The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

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According to the lawsuit filed Monday in Harris County, the woman is suing Watson for $1 million in damages.

The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in the court documents, said the incident took place after she invited Watson to her apartment. She said Watson undressed shortly after arriving and demanded a massage.

It’s the latest legal entanglement for Watson, who settled 23 of 24 lawsuits against him in 2022 after two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct and harassment during massage therapy sessions.

The 28-year-old Watson served an 11-game NFL suspension in 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, stemming from those accusations. He also had to pay a $5 million fine and underwent independent counseling before he was reinstated.

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The new lawsuit was filed by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented the other women who alleged Watson’s misbehavior.

The Browns did not have an immediate response to the latest lawsuit. The NFL declined to comment.

Watson could also face further discipline from the league.

The three-time Pro Bowler has been plagued by issues since Cleveland traded five draft picks, including three first-round selections, to the Texans in 2022 for him. The Browns then signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.

Watson has been limited to just 13 starts due to the suspension and a shoulder injury that required surgery last season.

He played for the first time in 10 months on Sunday and completed 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Hill, who was detained during a traffic stop and eventually cited for reckless driving and driving without a license, was pulled from his car by an officer about a minute into the video – and pushed to the ground. Hill was pulled out of the car after a dispute over his window being rolled up after the initial contact with an officer.

One police officer has been placed on administrative leave and an internal investigation into the incident is underway, according to officials.

In the video, the star wideout appears to be talking on the phone while on the asphalt, with several officers now involved, saying, “I’m getting arrested.” As he is handcuffed, an officer tells him, “When we tell you to do something, you do it.”

Hill was then brought up to his feet, where officers took him to sit along the sidewalk. One police officer can be seeing putting an arm around Hill’s neck and forcing him to the ground while Hill yells repeatedly that he recently had surgery on his knee.

A representative for the police union said the 30-year-old was at fault for not being “immediately” cooperative with officers.

Toward the end of the video, Hill could be heard telling an officer, “I can’t run. I’m not gonna run, bruh. I promise you I’m not gonna run, s—.”

“If I wasn’t Tyreek Hill, lord knows, I probably would have been like, worst-case scenario, I would have been shot or would have been locked up” and “put behind bars, you know, for a simple speeding ticket,” Hill told NBC News in the aftermath of the incident.

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The Miami-Dade Police Department later on Sunday opened an Internal Affairs investigation into the situation, and one of the involved officers was placed on administrative duties.

Drew Rosenhaus, Hill’s agent, told NBC6, “We’re going to look into it. This isn’t over on our end.”

Hill eventually suited up to play the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he logged seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown, which he celebrated with a handcuff move.

The wide receiver was driving to the Dolphins-Jacksonville Jaguars game on Sunday when Miami-Dade police stopped him just outside Hard Rock Stadium, handcuffed him and put him face down on the pavement.

“If I wasn’t Tyreek Hill, lord knows, I probably would have been like, worst-case scenario, I would have been shot or would have been locked up” and “put behind bars, you know, for a simple speeding ticket,” Hill told NBC News.

For more from Tyreek Hill, tune into Nightly News at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT

“And that’s crazy that officers would take it, you know, to that level.”

The Miami-Dade Police Department has launched an internal affairs investigation, and at least one officer has been taken off the streets in the wake of the confrontation, which was captured on video that has been widely shared on social media.

Hill insists he was cooperative with police, rolling down his window and giving his identification. The receiver said he was in no rush because he was within the shadows of Hard Rock Stadium and had no reason to be anxious or in a hurry.

“It just went from 0 to 60 man from the moment that those guys pulled up behind me, knocked on my window, it went from 0 to 60 immediately,” said Hill, adding that he called team security officials from the car.

A representative for the police union said Hill was at fault for not being “immediately” cooperative with officers.

The department declined to comment on the union’s account, saying police officials must wait until the internal affairs investigation is completed before publicly discussing the incident.

Hill was cited for reckless driving and driving without a license, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said. 

Hill, 30, thanked teammates — tight end Jonnu Smith and defensive lineman Calais Campbell — who were driving by, saw him being detained and stopped to help.

Hill said he was particularly upset that Campbell was handcuffed even though his teammate was standing off to the side. The highly respected 38-year-old Campbell is a former Walter Payton Man of the Year winner.

“When I saw Jonnu and Calais pull up … I didn’t feel alone anymore,” Hill said.

“They ended up handcuffing Calais for just being 6-8 I think. But it was crazy. It was crazy how that same officer who took me down handcuffed Calais for just standing on the side.”

Ultimately, Hill said he’s happy no one was injured or worse.

“That officer was really on a power trip,” he said. “He felt like he just needed to … do something that day, you know. But like I said, I’m glad nobody was hurt.”

Hill is one of pro football’s best-known playmakers.

His 77 career TD catches is fifth among active players and 36th all time, just behind No. 35 DeAndre Hopkins (78) and retired Harold Carmichael and Charley Taylor who are tied at No. 33 with 79 scoring grabs. Carmichael and Taylor are both in the Hall of Fame.

The incident didn’t appear to impact Hill’s on-field performance in Sunday’s season opener; he caught seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 20-17 victory.

Faced with first-and-10 from the Miami 20, late in the third quarter and the Jags leading 17-7, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with Hill on a slant at their own 46-yard line.

Hill then raced past two Jaguar defenders to complete the electrifying 80-yard TD which sparked the Miami comeback.

Hill put his hands behind his back, feigning that he was being handcuffed, as teammate Jaylen Waddle came up to walk the receiver off as if he was the arresting officer.

“You got to learn how to laugh and have a good time,” he said. “Man, whenever people think you’re … having a bad situation or having a low moment, I always try to find the good in every situation. That’s one way I’m able to stay so strong minded as a young male, well as a young Black male.”

Jesse Kirsch reported from Miami and David K. Li from New York City.

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here:

• Officer in Tyreek Hill detainment put on administrative duty, chief pledges transparency
• Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill marks touchdown with handcuff celebration
• Rams star WR Puka Nacua headed to injured reserve with knee injury

The No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will take the Chicago Bears to Houston for a primetime matchup against reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and the Texans in Week 2.

Williams had a rough debut in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, completing 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards while taking a pair of sacks. Despite some offensive woes, the Bears’ defense and special teams came through to overcome a 17-point deficit and earn a 24-17 victory.

The Texans will also enter the Sunday night showdown with a 1-0 record after beating the AFC South rival Colts in Indianapolis. New additions led the way, as wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon combined for three touchdowns in the 29-27 victory.

Which team will move to 2-0? Here is how you can tune into the Bears-Texans Sunday Night Football matchup on NBC and Peacock.

When is the Bears vs. Texans Sunday Night Football game?

The Bears and Texans will face off on Sunday Night Football on Sunday, Sept. 15, at NRG Stadium in Houston.

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What time is the Bears vs. Texans Sunday Night Football game?

Kickoff for Bears-Texans is slated for 8:20 p.m. ET.

How to watch the Bears vs. Texans Sunday Night Football game

Bears-Texans will air on NBC. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline) will be on the call for the game and for Sunday Night Football throughout the 2024 season.

Pregame coverage on NBC and Peacock starts at 7 p.m. ET with “Football Night in America,” as Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Matthew Berry and Jac Collinsworth get you ready for the game.

How to live stream the Bears vs. Texans Sunday Night Football game

Live stream: Peacock, NBC.com

Mobile app: Peacock mobile app on Apple/Android, NBC mobile app

Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season will begin with a major AFC East clash on Thursday Night Football as the Buffalo Bills will travel to face the Miami Dolphins.

The early window on Sunday is stacked with 10 games. Among them are the San Francisco 49ers at the Minnesota Vikings, as Sam Darnold looks to follow up with another impressive outing against his former team.

Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will return to Detroit to take on the Lions in a rematch from the 2023 playoffs. The Green Bay Packers, who will likely be without Jordan Love, will host Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts.

In the late window, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals will hope to put behind a dismal Week 1 outing, but they’ll have to do so at the Kansas City Chiefs, where Patrick Mahomes and Co. await. The Denver Broncos will host the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Russell Wilson will need to get past an injury to be able to play his former team.

Sunday Night Football will feature No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears against C.J. Stroud and the Texans in Houston.

Monday Night Football will conclude the week with Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons on the road facing Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here’s the full schedule:

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In the end, the Lions received the ball first and running back David Montgomery carried the team to a pivotal 26-20 win.

Detroit led 17-3 early in the third quarter but eventually lost momentum as Los Angeles stormed back and took a 20-17 advantage with two minutes to go. But the Lions responded with a late field goal to force the extra period.

Let’s analyze the game further with three takeaways:

Jared Goff will need to improve

Goff proved last season he can be dominant in dome environments, and the Lions this season have plenty of such games. But at home in Week 1 he showed he’s still rusty after not playing in the preseason. The 29-year-old completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and one pick, with Jameson Williams’ 52-yard score standing out.

Montgomery helped Goff with 91 rushing yards on 17 carries and a score, with the Lions’ overtime possession being the primary source of his numbers. Detroit’s defense got off to a strong start, so Goff will need to parallel that soon.

Cooper Kupp can still be WR1

Second-year wideout Puka Nacua had four catches for 35 yards before being carted off with a knee injury. It’s not yet known how serious the injury is, but it provided a platform for Kupp to exhibit he can still be a legit WR1.

Nacua took over that role last season as Kupp dealt with injuries, but the latter recorded hefty numbers in the loss. The 31-year-old hauled in 14 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Tyler Johnson and Colby Parkinson combined for nine catches.

