Ex-Titans coach Brian Callahan lands a new job
Former Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan has landed a new job.
Callahan will be the new pass game coordinator of the New York Giants, according to multiple reports. He will also serve as quarterbacks coach under new head coach John Harbaugh.
The Giants likely have Callahan’s experience working with Joe Burrow in mind here. Callahan was Burrow’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2023 and helped oversee the quarterback’s maturation into a star. The hope is that he can have a similar impact on Jaxson Dart. Dart’s development will be a huge key for the Giants, as Harbaugh has committed to him and in many ways has built the coaching staff to try to make the most of his talent.
Though his time with Tennessee did not work out, Callahan remains a respected offensive mind with a decade and a half of experience coaching in the NFL. He went just 4-19 as head coach of the Titans, and was fired on Oct. 13 following a 1-5 start to the 2025 season.
The Giants actually have the Titans on their schedule for next season, so Callahan will presumably get the chance to show his former team that he can still coach.
Phillies’ Zack Wheeler kept his removed rib after surgery
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler underwent major surgery, but decided to keep a bizarre souvenir from it.
Wheeler admitted to reporters on Wednesday that he kept the rib he had removed as part of thoracic outlet surgery he underwent last September. Wheeler credited his doctor with taking the necessary steps to preserve the rib, and said he is keeping it in his closet for the time being.
“I just have it sitting in the house. It’s in my closet,” Wheeler said.
Zack Wheeler kept his rib that he had removed during thoracic outlet decompression surgery. It’s in his closet at his house.
— OnPattison (@OnPattison) February 11, 2026
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/VWJCMmNoaQ
Wheeler is hardly the first athlete to keep something from a major surgery. He isn’t quite taking it to the same level as Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman once did, though.
Wheeler underwent the surgery last September after a blood clot was discovered near his right shoulder. He will miss at least the start of the season, though he is hoping to be able to pitch at some point in 2026.
A key part of the Phillies’ rotation, Wheeler has a 2.91 ERA since joining the team in 2020. He had a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts last year, and was a legitimate Cy Young contender before being shut down in mid-August.
Fans pay tribute to late ‘Varsity Blues’ star James Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek has died at the age of 48, his wife disclosed on Wednesday. The late actor had been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer, he revealed in 2024.
Van Der Beek gained fame for starring as Dawson Leery in the popular “Dawson’s Creek” show from 1998-2003. He later had recurring roles in TV shows “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” “Mercy,” and “Friends with Better Lives.”
Though he was mostly a TV star, Van Der Beek also starred in several movies. Many sports fans fondly remembered Van Der Beek for his portrayal of “Mox” in the high school football movie “Varsity Blues.”
I’d tell you that you don’t understand what Varsity Blues meant to me, and still does. But we were all there. We all lived. An absolute icon, rest well James
— Shawntez (@smfen) February 11, 2026
#RIP James Van Der Beek. Varsity Blues is one of the greatest football movies of all time. pic.twitter.com/0nVwwAUqNt
— Ron Swanson (@JoeGilbert1992) February 11, 2026
James Van Der Beek was an icon in the 90s. Varsity Blues is not the legendary movie it became without his performance. He fought a courageous battle with cancer and he will be missed. Rest easy James
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin) February 11, 2026
pic.twitter.com/k0bic4pMCY
This one is a bummer… never watch Dawson's Creek but Varsity Blues was an absolute instant classic for every middle school and high school football player growing up. https://t.co/JzGvqFly9h
— LD (@sportsbyLD) February 11, 2026
Van Der Beek was so well known for his role as the quarterback for West Canaan that he cracked a great NFL joke several years ago.
The 48-year-old Van Der Beek leaves behind his wife and six children. He is the third prominent actor from the football team portrayed in the movie to have died. Paul Walker, who played Lance Harbor, died in 2013 car crash, while Ron Lester, who played Billy Bob, died in 2016.
Barry Bonds is being pursued for a new job
Barry Bonds may be controversial around Major League Baseball, but he might have a new job lined up.
Netflix is pursuing Bonds to be part of its Opening Day coverage, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The March 25 game is between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, making Bonds a logical addition. He would likely be on-site in San Francisco for pregame and postgame coverage.
The job would likely be a one-off for Bonds, particularly because Netflix’s MLB package is very limited. They also have the Home Run Derby and Field of Dreams game, but those are also singular events that will not require a full-time on-air group.
No agreement has been made, and the network is also pursuing CC Sabathia to provide a Yankees perspective.
