Sports
Hall calls Brees, Fitzgerald on first ballot, leaves Belichick on hold
Jan 28, 1990; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; San Francisco 49ers quarterback (16) Joe Montana hands to (33) Roger Craig during Super Bowl XXIV against the Denver Broncos at the Superdome. The 49ers defeated the Broncos 55-10 to earn their fourth Super Bowl victory and their second consecutive championship. Mandatory Credit: Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK SAN FRANCISCO — Six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick was officially left out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, likely opening the door to revisions in the selection process later this year.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald were elected in their first year of eligibility, and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was another headliner in the class.
Former New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri was also among those chosen for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday at the Palace of Fine Arts during the annual NFL Honors program before Super Bowl LX.
San Francisco 49ers great Roger Craig was the lone seniors candidate elected from the pool of five that featured Belichick.
In Vinatieri’s second year of eligibility, the 24-year NFL kicker (1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts) got the call. He holds numerous kicking records, including the marks for career points (2,673), consecutive field goals made (44), career field goals (599) and most seasons with 100-plus points (21).
His 48-yard field goal in the Super Bowl win over the Rams in February 2002, largely remembered for the performance of 24-year-old Tom Brady and Belichick’s mix of young and old talent, all but kickstarted the Patriots’ dynasty.
But Belichick’s trophy collection with the Patriots and the franchise owner who hired him to spark a dynasty lasting parts of two decades, Robert Kraft, remained a sizzling hot topic inside the scenic Bay Area theater setting.
Belichick was the “coach finalist” and Kraft the “contributor” in a mutually exclusive category separate from the 15 finalists chosen by the Hall’s Selection Committee in December. The committee can elect up to five Modern-Era Players for each class, with nominees needing 80% of the vote to be elected to the Hall.
A Super Bowl winning quarterback under Sean Payton with the Saints, Brees (2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 Saints) and Fitzgerald (2004-2020, Cardinals) earned Gold Jackets in their first year on the ballot.
Brees ranks second in NFL history with 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing touchdowns and was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection in addition to Super Bowl XLIV MVP. Brees is the only member of the Saints to enter the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Fitzgerald was drafted third overall in 2004 and played 17 seasons for the Cardinals. He had 1,432 career receptions for 17,492 yards and ranks second in NFL history in both categories. He is sixth on the all-time receiving touchdowns list with 121.
Kuechly, a finalist in 2025, was in his second year on the Hall of Fame ballot. He played only eight NFL seasons (2012-19 Panthers) and retired due to chronic head injuries after posting 1,092 tackles, 18 interceptions, 66 passes defensed, 12.5 sacks and 31 quarterback hits. He was named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s.
Belichick, Kraft and senior player candidates Ken Anderson, Craig and L.C. Greenwood were in the same pool of candidates. The versatile Craig, now 65, was elected on the back of winning three Super Bowls with the 49ers with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice in featured roles. He was the first running back with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 1985. He scored three touchdowns in San Francisco’s Super Bowl XIX victory over the Miami Dolphins.
The Class of 2026 will be enshrined Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, as part of a weekend of festivities that includes the Aug. 6 NFL preseason Hall of Fame Game.
Former Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty said he would be surprised if the heat on the Hall weren’t at an all-time high during the summertime inductions.
“I think the travesty of all of this is this summer, there’s gonna be a Hall of Fame induction and there’s gonna be guys who are deserving of being in the Hall of Fame. And we can probably all bet that the top topic is gonna be Bill Belichick not being there,” McCourty told Field Level Media on Tuesday. “And I think that’s unfortunate because there are going to be players, coaches, contributors that are Hall of Fame-worthy, but because this feels like a huge mistake, the only talk is going to be about the guys that didn’t get into the Hall of Fame.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame defended its process for selection saying the limits of between four and eight enshrinees per class “aligns with the Hall of Fame’s important Mission to ‘Honor the Greatest of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values and Celebrate Excellence Together.'” The Hall also said it would remove members of the Selection Committee found to be in violation of written bylaws.
Belichick was widely viewed as a lock as a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection. His greatness, and worthiness, bears out by almost every measure. He won two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants and has been on the sideline in a total of 12 Super Bowls — he was assistant head coach of the Patriots in January 1997, when New England lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI — with a 6-3 record as head coach.
Former Dallas Cowboys coach and Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson, 82, skipped the Thursday ceremony because he was “pissed” about Belichick’s omission.
“He is the greatest of all time. Yes, he had a great QB, but we all did,” Johnson said.
The Hall of Fame said in response to backlash over reports of voting results earlier this week it understood and accepted the uproar, but it did not name Belichick directly.
“It’s that very passion that propels the game. The Hall also respects the members of the Committee when they follow the selection process bylaws. It is an honor to serve as a selector,” the Hall of Fame said in a release. “… The selection of a new class is the most important duty the Hall of Fame oversees each year, and the integrity of that process cannot be in question.”
–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media
Sports
Chris Gotterup on top, Scottie Scheffler in trouble at WM Phoenix Open
Feb 5, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Chris Gotterup of the United States putts on hole 18 during the first round of the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images Chris Gotterup owns a two-stroke lead at the WM Phoenix Open after shooting an 8-under-par 63 in the first round at TPC Scottsdale that was suspended due to darkness Thursday in Arizona.
Nine players, none of them lower than 3 under for their rounds, have one or two holes left to complete Friday morning before getting on with the second round.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick shot a 7-under 29 on the back nine (his first nine holes of the day) but bogeyed his closing two holes to settle for a 6-under 65. Tied for third at 5-under 66 are Michael Thorbjornsen, Pierceson Coody, Sam Stevens and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.