Stafford himself threw for 317 yards on 34 of 49 completions for a touchdown and a pick.

Alex Anzalone could be in for a major season

Anzalone, 29, has put up big numbers in previous campaigns but he looked to be at a whole new level Sunday. The Florida product recorded a game-high 13 tackles (10 solo) to go with three tackles for a loss.

He started the game on fire and set the tone, which continued throughout the game. If he can maintain those types of performances, he could be in for better recognition when the season ends. The former New Orleans Saint does not yet have any NFL accolades to his name.

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The seven-time Super Bowl champion made his debut as an NFL analyst during the Fox broadcast of the regular-season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. But first came a Brady hype video leading into the pregame show, where the studio team admitted they couldn’t help but “fanboy” over their new co-worker.

“You’re a broadcaster, how about that!” play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt said when the camera cut to the booth in Cleveland, where Brady, in a coat and tie, made his first live appearance on screen. The former Patriots and Buccaneers quarterback was identified when they cut to the booth as a “7-time Super Bowl champion.”

And that, as the kids say, is a nice flex.

Sideline reporter Erin Andrews made sure to let Dallas coach Mike McCarthy know that Brady had been complimentary of his play calling. Charissa Thompson gave him a couple of shout-outs when she broke in with score updates on the game between Tampa Bay, one of his former teams, and the Washington Commanders.

Burkhardt joked during during another on-screen appearance that he paid extra attention to his hair because he knew there would be more shots of the broadcast booth.

“I do what they tell me. I understand that,” Brady said with a chuckle. “I’m still a rookie in here.”

To the viewers, that was obvious.

Brady’s commentary was knowledgeable, as expected, but also lacking in personality — no Tony Romo anticipating the next play, no John Madden with his “Boom!” and turducken, not even the quarter-zip sweaters that make Peyton Manning stand out from the dozens or hundreds of other ex-jocks who joined the media when their playing careers were over.

There were awkward laughs, a cringey fist-bump with rules analyst Mike Pereira, and a lot of calling players by their first names (along with an unnecessarily deferential reference to “Coach McCarthy”). Brady declined to call out Cleveland receiver Amari Cooper when a pass went through his hands in the fourth quarter and made excuses for the Browns while trying to find positives in a dreadful performance.

As one X user tweeted, “Tom Brady is to broadcasting as Michael Jordan is to baseball.”

(Of course Brady, a sixth-round draft pick who spent his first NFL season as the Patriots fourth-string quarterback, managed to grow into the quarterbacking thing just fine.)

It didn’t help that the game, which Dallas led 27-3 early in the second half, was headed toward a blowout that would challenge even a veteran broadcaster to hold the audience’s interest. But that’s where Brady was able to deploy his experience as an asset.

“There’s plenty of time left in this game,” said the quarterback who famously led the Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl 51 against Atlanta. “Just the margin of error’s slim.”

On one play, Brady called for Deshaun Watson to throw it to an open tight end; the Browns quarterback didn’t see it.

Brady played 23 years in the NFL before retiring after the 2022 season as the most decorated player in league history. He signed a 10-year deal with Fox Sports — replacing the well-regarded Greg Olsen as the network’s lead analyst. Brady took last year off, a gap that only added to the anticipation over whether he could transfer some of his on-field knowledge and skills to the booth.

A commercial a few minutes before the kickoff featured Brady in his various football uniforms talking to his current self, questioning why he didn’t just take the estimated $450 million he earned in his playing career and “lay on a beach getting fat on pina coladas.”

“What they’re really asking is why don’t you quit football?’ They don’t understand that you live and breathe for football. Because you’re Tom Freaking Brady,” a succession of helmeted Bradys say. “And our football journey isn’t even close to done.”

“Back to work,” the current Brady says.

With five Super Bowl MVP awards in his seven victories in the NFL title game — six for New England and one for Tampa Bay — Brady established himself as the greatest player in league history. He retired with the career records for wins and playoff wins, passing touchdowns and playoff passing touchdowns, and passing yards and playoff passing yards, among other bests.

And while he couldn’t completely avoid controversy in his career — most notably during the two-year Deflategate odyssey that led to a four-game suspension for cheating — Brady rarely made news with anything he said.

Brady’s new career has already seen a setback because his concurrent attempt to purchase a minority share in the Las Vegas Raiders means he won’t have the access to team facilities, players and coaches that other broadcasters receive. He also must abide by the league constitution and bylaws that prohibit public criticism of officials and other clubs; he is allowed to broadcast Raiders games.

The much-anticipated debut stole some of the attention from the game between the defending NFC East champion Cowboys, who signed quarterback Dak Prescott to a record-setting four-year, $240 million contract earlier Sunday, and a Browns team that isn’t expected to make the playoffs.

As the final 30 seconds ticked off on the Cowboys’ 33-17 victory, Brady and Burkhardt discussed their new partnership as much as the game itself. Back in the studio, Michael Strahan picked Brady — not any of the players — as the day’s biggest winner, and Brady shared some wisdom he got from his fellow athlete-turned-TV personality: “You’re going to wake up tomorrow, on Monday morning, you ain’t going to be sore.”

“That,” Brady said, “I’m very happy about.”

But if you can tackle your opponent in the end zone when they have the ball, that works too.

The Denver Broncos did that pretty well in the first half of Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, with two safeties in the two quarters.

Sean Payton’s team is just the 19th in NFL history to have two or more safeties in a single game, but the first to do so since 2017. Seven years ago, it was the Miami Dolphins pulling off the feat against… the Broncos.

What’s the record for most safeties in an NFL game?

While 18 teams have had two safeties in a game, only one has had three: the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

John Robinson’s squad did it on Sept. 30, 1984 in a 33-12 win over the New York Giants. All three of the Rams’ safeties on that day came in the third quarter.

How many safeties did the Broncos have in Week 1?

In the first half of Denver-Seattle, the Broncos recorded two safeties against the Seahawks.

The first came with 11:22 to play in the second quarter when Seahawks lineman Anthony Bradford was called for a holding penalty in the end zone. Then, the Broncos stuffed Zach Charbonnet in the backfield to pick up another two points with 4:24 left in the half.

Denver didn’t log another in the second half, however, and lost 26-20.

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After a pair of exciting games on Thursday and Friday to kick off the season, the rest of the league got things going on the first football Sunday of 2024.

The early games delivered some thrilling action, with six of eight contests decided by one score.

The later games were mostly one-sided except for the Denver Broncos giving the Seattle Seahawks a late scare.

Here are the winners and losers from the Sunday games:

Loser: Bill Belichick

The New England Patriots couldn’t seem to do anything right in 2023. In Week 1 of 2024, the script was flipped.

Led by new head coach Jerod Mayo, the Patriots went on the road to Cincinnati and upset Joe Burrow’s Bengals 16-10. New England’s defense was the story, holding the Bengals to just 224 total yards and forcing two turnovers.

While it’s only one game, Belichick will certainly be criticized after seeing his former team perform so well without him. The roster is largely unchanged from last season aside from a change at quarterback to Jacoby Brissett. The veteran went 15 of 24 for 121 yards in Sunday’s victory, while most importantly taking care of the ball.

Winner: Sam Darnold believers

In his return to MetLife Stadium, the former New York Jets first-round pick dismantled the New York Giants.

Darnold led the Minnesota Vikings to an easy 28-6 win, completing 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

It’s been a rough career so far for the 27-year-old quarterback, who has bounced around to four teams since being drafted in 2018. But now in the best situation of his career with head coach Kevin O’Connell and star receiver Justin Jefferson, perhaps 2024 will be the year he puts it all together.

Loser: Bryce Young

The second year of the Bryce Young era looked a lot like the first on Sunday.

Last year’s No. 1 overall picked struggled mightily in Week 1, going 13 of 30 for 161 yards and two interceptions in a blowout 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

The Carolina Panthers entered the 2024 season with some renewed hope that a revamped coaching staff and offensive line could help Young turn things around. So far, albeit in a one-game sample size, it doesn’t appear like anything has changed.

Winner: The NFL’s dynamic kickoff

The NFL completely changed the way it does kickoffs in 2024, and the results are already noticeable.

Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the second half of Sunday’s loss against the Bills. While one touchdown isn’t crazy, there were only four kick return touchdowns in all 18 weeks last season.

Winner: Simone Biles

The gymnastics GOAT stays winning.

Fresh off a busy Paris Olympics with three gold medals for Biles, her husband had an exciting debut for the Chicago Bears.

Jonathan Owens recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in the third quarter of Chicago’s 24-17 win, the first score of the safety’s career. Owens, who has now played for four teams since being undrafted in 2018, is off to a great start in the Windy City after spending last year with the rival Packers.

Loser: Falcons fans

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons played in Georgia on Sunday, but you wouldn’t know it by watching the game.

Terrible Towels infiltrated Mercedes-Benz Stadium and took over the Falcons’ home. The Pittsburgh fans helped will their team to a 18-10 win over the Falcons in a sloppy defensive battle.

New Falcons QB Kirk Cousins was rusty in his debut, finishing with just 155 passing yards and two interceptions. For the Steelers, Justin Fields filled in for the injured Russell Wilson. He took care of the ball and let his kicker and defense do the heavy lifting as the Steelers secured the opening day victory.

Winner: Baker Mayfield

The Buccaneers got off to a stellar start to the year, with Baker Mayfield at the heart of it. In Tampa Bay’s 37-20 rout of the Washington Commanders, Mayfield dominated with 24 of 30 completions for 289 yards, four touchdowns and no picks. It marked his fifth-career game with at least four passing touchdowns.

