Sports

Bears, Patriots, Jaguars clinch playoff berths in stunning first-year coaching turnarounds

Chicago, New England and Jacksonville have clinched playoff spots this week after disappointing 2024 seasons. New coaches Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel and Liam Coen have led impressive turnarounds. According to Sportradar, this marks the 20th straight season with at least one first-year coach making the playoffs. Meanwhile, Kansas City has been eliminated, and Detroit needs help to make it. The NFL’s new overtime rules allowed Seattle to win with a walk-off 2-point conversion. New Orleans’ Taysom Hill has become the first player in the Super Bowl era to reach 1,000 yards in passing, rushing and receiving.

Jumbo Ozaki dies of cancer at age 78. He had the most wins of any Japanese golfer

Jumbo Ozaki has died after a battle with colon cancer. The Japan Golf Tour says Ozaki died Wednesday at age 78. Ozaki was renowned for his power and it carried him to 113 victories, all but one of them in Japan. That’s what kept him from greater recognition, although he once rose to No. 5 in the world ranking. His lone victory outside Japan was the New Zealand PGA Championship. Ozaki was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. He said then his only regret was not playing more outside Japan. But he inspired a nation.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he supports suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf after fan incident

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has thrown his support behind wide receiver DK Metcalf. The NFL suspended Metcalf for two games after an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan. The league denied Metcalf’s appeal on Tuesday. Tomlin said Metcalf shared his side of the story but declined to discuss details. Former NFL player Chad Johnson claimed Metcalf told him the fan used a racial slur, which the fan denied. Tomlin acknowledged the interaction is part of what he called a rise in “volatile rhetoric” in sports. Metcalf’s suspension leaves the Steelers without their top pass catcher as they aim for the AFC North title.

Brooks Koepka is first player to defect from LIV. The next step is if PGA Tour will take him back

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka is done with LIV Golf. The Saudi-funded league has announced that Koepka no long will compete with LIV after the 2025 season. The CEO of LIV says he wants to make his family a priority and stay close to home in Florida. Koepka’s departure is a significant blow to the league as it enters its fifth year. He is one of the marquee names to defect to LIV in 2022 and the first LIV player to win a major at the 2023 PGA Championship. The next question is how the PGA Tour takes him back.

Travis Kelce’s possible final home game for the Chiefs: A bittersweet Christmas showdown

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Travis Kelce has played 96 regular-season home games for the Kansas City Chiefs. The next one might be his last. The 36-year-old Kelce, chosen for the Pro Bowl for the 11th time, will be at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday for a game against the Denver Broncos. With the Chiefs out of playoff contention, it could be his final appearance there. Kelce has not announced his retirement but plans to decide quickly after the season. He’s had a standout year, joining Jerry Rice as the only players with 800 yards receiving in 12 consecutive seasons.

Amorim says Fernandes to miss United game against Newcastle but appears optimistic

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim appears optimistic about the injuries to Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo though he confirmed both midfielders will miss Friday’s game against Newcastle. Fernandes clutched his hamstring and sustained a soft tissue injury in United’s defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday after which Amorim initially said he feared his captain would be out for “a while.” But ahead of the only Boxing Day game in the Premier League Amorim softened his view on the extent of Fernandes’ injury and also the calf problem sustained by Mainoo, who missed the Villa match. Amorim says, “They are recovering. I don’t think that is going to take a lot of time. I think Kobbie will return faster than Bruno.”

Japanese boxing stars Inoue and Nakatani poised for showdown if Saudi bouts go their way

Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are ready to square off in what would be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. There’s one catch: The undefeated boxers each have one more fight and need to avoid a surprise before their expected showdown. Inoue is the undisputed super bantamweight champion and the headliner Saturday in Saudi Arabia. He faces Mexico’s Alan David Picasso. Nakatani who is moving up in weight to make his debut in the division faces Sebastian Hernandez Reyes — also Mexican — on the same card, a showcase of undefeated Japanese fighters.

Ravens, Broncos, 49ers and Seahawks lead the way with 6 players selected to Pro Bowl

Six Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks were selected for the Pro Bowl Games. The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles along with the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers are sending five players. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen, Drake Maye and Justin Herbert are the AFC quarterbacks. Sam Darnold, Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford are the QBs for the NFC. Kansas City’s Travis Kelce was selected for his 11th Pro Bowl, tied with Jason Witten for the second-most among tight ends. Nineteen players were chosen for the first time, including Eagles cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, Dolphins running back De’Von Achane and Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens.

Palace manager unsure when US defender Chris Richards will be available again after foot injury

LONDON (AP) — Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is unsure when United States defender Chris Richards will be available again. The American was taken off on a stretcher with a nasty cut to his right foot in the second half of Palace’s match against Arsenal in the English League Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. Palace hosts Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, then welcomes Fulham on New Year’s Day. Glasner says “The doctor told me it doesn’t look so bad.” The coach adds, “I don’t know if he will be okay for the Tottenham game, but I’m still hoping that he will be back against Fulham.”

Missouri linebacker Damon Wilson II accuses Georgia of illegal punishment in transfer portal lawsuit

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri pass rusher Damon Wilson II claims Georgia’s athletic department is trying to illegally punish him for entering the transfer portal. He filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Boone County, Missouri. Wilson transferred to the Tigers last January after signing a 14-month deal with Georgia’s booster collective. He received $30,000 on a $500,000 deal before entering the portal. Georgia filed a lawsuit last month claiming Wilson owes $390,000 in damages for leaving. Wilson’s countersuit claims the damages are meant to punish him. Georgia spokesman Steve Drummond said the school had no comment due to pending litigation.