The 2026 NFL Honors ceremony will unfold on Thursday night at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, and one Minnesota Viking could take home some bacon: defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Flores’ case is built on results, and the Vikings’ defensive prowess gives him a credible path to the ACOTY trophy.

Flores is in the running for Assistant Coach of the Year, and with no clear frontrunner, the Vikings’ defensive boss could win the trophy.

Flores Has a Real Case on Thursday Night

Is it Flores’s turn?

Flores Up for ACOTY

Flores pulled down the nomination last month, and Yahoo Sports‘ Andrew Harbaugh wrote, “On Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flores agreed to a contract extension, despite him being in contention for several head coaching jobs. On Thursday, the prominent defensive mind earned another honor: AP Assistant Coach of the Year nominee.”

“Flores showcased himself once again in 2025 as he was able to make the Vikings one of the best and most feared defenses in the NFL. He also schemed and coached up the likes of Jalen Redmond, Eric Wilson, and Isaiah Rodgers, who had breakout seasons. The team remained one of the more aggressive defenses overall and was a main component of the team finishing the season on a five-game winning streak.”

Now, it’s time to reveal the winner of the award, and it wouldn’t be weird one bit for Flores to earn the recognition.

The Contenders

Who’s Flores’ competition? Quite the field:

• Vic Fangio | Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator
• Brian Flores | Vikings defensive coordinator
• Vance Joseph | Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator
• Klint Kubiak | Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator
• Josh McDaniels | New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator

Kubiak and McDaniels will be spotlighted in the Super Bowl, perhaps giving them a bit of an advantage in the court of public opinion.

Flores was a runner-up last year, as well, to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who now leads the Chicago Bears as head coach.

The Case for Flores

The case for Flores is straightforward. His defense performed marvelously, and in fact, propelled the Vikings to a winning record after the club started the season with a sad 4-8 record.

Over the last two seasons, for context, Minnesota has ranked first in the NFL per EPA/Play. In 2025 alone, Flores’s group pulled down the No. 3 ranking behind the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.

Here’s the statistical skinny for Flores as ACOTY:

• 1st in Pass Rush Win Rate
• 2nd in Yards Allowed
• 3rd in Defense DVOA
• 3rd in EPA/Play
• 4th in Defensive 3rd Down Conv%
• 7th in Points Allowed

Not too shabby.

Flores is now also handsomely paid, having recently secured the aforementioned $6 million-per-season extension. Our Janik Eckardt noted on the deal, “That number is eye-opening for an assistant coach. Most coordinators operate in the low-seven-figure range, which makes Flores’ deal closer to low-end head-coaching money than a typical defensive coordinator salary. In other words, Minnesota didn’t just keep him — they treated him like a franchise pillar.”

“Flores has earned every penny of his new contract, as he turned a subpar unit into one of the best in the business that can single-handedly carry a struggling offense to wins. After a one-year acclimation period in 2023, his squad has been among the league’s best over the last two years and there’s no reason to believe that it would change in the upcoming campaign.”

USA Today Picks Kubiak

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today predicted that former Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the current offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks and presumptive next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, will win ACOTY.

He defended the prediction: “After a run of admittedly chalk picks, maybe there’s some mystery in the final few awards, which lack any consensus surrounding them. Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph could be the pick here after leading the way for the NFL’s most fearsome pass rush, and Josh McDaniels did superlative work in positioning Maye and the rest of the Patriots’ offense to thrive despite some lingering personnel limitations.”

“Kubiak, however, was at the controls for one of this year’s most impressive reworkings with Seattle’s offense, and the unit managed to pull off the high-wire act thanks to his guidance.”

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph took home the ACOTY award from the Pro Football Writers of America last month.

The race could truly bend in any direction, with Flores lurking as a possible winner. In February 2025, Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell took home the NFL Coach of the Year award for the 2024 season. It could be back-to-backers for the purple team.

The show begins at 8:00 pm CST.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are upon us, as the best athletes in the world of winter sports meet in Milan Cortina, and for Team USA, the quest to rack up medals is set to begin. 