Chris Godwin led the way with eight catches for 83 yards and a score while star Mike Evans had five catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

On the other hand, Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels delivered on the ground but couldn’t overcome the defense’s inability to get stops. Daniels rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts while completing 17 of 24 passes for 184 yards, zero touchdowns and zero picks.

Loser: Deshaun Watson

The Browns may have a quarterback problem…and an expensive one. Watson struggled mightily in a rough 33-17 loss at the Dallas Cowboys, completing 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and two picks.

Most concerning, though, were some of Watson’s split statistics in just the first half:

The Cowboys do have a strong defense and it didn’t help that Cleveland’s run game didn’t provide balance, but Watson’s run of inconsistent or poor performances date back to when he first joined the team.

He’s still under contract until 2026 and makes $46 million base salary a year, but it gets more costly during his last two seasons. There’s plenty of work to be done if Watson is ever to return to his Houston form.

Winner: J.K. Dobbins

Though Justin Herbert didn’t light up the stat sheet with passing yards, he didn’t really need to. With J.K. Dobbins entering the backfield, Herbert received sorely needed help in distributing the offensive burden. Dobbins, who dealt with multiple rough injuries while with the Baltimore Ravens, turned in a 10-carry, 135-rushing yard performance to go with a touchdown in a 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Los Angeles Chargers still have a lack of receiving depth, but Dobbins staying healthy and performing like this will be significant.

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It is not expected to be season ending, though Love will miss time. Initial tests revealed that Love’s ACL was intact, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Love’s timetable for a return is somewhere between three-to-six weeks, per Pelissero. There is optimism he can return sooner, depending on a second opinion. If it is three weeks, Green Bay during that time plays at home against Indianapolis, away to Tennessee and back at home versus Minnesota.

On the second to last play of the game in Brazil, the Green Bay Packers star quarterback tried to get off a throw but ultimately had to turn around and flip the ball back to Josh Jacobs.

Love then saw his left leg get caught in a tackle made by Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Love went down in pain and had to be helped off to the sideline, where he continued to receive treatment.

After the game, head coach Matt LaFleur said he didn’t know of any updates on the 25-year-old signal caller.

Newly acquired backup Malik Willis entered for Green Bay on the final play, but got sacked as time expired as Green Bay fell 34-29.

Love signed a four-year, $220 million extension with Green Bay over the offseason that made him tied for the highest-paid QB in league history.

The No. 26 overall pick in 2020, Love helped the Packers to the No. 7 seed in the NFC last season in his first full campaign as a starter, showing plenty of promise for the future.

Green Bay had been touted to finish even higher this season after upsetting the No. 2 Dallas Cowboys in the first round last postseason and taking the No. 1 San Francisco 49ers to the final seconds in an eventual loss.

This is a developing story…

Philadelphia on Friday repelled the Green Bay Packers 34-29 to conclude the NFL’s first ever game in South America, which transpired in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Jalen Hurts endured a rough start with two turnovers, but bounced back in the second half as Jordan Love and Co. couldn’t capitalize.

The game came down to the final possession, but newly acquired quarterback Malik Willis, who had to replace an injured Love for the final play of the game, couldn’t get off a throw and was sacked.

Let’s analyze the contest further with five winners and losers:

WINNER: Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Loser: New York Giants. Philadelphia’s NFC East rival had to watch their former star running back explode on his new team. Barkley, 27, was the heartbeat for the Eagles’ win, logging three total touchdowns. He rushed for 109 yards on 24 carries for two scores while also adding 23 yards on two catches and a touchdown.

If this is the level of production Barkley can bring on a consistent basis, it’ll make Philly’s offense much more dangerous than last season.

LOSER: Quarterback play

Hurts and Love are two of the best quarterbacks in the league, but that wasn’t always the case in this one. Hurts completed 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and two picks while also fumbling snaps twice. One of them was recovered by Barkley, while the other was a mistake by Philly’s new center. Hurts also rushed for 33 yards on 13 attempts, so there’s plenty of overall work to do for him to regain form.

Love completed just 17 of 34 passes for 260 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, which could’ve been avoided as well. He benefitted from a 70-yard catch-and-run to wideout Jayden Reed in which Philly left its secondary exposed. Now all eyes will be on Love’s injury status.

WINNER: Jayden Reed, Packers

While Josh Jacobs picked up momentum later in the game, it was young wideout Reed that kept the Packers in it during the first half when both teams kept exchanging scores.

Reed, 24, took home a rushing attempt for a 33-yard touchdown while catching four passes for 138 yards and a score, which was the aforementioned 70-yarder.

LOSER: Turnover conversion

The Eagles turned the ball over three times to just one for Green Bay. Two of those were picks by Hurts while the other was the aforementioned snap fumble. Green Bay should’ve been able to seize a close win itself, but it left either too many points on the board or didn’t score at all.

That was the case with its two opening field goals in the first quarter, which came right before Philadelphia put up 17 points in the second period and 14 in the third. That’ll be an aspect Matt LaFleur and Co. will need to improve moving forward.

WINNER: Zack Baun, Eagles

New signing Baun had a tremendous debut for Philly. A 2020 third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, Baun recorded a game-high 15 tackles (11 solo), which included two sacks, two QB hits and a tackle for loss. One of the sacks came against Willis on the final play of the game.

Linebacker play was an issue for Philadelphia once its collapse last season gradually occurred, but Baun brought steel that was sorely needed down the middle.

Reed Blankenship had the interception on Love after jumping a short go route.

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“The ownership’s approved eight games already,” Goodell said before the NFL’s first game in Brazil. “I hope to get that to 16 at some point in the future. Let’s see how that goes.”

Goodell was interviewed on Peacock ahead of the streaming service’s telecast of Friday night’s matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, the first NFL game in South America and one of five international matchups on the 2024 schedule.

That includes three games in London. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host a New York Jets-Minnesota Vikings game on Oct. 6 and a Jacksonville Jaguars-Chicago Bears matchup on Oct. 13. The Jaguars will face the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 20.

The other international game has the New York Giants playing the Carolina Panthers in Munich’s Allianz Arena on Nov. 10.

The NFL is planning a game in Madrid in 2025, though the date and teams haven’t been announced.

Owners voted in December to authorize the league to host eight games internationally each season.

The game had a total audience average of 28.9 million, surpassing the 27.6 million that watched the New England Patriots defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 opener on NBC. Streaming did not start getting added to audience figures until 2016.

It was a 5% increase from the 27.5 million that watched Detroit beat Kansas City in last year’s opener.

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Despite the start of the game being delayed 20 minutes due to a storm that included lightning, NBC averaged 24.3 million, according to Nielsen, with the audience peaking at 33 million during the second quarter (9:30-9:45 p.m. EDT).

It also drew a 37 share on NBC, which is its largest for any regular-season game since it started carrying NFL prime time games in 2006. A share is the percentage of all television sets in use at a given time watching a program.

According to Adobe Analytics, streaming on Peacock, NBC and NFL digital platforms averaged 4.6 million.

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Tennessee Titans tight end Josh Whyle said Friday that he plans to wear a Guardian Cap during games in the 2024 campaign, starting with his team’s opener against the Bears in Chicago on Sunday. He’ll be among the first NFL players to wear a Guardian Cap in a regular-season game.

Whyle suffered a concussion during a joint practice with the Seattle Seahawks in August. It was his second concussion in less than a year.

“Just for my own safety,” Whyle said of his decision to wear the cap, via TennesseeTitans.com. “Can’t afford to get another (concussion), and I want to be out there playing on Sundays.”

The Indianapolis Colts, meanwhile, will have a couple of players sporting a Guardian Cap for their Week 1 showdown with the Houston Texans. Tight end Kylen Granson and safety Rodney Thomas II will continue wearing the extra head protection after doing so for preseason contests.

“My mom, my parents, they’ve always taught me, from an early age, protect yourself, protect your head,” Granson said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “That’s what’s really important. Your health.”

Thomas II said of his decision: “If I’m practicing like that every day, day to day, I’ll play the same way I practice. It doesn’t hurt me at all to wear it. You can only gain from it.”

Granson and Thomas II were among six players — and five Colts players — who wore a Guardian Cap during preseason games, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport.

What is a Guardian Cap in football?

A Guardian Cap is a soft shell covering the top of a helmet designed to absorb contact and lessen the impact of hits to the head. According to NFL data, the cap will absorb at least 10% of the force during a hit to the helmet. That doubles to 20% if both players involved in the hit are using the caps.

This is the first season in which players are permitted to wear a Guardian Cap during games.

“We now have two years of data showing significant concussion reductions among players who wear Guardian Caps during practice,” said Jeff Miller, NFL EVP overseeing player health and safety, back in April.

What are the NFL’s Guardian Cap rules?

The NFL first mandated the use of Guardian Caps during the early portion of training camp in 2022, when all linemen, tight ends and linebackers were required to wear them at practices.

Last year, the mandate was expanded to all preseason practices along with contact practices in the regular season and postseason. Running backs and fullbacks were also added to the position groups required to wear them.

For 2024, receivers and defensive backs became required to use them, and all players were given the option of wearing the caps in games.

Players can be exempt from wearing a Guardian Cap if they sport one of six new helmet models the NFL introduced ahead of this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Most of his memories from that day are pretty negative.

“We lost,” Tagovailoa said with a quick shake of his head, remembering the Crimson Tide’s 44-16 defeat.

“Any time you lose any of those games, they stick with you,” Tagovailoa continued, “and I wasn’t happy about that performance, the way we came out as a team offensively, especially. You learn from all those mistakes and you grow from that, but it wasn’t a good memory.”

