Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches the field during pregame moments at U.S. Bank Stadium, with the December 16, 2024 matchup against the Chicago Bears setting the stage for a late-season divisional test as Minnesota prepared its game plan and sideline communication ahead of kickoff in Minneapolis. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings no longer have Kwesi Adofo-Mensah calling the shots, as the once-promising executive lost his job on Friday. Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski takes over the general manager job, at least in the interim, with head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores expected to have increased personnel input. So … how will the Vikings change?
With Brzezinski in the interim chair, the Vikings’ decision-making cadence may shift quickly, especially with the roster churn and quarterback direction.
Here’s what to expect with Adofo-Mensah subtracted from the front office.
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Six Post-Kwesi Shifts to Watch in Minnesota
It’s suddenly a new era for the Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings general manager watches warmups from the sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium, with September 14, 2025 marking a routine pregame scene as Minnesota prepared for kickoff, staff evaluated readiness, and final checks unfolded across the field in Minneapolis ahead of live action. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Fewer Trades
The guy before Adofo-Mensah — Rick Spielman, who was terminated after the 2021 season — liked to wheel and deal, too, but not quite as much as Adofo-Mensah.
Sometimes, Adofo-Mensah appeared to trade for sport, almost out of boredom. That’s due to take a step back. Minnesota doesn’t need to stockpile 6th-Round picks while offloading contributors like Harrison Phillips and Mekhi Blackmon.
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Brzezinski will obviously focus on the books, and O’Connell + Flores will keep their thumbprints all over the personnel, but trading “just to trade” on draft night or otherwise is probably kaput. If you like trades, your life as a Vikings fan probably got less fun this week.
Handpicked Defensive Personnel by Brian Flores
Flores interviewed for a couple of high-profile jobs this coaching carousel cycle: the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. When those gigs didn’t work out, he returned to the Vikings a week and a half ago, a move that feels like Flores knew his power would increase.
The Vikings curiously didn’t hand Flores an extension during 2025, but days before Adofo-Mensah was fired, he re-upped with the franchise. The writing is on the wall to suggest that Minnesota granted him more leeway in making roster decisions.
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You should fully expect Flores to get “his guys” in free agency and the draft. Think about it: with Adofo-Mensah out, who else will pick the defensive players? Brzezinski? O’Connell? Probably not. It’s Flores’s time to shine as a scout and de facto defensive general manager.
Very Obvious Win-Now Moves
Just because Minnesota ended the Adofo-Mensah era doesn’t mean O’Connell has a clean slate or renewed job security. He must rush to prove that his ways are winners, maybe even establishing that Adofo-Mensah held the franchise back.
It’s also worth noting that firing a general manager in the NFL without cleaning house involving the coaching staff usually fails. O’Connell must show that he’s different.
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Therefore, there will be no from-the-ground-up rebuild. O’Connell will be on all the “hot seat lists” later this summer. Expect him, Flores, and Brzezinski to operate as if 2026 is Super Bowl or bust.
More Competent Drafting
Adofo-Mensah successfully connected on just five draft picks: Jordan Addison, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Nailor, Will Reichard, and Dallas Turner. Left guard Donovan Jackson could be a hit, too. Stay tuned.
He missed on these players:
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Akayleb Evans
Andrew Booth
Brian Asamoah
DeWayne McBride
Ed Ingram
Esezi Otomewo
Jaquelin Roy
Jaren Hall
Kobe King
Lewis Cine
Mekhi Blackmon
Nick Muse
Ty Chandler
Vederian Lowe
Virtually any draft aficionado can find more than five good players in four drafts. The only place to go for O’Connell, Flores, and Brzezinski is up.
