It was an honest answer, and one that now lands differently in Minnesota, where the Vikings are coming off a 9-8 season, missed the playoffs and the stunning firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, just months after a contract extension.
Darnold, meanwhile, is preparing to play in Super Bowl LX in his first season with the Seattle Seahawks.
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Jefferson’s comments were not necessarily a shot at Minnesota’s current quarterback room. Instead, they reflected the reality of a season that unraveled after the Vikings chose not to re-sign the quarterback who had helped guide them to a 14-3 record in 2024.
Darnold arrived in Minnesota as a temporary solution while the organization waited on first-round pick J.J. McCarthy’s recovery from a knee injury. When McCarthy went down for the year, Darnold delivered the best season of his career, throwing for more than 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns and leading one of the most productive offenses in the league.
The long-term plan, however, never changed. Minnesota turned the offense over to McCarthy in 2025, and the results were uneven. McCarthy’s injuries and inconsistency pressed veteran Carson Wentz and rookie Max Brosmer into action, and the Vikings’ offense fell from ninth in scoring to 26th. Minnesota ended the regular season on a five-game win streak, but narrowly missed out on the playoffs.
Seattle took the opposite path. The Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year deal, watched him earn another Pro Bowl nod and rode a balanced roster to a franchise-record 14 wins and a Super Bowl berth.
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For Jefferson, the difference was familiarity and stability — something the Vikings rarely had under center in 2025.
“Everyone knows the difficulty of the quarterback position this year, of how we were dealt it,” Jefferson said. “But having a quarterback that already had a season under his belt with us, knew the plays, knew the playbook, knew the players — throwing to me, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, all these guys — I definitely feel like we would have done better. But it is what it is. It’s on to new and better things, but I’m definitely happy and proud for him that he was able to reach it this year.”
Watching Darnold reach the Super Bowl has stirred conflicting emotions for Jefferson, who admitted it hasn’t been easy seeing another team enjoy the success Minnesota hoped to chase.
“It’s definitely tough. It’s tough to watch,” Jefferson said. “I love that he’s in the Super Bowl. I’m happy for him, I want nothing but the best for him, especially the way his journey was at first, people doubting him and people not giving him the respect. Now they’re giving him the respect. Now they’re seeing that he’s a top-tier quarterback in this league. Of course, selfishly I wish he had done that for us last year, but to see him blossom and bounce back right after last year and make it this year, I’m happy for him and I hope he wins.”
The intense matchup of Aeliana versus Dubai Honour unfolded as a gripping contest between premier weight-for-age horses at full strength.
Aeliana tapped into reserves to overhaul Dubai Honour and snag the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) conducted at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, both elevating their profiles in a pulse-pounding finale.
Chris Waller, inductee in the Hall of Fame, equated Aeliana with his ex-champion Verry Elleegant, as English visitor Dubai Honour illustrated that years don’t limit peak racing.
Here was weight-for-age at peak quality – two superior runners in fierce combat, directed by global riding masters with aggressive approaches.
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Tom Marquand on Dubai Honour grabbed the front, making James McDonald place Aeliana immediately behind and monitor the threat closely.
The ploy was inches from success. Rounding into the final stages, Marquand sent Dubai Honour clear by three lengths, poised to nab the prize.
Aeliana wouldn’t relent though. Ridden by McDonald, she methodically narrowed the deficit, prevailing stride for stride at the end.
“I was worried from the 300m to the 100m but Aeliana was very brave,” Waller said.
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“It’s hard to beat a (William) Haggas horse when they’re being set for a race as Mr Haggas does.
“He shows us what training’s all about when he comes down here. We knew we had to be on top of our game.”
The Tancred Stakes history includes legendary fights like Octagonal over Arkady in 1997 and Makybe Diva by Grand Armee in 2005 – this one joins the top tier.
Aeliana at $1.70 favourite triumphed by a short head over the $3.60 Dubai Honour, Vauban ($7) trailing by close to five lengths for third.
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McDonald notched his 10th Group 1 this term, far from simple.
“I had to be pretty patient on Aeliana because I learned a bit on her the other day,” McDonald said.
