Samwise NFL Newsletter
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Aaron Rodgers Announces 2026 Will Be His Final NFL Season
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirmed Wednesday that the 2026 NFL season will be the last of his storied 22-year career. Speaking to reporters at OTAs, the four-time MVP said simply, “Yes. This is it,” when asked whether he would retire after the season. Rodgers, 42, signed a one-year contract worth up to $25 million with Pittsburgh this offseason, reuniting with head coach Mike McCarthy under whom he won Super Bowl XLV in Green Bay. Rodgers said working again with McCarthy—his mentor for 13 seasons with the Packers—was the key factor in his decision to return for a final campaign.
Sources: ESPN
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Ordered to Serve 30 Days in Jail After Probation Violation
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was booked into Dallas County jail Tuesday after testing positive for marijuana in violation of his probation terms stemming from a 2024 highway crash that left multiple people injured. The court-ordered 30-day sentence will keep Rice behind bars until June 16, causing him to miss the Chiefs’ OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Rice also underwent surgery last week to remove loose bodies from his right knee, with recovery expected to take two months. Despite the setbacks, Rice is anticipated to be available for training camp, which opens in late July.
Sources: CBS Sports
Proposal to Ban the Tush Push Fails at NFL Spring League Meeting
NFL owners voted Wednesday at the Spring League Meeting in Orlando to keep the tush push alive, rejecting the Green Bay Packers’ proposal to eliminate the play by two votes. The resolution, which would have banned pushing or pulling a runner in any direction, fell short of the required 24-vote threshold with 10 teams opposing the ban. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and former Philadelphia center Jason Kelce both addressed ownership in defense of the play, which the Eagles have made famous. The outcome ensures the short-yardage push formation will remain a legal offensive strategy throughout the 2026 NFL season.
Sources: NFL.com
NFL Owners Approve Expansion to 10 International Games Beginning in 2027
NFL owners voted at the Spring League Meeting in Orlando to expand the league’s international schedule to as many as 10 games per season starting in 2027, up from the current eight. In a notable shift in policy, owners also voted to strip franchises of the ability to protect home games from international assignment, meaning any team could have a home game relocated abroad. The 2026 season already features a record nine international games across six countries, including Australia, Brazil, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain. The expansion reflects the league’s ongoing drive to build global audiences.
Sources: ESPN
Bills WR Keon Coleman Calls 2026 Season ‘Make or Break’ for His Career
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman arrived at Tuesday’s OTAs with a blunt self-assessment: the 2026 season is make or break for his career with the franchise. The 2024 second-round pick has combined for 960 receiving yards and eight touchdowns across two seasons—well below expectations—and was benched for four games last year, a stretch he called “unacceptable.” New head coach Joe Brady has spoken highly of Coleman’s work ethic and reached out to him personally before his introductory press conference. GM Brandon Beane previously shut down trade inquiries, publicly declaring Coleman’s “best year is yet to come.”
Sources: ESPN
Flag Football Receives NCAA Championship Sport Recommendation Ahead of 2028 Olympics
Flag football moved significantly closer to NCAA championship status Tuesday when the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity, and Impact formally recommended adding the sport across all three divisions, with a first championship projected for spring 2028. More than 100 schools have plans to compete at the varsity level, exceeding the 40-school threshold required for the recommendation. Each of the three divisions—I, II, and III—must sponsor separate legislation, with formal votes expected at the 2026 NCAA Convention and official approval anticipated in 2027. The timing aligns with flag football’s scheduled debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.
Sources: ESPN
Mahomes Posts Throwing Workout Video; Chiefs GM Says QB Is ‘Way Ahead of Schedule’
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted a video Wednesday of himself throwing indoors, offering an encouraging glimpse of his recovery from the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered December 14. General manager Brett Veach told SiriusXM NFL Radio that Mahomes is “way ahead of schedule” in his rehabilitation and remains on track for a Week 1 return if no setbacks occur. Head coach Andy Reid described the rehab as going well while cautioning that timelines in such recoveries are never certain. Mahomes is not expected to participate in OTAs but is targeted to be at full speed when training camp opens in late July.
Sources: NFL.com
Nashville Lands Super Bowl LXIV in 2030; Minneapolis Awarded 2028 NFL Draft
NFL owners at the Spring League Meeting in Orlando voted unanimously to award Super Bowl LXIV in 2030 to Nashville, which will host the championship game for the first time at the Titans’ new Nissan Stadium, expected to open in 2027. Owners also selected Minneapolis to host the 2028 NFL Draft, the first time that city will hold the event. Nashville previously hosted the 2019 NFL Draft to a crowd of approximately 600,000 fans, a track record that bolstered the city’s Super Bowl bid. The votes were among several significant resolutions passed at the annual spring ownership meeting this week.
Sources: NFL.com
Falcons Coach to Split First-Team QB Reps Between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa at OTAs
Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday he will be “very intentional” about splitting first-team practice reps between Michael Penix Jr. and newly signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during OTAs. Atlanta signed Tagovailoa after the Dolphins released him this offseason to create an open competition for the starting job. Penix—the 2024 first-round pick—is participating in individual drills and 7-on-7s but is being held out of 11-on-11s while managing an undisclosed injury, with his stated goal being a Week 1 start. GM Ian Cunningham has been direct: “There are no starters right now. Everybody is coming in to compete.”
Sources: NFL.com
Seahawks Ownership Sale Buzz Grows at NFL Spring League Meeting
Speculation surrounding a potential Seattle Seahawks ownership sale intensified at the NFL Spring League Meeting in Orlando this week, according to CBS Sports. The Seahawks, who won Super Bowl LX in February, are among the topics circulating at the owners meetings alongside decisions on international game expansion, future Super Bowl and Draft host cities, and rules proposals. While no formal sale process has been announced, multiple ownership discussions are reportedly in early stages. NFL franchise valuations have reached record levels league-wide, meaning any confirmed Seahawks transaction could rank among the largest ownership sales in professional sports history.
Sources: CBS Sports
What's Trending in the NFL
2026 NFL Schedule Released: Top Matchups Revealed — The full 272-game 2026 NFL schedule was released May 14, revealing the season opener, Thanksgiving tripleheader, a record nine international games, and Christmas Day showdowns across six countries.
Aaron Rodgers at OTAs: Doing ‘Everything’ Asked — Despite his retirement announcement, Rodgers showed up to Steelers OTAs and told reporters he is participating fully in all drills the team asks, working under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
Joe Burrow Confident Bengals Can Compete in 2026 — Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow arrived at voluntary OTAs Wednesday projecting optimism, expressing confidence in the team’s overhauled roster and its ability to challenge for the AFC North title.
2025 Final Standings — AFC
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 14–3–0
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5–0
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10–0
4. New York Jets — 3–14–0
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 9–7–0
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–8–0
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–10–0
4. Cleveland Browns — 4–12–0
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4–0
2. Houston Texans — 12–5–0
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9–0
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14–0
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3–0
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6–0
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11–0
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14–0
2025 Final Standings — NFC
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 12–5–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–0
3. Washington Commanders — 4–13–0
4. New York Giants — 3–14–0
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–5–0
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–7–0
3. Minnesota Vikings — 8–8–0
4. Detroit Lions — 8–8–0
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–8–0
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 7–9–0
3. Atlanta Falcons — 7–9–0
4. New Orleans Saints — 6–10–0
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 13–3–0 🏆
2. San Francisco 49ers — 12–4–0
3. Los Angeles Rams — 8–9–0
4. Arizona Cardinals — 5–12–0
🏆 = Super Bowl LX Champion · 2026 season begins September
Curated by JD · samwise.agency