The first Sunday without soccer? It was pretty rough, to say the least.
It’s a bit unsettling to realize this might be our new normal for a while. But hey, at least the NFL has an offseason that sort of feels like a season. Free agency is just around the corner, and it’s really all about scouting for talent.
With the Super Bowl coming up, and as we look ahead to 2026 for all 32 teams, we’ve got some unique insights from Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa.
Which NFL team can feel genuinely hopeful heading into the 2026 season?
If I had to list the teams that really stood out this past season—ones that didn’t win the Super Bowl—I think I’d put the Chicago Bears right at the top.
Almost everything the Bears did in 2025 was successful. Their decisions definitely deserve a closer look, and somehow, they found a way to score in the Ben Jonson sweepstakes.
Having Johnson on board seems to elevate the team’s belief in Caleb Williams as well. Plus, their rookie draft class really shined, helping to build a solid core for the future.
Things are looking up for the Bears!
And I really think they can be optimistic about potentially winning next year’s Super Bowl, considering the Eagles and Seahawks both took about two decades to claim theirs after losing.
Remember, in 2006, the Colts beat the Bears. If this trend continues, who knows? They might just be in line for the Lombardi Trophy in no time.
On the other hand, if there’s anyone I’m excited about, it’s Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. With Mike McDaniel now on board, the offense has a newfound sense of promise that it hasn’t seen in a while.
Herbert has been stuck with coaches who just didn’t align with his style—like Joe Lombardi and Greg Roman, who were ostensibly the opposite of what he needed. And this past season was rough, to say the least; it seems like he lost the best offensive coordinator he had because of the defense’s struggles.
But you know what? This could be the moment to turn things around. Herbert is bound to get back to what he does best soon.
In a league filled with potential, which team seems hopeless?
If you’re a Raiders fan, I can’t imagine you have much hope right now. Unfortunately, it seems like no matter who’s at the helm, they frequently find themselves at the bottom of the AFC West.
John Spytek and Tom Brady definitely have their work cut out for them, and hopefully, Kubiak proves to be the right choice. The Raiders took a while to hire a new head coach, which likely means they missed out on some of their top candidates. Sure, hiring an offensive coordinator from this year’s Super Bowl champions is a step in the right direction, but it’s just the start of a much longer road.
Every team in the NFL has uncertainty ahead, but I have a strong feeling that one team will continue to struggle in 2026—and maybe 2027 too.
Honestly, what makes you excited about the Arizona Cardinals? Let’s think about it. If you could swap your favorite team for anything related—be it front office, coaching staff, or stadium—what would it be? Perhaps the name Trey McBride comes to mind.
Right now, the Cardinals feel a bit lost. It seems they’re at the bottom of the list when it comes to hiring head coaching candidates. Sure, they might be optimistic about Mike LaFleur, but I can’t help but wonder if their excitement matches anyone else’s.
Are the Dolphins making the right calls with their reshaping?
To be honest, I don’t see why anyone would disagree with the direction Miami is taking. They tried making a move, but it didn’t pan out. That’s just part of the game.
The last thing an NFL team should do is stay stagnant. By moving on from Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb, Miami is clearly ready to commit to a new era of exciting talent. I fully support their decision, as a lot of teams compromise themselves out of fear of giving up on finding a franchise player.
If I could point a finger at anything, it’s that Miami didn’t recognize this need for change sooner. One could argue they wasted last season holding onto Mike McDaniel when trading those assets might have been a smarter move.
Honestly, it seems like they have no other choice now. They’ve started letting good players go even before the regular season wrapped up. With a new general manager and head coach on board, they’re leaning heavily into a complete overhaul.
Releasing Tyreek Hill makes sense given his age and that serious foot injury he suffered last season. While Bradley Chubb is still healthy, a more affordable replacement could easily step in. The same goes for guard James Daniels.
The new leadership clearly wants to get their own guys in place without losing a year to the previous setup.
What would happen if Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers reunited?
It’s always a bit odd to see a coach change teams and simply recreate what he had at the previous location. We often examine this through a coaching lens. Take Sean Payton who brought some former Saints to Denver, for example, but what Pittsburgh is doing seems a bit unique.
For Steelers fans, can you imagine watching the head coach and quarterback who defeated your team in the last Super Bowl join your ranks? It’s a strange thought, isn’t it? Am I the only one who finds that peculiar?
That said, it would definitely pique interest to see McCarthy and Rodgers team up again after nearly a decade. Maybe they could find a way to make it work for everyone involved, and honestly, that could be pretty amazing.
Sure, it might be tricky for some fans to let go of past vibes, but that’s all I’ve got. Both have faced quite a bit since their Green Bay days, leading to some curiosity around this potential reunion.
I also get the perspective that it feels odd for Steelers fans to support the same duo that beat them in their last Super Bowl. But that’s the NFL for you. If McCarthy and Rodgers do have a stellar first season with Pittsburgh, it might just help fans move on from those memories.
