6:45 AM ET SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In the minutes after the San Francisco 49ers had pulled off the biggest trade of the season, phones started ringing on opposite ends of the country. At around 9:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 20 in the Bay Area, Niners general manager John Lynch had just hung up with

7:30 AM ET Ryan Hockensmith Close Ryan Hockensmith is a Penn State graduate who joined ESPN in 2001. He is a survivor of bacterial meningitis, which caused him to have multiple amputation surgeries on his feet. He is a proud advocate for those with disabilities and addiction issues. He covers everything from the NFL and

3:07 PM ET KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The focus for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has shifted from whether he can play in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals to how effective he can be. Mahomes indicated that his high ankle sprain has improved throughout the week and that he was able

2:08 PM ET CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Frank Reich, the starting quarterback for the first game in Carolina Panthers history in 1995, is now the team’s sixth head coach. Reich agreed to a four-year deal that is expected to be finalized by Monday, a league source told ESPN. Owner David Tepper chose Reich, 61, after a

5:42 PM ET FRISCO, Texas — For the second straight year, Dan Quinn has decided to pass up potential head-coaching jobs to remain as the Dallas Cowboys‘ defensive coordinator. Quinn interviewed with the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts in the past few weeks. “Unfinished business here in Dallas. My complete focus is helping

3:57 PM ET SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For the second straight day, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey sat out of practice Thursday as he works back from a bruised calf. And while McCaffrey isn’t slated to participate in the Niners’ Thursday practice, he did speak to the media and offered a simple answer

1:51 PM ET CINCINNATI — Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton has a unique name for the Kansas City Chiefs‘ stadium — “Burrowhead.” Hilton coined the moniker for Arrowhead Stadium during the team’s divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills. Hilton said he knew he would ruffle a few feathers when he uttered the phrase into an

11:17 AM ET FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets ended their two-week search for an offensive coordinator, hiring former Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett on Thursday — a move that adds to the already intense speculation about a potential Aaron Rodgers trade. Coach Robert Saleh said Hackett is a “home run” hire for

2:44 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The NFL is expanding its partnership with the Players Coalition to address issues of racial and social justice with a five-year extension and a $15 million grant through its Inspire Change initiative. The agreement announced Thursday comes as the league and its teams say they have surpassed

10:47 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN Former Detroit Lions linebacker Jessie Lemonier has died, the team confirmed Thursday. He was 25. No details have been released on the cause of death. Lemonier, who was drafted by the XFL’s Arlington Renegades in November, instead recently signed with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers for the upcoming season before being