The Seattle Seahawks just captured their second Super Bowl title, but can they pull off back-to-back championships? And will the Kansas City Chiefs recover after a disappointing 2025 campaign?
I’m ready to stake my claim on both questions. The 2026 NFL season feels far off, but the league’s calendar is already moving: mock drafts are circulating, the Scouting Combine is approaching, and free agency has only recently begun. Before long it’ll be summer and training camps will be opening.
With that in mind, here are 10 bold predictions for 2026 — a continuation of this column’s tradition. Last year I correctly forecast the Chiefs’ collapse and the Chicago Bears’ breakout, though I didn’t call the Bills’ Super Bowl triumph. Let’s see how these calls hold up for 2026.
NFL adopts 4th-and-13 alternate onside kicks
The league is circling back to talks about replacing traditional onside kicks with a 4th-and-13 option, prompted by changes to kickoff rules and the requirement that teams declare an onside attempt. Recovery rates were abysmal in 2025 — only 5 of 52 onside kicks were recovered (about 9.6%) — so the league wants a fairer, more competitive alternative. The UFL/USFL experiments with a fourth-and-12-style onside play have been somewhat effective (UFL teams succeeded on their versions about 16.6% of the time), and letting a team put its top playmakers on the field for a critical short-yardage gamble makes the game more compelling. It may feel unusual to some, but adopting a 4th-and-13 option makes practical sense.
The tush-push survives
The NFL will revisit the contentious “tush-push” short-yardage play this offseason, with the Competition Committee likely discussing it at the owners’ meeting in March. A recent attempt to outlaw the play fell two votes short of the required threshold, and refs also struggled at times to officiate close scrums. Given defenses have adapted and conversion rates have dipped, I expect the tush-push to remain a legal and useful tactic for teams in goal-line and short-yardage situations.
Could Drew Lock be Seattle’s next Darnold?
Drew Lock — a Missouri native and former second-round pick of the Broncos with a 10-18 record as a starter — could be a value backup or reclamation project in Seattle. At 29 he still has time to revive his career after learning behind starters like Geno Smith and Sam Darnold. Lock signed a modest two-year deal to back up Darnold; with a thin 2026 quarterback class, a veteran like Lock makes sense as depth, especially with Jalen Milroe waiting as another option.
Fernando Mendoza leads Raiders to the playoffs as a rookie
Las Vegas has reportedly hired former Seahawks offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak as its head coach after parting ways with Pete Carroll following a rough season. If the Raiders select Mendoza at No. 1 overall, Kubiak’s system could suit him well. Mendoza may not be as physically gifted as some stars, but his fit in Kubiak’s offense — combined with offensive additions and an improved offensive line — should give Las Vegas a real shot at postseason contention in Year 1 of a new regime.
Dak Prescott’s upward arc continues in Dallas
Prescott flirted with MVP talk last season under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. As the NFC East softens, the Cowboys’ momentum should keep building, especially if they retain playmakers like George Pickens and add offensive help in the draft. Prescott produced 4,552 yards, 30 TDs and a 99.2 passer rating in 2025; if he stays healthy, those numbers should improve and translate to more wins.
Eagles slide into a Chiefs-like decline
A Super Bowl hangover looks likely to deepen for Philadelphia. After an early wild-card exit and organizational uncertainty all season, I predict the Eagles will miss the playoffs in 2026. Jalen Hurts will be working with his sixth offensive coordinator in his Eagles tenure — the team reportedly promoted 33-year-old Sean Mannion, who has never called plays in the NFL. Defensive boss Vic Fangio nearly retired, and questions linger about AJ Brown’s future and Hurts’ standing in the locker room. With head coach Nick Sirianni’s popularity under scrutiny, the Eagles could spiral like the Chiefs did.
Raiders trade Maxx Crosby to the 49ers
Insider reports say Crosby wants out of Las Vegas. At 28 and under contract through 2029, he’d be a prime trade target for a club ready to win now. With the Raiders holding the No. 1 pick and planning a rebuild around a rookie QB like Mendoza, they could flip Crosby for a haul of draft capital. San Francisco is a natural fit: acquiring Crosby would help ease the pressure while Nick Bosa completes his knee rehab and give the 49ers more pass-rush firepower under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Robert Saleh becomes the next Vrabel-like catalyst
Like Mike Vrabel’s turnaround in Tennessee, Robert Saleh could spark a rapid improvement for a new team. Saleh impressed by guiding an undermanned San Francisco defense into the postseason; his experience and defensive mindset, alongside coordinators who’ve worked with top offensive talents, make him a compelling option to develop a young, big-armed quarterback such as Cam Ward (last season’s No. 1 pick). With veteran special teams staff retained and a cornerstone defender like Jeffery Simmons to build around — plus projected league-high cap space — Saleh’s new club could dramatically increase its win total in 2026.
Chiefs return to form and reach the Super Bowl
Expect Patrick Mahomes to mount a comeback season. After a knee injury sidelined him and Kansas City missed the playoffs for the first time in his career, motivation will be high. With Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach retooling the roster and Travis Kelce back, the Chiefs should reestablish themselves near the top — provided Mahomes is healthy and Steve Spagnuolo restores the defense to elite form like he did during Kansas City’s previous three-Super-Bowl run.
But the Seahawks will repeat as Super Bowl champions
Despite the competitive landscape, Seattle’s championship roster remains largely intact: 21 of 24 starters are signed for next season. Retaining Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III will be a top priority, and contributors like Rashid Shahid could also be re-signed. The Seahawks sit near the middle of the pack in cap space, Sam Darnold’s contract through 2026 is affordable, and rising stars such as Devon Witherspoon and Jackson Smith-Njigba will be prime candidates for rookie extensions. With a smart head coach in Mike McDonald and core pieces returning, Seattle is well-positioned to become only the second franchise in two decades to win consecutive Super Bowls.
Fan Take: These predictions matter because they highlight how quickly the NFL landscape can shift — rules changes, roster overhauls and coaching moves all reshape competitive balance. For fans, that means every offseason decision can alter title races and the overall health of the sport, keeping the league unpredictable and compelling.
