Around the NFL: Annual Awards, Hall of Fame Class of 2025, Remembering McCaskey, More ...Middle East

We’re just over 48 hours from the Super Bowl on Sunday in New Orleans. Still, there’s plenty to discuss around the league, including the NFL Honors results, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s newest class, the passing of Virginia McCaskey, and more in today’s NFL Notes.

The Football World Mourns the Passing of Virginia McCaskey

Virginia Halas McCaskey, the majority owner and matriarch of the Chicago Bears, passed on Thursday at 102. Three days before the Super Bowl, 40 years removed from the last time she could watch her beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl.

McCaskey, the daughter of George Halas, one of the founders of the National Football League, was alive for all but 36 games in the 105-year history of the Chicago Bears. The final Bears game she could attend was a victory over the Green Bay Packers last month, just before her 102nd birthday. As The Athletic’s Dan Pompei pointed out in a terrific story on the life of Mrs. McCaskey, nothing bothered her more than losing to the Packers. So, her final game as the owner of her father’s franchise, which was a win in Green Bay, is poetic, and sports can often be.

There will be plenty of time to discuss what McCaskey’s passing means for the Bears’ future, but that’s a conversation for another day. Thursday was a day of remembrance around the league, and Luis did an excellent job compiling all of the reactions surrounding McCaskey’s passing on Thursday.

Lloyd Howell: “No one wants to play an 18th game. No one.”

At the annual NFLPA meeting with the media in New Orleans on Wednesday, NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell made it clear that adding an 18th regular season game to the schedule is going to be a non-starter for the player’s leadership committee.

“No one wants to play an 18th game. No one,” Howell said Wednesday during the union’s Super Bowl week news conference. “Some guys don’t want to play 17 just given the toll it has on their body and the lack of time to recover. … Seventeen games is so lengthy that you’re still dealing with injuries going into the next season. So, there are a variety of issues that hang off of the length of the season before any form of negotiation (would take place).”

NFLPA president and Detroit Lions linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin shared a similar sentiment in New Orleans, saying that discussions with fellow players have all been a resounding no regarding adding another regular season contest. No way. No way we’re doing that. … Whenever anyone sees ’18th game,’ we get a little bit scared.”

Washington Commanders running back and NFLPA executive committee member Austin Ekeler called the idea “outrageous.”

“Expanding to 18 games is really outrageous to me,” Ekeler said. There are other ways to expand revenue in a safer way just like we’re seeing with international (games). … Definitely heavily against an 18th game.”

Player safety and adequate compensation for another extension to the regular season were a major driver behind the sentiment of the league’s player’s work union on Wednesday. Commissioner Roger Goodell has spoken about the potential of another regular season in a way that seems as if it’s something that’s coming sooner than later. Still, it seems it will take more than eliminating another preseason game and revenue sharing to make it work for the players.

NFL Honors Recap

The NFL honored another season of excellence on Thursday night at the 14th annual NFL Honors ceremony. Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the event featured the unveiling of The Associated Press’ NFL awards and the announcement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Here is the complete list of winners from the Saenger Theater in New Orleans:

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025

The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees were announced Thursday at the NFL Honors ceremony in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday. Here’s who is heading to Canton this summer:

Eric Allen

After a 19-year wait, former cornerback Eric Allen finally receives football’s highest honor. A ball-hawking defensive back, Allen played 14 seasons with the Eagles, Saints, and Raiders, earning six Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro nod in 1989. Known for his knack for the end zone, Allen remains the only player in NFL history to return at least three interceptions for touchdowns in two different seasons. He finished his career with 54 interceptions and nine defensive touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the game’s greatest cornerbacks.

Jared Allen

Jared Allen, known for his dominant pass-rushing and signature calf-roping celebration, enters the Hall of Fame in his fifth year of eligibility. The four-time first-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, finishing his 12-year career with 136 sacks (12th all-time). His best season came in 2011 when he recorded 22 sacks, just half a sack shy of the NFL single-season record. Allen played for the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears, and Panthers, leaving behind a legacy of relentless pressure and game-changing plays.

Antonio Gates

From undrafted free agent to Hall of Famer, Antonio Gates’ journey is one of the most remarkable in NFL history. A former college basketball player, Gates became one of the most dominant tight ends ever. Spending his entire 16-year career with the Chargers, he amassed 955 receptions, 11,841 receiving yards, and an NFL-record 116 touchdowns for a tight end. Gates, an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro could box out defenders and dominate in the red zone, which made him a nightmare matchup for defenses. Now, he takes his rightful place in Canton.

Sterling Sharpe

Despite playing just seven seasons, Sterling Sharpe’s excellence in the early 1990s was enough to earn him a gold jacket. The three-time first-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler led the league in receptions three times and was Brett Favre’s favorite target before a career-ending neck injury in 1994. In his final season, he caught a league-high 18 touchdowns, showcasing his elite talent until the end. His induction makes history, as he and his brother Shannon Sharpe become the first pair of brothers in the Hall of Fame.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Around the NFL: Annual Awards, Hall of Fame Class of 2025, Remembering McCaskey, More )

Also on site :

• Italy vs Moldova - prediction, lineups and live streaming
• Watch match live Belgium vs Wales - prediction & lineups
• Croatia vs Czech Republic - prediction, FREE online stream , lineups