Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Joe

NFL retracts Joe Mixon’s fine after appeal proves victorious

NFL star Joe Mixon’s wallet will not be $25,000 lighter.

The league overturned the fine it previously handed down after the Houston Texans running back directed some criticism at the referees in a playoff game last month.

The Texans suffered a 23-14 loss to the eventual AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 18. Mixon received the fine for his comments after the game and after the Texans’ defense was penalized twice for hits on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

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Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (IMAGN)

In a letter to Mixon, appeals officer Chris Palmer said during the hearing process it was determined that Mixon “did not necessarily publicly criticize the officials.”

When asked about the officiating after the game, Mixon said, “Everybody knows how it is playing up here.”

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“You can never leave it into the refs’ hands,” Mixon said. “The whole world sees, man, what it is. When it comes down to it, you can never leave it into the refs’ hands. It’s all good, though.”

The letter added that “integrity of the game and its officials is the responsibility of everyone involved in the NFL.”

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

“During the appeal hearing, you stated what you meant by your statements referring to the officials,” Palmer said in the letter. “As you know, statements can be interpreted differently by every individual and it seems like you clearly understand the weight and detriment of public criticism towards officials can be, given how impactful your platform is as a player, which I appreciate.”

Mixon was originally fined for a comment former Cincinnati receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh posted on social media.

“Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with the Chiefs,” Houshmandzadeh wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in a show of his apparent agreement with the running back.

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images/File)

The remark was incorrectly attributed to Mixon in a Sports Illustrated story.

Later in the day, he was fined.

The NFL reissued the fine for the comments Mixon actually made. Sports Illustrated also corrected the error where the comment on X from Houshmandzadeh was attributed to him.

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Mixon finished the divisional round game against the Chiefs with 88 rushing yards. He appeared in 14 regular-season games during his first season with the Texans, rushing for 1,016 yards.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 19, 2025
Are more airplanes crashing under President Donald Trump than under Joe Biden?

The United States saw double the number of fatal plane crashes under President Joe Biden’s first four weeks in office compared to the same time period under President Donald Trump’s second administration, federal data reviewed by Fox News Digital shows.

There were 10 fatal plane crashes in the United States between Jan. 20, 2021, and Feb. 18, 2021, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Case Analysis and Reporting Online, or CAROL, which has recorded aviation accidents since 1962. There were four fatal plane crashes recorded during the same time period under the second Trump administration — from inauguration day to Feb. 18 — the data shows.

A fifth fatal plane crash unfolded in Georgia on Saturday evening, which has not yet been added to the database but is included in Fox Digital’s final tally of five fatal plane crashes in the U.S. since Jan. 20.

Though the second Trump administration has seen fewer plane crashes than the first month of the Biden administration, the Washington, D.C., crash in January provided greater national visibility to concern over aviation crashes as it was the deadliest in U.S. history since November 2001, when an American Airlines flight crashed into a residential area of New York City, killing 260 people on board and five on the ground.

A total of 67 people were killed in January when an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane collided near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Fox News Digital found that during the Biden administration’s approximate first month in office, there were U.S.-based fatal plane crashes in Janesville, Wisconsin; St. Thomas, Caribbean Sea; Tehachapi, California; Galt, Missouri; Belvidere, Tennessee; Chitina, Alaska; Hackberry, Louisiana; Port Angeles, Washington; Boynton Beach, Florida; Rio Rancho, New Mexico. A total of 18 individuals died in the 10 crashes.

TORONTO PLANE CRASH: HARROWING VIDEO SHOWS DELTA PLANE ERUPTING INTO FIREBALL, FLIPPING UPSIDE-DOWN

The United States saw double the number of fatal plane crashes under President Joe Biden’s first four weeks in office compared to the same time period under President Donald Trump’s second administration. (Getty Images)

The five fatal plane crashes in the first month of the Trump administration occurred in Nome, Alaska; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Covington, Georgia. A total of 96 people died in the plane crashes.

When comparing the two Trump administrations, Fox News Digital found there were 11 recorded fatal plane crashes between Jan. 20, 2017, to Feb. 18, 2017.

