Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches the action from the sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium, captured during first-half play on Sep 21, 2025, as Minnesota hosted Cincinnati. The moment reflects in-game oversight and communication as O’Connell monitored personnel groupings, situational decisions, and tempo against an AFC opponent in a regular-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
If you think the Minnesota Vikings are “running it back” with their coaching staff, that just isn’t the case. Over the last few weeks, the club has lost six coaches and counting, mostly to promotions, while head coach Kevin O’Connell continues to backfill the positions.
Six departures have piled up, forcing Minnesota to reshuffle some jobs early in the 2026 offseason.
Yes, O’Connell’s coaching tree is germinating.
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Six Departures Change O’Connell’s Staff
The 2026 offseason didn’t skimp on purple coaching changes.
Brian Angelichio oversees practice duties at Hanbury Manor during the Vikings’ international session in Thundridge, captured on Sep 30, 2022, as Minnesota prepared offensive installations abroad. The image reflects Angelichio’s role in coordinating tight ends and passing concepts while players adjusted to travel, schedule changes, and a condensed preparation window. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Brian Angelichio (offensive passing game)
New Job:Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator
Angelichio departed Minnesota on Wednesday, heading to Mike McCarthy’s new staff in Pittsburgh. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “The Steelers are finalizing a deal to hire Vikings passing game coordinator Brian Angelichio as their new offensive coordinator, per me and Tom Pelissero. Angelichio, also the TEs coach, is back with coach Mike McCarthy. They were together in Green Bay.”
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It’s the top job Angelichio has held in college and professional football through 30 years, and he’ll inherit a stout offensive line, along with wide receiver DK Metcalf, running back Jaylen Warren — and perhaps even Aaron Rodgers.
Minnesota will need a new passing game coordinator on offense.
Marcus Dixon (defensive line)
New Job:Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line Coach
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Dixon’s contract wasn’t renewed this offseason; he evidently stayed his welcome. But in Dallas, he’ll work for Brian Schottenheimer and notably lead defensive tackles like Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Life would be easier for Dixon if Micah Parsons still patrolled Dallas’s defense, but that’s not possible after the Cowboys shipped him to Green Bay five months ago.
Ryan Nielson, who interviewed for the Vikings’ defensive coordinator position in 2023, will take over Dixon’s spot after notably coordinating the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense in 2024.
Michael Hutchings (safeties)
New Job:University of California Defensive Coordinator
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Hutchings actually left town in December before the end of the regular season, jumping at the chance to lead the Cal Bears’ defense.
SI.com‘s Jeff Faraudo wrote around Christmas, “New Cal football coach Tosh Lupoi continues to assemble a young staff of assistants, officially announcing the hiring on Friday of Minnesota Vikings assistant Michael Hutchings as the Bears’ defensive coordinator.”
“Hutchings, a Bay Area native who was a prep All-American at De La Salle High School and played linebacker at USC, comes to Cal later three seasons coaching defensive backs with the Vikings, the past two years as safeties coach. In that role, he worked with former Cal star Cam Bynum, who had three interceptions during the 2024 NFL season.”
The Vikings’ safety job remains vacant in early February.
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Daronte Jones (defensive passing game)
New Job:Washington CommandersDefensive Coordinator
Perhaps the biggest news of this coaching style — after Brian Flores signing an extension to remain with the Vikings — Jones will get his crack at an NFL defense all by himself. He spent five seasons in Minnesota, but left for a year in 2021 to coach LSU’s defense.
Jones won’t walk into a dream situation, yet he’ll have the tutelage of head coach Dan Quinn, who comes from a staunch defensive background.
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These players are already on Jones’s depth chart: Trey Amos (CB), Javon Kinlaw (DT), Frankie Luvu (LB), Jer’Zhan Newton (DT), Daron Payne (DT), Jeremy Reaves (S), and Mike Sainristil (CB).
Minnesota hired Steelers defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander to replace Jones. SteelersNow‘s Chris Ward on Alexander: “Alexander is a big loss for the Steelers, especially with how cornerback Joey Porter Jr. developed under his stewardship.”
“He spent the 2024 season with the Las Vegas Raiders as a safeties coach under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who’s now the DC with the Steelers. Alexander will work under defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Minnesota. Flores was a finalist for the Steelers’ head coach position.”
