The Miami Dolphins have extended the contract of head coach Mike McDaniel through the 2028 season, ESPN reported Friday.

It's a three-year extension for McDaniel, who has two seasons remaining on the four-year contract he signed after being named Miami's head coach in February 2022.

McDaniel has gone 20-14 in two seasons with the Dolphins while leading the team to the playoffs both years, the franchise's first back-to-back postseason appearances since 2000-01. That resurgence has been led by an offence that's been among the NFL's best under the 41-year-old, who came to Miami after serving as the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator for Kyle Shanahan in 2021. 

Miami was especially potent on that side the ball last season, as it led the NFL in total yards and finished second overall in scoring at 29.2 points per game while compiling an 11-6 record to tie for first place in the AFC East.

McDaniel's arrival has also coincided with Tua Tagovailoa's emergence into a top-tier quarterback after the 2020 No. 5 overall pick struggled his first two seasons under the previous coaching regime.

Tagovailoa led the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023 and set a Dolphins single-season record for completion percentage (69.3) while throwing for 29 touchdowns. 

McDaniel now joins his quarterback as members of the organisation the Dolphins have locked up for the forseeable future. Tagavoiloa agreed to a four-year, $212 million extension through 2028 last month. 

Travis Kelce's love of football means his off-field fame will not impact his desire to help the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl three-peat, says team-mate Mike Pennel.

Kelce has become recognised as one of the NFL's best tight ends through 11 seasons with the Chiefs, being named in the first All-Pro team on four occasions and becoming a nine-time Pro Bowler.

His partnership with quarterback Patrick Mahomes has helped the Chiefs win three Super Bowls, including back-to-back crowns to cap the 2022 and 2023 seasons. 

However, it is Kelce's relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift that has taken his off-field image to a new level, making him one of the world's most recognisable sportspeople.

Alongside his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, he also hosts the popular 'New Heights' podcast and has made several television appearances.

Chiefs tackle Pennel says there is no jealousy towards Kelce in the Chiefs' locker room, however.

He told Stats Perform: "We all love it, man. It's a brotherhood, so we're always excited when we see anyone on TV or succeeding off the field. 

"Trav definitely was that guy that had that trajectory, you know what I mean? So, to say that we're surprised by it... we're not really. I know that everybody's really happy for him and all the opportunities that he's getting."

The Chiefs are looking to make history in the 2024 season, with a chance to become the first team in the NFL to win three straight Super Bowls.

Of the eight previous teams to win back-to-back championships, none have even reached the Super Bowl in the following season. Pennel, however, believes Kelce's drive could help the Chiefs go where no team has gone before.

"I think it's testament to [general manager Brett] Veach. He puts people in the locker room that love the game of football," he said. 

"The money's great and everything like that, but I know genuinely that everyone in our locker room loves football. 

"I think that's what it's testament to, he's got all the accolades, he's done everything with all the money and everything, but he generally loves the game of football and loves being competitive and wants to help the Chiefs organisation excel.

"To take that next advantage with getting a three-peat and more Super Bowls, as many as they can during this window."

Brandon Aiyuk’s holdout from the San Francisco 49ers has finally come to an end.

The star receiver agreed to a four-year contract extension with the reigning NFC champions worth up to $120million, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.

The deal includes $76million in guarantees, according to NFL Network.

Aiyuk’s $30million average annual salary puts him among the five highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. He trails only Nick Bosa’s $34milion AAV on San Francisco’s roster.

The contract agreement comes on the heels of increased pressure from the 49ers on Wednesday, when coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch announced publicly that Aiyuk’s extended absence from practice was not excused.

The deal is the same one that has been on the table since Aug. 10, according to ESPN.

The 49ers have maintained publicly that they always wanted to extend Aiyuk, but the blossoming star requested a trade on July 23, just before the start of training camp, placing his future in the Bay Area in doubt.

With Aiyuk signed through 2028, the 49ers can turn their focus to returning to the Super Bowl after February’s heartbreaking overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Aiyuk has led the 49ers in receiving each of the last two seasons. In 2023, Aiyuk tallied 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.

San Francisco drafted Aiyuk 25th overall out of Arizona State in 2020. In four NFL seasons, he has 269 receptions for 3,931 yards and 27 total touchdowns.

Mike Pennel urged the Kansas City Chiefs, and fans of the NFL in general, not to take Patrick Mahomes' greatness for granted.

Mahomes has led the Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances since becoming the starting quarterback in 2018 and is one of just five in his position to win three or more Super Bowls as a starter.