Bonds has 762 career home runs, but has fallen from grace due to alleged PED use during his career. One might imagine the league would not want him on television, but there is precedent for this sort of thing, as MLB permitted FOX to hire Pete Rose as an analyst in 2015 even though he was banned from baseball.
Bonds has largely kept a low profile since he last played in 2007. He spent a year as the Miami Marlins’ hitting coach, but that was his only real high-profile gig since his playing career ended. Other than that, he has popped up in the news for his likely exclusion from the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Seahawks player wore the perfect Sam Darnold T-shirt to Seahawks parade
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones has cemented his status as Sam Darnold’s biggest defender with his choice of apparel at the team’s Super Bowl victory parade.
Jones wore a T-shirt depicting Darnold smoking a cigarette and giving the middle finger during Wednesday’s parade. He eagerly showed it off during an interview before the parade, too.
Ernest Jones is one of the funniest dudes in the league 😂 pic.twitter.com/HHp4Pejv6i
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) February 11, 2026
Jones very much doubled down during his speech at the parade, with a rather coarse message for Darnold’s critics.
“If you got anything to say about my quarterback, you got anything to say about my defense, you got anything to say about my O-line, and you got anything to say about the city of Seattle, I got two words for you: “F— you,” Jones said.
Video: pic.twitter.com/rxjOvIhwwc
— Aaron Bean (@_beanaar) February 11, 2026
Jones very much took on the role of Darnold’s public defender during the season, and even publicly stuck up for his quarterback after a four-interception performance. He has very much been vindicated as Darnold was able to quarterback the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title.
Darnold threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on the season. He silenced the haters, at least temporarily, by throwing five touchdown passes without an interception during the Seahawks’ three playoff games.
Mike Breen had strong criticism for Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns certainly seems to be rubbing a lot of people around the New York Knicks the wrong way.
Knicks play-by-play announcer Mike Breen briefly called out Towns during the team’s loss to the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Early in the fourth quarter, Towns was called for an offensive foul, and he was not happy with the call.
Breen, however, felt that Towns was gaining a negative reputation as a complainer.
“Towns has to stop complaining,” Breen said. “I agree, sometimes, he doesn’t get the benefit of the calls, but it’s non-stop.”
Mike Breen is FED UP with KAT complaining after every call.
— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) February 11, 2026
“Towns HAS to stop complaining….I agree sometimes he doesn’t get the benefit of the call, but it’s non stop.” pic.twitter.com/61qBnK2a1n
Towns may be acting on instinct, but his habits appear to be wearing thin on people who should be in his corner. Clyde Frazier, Breen’s broadcast partner, also went off on Towns after the center fouled out in overtime on a reckless play.
As good as Towns is, there does seem to be some lingering discontent with his play in New York this year. He is averaging 19.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, but his name has popped up in trade rumors. That has led to friction between himself and the organization, and he does not appear to be doing himself any favors with his on-court behavior.
Francisco Lindor set to undergo surgery for hamate bone
The New York Mets’ 2026 season is not getting off to the healthiest of starts.
The Mets announced on Wednesday that Francisco Lindor will undergo surgery on his hamate bone. That is a bone in the hand that is susceptible to breaking. Lindor had been bothered by the injury for a couple of years, according to Mets executive David Stearns. The shortstop reported further issues with his hand this week, which led the Mets to send him to see a specialist.
The decision was made that Lindor would undergo surgery. His return is pegged at six weeks, although some people have cautioned that a player’s full power as a hitter does not return until several months later.
For those unfamiliar, the hamate bone — which could cause Corbin Carroll, Francisco Lindor and Jackson Holliday to miss Opening Day — is a small, hook-shaped bone on the palm, just underneath the pinky, that is particularly susceptible to breaking. While the recovery is typically…
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2026
Oddly, Lindor is not the only star baseball player to be dealing with this issue. Both Corbin Carroll and Jackson Holliday have suffered the same injury, putting their availabilities for Opening Day in question.
Stearns has said that the Mets expect Lindor to be ready for the team’s first regular-season game.
“If we get to the point where we get closer to Opening Day and there are questions about Francisco, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Stearns said Tuesday. “But, at this point, we’re optimistic that regardless of what Francisco needs, he’s going to be ready for Opening Day.”
Lindor, 32, is entering his sixth season with the Mets. He has been a standout player with them, posting three straight seasons with at least 30 home runs and an .800 OPS.