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Lawrence played one of the best games of his college career, throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Tagovailoa finished with 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The QBs have crossed paths sparingly since then. They’ll meet for the second time as pros when Lawrence’s Jacksonville Jaguars visit Tagovailoa’s Miami Dolphins in Sunday’s season opener.

“In that national championship game that’s where, really, I think he made a statement in who he was as a player and just in general,” Tagovailoa said of Lawrence. “That was his freshman year, too. Him coming in the national championship game, leading his team — and we had a really good Alabama team, too — and he did what he had to do.”

Tagovailoa said he and Lawrence have respected each other since entering the NFL and have even run into each other on vacation in the Bahamas a couple of times.

Tagovailoa was drafted fifth overall in 2020, while Lawrence was the first pick in 2021. Both have had ups and downs to start their careers but earned big paydays this offseason.

Lawrence signed a five-year, $275 million extension in June. Tagovailoa got a four-year, $212 million contract about a month later. Both understand the heightened expectations placed on them by franchises looking to contend.

“You put everything into it and you just try to go 1-0 each week,” Lawrence said, “and you’ve got to keep that tunnel vision for 17 weeks straight. We’ve got to start with just one, though, this week.”

Play-calling mystery

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson is declining to reveal who will call plays this season. It’ll be either Pederson or offensive coordinator Press Taylor. They shared the job in 2022, with Pederson calling plays in the first half and Taylor in the second. Taylor took over the sole role last season, but Pederson has since said he needed to evaluate who should handle it in 2024.

Owner Shad Khan has made it clear he would prefer for Pederson to call plays.

“I don’t think it’s really a whole lot of difference,” Pederson said. “Press and I think alike a lot of times and converse a lot of times during games, and I just think that if you’re looking at it, there’s probably not a lot of differences.”

Rookie watch

Jaguars rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is expected to start alongside Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis and play significantly. Jacksonville drafted Thomas with the 23rd overall pick in April, and the former LSU standout has been better than advertised.

He caught three passes for 93 yards in three preseason games and flashed even more during practice.

“I feel like it’s been going pretty good, pretty smooth,” he said.

Ramsey’s status

Jalen Ramsey missed time in the preseason because of a hamstring injury and did not practice this week, putting his status for Sunday in question.

Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said he’s hopeful that Ramsey will play, but if he doesn’t, that would open up more playing opportunities for backups Ethan Bonner and Storm Duck.

“One thing I do know about Jalen is it’s not for a lack of work ethic,” Weaver said. “He’s doing everything he can in the training room to try and put himself out there. We’ve just got to be smart.”

The All-Pro cornerback missed the first part of 2023 recovering from a knee injury suffered in training camp. He returned to have three interceptions and 22 tackles in his first season with the Dolphins.

Captain Campbell

Veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell was named a captain after joining the Dolphins in June.

Campbell, who has been praised by coaches and teammates for his willingness to pass on knowledge from his 17-year NFL career that includes a 2017 run to the AFC championship game with the Jaguars, said he was surprised at being named captain.

“It’s hard for somebody that hasn’t been here a very long time to be voted captain,” Campbell said. “I’ve tried to be very vocal and tried to say the things that I think were necessary for us to be a good team. That goes to show that my team is very receptive, and they like what I’m saying.”

Only one National Football League team has an ownership structure that resembles a publicly traded company.

The Green Bay Packers, who are the 12th most-valuable NFL franchise at $6.3 billion, according to CNBC’s Official 2024 NFL Team Valuations, are the only publicly owned team in the league. The franchise is completely owned by stockholders, many of them Packers fans, in a structure established more than 100 years ago.

The Packers have had six stock offerings — which kicked off in 1923, 1935, 1950, 1997, 2011, 2021 — resulting in more than 5.2 million outstanding shares owned by more than 538,000 people, according to the team’s 2024 media guide.

The shares pay no dividend, are nontransferable outside of passing to a child or relative and do not have any intrinsic market value. Shareholders get to attend the team’s annual meeting and vote for a board of directors, but the team says owners do not make any financial gains from ownership. The only way a shareholder receives any money is by selling their stake back to the team, and even that is for a percentage of the original share price.

For 2023, the team took in $638 million in revenue, and its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were $128 million. The Packers are a nonprofit, and the only member of the team’s seven-person executive committee who gets compensation is the president.

The Packers’ annual revenue goes toward paying players, maintaining Lambeau Field and marketing, among other expenses. The share offerings throughout the years have been used to pull the team out of rocky financial situations and do larger renovations of Lambeau Field.

The unique structure puts the Packers among the teams that newly approved private equity investors will be least interested in. Even deep-pocketed investors cannot use their funds to generate a return.

There is a 200,000 share per person ownership cap — less than 4% of the team’s outstanding shares. Current rules allow approved private equity firms to own up to 10% of a franchise, but even if the Packers wanted a firm to own that much of the team, it is unlikely to entice private equity investors.

Since the stock offerings are so infrequent, the biggest barrier to Packers fans owning a piece of the team is not money — it’s timing. 

In the first offering in 1923, one share cost $5. Even though the price has increased throughout the years to as high as $300 for an offering that started in 2021, it is still a tiny fraction of the $6.49 billion average valuation of an NFL team today.

The unique ownership structure is one of several ways the Packers stand as an outlier in the NFL. Green Bay is the smallest television market of any of the 32 teams, and it does not have the high level of tourism that other cities with NFL teams such as Las Vegas, Miami, New York and Los Angeles receive.

It also often draws the ire of other fans and organizations because of its long-term stability at quarterback as the team transitioned from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love.

The Packers kick off their season Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles led by Love, who recently signed a four-year, $220 million extension with the organization. 

Correction: This story was updated to reflect that the Packers are the only publicly owned team in the NFL.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs opened the 2024 NFL regular season with a strong 27-20 home win over the Baltimore Ravens Thursday.

Lamar Jackson led the Ravens down the field on the opening drive before Derrick Henry punched it home, but they quickly fell behind not long after and didn’t have enough to overcome Kansas City.

It eventually came down to the final play when Jackson found tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone as time expired for a would-be touchdown as John Harbaugh signaled to go for two. However, Likely’s toe was on the line following a review and the game ended.

Let’s analyze the match further with five winners and losers:

WINNER: Xavier Worthy, Chiefs

Look away, Buffalo Bills. Buffalo traded back in the 2024 draft that allowed Kansas City to take Worthy, a speedy wideout out of Texas. Worthy immediately made an impact on his first touch, running home a jet sweep from 21 yards out.

Later in the game, Worthy added a receiving touchdown when he beat Marlon Humphrey and Baltimore didn’t bring safety help. Mahomes easily found Worthy for a 35-yard score.

After not having enough reliable weapons last season, Mahomes may have a speedy gem in Worthy. Second-year wideout Rashee Rice led the way in the department with seven catches for 103 yards while Travis Kelce was held to only three catches for 34 yards.

LOSER: Mark Andrews, Ravens

The Ravens may have a clear-cut new TE1. Former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler Mark Andrews had an extremely rough game, catching just two passes for 14 yards. He had a clear chance to get a first down on a 3rd and four play late in the game, but slipped and fell short after just a few yards.

Baltimore needed more from its veterans and didn’t get much from Andrews or new star running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for just 46 yards on 13 carries with the opening touchdown. Second-year wideout Zay Flowers also had a rough opener, catching six passes for just 37 yards.

Likely led the way with 111 yards on nine catches and a touchdown, while Lamar Jackson had a solid dual-threat game. The 2023 MVP threw for 273 yards and a touchdown on 26 of 41 completions while rushing for 122 yards on 16 attempts. He did fumble once, however, but he did his part.

WINNER: Chiefs’ secondary

A vital part to Kansas City’s win was its secondary. The Chiefs last season deployed a robust defense and there were signs of that continuing this year, with Jackson’s shiftiness causing problems for the front seven.

But the secondary delivered, with Jaylen Watson logging 11 tackles (seven solo), Justin Reid adding nine (eight solo) and second-year safety Chamarri Conner putting up six, all solo. Wide receivers will continue to struggle if they, along with Trent McDuffie, maintain high levels.

LOSER: Penalties

It didn’t take long for referees and penalties to trend. In fact, it took just the first drive by the Ravens, where illegal formations started to be called and continued to be called throughout, primarily on Baltimore.

Ravens head coach Harbaugh could be seen telling a referee to call the illegal formations both ways as he felt it wasn’t being called on Kansas City, as well as Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo calling a timeout that shouldn’t have counted since coordinators are not allowed to do so.

In the end, Baltimore had seven penalties called against it for 64 yards while the Chiefs had six for 45.

WINNER: Chiefs’ chances

The Chiefs will have to feel good about the result, particularly considering Baltimore is one of its primary threats for the AFC throne. But Kansas City, just like it did in last season’s AFC Championship Game, took a lead and didn’t look back.

Last year, Kansas City fell to the Detroit Lions in the opener and had a sluggish regular season. This year, it is starting off its three-peat goals on the right foot.

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Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers will host Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets as the latter quarterback returns to the Bay Area, where he played college football.

Rodgers has not played in an NFL game since Week 1 of the 2023 season, where he infamously tore his Achilles a few plays in on Monday Night Football.

Both teams have high expectations this season and will look to start on a positive note. Here’s everything to know to catch the game:

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When is the 49ers vs. Jets Week 1 game?

The 49ers and Jets will meet on Monday, Sept. 9.

What time is the 49ers vs. Jets Week 1 game?

Kickoff time from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is set for 5:15 p.m. PT.