Gotterup began his bogey-free round on the back nine and got into red figures with an eagle at the par-5 13th. He reached the green in two and sank a 27-foot eagle putt to jumpstart his round.
The 26-year-old proceeded to birdie the next three holes, capped by a 7-footer at the famed par-3 16th, Scottsdale’s “Stadium Hole.” Gotterup added another birdie at No. 18 and two more on the front nine.
It has been a dream start to the 2026 season for Gotterup. He won his third PGA Tour title at the season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii, then tied for 18th at the Farmers Insurance Open last week.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is in danger of missing the cut after signing for a 2-over-par 73. On his back-nine start, he made four birdies but followed three of those immediately with a bogey. His struggles continued with a three-putt bogey at No. 1 and a messy double bogey at No. 2.
When Xander Schauffele missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, it left Scheffler as the active leader on tour with 65 consecutive cuts made.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bo Horvat comes to rescue, Islanders sweep series with Devils
Feb 3, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) celebrates his game winning overtime goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with center Mathew Barzal (13) and defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Bo Horvat scored the go-ahead goal with 3:27 left to play to lead the New York Islanders to a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in Newark, N.J.
Casey Cizikas and Mathew Barzal each added a goal for the Islanders, while Horvat assisted on Barzal’s empty-netter for a two-point night. Ilya Sorokin saved 23 of the 24 shots he faced.
New York won all four games against New Jersey this season.
Nico Hischier scored the Devils’ lone goal and he was assisted by Jesper Bratt and goaltender Jake Allen. New Jersey will go into the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak.
Horvat’s team-high 24th goal of the season came off a faceoff win in the Devils’ zone. After the puck stayed loose for a few seconds, the Islanders’ captain slid a backhand shot past Allen to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead.
Barzal added the finishing touches for New York with an empty-net goal with 24 seconds remaining.
The Islanders opened up the scoring in the second period when Cizikas beat Allen by tipping in a rebound. It was Cizikas’ seventh goal of the season and his first since Jan. 10.
After having a pair of high-danger chances of their own, including a kick save from defenseman Adam Pelech to deny Lenni Hameenaho on a wide-open shot attempt, the Devils finally broke through with 1:34 left in the second.
Hischier tied the game at 1 with his 19th goal of the season after beating Sorokin with a slap shot that snuck over his left shoulder and into the top corner. It was the Devils’ first goal in more than 140 minutes.
The first period saw a scoreless draw, but there were plenty of opportunities on both sides. Both teams hit the crossbar at different points, including New Jersey’s Dawson Mercer on a breakaway chance against Sorokin.
The Islanders only recorded two shots on goal, but missed the net on a pair of high-danger chances. New Jersey had six shots on goal in the first period. In total, the Devils outshot the Islanders 24-14.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Super Bowl LX: Seahawks' Nick Emmanwori (ankle) skips practice
Feb 5, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) talks to media members at the San Jose Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Seattle Seahawks practiced for 1 hour, 47 minutes without pads on Thursday, their second practice of Super Bowl week. It was sunny and 74 degrees when the team began with a stretch period at 2 p.m.
Rookie safety Nick Emmanwori did not participate in practice because of an ankle injury he sustained a day earlier. He was not on the field on Thursday. Head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Thursday morning before practice that Emmanwori had a low ankle sprain and he “fully expects” him to play Sunday.
When asked what the practice plan for Emmanwori will be for Seattle’s remaining practices, Macdonald said the team would “take it day by day.”
“See how he’s feeling,” Macdonald said. “He’ll be ready to go regardless. Let’s do the smartest thing for us and him every day, and make sure we’re ready to go, We’ll evaluate it tomorrow and see how much he can do.”
Quarterback Sam Darnold was a full participant in practice for the first time since injuring his oblique on Jan. 15.
Two Seattle players were limited in practice Thursday: left tackle Charles Cross (foot) and fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck).
Ten other Seattle players on the injury report fully participated in practice: wide receiver Jake Bobo (hand), linebacker Ernest Jones IV (chest), tackle Josh Jones (ankle/knee), linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (not injury-related — rest), safety Julian Love (shoulder), fullback Brady Russell (hand), tight end Eric Saubert (hamstring), receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (not injury-related — rest), linebacker Drake Thomas (shoulder), defensive end Leonard Williams (not injury-related — rest).
Seahawks players practiced Thursday to a high-energy classic rock playlist featuring Creed, Linkin Park and Metallica.
“I do prefer the music on Thursdays compared to Wednesdays,” Macdonald said. “Thankful to Cooper Kupp on that motion. He asked for more classic rock on Thursdays, and we obliged.”
Seattle players spent the first hour on Thursday in position-specific drills and about 45 minutes in a team period. Players looked loose, running back Velus Jones Jr. sang along to “Eye of the Tiger” and several players and coaches started dancing during a break in the team period when the song “Percolator” played.
On one third down during a team period with the first-team defense facing the scout-team offense, Williams and Lawrence turned to the sideline and raised their arms up and down, signaling for a non-existent crowd to make some noise.
“Wednesday is normally more of a work day for us,” Macdonald said. “Today is more of … energetic (than) a normal Thursday. Guys did a great job.”
NBC analysts, sideline reporters and crew attended Seattle’s practice ahead of their production meetings with the team.
Kupp broke down the team after practice. Macdonald declined to share the veteran player’s message.
“We’ll leave that with our guys, but he was great,” Macdonald said.
The Seahawks will practice again Friday afternoon.
–Pro Football Writers of America
Chris Gotterup on top, Scottie Scheffler in trouble at WM Phoenix Open
Bo Horvat comes to rescue, Islanders sweep series with Devils