The Chiefs have won the Lombardi Trophy in each of the past two seasons, with Kansas City targetting an unprecedented three-peat in 2024.

And Kansas City defensive tackle Pennel says Mahomes' importance to the Chiefs and the NFL as a while.

Pennel told Stats Perform: "He's very vital to our franchise. I think his play on the field speaks volumes for what type of player he is and how he prepares and how he works hard off the field to have that sustained success in every position.

"He's one of the greatest. He's going to be one of the greatest, and he's preparing himself to be that. He's not sulking in his own success or anything like that. He's still there every day, still does all the little things, even though he has all these accolades, he's still working every single day."

The 33-year-old believes Mahomes possesses many of the qualities that the greats of the sport had before him, and is a true inspiration for the younger players coming through.

He said: "When you have a guy like that on your team that takes no shortcuts, that makes it easy to be a role model for the younger guys, it's just, you're very fortunate. He's a rare guy. He's a lot of the likes of that Tom Brady, Joe Montana type of guy. So, it's a great advantage to have.

"You can't take his greatness for granted. I know as a defense, we're under 13 or less, we want to be a top-rated defense, a top 10 run, top 10 pass, just top 10 overall, so we can complement our team very well."

When asked about what sets Mahomes apart from the rest, Pennel stated his competitive edge and ability to perform on the biggest of stages, which has been integral to the Chiefs winning three of the last five Super Bowls.

He said: "It's his arm talent and he's very decisive. He's very confident in who he is and he goes about that approach every day, he's very, very competitive. I know he hates seeing the punt team out there.

"He feels like he can score on every drive and he wants to do that. So it's just, you know, that competitive edge in him, man, it's just something that's real different. That's gonna take him where he wants to be in this league. And that's why he's in those conversations now being one of the greatest."

When asked about opposing teams attempting to get under Mahomes' skin, Pennel added: "It's just motivation for him, I can't speak too much on why they would do that or why someone would do that or poke the bear, but it's going to make for a great game.

"I think it makes the game fun again, too.I miss the trash talking and going back and forth to how it used to be. It makes it a little fun, makes it a little different, makes the rivalry a little bit more intense. But he'll be excited to prove what he needs to prove on those games."

The Kansas City Chiefs are primed and ready to go as they aim to secure a three-peat, so says defensive tackle Mike Pennel.

Kansas City, inspired by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have won the last two editions of the Super Bowl.

Yet no team in NFL history has ever gone on to win the championship three times in a row.

Indeed, none of the eight teams that have won back-to-back Lombardi trophies has then gone on to reach the Super Bowl the following year. 

But Pennel is counting nothing out.

He told Stats Perform: "I think the intent is still the same.

"We've got a lot of veteran competitors.  the three-peat is spoken about, but that's something that's within our grasp if we stay focused and they're drilling that in us every day.

"So everybody's taking a very business-like approach to it. Nobody's lives are gonna be handed to them. So everybody's ready to go. You know, they're just chopping at the bit to get to [the start of the season]."

And coach Andy Reid is playing a huge role in that extra level of motivation.

"Coach Reid has always had that philosophy," Pennel added.

"His main thing is letting our personality show who we are, and getting the most optimal player out there. It's just letting us be who we are.

"So I have to fall back on the coaching there because he literally preaches that any time we go on the field, you know, let your personality show out there, have fun. And he genuinely means that.

"I don't have the exact recipe to success, but I know we play good coaches. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about Coach Reid.

"He loves his past players, and I think he really just coaches us like his own sons and treats us as that in there, and treats us with the same respect as a man as well.

"So, you know, it's easy to respect the guy and work for the guy and know that he has the philosophy to put you in the best position possible to succeed."

Reid, 66, is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, who he has coached since 2013.

And Pennel does not see Reid calling it a day anytime soon.

Pennel added: "He's been consistent. He's been the same since I've met him, and I know as competitive he is as well, it's just, you know, when he decides it's his time.

"I know that there's been no talks of that or discussions of that in the near future, but whenever he decides to, I think that's what it's going to be about.

"Then he'll always have the opportunity to do it."

The Chiefs open their 2024 season against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.

Former rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit has not been selected for the Kansas City Chiefs' 53-man squad for the 2024 season.

Rees-Zammit, who quit rugby in January to pursue a career in the NFL, has been training with the Chiefs throughout the offseason.

The former Wales wing joined the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program before signing a three-year deal with the back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions.

He featured in all three preseason games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears as he competed for a spot on the regular season team. 

