Sports
Seahawks Opening Night notebook: Goal-line nightmare revisited
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images SAN JOSE, Calif. — Not surprisingly, Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald was asked what he would do if his team was at the New England Patriots’ 1-yard line in the final minute of the Super Bowl and needed a touchdown to take the lead.
It was 11 years ago that the Seahawks faced that same situation against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.
Instead of handing off the ball to star running back Marshawn Lynch, quarterback Russell Wilson attempted a pass that was intercepted by Malcolm Butler, clinching the Patriots’ 28-24 victory.
Would the Seahawks call for a run or a pass if the situation arose again?
“Is Beast Mode in the backfield?” Macdonald replied, using Lynch’s nickname, while meeting the media at Super Bowl Opening Night.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold faced the same question.
“I know that’s a sore subject for a lot of people (in Seattle), but, uhh … we’ll say pass,” Darnold said with a laugh.
–With their defense drawing comparisons to the “Legion of Boom” that helped the Seahawks to two Super Bowl appearances a decade ago, this year’s unit decided it needed its own identity.
The players settled on the Dark Side.
“We had a few names come, thrown at the wall, and I think the Dark Side stuck because one of Coach Mike’s messages is a play style and a place that nobody wants to play … and in Seattle it gets dark during the wintertimes and we shut some teams out this year, no points on the board,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “So we have a very suffocating defense, I would say, and that’s why we came up with the Dark Side.”
Added safety Julian Love: “We carry ourselves way different than those guys, than those legends. We’re just trying to create an identity for ourselves.”
–Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp, the MVP of Super Bowl LVI while with the Los Angeles Rams, was asked about coming from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, a Football Championship Subdivision school.
“It was a steppingstone,” Kupp said. “It was one step along this path, along this journey. I don’t think of it as overcoming anything. That was my path to continue playing football in college and gave me an opportunity to be in front of the NFL people and go out there and make my dream a reality.
“There’s really good football players across the nation, (Division II), (Division III), all over the place. Any opportunity to play football, I’m all in on.”
–It wouldn’t be a Super Bowl opening night without an appearance from Guillermo Rodriguez, the sidekick from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Rodriguez presented Darnold with a button that read “Ham for Sam” and then a giant ham-shaped foam hat before encouraging media members to chant “Ham for Sam!”
Darnold briefly donned the hat before switching back to his baseball cap.
Rodriguez also gave Darnold an apron with “Ham for Sam” on the front.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richardson Hitchins relinquishing IBF title after signing with Zuffa
May 21, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Richardson Hitchins (gold trunks) and Angel Rodriguez (black trunks) box during a Premier Boxing Champions card at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Just two weeks after revealing that he was signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins is relinquishing his title to pursue welterweight competition instead, Hitchins announced on social media this week.
“I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done,” he wrote on X. “Let’s go!!!”
147 It’s time! i will be 2 division world champ Real Soon , I’ve outgrown 140 and My days at the weight is done Let’s go !!!! ????
— Richardson Hitchins (@HeIsRichardson) April 21, 2026
The IBF confirmed the move via an issued statement on Tuesday.
“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the IBF wrote. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.
“We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”
Hitchins, 28, originally won his title in 2024 after a unanimous decision against Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn native is 20-0 with eight wins by knockout.
The move now ends the possibility of a reworked bout between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado, originally scheduled in replacement of Hitchins’ canceled February fight with Oscar Duarte due to Hitchins’ illness.
Delgado is in line to challenge for the vacated super lightweight title in his next fight. As the highest remaining fighters in the division, Delgado and Duarte would now seem likely opponents for one another, though both are trained by the same individual, Robert Garcia, which could complicate a potential pairing.
Hitchins followed Jai Opetaia in joining Zuffa, with the latter actually being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. For Hitchins, reclassifying could be a preemptive move to avoid having his own title stripped.
Hitchins is scheduled to make his Zuffa debut this summer.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Minnesota United, FC Dallas put unbeaten streaks on line
Apr 18, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; FC Dallas forward Petar Musa (9) scores a goal against the LA Galaxy during the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Two teams riding extended unbeaten strings meet Wednesday night when Minnesota United visit FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas.
Coming off a 2-0 win Saturday night over the Portland Timbers, Minnesota (4-2-2, 14 points) is 3-0-1 over its last four matches. Its three straight wins constitute its longest winning streak in nearly two calendar years.
Meanwhile, Dallas (3-1-4, 13 points) is 2-0-3 in its last five fixtures, including a 2-2 draw Saturday night with the Los Angeles Galaxy. It could have been a three-point result but Kaick’s goal in the 75th minute was flagged for an offsides violation.
Minnesota has hit its stride in part because of the recent form of midfielder Tomas Chancalay. The Argentinian has hit the scoresheet in three straight matches, scoring a goal and assisting on the other goal against Portland.
Chancalay has looked a lot like the guy who the New England Revolution spent $3.1 million for three years ago instead of the player they traded to Minnesota after last season for $100,000.
“I am really happy here,” Chancalay said of his new organization. “The team put their confidence in me here in Minnesota. I’m happy to stay here and I want to help the team.”
While Chancalay is playing well, no one in MLS these days is scoring like Dallas’ Petar Musa. His brace in the first half gave Dallas a 2-0 lead but its defense gassed it by conceding twice before halftime.
Musa leads the league with nine goals, two more than Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge. But Dallas’ inability to see a two-goal advantage through over the final 52 minutes was concerning to coach Eric Quill.
“Your mentality has to be disciplined, together and committed on every play,” Quill said. “It was little details that changed the game and we know those moments can’t happen. We need to improve our discipline because I think we’re going to have leads often.”
It marked the second time in this recent unbeaten stretch that Dallas has coughed up a two-goal advantage.
–Field Level Media