“I thought even though it wasn’t ideal letting them get so far in front, I had confidence that the mare would pick him up.
“Once she balances up, then she finds.”
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McDonald noted a preference for cover yet adapted to Marquand’s bold lead.
“It wasn’t my plan to give him so much of a head start, but I just waited and waited for her to be ready and when she was ready she just exploded,” he said.
“At the 300m, I could feel her building underneath me. I just felt if I went earlier, I would’ve been out of my comfort zone. It was a chance I was willing to take and I’m glad it paid off.”
The tactic from Marquand was calculated.
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“We kind of knew what would happen if we just sat and did what we normally do,” he said.
“We tried something different and it nearly worked, but the filly was very good.”
Issy Paul, assistant to Dubai Honour’s team abroad, agreed.
“It’s disappointing to lose but he’s run a great race. I’m very proud of him.”
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Star Thoroughbreds’ Denise Martin secured Aeliana for $180,000; she has six victories in 18, three Group 1s, over $4.3 million earned.
Zac Lloyd maintained his excellent run in the Sydney autumn carnival, posting four triumphs at Rosehill including a Group 1 score astride Kiwi filly Belle Cheval in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
Exactly seven days after his $5 million Golden Slipper win on Guest House – one of three that weekend – Lloyd proved his prowess once again.
He began with a win on Annie’s Rose in the Midway Handicap (1300m), then delivered successes via Belle Cheval in the Vinery (2000m), Idle Flyer in the Emancipation Stakes (1500m), and Welwal in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m).
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, like Guest House, Welwal benefited from blinkers and wet conditions to notch his maiden win since November 2024.
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“He was fantastic, that horse. Geez, he let rip and he’s won that convincingly,” Lloyd said.
“The blinkers have done good work, and he was just there ready to go.”
Victors of the Doncaster Prelude bypass the ballot for next Saturday’s Doncaster Mile (1600m), yet Welwal remains un-nominated and ineligible for late inclusion owing to handicaps.
Price was thrilled regardless, seeing the success as earned after multiple unlucky outings.
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“Trainers always say, my horse had no luck after the race, but it is true,” Price said.
“He needs a bit of room around him and a soft track, and this distance, and he’s a nice horse. (Owner) Alf Gauci has been a client of ours for thirty years and hopefully he’s having a few tears right now, because he does wear his heart on his sleeve.”
At $11, Welwal quickened impressively in the run home, defeating Feroce ($12) by 1-1/2 lengths, as Lord Penman ($15) surged to third three-quarters behind.
Nigeria’s Samson Adamu has been appointed Acting Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football.
The appointment was confirmed on Sunday, making him the first Nigerian to hold the position since CAF was established over 70 years ago.
Adamu takes over from Véron Mosengo-Omba, who resigned from the role on the same day.
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Before his new appointment, Adamu served as CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events, where he played a key role in organising major competitions across the continent.
His appointment was proposed by the CAF Executive Committee and approved by the Congress during its meeting at the Giza Palace Hotel.
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League 2026 clash at the Wankhede Stadium.Mumbai Indians have opted to field on what appears to be a slightly greener surface than usual at the Wankhede. Notably, Suryakumar Yadav is not part of the starting XI and is expected to feature later as an Impact Player.
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Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Blessing MuzarabaniMumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton(w), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, AM Ghazanfar, Trent Boult, Jasprit BumrahSpeaking at the toss, Pandya explained the decision to bowl first and expressed confidence in his squad.“We are going to bowl. Looks like a good track, it appears greener than it used to. Let’s see how it plays. This is our fortress, the crowd is behind us and we’re looking to play a good game. We started a couple of weeks earlier, have plenty of experience and a mix of youth. Rohit, Surya, Mitchell Santner – so there’s no shortage of captains; I’m just excited to go out there and perform. We’re going with 6 batters and 5 bowlers.”On the other side, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted he would have preferred to bowl first as well, given the unusual grass cover on the pitch.“We were looking to bowl, never seen this amount of grass at Wankhede. Preparations have been good, couple of camps in Kolkata and in Mumbai as well. Know that MI is a champion team and we’re looking forward to be playing against them. Just stay at the moment and don’t look at the past. A couple of injuries – we’re going with 6 batters and 5 bowlers. Four overseas players – Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Sunil Narine and Blessing Muzarabani.”Mumbai Indians also handed out debut caps to AM Ghazanfar and Sherfane Rutherford, while Shardul Thakur marked his return to the franchise.Interestingly, MI will be looking to break a long-standing trend, as they have not won their opening match of an IPL season since 2012.