NFL teams had until Tuesday afternoon to cut their squads down to 53 players for the season, which kicks off on September 5 when the Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens.

However, Rees-Zammit will not be on the sidelines after failing to make the cut under head coach Andy Reid, but his dream of playing in the NFL this season is not over.

He will now be placed on waivers, meaning another franchise could sign him, but he is expected to continue training with the Chiefs as part of their practice squad.

Rees-Zammit was not at practice with the Chiefs on Tuesday as he battled a back injury and his number nine jersey was worn by new signing JuJu Smith-Schuster earlier this week. 

The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed a contract with JuJu Smith-Schuster to return to the team for the 2024 season.

Smith-Schuster spent the 2022 season with the Chiefs and was the leading wide receiver in their Super Bowl-winning team, catching 78 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns.

He spent 2023 with the New England Patriots after joining from the Chiefs but was released from his three-year contract earlier this month after struggling to replicate that form. He finished the season having caught 29 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown.

Prior to his first spell in Kansas City, Smith-Schuster spent five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him in the second round of the 2017 draft.

At wide receiver, the Chiefs also added Marquise Brown and drafted Xavier Worthy, though the former dislocated his shoulder in their first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The Chiefs will kick-off the new NFL season on September 5 against the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead. 

Jerod Mayo is yet to name the New England Patriots' starting quarterback for the season but says Drake Maye has closed the gap to Jacoby Brissett.

Rookie Maye has impressed in preseason so far, racking up 66 snaps and going 21-of-34 for 192 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He also added seven rushes for 32 yards and one touchdown.

Meanwhile, Brissett, who has struggled with a shoulder injury, started all three games, playing 27 snaps and finishing 5-of-14 for 36 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Despite losing two of their three games, including a defeat to the Washington Commanders in their final outing on Sunday, Mayo has been pleased with the form shown by his quarterbacks, especially Maye.

"I would say at this current point, Drake has outplayed Jacoby," Mayo said on Monday in his weekly appearance on WEEI's 'The Greg Hill Show'.

"Now in saying that, we have to take in the full body of work, going all the way back to the spring and beginning of training camp. And we'll see where we end up.

"It's Drake becoming more comfortable with the scheme and more comfortable with the players around him. I don't know how the story ends with Drake's rookie season, but all possibilities are open."

Mayo is set to tell the Patriots who will be playing as the quarterback on Tuesday in their season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

The coach has kept a close eye on his two options throughout the offseason, explaining how everything he has seen over the last few months has played a part in his decision.

"It starts in practice and also in the game, where Drake has played better," Mayo told reporters later on Monday.

"In saying that, everyone wants to know who the starter is going to be. There are multiple factors that have to go into this decision.

"One is the total body of work, whether we're talking about the spring or the entirety of training camp. And I would also say, oftentimes we forget about the overall experience that a guy like Jacoby has, which will also be weighted in the decision we have to make in the near future.

"I'm happy with the way those guys are battling it out. Hopefully, over the next couple days, we can name a starter and get the season rolling."

CeeDee Lamb will begin the 2024 NFL season with a new contract.

The Dallas Cowboys signed the superstar to a four-year, $136million contract extension on Monday, according to multiple sources.

As part of the deal, he receives a $38million signing bonus - the largest ever for a wide receiver - and $100million in guaranteed money.

With an average annual value of $34million, he becomes the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, totalling just less than the $35million Justin Jefferson received from the Minnesota Vikings in early June.

Heading into the final year of his rookie contract after being selected 17th overall in the 2020 NFL draft, Lamb had been holding out of training camp while seeking a new contract.

The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the league's top receivers, leading the NFL with a Cowboys franchise-record 135 receptions in 2023. His 1,749 receiving yards were also the most in a single season in team history and were 50 fewer than the Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill for the most in the NFL last year, while his 12 touchdown catches ranked third.

He was named an All-Pro for the first time this past season and finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting.

In 66 career games in four seasons, the three-time Pro Bowler has 395 receptions, 5,145 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. Only Jefferson (5,899), Michael Thomas (5,512) and Randy Moss (5,396) have more receiving yards through their first four pro seasons.

Dallas finished 12-5 last season to capture the NFC East crown, but again failed to advance to the conference championship, suffering a 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round of the play-offs.

The Cowboys, who haven't reached the NFC title game since winning the Super Bowl in the 1995 season, open this season on the road against the Cleveland Browns on September 8.

The Atlanta Falcons are making A.J. Terrell the second highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, handing him a four-year contract extension worth $81million.

Terrell will receive $65.8m in guaranteed money, according to a report from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.