TORONTO PLANE CRASH TIMELINE: DELTA FLIGHT FROM MINNEAPOLIS FLIPS UPSIDE DOWN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND

Fox News Digital also found that the Biden administration saw seven serious — not fatal — plane crashes between Jan. 20, 2021, and Feb. 18, 2021, compared to six serious plane crashes under the same time period for the Trump administration, according to the CAROL database.

As for crashes that resulted in “minor” injuries for passengers, the CAROL database recorded seven under the Biden administration’s first month and two under the second Trump administration’s first month, Fox Digital found.

A Delta Air Lines plane is upside down on its roof after crashing upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport in Toronto on Feb. 17, 2025. (Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images)

SWALWELL DECLARES ‘ALL CRASHES ARE TRUMP’S FAULT’ AS HE DOUBLES DOWN ON PLANE DISASTER BLAME GAME

Another plane crash unfolded on Monday in Canada, when a Delta Air Lines CRJ-900 jet originating from Minnesota crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. None of the 80 passengers or crew were killed, but at least 18 were treated for injuries after the plane crashed, caught on fire and flipped upside down.

The Toronto crash unfolded as news mounted that the Trump administration is in the midst of firing a bevy of federal employees across various agencies as part of his administration’s effort to cut government spending fat and weed out corruption and mismanagement, including terminating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees who have been hired in the past year, according to a union representing the employees.

President Donald Trump listens as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks at the White House on Jan. 30, 2025. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation told Fox News Digital Monday that the agency continues to hire air traffic controllers and those focused on air safety.

PLANE CRASHES SPARK RENEWED FEAR OF FLYING: 10 CAUSES OF AVIATION DISASTERS

“The FAA continues to hire and onboard air traffic controllers and safety professionals, including mechanics and others who support them,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “The agency has retained employees who perform safety critical functions.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy added on X that his predecessor, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, had “failed for four years to address the air traffic controller shortage and upgrade our outdated, World War II-era air traffic control system.”

A police boat patrols the water and guards the crash scene on Jan. 30, 2025, after an American Airlines plane collided midair with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Here’s the truth: the FAA alone has a staggering 45,000 employees,” he said. “Less than 400 were let go, and they were all probationary, meaning they had been hired less than a year ago. Zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel were let go.”

The crash, however, has opened the floodgates of criticism from Democrats and liberal media outlets who have laid blame for the crash at Trump’s feet.

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“I’m thankful that everyone in the flight incident in Toronto that took off from Minneapolis is safe, but we keep seeing these incidents day after day,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted to X after the Monday crash. “Meanwhile, Trump’s doing massive layoffs at the FAA—including safety specialists—and making our skies less and less safe. Democrats are fighting to protect the flying public.”

February 18, 2025
Bengals react after Chilean men indicted, take selfie with stolen items in robbery of Joe Burrow’s home

The three Chilean men facing charges on suspicion of breaking into Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow’s home posed for photos with some of the items that were eventually stolen from the property, a recently filed federal criminal complaint showed.

A jeweled necklace reading “JB9” with a Nike swoosh and a diamond “9” necklace were the luxury possessions that could be seen in the selfie, per the complaint. Burrow, a two-time Pro Bowler, wore the No. 9 jersey when he played at LSU and still wears the number for the Bengals.

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Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, all of Chile, are charged in the burglary of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home in December.

A separate photo showed multiple pieces of stolen jewelry laid out on a table, a complaint from the FBI stated.

Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, all of Chile, are charged in the burglary of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home in December.

Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, all of Chile, were nabbed by Ohio State Patrol after authorities tracked them in multiple states following the burglary, according to court documents.

BENGALS’ JOE BURROW SAYS HE PUT UP MVP-CALIBER SEASON DESPITE LINGERING WRIST INJURY

The Bengals released a statement on Wednesday thanking authorities for their efforts.

“The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and their partner agencies at the local, state and federal level did a wonderful job investigating the crime and bringing bad actors to justice. The Cincinnati Bengals would like to thank them for their efforts and extend our sincere appreciation for their good work. We recognize there was a tremendous amount of complex investigative work that led to these indictments, and the Sheriff’s Department was exemplary in this work,” the Bengals said.

“The Bengals have worked with the Sheriff’s Department for decades on many matters and we know them to be a real source of strength and pride for the community. The Bengals appreciate their good work and will continue to fully support their efforts as the criminal process moves forward.”