A Potential Backburner for J.J. McCarthy
If the Vikings want to pivot away from McCarthy, they have the golden opportunity — right now and throughout the rest of the offseason. While it won’t be fun for McCarthy, he can be attached to Adofo-Mensah and sidelined in 2026 or even traded.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy goes through warmups on the field at AT&T Stadium, with December 14, 2025 offering a pregame snapshot as Minnesota prepared to face the Dallas Cowboys, focusing on timing, footwork, and rhythm before the road matchup kicked off. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
Fair or not, McCarthy will be labeled as “Kwesi’s guy” until it’s no longer relevant, prudent, or convenient.
The person impacted most by Adofo-Mensah’s termination is McCarthy. He’s no longer the franchise’s savior, and O’Connell can pick another QB1 via trade, free agency, or the draft and leave McCarthy behind if he sees fit.
A Bold QB Move via Trade or Free Agency
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Finally, now’s the time for O’Connell to “get his guy” if the rumors are true about Adofo-Mensah’s selection of McCarthy.
He can trade for Kyler Murray. He can sign Malik Willis in free agency. He can call the San Francisco 49ers about Mac Jones. He can try to pull off a Luka Doncic-style trade for Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson. As mentioned above, O’Connell must win now per the gravity of the last few days, and now’s the time for him to pursue the passer who will help him get it done.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray takes part in pregame warmups at Lumen Field, with November 24, 2024 capturing preparation ahead of a road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks as Arizona finalized its routine and Murray loosened up before kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
If it’s true that O’Connell wanted Drake Maye in 2024 and Sam Darnold back in 2025, O’Connell will almost certainly find a more dependable quarterback than McCarthy in 2026.
Even while Adofo-Mensah was still employed last month, it seemed a splashy quarterback move was on the way. Now, that feels like a guarantee.
Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt reached the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday after a 2-1 win at Inter Milan secured a 5-2 aggregate victory, sealing the biggest result in the club’s history and setting up a tie with either Manchester City or Sporting Portugal.
An outstanding six-year run for left tackle Trent Williams with the San Francisco 49ers could be in danger of coming to an end. With Williams set to carry a $39 million cap number in 2026, he and the 49ers are engaged in talks but are struggling to find a contractual solution to the sizable impact he will have on the team’s payroll next season, according to ESPN. If the sides cannot find a middle ground, Williams could become a free agent this offseason.
The 49ers want to keep their star tackle in town despite the reported stalemate, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. John Lynch, the team’s general manager, effectively said as much Tuesday at the NFL Combine.
“In recent weeks, I’ve met with both Trent and with his agent, Vincent Taylor, and had really good, productive and substantive meetings,” Lynch said. “Here’s what I know. Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner. It’s up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle.
“There’s some unique circumstances in that we all know what Trent is as a player and how great of a player he’s been. He’s gonna be 38 years old, so there’s some things that go into that. But I think we’re all on the same page and feel very positively about where that’s going.”
A release before June 1 would save the 49ers $4.7 million in cap space. If they were to release him after that date, they would save $15.5 million this year — though that would require them to split his dead cap hit across the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Williams, a five-time All-Pro honoree and 12-time Pro Bowler, would be among the most highly sought-after players of the 2026 free agent class. Even entering his age-38 season, the veteran tackle remains a premier blind-side protector with potentially multiple more years left in the tank. He said last offseason that he would “love to play until I’m 40.”
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The 49ers and Williams agreed in September 2024 to a restructured three-year deal that made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman that season.
One of the few accolades that Williams has left to add to his résumé is Super Bowl champion. Remaining with the 49ers should allow him to achieve that goal, but his significant cap hit could also limit San Francisco’s ability to surround him with enough talent to contend in a loaded NFC West. The 49ers secured a wild-card berth in 2025 despite finishing third in the division at 12-5. With two Super Bowl appearances and a pair of conference championship game berths since 2019, the 49ers are knocking on the door of a title. Losing one of the NFL’s best tackles without getting anything in return would be a significant blow in that quest.
Williams joined the 49ers in 2020 via a trade with the Washington Commanders. The former No. 4 overall pick spent the first decade of his career in Washington and was a perennial Pro Bowler. He took his game to the next level upon arriving on the West Coast, securing three consecutive first-team All-Pro honors and a second-team selection in 2025.
