The debate is raging – at least on social media – about the status of North Carolina men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis. It’s a complex situation facing decision makers, who presumably consider the program at a crossroads concerning Davis’ future.
Thursday night’s unceremonious exit from the NCAA Tournament’s first round with an 82-78 overtime loss to VCU after leading by 19 points in the second half heightened the speculation. North Carolina’s administration – chancellor Lee Roberts, athletics director Bubba Cunningham and AD-in-waiting Steve Newmark – have been put on the spot.
Cunningham is transitioning to another role, and Newmark will be in charge of the athletics department well before the next tip-off for the Tar Heels. The tide has turned quickly on Davis, who by the end of his first season in the spring of 2022 had gained what might have been considered lifetime privileges. He directed the Tar Heels past Duke in Mike Krzyzrewski’s final game as coach at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Four weeks later, he endeared himself again to Carolina fans when his team knocked off Duke in the Final Four, sending Coach K into retirement.
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But there have been far fewer notable highlights since then – and even that 2021-22 team had underachieved and tumbled out of the Top 25 until the March success. The 2023 team didn’t make the NCAA Tournament field. But the following season, an Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship – dented with an ACC tournament championship-game loss to what had been a struggling North Carolina State team – and trip to the Sweet 16 restored confidence.
Troubles brewed last year, when the Tar Heels barely made the tournament – some will say because of Cummingham’s presence as chair of the NCAA selection committee. A First Four victory was followed by exit in the first round with a loss to Ole Miss. So that means in five seasons, the Tar Heels have reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round just twice – first with a team that Williams had largely put together and the other when, according to the seeds, they were bounced prematurely. North Carolina has reached the 20-win level each season under Davis. This season’s 24-9 mark represents his third-largest win total.
Former players have chimed in regarding the condition of the program, mostly expressing concern without indicting Davis so far. That group has included Tyler Hansbrough, who also had been member of the team’s rotating radio broadcast crew, and Joel Berry, an analyst with the ACC Network.
The 2026-27 season will come without the Tar Heels’ three most productive players from this season unless freshman sensation Caleb Wilson pulls a surprising move and stays for another season. Henri Veesaar and Seth Trimble have used up eligibility. Wilson’s personality and high-flying talents made him a fan favorite. Trimble played his entire college career for the Tar Heels and was already popular, a status that rose to special heights after his game-winning shot in early February against Duke. Since that night in the Smith Center, North Carolina went 5-5 – probably in part because Wilson played in only part of one game the rest of the way because of a couple of injuries.
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A winter commitment from heralded recruit Dylan Mingo is reason for encouragement regarding the next roster. If there’s a coaching change, the pressing question becomes who’s next? And from there, it’s complicated if the school goes outside of the Carolina family. Dean Smith passed the torch to longtime assistant coach Bill Guthridge. His retirement led to former Tar Heels player Matt Doherty taking the job. When that didn’t work out, alum and former assistant Roy Williams was summoned back from Kansas. Davis was selected off Williams’ staff to replace the retiring Hall of Famer.
The other choice – at least in conventional circles – was then-UNC Greensboro coach Wes Miller.
Since then, Miller took the Cincinnati job and was dismissed when the Bearcats’ season ended this month. So that path might not be reasonably open for Miller, a former player on a Tar Heels national championship team, to assume the position. Cunningham predictably attended Friday’s women’s regional on the Chapel Hill campus, but he could have been huddled with other school officials during other parts of the day.
With the university’s spring break winding down this weekend, other activities on campus are only diversions to the most pressing question.
ST. LOUIS — Fletcher Loyer scored 24 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 19 points and nine rebounds, and No. 2 seed Purdue beat Miami 79-69 on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the third straight time and seventh in the last nine years.
In his first game since breaking Bobby Hurley’s NCAA career record for assists, Braden Smith had 12 points and eight assists but was also harassed by Miami’s athletic guards into eight turnovers, matching his career high.
Smith hit four free throws in the final minute after seventh-seeded Miami (26-9) had cut an 11-point deficit to 73-69, helping to secure Matt Painter’s 500th victory in his 21st season as Purdue’s coach. He is just 12 short of Gene Keady’s school record.