It was a usually dominant performance from the 21-year-old, once again utilising his speed and power to first drop Franklin in the third round, before getting the finish in round five with a devastating uppercut which left Franklin flat on his face in the middle of the canvas.
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The career progression of Itauma has been similar to that of Dubois, who also rose up the heavyweight ranks as an exciting youngster and stopping most of those that crossed his path, and ‘DDD’ has given his take on his countryman’s latest win.
“What a shot, he put that together well. It was a good test up to that point. He’s on his path and he’s looking good.”
Dubois then admitted he could see a fight against Itauma in the future, but is currently focused on his WBO heavyweight title clash which takes place against Fabio Wardley in May.
“Eventually I think everything can happen, but I’ve got to take care of business first.”
Dubois finished by answering if he sees any weaknesses in Itauma.
Senegal on Saturday paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy they have been ordered to return ahead of a friendly against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on March 17 reversed Senegal’s 1-0 final victory over Morocco in Rabat on January 18 and awarded a 3-0 victory to the hosts.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo will not be retiring anytime soon.
The 71-year-old head coach was asked what he would be doing in five years after his team’s 67-63 loss to UConn in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, and he brushed off the possibility of retirement.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the first half against North Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., March 19, 2026.(Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo)
“We all talk about retirement,” Izzo said. “Why? What the hell am I going to do? The minute I don’t feel good, the minute I don’t feel like I’m giving my AD or president or school every ounce of energy I have every day or that energy drops, you don’t have to worry about it. I don’t steal money. I won’t steal anybody’s time.”
Izzo said he still has some things that he wants to accomplish before calling it a career. He said he would be going into the portal the day after the team’s loss.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the second half against Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., March 21, 2026.(Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP Photo)
“Tomorrow I’m going to the portal,” Izzo said. “The only difference is the portal at Michigan State is different than the portal at most places. I’m going right to my frickin’ locker room, and I’m going to talk to each and every player right there. I’m going to make some decisions about what we’re going to do that I feel very comfortable with.”
The Iron Mountain, Michigan, native said he has seven or eight guys returning next season and a recruiting class he feels good about.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo yells during the second half of a Sweet 16 game in the NCAA Tournament against UConn in Washington, D.C., March 27, 2026.(Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
Izzo began coaching at Michigan State in the 1995-96 season and has been the team’s head coach ever since. He has amassed a 764-310 record, including a 61-27 record in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State went 27-8 this season.
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“I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m just not lucky enough to be playing on Sunday,” Izzo said. “I’ll get to play on another Sunday. Hang around.”
Minnesota Vikings defensive back Harrison Smith (22) looks on from the sideline prior to kickoff against the Seattle Seahawks, with the scene unfolding on Aug 18, 2019 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, as Smith surveys the field and prepares mentally for preseason action at home. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
April is three days away, which means it’s draft month for the Minnesota and 31 NFL teams, one of the most suspenseful months on the football calendar — perhaps even more than some regular season months. Accordingly, let’s get some Vikings-themed predictions on record.
April could swing a few major Vikings storylines into focus.
The club is expected to win eight or nine games next season, which is pretty much what oddsmakers say every year about Minnesota.
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Projecting the Vikings Developments Most Likely to Hit Next
Ranked in no particular order, these are Vikings predictions for April and beyond.
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (DL21) appears on the SiriusXM NFL Radio set during Combine week, Feb. 25, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, as prospects rotate through interviews and media sessions while teams gather information ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
5. If Not Dillon Thieneman, the Vikings’ First Draft Pick Is a DT
There is a ghost going around, a ghost that changes every mock-drafter’s mock draft before it publishes on the internet. That ghost ghosts into the network and connects Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman to the Vikings, and the ghost is undefeated.