Chris Kuper (offensive line)
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New Job: N/A
The Vikings’ offensive line underachieved in 2025, even after formulating a formidable fivesome that included Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill. Injuries rattled the unit, too, and the trenches never really found their groove.
Chris Kuper stands on the sideline at State Farm Stadium during playoff action on Jan 13, 2025, as Minnesota faced the Rams in the NFC wild card round. The moment captures Kuper tracking offensive line adjustments, protection calls, and in-game communication amid postseason pressure and elevated tempo and overall execution. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
So, O’Connell did not renew Kuper’s contract, and he remains a coaching free agent.
Assistant offensive line coach Keith Carter accepted a promotion to Kuper’s spot last month.
Mike Pettine (assistant head coach)
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New Job: N/A
Pettine retired a few weeks ago and claimed he may return to the NFL in time. He later revealed in an interview with a Cleveland Browns-themed podcast that he and the aforementioned Flores didn’t see eye to eye, which is probably why Pettine exited stage left.
O’Connell used Pettine on the offensive side of the coaching staff in 2025 because Pettine couldn’t deal with Flores, or so he implied on the podcast.
Mike Pettine speaks with defenders along the Vikings’ bench at Ford Field during first-half action on Jan 5, 2025, as Minnesota met Detroit. The scene highlights Pettine’s in-game leadership, offering schematic reminders and situational adjustments while the defense regrouped between series during a tense divisional matchup under playoff implications. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Pettine originally joined the Vikings at the dawn of the O’Connell era in 2022.
The Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator for the last four seasons, Frank Smith, has taken over for Pettine as assistant head coach, and many believe Smith will force the Vikings to run the football more often and more efficiently. They need it.
The baseball world is mourning the loss of a player who made history with the Detroit Tigers.
Mickey Lolich, remembered as the Tigers’ hero in the 1968 World Series, has died, the Tigers announced. He was 85. Lolich is the last MLB pitcher to win three games in the World Series. He was named World Series MVP that year.
The Tigers said Lolich’s wife informed the franchise that Lolich was recently in hospice care. The cause of death was not released.
In this Oct. 3, 1968, file photo, Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the second game of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.(AP Photo/File)
Lolich is No. 23 on the all-time career strikeouts list with 2,832.
Lolich was an unlikely star of the Tigers 1968 title run. During a reunion of the World Series team, he recalled how manager Mayo Smith had sent him to the bullpen for much of August. He returned to the Tigers’ starting rotation and was 6-1 in the final weeks.
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“I was having a few problems, but I had been a starting pitcher ever since 1964,” said Lolich, who was upset about the bullpen move. “I remember telling him, ‘If we win this thing this year, it’s going to be because of me.’ But I was only talking about the season. I wasn’t talking about the World Series.
“I got my revenge back in the World Series.”
Mickey Lolich, pitcher of Detroit Tigers, poses for a photo in March 1968. (AP Photo, File)
Lolich pitched Game 7 after only two days rest. He figured he would get a Corvette from General Motors for being the Series MVP but had to settle for a Dodge Charger GT because Chrysler was the sponsor in 1968.
“Nothing against Chargers, nothing at all,” Lolich said in his book, “Joy in Tigertown.” “It’s just that I already had two of them in my driveway.”
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Since Lolich, only two pitchers have won three games in a single World Series — Arizona’s Randy Johnson in 2001 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. But they pitched fewer innings and got their third victories in relief.
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates March 30, 2018, in Detroit.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
WWE CCO Triple H is leading the creative side of the business. Often, thanks to Unreal, HHH is seated at the table with writers, pitching ideas. The concern is who he passes the baton to in his absence. Now, it seems the former WWE head writer has a clear vision: Robert Roode.
In a post on X, Vince Russo has sung Roode’s praises. He states that the former US Champion is the only guy who stands out in management. The retired Canadian wrestler currently works for WWE as a match producer. Robert,, better known as ‘Bobby’ is a real and pure professional who carries himself perfectly. If it were for Russo being the decision-maker, Roode would lead WWE into the future.
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The veteran took a moment to humble the former NXT Champion, too. Russo cites him as certainly not the Greatest Worker in the History of the Business. However, neither is he a gimmick nor an ego-maniac and surely not a ‘Walrus’. Roode is the GUY.
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Why Did WWE Waste This Year’s Royal Rumble? Find Out!
The 49-year-old was still pretty much active till mid-2022. However, later that year, Roode underwent neck surgery. In May 2023, he underwent another. In the next few months, he took on the role of a match producer and retired from wrestling.