How to watch the 49ers vs. Jets Week 1 game

49ers-Jets will air on ESPN and ABC. Joe Buck (play-by-by), Troy Aikman (color) and Lisa Salters (sideline) are on the call.

How to live stream 49ers vs. Jets Week 1 game

Live stream: WatchESPN, NFL+

Mobile app: ESPN mobile app, NFL mobile app

The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Dallas Cowboys are No. 1 on CNBC’s list of NFL valuations for 2024 at $11 billion, $3 billion more than any other franchise. It marks the first time an NFL franchise has been valued at more than $10 billion after the Cowboys were valued at a record-setting $9 billion in 2023.

The Los Angeles Rams ($8 billion) are second in CNBC’s rankings, while the New England Patriots ($7.9 billion), New York Giants ($7.85 billion) and Las Vegas Raiders ($7.8 billion) round out the top five.

The rest of the top 10 is largely dominated by major U.S. markets with the San Francisco 49ers ($7.4 billion), New York Jets ($7.35 billion), Miami Dolphins ($7.1 billion), Philadelphia Eagles ($7 billion) and Chicago Bears ($6.4 billion).

All 32 NFL teams are valued at more than $5 billion. The Cincinnati Bengals have the lowest valuation in the league at $5.25 billion, a significant jump from the team’s $3.5 billion valuation in 2023.

In all, the average value of an NFL franchise today is $6.49 billion.

Mike Ozanian, formerly of Forbes and now a senior sports reporter for CNBC, said the process for determining a team's value goes well beyond winning and losing on the field.

"The CNBC NFL valuation list is determined by gathering information that will allow us to put together a huge, huge financial puzzle," Ozanian said in an exclusive interview. "What we have to do is figure out what the revenue is for every team, what the operating expenses are for every team, to figure out what the EBITDAI is for every team. And then once we do that, we can then go ahead and look at which teams have the most revenue, because it's revenue that determines team value because teams are bought and sold on multiples of revenue."

About 65% of all NFL revenue is shared equally among the 32 franchises. To separate from the pack, Ozanian says "entrepreneurial" teams that do the best job of bringing in non-shared revenue stand out.

"Doesn't matter if you lose every game on the field, whether you go to the Super Bowl, whether you're in a tiny market like Buffalo or Green Bay or in a big market like New York and Chicago -- everybody gets an even slice of that, which is going to be about $357 million in 2024 per team," Ozanian said of the NFL's split revenue. "So what determines the pecking order in value, how these teams are ranked is who does the best job of getting revenue that's not shared equally. And that's typically revenue from stadium sponsorships, stadium advertising, those very fancy luxury suites, other forms of hospitality have at your stadium."

Ozanian said when it comes to the Cowboys -- like Texas -- everything is bigger, and it all traces back to when owner Jerry Jones first bought the team.

Jones saw that Visa and Coca-Cola were league-wide sponsors and made deals with their rivals, American Express and Pepsi, as a window for those companies to get into the NFL marketplace. While Jones got in some "hot water" for working alongside non-league partners, he ultimately prevailed and provided a blueprint for sponsorship deals that helped propel the Cowboys to become the league's most valuable franchise.

"That was the start of this great, great, vision that Jerry had that the NFL in general, and particularly the Dallas Cowboys," Ozanian said. "It's with the sponsorships that he really, really took the NFL to another level."

Ozanian also noted differences between teams that not only share local markets, but the same stadium.

The Rams sit at No. 2, while the Los Angeles Chargers are at No. 26 ($5.83 billion) despite both teams playing their home games at SoFi Stadium. Over in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Giants are three spots and $500 million above the Jets.

As Ozanian points out, the L.A. discrepancy comes from ownership. Rams owner Stan Kroenke financed SoFi Stadium, giving the Rams an 85/15 split of stadium revenue over the Chargers.

"The Rams, basically, are the landlords, and the Chargers are the tenants," Ozanian said.

The Giants and Jets, meanwhile, have a 50/50 partnership with their stadium.

"The Giants and the Jets, unlike say the Rams and the Chargers, split the operation of MetLife Stadium," Ozanian said. "They don't own it, but they co-operate it. So, in other words, the revenues and expenses for all the non-NFL events that are held there are evenly split among the two."

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There is a $2 billion gulf growing in Los Angeles.

The National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams, No. 2 on CNBC’s Official 2024 NFL Team Valuations list, are worth $8 billion, while the Los Angeles Chargers rank 26th at a value of $5.83 billion.

While the Rams have a recent Super Bowl to their name and the Chargers don’t, the gap in value is about much more than team performance. It comes down to stadium economics.

Both teams play in SoFi Stadium, which Rams owner Stanley Kroenke financed to the tune of more than $5 billion. Kroenke owns and operates the stadium. The Chargers, owned by the Spanos family, are just tenants.

The Rams get about 85% of the stadium’s revenue from luxury suites and sponsorships, as well as all the revenue from non-NFL events, according to a person familiar with the matter. That leaves about 15% of suite and sponsorship revenue for the Chargers — and no money from non-NFL events.

That means, for example, when pop star Taylor Swift sold out six nights at SoFi Stadium in August 2023 during her Eras Tour, the Chargers got no piece of the pie.

The mega tour was a boon for several NFL teams last year. A person familiar with the matter told CNBC that a particular stop on the Eras Tour netted $4 million in revenue per show for the hosting stadium.

Stadium economics count a lot in the pecking order of NFL valuations because $13.68 billion, or 67%, of the league’s $20.47 billion in revenue was shared equally among the 32 teams in 2023. The vast majority of that $13.68 billion comes from national media rights plus sponsorship and licensing deals. But teams do not share revenue from stadium suites, hospitality and sponsorships — and that is where some franchises can pull away in value.

On top of the six Swift concerts, SoFi Stadium also hosted performances last year by Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Metallica and Pink. The Rams would keep 100% of that revenue.

The franchise also gets to keep the full $625 million of SoFi’s stadium naming rights, which last 20 years through the 2039 season.

It is a unique revenue share structure in the NFL. The only other franchises to share a stadium, the New York Giants and the New York Jets, split stadium revenue down the middle, according to CNBC sources, and are just about $500 million apart in overall franchise value, according to CNBC’s 2024 list. That is a significantly smaller margin than the LA teams.

Last year, the Rams were second in the NFL in sponsorship revenue, behind only the Dallas Cowboys, who are No. 1 in overall value on CNBC’s 2024 list and are fast approaching $250 million in sponsorship revenue, according to a person familiar with the team’s finances.

The Rams’ sponsorship revenue came in under $200 million last year, according to a person familiar with that team.

Of course, building your own stadium does not come without risk. SoFi Stadium cost more than $5 billion — the most of any stadium in the world — and the Rams have $3.5 billion of debt, by far the most in the NFL.

But the risk appears to have paid off.

When Kroenke bought the Rams for $750 million in 2010, the team was in St. Louis. He moved the franchise to Los Angeles for the 2016 season at a huge expense: Kroenke had to pay the league a relocation fee of $550 million and an additional $571 million settlement fee related to a lawsuit the city of St. Louis filed over the decision to bolt to California.

Still, including that combined $1.12 billion in fees, Kroenke’s investment in the Rams is up more than four-fold since he took control of the franchise. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Rams have made the playoffs five times and have been to the Super Bowl twice, capturing the Lombardi Trophy in 2021.

The Chargers, who moved to Los Angeles in 2017, have made it to the playoffs just twice since and have never advanced beyond the divisional round.

The Spanos family hasn’t done too badly, though. The late Alex Spanos purchased the then-San Diego Chargers in 1984 for $72 million. Similar to the Rams, the Chargers had to pay a $550 million relocation fee. Including the fee, the value of the team has increased 81-fold since August 1984. Over the same span, the S&P 500 is up 53-fold.

In stock market parlance, think of the Rams as a growth stock and the Chargers as a dividend play.

Join us on Sept. 10 in Los Angeles for CNBC x Boardroom’s Game Plan. This high-powered event brings together industry leaders, visionaries and influencers, along with executives and investors to explore the dynamic intersection of business, sports, music and entertainment. For more information and to request an invitation, click here.

Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and Co. became just the ninth team to ever win back-to-back Super Bowls and the first to do so in nearly two decades.

Over the past six years, Kansas City has reached six AFC Championship Games, appeared in four Super Bowls and captured three Lombardi Trophies. And the Chiefs now have a chance to do something that no NFL dynasty before them was able to achieve: a three-peat.

Of the eight previous repeat Super Bowl champions, zero went on to claim a third straight Lombardi Trophy. In fact, none were even able to make it back to the Big Game the following year.

How many teams have made three straight Super Bowls?

There have been just three teams in NFL history to appear in at least three straight Super Bowls. The Buffalo Bills infamously own the record for consecutive Super Bowl appearances with four — and they lost all of them. Buffalo, which has never won a Super Bowl, finished as the runner-up from the 1990-93 seasons.

NFL Sep 2

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NFL Power Rankings Sep 3

NFL power rankings: Chiefs, 49ers lead the way entering Week 1

NFL Sep 2

Ranking the top 10 NFL quarterbacks entering the 2024 season

The Miami Dolphins were the first team to reach three straight Super Bowls. Miami was the runner-up in 1971 before winning two straight Super Bowls.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots were the most recent team to make three straight Super Bowls, doing so from 2016-18. The Pats’ runner-up finish in the 2017 campaign was sandwiched by two championship seasons.

Where is the Super Bowl being played?

This season’s Super Bowl will be played at Caesars Superdome, home of the Saints, in New Orleans.

When is the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl LIX is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9.