The men, who police say were in the country illegally, had tools for break-ins at the time of their arrest, along with a Bengals hat and Louisiana State University shirt believed to be stolen from Burrow’s home.

The elements of the robbery were consistent with other burglaries recently carried out in varying parts of the U.S. by South American theft groups, the complaint stated. The document added that the groups have typically been comprised of South Americans who enter the country illegally or remain in the U.S. after their visa expires. The groups have targeted jewelry and designer accessories, per the complaint.

Burrow was on the football field for a game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, when the home was burglarized.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow celebrates after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Olivia Ponton, a model and social media influencer who was identified as Burrow’s employee in an incident report, was at the home at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported during the break-in.

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Burrow broke his silence a few days after the break-in, saying it left him feeling “violated.”

“So, obviously, everybody has heard what has happened. I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one. And way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share, so that’s all I got to say about that,” Burrow told reporters in December.

Fox News’ Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
Bengals’ Joe Burrow says he put up MVP-caliber season despite lingering wrist injury

Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow is coming off a season in which he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns — and he wasn’t 100% healthy.

During a recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take,” Burrow, 28, was asked how his wrist was during this past season after having surgery on it in November 2023 to repair a torn ligament.

“Whenever you have a ligament injury, your joint is going to take around two years to get all the mobility back and everything that you feel like you need,” he said.

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Joe Burrow appears on the red carpet before NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre in New Orleans on Thursday. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Despite not being two years removed from the surgery and not having “all the mobility back,” Burrow was fantastic for the Bengals this season.

He finished fourth in the NFL MVP race, with the former LSU star completing over 70% of his passing attempts despite having the most pass attempts in the NFL.

The two-time Pro Bowler amassed 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns while playing in all 17 games.

BENGALS’ TEE HIGGINS SAYS HE’D ‘LOVE’ TO RETURN TO CINCINNATI AHEAD OF FREE AGENCY

AFC quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals throws the ball during the Passing the Test event of the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge at Nicholson Fieldhouse at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 30. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

There were times during the season when Burrow’s surgically repaired wrist, which is on his throwing arm, didn’t feel so good.

“It feels good right now, there were a couple times I fell on it during the year it didn’t quite feel as good, I would say. Kind of just depending on the day, but we got into a good routine at the end of the year to feel as good as I could by Sunday,” he said.

The Bengals narrowly missed the playoffs at 9-8. They won their last five games of the season, but dug themselves too deep of a hole to climb out in time.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow celebrates a Week 17 overtime win over the Denver Broncos that kept his team’s slim playoff hopes alive. (IMAGN)

Burrow said having an offseason where he can train and not focus on rehab will be helpful.

“I think that’ll just help me level up even more because I’m not going to be focused on rehab and everything, I can just focus on quarterback-specific things, working out, getting my body the way that I want to for the year. So, I’m excited about that,” he said.

With Burrow having a full offseason to train, Bengals fans can only dream of what their franchise quarterback can do next season while being closer to fully healthy.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
NFL great Lawrence Taylor recalls stern warning he gave Joe Montana during testy confrontation

NFL legend Lawrence Taylor was among the hardest hitters to ever to play the sport.

Taylor, 66, recalled a moment from his playing career against Joe Montana, where, after getting duped by the legendary quarterback, he issued the four-time Super Bowl champion a stern warning.

“I remember playing Joe Montana, and I was chasing him down, he came out, he chased out, he’s running to the out of bounds. And just before he stepped out of bounds, I just let up, you know. That son of a – he took that ball and ran down another 15 yards, right?” Taylor said during an appearance on OutKick’s “The Ricky Cobb Show.”

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Former linebacker Lawrence Taylor is seen during the Legends NFL Party. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

“And I went over to him, and I said, ‘Listen, hey, let me tell you something. If you ever do that again, I will light you up.’ And he apologized, and he said, ‘Man, I understand.’”

Montana would’ve been smart to listen to Taylor’s warning, whom some consider to be the greatest defensive player of all time.

Taylor then brought up Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes and sympathized with defenders for having to adhere to the rules while trying to slow down running quarterbacks in today’s NFL.