Robert Roode’s resume in WWE
The first title Roode won was the NXT Championship. Known exceptionally for his workhorse nature and technical abilities in TNA, the Stamford-based promotion trusted him. Within a year of his debut, he defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the NXT title in 2017. Later on the main roster, he won the US Championship in 2018 in a tournament.
Later that year, the Glorious star captured the RAW Tag Team Championships with Chad Gable. Roode and Gable defeated Authors of Pain. Next year, he teamed up with Dolph Ziggler, Dirty Dawgs. They defeated Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman for the same titles. In 2021, his last reign as a ‘Dirty Dawg’ came as he held the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
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ONE bantamweight MMA contender Carlo Bumina-ang of the Philippines said Marcos Aurelio should keep his head up high in the aftermath of their ONE Fight Night 39 showdown.
‘The Bull’ pushed Aurelio from the ranks of the unbeaten on Jan. 23, handing the Brazilian his first career defeat with a crushing TKO finish inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
The 31-year-old bucked a slow first round and found his opening in the ensuing frame, dropping Aurelio multiple times with ferocious punches to get back in the winning column.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
In his ONE Fight Night 39 post-fight interviews, Bumina-ang graciously commended the talented 21-year-old.
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The Team Lakay standout said Aurelio has a bright future and will bounce back from this loss.
“He’s still young and he can do more in this sport. And I know he will come back, like I said, I know he will come back stronger, and he will keep on pursuing his dream.”
“I’m just so happy that I was the first to stop him, but that’s what we always do, you know? We stop our opponents.”
Carlo Bumina-ang says Marcos Aurelio showed a lot of heart
Carlo Bumina-ang hit Marcos Aurelio with everything he’s got. Somehow, the 21-year-old survived the first wave of punishment and tried to regain his bearings.
‘The Bull’ shared with Nick Atkin of The Bangkok Post:
“Yeah, he was already stumbling. The referee gave him a few seconds to give him a chance, but he didn’t recover, so it needs to be stopped, or he would get more damage.”
North American fans can stream the ONE Fight Night 39 replay on demand via Prime Video.
Shakur Stevenson thrust his name into pound-for-pound contention with a statement victory over Teofimo Lopez on Saturday night, and the Newark-born superstar has declared his belief that there is only one active fighter on the same level as him.
Stevenson’s victory saw him become the third-youngest four-division world champion in boxing history, with the 28-year-old getting his hands on the WBO super-lightweight world title without hardly breaking a sweat.
However, without becoming undisputed, as the likes of Inoue, Dmitry Bivol, Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney and Artur Beterbiev have, it is tough to argue how Stevenson can sit above them all in the rankings.
Yet, in an interview with Cigar Talk, Stevenson revealed that he sees himself as the ‘best fighter on the planet’, with unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk being the only active boxer that is on his level.
“I am number one, to me, the best fighter on the planet. The only other fighter that I see in boxing right now that I see and think [he is on my level is] Usyk, that is at – the art of hitting and don’t get hit at the same time – boxing.”
After months of speculation, Panarin was finally dealt to the LA Kings on Wednesday. As part of the transaction, the Blueshirts received forward prospect Liam Greentree along with a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
Artemi Panarin waived his full no-movement clause to join the Kings, while the Rangers retained 50% of his salary, as he was in the final year of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract. Panarin signed a two-year, $22 million extension ($11M AAV) with the Kings immediately after the trade.
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Many Rangers fans on X (formerly called Twitter) were furious with the return they received in the deal. One tweeted:
“What a f****** disgrace. Chris Drury is the worst GM of all time. Fire him for his sabotage. f*** Chris Drury.”
@NYRangers WHAT A FUCKING DISGRACE CHIRS DRURY IS THE WORST GM OF ALL TIME FIRE HIM FOR HIS SABOTAGE FUCK CHRIS DRURY
“We don’t care. Fire your GM. He sucks,” another opined.
“What a garbage return. Well, that should be Drury’s job. He needs to be the next one out the door. Wishing Panarin all the best wherever he goes. I hope Drury has screwed the NYR faithful for the last time,” another chimed in.
LA Kings GM shares his thoughts on Artemi Panarin’s trade
Following the trade, LA Kings GM Ken Holland addressed the media to share his thoughts. He said that Artemi Panarin did not want to be a rental and that the Kings are happy he waived his no-movement clause for LA.