The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

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The Los Angeles Rams will visit the Motor City to face off against the Detroit Lions and wrap up the first Sunday of the 2024 NFL season. The game marks a rematch of last year’s NFC wild card contest, where the Lions escaped with a 24-23 victory, as well as a chance for quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff to face their former teams.

Goff and the Lions are among the NFC favorites in 2024 after falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the conference title game last year. On the other side, the Rams will look to lean on Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and a high-octane offense following Aaron Donald’s retirement.

The game marks the first Sunday Night Football game of the year, though NBC and Peacock will have already gotten the ball rolling on the 2024 season by then. The Kansas City Chiefs are hosting the Baltimore Ravens on NBC and Peacock in the annual NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, Sept. 5, and Peacock is the exclusive home for the Philadelphia Eagles’ contest against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 6.

Here is how you can tune into the Rams-Lions Sunday Night Football matchup on NBC and Peacock.

When is the Rams vs. Lions Sunday Night Football game?

The Rams and Lions will face off on Sunday Night Football on Sunday, Sept. 8.

What time is the Rams vs. Lions Sunday Night Football game?

Kickoff for Rams-Lions is slated for 8:20 p.m. ET

How to watch the Rams vs. Lions Sunday Night Football game

Rams-Lions will air on NBC. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline) will be on the call for the game and for Sunday Night Football throughout the 2024 season.

Pregame coverage on NBC and Peacock starts at 7 p.m. ET with “Football Night in America,” as Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Matthew Berry and Jac Collinsworth get you ready for the game.

How to live stream the Rams vs. Lions Sunday Night Football game

Live stream: Peacock, NBC.com

Mobile app: Peacock mobile app on Apple/Android, NBC mobile app

The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The 2024 campaign gets underway this week with some thrilling prime time matchups, including an AFC Championship Game rematch on opening night.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, fresh off their second straight Super Bowl win, will raise another banner on Thursday against a familiar foe in the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson’s team, despite earning the No. 1 seed last season, couldn’t defeat the Chiefs at home for the AFC title.

Here’s all the information you need to watch Chiefs-Ravens in Week 1:

NFL Sep 2

Who is playing in NFL Week 1? Here's the full schedule

NFL Power Rankings Sep 3

NFL power rankings: Chiefs, 49ers lead the way entering Week 1

NFL Sep 2

Ranking the top 10 NFL quarterbacks entering the 2024 season

When is the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game?

The NFL season begins with the kickoff game on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Who is playing in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game?

The Chiefs will face the Ravens in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game.

How to watch Chiefs vs. Ravens in Week 1 Kickoff Game

Chiefs-Ravens will air on NBC and Peacock, with Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Melissa Stark (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) on the call.

Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with “NFL Kickoff 2024” airing on both NBC and Peacock.

What time is the Chiefs vs. Ravens Week 1 Kickoff Game?

Chiefs-Ravens will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Where is the Chiefs vs. Ravens Week 1 Kickoff Game?

The Chiefs will host the NFL Kickoff Game at Arrowhead Stadium for the second straight year and third time with Mahomes under center.

Last year, the Chiefs lost to the Detroit Lions on opening night in a tight 21-20 battle. Kansas City won the Kickoff Game in 2020 against the Houston Texans.

How to live stream Chiefs vs. Ravens in Week 1 Kickoff Game

Live stream: Peacock, NBC.com

Mobile app: Peacock mobile app on Apple/Android, NBC mobile app

The Baltimore Ravens safety certainly shined in athletics. Along with football, he starred in basketball and track and field at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, California, before becoming a two-time All-Pac 12 player at the University of Utah.

Like the “student-athlete” title suggests, however, schoolwork came first for Williams.

“I take it very seriously, if I compete on the field, I can compete in the classroom,” Williams told NBC Local. “So academics comes first.”

Williams had a 4.0 GPA in high school and went on to become a two-time All-Pac 12 Academic at Utah. He departed Utah after his junior season and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

It’s been nearly a decade since Williams was in the classroom as a student-athlete. Now, the NFL vet is helping the next generation excel on and off the field.

Williams founded the Marked As Winners Foundation as a way to promote mental, academic and physical abilities for underserved youth.

“I’ve always been the one I want to give back. I mean, I feel like that’s my purpose in life, to give back to others, to give back to my community,” Williams said. “And being able to have this platform that I do, it is definitely a better position to help me give back to my community, give back to the youth, and whoever I can … When I see others happy, it makes me happy.”

The foundation held its sixth annual youth football clinic in June, along with its third annual youth cheerleading camp. It has also started an annual celebrity golf tournament in 2022.

When it comes to academics, Marked As Winners offered 10 scholarships to 2023-24 college-bound high school seniors in California’s Riverside and San Bernardino County areas. Four of those were allocated for “scholar-athletes,” four “academic excellence” scholarships were set aside for students with a 3.5 GPA or higher and two were for young men or women with a documented learning disability who are “overcoming the odds.”

Williams credits his resiliency for getting him to where he is today, and it’s another value he wants to pass along to student-athletes involved in his foundation.

“People always told me that I can’t do something or I’m too little, or I’m not strong enough, or I’m not fast enough. And even when I was doing good, there were still doubters,” Williams told NBC Local. “But I really didn’t care about what people said. I knew who I was. I knew that whatever comes my way, whatever adversity I faced, that I’m going to overcome it. So that’s why that’s my message to all the youth that you can overcome any adversity you may be knocked down 100 times, but you could get up 101, however many times you need to, but you just never give up.”

Williams is set to begin his eighth NFL season and third with the Ravens, and his team faces a daunting challenge right out of the gates. The Ravens will visit Patrick Mahomes and the two-time-defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Kickoff Game this Thursday on NBC and Peacock. Williams isn’t one to back down from a challenge, though.

“Don’t ever let anyone say you can’t do something. You could do whatever you set your mind to. You may face of adversity, but everyone in life does. And if you feel down, you feel like you can’t go anymore, just know somebody may be doing worse than you, and you know everything is going to come out being good.

“Be optimistic because at the end of the day, everything will work out.”

Williams and the 49ers are finalizing a reworked contract, the All-Pro’s agency, Elite Loyalty Sports, tweeted Tuesday morning.

Per the agency, Williams also is headed back to the Bay Area. The 49ers are scheduled to practice Tuesday in Santa Clara.

Williams should be able to ramp up this week and play when the 49ers open the 2024 NFL season against the New York Jets on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported, citing league sources, that the sides were working to finalize a new contract after Williams’ brother Fred posted several Instagram stories suggesting Trent is on his way back to the Bay Area to sign a contract.

Williams entered camp with a 2024 base salary of $20.05 million, which made him the sixth-highest-paid NFL offensive lineman. He originally signed a six-year contract in 2021.

News of a contract being finalized comes four days after ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Williams’ holdout could cause him to miss regular-season games.

“The 49ers have work to do. I’m told Trent Williams is not happy and the threat of him missing games is real,” Fowler said on “NFL Live” on Friday. “A lot of times, that’s a negotiating pull. I don’t sense it is right now. He’s made $150 million in his career. He’s got no guaranteed money left on his deal.”

But now it appears Williams and the 49ers were able to bridge the gap over the holiday weekend.

The 49ers got Brandon Aiyuk’s contract extension done last week and now they are close to reworking Williams’ deal less than a week before the 2024 season opener against the Jets.

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NBC is back for its 19th season as the home of Sunday Night Football, and it has a slate filled with exciting matchups. Whether it’s playoff rematches, division rivalries or potential rivalries in the making, the NFL’s top teams will be under the primetime spotlight throughout 2024.

To break it all down, former Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman, on behalf of LightsOutSportsTV, chose his top five SNF games for the 2024 season.

Week 1: Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs

While it’s not an actual Sunday night game, the 2024 NFL season will kick off with a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game on NBC and Peacock.

Patrick Mahomes and the two-time-defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will welcome Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to open the new season on Thursday, Sept. 5.

NFL May 15

Full Sunday Night Football schedule for the 2024 NFL season

NFL May 13

Chiefs hosting Ravens to kick off 2024 NFL season on NBC and Peacock

The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in Baltimore last January with a trip to Super Bowl LVIII on the line, and Merriman believes the two sides could very well compete for the conference title again this year.

“I don’t think you could’ve started the season off any better than that,” Merriman said.

Week 4: Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens

Week 4 will see Jackson against another premier AFC quarterback.

This time, Jackson and the Ravens will be the home team when they host Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Both sides won their divisions last year, but both are looking to go further in the playoffs after losing home postseason games to the Chiefs last January.

Week 8: Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Dallas Cowboys saw their 2021 and 2022 seasons end against the San Francisco 49ers, and they will visit the Bay Area for an intriguing midseason test in 2024.

The 49ers will be making their first SNF appearance of the season in Week 8, while the Cowboys have a Week 5 showdown in Pittsburgh, as well.

Week 14: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are approaching a decade of AFC West supremacy, as they have won eight straight division titles dating back to 2016.

However, Merriman, who spent six seasons with the Chargers, thinks his former team could be in the mix for the AFC West crown in the first year of the Jim Harbaugh era.

“I think a lot of implications are going to be on the line with this one,” Merriman said. “This could be for an AFC West title.

Week 16: Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs

To wrap things up, Merriman thinks the Week 16 SNF game could be a potential playoff preview.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are coming off an AFC South title, and a late December matchup against the reigning champs could be a useful test ahead of the playoffs.

Like Ravens-Chiefs, Texans-Chiefs will not be played on a Sunday. NBC will broadcast the game at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 21.

The 49ers re-signed offensive tackle Brandon Parker to the 53-man roster.

