The calendar year has nearly run its course, and 2025 has hit its marks with memorable Pennsylvania sports stories.<\/p>\n
From NFL championships, record-setting moments, seismic coaching changes, legendary acquisitions and enhanced dynasties, it\u2019s a year worthy of looking back upon.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s an old saying in journalism: \u2018Don\u2019t bury the lead.\u2019 <\/p>\n
In that vein, we\u2019re going No. 1 through 10 as we look back on the top stories in Pa. sports from the past year:<\/p>\n
![\"Jalen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/E5UNY3DUQVBO5OJ6SQ3GBWQODI.jpg\")
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, left, holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy next to head coach Nick Sirianni after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo\/Matt Slocum)AP1. Eagles win the Super Bowl<\/p>\n
The Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> were a force that could not be reckoned with in a dominant run to winning Super Bowl LIX. With the No. 1-ranked total defense and a supercharged offense with the acquisition of running back Saquon Barkley, the Lehigh Valley native and former Penn State star, the Eagles backed up a 14-3 regular season with a record-setting playoff rush, setting the NFL record for postseason points scored (145).<\/p>\n After postseason wins over Green Bay (22-10) and the LA Rams (28-22), the Eagles beat NFC East rival Washington in the NFC Championship, 55-23, to set up a rematch of Super Bowl LVII with the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs.<\/p>\n Two years after their 38\u201335 defeat to Kansas City, the Eagles routed Kansas City 40\u201322. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP<\/a> after scoring three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) and setting the Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 72. <\/p>\n Barkley solidified his place as Pa. royalty<\/a> when he eclipsed Broncos great Terrell Davis\u2019 record for most rushing yards in a season including playoffs (finishing with a total of 2,504 yards). Philadelphia\u2019s defense amassed six sacks of three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. It was the Birds\u2019 first Super Bowl win since 2018.<\/p>\n The Penn State football team had national championship visions entering the 2025 season following a 13-3 season and run to the College Football Playoff semifinals back in January.<\/p>\n The Nittany Lions opened the year ranked No. 2 in the country. The team began the year 3-0 with underwhelming victories over inferior opposition (Nevada, FIU, Villanova), leading into a season-defining visit from No. 6 Oregon for a White Out game on Sept. 27. A 30-24 double overtime loss to the Ducks<\/a> where QB Drew Allar was intercepted on the final play was the first chink in the armor. <\/p>\n The chink turned into a massive gash in the following two weeks with a shocking loss against a winless UCLA team despite being 25.5-point favorites and a home loss to Northwestern again as a three-TD favorite, only worsened by the season-ending ankle injury of Allar. It was a grim Beaver Stadium scene postgame with fans\u2019 ire directed squarely toward Franklin.<\/p>\n Three days later, Franklin was fired as Penn State head coach amid his 12th season<\/a>. The Pa. native and East Stroudsburg alum went 104-45 in the PSU tenure, earning five year-end top 10 rankings but had built a reputation as a coach who couldn\u2019t win the big game (4-21 vs. top 10 teams).<\/p>\n Longtime assistant Terry Smith <\/a>assumed interim head coaching duties and navigated another three straight losses \u2013 the program\u2019s first six-game losing streak in 21 years \u2013 before the team rallied and closed the year with three consecutive victories to earn bowl eligibility. The team closed on a high note, winning the Pinstripe Bowl over Clemson on Dec. 27. <\/a><\/p>\n Franklin landed on his feet, securing the head coaching job at Virginia Tech on Nov. 21.<\/a><\/p>\n The Pittsburgh Steelers finished 10-7 and reached the NFL playoffs in 2024, yet the team cut ties with its top 2 quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, in the offseason.<\/p>\n That came after the Steelers expressed interest in 41-year-old, four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers<\/a> back in March.