Yes, Thieneman to Minnesota is all over the place in late March, thanks to Thieneman’s fantabulous Combine showing.
It just seems to good to be true that every ghost has it right, so let’s predict this: if the Vikings buck the Thieneman trend, they will pick a defensive tackle in Round 1 or early in Round 2, depending on a trade, either Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Caleb Banks (Florida), or Lee Hunter (Texas Tech).
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4. The Vikings Sign DT Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader
Brian Flores worked with Wilkins down in Miami to start Wilkins’s career, and in fact, the very first draft pick of the Flores era was Wilkins in 2019.
ESPN reported last week that “26 teams” have called Wilkins’s agent about a 2026 contract, though that feels like agent-driven fluff. If remotely true, Minnesota has an inside track to Wilkins based on the Flores connection. Flores spoke glowingly about Wilkins as recently as last summer.
The Vikings will add Wilkins and showcase him next to Jalen Redmond this fall. If it’s not Wilkins, nose tackle D.J. Reader will be the choice because of his more affordable price tag.
The Viking Age‘s Lior Lambert noted on the prospect of Reader to Minnesota this week, “Reader is one of the biggest names left on the open market. He’d be a legitimate difference-maker for the Vikings (or any club that signs him). Plus, his arrival in Minnesota would be even sweeter knowing it comes at the expense of their NFC North rivals, the Detroit Lions.”
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“After spending the past two seasons with the Lions, Reader can remind them of what they’re missing and go over to the enemy. The Vikings present him with a unique opportunity to step into a meaningful role and exact revenge on Detroit twice annually. The Vikings can kill two birds with one stone by signing Reader.”
Reader is 6’3″ and 335 pounds. He’s a unit.
Lambert continued, “As a fifth-round pick in 2016 with a decade of experience in the league, Reader has seen it all. His knowledge and steady presence could do wonders for an incoming rookie. However, perhaps more notably for the Vikings, he also has plenty left in the tank from an on-field standpoint.”
“Turning 32 in July, there’s a possibility Father Time comes for Reader. Be that as it may, his 2025 efforts suggest that age shouldn’t be a problem yet, as he was PFF’s 30th-highest-graded interior defender out of 134 qualified options (68.9).”
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3. Jordan Addison’s 5th-Year Option Is Locked In
Minnesota isn’t making this mysterious.
It let Jalen Nailor leave in free agency, refusing to match the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offer of $35 million over the next three years.
The Vikings signed zilch for free-agent wide receivers.
Had the front office used just one of those maneuvers, there might be real uncertainty about Addison’s fifth-year option. But they didn’t, and it’s wildly apparent that the Vikings believe in Addison. Hell or high water.
2. Jonathan Greenard Gets an Extension — Not Traded
After signing Kyler Murray two weeks ago, the Vikings, through their actions, showed they’re “in it to win it” in 2026. If they were not, they would’ve let J.J. McCarthy run the show and let the chips fall on his development.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) is brought down by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58), Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during a playoff matchup as Greenard closes quickly to limit yardage in a high-stakes postseason game. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Rondone-Imagn Images.
“In it to win it” teams don’t sell premium EDGE rushers; they actually go out of their way to hoard them. While Greenard wants a handsome extension, Minnesota will realize he is not easily replaceable and pay the man.
Unless Greenard had fundamentally soured on the Vikings as an organization, it never made any sense whatsoever to trade him.
Greenard stays.
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1. Harrison Smith Returns
These are the clues to indicate Smith’s return for Year No. 15:
He hasn’t retired yet; most retirees announce it by this point in the offseason.
Smith played his strongest ball in the final six weeks of 2025; he’s not washed.
Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham sent in retirement paperwork; Smith did not.
Kyler Murray is in the house, renewing the Vikings’ playoff and Super Bowl hopes.
The Vikings signed no safeties in free agency.
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) prepares on the field before kickoff, Oct. 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of a divisional matchup against the Detroit Lions as the veteran defender readies for another NFC North contest. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Perhaps Smith will stick around in 2026 to cross paths with the aforementioned Thieneman, the mock-draft favorite to be chosen by the Vikings at No. 18 in 25 days.
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