NBA announces suspensions from Hornets-Pistons brawl
The NBA has handed down discipline stemming from the fight between the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons on Monday.
Pistons center Isaiah Stewart got the longest suspension, as he will have to sit for seven games. Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate each received four-game suspensions for fighting and escalating the situation, while Jalen Duren got a two-game suspension for initiating the altercation.
The league said in its announcement that Stewart got the longest suspension partly because of “his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” His reputation is well-known, as he infamously went after LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a 2021 game. The fact that he left the bench to join the fray likely did not help his cause either.
The severity of the suspensions is not a huge surprise in light of how bad the fight got. Multiple punches were thrown during the brawl, with Bridges and Diabate both trying to get at Duren. Stewart came in to protect his teammate by going after Bridges.
All four players will begin serving their suspensions Thursday night, when both teams are scheduled to play again for the first time since the incident.
Warriors singled out Jonathan Kuminga for ‘petty’ reasons
A new story about the deterioration of Jonathan Kuminga’s relationship with the Golden State Warriors revealed just how toxic things became between the two sides.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater wrote a story about the breakdown in the relationship between the two sides, which hit a low point not long before Kuminga was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. On Dec. 10, during a break in the schedule, the Warriors summoned Kuminga for a meeting with Steve Kerr.
The Warriors wanted to confront Kuminga about skipping a team-requested event, and more ridiculously, that someone in his inner circle was taking too much food from the family room.
In other words, the Warriors and Kuminga had soured on each other to the extent that even the slightest grievances became a problem. Kuminga felt Kerr had not given him a fair chance to show what he could do, while Kerr felt Kuminga did not have a team-first mentality and failed to fit into the team’s system.
It served as a sign of how far gone things were between the two sides when Kuminga requested a trade the moment he became eligible to be moved. He eventually got his wish in a relationship that was clearly unsalvageable.
U.S. hockey star makes Winter Olympics history in win against Canada
Laila Edwards and the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team has been a juggernaut so far at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. They improved to 4-0 and remained undefeated in Group A of the competition after crushing Canada on Tuesday to the tune of a 5-0 score.
The cherry on top of that win was a historic one. It came on a goal by Edwards, who scored off an assist by Britta Curl in the third period.
You can watch Edwards’ nasty snipe here.
A moment that goes beyond scoring. 🔥
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) February 11, 2026
Laila Edwards makes history as the first Black woman to score a goal for Team USA in the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/9G58MSYAKy
With that goal, Edwards became the first Black woman to light the lamp for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey squad.
Laila Edwards is the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team AND score a goal at the Olympics 👏 pic.twitter.com/gSV5mqn0ZV
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 10, 2026
Team USA sent a strong statement with that victory. After all, the team took down the reigning Olympic champion, Canada, in dominant fashion.
Edwards and company won the possession battle, taking 33 shots on goal to just 20 by the Canadians, who struggled to weather the United States’ relentless attacks.
Given the heated rivalry between the U.S. and Canada on the ice, Edwards did not have to dig deep to find motivation.
“I mean, you can’t deny it, there’s extra, there’s more intensity” to facing Canada, Edwards said after the game, via Andrew Greif of NBC. “And I think we rise to the occasion.”
Having secured the top spot in Group A, the United States now prepares for the knockout stages, where it will face host country Italy in the quarterfinal round.
CJ McCollum has the perfect admission about his old take on Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards’ offense has come a long way in the NBA. He’s more than just an explosive athlete who regularly puts defenders on posters, as he’s also improved his game out on the perimeter.
Atlanta Hawks veteran NBA shooting guard CJ McCollum is among those who can attest to the Minnesota Timberwolves star’s impressive evolution in terms of his scoring abilities in the pros.
On Tuesday, McCollum responded to a take he made about Edwards back in 2020, when he said that the former Georgia Bulldogs star needs to work on his jumper.
He def worked on his jumper 🫡 😂😂 https://t.co/esNeLgAeOy
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) February 10, 2026
Five years after McCollum made that initial comment, Edwards has become a three-time NBA All-Star with a pull-up game that needs to be respected. Opponents now have to stretch further away from the basket when defending against the former No. 1 pick overall.
During his 2020-21 NBA rookie season, Edwards shot just 27.6% on pull-ups from inside the arc and 32.9% on pull-ups from the 3-point area. Fast forward to the 2025-26 campaign, and he is draining 47.3% of his 2-point pull-ups and 34.5% of the same shot type from behind the arc.