“Nowadays, you can’t even touch them when they hit the ground. But then what happens when you’re playing a guy like Mahomes, who does his fake going to go down, and then he takes and runs off. I mean, what happens? Let’s get some fairness in this,” Taylor said.

If Taylor were still playing, he would be certain to issue Mahomes a similar warning he did to Montana.

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Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor on the field before the game between the Giants and the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

Taylor is not the only prominent football figure to question the rules surrounding quarterbacks who scramble. Tom Brady shared a similar sentiment to Taylor during an appearance on FOX Sports’ “The Herd” in January.

“When quarterbacks become running backs, and they’re out of the pocket, they should lose their protection,” Brady said.

“We’re trying to protect the quarterbacks, but coaches are calling more quarterback runs than ever in the history of the game. So, who is protecting the quarterback? We’re trying to say the referees should do it?”

There were two calls that Mahomes was the beneficiary of in the Chiefs win over the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional round that sparked debate.

Texans’ star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was flagged for a roughing-the-passer penalty for hitting Mahomes up toward the head area while throwing a pass, but what Brady seems to be alluding to is the penalty Mahomes received in the third quarter.

Mahomes was scrambling in the third quarter, and as he slid, he was hit by two Texans defenders near the head area as he was going down.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play.

The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX, where the officiating will be closely monitored, especially on plays involving Mahomes.

FOX’s Super Bowl coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Coverage can be streamed live on Tubi for the first time.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 8, 2025
‘JOE, YOU’RE FIRED’: President Trump revokes Biden’s security clearances, intel briefings

headline

President Donald Trump on Friday announced he is revoking former President Joe Biden’s security clearances and stopping his daily intelligence briefings.

“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Friday night.

The privileges will be revoked immediately, according to the President.

He added the precedent was set by Biden himself.

“He set this precedent in 2021, when he instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to stop the 45th President of the United States (ME!) from accessing details on National Security, a courtesy provided to former Presidents,” Trump wrote.

The president noted the Hur Report, which he claimed “revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information,” according to the post.

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Trump said he will always protect National Security.

“JOE, YOU’RE FIRED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he wrote.

Alexandra Koch is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Prior to joining Fox News, Alexandra covered breaking news, crime, religion, and the military in the southeast.

February 7, 2025
New Jersey man arrested in fencing operation allegedly has links to Joe Burrow burglary

Two men who were believed to have ties to a string of burglaries in the U.S., including at a famous pro athlete’s home in Ohio, were arrested on Tuesday, officials announced.

Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar were charged with “with conspiracy to receive stolen property related to their purchasing of stolen goods that traveled across state lines,” the Eastern District of New York said in a news release. The two men will be arranged on Wednesday.

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Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium on Dec. 10, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Nezhinskiy, of North Bergen, New Jersey and Villar, of Queens, New York, were accused of acting as “fences” for South American-based crime groups who traveled around the U.S. to commit burglaries targeting luxury items. The two were accused of being linked to the “prolific burglar” Bryan Leandro Herrera Maldonado, who officials said committed 16 burglaries in the U.S. between 2019 and 2020.

Officials said Nezhinskiy was linked to at least two members of a crew who were allegedly involved in the Dec. 9, 2024, burglary of a “high-profile athlete in Ohio.” Sources told Fox News Channel the athlete in question is Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant for a pawn shop the two men allegedly operated in New York City’s Diamond District. Authorities “seized large quantities of suspected stolen property, including dozens of high-end watches and jewelry. Law enforcement also recovered large quantities of cash and marijuana,” officials said.

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The FBI seal is displayed on a podium before a news conference at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Another search warrant was executed in a storage facility in New Jersey allegedly belonging to Nezhinskiy. Officials said “large quantities of luxury goods and clothing, including high-end handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork and power tools consistent with those commonly used in burglaries and opening safes” were recovered.

Nezhinskiy was arrested in New Jersey, and Villar was arrested in New York, officials said.

The arrests came weeks after four Chilean nationals were arrested in connection with the burglary to Burrow’s home on Dec. 9, 2024. At the time of the arrest, authorities found “an old LSU shirt and Bengals hat, believed to be stolen from the December 9, 2024 burglary in Hamilton County, Ohio,” which is where Burrow’s home is located.