Purdue (29-8) advances to face 11th-seeded Texas in the West Region semifinals Thursday in San Jose, Calif. It’ll be the teams’ first meeting since Purdue eliminated Texas in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
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Shelton Henderson led the Hurricanes with 18 points and eight rebounds while also frequently guarding Smith, and Malik Reneau had 16 points with seven turnovers. Miami matched the recognized NCAA record by increasing its win total by 19 from last season, when it went 7-24. Iowa State improved by 20 wins after the pandemic-impacted 2020-21 season, when it only played five non-conference games.
Kaufman-Renn followed Loyer’s driving layup with a three-point play as Purdue created a little breathing room with an 11-3 run in the second half. Loyer’s steal set up a fast-break layup by Smith that pushed the Boilermakers’ advantage to 68-57 with 5:32 to play.
Smith had more turnovers (four) than assists (two) in an uncharacteristic first half while making just one of his six shots. He ended up 3 for 12 from the field, but he and Loyer were a combined 14 for 14 from the foul line. Loyer, the school’s record holder for 3-pointers, also made all four of his 3s as Purdue was 57 per cent from behind the arc.
After Miami’s strong start that included an alley-oop dunk by Ernest Udeh Jr. just after the opening tip, Loyer powered Purdue into the lead with 10 points during a 13-2 surge. His second 3-pointer in that run put Purdue up 19-12 with 12:19 left in the first half.
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The Hurricanes whittled away at the deficit, limiting Smith’s efficacy, and reclaimed the lead on Richardson’s two-handed jam that made it 31-29 with 4:01 to go before halftime. Miami led 40-38 at the break after Tre Donaldson’s transition layup in the closing seconds.
Syracuse is finalizing a deal to bring back one of its own to lead the men’s basketball program. Siena’s Gerry McNamara is expected to be the Orange’s next coach, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. A deal is not done yet, but every indication is that SU will bring back one of the most beloved players in program history to lead the program in the wake of Adrian Autry’s firing earlier this month.
McNamara winning out comes after weeks of debate amongst big money players at Syracuse, per Norlander’s sources, who said there was a faction of boosters that were adamant about hiring outside the Syracuse/Jim Boeheim tree.
With a variety of potential candidates not showing serious interest due to uncertain NIL capabilities, McNamara quickly became a sentimental and practical lead candidate as the search progressed over the weekend.
While starring as a four-year standout for the Orange, McNamara hit six 3-pointers during a first-half barrage in the 2003 national title game against Kansas. McNamara scored 2,099 career points at Syracuse.
After studying the game under longtime Syracuse coach and Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim, McNamara took his first head coaching position with Siena prior to the 2024-25 season. He went 14-18 in his first campaign before leading the program to a 23-12 record this season.
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In Thursday’s first-round NCAA Tournament game, the Blue Devils — as a 27.5-point favorite — trailed by as many as 13 points during the opening minutes of the second half before storming back to survive what would’ve been one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of any group of kids I’ve been around,” McNamara said after Thursday’s loss. “I think the world and college basketball saw what I’ve been so grateful and thankful to be around all season, a group of kids that love each other, that compete at the highest level and play for each other.”
Duke’s Jon Scheyer said after the game that he was out-coached by McNamara.
“I appreciate the compliment, but it’s those kids. It’s the kids that just walked away,” McNamara said. “It’s my staff. I’ve got an incredible group in that locker room. Like I said, a lot of people have game plans. Duke’s been able to pretty much wash that out in pretty much any team they’ve played.”
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McNamara’s parting words to Siena
While he wasn’t asked directly about other jobs following the loss to Duke, McNamara did address a question centered around what it has meant to him leading the Siena program. McNamara has long been rumored to be Syracuse’s top choice for its vacancy since the Orange fired Autry earlier this month after a third straight NCAA Tournament-less season.
“I’m just really proud,” McNamara said. “I said before, I thought last year we put together a group that was ready to compete right away, and we lost a lot of close games. This offseason was focused on the frontcourt, which you watched Riley Mulvey play today, Francis Folefac, Tas has been hurt, and Antonio didn’t play, we’ve got the best frontcourt, one of the best frontcourts in our league.
“Listen, your kids in a lot of ways are a reflection of you as a coach, and I couldn’t be prouder in terms of how hard they play. That gives us a chance. So when I took the job at Siena, you’ve got to understand that when I played in college, my understanding, Fran was right behind me. This program was in this tournament. The support from the alumni, from the students, from the fans, it’s real. We’ve got a real thing going in Albany.