Several professional soccer matches in Mexico were postponed over the weekend after violence flared near Guadalajara, one of the country’s host cities for the 2026 World Cup. The decision came in the wake of a military operation that left cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” dead.
The killing of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel leader has plunged parts of the country into chaos, impacting civilians and prompting visiting Americans to seek a return to the U.S.
Joe Haden, who had stints with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, is among the Americans who are hoping to return home as quickly as possible.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) warms up before playing the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field on Dec. 19, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.(Philip G. Pavely/USA TODAY Sports)
Haden commented on the developments he’s noticed during his visit to Cabo during his latest appearance on his “Deebo & Joe” podcast. He also admitted he should have taken former Steelers’ teammate James Harrison’s warning about traveling to Mexico more seriously.
“I should’ve listened to you. I should’ve listened to you, Deebo,” Haden said in reference to Harrison’s message that stressed caution.
“Honestly, I’m a little spooked brother. I can’t even lie to you. It’s getting real tricky on this side of the world. I need to get back [my] feet planted on a U.S. territory. I’m not even trying to be funny, I’m a little spooked. Because when you’re talking cartel, they’re going against police. They run up at airports and stuff.”
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Joe Haden (23) of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 12, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Haden’s appearance on the podcast was cut short as he left to finalize travel plans back to the U.S., leaving Harrison to host the remainder of the episode.
“I’m trying to book my stuff, I got a flight I can get now,” Haden said. “I really tried to get on this show to show you my face, let you know I am good, but I really do need to slide.”
Joe Haden (23) of the Pittsburgh Steelers stands on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, at Heinz Field on Oct. 17, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Haden was believed to be in Cabo San Lucas at the time the podcast was released.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said via X that the U.S. government provided intelligence support for the operation that led to the killing of “El Mencho.”
“‘El Mencho’ was a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland,” she wrote. She commended Mexico’s military for its work.
The killing of the drug lord set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles, tactics commonly used by the cartels to block military operations. Videos circulated on social media showed smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, is slated to stage four matches during the 2026 World Cup, including two involving South Korea. Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Colombia are also scheduled to play at the venue.
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Mexico’s national team remains set to host Iceland in a friendly Wednesday at Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro. As of Sunday, the Mexican soccer federation had not announced any changes to that match.
Not all sporting events were affected. Organizers of the Mexican Open in Acapulco said the ATP tournament would begin Monday at the GNP Arena as planned.
Fox News’ Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Barcelona’s new Marcus Rashford transfer attempt after Man United loanee’s ‘sacrifice’ – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
Marcus Rashford is spending the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona and they have the option to sign the England international permanently for £26m
21:51, 24 Feb 2026Updated 21:52, 24 Feb 2026
Marcus Rashford is spending the season on loan with Barcelona from Manchester United(Image: AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Here, the Manchester Evening News takes a look at the latest on Marcus Rashford’s future and the possibility of a permanent move to Barcelona…
Barcelona are reportedly attempting to negotiate down the £26million purchase option for Marcus Rashford ahead of a potential permanent move this summer.
The 28-year-old Manchester United academy graduate has enjoyed a stellar loan spell in Spain, netting ten goals and providing 13 assists across all competitions. His impressive form has included nine goal contributions in just eight Champions League matches.
Rashford’s resurgence at the Camp Nou has earned him a recall to the England squad, with Thomas Tuchel expected to include him in the World Cup squad.
Spanish outlet Sport reports that Barcelona sporting director Deco met with Rashford’s agent Arturo Canales on Monday to begin negotiations with United. However, Barca are hoping to reduce the agreed €30million (£26m) fee despite their intention to sign the forward permanently.
United are reported to be regretting the original deal with Barcelona, with club bosses now valuing Rashford closer to £50 million given his form and interest from other clubs.