The search of the vehicle the suspects were in also discovered “two Husky automatic center punch tools wrapped in a cloth towel.” The tool has been used by the South American Theft Group, according to authorities.

Burrow’s home was burglarized while he was in Dallas facing the Cowboys. Police were called to Burrow’s home by Olivia Ponton, a model and social media influencer who was identified as Burrow’s employee in the incident report.

Burrow discussed the break-in a few days after its occurrence during a media availability, where he stressed the difficulty of living a life where his personal information is in the public’s eye.

“So obviously everybody has heard what has happened. I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one. And way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share, so that’s all I got to say about that,” Burrow began.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: (Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)

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“We live a public life, and one of my least favorite parts of that is the lack of privacy. And that has been difficult for me to deal with my entire career. Still learning. But I understand it’s the life that we choose. Doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.”

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 4, 2025
Trump names Michael Ellis, Joe Kent and Sean Parnell to positions

President Donald Trump continues appointing new people to his second administration, naming three recent picks in a series of Truth Social posts on Monday.

Just two weeks after taking office, Trump announced that Michael Ellis will serve as deputy director of the CIA. Ellis, who will not need to be approved by the U.S. Senate, will work under CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

Trump wrote that the incoming deputy director, who is also a lawyer, will help “fix the CIA, and make it, once again, the Greatest Intelligence Agency in the World.”

“During my First Term, Michael served at the White House National Security Council, and helped expose abuses of the ‘unmasking’ process by the Obama Administration at the beginning of the Russia, Russia, Russia, Hoax,” the president wrote. “Michael was also General Counsel of the House Intelligence Committee under Devin Nunes, and was selected to be General Counsel of the National Security Agency before being corruptly purged by the Biden Administration.”

NEW YORK AG LETITIA JAMES ADVISES HOSPITALS TO IGNORE TRUMP EO ABOUT SEX-CHANGE PROCEDURES FOR MINORS

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In another post, Trump named Joe Kent to serve as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). According to the agency’s website, the NCTC operates within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and helps officials by “analyzing, understanding, and responding to the terrorist threat.”

“As a Soldier, Green Beret, and CIA Officer, Joe has hunted down terrorists and criminals his entire adult life,” Trump’s Truth Social post read. “Above all, Joe knows the terrible cost of terrorism, losing his wonderful wife, Shannon, a Great American Hero, who was killed in the fight against ISIS.”

“Joe continues to honor her legacy by staying in the fight. Joe will help us keep America safe by eradicating all terrorism, from the jihadists around the World, to the cartels in our backyard,” the president concluded.

TRUMP’S ULTIMATUM TO FEDERAL WORKERS: RETURN TO OFFICE ‘OR BE TERMINATED’

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters from the Resolute Desk after signing an executive order to appoint the deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in the Oval Office at the White House on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump also signed a memorandum ordering an immediate assessment of aviation safety and ordering an elevation of what he called “competence” over “D.E.I.” (Getty Images)

Finally, Trump named Sean Parnell to serve as the chief Pentagon spokesman, and to work as the assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs.

“A Great American Patriot, Sean is a fearless Combat Veteran, who led one of the most decorated units in the Afghanistan War,” Trump said of Parnell. “He earned two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, while his platoon achieved an incredible record of eliminating over 350 enemy fighters.”

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C. on January 31, 2025. (BRYAN DOZIER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

“During my First Term, Sean was also instrumental helping pass the MISSION ACT, the BIGGEST VA Reform in History,” Trump added. “Congratulations to Sean, his wonderful wife, and their five children!”

Andrea Margolis is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can send story tips to [email protected].

February 4, 2025
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady withdraws Saints head coaching candidacy: report

The New Orleans Saints parted ways with Dennis Allen in November following a seven-game losing skid. Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi then received the interim coaching tag.

The NFL franchise’s search for its next head coach remains active, but the team now knows at least one person who will not land the job. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady has withdrawn his name from consideration for the role, per a report from NFL Media.

Brady prefers to continue guiding the Bills offense, despite New Orleans wanting “to interview Brady a second time,” NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Brady’s name had also been linked with other head coaching openings during the ongoing hiring cycle.

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Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady looks on from the field prior to an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

New Orleans’ 2024 season got off to a promising start, with the team winning its first two games by 37 and 25 points respectively. But, the ensuing losing streak prompted Saints ownership to make an in-season coaching change.