“Obviously, we made the deal today to make our team better,” Kings general manager Ken Holland said via NHL.com. “We signed him to a two-year extension. We weren’t going to do it as a rental. He didn’t want to go anywhere as a rental. He wanted to find a home, so we’re thrilled that he wanted to waive the no-trade (clause) to come to LA.”
He added:
“We’re happy that we were able to get him to a two-year extension, and after two years, I’m hoping that we’re working on another extension, but (I’ll) worry about that down the road.”
Artemi Panarin spent seven seasons with the Rangers. He has accumulated 57 points through 19 goals and 38 assists in 52 games, making him the leading scorer for the Blueshirts this season.
City progressed to meet Arsenal at Wembley on 22 March by beating Newcastle 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium, and 5-1 on aggregate.
But defender Guehi, a £20m buy from Crystal Palace, was not allowed to play as he was not signed in time for the first leg, which also rules him out of the final.
He said: “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup [EFL] that Marc Guehi can play the final. I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. Hopefully we make a letter. You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule I don’t understand. Hopefully they can change it. You hire a player and he can be disposed the next day. Hopefully we can convince the biggest teams. It is difficult to understand.”
Guardiola’s other January buy, Antoine Semenyo, played in the competition for Bournemouth this season but arrived before the meeting with Newcastle at St James’ Park, in which he played and scored.
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And Guardiola is struggling to understand why Guehi, who joined from Crystal Palace on 19 January, is treated differently.
And he added: “Apparently Marc cannot play the second leg because he didn’t play the first. And Antoine arrived before the first so could play. And now it’s the final. Why should he not play? Why not? We pay his salary, he is our player. It’s like the Champions League, the last two games [of the league phase they] cannot play and we have another player.
Pep Guardiola does not think his appeal for Guehi to be allowed to play in the final will be successful (Getty Images)
“I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely. I don’t understand the reason why he cannot play in the final in March, when I have been here for a long time. The rules to buy a player depends on Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League who say, OK the transfer window is open, when you buy a player you have to play, no? It’s logic. Of course we are going to try to ask [for] him to play. Pure logic.”
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Guardiola said he does not expect his appeal to succeed, adding: “No, but we will try.”
But he believes England international Guehi, who lifted the FA Cup as Palace captain last year, will have plenty more opportunities to win silverware in a City shirt.
“We will play a lot [of finals],” he explained. “He is so young. He came to a team that will play in the next years a lot of finals. No doubt about that.”
Sep 11, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings don’t necessarily have oodles of spending money on hand for free agency, but if they find some, the organization has a clear connection to New York Jets running back Breece Hall. Before joining the Vikings in 2025, new offensive line coach Keith Carter served as the Jets’ run game coordinator, and it really doesn’t get any closer to Hall than that from a coach’s perspective.
If Minnesota wants more juice from the ground game, Hall fits the profile, and he has a previous connection to the Vikings’ new OL coach.
Hall won’t be cheap, but Minnesota has a real shot at landing his services if interim general manager Rob Brzezinski is in the mood.
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A New Decision Looms in the Vikings’ Backfield
It’s another name for your Vikings’ free-agent bingo board.
New York Jets running back Breece Hall lowers his shoulder while navigating traffic at MetLife Stadium, captured during first-half action on Sep 29, 2024, as Denver’s Nik Bonitto closes in. The play reflects Hall’s balance and burst through contact, a consistent trait in his workload-heavy role within the Jets’ offense. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Hall to MIN with Carter Promoted?
Carter drew scorn on social media from former Tennessee Titans players a while back, but that didn’t stop the Vikings from hiring him as an assistant offensive line coach last offseason. And when the 2026 offseason rolled around, head coach Kevin O’Connell opted not to retain main offensive line coach Chris Kuper.
That put Carter in the driver’s seat to earn the top OL job in Minnesota, which he fulfilled last week.
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From 2022 to 2023, Carter was in charge of the Jets’ rushing offense, a group highlighted by Hall. Fast forward to 2026 free agency, and Hall is a free agent, expected to command about $10 million to $12 million on the open market.
So long as Hall doesn’t share any of the aforementioned resentment toward Carter and his alleged grueling practices, there’s a path for Hall to land in Minnesota via free agency. Most other Hall suitors won’t have his former coach on staff.
