking.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

TAFC: Fake viral posts on Messi, Ronaldo sons; Varane exclusive; embarrassing Euro exits - The Athletic

Today in TAFC - the viral social posts surrounding Messi and Ronaldo's sons, which are not real. Plus: Varane exclusive interview

The Athletic

20.02.2025

NFL projects 2025 salary cap to rise to at least $277.5 million - The Athletic

The league is projecting an increase of $22.1 to $26.1 million from the 2024 salary cap of $255.4 million.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Promising Champions League for USMNT stars turns dire in a flash - The Athletic

Americans set a new standard for UCL goal-scoring and playing time, but the knockout playoff round was unkind to the player pool's best.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Raphael Varane interview: Real Madrid and Man United differences, Erik ten Hag relationship and retiring - The Athletic

World Cup and four-time Champions League winner Varane speaks openly about the highs and lows of playing for Madrid and United

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Eagles promote passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo to OC - The Athletic

Patullo has served as the Eagles passing game coordinator since 2021 and added associate head coach to his title in 2023.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund are stuttering towards a summer separation - The Athletic

The USMNT attacker came off the bench but made little impact as his club future remains in limbo

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Myles Garrett next team odds: Commanders are betting favorites over Super Bowl champs - The Athletic

Which teams are the most likely candidates to be Garrett's next home, and why.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

How Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s sons became pawns in viral betting ploy gone awry - The Athletic

Viral posts claiming Ronaldo and Messi's sons scored an abundance of goals for their youth teams were untrue. But that's just the beginning.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

USMNT’s Tim Weah scores, but PSV dump Juventus out of Champions League - The Athletic

The USMNT star became the fifth American to score in the UEFA Champions League this season, but Juve have been unceremoniously eliminated.

The Athletic

20.02.2025

Former All-Pro running back Clinton Portis joining DeSean Jackson’s coaching staff at Delaware State - The Athletic

Over his professional career, Portis rushed for 9,923 yards with 75 touchdowns and was twice selected to the Pro Bowl

The Athletic

20.02.2025

NFL 50 under 40: Young coaches ascending, along with other league difference-makers - The Athletic

From Sean McVay to Kevin O'Connell to Jason Kelce and Greg Olsen, this year's list has its stars and fast-risers around the NFL.

The Athletic

19.02.2025

NFL Draft’s top QB prospect Cam Ward: ‘If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault’ - The Athletic

Ward made the comments while addressing the perception that he quit on his team in their December bowl game.

The Athletic

19.02.2025

Is Lionel Messi about to play in what could be the coldest soccer match on record? - The Athletic

Inter Miami is set to play Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park, with the temperature forecast to be well below freezing

The Athletic

19.02.2025

How does the NFL franchise tag work? Five leading candidates to get tagged this offseason - The Athletic

The tag was first introduced by owners in 1993 as a compromise in the NFL's fourth-ever CBA as the NFLPA sought to create free agency.

The Athletic

19.02.2025

Commanders add John Madden’s grandson, Jesse Madden, to coaching staff - The Athletic

Washington also hired Brian Schneider as assistant special teams coordinator.

The Athletic

19.02.2025

Which 2025 NFL Draft prospects could determine how Round 1 plays out? - The Athletic

Be it the QBs, tight ends, running backs or a few versatile defenders, these are the prospects who will decide the direction of Round 1.

The Athletic

19.02.2025

TAFC: The speed evolution of Kylian Mbappe; Plus: The story behind ‘respecting the badge’ - The Athletic

In today's edition, we also look at why players are trying not to step on badges and a cheeky celebration at Everton's stadium opening

home›The Athletic›Football (Soccer)

The Athletic - Football (Soccer)

USWNT 2, Colombia 0: Macario scores in her return, Sentnor stuns with first goal - The Athletic

Angel City narrows coaching search to 4 candidates, sporting director says - The Athletic

MLS preview roundtable: Staff predictions for league’s 30th season - The Athletic

NFL beat writer mock draft 2025: Giants, Raiders secure their futures at QB - The Athletic

Messi, Mbappe, Ronaldo… and Windass: Our writers’ favourite hat-tricks - The Athletic

Real Madrid’s white-hot Mbappe, ice-cold Messi finish, Nunez’s big Liverpool chance missed - The Athletic

Before the string of athlete robberies, there was the burglary at Gronk’s house - The Athletic

Jenni Hermoso was not the victim people wanted her to be – we should be grateful to her for that - The Athletic

Bay FC hires former University of Oregon coach Graeme Abel as part of new global scouting department - The Athletic

Saints to hire Eagles QB coach Doug Nussmeier as OC: Reports - The Athletic

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami tame the Kansas City cold in Concacaf Champions Cup - The Athletic

USL questions answered: Can new division challenge MLS, will pro/rel work - The Athletic

SheBelieves Cup watchlist: The U.S. players fighting for spots in Emma Hayes’ team - The Athletic

USMNT’s Christian Pulisic denies rift with Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao - The Athletic

Man City’s half-hearted press against Real Madrid exposed their current feebleness - The Athletic

How crucial is free agency to eventual Super Bowl success? - The Athletic

How Man City forward Khadija Shaw responded to racist abuse - The Athletic

Which teams are in the Champions League round of 16 and when is the draw? - The Athletic

NFL’s controversial franchise tags: from John Elway to Tee Higgins - The Athletic

Chargers to open 2025 season in Brazil as NFL returns to São Paulo - The Athletic

SheBelieves Cup 2025: USWNT roster, key matchups and how to watch - The Athletic

Crystal Dunn opens up about leaving NWSL for PSG - The Athletic

The USMNT wild card with a penchant for the unpredictable - The Athletic

TAFC: Fake viral posts on Messi, Ronaldo sons; Varane exclusive; embarrassing Euro exits - The Athletic

NFL projects 2025 salary cap to rise to at least $277.5 million - The Athletic

Promising Champions League for USMNT stars turns dire in a flash - The Athletic

Raphael Varane interview: Real Madrid and Man United differences, Erik ten Hag relationship and retiring - The Athletic

Eagles promote passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo to OC - The Athletic

Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund are stuttering towards a summer separation - The Athletic

Myles Garrett next team odds: Commanders are betting favorites over Super Bowl champs - The Athletic

How Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s sons became pawns in viral betting ploy gone awry - The Athletic

USMNT’s Tim Weah scores, but PSV dump Juventus out of Champions League - The Athletic

Former All-Pro running back Clinton Portis joining DeSean Jackson’s coaching staff at Delaware State - The Athletic

NFL 50 under 40: Young coaches ascending, along with other league difference-makers - The Athletic

NFL Draft’s top QB prospect Cam Ward: ‘If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault’ - The Athletic

Is Lionel Messi about to play in what could be the coldest soccer match on record? - The Athletic

How does the NFL franchise tag work? Five leading candidates to get tagged this offseason - The Athletic

Commanders add John Madden’s grandson, Jesse Madden, to coaching staff - The Athletic

Which 2025 NFL Draft prospects could determine how Round 1 plays out? - The Athletic

TAFC: The speed evolution of Kylian Mbappe; Plus: The story behind ‘respecting the badge’ - The Athletic

home
›
The Athletic
›
Football (Soccer)