<\/p>\n Rodgers was released by the New York Jets on March 21 after two poor seasons (6-12 overall record). Despite vocally pondering retirement, Rodgers worked out with new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf on March 31, seemingly signaling the 10-time Pro Bowler joining the Black and Gold<\/a>. Yet OTAs began May 27 and Rodgers was still not a Steeler. <\/p>\n Finally, on June 5, more than 80 days since the start of free agency and 70 days after he first visited the Steelers, Rodgers signed a one-year contract to play for Mike Tomlin and company.<\/a><\/p>\n Rodgers hasn\u2019t played MVP level with his best years behind him, but has led the Steelers to the AFC North championship during a 9-6 campaign, all while playing through a left wrist fracture suffered in Week 11.<\/p>\n Penn State wrestling\u2019s excellence is indisputable. The Nittany Lions outdid themselves in the 2024-25 season by winning their fourth straight NCAA championship under head coach Cael Sanderson and 12th in the past 15 seasons.<\/p>\n Carter Starocci became the first five-time NCAA champion<\/a> and Mitchell Mesenbrink also won a national title while freshman Josh Barr finished runner-up. Penn State recorded 177.0 team points, breaking its own record, and secured 10 All-Americans for the first time in school history<\/a>, becoming only the second team in NCAA history to achieve the feat (Minnesota 2001).<\/p>\n The Nittany Lions\u2019 greatness continues: they recently broke Oklahoma State\u2019s record of consecutive dual wins and are winners of 77 straight, dating back to Feb. 2020.<\/p>\n When Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12 following a stunning three-game losing streak, the Nittany Lions\u2019 job was the top available vacancy. In the following two weeks, Florida fired Billy Napier and Brian Kelly was dismissed by LSU as other prime jobs opened.<\/p>\n The top candidates of Penn State\u2019s initial search \u2013 Nebraska\u2019s Matt Rhule, Missouri\u2019s Eli Drinkwitz, Texas A&M\u2019s Mike Elko among them \u2013 didn\u2019t yield a new coach, it earned those targets contract extensions.<\/p>\n All the while, the candidacy of interim head coach Terry Smith, the loyal associate head coach and former player, gained steam internally and with the fanbase.<\/a><\/p>\n The search heated up the final week of November when Penn State administration and BYU coach Kalani Sitake had mutual interest.<\/a> But a full-court press from everyone in and around the BYU program \u2013 cookie magnates even \u2013 compelled the lifelong Cougar to remain in Provo. <\/p>\n National Signing Day came and went on Dec. 3 \u2013 Penn State signed just two players<\/a> \u2013 without a coach in place.<\/p>\n Finally, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft turned his attention to Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. <\/p>\n In a long, drawn out process, it was a speedy courtship with the 46-year-old Campbell<\/a>. Reports surfaced of mutual interest on Dec. 4, and by the evening on Friday, Dec. 5, Campbell was announced as the 17th Penn State head coach. The Massillon, Ohio native signed a eight-year, $70.5 million deal.<\/a><\/p>\n The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year long known as an overachiever in his 10 years at Iowa State appeared to be a natural fit in his introductory press conference on Dec. 8.<\/p>\n After 54 days, Penn State finally found its coach.<\/p>\n The 2025 season was a dose of deja vu for the Philadelphia Phillies. <\/p>\n The Phillies won a second straight NL East title behind a 96-66 record \u2013 second-best in MLB \u2013 behind the excellence of NL batting champion Trea Turner (.304 batting average), MVP-caliber slugger Kyle Schwarber (56 HRs, MLB-best 132 RBI) and Cy Young runner-up Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP).<\/p>\n Schwarber, one of only two Phillies (Zack Wheeler) selected to the All-Star Game, earned MVP honors by hitting three home runs in the tie-breaking home run derby, becoming the second Phillie ever to win ASG MVP (Johnny Callison, 1964). <\/p>\n But the Phillies ran into a buzzsaw in the postseason, losing the National League Division Series in four games to the eventual back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes backed up his NL Rookie of the Year debut in 2024 but becoming certified appointment viewing in 2025.<\/p>\n Skenes finished the season with a 1.97 ERA, the first sub-2.00 ERA for a starting pitcher since Justin Verlander in 2022. He became the fourth player in the live ball era (since 1920) to record an ERA that low in his age-23 season or younger, joining Dwight Gooden (1985), Vida Blue (1971), and Dean Chance (1964). He also set a new franchise record for most strikeouts for a right-handed pitcher with 216.