Unlike in the Summer Olympics where Americans often dominate the podium, Team USA has lagged behind a bit in recent Winter Games. In 2022, Team USA finished fifth in the medal count with 25 total medals — although their nine gold medals was good for third. 

This year, there are a number of American medal hopefuls looking to top that performance from four years ago, and become household names over the course of the next two weeks. (And here’s the 2026 Winter Games medal tracker.) There is nothing quite like the Olympics, where the entire nation can become infatuated with a breakout star in a sporting event rarely thought of on the national stage in non-Olympic years. 

Winter Olympics 2026: Where to watch the Milan Cortina Games Opening Ceremony, time, date, tv channel

Shanna McCarriston

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In 2026, Team USA is headlined by some longtime stars, first-time medal hopefuls and some youngsters that have been dominating their sport but haven’t yet gotten to do so on the Olympic stage. Below you can find some of the biggest American names to watch in various events throughout the next two weeks of competition.

Alpine Skiing

• Lindsey Vonn
• Mikaela Shiffrin
• Ryan Cochran-Siegle

Vonn’s comeback at 41 years old was already one of the headlines of the 2026 Games, but she’s become an even bigger story as she plans on competing on a torn ACL suffered a week ago. Vonn was viewed as a serious medal threat in the downhill, and it remains to be seen how effective she can be on her injured knee. But if video of her post-crash workout is any indication, she’s going to give it everything she’s got.

Shiffrin is a two-time gold medalist and one of the most decorated skiiers in history, and will be looking to add to her trophy case in the Giant Slalom and Slalom events this year. Her presence has been a bit overshadowed by her legendary teammate’s return, but she is one of the stars of Team USA and will look to remind the world of that over the next two weeks. 

Cochran-Siegle was the only American to medal in alpine skiing at the 2022 Olympics, picking up a silver in the Super-G, and he’s a threat in multiple events on the men’s side. 

Figure Skating

• Ilia Malinin
• Amber Glenn
• Alysa Liu
• Madison Chock and Evan Bates

The American figure skating team is expected to rack up the medals in Milan Cortina, with Malinin leading the way as the favorite in the men’s event. The “Quad God,” known for his routine filled with quadruple jumps, is entering his first Olympics but carries lofty expectations to take home gold. 

Glenn and Liu are among the favorites in the women’s competition and will push each other for a podium spot. Glenn edged out Liu at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships for her third consecutive U.S. title. Liu is returning to the Olympics after retiring at 16 years old following the 2022 Olympics, and won gold at the 2025 World Championships. 

Chock and Bates have won three consecutive world titles and five consecutive U.S. titles, and will be the favorites for gold in the pairs competition. 

Hockey

• Laila Edwards
• Aerin Frankel
• Hilary Knight
• Connor Hellebuyck
• Auston Matthews

The U.S. women’s hockey team is the favorite to win gold and feature a mixture of veterans — like Knight, competing in her fifth Olympics — and young stars like Edwards and Frankel. It is a team loaded with talent that could produce a number of stars at this year’s Games. 

On the men’s side, it’s the first time since 2014 that NHL stars are allowed to compete, and the result is a star-studded roster that will have eyes on gold as well. Two of the standouts are Hellebuyck, a goalie, and Matthews, a center, but there are big names up and down the roster for Team USA — and Canada and others — in the most anticipated Olympic men’s hockey tournament in some time. 

Speedskating

• Jordan Stolz
• Erin Jackson
• Brittany Bowe
• Corinne Stoddard

On the men’s side, Stolz is the best speedskater in the world and is the favorite for gold in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m after winning season-long World Cup titles in all three events in 2024 and 2025. 

On the women’s side, Jackson is the defending gold medalist in the 500m competition, but will face stiff competition from Stoddard, who is a threat to medal in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m distances. Bowe is a four-time Olympian and a former bronze medalist in the 1000m. 

Freestyle Skiing

• Alex Hall
• Alex Ferreira
• Jaelin Kauf
• Nick Goepper
• Mac Forehand
• Tess Johnson

The Americans boast a deep roster in freestyle skiing, where they have medal contenders and past medal winners in multiple competitions. 