The Green Bay Packers' Jaire Alexander, who signed a four-year, $84m extension in 2022, is the only cornerback to earn more than Terrell will make on his new deal.

Terrell was selected 16th overall by Atlanta in the 2020 NFL draft and has only missed seven games through his first four seasons with the team.

He was set to play on his fifth-year rookie option, worth $12.3m, in 2024, but the team have moved to tie him down for the long-term with his bumper new deal.

Terrell was voted into the second All-Pro team in 2021 and has compiled 247 tackles, 43 passes defensed, four interceptions and one sack for the Falcons to date.

He was an ever-present as they went 7-10 for a third straight season under Arthur Smith in 2023, prompting them to fire the head coach and bring in Raheem Morris as his replacement.

Atlanta have been busy revitalising their offense during the offseason, completing a huge free agency move for former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins before drafting Michael Pinix Jr. eighth overall as his long-term successor.

Tying Terrell down was seen as a key requirement on the defensive side of the ledger, and news of his extension comes as a major boost ahead of their season opener versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 8. 

Lamar Jackson is not using outside criticism as motivation as he looks to go one step further in 2024 and lead the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl.

Jackson was named NFL MVP for the second time in the 2023 season, having previously claimed the award in 2019.

He recorded career-high figures for passes attempted (457), completed (307) and passing yards (3,678), also throwing for 24 touchdowns and totalling 821 rushing yards.

However, he was unable to lead Baltimore to Super Bowl LVIII as John Harbaugh's team were beaten by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Jackson was criticised for his performance in that contest and has a 2-4 postseason record, but he is shutting out any noise surrounding his big-game displays ahead of the new season.

"I mean, I'm motivating myself because I know what I want to do, at the end of the day," he told reporters.

"Those guys have their time. I really don't care what the criticism is or what the critics say because at the end of the day, I just came off a season-ending injury the year before and we made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game in a new system. 

"So, it's nothing to be down on myself, my team-mates or anything like that because we made it far, further than other years. We haven't been to the AFC in a long time…

"We've just got to keep going. We criticise ourselves more than anyone else. So, what people say on the outside, that's just their take. 

"They can believe what they want to believe, but we know what we want, we know what we're striving for."

The Bo Nix era in Denver will begin right away.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday that the rookie has won the team's starting quarterback job and will be under center for the season opener at the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.

Nix, the 12th overall pick in this year's draft, beat out veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the starting job following a pair of impressive showings in Denver's first two preseason games. The former Oregon and Auburn standout will be the first rookie to start a Broncos season opener since Hall of Famer and franchise icon John Elway in 1983.

"He's been outstanding," Payton told reporters following Wednesday's practice.

Nix seized the starter's role with a strong preseason debut against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 11 and an even better performance against the Green Bay Packers one week later. The 24-year-old completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown against the Colts, then followed up with 80 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-9 passing against Green Bay. 

The Broncos scored points on six of seven drives led by Nix over those two games.

"The past few weeks I've felt really comfortable," Nix said. "Getting to a different defence, playing these preseason games have really helped me a lot. I think that's helped in the growth process.

"I feel really comfortable where I'm at now, and excited to get to the last week of preseason and then get to the full season."

Nix arrived in Denver as one of the most accurate and experienced quarterbacks in college football history. His 61 career starts are the most by any Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterback, and he set a new FBS record for completion percentage in a single season after connecting on 77.4 per cent of his throws with Oregon in 2023.

The 2023 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, Nix also won the William Campbell trophy - considered the "Academic Heisman" - as the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance.

Nix was the last of six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 selections of this year's draft, and the third to be officially declared his his team's starter going into the season. Top overall choice Caleb Williams will start for the Chicago Bears in Week 1, as will No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels for the Washington Commanders.

"We feel like [this] offseason, at such an important position, we made some really good decisions," Payton said. "And we're going to have a chance to see them unfold at the season goes on."

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Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said there are "promising talks" happening with CeeDee Lamb regarding his contract extension.

Lamb is currently in the middle of a training camp holdout in a bid to earn a blockbuster new contract which has lasted nearly a month.

The wide receiver has so far skipped the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp in June, training camp, and preseason games against the Los Angeles Rams and the Las Vegas Raiders, totalling over $1million in fines.

On his current contract, Lamb is set to make just under $18million in 2024 but is seeking a deal that will put him among the NFL's highest-paid WRs.

According to reports, Dallas had made an offer to make him the second-highest paid behind Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson, but it has not closed the gap.