Pearsall, 23, the 49ers’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is home after he was discharged from the hospital less than 24 hours after the incident.

Pearsall was shot in the chest area after a struggle with the suspect. The bullet passed through his body without striking any vital organs, according to a statement his mother, Erin Pearsall, posted on social media.

The suspect, who was apprehended near the scene, was identified as a 17-year-old male from Tracy, Calif.

San Francisco 49ers Aug 31

49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall shot during robbery attempt in San Francisco

San Francisco 49ers Sep 1

Ricky Pearsall's mother provides encouraging update as 49ers receiver released from hospital

The earliest Pearsall could possibly make his NFL debut would be Sunday, Oct. 6, against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.

The 49ers re-signed Parker to fill Pearsall’s spot on the 53-man roster. Parker is currently the team’s No. 3 offensive tackle with Trent Williams remaining away from the team in a contract holdout.

Williams is on the reserve/did not report list. Fourth-year player Jaylon Moore is scheduled to start at left tackle while Williams remains unavailable. Williams is seeking a revised contract from the 49ers.

The NFL will kick off its 2024 regular season on Thursday, Sept. 5, when the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game. The annual NFL Kickoff Game will air on NBC and Peacock.

In years past, fans have needed to wait three days following the NFL Kickoff Game for more Week 1 action. However, in 2024, the league is making history with an opening-week Friday game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. The Peacock-exclusive contest marks the NFL’s first regular season game in South America, as well as the league’s first Week 1 Friday night game since 1970.

From there, 13 games will be played on the first Sunday of the 2024 regular season before the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers bring the opening week to a close on Monday Night Football.

Check out the full Week 1 schedule below.

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That’s why, spoiler alert, Patrick Mahomes is the cream of the crop. He consistently gets the Kansas City Chiefs into the most important games and, despite the brilliance of others, succeeds against his challengers.

But what about the rest of the crop? Where does the likes of San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy, Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen stand?

As the 2024 season gets underway soon with a battle of two quarterbacks on this list, let’s rank the 10 best:

10. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

There’s no doubting Rodgers’ resume. But after not playing all but a few minutes last season and now returning from a torn Achilles at 40 years old, there could even be an argument for slotting him just outside the top 10 for now. But the Jets star makes the cut because of his impressive longevity. He’ll just have to prove the quality is still there.

9. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts and the Eagles enjoyed a near-flawless start to the 2023 season. But when the close results stopped falling their way, everything gradually collapsed. Hurts’ all-around game is up there among the best, but the 26-year-old will have to continuously prove he can air it out when trailing from behind while adding more running variety apart from the infamous “tush push” touchdowns.

8. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford is aging like fine wine as he enters 2024 at 36 years old, coming off a solid individual campaign last year where he helped the Rams stay in the playoff mix despite their overall drop in quality across the roster. Puka Nacua’s emergence certainly played a factor with Cooper Kupp not as consistent, but a healthy Stafford still provides L.A. a platform to compete.

7. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Love exhibited last season that his inexperience on the field could still mesh with experience learning off of it. With the Packers making Love, who turns 26 in early November, the highest-paid QB of all time over the offseason, there will be loftier expectations in his second full season. If Love’s ending to last year was not a fluke, Green Bay fans could love what’s next.

6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

It wasn’t that long ago when Burrow was minutes away from a Super Bowl win in the opponent’s home stadium. Since then, however, it’s been more injury problems that have hampered the status of the 27-year-old Bengals star. Ja’Marr Chase’s holdout may be an issue with Tyler Boyd also no longer on the team, but Burrow is just outside the top five as a major campaign looms.

5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson claimed the MVP award last season because the Ravens performed well in every major regular-season game. Then came the playoffs. Jackson’s flaws once again came to light, as he couldn’t prove he could be a high-volume passer when trailing in a must-win scenario. Will the 27-year-old finally overcome that hurdle this time, or will he instead be known for just being a great regular-season signal caller?

4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

The Bills have been extremely unfortunate to have a talent as good as Allen in the Mahomes era. Along with Jackson, he’s up there for the best dual-threat QB in the league with the ability to be a high-volume passer. Allen’s main flaw is turnovers, which is the cost of his aggressive playstyle. Buffalo could’ve had more success with Allen if the 28-year-old locked in more when it mattered most, so it’ll be interesting to see how he fares on another go.

3. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Purdy’s first full season saw him complete 69.4% of his passes for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 picks. Now with his first full offseason behind him, there will be more expectations for Purdy to go further outside the box. He’s proven he can lead the 49ers to big-time games and produce numbers, but, like Allen, Hurts and Co., Mahomes has prevented him from securing the ultimate prize to further bolster his name. All eyes will be on his development with Brandon Aiyuk also back.

2. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud delivered a magical rookie season to help Houston ascend the ranks in a tough AFC. He could’ve been on his way to more magic had he not faced Mahomes early on, where the Texans’ quality of depth just couldn’t go toe-to-toe with Kansas City. But with Houston strengthening throughout and retaining offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Stroud could be in for a sensational sophomore season.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

There was some back-and-forth dialogue about Mahomes being the clear-cut best entering 2023, but the Chiefs star removed all doubt with his third Super Bowl ring. Even in an underperforming regular season where Kansas City constantly looked vulnerable and Mahomes’ key receiver was tight end Travis Kelce, he still came out on top last season.

Honorable mentions

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: The closest QB to cracking the top 10 was Herbert, though things have not yet fallen in place for the former Oregon star. Now having Jim Harbaugh could be key, but the quality of the weapons around Herbert, 26, are currently not that convincing.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: Like Herbert, Lawrence, 25 in early October, has shown more flashes than significant consistent greatness. With Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis entering the picture, Lawrence could rise a few levels with his ability to make big-time throws, but he also needs to trim the number of potential turnover-worthy moments, too.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: Prescott, 31, posted strong regular-season numbers as Dallas grabbed the No. 2 seed in the NFC, but also benefitted from a relatively smooth schedule. The Cowboys then fell at home to Love and No. 7 Green Bay, further dampening Prescott’s postseason reputation. He’s far outside of the top 10 for that main reason.

League owners voted their carefully crafted approval of private equity in club ownership, putting in place a provisional new rule on Tuesday that lets certain firms buy up a stake of up to 10% in any of the 32 franchises that have soared in value over the past few decades like few other industries.

At a special meeting in Minnesota, nine days before the regular-season opener, owners for the first time opened their teams to institutional investment after previously prohibiting it. Other major American sports leagues allow as much as 30% holdings by private equity firms, and it’s a common practice in international soccer.

“It’s an access to capital that has been interest to us for a long time,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said after the session at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, which sits across from the headquarters of the Minnesota Vikings. “I think it’s an appropriate thing to give teams that liquidity to reinvest in the game and to their teams.”

The NFL with this vote permitted four different groups to enter the arena: Arctos Partners, Ares Management Corporation and Sixth Street, plus a consortium of five firms — Blackstone, Carlyle, CVC, Dynasty Equity and Ludis.

Ludis was founded by Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin, who spearheaded the collaboration as part of his effort to include minority race investors in NFL ownership positions.

“This is something that we’ve long fought for and tried to find ways to encourage that,” Goodell said.

The NFL let MLB, MLS and the NBA and NHL go ahead on this front, content to take notes in a cautious approach with a steadfast goal of preserving the parameters of the single-owner structure that has seen several of its prominent franchises stay in the same family for generations.

Since the study was initiated five years ago, the Denver Broncos ($4.65 billion) and Washington Commanders ($6.05 billion) have been sold in further illustration of the opportunity for current owners to liquify portions of their teams. These increasingly expensive and complicated transactions have also become more difficult for prospective owners without potential cash boosts from private equity firms.

The process accelerated a year ago, and a special committee on ownership policy was created including Kansas City’s Clark Hunt, Denver’s Greg Penner, New England’s Robert Kraft, Cleveland’s Jimmy Haslam and Atlanta’s Arthur Blank.

“The support today in the room was very strong for this decision,” Penner said. “One thing that was really important was giving owners a different option for capital sources but at the same time maintaining how we operate.”

The roster cut deadline for all teams to hit 53 players was set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Clubs made their decisions known well in advance, while others waited until the final minutes.

The New England Patriots concluded early, moving on from a quarterback who used to compete with Mac Jones while also cutting a second-year kicker.

Elsewhere, the Kansas City Chiefs released a big-name wideout that didn’t produce big-time statistics while the Arizona Cardinals parted ways with a signal caller from the 2022 draft.

Here’s a roundup of some of the top names cut, in no particular order:

WR Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs

Toney’s two-year stint in Kansas City finally concluded, where he’ll most be known for his infamous offsides lineup against the Buffalo Bills.

The 25-year-old, who was a former 2021 first-round pick by the New York Giants, is coming off a season where he caught 27 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. It’s unclear if there’s a market for his services.

QB Desmond Ridder, Arizona Cardinals

Ridder was one of the few highlights from a rather barren QB class in 2022, but the former Atlanta Falcons man did not pan out in his new home either. Malik Willis, another signal caller from Ridder’s class, was traded to the Green Bay Packers from the Tennessee Titans Monday.

WR Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix won’t have a lengthy receiver by his side. Denver cut 6-foot-4 Tim Patrick, as the 30-year-old won’t get to suit up for the Broncos anymore following two straight years of season-ending injuries before the regular seasons got underway. The 30-year-old had been with Denver since 2018, but should have a market elsewhere if he can prove he can stay healthy.