Rashford himself appears settled in Spain, telling BBC Sport in December: “I don’t see anything here as like a pressure. It’s just, I’m here to play football. It’s been amazing. I feel welcome, I feel at home. I’ve just been enjoying every step of the way.”
Any hopes Barcelona have of reducing the transfer fee are considered incredibly low, with United holding firm on the agreed purchase option.
Another report in Sport recently claimed that Barcelona have decided to sign Rashford permanently, with the United loanee reported to be willing to “adjust his salary” as a lower amount in order to help get the deal over the line.
Two players with direct ties to Africa represented the continent in the 75th NBA All-Star Game last Sunday – Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers, Cameroon) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, ties to Democratic Republic of the Congo) – which introduced a USA vs. World format.
USA Stars dominated the championship game with a 47–21 win over USA Stripes, led by a standout performance from Anthony Edwards, who was named the 2026 Kia All-Star MVP. It was the most-watched NBA All-Star Game in the U.S. in 15 years.
The weekend tipped off with the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and Castrol Rising Stars showcase on Friday night, where Team Vince clinched a narrow 25–24 victory over Team Melo in a competitive finale.
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Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat) won the AT&T Slam Dunk, Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) edged Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) to take the State Farm 3‑Point Contest, and Team Knicks triumphed in the Kia Shooting Stars competition on Saturday night.
As part of this year’s All-Star, seven top African prospects from or with direct ties to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal participated in the 10th annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) All-Star Camp.
Obinna Ekezie Jr., son of former NBA player Obinna Ekezie (Nigeria), was awarded the Defensive MVP and formed part of the camp’s All-Star Team alongside Cheickh Niang (Italy; ties to Senegal) and Caleb Ourigou (Côte d’Ivoire).
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Photo: Obinna Ekezie Jr. at 10th BWB All-Star Camp in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Pascal Siakam at 10th BWB All-Star Camp in Los Angeles, California
In the lead up to its sixth season which will tip off in South Africa on March 27, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) celebrated the continent’s culture and impact on the sidelines of the global showcase. The BAL Business Cocktail gathered more than 300 cultural taste makers, global entertainers, NBA legends and industry leaders, including representatives of BAL Foundational Partner Rwanda Development Board, highlighting the continent’s rising influence in sports, culture and creative industries, while emphasizing ongoing conversations around African investment, ownership, and the future of basketball.
Notable attendees included Rwanda Convention Bureau CEO Janet Kamerera, 2015 NBA champion Festus Ezeli, NBA legend Charles Smith, Somali-American basketball influencer Jamad Fiin and Kenyan singer and songwriter Bien.
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Photos: 2015 NBA champion Festus Ezeli and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall at the BAL Business Cocktail in Los Angeles, California (left) and Bien and Jamad at Intuit Dome (right) on Feb. 13, 2026
Among global icons attending this year’s All-Star were also South African rugby champion Siya Kolisi and Grammy Award winner Tyla.
Team Canada men’s hockey coach Jon Cooper may not like the Olympics’ three-on-three overtime format, but it doesn’t matter at all.
It’s staying in place.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) president Luc Tardif told The Athletic that, despite Cooper’s complaints following his team’s gold-medal loss to Team USA on Sunday, they will continue using the format in future tournaments.
Canada coach Jon Cooper answers to the media during a press conference following the Ice Hockey Men Final between United States and Canada on day sixteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“It’s the best rules to fit in a tight schedule,” Tardif told the outlet. “We have to figure out 30 games in 11 days for men and for the women 28 games in 13 days – 58 all together in 16 days.
“Huge challenge.”
The IIHF wanted to introduce the three-on-three format the NHL uses during its regular season to prevent the use of the shootout. However, the NHL does make the change to five-on-five hockey during the playoffs with no shootouts – only the game-winning goal.
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Cooper, though, couldn’t help himself when he ripped into the overtime format after watching Jack Hughes snipe the gold-medal goal past his goalie, Jordan Binnington.