Asked if he was optimistic that the two parties could agree on a deal, Jones said: "Well, I think I am and when I say that it doesn't sound too promising.

"The facts are that I believe we'll come together. I don't want to speak for him. That's what I'm trying not to do. But we wouldn't have offered him what we've offered him if we didn't want him to be here."

Lamb had 135 receptions from 181 targets through the 2023 season, which ended with the Cowboys suffering a stunning wild-card defeat to the Green Bay Packers.

Both of those figures were league highs, while only the Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill (1,799 yards, 13 touchdowns) bettered his 1,749 regular season receiving yards and 12 TDs.

Although Dallas narrowly lost their first preseason game against the Rams, they beat the Raiders on Sunday, with Jones admitting he was not concerned about the amount of time Lamb had missed.

"I don't mean that to be insensitive to our fans or to CeeDee, but we're in good shape there, and we are having promising talks," Jones added.

"You say, 'Well, why do you keep talking? Why don't you do something?' Again, as in anything, it takes both of you there at the same time.

"But I believe it's got the proper amount of everything - emphasis, importance - for everybody involved here, and we'll see how it goes."

The Cowboys will begin their NFL season against the Cleveland Browns on September 8.

Brian Flores says he has grown as a coach and wished Tua Tagovailoa well one day after the Miami Dolphins quarterback called out his coaching style. 

Flores, who is now the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, expressed his regret about how he handled their relationship when he was the head coach of the Dolphins. 

In an interview with The Dan LeBatard Show on Monday, Tagovailoa described Flores as a "terrible person" during the time they spent together between 2019 and 2022. 

Tagovailoa posted career-best figures for passes attempted (560), completed (388), passing yards (4,624) and touchdown passes (29) in 2023 and was handed a franchise-record four-year, $212.4million extension off the back of an impressive fourth season with the team.

On Tuesday, Flores addressed the situation during a session with reporters, saying: "I'm genuinely, genuinely happy for the success that Tua has had and I really wish him nothing but the best. 

Flores said he's done a lot of reflecting since hearing the comments and admitted he had some faults in Miami, although he did not say anything said by Tagovailoa was untrue.

"I think part of coaching is correcting," Flores said. "I'm always going to correct. I'm always going to have a high standard.

"And I think, look, I've done a lot of reflecting on the situation, reflecting on the situation and communication."

"I think there's things that I could do better for sure, and I've grown in that way, and I've tried to apply the things that I could do better and the things that I've learned over the last two, three years.

"But I would say over the long haul, I've had a lot of great relationships over my 21-year career here in the league. Players, coaches, personnel, equipment, people in the kitchen.

"I mean really across the board, I've had a lot of great relationships. I'm going to continue to do that, but I'm also always looking to get better and involved."

Aaron Rodgers said he feels ready for the new NFL season with the New York Jets after enduring "one of the hardest training camps in the last eight years" of his career. 

Quarterback Rodgers, who is returning from an Achilles injury that forced him to miss much of 2023, was told by head coach Robert Saleh to expect a tough preseason. 

And speaking to reporters after practice on Tuesday, the 40-year-old insisted that Saleh had lived up to his word. 

"I would say the camp is much harder this year and maybe the hardest in the last seven or eight of my career," Rodgers said. 

According to Saleh, the Jets have completed 300 more practice reps than they had at this point last season as they look to end their longest ever playoff drought. 

The 45-year-old is under increasing pressure to deliver this time around after totalling a record of 18-33 in his first three seasons in charge. 

While Rodgers said there are different philosophies on the benefits and risks of a rigorous training camp, the four-time MVP said he personally enjoyed the experience.

"Some of the older players are enjoying the - to steal a coaching word - the 'callus' part of training camp, where you're grinding," Rodgers said.

"Some people believe that, although it puts more strain on you in training camp, it actually gets you more ready to play when the season starts.

"And some people believe the opposite. You know how it goes. Whatever teams are having success, people kind of look at their schedule and go, 'Let's do that.'"

The Jets conclude their preseason against the New York Giants, having won their previous such fixtures against the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers.

Rodgers has not featured during the preseason, and it is expected he will also miss out against the Giants, although Saleh has yet to confirm his plans for the 40-year-old. 

They open the new season against the San Francisco 49ers, and Rodgers said he feels ready for the new campaign after putting in extra work during the training camp. 

"I feel good about where I am with my body and what I've put together," he said.

"I feel like I've done different things throughout camp as far as the rollouts, roll out and pulling up, getting out of the pocket and making plays, going back across my body, pump-faking and extending plays and getting some yards. I feel like I've done a lot."