Sports
Roger Goodell talks controversies surrounding NFL in state of the league address
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pose for a photograph at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images NFL commissioner Roger Goodell tackled a multitude of controversies surrounding the league Monday including New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch’s appearance in the Epstein Files, the league’s ongoing diversity problems in the coaching system and Bill Belichick’s recent Hall of Fame snub during his state of the league address Monday in San Jose, Calif.
Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks is Sunday in nearby Santa Clara.
Goodell was asked multiple times about Tisch reportedly being mentioned more than 400 times in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Tisch often had interactions with Epstein about various women in files released publicly.
He was very brief with the comments each time, but Goodell indicated the league would investigate if needed.
“Absolutely we are going to look at all the facts,” Goodell said. “We’re going to look at the context and try to understand that. We’ll look at how that falls under the policy. I think we take one step at a time. Let’s get the facts first.”
The emails, which were sent in 2013, were released Friday by the Department of Justice among 3.5 million documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking case and were first reported on by The Athletic.
The NFL had 10 head-coaching vacancies this season and nine of them went to white men. The one minority hire was Robert Saleh by the Tennessee Titans. He’s Lebanese and also has previously been a head coach with the New York Jets
“Teams are trying to get the coach they think will help them win,” Goodell.
The Rooney Rule has been in place since 2003 and it requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching positions and for some executive roles.
Goodell was asked about the possibility that some NFL teams might satisfy the Rooney Rule when they have no intention of hiring a minority candidate.
“I would dispute the context of the question,” Goodell said. “I think the Rooney Rule has been seen as a positive by our clubs by giving them an opportunity to look at a diverse set of candidates.
“They make the choice, ultimately, but I think it has shown them the value of looking at talent where you might not know it or might not see it.”
As for recent reports that Belichick won’t be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, Goodell said the former Patriots head coach should be a clear entrant.
“He’s the second winningest coach in NFL football and six Super Bowls as a head coach and two as a defensive coordinator, that’s a Hall of Fame career,” Goodell said. “Bill Belichick deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”
Goodell emphasized that the NFL has nothing to do with the voting process.
Goodell was asked about the reported sale of the Seahawks and he said the trust of the late Paul Allen requires the team to be sold. Owner Jody Allen is handling that.
“Eventually the team will need to be solid in accordance of that (trust). It will be Jody’s decision on when she does that and we will be supportive of that.”
Goodell said reports that the Seahawks were fined $5 million for failing to be in compliance with league ownership requirements were “not true.”
–Goodell praised the level of officiating and said he’s not sure the league has ever seen higher quality.
“I’m so amazed at how good our officials are,” Goodell said. “These guys have to make a split-second decision. They have proven over and over they are very wonderful at what they do … it’s a difficult sport to officiate. It’s fast, it’s quick and we have to use technology to prevent the obvious errors.
“I think replay assist has been a terrific advance and we need to expand on it.
–The NFL will host nine international games in 2026 across four continents. London will host three games. Landing one game each will be Paris, Madrid, Munich, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne. The New Orleans Saints will play in Paris and the Los Angeles Rams will play in Australia.
“We’re hearing from cities all over the world who want to host these games,” Goodell said. “They want to get more American football.”
Goodell said his goal is to annually have 16 international games so every NFL team is playing in one.
–Goodell said there hasn’t been much dialogue with the NFL Players Association about expanding the season by one game to 18.
“We have not had any formal discussion and, frankly, very little informal discussion,” Goodell said. “It’s not a given that we’ll do that. It’s not something we assume will happen.”
–Goodell said security for the game is tight but normal for Super Bowls. He also thinks halftime performer Bad Bunny will put on a good show.
“This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity and their talents and to be able to use this moment to do that,” Goodell said. “I think artists in the past have done that and I think he will have a great performance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stan Wawrinka, 40, earns noteworthy win in Montpellier
Jan 24, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in action against Taylor Fritz of United States in the third round of the menís singles at the Australian Open at John Cain Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Stan Wawrinka wasn’t acting his age on Wednesday during a first-round victory over Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic in the first round of the Open Occitanie on Wednesday in Montpellier, France.
The 40-year-old Swiss veteran prevailed 7-6 (3), 6-4 to become the oldest man to win an ATP Tour indoor match since 1980 (excluding the Davis Cup). The last player older than Wawrinka to log an indoor win was Ken Rosewall, then 45.
A wild-card entrant who is ranked 113th in the world, Wawrinka won despite putting just 38% of his first serves in play. He saved four of the five break points he faced.
Two seeded players lost their second-round matches.
Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, the third seed, trailed France’s Arthur Gea 6-3, 4-5 before retiring because of a knee injury. Adrian Mannarino rallied past fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) in an all-French matchup.