What is even scarier for the rest of the league is that Edwards is still only 24 years old, so his most dangerous form as a scorer is yet to come.
Cooper Flagg had a great message for ex-Duke teammate
Cooper Flagg’s bond with his former Duke Blue Devils teammates remains as strong as ever.
On Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks rookie forward got reunited with his ex-Duke teammate, Khaman Maluach, during a game against the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Although the Suns rookie didn’t see the floor, he was spotted chatting with Flagg before tipoff.
The 19-year-old Maluach seldom sees action with the Suns, and when he does, it’s always for a few minutes. Still, Flagg believes the best is yet to come for the South Sudanese.
“He’s one of my brothers,” Flagg said of Maluach after the game, via Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.
“We had an incredible year last year, and we spent a lot of time together away from the court…I have no doubt that he’s going to be a great pro for a long time.”
Flagg knows a great deal about what Maluach is capable of, as he played with him for a season with the Blue Devils during the 2024-25 college basketball campaign. With the two in the fold, Duke was widely viewed as a favorite to win the NCAA title, but the Blue Devils ended up losing in the Final Four to the Houston Cougars.
Still, both Flagg and Maluach managed to be high picks in the NBA draft. Flagg was selected first overall by the Mavs, while Maluach was taken 10th by the Houston Rockets, who later sent him to the Suns via a complex trade involving seven teams.
As for the game on Tuesday, Maluach’s Suns topped the Mavericks, who got 27 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists from the 19-year-old Flagg in a 120-111 loss.
Nebraska gets doomed by slippery floor in loss to Purdue
The No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers let one slip away on Tuesday — literally and figuratively.
Seemingly on the verge of pulling off an astounding come-from-behind win against the No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., Nebraska inbounded the ball from its baseline with 4.1 seconds left in overtime and with the visiting team ahead by just a point.
However, the Cornhuskers didn’t even manage to hoist up a shot, as senior guard Jamarques Lawrence slipped and turned the ball over.
Purdue sophomore guard Gicarri Harris picked up the loose ball before drawing a foul.
Harris then sank both free-throw attempts to give Purdue a bigger breathing room, as the Cornhuskers ended up losing to the Boilermakers, 80-77.
You can watch Lawrence’s crucial slip here.
With four seconds left in OT, Jamarques Lawrence slips bringing the ball up the court. pic.twitter.com/7jLcVjwABc
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 11, 2026
Two other Cornhuskers slipped on the same spot while trying to help Lawrence up, though they may have lost their footing because of his sweat on the floor.
In any case, it was an anticlimactic ending to what was an intense action between the Big Ten rivals.
Nebraska battled back from a 22-point deficit early in the second half to force overtime, but it ultimately fell short of completing a comeback win.
After winning 20 straight games to start the 2025-26 college basketball season, the Cornhuskers now find themselves on a 1-3 stretch heading into a matchup on Saturday against the Northwestern Wildcats in Lincoln.
U.S. luger’s response to 14th-place finish is absolute gold
Team USA luger Summer Britcher may not have earned gold or any medal in the women’s singles luge at the Milan Cortina Olympics in Italy on Tuesday, but the attitude she showed after the event shone brighter than any result.
While the 31-year-old Britcher finished 14th out of 20 participants in the event with a time of 3:33.553, she would have won a gold medal for handling an unfavorable result—if such an award existed.
“I’m proud of the work that I put in to get here,” Britcher said, via Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. “A year ago, no one would have guessed that I would have even had a chance at a medal, so to be standing here heartbroken is a privilege.”
Athletes have different ways of dealing with failure, and Britcher, who is from Glen Rock, Pa., showed hers by simply not taking her appearance in the event for granted, regardless of the circumstances.
Germany’s Julia Taubitz bagged the gold with a time of 3:30.625, while Latvian Elena Bota’s 3:31.543 was good enough for the silver. Saving the U.S. from a podium shutout was Ashley Farquharson, who took the bronze with a timed finish of 3:31.582.
Fans all had the same complaint about Victor Wembanyama’s 25-point quarter
Victor Wembanyama thrilled San Antonio Spurs fans on Tuesday with a historic quarter, but left fans wanting even more.
