The San Francisco 49ers will take a greater role in the running of English Premier League club Leeds after raising their stake to 37% on Monday. Paraag Marathe, the president of 49ers Enterprises, will become vice chairman of the northern English club under Andrea Radrizzani, who remains the majority owner.
Stop if you’ve heard this one before. Seriously, just stop. Because even in the weirdest sports time ever what Tom Brady is doing yet again in the NFL playoffs borders on the unbelievable. Forget the numbers, because they’re so crazy they’re barely believable, either. Or the fact Brady threw interceptions on three straight second half possessions in Green Bay yet still found a way to win.
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will feel right at home in the Super Bowl. The Buccaneers made history at Green Bay on Sunday as they defeated the Packers 31-26 in the NFC championship game. Tampa Bay (14-5) is the first team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium. The Super Bowl will take place on Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. There have been 25 venues that have held Super Bowls.
CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bears promoted safeties coach Sean Desai to replace retired defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano on Friday. The longest-tenured member of the Bears’ coaching staff, Desai was hired as a quality control coach in 2013 under Marc Trestman. He worked with defensive backs and linebackers while also assisting on special teams through the 2018 season before being promoted to safeties coach. Coach Matt Nagy called Desai “a person of high football intelligence” while announcing his promotion.
Coaches understand before they sign employment contracts that they are hired to be fired, something that’s particularly true in the NFL where the only measure of success is a playoff slot at the end of the season. That’s why there was no real outcry when Anthony Lynn was let go by the Chargers. Lynn’s team went 7-9 this season and some of his head-scratching decisions late in games caused fans to lose their hair.