Hall is the defending gold medalist in slopestyle, with Goepper a two-time silver medalist, but they’ll be challenged by a rising star in Forehand. Ferreira has two medals in halfpipe, but is still seeking his first gold. Kauf and Johnson are both threats for medals in the women’s moguls competition, with Kauf winning silver in 2022. 

Snowboarding

• Chloe Kim 
• Red Gerard
• Ollie Martin

Kim will have her sights set on a three-peat in the women’s halfpipe, but will come in without the practice time she hoped for as her training was interrupted by a crash that dislocated her shoulder last month. Gerard looks to get back on the podium after winning slopestyle gold in 2018, but will face stiff competition from Martin, a youngster who took home bronze in slopestyle and big air at the 2025 World Championships. 

Curling

• Corey Thiesse and Korey Dropkin
• Danny Casper

Thiesse and Dropkin won the 2023 world title in mixed doubles and are the best bet to medal for Team USA in curling, which becomes everyone’s favorite sport for two weeks every four years. On the men’s side, Casper is the fresh face skipper for the American side, as he took down longtime stalwart and former gold medalist John Shuster at the trials, and he’ll be looking to shock the world and lead his team to a deep run in Milan Cortina. 

Bobsled

• Kaillie Humphries
• Elana Meyers Taylor
• Kaysha Love

Humphries is a three-time gold medalist — winning two with Canada and one for Team USA after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021 — and even at 40 years old remains a medal contender. Meyers Taylor is also a legend, with the most bobsled medals of any American in history with five, going for more at 41 years old. Love is the up-and-comer on the team, and after winning gold in the monobob at the 2025 World Championships is a clear threat to take the throne as the top American bobsledder. 

Luge

• Summer Britcher
• Chevonne Chelsea Forgan and Sophia Kirkby

Britcher won twice during the World Cup circuit this year and is a threat to medal in Milan Cortina. In the doubles competition, Chelsea Forgan and Kirkby have twice won bronze at the World Championships and will aim for a podium finish in their first Olympic Games. 

Skeleton

Ro is a former Summer Olympian in track and field, but made the move to the ice and has found tremendous success in skeleton. She won silver at the 2025 World Championships and will be a medal contender for Team USA. 

Cross-Country Skiing

Diggins is the most accomplished American cross-country skiier in history and will retire after this year. The 2026 Olympics will be her fourth and she’s chasing after her first individual gold, and will be a podium threat in most every cross-country event. 

Biathlon

• Campbell Wright
• Deedra Irwin

Irwin’s seventh place finish in 2022 was the best by an American woman in history, and she hopes to improve upon that with a podium finish in 2026. Wright, who gained U.S. citizenship from New Zealand in 2023, is a podium threat on the men’s side and, alongside Irwin, figures to make Team USA a threat to medal in the mixed relay. 

The Minnesota Vikings have not featured a consistent and true nose tackle in their defense since Dalvin Tomlinson left the team a few years ago. And before Tomlinson, Linval Joseph was the last guy; he left after the 2019 campaign. So when some recent mock drafts have connected Minnesota to Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, few have complained.

Minnesota’s interior remains a priority, and Hunter’s blend of power and movement is starting to look like a realistic fit.

Hunter could be gettable in Round 2, and the Vikings cannot be ruled out of his sweepstakes.

Hunter Enters Minnesota’s Draft Mix

Get to know the name Lee Hunter.

Mock Drafts Go on Spree of Hunter to Vikings

Hunter turned heads with an impressive Senior Bowl showing last week, and accordingly, he’s entered Minnesota’s mock draft fold.

ESPN’s Matt Miller recently mock-drafted Hunter to the Vikings in Round 2 and noted, “The Vikings badly need to get younger and hit on picks outside Round 1. Hunter might eventually move into the first round after a superstrong Senior Bowl week and could start right away as a nose tackle or 1-technique.”

Over at A to Z Sports, Tyler Forness did the same thing: “The Vikings didn’t have a nose tackle last season, choosing to prioritize the pass rush over a solid run defense. To a point, it worked, as the Vikings had the No. 7 overall defense and the No. 2 pass defense. What would it look like with a penetrating run-defender who can also attack as a pass rusher?”