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“Dennis has been part of our organization for many years,” team owner Gayle Benson said in a statement shortly after the franchise announced Allen’s firing. “He is highly regarded within the NFL. He has been extremely loyal and professional and most importantly an excellent football coach for us. All of this makes today very tough for me and our organization. However, this decision is something that I felt we needed to make at this time. I wish nothing but the best in the future for Dennis and his family. He will always be considered in the highest regard by me and everyone within our organization.”

General view of the New Orleans Saints logo as the midfield logo fleur-de-lis after the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)

Allen ended his head coaching tenure in New Orleans with an 18-25 record. Allen spent seven seasons as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator before succeeding Sean Payton as the franchise’s head coach. Allen is now a top candidate for the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator role, ESPN reported.

Payton, who guided the Saints to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl title, turned to broadcasting in 2022 after stepping down from his head coaching position. He returned to the sideline in 2023 when he was named the next head coach of the Denver Broncos.

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady stands with Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 27, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Rizzi, along with New York Giants defensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver have all completed interviews with the Saints amid the wide-ranging head coaching search. Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellan Moore participated in a virtual interview last week, the team announced.

In his second season as the Bills playcaller, Brady helped star quarterback Josh Allen have arguably the best season of his career. Allen, who was recently named an NFL MVP finalist, threw 28 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions during the regular season. He did not throw an interception in the two postseason games he’s played in thus far.

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The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Bills on Sunday for the AFC Championship game. On the NFC side, the Eagles will welcome the Washington Commanders to Lincoln Financial Field. The winner of those games will meet in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 26, 2025
NFL fines Joe Mixon for comments he didn’t make about referees, then fines him again for ones he did make

The NFL fined Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon for comments he never made about referees during the team’s controversial playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Saturday.

After Mixon and his agent appealed the fine and publicly pointed out that Mixon did not make those comments, the NFL re-issued the fine with comments he did make.

The original fine claimed Mixon said, “Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with Chiefs. These officials are trash and bias.”

That statement did not come from Mixon. Former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh wrote it in a social media post.

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Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, #28, and quarterback C.J. Stroud, #7, celebrate Mixon’s touchdown run against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)

Mixon then went on a social media tirade denying that he made the statement and expressing outrage over the league’s fine.

The NFL later re-issued the fine with his actual words in its place, which reads “Everybody knows how it is playing up here. You can never leave it in the refs’ hands. The whole world see, man,” according to NBC Sports.

League rules prohibit public criticism of officiating “because it calls into question the integrity of, and public confidence in, our game.”

Officials came under widespread criticism by Texans players and head coach DeMeco Ryans, as well as many media pundits and fans on social media over two questionably roughing the passer penalties that were called against the Texans for hits on Patrick Mahomes last Saturday.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, is hit during an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

The first penalty came when Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was called for roughing the passer on a third down in the first quarter. Anderson appeared to push Mahomes in the chest after he had thrown an incomplete pass to tight end Travis Kelce. Anderson was flagged.

The second penalty came during a Mahomes scramble in the third quarter. He had two blockers on a run and three defenders bearing down on him. He moved to his right and then back to his left when he decided to slide.

Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game, saying one of the controversial calls was a result of “forcible contact to the face mask area,” which warranted a flag. He said there was forcible contact to Mahomes’ “hairline” on another unnecessary roughness call.

Mahomes himself has defended the referees for the calls when he was asked by reporters Wednesday if he believed referees were giving him preferential treatment.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, is tackled by Azeez Al-Shaair, #0 of the Houston Texans, during the first quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes answered. “At the end of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they possibly can. And all you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results. … I think that’s what we preach here in Kansas City.

“You get new referees every year, you get new circumstances, and you never can really tell because every play’s different. And that’s what makes the NFL so special. I feel like I’ve just continued to play the game, and I just try to win. And whatever happens kind of happens.”

Meanwhile, Kelce refused to speak on the issue when he was asked about it by his brother, Jason Kelce, during their podcast “New Heights” on Wednesday.

“I’d like to plead the Fifth,” the tight end said, jokingly referring to his constitutional right to remain silent.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

January 23, 2025