“I wanted it to feel and look a certain way, feel a certain way in that locker room, a brotherhood, a family. I wanted it to look a certain way on the court in terms of the fight and the grit, and these kids have done all of it. They’ve done all of it.”
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If McNamara is indeed the choice for the Orange, he’ll be tasked with getting Syracuse back to the Final Four for the first time since the 2015-16 season under Boeheim. Since that campaign, Syracuse has only four total NCAA Tournament wins.
Arsenal fans on X are fuming at Mikel Arteta after he included Kepa Arrizabalaga in the starting XI over David Raya to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. The two sides are set to lock horns at Wembley Stadium later today (Sunday, March 22).
Kepa Arrizabalaga starts in goal for the Gunners, while Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Piero Hincapie make up the defense. The midfield comprises of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Kai Havertz. Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Viktor Gyokeres start up front to complete the starting XI.
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Raya has been outstanding for Arsenal this season, keeping 21 clean sheets in 40 appearances across all competitions. However, Kepa has been the go-to star in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season and has kept four clean sheets in nine appearances in all competitions.
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However, fans are unhappy with Arteta handing Kepa his sixth Carabao Cup start of the season due to the magnitude of the game, with one posting:
“Why will you start Kepa in a game of this magnitude? Such a shame”
Another fan tweeted:
“The biggest mistake here is not starting Raya. I hope the defense protects him all through.”
Other fans reacted below:
“I think it’ll be a really, really tight game” – Alan Shearer predicts winner of Arsenal vs Manchester City ahead of Carabao Cup final
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has backed Arsenal to narrowly defeat Manchester City in the upcoming Carabao Cup final, claiming he wouldn’t be surprised if the game went to penalties.
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The Gunners have a great chance of winning the quadruple this season and will be aiming to secure their first trophy of the 2025-26 campaign. While they narrowly defeated Crystal Palace 9-8 on penalties in the quarter-finals, Mikel Arteta and Co. beat Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals to progress to the final. On the other hand, Manchester City defeated Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Days after witnessing Real Madrid eliminate the Cityzens in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Shearer told Betfair (via METRO):
“I think it’ll be a great game. I think there’ll be loads of talking points. It wouldn’t even surprise me if it went to penalties. But I think Arsenal might just nick it. I think it’ll be a really, really tight game, but I’m going to go for an Arsenal win.”
The Gunners last faced City in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium, salvaging a 1-1 draw following Gabriel Martinelli’s last-minute equalizer on September 21, 2025.
Evander Holyfield has offered his thoughts on the potential exhibition match between Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson, which has not yet been formally announced.
Their non-competitive tussle was originally slated for April 25, before Mayweather’s rematch with Manny Pacquiao was confirmed for the Sphere, Las Vegas, on September 19.
According to Babcock, Mayweather is still likely to face Tyson in the Congo, before putting his 50-0 (27 KOs) record on the line against Pacquiao later this year.
Tyson, however, is approaching the age of 60 and has not seen action since trudging through eight, two-minute rounds against Jake Paul in November 2024.
But despite all of this, heavyweight legend Holyfield has told clockednloaded that he sees Tyson, the naturally bigger man, getting the better of Mayweather in their possible exhibition.
“I got Tyson. He a bigger puncher, man. I just think, if they compete, [Tyson] ain’t going to let nobody get the best of him.”
Holyfield pulled off a sizable upset against Tyson in 1996, stopping him in round 11, before winning by disqualification in their immediate rematch.
SportsLine’s model simulated St. John’s Red Storm vs. Kansas Jayhawks and revealed its college basketball picks for this NCAA Tournament 2026 second-round matchup on Sunday
Tottenham suffered a potentially seismic 3-0 defeat to Premier League relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday, failing to rise to a rallying call from their massed ranks of fans. Thousands lined the streets to cheer the squad before the crunch fixture in north London and there was a crackling atmosphere in the ground as kick-off approached. Spurs bossed the first half but Forest took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Brazilian forward Igor Jesus headed home a Neco Williams corner. Forest doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Morgan Gibbs-White finished under Guglielmo Vicario and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi compounded Tottenham’s misery with a late strike.