Hall’s Career to Date
Hall’s resume starts with availability, which matters more at running back than almost anywhere else. Outside of a rookie year injury, he’s been consistently on the field, a rarity at RB. Over four seasons, the production has followed: 681 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2022, 1,585 and 9 in 2023, 1,359 and 8 in 2024, then 1,415 yards with 5 scores in 2025. He’s sitting on a 4.5 yards-per-carry career average.
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Minnesota, though, would draw little pushback if it found a way to add him. The Vikings know what that level of output looks like, but the money is tight. That matters, especially with more than $20 million already tied up in the running back room through Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. That’s significant money for the RB spot.
The 2025 rushing attack was serviceable, but it never dominated opponents. O’Connell leaned pass-heavy even when quarterback play faltered, and the ground game never forced defenses to adjust. The draft remains the cleanest long-term answer, yet Hall offers something different: certainty. He’s not a rookie, and he removes draft guesswork. Minnesota would onboard a sure thing in Hall.
Sportsnaut‘s Andrew Buller-Hall on Hall to MIN: “The Vikings should make a strong play for free agent Breece Hall this offseason. Minnesota could have an inside line to signing Hall after promoting OL coach Keith Carter, Hall’s running game coordinator from 2023 to 2024. Yet, other teams will surely have interest in Hall after he compiled a career-high 1,065 rushing yards this season.”
“Hall’s longest rush this season went for 59 yards, and he averaged 4.4 yards per carry. He’d also help replace Jones in the passing game, giving Vikings QBs another option out of the backfield. He’d surely be an upgrade over Jones, especially if the Vikings can still pair Hall with Mason to form an extremely effective 1-2 punch. Not only would that duo help take pressure off whoever plays QB for the Vikings in 2026, it might be one of the best rushing tandems in the NFL.”
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Getting Serious about Fixing the Rushing Offense
These are the numbers for the Vikings’ rushing offense since the arrival of O’Connell four years ago:
O’Connell has never featured a game-changing running back. Dalvin Cook had begun his age-related decline in 2022. Alexander Mattison stunk in 2023. Ty Chandler and Cam Akers are backup tailbacks. Aaron Jones represented a refreshingly productive alternative, but he’s over the age of 30. Jordan Mason is a wonderful roster piece, but is more of a mid-tier RB1 — or elite RB2.
New York Jets running back Breece Hall accelerates upfield after securing a pass at MetLife Stadium, shown in early action on Sep 24, 2023, against New England. The moment highlights Hall’s versatility as a receiver, turning short touches into chunk gains while stressing linebackers and safeties in space. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
It’s time for O’Connell — now a de facto general manager, too — to sign Hall or draft a high-round rookie running back. Don’t leave it until Round 5 for half-measured solutions.
Other Options if Not Hall
For the sake of argument, let’s assume Minnesota will pursue a free-agent running back, but Hall is not interested in the Vikings. These high-profile halfbacks are also scheduled to test free agency:
JK Dobbins
Travis Etienne
Isiah Pacheco
Kenneth Walker
Rachaad White
Javonte Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. jogs across the field during pregame warmups at EverBank Stadium, framed ahead of kickoff on Dec 15, 2024. The image captures Etienne’s readiness and routine as Jacksonville prepared its offensive personnel, emphasizing tempo and focus before divisional competition at home. Mandatory Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
That’s about seven prominent free agents and arguably 5-6 rookie running backs who could move the needle as an RB1.
Now, it’s up to Minnesota to decide if these options are wiser than Jones + Mason again in 2026.
The NCAA denied an appeal for a sixth year of eligibility filed by Ole Miss on behalf of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz and Brandon Marcello reported on Wednesday. The NCAA previously denied Chambliss’ waiver request for an additional season in January. Ole Miss appealed the decision and the NCAA informed the school of its decision — another denial — on Wednesday.
Chambliss, who after transferring from Division II Ferris State led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals, sought a medical redshirt for the 2022 season when he played in only two games. The waiver was denied by the NCAA athletics eligibility subcommittee, a decision Ole Miss called “indefensible.”
“The NCAA athletics eligibility subcommittee’s decision to deny Trinidad’s appeal is indefensible in light of the undisputed facts,” Ole Miss said in a statement. “The NCAA staff and the subcommittee asserted that Trinidad was not denied the opportunity to compete during the 2022 season, despite the reality that he did not dress for a single game while suffering from severe, incapacitating medical conditions. Those conditions were fully and contemporaneously documented by his treating physician, yet this waiver request was still denied when it should have been approved at the NCAA staff level”
On Jan. 16, Chambliss filed a lawsuit against the NCAA for a temporary and permanent injunction that would allow him to play another season for the Rebels. Chambliss’ case will be heard on Feb. 12 at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Pittsboro, Mississippi. CBS Sports reported last month that there is optimism around the football program that Chambliss will eventually be granted an injunction, which would clear the path for him to play in 2026.