“You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore,” Cooper said, per the New York Post. “There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play – it’s all TV-driven to end games, so it’s not a long time. There’s a reason why it’s not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs.”
Head coach Jon Cooper of Team Canada speaks to his players after the team’s 3-2 victory in the Men’s Semifinals Playoff match between Canada and Finland on day fourteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Overtime in the preliminary rounds of the Olympics lasted five minutes, with a five-round shootout transpiring if a game-winning goal wasn’t scored in that time. For the quarterfinals and semifinals, the overtime was boosted to 10 minutes, followed by 20 minutes in the gold-medal games.
Canada didn’t get as clean a look at the net as Hughes did on his game-winning shot, but they did have tons of chances during the three periods. In the end, the U.S. was able to keep the game notched at one apiece through 60 minutes, with tremendous saves by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was dubbed the “Secretary of Defense” by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for his performance.
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After the game, Cooper wasn’t the only Canadian showing some bitterness about the result. Assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon, who missed a wide-open net in the third period that could’ve been the game-winner for Team Canada, made an interesting comment to the press.
“You be the judge of who was the better team today,” he said.
Head coach Jon Cooper of Team Canada takes part during training on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 8, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
While Cooper, MacKinnon, and the rest of Team Canada think about the what-ifs, Team USA took Air Force One to visit President Donald Trump on Tuesday prior to his State of the Union Address. The team was spotted in the Oval Office, where Trump congratulated every player in person on their tremendous accomplishment.
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The United States won its most golds in a single Winter Olympics (12), which included the women’s ice hockey team also beating Team Canada in overtime thanks to the heroics of Megan Keller.
Lionel Messi discussed his regret of not having learnt English when he was in school in a recent interview. The legendary Argentine is known to communicate in Spanish, having spoken English only on rare occasions.
In an appearance on the Miro De Atras podcast, Lionel Messi shared that he regrets not having learnt English in school. He said (via All About Argentina):
Thanks for the submission!
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“Not having learned English as a kid. I had the time to study at least English and I didn’t do it, and I regret it a lot. Later I found myself in situations where I was with incredible, amazing personalities, and I could have had a conversation with them but instead you feel kind of ignorant…”
Lionel Messi usually communicated in Spanish. He is also fluent in Catalan, having spent 17 years playing for Barcelona. However, he has been spotted speaking English a few times for advertisements. Some examples include a commercial for the movie Bad Boys starring Will Smith, a moment speaking to a referee during a recent MLS clash, and an eFootball commercial.
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The current MLS year did not begin well for Lionel Messi, as Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles FC in their opening MLS game on Sunday, February 2022. The Argentine led the Herons to their first MLS Cup last year and was also the winner of the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals to his name. He was also named the MLS MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the second consecutive time.
After a rough start, all eyes will be on Messi to replicate the previous year’s success with Inter Miami.
“We should never stop enjoying life”- Lionel Messi shares valuable advice for his fans
In his aforementioned interview on the MDA podcast, Lionel Messi discussed multiple facets of his life, including sharing his message for his fans and followers. The legend of the game believed one should always enjoy the present, and said (via All About Argentina):
“Today is a good day to enjoy. Sometimes it’s hard. Not all of us go through the same things, and there are people dealing with different and difficult situations too. But we should never stop enjoying life. Like I said before, today I enjoy much more what happens to me, what I do, my family, my children, the day-to-day life, the small things. And well, it’s always a good day to enjoy, because we don’t know what might happen tomorrow.”
Apart from the new MLS season, fans are also eagerly looking forward to Lionel Messi leading Argentina once again in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after his triumph in 2022. However, the Argentine has yet to confirm his decision to play or not. He is also expected to feature in the 2026 Finalissima, where Argentina will face Spain in Qatar on March 27.
Floyd Mayweather is set to return to professional boxing this year and pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson has revealed whether he would be willing to take on the 49-year-old, five division champion.
