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Home / frontsports / The Wolf Sports Newsletter: February 13, 2024

The Wolf Sports Newsletter: February 13, 2024

By Wolf Sports Staff

February 13, 2024


⏰ 212 days until the 2024 NFL season.

 

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Chiefs top Niners in Super Bowl LVIII

 

For the third time in five seasons (and the second time over San Francisco), the Chiefs are Super Bowl champions after beating the 49ers in a 25-22 overtime thriller. The Niners came out fired up on both sides of the ball and had a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, but they could not put away Andy Reid’s Chiefs—with Mecole Hardman Jr. eventually scoring the game-winning touchdown from Patrick Mahomes in overtime. With 123.4 million viewers, it was the most watched U.S. telecast since the 1969 moon landing.

 

 

The Niners allowed a lengthy field goal drive to force overtime, and they opted to take the ball first after winning the OT coin toss. After ultimately settling for a field goal, Mahomes and the Chiefs had four downs to move the ball into position for a game-extending field goal or game-winning touchdown. Overall, it’s a very tough blow for a Niners team that has been one of the league’s best for a handful of years yet has been unable to finish with a world title.

 

‍♂️ An unfortunate moment that should be mentioned here, as it was somewhat glossed over amidst the victory, but it was not a good look at all for All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce to yell and get somewhat physical with his all-time great head coach.

 

 

2023 NFL awards

 

At last week’s NFL honors, awards for the regular season were handed out—including a couple of surprises in Myles Garrett winning Defensive Player of the Year and Joe Flacco narrowly beating Damar Hamlin for Comeback Player of the Year. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson won his second MVP (2019), and oddly received 49 of 50 first-place votes in what one would think should have been more of a close, wide-open race this year.

 

 

  • MVP: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
  • OPOY: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey
  • DPOY: Browns DE Myles Garrett
  • OROY: Texans QB C.J. Stroud
  • DROY: Texans DE Will Anderson Jr.
  • CPOY: Browns QB Joe Flacco
  • COY: Browns HC Kevin Stefanski

 

2024 Hall of Fame class revealed

 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024 was also unveiled last week, with former Panthers and Bears legend Julius Peppers (159.5 career sacks, fifth all-time) making it on the first ballot.

 

 

NFL assistant coach moves

 

There was a lot of movement in the assistant coaching ranks (and big related college football movement we’ll get to later) in the past week, with the headline being the Cowboys hiring former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer as their new defensive coordinator after Rex Ryan pushed hard for the job.

 

 

Other notable hirings include:

 

  • The Chargers officially hired Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator and Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan DC Jesse Minter as their defensive coordinator.
  • Seattle got former Washington Huskies offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to fill the role.
  • Former stud 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman was hired by former head coach Jim Harbaugh as the Chargers linebackers coach, and former Patriot great Dont’a Hightower is coaching New England’s linebackers.
  • The Pats added former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo to the offensive staff.
  • Former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry landed with the Dolphins defensive staff.

 

More NFL news

 

Colts owner Jim Irsay says he’s “on the mend” after a recent health scare.

 

 

The Steelers and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky have mutually agreed to part ways after two seasons.

 

The NFL will hold its first-ever game in Spain in 2025.

 

 

Amazon Prime Video will have an exclusive NFL playoff game next season after Peacock did for the 2023 season.

 

The front office for the Patriots appears to be taking shape, with multiple reports saying that Eliot Wolf is leading the way. New England hired Alonzo Highsmith to an executive role. Additionally, the Pats are expected to trade quarterback Mac Jones this offseason.

 

Other Sports Updates

 

The college football craziness continues, with Chip Kelly leaving the head coach role at UCLA to take the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach position with Ohio State.

 

 

The move for Kelly came after Bill O’Brien’s short stay with the Buckeyes ended when he took the head coaching gig at Boston College, which was open after Jeff Hafley left to be the Packers’ new defensive coordinator.

 

 

UCLA hired former running back and running backs coach under Kelly (and NFL running back) DeShaun Foster, who had recently taken the running backs coach position with the Raiders.

 

 

And finally, Michigan hired longtime NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to the same position.

 

ESPN, FOX, and Warner Bros. Discovery are launching a joint sports streaming service this fall, with each company owning one third.

 

Nick Saban is joining College GameDay and will be a contributor to ESPN.

 

⚾️ The Dodgers re-signed Clayton Kershaw, and the Astros extended star second baseman Jose Altuve.

 

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