The vital win for Vitor Pereira’s men lifts them above Spurs, who are now just one point and one place above the bottom three.
Last year’s Europa League winners are staring at the nightmare prospect of relegation from the top tier of English football for the first time since 1977 unless they can arrest their steep decline.
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As if to underline the club’s current plight, a few miles across London, bitter rivals Arsenal were gunning for their first trophy of a potential quadruple in the League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Spurs, led by interim boss Igor Tudor, came into Sunday’s game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a win in the Premier League since late December.
But they were buoyed by last week’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a midweek win against Atletico Madrid, even though they exited the Champions League on aggregate.
Fans rally
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Fan groups set up a initiative ahead of the game called “Show Up, Sing Up, Stay Up”, calling for supporters to rally.
Fireworks were let off and a section of fans chanted the name of former boss Mauricio Pochettino before the team bus was serenaded with chants of “Come on you Spurs” as white and blue smoke filled the air.
A message on the stadium screens from captain Cristian Romero said: “We’ll fight for everything, all together.”
Forest, who started the day just outside the drop zone, looked the more dangerous team in the early minutes but Tottenham settled and started to enjoy the bulk of the possession, with Richarlison heading wide.
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However, the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances and paid the price when Jesus put Forest ahead in the 45th minute, meeting Williams’ corner with a bullet header.
Spurs came within a whisker of levelling at the other end but Forest goalkeeper Matz Selz touched Mathys Tel’s powerful shot onto the crossbar in the dying seconds of the opening period.
As the half wore on the home fans among the crowd of 61,519 became increasingly edgy.
And they were shocked into silence when Gibbs-White, a target for Spurs in last summer’s transfer window, slotted home in the 62nd minute from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.
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Tudor made a number of attacking changes, bringing on Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons, but to no avail.
Awoniyi’s goal in the 87th minute sent home fans scurrying for the exits.
The only chink of light for Spurs on Sunday was a 2-0 defeat for West Ham against Aston Villa, which leaves the Hammers in the bottom three.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
LIV Golf’s recent sprint across the globe featured stops in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa in three successive weeks. This week’s tournament at Midland’s Club at Steyn City marked the league’s first-ever event on the African continent, and the fans turned out in droves.
Those fans got their money’s worth too, with an opportunity to witness a heavyweight battle between LIV’s two biggest names, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. On Sunday, Rahm eradicated DeChambeau’s three-shot lead by firing a bogey-free, eight-under round of 65 to reach 26 under par.
DeChambeau fired a final-round 68 to also get to 26 under par, sending the two to a playoff for the individual title. On the first playoff hole, the 651-yard par-5 18th, DeChambeau hit the green in two with a magnificent fairway wood from the wet ground left of the fairway, giving him a makeable look at eagle while Rahm found the greenside bunker.
Rahm left his bunker shot outside of DeChambeau’s mark, and when Rahm missed his birdie putt, DeChambeau had two putts to win, making his victory all but assured. DeChambeau hit his eagle putt to tap-in range, securing his birdie and the win, making him LIV’s first back-to-back winner since Talor Gooch won in Adelaide and Singapore in 2023.
DeChambeau was immediately overcome with emotion after holing his putt, tearfully embracing his caddie and later, his Crushers GC teammates, who also secured a team win, edging the home-country favorites, Southern Guards GC, by a single shot.
In his post-round interview, DeChambeau remained coy about the source of his emotion.
“I wish I could tell you,” he said. “A lot has happened in the past week. I’m just so grateful for my team, the Crushers, everybody supporting me. It’s so funny, golf is a fickle game, and you work so hard at it your whole entire life, and you realize that golf is just golf and there’s a lot more to life than just golf.
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“I had some things happen in the off time during this week, and I was just praying all day, praying to give me the perseverance to move forward and keep looking forward,” he continued. “I’ve just got to say I love everybody. Thank you for supporting. South Africa was unbelievable. I mean, got to be the best LIV event we’ve ever had.”
DeChambeau now has five LIV individual titles, and his team, Crushers GC, leads the league with nine team victories.
The South Africa event is LIV Golf’s final tune-up before the Masters. The next stop is Mexico City, which will take place at Club de Golf Chapultepec April 16-19.
Time was when Tasmania was better known for caricatures than courses. Mention of it conjured thoughts of a cartoon devil on a far-flung island with a penal colony past.