‘TBE’ hung up the gloves with a perfect 50-0 record back in 2017 after a knockout victory in a lucrative showdown with Conor McGregor, but Mayweather has continued to box in exhibition bouts ever since and has repeatedly warned that he may return to the professional scene.
His return will indeed come against former foe Pacquiao, after it was announced on Monday that the pair are set to meet in a rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the event broadcast live on Netflix.
After hearing the news of Mayweather’s return, Stevenson shot down any chances of him fighting the boxing legend down the line, admitting in an interview with DAZN that he doesn’t want to face somebody that ‘he looks up to’.
“Hell no, [I wouldn’t fight Floyd]. Understand this, I would not fight Floyd because I have watched him for years and years and years, and I look up to him.
“I don’t want to be in the ring with somebody that I look up to and no disrespect but he is older now, so I’m not trying to punch on my GOAT.”
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) audibles during the second half of an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
If the Steelers know the options on the table for 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan wasn’t ready to reveal any of the cards in play for either side.
Khan wouldn’t say whether Rodgers is considering retirement or other offers as an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 11.
“That’s a question for Aaron. He knows how we feel. I think we know how he feels about us,” Khan said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “It was a good experience for both sides. Unfortunately we didn’t reach our goals on winning the games we wanted to at the end. But there’s a mutual respect there.”
Pittsburgh hosts the 2026 NFL Draft in April and Khan said he’s been working at warp speed to get on the same page with new head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy returned to the NFL sideline after one season away.
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Khan said McCarthy, who last coached with the Cowboys, was a fan of quarterback Will Howard coming out of Ohio State and is excited to work with him. Howard was Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick in 2025 but landed on injured reserve in August because of a fractured hand. He returned to practice in November.
“We mentioned Aaron, but we all agree that we’re looking for that next franchise guy,” Khan said. “We’re not there yet, and we may have the guy on the roster, we don’t know, in Will, and we’re excited to work with Will. We all know that has to be addressed, and we’re all looking for the same thing, we’re just not there yet.”
Rodgers came to Pittsburgh to play for Mike Tomlin, who resigned after the Steelers’ loss to the Houston Texans in the playoffs. But he won a Super Bowl with McCarthy during his prodigious run as quarterback of the Packers.
Khan said he spoke to Rodgers last week and the Steelers made it clear “the door is open to have Aaron back.”
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Last offseason, Tomlin and the Steelers kept the door open for Rodgers until he finally made his signing official on June 6. Khan said neither side wants to delay a deal or “see it drag on like it did last year.”
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run in the Champions League continued as they knocked out last year’s finalists Inter Milan in one of the tournament’s biggest ever shocks.
A season on from becoming the first Norwegian side to reach the semi-finals of a European competition, following their impressive run in the Europa League, head coach Kjetil Knutsen’s minnows have continued their remarkable rise by qualifying for the Champions League last-16, and as tournament debutants. Bodo/Glimt also operate on a budget that is a fraction of the size of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Bodo/Glimt, who were in Norway’s second-tier as recently as 2017, are the northernmost team to ever play in the Champions League. Based in the small town of Bodo, a 16-hour drive north of Oslo and inside the edge of the Arctic Circle, its whole population of 55,000 could have travelled to Inter’s iconic San Siro and there still would have been plenty of empty seats.
Bodo/Glimt have now beaten Man City, Atletico and Inter to reach the last-16 of the Champions League (Getty Images)
Remarkably, Knutsen’s team are also in their off-season; the Norwegian top-flight ended on 30 November 2025 due to the winter and will only resume when spring arrives in April. But, in that time, Bodo/Glimt have beaten Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and knocked out Italian giants Inter, the runaway Serie A leaders, by beating them home and away
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Bodo/Glimt took a two-goal lead to the San Siro after a stunning 3-1 victory in Norway, where they have developed an outstanding record on the artificial surface at their 9,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadion. Then, on Tuesday night, they survived long spells of pressure before Jens Petter Hauge punished Manuel Akanji’s error to silence the San Siro.