“Hunter was on the best defensive line in the nation this season, and he continued to force double teams due to his combination of quick penetration and power. This could take a huge step forward on a defensive unit that honestly doesn’t need it.”

At this time on the NFL calendar, most of the buzz hits Round 1 hopefuls, but Hunter has wiggled into Minnesota’s Round 2 orbit.

The Hunter Details

Hunter is 6’3″ and 330 pounds. He’ll turn 24 by the time the regular season starts, so it’s not like the Vikings would onboard the youngest of rookies. Perhaps that age has nudged him down to Round 2 in most mock drafts. Hunter is known for run defense and speed at his size. He also has a lengthy college resume, so in theory, he may not need a redshirt year in the NFL.

NFL Draft Buzz‘s Andrew Moore on Hunter: “The combination of size, power, and proven production against Power Four competition makes Hunter a safe mid-round selection who should contribute immediately on run downs. His floor is higher than his ceiling given the athletic limitations and lack of pass-rush diversity, but teams investing a Day 3 pick will receive a player who understands his role and consistently delivers what he does well.”

“Hunter won’t become a Pro Bowl interior rusher, but he has the traits to develop into a dependable rotation player who earns starter snaps if he improves his conditioning and maintains consistent effort. The tape shows a physically impressive defender who needs refinement rather than a project, making him attractive for teams seeking immediate depth with developmental upside.”

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s take: “Hunter is a two-gapping nose tackle for odd or even fronts. He has the size, strength and length to do battle in the heart of the trenches but requires better block take-on technique to sit firmer in his grass. He won’t win in the gaps, but he can stack and shed single blocks or slide and stabilize his run fit against zone blocks.”

“Hunter’s girth and length are advantages when aligning over the center as a run defender. He doesn’t have enough quickness or skill as a rusher to see many passing downs, but he can dent the pocket with his power. Hunter projects as an early down space-eater who can make interior offensive linemen work for their gaps.”

What a DT Room Might Look Like

If the Vikings fulfill the prophecies from Miller and Forness, scooping Hunter from Round 2 of the draft, the 2026 DT unit might look like this:

• Jalen Redmond
• Jonathan Allen
• Javon Hargrave
• Lee Hunter
• Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
• Levi Drake Rodriguez
• Elijah Williams

There are also some early offseason whispers that Minnesota will cut Hargrave as a cap casualty, making the DT need more front and center in the draft.

The Vikings haven’t used Round 1 or 2 draft capital on a defensive tackle since 2013.

Consensus Big Board

Nose tackles don’t often rumble their way into Round 1. Per the Consensus Big Board as of early February, Hunter is considered No. 37 to be drafted in April, deemed as the type of player who could slip into the back section of the 1st Round or anywhere in Round 2.

New Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski is scheduled to pick 18th in Round 1 and 49th in Round 2. With a bit of a slide, Hunter could be available at No. 49.

It’s also worth noting that Minnesota needs defensive secondary help this offseason, a cornerback and a safety, and the 1st-Round pick could be used on one of the positions.

The Vikings haven’t drafted a player from Texas Tech in nearly 30 years: defensive back Tony Darden in 1998.

Mike Vrabel is focused on winning his first-ever Super Bowl as a head coach, but he was already honored this week in San Francisco.

The New England Patriots head coach was named Coach of the Year at the NFL Honors on Thursday night.

Vrabel won the award over his opponent on Sunday in Super Bowl LX, Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald, San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Liam Coen, and Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson.

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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel celebrates after the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on Jan. 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

This is the second time in Vrabel’s coaching career that he has won the award. He received 19 of the 50 first-place votes and had a total of 302 points.

Vrabel first won the award while leading the Tennessee Titans in 2021.

Vrabel is now the seventh coach to ever win Coach of the Year for multiple franchises, joining Chuck Nox, Bill Parcells, Bruce Arians, Dan Reeves, Don Shula and George Allen.

TOM BRADY’S NEUTRAL SUPER BOWL STANCE SPARKS BACKLASH FROM PATRIOTS’ ROBERT SPILLANE AND FRANCHISE GREATS

When the Titans moved on, Vrabel didn’t take a job elsewhere in the NFL. Instead, he waited a year and the Patriots moved on after just a single season under Jerod Mayo.