Eighth-seeded Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States overtook 16-year-old French qualifier Moise Kouame 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2 in first-round action. Also earning first-round wins were Italy’s Luca Nardi and the U.S. qualifier Martin Damm.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lakers return home from grueling road trip with surging Sixers waiting
Feb 3, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) looks to drive past Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17) in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images With their grueling annual winter trip behind them, the Los Angeles Lakers will not get a chance to ease into familiar surroundings as the surging Philadelphia 76ers come to town Thursday.
The Lakers went 5-3 as they vacated their home arena for the Grammy Awards, although the long-awaited return of guard Austin Reaves on Tuesday was a reason to feel revived.
Out since Christmas Day, Reaves returned from a calf injury by scoring 15 points off the bench in 21 minutes of a 125-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. LeBron James scored 25 points in the victory, and Luka Doncic had 24 as Los Angeles scored 23 points off 20 Nets turnovers.
Reaves was just 3 of 9 from the floor, including 1 of 5 from behind the 3-point line, but he showed some pent-up aggression by getting to the free-throw line, where he went 8 of 10.
“For as long as he has been out, obviously, the No. 1 thing is rhythm and fatigue, how fast you get fatigued,” James said about Reaves, according to the Los Angeles Times. “So, it’s just a boost for all of us, especially at the end of a road trip, to get a guy like that back.”
Even on a team with stars like James and Doncic, Reaves’ presence is key for Los Angeles. He has delivered career bests in points (26.1), rebounds (5.2) and assists (6.0) this season, his fifth in Los Angeles, and has developed a strong rapport with Doncic.
“I’ve been bored for a little over a month now,” Reaves said.
He added: “It’s good to be back out there and run around, feel the energy and play the game I love.”
The 76ers increased their winning streak to a season-best five games with a 113-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Philadelphia has been in California all week, starting a five-game road trip with a 128-113 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
With Joel Embiid out for injury management on his right knee and ankle on the second game of a back-to-back versus the Golden State Warriors, rookie VJ Edgecombe led the Sixers with 25 points, well over his 15.1 per-game average, and added seven rebounds with seven assists and two steals.
Edgecombe was just 1 of 11 from the floor against the Clippers before the 20-year-old went 11 of 20 against the Warriors.
“He does a little bit of everything,” Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse said of the Baylor product. “He can handle, he can shoot a little, he rebounds, he can get to some non-paint two pullups, play some one-on-one, block shots. He does all of those things at kind of an above-average level.”
Leading scorer Tyrese Maxey was held to 14 points on 3-of-9 shooting against the Warriors, under his 28.9-point average, as the offense deferred to the hot shooting Edgecombe. Andre Drummond filled in at center for Embiid and scored 12 points with 12 rebounds.
The victory came as Stephen Curry sat out for the Warriors with knee soreness.
Philadelphia also dominated in the rebounding department with a 56-33 edge. The Sixers have averaged 44.7 rebounds and now face the Lakers, who are one of the worst teams in the NBA on the boards at 41 per game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bucks down Pelicans in OT despite Trey Murphy III's 12 treys
Feb 4, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (7) shoots in against New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Ryan Rollins scored 27 points and six teammates scored in double figures as the host Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 141-137 in overtime Wednesday night.
AJ Green scored 20, Kevin Porter Jr. had 18, Amir Coffey, Pete Nance and Myles Turner added 16 each and Gary Trent Jr. had 13 for the Bucks, who have won two in a row.
Trey Murphy III scored a career-high 44 points, making a franchise-record 12 3-pointers on 19 attempts. Saddiq Bey had 22 points, Zion Williamson had 20 and Jeremiah Fears added 13 for the Pelicans, who lost their third consecutive game.
Rollins scored on a drive and Turner made a 3-pointer to start the scoring in overtime and the Pelicans got as close as one point, but Milwaukee held on.
New Orleans led by as many as nine points before holding a 34-30 edge at the end of the first quarter.
The Pelicans’ Yves Missi made two free throws to start the second-quarter scoring and the lead grew to 58-49 after Bey scored seven consecutive New Orleans points. Porter had six points and an assist, but Murphy countered with three 3-pointers and the Pelicans had a 70-63 halftime lead.
The Pelicans had a nine-point lead early in the third quarter, but Rollins and Green each made a 3-pointer and Turner made two jumpers to pull the Bucks even at 73.
Murphy made three 3-pointers and Williamson had five points to help New Orleans build an 89-82 lead. Milwaukee got as close as two points before Fears made consecutive 3-pointers to help the Pelicans grab a 101-96 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Rollins scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, giving the Bucks their first lead of the game, and Trent added a 3-pointer, giving Milwaukee a 110-104 edge.
Herb Jones made two free throws for New Orleans’ first points of the quarter after nearly four minutes but the Bucks opened a 13-point edge. Karlo Matkovic made a 3-pointer for the first field goal the Pelicans pulled even at 121. The score was tied again at 126 and 128 before the game went to overtime.
-Field Level Media
Stan Wawrinka, 40, earns noteworthy win in Montpellier
Lakers return home from grueling road trip with surging Sixers waiting