As Bodo/Glimt started to play with confidence, Hakon Evjen added an excellent second on the counter-attack, leaving Inter with a mountain to climb even as Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back. A 5-2 victory on aggregate will not only signal a crisis at Inter, the three-time European champions, and in Italian football as a whole, but it will also send shockwaves around European football.
In Norway, they will celebrate a first Norwegian side to win a knockout tie in the Champions League since 1987-88. While Bodo/Glimt are also the first team outside of Europe’s big five leagues to win four consecutive games against teams from England, Spain, Italy and France since Johan Cruff’s Ajax in 1971-72. They went on to win the European Cup that season, too.
This stuff isn’t suppose to happen in Europe these days.
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Trust the process
Bodo/Glimt’s close-knit, team-first environment is often hailed as the key ingredient behind their remarkable journey. Head coach Knutsen, who has been in charge since 2018 has been linked with several major jobs and bigger leagues during the club’s rise, but has turned down offers to remain with Bodo/Glimt, where he recently signed a contract until 2029.
“For me, the people are the most important thing,” he told TV 2 in January. “That means more than all the trophies. You always work to win something, and that’s great. But the joy of winning it together with someone means the most. There has to be an environment where people care about each other – and I feel we have created that in Bodo/Glimt.”
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Kjetil Knutsen has helped Bodo/Glimt from the second division of Norwegian football to the last-16 of the Champions League (Getty Images)
Hauge, Bodo/Glimt’s top goalscorer in the Champions League this season, now with six goals in nine games, is an example of that spirit. The 26-year-old was signed by AC Milan in 2020 after helping his hometown club’s early rise, before playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany and Gent in Belgium as he attempted to make it at a higher level of European football.
But Hauge, upon returning to Bodo, had the same realisation as some of his team-mates that home was the best place for him after all. It has helped fuel the sense of togetherness at a club that feels as if it has created something special.
Jens Hauge, who moved to AC Milan earlier in this career, celebrates his goal in the San Siro (AFP via Getty Images)
Then there is the impact of Bjørn Mannsverk, a former fighter pilot turned mental coach whose unconventional methods are also part of the club’s story. Mannsverk walked into the club when they were in the second division of Norwegian football in 2017 but revolutionised the team’s behaviour through meditation and embracing the process, rather than results on the pitch.
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“It is a fairy tale, almost a miracle,” Mannsverk told The Associated Press last season. “How can you actually come from the second division in 2017 to playing Champions League… But I think it’s possible … if you have the right mentality and you work hard over time.”
The European journey
Bodo/Glimt won the Norwegian top flight for the first time in 2020, repeating that success in 2021, 2023 and 2024, but it is on the European stage where their story has gone mainstream.
They produced their first major shock in 2021 by beating Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 in the group stage of the Europa Conference League, becoming the first team to put six past a Mourinho defence. They also defeated Celtic in the knockout rounds, before falling to a defeat to Roma in an ill-tempered quarter-final.
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On their plastic pitch, Bodo/Glimt formed a formidable home record in last season’s Europa League run, beating Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio before defeat to eventual winners Tottenham in the semi-finals.
Bodo/Glimt are from a population of 55,000 based inside the Arctic Circle (Getty Images)
A first appearance in the Champions League was not entirely going to plan after the first six matches. Ahead of hosting Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in January, Bodo/Glimt were winless and their hopes of reaching the knockout play-offs were hanging by a thread.
But Erling Haaland’s homecoming to Norway was overshadowed by a dominant performance from Bodo/Glimt, who added their biggest scalp yet. Then, two weeks later, they went to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and came from behind to win 2-1 and squeeze through from the league phase.
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The play-off draw handed Bodo/Glimt with a daunting tie against Inter, the Italian leaders and last year’s Champions League finalists. Sensationally, their story is not done there and they will face either a rematch with City or Sporting in the last-16.