That perception began shifting in 2004 with the opening of Barnbougle Dunes, a Tom Doak design that soon gained a sibling in Lost Farm by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. With that one-two punch, Australia’s smallest state became the antipode’s answer to Bandon, Ore., a remote-golf must.
Now there’s even more reason to make the trip.
The added incentive is 7 Mile Beach, a rumpled layout along a crescent-shaped shoreline of the same name, 20 minutes from Tasmania’s capital, Hobart. Decades in the making, the project is the brainchild of Tasmanian native and former Tour pro Mat Goggin, who brought in Mike Clayton and Mike DeVries to route holes through wild coastal dunes.
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The result is a true links, with fast-running fescue fairways, wispy grasses and water views from every hole. The wind is no cartoon. It’s real, often frisky and central to a course with a vivid sense of place.
Plan your dream golf trip with 8AM Travel. Contact discovery@8amtravel.com today.
Max Verstappen‘s mother, Sophie Kumpen, congratulated her son on his victory at the NLS2 at the Nurburgring on Instagram. Before the Dutchman was stripped of the win after being disqualified for a tire infringement.
Verstappen took part in the NLS2 as part of his preparations for the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring in May, which he on Saturday will be taking part in. The F1 star won the race on track, driving the #3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, operated by Winward Racing. He shared the driving duties with Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon for the event.
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After the race, Max Verstappen’s mother and former racing driver herself, Sophie Kumpen, congratulated the driver and his team via her Instagram on Saturday. She reshared a photograph of the three-man team, as she wrote:
“Congrats, simply lovely”
Screen grab of Sophie Kumpen’s Instagram story [via Instagram/@sophiekumpen]
However, after the race, it was announced that the #3 entry, featuring Max Verstappen, had been disqualified from the race due to a technical infringement, meaning they lost the race result. This reason was a tire infringement, as the team used seven sets of tires on race day as opposed to the legal six.
However, the purpose of taking part in the event for Verstappen and his team was always to get familiar with the track and car ahead of the 24-hour event. The same team, car, and driver lineup, with the addition of Lucas Auer, will be taking part in the endurance race in May.
Verstappen also admitted after the race that he could potentially return for one more event at the Nurburgring-Nordschleife in April since the F1 calendar is now vacant in the month of April, due to the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.
Mercedes Motorsport release statement after NLS2 disqualification for Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix – Source: Getty
Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, Stefan Wendl, released a statement after Max Verstappen and Co. were stripped of their NLS2 win on Saturday. Wendl explained that the tire infringement that lead to the disqualification occured during qualifying, rather than the main race.
Explaining the situation, Wendl said that the team had “mixed feelings” after NLS2, as he added:
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“During routine checks by the technical commission, it was found that the team used seven sets of tires instead of the permitted six. The error occurred during qualifying, when multiple driver and tire changes were practiced.”
Wendl also added that everyone involved was disappointed as a internal team mistake cost the #3 outfit the race win in the end. He concluded the statement by saying that everyone involved has begun analyzing how the issue happened, as they begin to prepare for the 24h at the Nurburgring, which is scheduled from May 15 to May 17. For Max Verstappen, the F1 Japanese GP is up next, which is scheduled from March 27 to March 29.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) mishandles a punt during first-half action on Oct 9, 2022, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, as the Buffalo Bills close in on the loose ball during a special teams sequence that shifts field position in a tightly contested matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports.
All things considered, the Minnesota Vikings have operated in the shadows during free agency, making the Kyler Murray signing the only true splash. The franchise is evidently resetting its salary cap troubles, with hopes of having a clean slate in the 2027 offseason. Along the way, though, Minnesota has added a handful of newcomers; these are those men.
Minnesota’s new-look roster is coming into focus after free agency.
From the draft and undrafted free agency, the Vikings will add about 30 new rookies. Here’s a peek at the veterans, listed in alphabetical order.
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Several Fresh Vikings Faces Will Compete for Roles This Summer
The new faces you will see in Eagan when the summer rolls around.
Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker (6) celebrates with visible emotion after a successful sequence against the Arizona Cardinals, Dec 23, 2018, at State Farm Stadium, reacting to a strong special teams performance as Los Angeles controlled field position in a late-season divisional matchup. Hekker and the Rams would win a Super Bowl a few years later. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Johnny Hekker (P)
Hekker earned Pro Bowl selections and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and he received Second-Team All-Pro recognition in 2014 and 2018.
Last year, however, his production dipped, placing him near the middle of the pack. He ranked 24th in net yards per punt and 17th in punts inside the 20, with seven touchbacks, a performance that hovered around average, if not slightly below. Minnesota will be counting on him to rebound.
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Although some expected the Vikings to draft a rookie punter next month, Hekker appears to be the plan for 2026, at least for now.
When Ryan Wright signed with New Orleans on a four-year, $14 million deal, most fans weren’t overly concerned about replacing him, as the punter position is often considered replaceable. However, Wright had developed a strong rapport with Will Reichard, who was coming off an elite season and All-Pro honors.
If Minnesota relies on Hekker, the holding duties should be secure. He handled those responsibilities during the Rams’ Super Bowl run and brings significant experience to the role, which should provide Matt Daniels’s special teams group with some stability.
With the regular season still about five and a half months away, Reichard and Hekker have ample time to develop timing and consistency.
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Kyler Murray (QB)
Murray is 28, and with the Vikings’ relationship, he has a chance to latch on to Minnesota’s quarterback for the next 5-10 years. In a utopia, he’d become the Vikings’ version of Drew Brees when Brees left the San Diego Chargers for the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
Across a 17-game sample — Murray usually misses about a quarter of all games to injury — he posted Pro Bowl numbers, including approximately 4,000 passing yards, 30 all-purpose touchdowns, and around 600 rushing yards. He’s basically Lamar Jackson when healthy by the volume stats.
Now, the question becomes whether he meshes with Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Some fans have concerns about that. Stay tuned.
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No matter what, Murray becoming a Viking for $1.3 million is a legendary economic deal.
James Pierre (CB)
Fans instantly approved of Pierre because of his unholy good 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade from last year. He played about 40% of the time in Mike Tomlin’s seasons, connected to Tomlin’s roster since the start of 2020. In that vein, think of him as the Steelers’ version of Josh Metellus.
He’s a temporary solution, however, at age 29. The Vikings can still draft a cornerback in April.
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Pierre took over as a starter for Darius Slay in 2025, which is quite the feat. Still Curtain‘s Thomas Jaggi wrote about the veteran corner before the start of free agency, “While Pierre will soon be free to sign with another team when free agency kicks off, the Steelers should focus on getting him back. Just as impressive was Pierre’s lack of production allowed to opposing receivers in coverage.”
“PFF credited Pierre for allowing just 16 receptions for 163 yards on the season, while allowing one touchdown to go with one interception. Quarterbacks had a 57.2 passer rating when throwing in his direction. Pierre will turn 30 years old at the start of the 2026 season, and top-end speed has never been on his side.”
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) exchange jerseys following an AFC wild card matchup, Jan 11, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium, sharing a moment of sportsmanship after a hard-fought playoff game between division rivals. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Pierre will hold the job that Jeff Okudah and Fabian Moreau filled in Minnesota last season.
Jaggi added, “Though his career got off to a late start, it’s possible that he only has another year or two of his prime before his performance starts to decline. Regardless, James Pierre is coming off an excellent season, and the price is right to keep him around — perhaps on a two-year contract.”
“As long as another team doesn’t come along and drive up the pricetag in free agency, this should be an easy call for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
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Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Van Demark is the new Justin Skule or David Quessenberry, an OT3 in case Christian Darrisaw or Brian O’Neill get hurt. He logged a remarkable season by his standards last year and is just what the doctor ordered for Minnesota.
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) lines up during postseason action against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jan 21, 2024, at Highmark Stadium, battling in the trenches as Buffalo worked through offensive possessions in a tightly contested AFC divisional round game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
A peek at his brief PFF scorecard:
2025: 74.4 (312 snaps)
2024: 53.3 (199 snaps)
2023: 60.2 (47 snaps)
Like the Skule signing at this time last year, Van Demark, 27, profiles as a player who can start in a pinch, perhaps as a diamond in the rough.
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![Screen grab of Sophie Kumpen's Instagram story [via Instagram/@sophiekumpen]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2026/03/f5db5-17741685752337-1920.jpg)
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