<\/p>\n Skenes was unanimously chosen NL Cy Young, earning all 30 first-place votes. <\/p>\n Despite Skenes\u2019 brilliance, he managed only a 10-10 record for NL Central last-place Pittsburgh (71-91).<\/p>\n Penn State\u2019s ascent to national prominence took a major step when the Nittany Lions advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time.<\/p>\n No.12 ranked Penn State defeated No. 7 UConn, 3-2, on sophomore Matthew DiMarsico\u2019s overtime game-winner in the Allentown Regional final on March 30<\/a>. <\/p>\n It was an impressive turnaround after starting the year 0-9 in conference play as head coach Guy Gadowsky\u2019s team finished 22-14-4 and finished the year ranked No. 5.<\/p>\n The upward trend has continued with the additions of NHL first-round draft pick Jackson Smith and projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Gavin McKenna<\/a>. The Nittany Lions closed 2025 with a 11-5 record and No. 9 NCAA ranking.<\/p>\n 9. Micah Parsons traded to Packers<\/p>\n No. 9 on the list won\u2019t immediately strike you as a Pa. sports story. But with Micah Parsons\u2019<\/a> deep Pennsylvania ties as a Harrisburg native and former Penn State player, the biggest trade in recent NFL history deserves a spot on the top 10.<\/p>\n Parsons was drafted 12th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft. He more than lived up to billing, becoming a two-time All-Pro and three-time Defensive Player of the Year finalist in his four NFL seasons. He stood in rare company as one of only three defenders (Aaron Donald, Patrick Peterson) to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first four years.<\/p>\n Yet a prolonged contract dispute with the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones turned sour and Parsons requested a trade. A month later amid a preseason holdout, Parsons\u2019 wish was granted.<\/p>\n![\"Penn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7UBLFYC2TJFF3JFDX6C3BHFXI4.jpg\")
Penn State head coach James Franklin stands at midfield in disbelief after his team lost to Northwestern, 22-21 on Oct. 11, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.2. Penn State football collapse leads to firing of James Franklin<\/p>\n![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4OFBSM55OJAAPIICTLM6JJAZS4.jpg\")
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. (AP Photo\/Peter Joneleit)AP3. Aaron Rodgers joins the Steelers<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JY5YA4RRDRA4VGR2MHBMXHYD5Q.jpg\")
Carter Starocci of Penn State beats Parker Keckeisen of Nothern Iowa in the 184 pound final at the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 22, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com4. Penn State wrestling dynasty <\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6CV5SSYURJE7PFGJG5AAMSCJKY.jpg\")
New Penn State head football coach Matt Campbell poses for photos after his introductory press conference at Beaver Stadium. Dec. 8, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com5. Penn State football coaching search finally lands on Matt Campbell<\/p>\n![\"95th](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4RVRMVULSZDAXMMTVCH363JPZY.jpg\")
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 15: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting three home runs in three swings to take the lead in the Inaugural All-Star Game Swingoff Presented by Geico during the 95th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Truist Park on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey\/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty Images6. Phillies return to playoffs, flame out again<\/p>\n![\"Tigers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/LXEBMWYOIVAW3GRTXRJ2BTCL6U.JPG\")
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches during game two of a doubleheader between the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)7. Paul Skenes wins NL Cy Young<\/p>\n![\"Penn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/62XHWK26YBDE3BOMQGUUBQAYEA.png\")
Penn State’s ice hockey team stands a win away from the Frozen Four of the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship.Penn State athletics8. Penn State men\u2019s ice hockey reaches Frozen Four<\/p>\n
![\"Player](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BAGK4WVNHNHSNIBZVCSDZIGJRQ.jpg\")
2004 Season: Player Bernie Parent of the Philadelphia Flyers And Player Bernie Parent. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios\/Getty Images)Getty Images10. Honorable mention<\/p>\n