With less than a week left before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots kick off Super Bowl XL from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, there’s plenty of NFL news worth tracking leading up to the Big Game.
Commissioner Roger Goodell had his say on some important league matters in his state of the league address Monday. Among the topics Goodell answered questions on:
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Discussions with the NFL players union on expanding to an 18-game regular-season schedule. “It is not a given that we’ll do that,” Goodell said. “It is not something that we assume will happen. It is something that we want to talk about with the [NFLPA].”
Bill Belichick’s reported first-ballot snubbing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame vote. Goodell: “Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying. They’ve [Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft] contributed so much to the game.” The commish added that he expects them both to eventually be inducted.
As for the players in this Super Bowl, they took the stage for Media Night, which gives them an opportunity to showcase their personalities, avoid questions altogether or just take in the circus of football frivolity. (The Patriots’ sessions begins first before making way for the Seahawks later.)
Many eyes are sure to be on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on Monday night. Last week, Maye battled a shoulder injury and an illness and was listed as questionable on the initial Super Bowl injury report. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters he’s not worried about Maye’s throwing shoulder.
Patriots offensive tackle Morgan Moses, tight end Hunter Henry, wide receiver Mack Hollins, and linebackers Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane have also been listed as questionable.
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On the other side, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was limited but listed as game-ready on the team’s injury report after battling an oblique injury in the first two playoff games.
Seahawks offensive tackle Josh Cross, tight end Eric Saubert, wide receiver Jake Bobo, cornerback Josh Jobe, safety Julian Love, and linebackers Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas were among the other names who did not have a game designation listed on the team’s injury report. Seahawks fullbacks Robbie Ouzts and Brady Russell, and linebacker Chazz Surratt were listed as questionable.
In other news, barring any last-minute surprises, this year’s head coaching cycle is complete. On Sunday, it was reported that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, bringing in a coach from Seattle for the second straight season after firing Pete Carroll.
Kubiak’s deal with the Raiders cannot be finalized until after the Super Bowl. That means the Seahawks will look for their third offensive coordinator in three years, while Kubiak will start preparing for the Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick after the Super Bowl.
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The Arizona Cardinals announced that they had hired former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur on Sunday. LaFleur is the ninth coach and the fourth former offensive coordinator from Rams head coach Sean McVay’s tree to be hired as a head coach. The Rams now have a vacancy at offensive coordinator.
Though the head coach vacancies are filled for now, there are still several offensive and defensive coordinator openings to watch as the weeks roll on.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news and injury updates leading up to Super Bowl LX.
Live39 updates
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:19 PM PST
Ryan Young
“I feel like he’s an amazing performer. He definitely brings the crowd out every time. Hopefully coach Macdonald will let me catch a glimpse of his performance on Super Bowl Sunday.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:14 PM PST
Ryan Young
“Drake’s a great guy … They’ve just got a great family going over there right now. Drake’s a great dude.”
Sam Darnold had plenty of good things to say about his Patriots counterpart.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:02 PM PST
Ryan Young
This makes sense, considering the Super Bowl is just days away, but Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak isn’t addressing his links to the Raiders head coaching job tonight.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM PST
Ryan Young
“I take every experience as its own.”
After making several stops across the league after going No. 3 overall back in 2018, including with the Jets, Panthers, 49ers and Vikings, Sam Darnold is finally thriving as a starting quarterback with the Seahawks.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:57 PM PST
Ryan Young
Well, it’s that time of the night up in the Bay Area…
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:57 PM PST
Ryan Young
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:49 PM PST
Ryan Young
This is Mike Vrabel’s first season as a head coach with the Patriots, but he’s been plenty of places so far in the league. He spent eight of his 14 seasons as a player with the Patriots, and he spent time as Houston’s defensive coordinator before six seasons as the Titans’ head coach.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:35 PM PST
Ryan Young
Guillermo is the closest thing we’re gonna get to Bad Bunny making an appearance tonight.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:27 PM PST
Jason Owens
As Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye has access to the deepest well of Super Bowl knowledge that exists — Tom Brady.
Maye said that the Patriots legend and 7-time Super Bowl winner shared some words of wisdom that he’s carrying into Sunday’s game.
“I’ve met Tom a few times, and one of the best things he said is there’s not shortcuts to it. There’s no shortcuts to putting in the work.
“The proof’s in the pudding. And knowing that the shortcuts that people take, it’s not worth it. Get the most out of what you put into it. He’s been great at that. And he obviously showed that throughout his career.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 6:08 PM PST
Jason Owens
Stefon Diggs was put in a tough spot, asked to his favorite song by his girlfriend, Cardi B.
“I’m just gonna say they all 1,” Diggs answered.
He eventually came up with a proper answer:
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:58 PM PST
Jason Owens
This won’t go over well in the land of Dunkin’ Donuts.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, who started his career with the Chargers, was asked about a number of East coast vs. West Coast preferences, including his coffee choice between Dunkin’ and Starbucks.
“Personally, probably, I’m a Starbucks guy.”
That’s not the correct answer in New England.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:50 PM PST
Jason Owens
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel played for and won three Super Bowls with Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
He was asked Monday night about Belichick’s infamous Hall of Fame snub.
“I’m confident that Bill will get in. I don’t know the process. I know that everybody’s talking about the process. However the vote needs to go, I know that Bill is a Hall of Fame coach whether he’s gonna be in the Hall of Fame this year, next year or the year after that. He’s a Hall of Fame coach.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:46 PM PST
Jason Owens
Patriots recever Mack Hollins isn’t a fan of wearing shoes. Or a shirt — even in the cold New England weather.
He wasn’t shirless for Monday’s media session. But he left his shoes behind.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:40 PM PST
Jason Owens
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels echoed Drake Maye’s confidence in playing through the right shoulder injury that surfaced on last week’s injury report.
Asked if he had any concerns about Maye being limited, McDaniels told reporters: “Nope.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM PST
Jason Owens
Drake Maye says he’s sticking to his routine this week. No need to mess with what works ahead of the biggest game of his career.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:23 PM PST
Jason Owens
Drake Maye showed up as questionable on Friday’s practice report with illness and right shoulder designations, cause for concern in New England.
He says he’s just fine. He just told reporters that he threw in practice Monday as much as he normally would and that it “felt great.”
“Feeling good,” Maye said. “I’ll be just fine.”
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:18 PM PST
Jason Owens
Mike Vrabel is also live, but not drawing as much attention as Drake Maye.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM PST
Jason Owens
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 5:01 PM PST
Jason Owens
Drake Maye’s not there yet, but media are.
The Patriots quarterback and his “questionable” tag (illness/shoulder) from Friday’s practice report will be the center of attention from Monday’s early Patriots session with media.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:46 PM PST
Ryan Young
There has been talk about increased activity from ICE during the Super Bowl and Bad Bunny’s halftime show in the lead up to the big game. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said ICE agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl after Bad Bunny, who is an American, was announced as the performer, too.
Roger Goodell, though, said he sees “no change” in security preparations for the game and stands by Bad Bunny.
“This platform is used to unite people.”