The 2025 regular season is fast approaching, and while some teams are already shifting into offseason mode, others are zeroing in on the playoff push. Every update takes on greater significance as clubs begin their runs toward Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara: who’s injured, who’s practicing, who will start, and who might be on the hot seat.
Here are the latest league developments:
– Steelers/Mike McCarthy/Aaron Rodgers: Pittsburgh is reportedly planning to hire former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, and sources say the team does not intend to retain four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. Still, that coaching move isn’t expected to end Pittsburgh’s chances of keeping the future Hall of Famer, who has not yet decided whether he will play next season.
– Dolphins/Hafley and Sullivan: The Miami Dolphins have reportedly landed one of the top candidates on the coaching carousel, agreeing to hire Green Bay defensive coordinator Hafley as their next head coach — his first NFL head job at age 46. Miami also brought in longtime Packers executive John-Eric Sullivan as general manager; Hafley and Sullivan worked together in Green Bay over the past two years.
– Dolphins/quarterback situation: After missing the playoffs for a second straight year, the Dolphins face uncertainty at quarterback for 2026. Tua Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games and is owed $54 million in 2026. Cutting him outright would create a roughly $99 million dead-cap hit next year; if designated a post-June 1 release, that cost could be spread as about $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.
– Seahawks/Sam Darnold: Seattle listed Sam Darnold as not injured for the 2026 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, despite his limited practice during the week. Darnold had been questionable earlier in the postseason with an oblique issue. During the regular season he threw for 4,048 yards with 25 TDs, 14 interceptions, a 99.1 passer rating and a career-high 67.7% completion rate as the Seahawks went 14-3, beat the 49ers in Week 18, and secured the NFC West and the No. 1 seed.
– Adam Thielen retires: Veteran receiver Adam Thielen announced his retirement on Jan. 14 after a 12-year career. A two-time Pro Bowler, Thielen spent nine seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2014–22), two with the Carolina Panthers (2023–24), and split 2025 between the Vikings and Steelers. He had three 1,000-yard seasons (2017, 2018, 2023) and two seasons with double-digit receiving TDs (2020–21).
– Jaguars’ Jalen Hunter role: Despite a rookie year cut short by a knee injury after seven games, the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to use Hunter on both offense and defense in 2026, per ESPN. The Jags drafted him No. 2 overall in 2025; he finished the season with 28 catches for 298 yards and a touchdown as a receiver, plus three pass breakups and 15 tackles while playing cornerback. Jacksonville went 13-4, won the AFC South, and fell in the wild-card round.
– Packers/Matt LaFleur extension: Green Bay and head coach Matt LaFleur reportedly agreed to a multi-year contract extension that will keep him with the team for an eighth season. LaFleur had one year left on his deal and had been expected to either get an extension or be let go this offseason. Over his first seven years, Green Bay went 76-40-1 and missed the playoffs only once; however, the Packers have been the NFC’s No. 7 seed three times under LaFleur and he is 3-6 in postseason games.
– Crosby surgery and recovery: Crosby underwent successful meniscus surgery on his left knee in early January and is expected to need about six months to recover before training camp. He recorded 10.0 sacks and 73 tackles for loss in 15 games this season and missed the Raiders’ final two games.
– Falcons/Kirk Cousins contract restructuring: ESPN and The Athletic report Atlanta agreed to restructure the final two years of Kirk Cousins’ deal, a move that could lead to his release by March 13 (the third day of the 2026 league year). The restructuring reportedly converts his 2026 salary from $35 million to $2.1 million and pushes $32.9 million into his 2027 base, making that amount $67.9 million. If he remains on the roster past March 13 his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed, but releasing him after June 1 would produce a $35 million dead-cap hit that could be split as $22.5 million in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027. Cousins started eight of 10 games this season, stepping in for injured Michael Penix Jr., and compiled 1,471 yards, 10 TDs and five interceptions while completing 61.8% of his passes.
– Commanders/veteran return talk: One of Washington’s veteran players, Miller, said he wants to play at least one more season and prefers to stay in Washington. Miller, who signed a one-year deal last offseason, will turn 37 in March and become a free agent then; 2025 was his first full season since 2018, and he finished with 9.0 sacks and 26 tackles for loss over 17 games (three starts).
– Buccaneers/Todd Bowles confident he’ll return: Despite a late-season collapse that left the Buccaneers at 8-9 after a 6-2 start and costing them a fifth straight NFC South crown, head coach Todd Bowles says he isn’t worried about his job security. Bowles, who took over in 2022 and led Tampa Bay to the playoffs in his first three seasons, has three years remaining on his contract and is preparing as if he’ll be back for a fifth season.
Sources: Contributions from The Associated Press. To get personalized newsletters about leagues, teams and players, create or log in to a FOX Sports account.
Fan Take: These coaching moves, contract restructures and veteran decisions will reshape several franchises’ short- and long-term outlooks, affecting draft plans, cap strategy and who fans root for next season. For the league overall, the churn of big-name hires and roster uncertainty keeps parity fluid and makes every offseason headline meaningful for competitive balance and future storylines.