“Trinidad’s representatives will continue to pursue all available legal remedies, and we will publicly stand behind Trinidad while holding the NCAA accountable for a decision that fails to align with its own rules, precedent, and the documented medical record,” Ole Miss said.
The legal team for Chambliss criticized the NCAA’s waiver process and claimed their client was “never going to receive fair and good faith consideration of Ole Miss’ request for an additional season of eligibility from the National Collegiate Athletics Association.”
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Notably, Ole Miss and Chambliss agreed on a deal last month — contingent on the NCAA accepting his eligibility waiver for a sixth year — that would see him return as the starting quarterback. Chambliss, who didn’t begin the season as the Rebels’ starting quarterback and eventually won the job from Austin Simmons, guided the program to an 11-1 regular-season record and College Football Playoff wins over Tulane and Georgia before a 31-27 loss to Miami in the semifinals.
With Chambliss’ eligibility in limbo, the Rebels signed former blue-chip quarterback recruit Deuce Knight, an Auburn transfer. Knight would be the projected starter for Ole Miss in 2026 if Chambliss is unable to return to college. Ole Miss also signed Louisiana transfer Walker Howard. Howard had a previous stint at Ole Miss after beginning his career at LSU.
Spire Motorsports driver Daniel Suarez’s wife, Julia Piquet, called out NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi over a misquoted radio message. Suarez is currently competing in the 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and had a few run-ins with his former teammate, Shane van Gisbergen. Following that, according to Piquet, Bianchi misquoted a message from Suarez.
The Mexican driver and the Kiwi driver were once teammates and are now enemies. They both drove for Trackhouse Racing, and now Suarez pilots the #7 for Spire Motorsports, while Gisbergen still drives the #97 Chevy Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse. The 34-year-old has been making his debut with Spire and is in the mood for a fight.
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Following that, during the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Daniel Suarez had a heated moment with his former teammate SVG. Reflecting on that, the #97 driver commented on Suarez:
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“Is the 7 (Daniel Suarez) beefing with everyone?”
Continuing further, the Spire Motorsports driver issued a warning to Shane van Gisbergen. But Jordan Bianchi misquoted the radio message in his X post and wrote:
“I’m going to kick his f***ing ass. Tell (SVG) I’m coming for him.”
Upon stumbling upon that, Julia Piquet was not impressed by his mistake and called him out, sharing an X post along with the full quote. She wrote:
“If you’re going to quote drivers at least be accurate. First part was referring to the sh*t BW was pulling after the caution came out. He actually said “tell the 23 spotter if he pulls that sh*t one more time I’m going to kick his a**.” And then he said “I’m coming for the 97.””
Daniel Suarez joined Trackhouse Racing in 2021 and spent five seasons with the team piloting the #99 Chevy. He secured two wins, 16 top-five finishes, 43 top-ten finishes, and one pole position in 180 starts. He parted ways with the team after wrapping the 2025 season, and NASCAR prodigy Connor Zilisch replaced him.
“I’m not sad for this”: When Daniel Suarez opened up about his exit from Trackhouse Racing
In July 2025, NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez appeared in an interview with SiriusXM. During the conversation, the former Trackhouse Racing driver opened up about his exit from the team, along with his future plans.
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The Cup Series team initially fielded two cars with Ross Chastain in the #1 Chevy and Suarez in the #99. However, Trackhouse Racing acquired another charter from Stewart-Haas Racing and added one more entry with Shane van Gisbergen in the #88 Chevy.
Later, Daniel Suarez claimed he was not sad about his departure and was mentally prepared for the decision. He further told the press:
“I want to make sure that you guys and all the people listening (know) I’m not sad for this. This is just a new chapter. That’s all it is. This is not a sad moment, it’s just a change.”
Daniel Suarez wrapped the 2025 Cup Series season in P29. He secured two top-five finishes at the spring Las Vegas Motor Speedway race and fall Daytona International Speedway race. Additionally, Suarez clinched seven top-ten finishes in 36 starts.