The Patriots had just won four games for the second straight season, and it’s their first without Bill Belichick at the helm. So, owner Robert Kraft went with another familiar face and former Super Bowl champion, this time with head coaching experience already.

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots speaks with Drake Maye #10 during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 7, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Under his tutelage this season, Vrabel led the Patriots to a 14-3 regular-season record, tied for the best record in the NFL. It’s the biggest turnaround in a single season in NFL history, tied with the 1999 Indianapolis Colts and 2008 Miami Dolphins, who also saw 10-win improvements.

Vrabel was also able to see a perfect 9-0 record on the road, including the playoffs, becoming the first NFL team in history to do so.

Vrabel, of course, would point to his team when talking about his candidacy, but he would be right to look at quarterback Drake Maye, an MVP finalist at the NFL Honors on Thursday night with him. Maye, in just his second season, showcased why he was a top choice out of UNC with his consistency, poise and play-making abilities under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ scheme.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Vrabel and the Patriots are not yet complete with their 2025 NFL season. They still have one game left to play — Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where Vrabel is hoping to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time since he last touched it as a Patriots linebacker in 2004.

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Sunna is one of the latest S-Ranks released in Zenless Zone Zero’s version 2.6 Phase 1. While she is not an ordinary support agent when it comes to her unique kit design, she can still perform well enough when placed in the right team compositions. Here’s a quick guide on her best team compositions as of the current version in Zenless Zone Zero.

Recommended teams for Sunna in Zenless Zone Zero

1. Ye Shunguang, Sunna and Dialyn (premium)

As of now, this is Sunna’s best-in-slot team as a support when compared to the other options. Ye Shunguang is the primary DPS here, who gains a lot from Sunna’s Angelic Coordination buffs and Mesmerized marks, which lets her deal even more damage during Stun windows.

On top of that, Sunna can also repeatedly trigger Ether Veil which can help Ye Shunguang enter her Enlightened Mind state for smoother rotations. Lastly, Dialyn completes this lineup by providing additional Ultimate through her Chain Attack passive and stun generation, allowing Sunna’s marks to trigger more frequently.

Also read: Zenless Zone Zero Sunna build guide: Best W-Engines, Drive Discs, skills, and teams

2. Evelyn, Sunna and Astra Yao (alternative)

This composition is a more accessible premium team consisting of old S-Rank agents. Here, Evelyn acts as the primary DPS, while Astra Yao provides additional buffs via her Quick Assists. Sunna further amplifies the team’s damage as a secondary support, enabling even more Quick Assists, boosting overall team’s ATK, and dealing off-field damage. This lineup is best suited for players who already own these units and want to make use of her kit.

3. Billy Kid, Sunna and Corin (F2p option)

For F2p players, she can still provide noticeable value when paired with A-Rank Attack agents like Billy Kid and Corin. As usual, Billy serves as the main DPS while Corin provides additional damage as a quick swap Sub-DPS. Sunna’s primary role here is to help raise their damage ceiling which can allow them to perform better in early to mid-game content.

What about Anomaly teams?

While Sunna can be used in Anomaly teams, the synergy is limited with the current roster of Anomaly agents in Zenless Zone Zero. Her Additional Ability called Daydreamer’s Counterpoint, doesn’t activate in Anomaly compositions, which already puts her at a huge disadvantage.

The other ability called Cat’s Gaze, does provide some guaranteed CRIT DMG when triggered by Anomaly agents, but that’s where the synergy stops. Without an Attack agent or an Angels of Delusion member in the team, Sunna loses a huge amount of her overall team wide buffs in this composition.

However, that is likely to change with the release of Aria, an upcoming S-Rank Ether Anomaly agent and a member of the Angels of Delusion faction, who can activate her passive and make her a much stronger option for Aria’s Anomaly-focused teams.

Overall, Sunna performs best in Attack-based teams that can consistently make use of her damage buffs during Stun windows. She shines the most in premium lineups, but can still offer similar value in F2P teams across Zenless Zone Zero. Additionally, players planning to pull for Aria can also consider Sunna as a future option for her team compositions.