Wemby went off for 25 points in the first quarter of the Spurs’ clash against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. The Frenchman was unstoppable, converting on all six of his first shots, including a trio of three-pointers. After Julian Champagnie started the game off with a triple, Wembanyama scored 17 straight points for San Antonio.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA IS UNSTOPPABLE 🤯
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 11, 2026
Wemby scored 17 PTS in a row for the Spurs in the first quarter 😳 pic.twitter.com/soTTfcDPT7
The Spurs center had 21 points before the midway point of the first quarter and added four more by the 4:12 mark of the period. He was well on pace to break George Gervin’s iconic franchise record of 33 points in a single quarter set in 1978.
The question was whether or not Spurs coach Mitch Johnson would alter his usual rotations to keep a red-hot Wemby in the game, and fans got their answer when Wembanyama was pulled from the floor 11 seconds later. Many spectators were furious that Johnson didn’t extend Wemby’s leash just a bit to chase a potentially historic quarter.
MITCH JOHNSON LET WEMBY COOK MORE YOU COWARD!!!
— Angelo 🧱 (@AGLR_23) February 11, 2026
Wemby could’ve broken harden 27 points in the first quarter but coach decided to sub him outs 8-9 btw.
— YT_NB- Sense_ (@NbSense) February 11, 2026
Wemby got 25 with 4 minutes left in the 1st quarter and they sub him out smh. Let him go for 100
— Kona (@KonaMMA_) February 11, 2026
The only man who could stop Wembanyama on Tuesday was his own coach. Wemby went on to put up 37 points at the half. Only Anthony Edwards has scored more points (39) in a single half this season.
Another thing working against Wemby’s scoring total was the game’s lopsided score. With the Lakers sitting almost all of their key players, the Spurs led by as many as 41 points, leaving Johnson with little reason to keep Wembanyama in the game any longer.
Wemby finished with 40 points and 12 rebounds on 13/20 shooting in a 136-108 Spurs win.
Rockies signing former All-Star pitcher
The Colorado Rockies have landed a veteran pitcher to add to their rotation.
The Rockies have reportedly agreed to a contract with Jose Quintana. Per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the deal is pending a physical.
News: Veteran Jose Quintana is in agreement with the Colorado Rockies, sources tell ESPN. The 37 year old is back for his 15th big league season. The deal is pending a physical.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 11, 2026
The move is an interesting one for Quintana, who signed up to play in hitter-friendly Coors Field. The 37-year-old allowed a combined 40 home runs across his last two seasons. He may very well exceed that pace if he spends the full season in Colorado.
Quintana also joins a Rockies team projected to be one of the worst in the National League next season. The Mile High City’s squad had the worst pitching staff in the majors by a mile last season. They had a league-worst 5.97 ERA as a team and ranked dead last in home runs (251) and earned runs (933) allowed.
While Quintana is a full decade removed from his lone All-Star appearance, he remained a serviceable middle -of-the-rotation starter for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. He posted a 3.96 ERA with 89 strikeouts and a 1.29 WHIP across 24 starts with the NL Central division winner.
Sam Darnold has classy message for Jets fans who still support him
Sam Darnold is not taking his New York Jets loyalists for granted.
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback spoke lovingly of his former fan base after bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to the Pacific Northwest. Darnold fielded questions Tuesday during what appeared to be an endorsement appearance for Raising Cane’s.
Jets reporter Justin Fried asked Darnold if he had a message for Jets fans who have continued to support him. The first two words that came to Darnold’s mind were “thank you.”
“That’s all you can ask for as a player, is to feel supported,” said Darnold.
“Especially by the team that drafted me, and I always look at myself and feel like I could have done a lot more for that franchise when I was there. The fact that they’re able to support me even through that means a lot.”
The Jets picked Darnold third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft ahead of future MVP quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Darnold’s career in New York fizzled out after three seasons with the team, sending him on a five-year odyssey that culminated in him winning a Super Bowl ring as Jets fans watched from afar.
Darnold himself has spoken fondly of his former team and has refused to blame the Jets organization for why things didn’t work out in New York. The man has come a long way from when he was “seeing ghosts” while in a Jets uniform.
Ironically, Darnold’s success on another team may be what ends up haunting Jets fans for years to come.
Walt Frazier has harsh words for Karl-Anthony Towns during Knicks’ upset loss
Walt Frazier did not like what he was seeing from Karl-Anthony Towns during Tuesday’s game.
Towns and the New York Knicks had an awful loss to the Eastern Conference-worst Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. They fell by an overtime final score of 137-134 in front of their home crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., despite playing a tanking Pacers team with multiple key rotation players out.
One particularly shameful moment came in the overtime period when the Knicks star big man Towns was called for an offensive foul for clipping Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith on a screen attempt. The foul was Towns’ sixth of the game, disqualifying him from the contest.
