The 2025 season was supposed to be a coronation. Coming off a franchise-best 15-2 record, the Detroit Lions looked ready to make a real run at a Super Bowl. Instead, they stumbled to a 9-8 finish, lost six of their final ten games, and were sent home on Christmas Day. Here's what actually broke — and what it will take to fix it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent years searching for the next franchise quarterback. Kenny Pickett. Mason Rudolph. Justin Fields. Russell Wilson. Now Aaron Rodgers. The names change. The results do not. While the rest of the AFC continues to evolve, Pittsburgh appears trapped in a cycle of chasing relevance instead of building toward contention. The Steelers are one of the NFL's most respected organizations, yet each passing season feels more like a rerun than a new chapt

Not every big move is a smart one. While some teams got better this offseason, others may have quietly set themselves back. Here are five NFL transactions that look like mistakes waiting to happen.

Illustration by Thomas Dyson Tua Tagovailoa was recently waived by the Miami Dolphins after 78 games and 120 touchdowns over a six-year span. It was a rather underwhelming stint in Miami, as the Dolphins only managed two Wild Card appearances in six seasons, losing on both occasions. Tua is a player whose arrival in the league was heavily anticipated when he was drafted from Alabama in 2020. He has shown positive signs during his time in Vice City, averaging 26 touchdowns a y

For decades, Super Bowls have been defined by superstar quarterbacks. But what if the formula is changing? Sam Darnold’s unlikely rise might signal a shift the NFL isn’t ready for.

The Patriots didn’t just release Stefon Diggs—they made a statement. Was it a necessary move to protect their future, or a costly overreaction to off-field chaos and declining production? The answer might not be as complicated as you think.

This was supposed to be the offseason of bold resets. Franchises convinced themselves that new voices would unlock dormant talent, modernize stale offenses, and finally push playoff teams over the hump. But coaching changes aren’t miracle cures. They’re gambles. In a year with an unusually high number of head coach openings—including playoff teams—the talent pool simply wasn’t deep enough for everyone to win. Some teams chased nostalgia. Others chased offensive buzzwords. A