In response, the Knicks legend Frazier, who was doing color commentary for the game on MSG Network, went in on Towns over the ill-advised play.
“It’s just inexplicable folks, how he does it,” said a dumbfounded Frazier of Towns. “You have five fouls. Why are you trying this? Why?”
Clyde Frazier after KAT fouls out
— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) February 11, 2026
“It’s just inexplicable folks…why…how he does it. You have five fouls why are you trying this…why…” pic.twitter.com/zdJNRhP3gK
The Knicks were actually on a hot streak prior to Tuesday’s loss, winning nine of their previous 10 games. But the six-time All-Star Towns has been one of New York’s most frustrating players all throughout the year.
Towns has drawn the ire of Knicks fans due to his inconsistent and sometimes boneheaded play this season. The team reportedly considered moving Towns at the trade deadline, and Towns himself was also recently said to be frustrated in New York.
Justin Verlander’s first post after signing with Tigers is giving fans chills
Justin Verlander broke his social media hiatus with a bang on Tuesday after returning to the place where it all began for him.
The Tigers on Tuesday agreed to sign Verlander to a one-year contract. The team announced the news on X.
The Tigers have signed three-time American League Cy Young and nine-time All-Star RHP Justin Verlander to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 10, 2026
Welcome home, JV! pic.twitter.com/R1T1378gwn
While the move was shared on Tuesday, it must have been well into the works for at least a few days, based on Verlander’s first post after news broke of his signing. The returning Tigers pitcher posted an awesome hype video to mark his return to Detroit.
The minute-long clip featured some of his best moments as a Tiger, fittingly accompanied by Eminem’s hit 2002 song “Till I Collapse” playing as the background music.
“Back where it all started,” Verlander captioned the post.
Back where it all started pic.twitter.com/zQfMJeKtg9
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) February 11, 2026
Verlander’s Instagram and X accounts had zero posts since 2023 before his Tigers homecoming video dropped. Tigers fans were emotional in the post’s replies.
— Tommy (@youphilmedu) February 11, 2026
Welcome home, king. pic.twitter.com/qoMjneZPst
— Benson (Miguel Cabrera’s Bat) (@Miggysbat) February 11, 2026
Don’t tell my wife but this is the best day of my life… WELCOME BACK MUST SEE JV!!
— Real Thoughts Of AJ Hinch (@ThoughtsOfHinch) February 11, 2026
The 42-year-old spent the first 13 years of his career in Detroit, where he slowly emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. He finished in the top-3 of AL Cy Young Award voting four times, headlined by his iconic 2011 Cy Young campaign that saw him become the first pitcher to win MVP in two decades.
Verlander led the Tigers to the World Series twice but lost both times in 2006 and 2012. He finally broke through as a member of the Houston Astros in 2017 and 2022.
Verlander brings his championship pedigree to an ascendant Tigers team that features Tarik Skubal, inarguably the team’s best pitcher since Verlander himself. With a pitching staff headlined by Skubal, Framber Valdez, and a still-effective Verlander, Detroit’s starting rotation has a strong case to be one of the best in the majors next season.
Notable update emerges about George Kittle amid his Achilles tear
George Kittle is going full “never tell me the odds” mode.
The San Francisco 49ers tight end Kittle is not expected to miss the majority of the 2026 NFL season after his Achilles tear, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported on Tuesday. Barrows even goes so far as to say that Kittle is targeting Week 1 for his return to the field.
Kittle, 32, suffered his Achilles injury during the 49ers’ Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11. While hauling in a pass from teammate Brock Purdy, Kittle’s leg planted awkwardly into the turf, resulting in the full rupture of his right Achilles tendon (see the video here).
The seven-time Pro Bowler Kittle is now one month removed from that injury and still has another seven months to go before the start of the 2026 season. That said, Achilles tears are usually 8-to-12-month injuries for NFL players, meaning that Kittle’s target of Week 1 seems a bit optimistic.
Kittle just completed his ninth career season with the 49ers, who would lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. Overall on the year, Kittle hauled in 57 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns over 11 games (after missing time during the regular season due to an unrelated hamstring injury).
The five-time All-Pro selection Kittle is under contract with the 49ers through 2029 and has a total cap hit of $16.1 million in 2026. Though he might be a little too ambitious in shooting for Week 1, it is clear that Kittle (who also went viral for his request after his injury) does not plan to be out for too long.