QB Bailey Zappe, K Chad Ryland, New England Patriots

New England moved on from Zappe, who used to rotate with now Jacksonville quarterback Jones for the starting role. Ryland, a 2023 fourth-round pick, was also let go after converting on only 16 of 25 field goals. Joey Slye is expected to take over.

WR Noah Brown, Houston Texans

Houston ended up with a logjam at wide receiver, so Brown was one of the cuts to trim it. The 28-year-old was a Texan for just one season, catching 33 passes for 567 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games. He previously played five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, so he should be a veteran option for other teams in the market.

S Lewis Cine, Minnesota Vikings

A polarizing name in Minnesota, 2022 first-round pick Cine was let go by the Vikings. Cine, a Georgia product, broke his leg in his first campaign and played a limited role last season. Rebuilding teams with room to take a punt on Cine should definitely poke around.

CB Caleb Farley, Tennessee Titans

Another former first-round selection was also let go, this time in Tennessee. Farley, a 2021 first-rounder, missed heavy time in his first two seasons due to injuries. He didn’t play last season after his house exploded due to a natural gas leak, killing his father.

K Anders Carlson, Green Bay Packers

A sixth-round pick in 2023, Green Bay hoped Carlson would be the long-term replacement for Mason Crosby, but that won’t be the case. Carlson, who went 27 of 33 on field goals and 34 of 39 on extra-point attempts last season, lost the starting battle with veteran Greg Joseph.

WR Allen Robinson, New York Giants

Robinson, a former 1,000-yard receiver in three seasons, was cut by the Giants before he suited up for an official game. The 31-year-old has played for three different teams the last three seasons, and that could increase to four should he sign elsewhere at some point.

RB Matt Breida, San Francisco 49ers

Head coach Kyle Shanahan loves his running backs, though Breida’s comeback attempt in the Bay Area was cut short. The 49ers, where Breida once played for three seasons, will instead be led by Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason and rookie Isaac Guerendo with Elijah Mitchell placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Travis and Jason Kelce have reportedly inked a new podcast deal worth more than $100 million.

Variety reports that the current Kansas City Chiefs tight end and former Philadelphia Eagles center signed a three-year pact with Wondery, Amazon’s leading podcast studio and publisher.

This deal would give the company exclusive ad sales and distribution rights to the brother’s weekly fan-favorite sports podcast series, “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce.”

This news comes ahead of the Season 3 premiere, with all new episodes from the podcast’s third season starting on Thursday.

“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Wondery for the next phase of New Heights,” the Kelce brothers said in a news release. “We love this show and the fan base that has grown with us over the last two seasons. Wondery understands the shared vision and will offer a wealth of experience and resources to take us to new heights! We are going to create some groundbreaking moments together through this partnership. We are thrilled to start Season 3 — see you soon, 92%ers!”

Just in time for the NFL season, fans can tune in to “New Heights” on all podcast services and listen early and ad-free on Wondery+.

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The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The lawsuit was originally filed in New York Supreme Court this spring, claiming Harrison Jr. did not fulfill his obligations from a May 2023 deal he signed with the retailer and estimated the damage in “millions of dollars.”

The amended lawsuit — filed Friday in the same court — adds that Harrison Sr. “aided and abetted Harrison Jr.’s fraud on Fanatics.” The company says that sworn affidavits from both Harrisons on July 31 reveal it was actually Harrison Sr. who signed the contract with Fanatics, acting on behalf of the Harrison Collection.

“Harrison Sr. intentionally signed the Binding Terms Sheet in such a manner in order to lead Fanatics to reasonably believe that Harrison Jr. was the true signatory when in fact he was not,” the suit states.

ESPN reported the deal was for at least $1 million for autographs, signed trading cards, game-worn apparel and other marketing opportunities.

Harrison Jr. was a star receiver at Ohio State when he signed the deal in 2023 and the Cardinals used the No. 4 overall pick to select him in the NFL draft. The receiver does not have an agent and has been represented by his father, Harrison Sr., who is a Hall of Famer after a 13-year career with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Baltimore Ravens, D’Alessandris’ employer since 2017, announced that he died Sunday. He was hospitalized earlier this month with an unspecified illness, and that caused him to step away from his duties as the team’s offensive line coach.

Coach John Harbaugh said at the time that D’Alessandris had had surgery earlier this summer and experienced complications.

“Our hearts ache with grief and sadness upon learning of coach Joe D’Alessandris’ passing early this morning,” the team said in a statement. “‘Joe D.’ lived a life of boundless faith, love, devotion and inspiration. As a husband, father, grandfather, friend and coach, Joe made every individual he encountered truly feel like they were the most important person in the world.”

Born April 29, 1954, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, D’Alessandris coached in the CFL and the World League — as well as at several colleges — before reaching the NFL ranks. He was an assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers before settling in with the Ravens under Harbaugh.

“Coach ‘Joe D.’ was a man of integrity and a man of faith. He made us all better,” Harbaugh said. “He was our reader at team Mass, and he was loved by all here. He was a great coach and a good man — the kind of person who you are honored to have as a friend. He raised three incredible, beautiful daughters, and he was a most loving husband. His grandkids also adored him. I admired him, loved him and am going to miss him, because ‘Joe D.’ was a joy.”

D’Alessandris played at Western Carolina and began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 1977. His other college coaching stops included Livingston University, Memphis, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Samford, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Duke and Georgia Tech.

.The 40-year-old New York Jets quarterback in May was said to be a potential vice president pick for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ultimately dropped out of the race and plans to endorse former President Donald Trump.

But Rodgers previously spoke at Jets OTAs and addressed the prospect of being a politician one day.

“I love Bobby. We had a couple of really nice conversations,” Rodgers told reporters in May. “But there were really two options: It was retire and be his VP or keep playing. And I wanted to keep playing.”

Rodgers is turning 41 in December, so it’s not yet clear how long he hopes his NFL career lasts. But could he enter the political world after hanging up the cleats?

Ian O’Connor, Rodgers’ biographer and author of “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers,” provided an answer.

“Aaron Rodgers, the politician…I think we’ll never see that,” O’Connor said in an interview with NBC. “We’ll never know it because he was never considering that job… It was choosing unemployment over high paid employment. I don’t think anybody would make that choice.

“They were getting blown out in the election, whether he was on that ticket or not. There was no way he was giving up a final two seasons or so of his career, a final chance to win another ring.”

If Rodgers was a politician, though, what would his style be? O’Connor said it’d be similar to RFK Jr.’s, though Rodgers is likely to end up somewhere closer to football after retiring.

“So I think he would be very much like RFK Jr., a maverick, unpredictable, and very much the way he is with off -field issues he addresses now as a member of the New York Jets, often on the Pat McAfee show,” O’Connor said. “So I don’t think he’ll go into politics. I actually think, despite what he says, he’ll end up in a network booth as an analyst.”

The Jets will open the season on Monday, Sept. 9 on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, where Rodgers, a Cal Berkeley product, will return to the Bay Area.

Should it include NFL stars who play tackle football? Or would the U.S. be better off using players that specialize in flag football?

Current U.S. flag football quarterback Darrell Doucette is a firm believer in his abilities after leading the Americans to gold at the 2022 World Games. He claimed earlier this week that it was “disrespectful” to assume NFL stars should join the Olympic team because they didn’t help grow the game.

Doucette was back at it again on Wednesday with another hot take. This time, the 35-year-old quarterback said he was better than Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.

“At the end of the day, I feel like I’m better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game,” Doucette told TMZ Sports. “I know he’s, right now, the best in the league. I know he’s more accurate. I know he has all these intangibles. But when it comes to flag football, I feel like I know more than him.”

It’s a bold assumption that Mahomes wouldn’t be able to figure the game out, even with short notice. The three-time Super Bowl MVP has dominated the NFL since entering the league in 2017, winning two MVPs and making the Pro Bowl six times.

Mahomes responded to the clip of Doucette’s interview with the perfect gif, a 50 Cent meme:

Mahomes, along with several other NFL stars, have expressed interest in competing at the Los Angeles Olympics.

It remains to be seen who will be selected, but this discussion is apparently only just beginning.

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For coaches, it’s rare to find overwhelming success at both levels because each division requires a different set of skills. Sure, both jobs are technically just “head coach” of a football team. But in college, you have to recruit and manage dozens of teenage student-athletes. The focus shifts more to schemes and gameplans in the NFL.

Jim Harbaugh will be the latest to try and figure it out as he begins his second NFL coaching stint with the Los Angeles Chargers. He is fresh off winning a national championship at Michigan, and he made a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 season.

Earlier this offseason, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio and Chris Simms each drafted their three best coaches to make the jump from college to the NFL. Here’s how it played out:

Simms: Jimmy Johnson

The first pick was an obvious one for Simms. Johnson went 29-25-3 in five seasons at Oklahoma State before jumping to Miami in 1984. Over five seasons with the Hurricanes, he went 52-9 with two Orange Bowl wins and a national title.

Johnson jumped to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. While his first season was a struggle at 1-15, he quickly turned the team into a perennial contender. Dallas made the playoffs in his third year before winning consecutive Super Bowls in his fourth and fifth seasons and then walking away. Johnson later coached the Miami Dolphins for four seasons, making three playoff appearances.

Florio: Pete Carroll

With the second pick, Florio looked to the recently-ousted Pete Carroll. He began his head coaching career with the New York Jets in 1994, where he only lasted one season. Then, there were three seasons with the New England Patriots where he went 27-21 before being replaced by Bill Belichick.

That led Carroll back to the NCAA, where he was an assistant earlier in his career. Carroll took over USC in 2001 and went 97-19 over nine seasons with four Rose Bowl wins, two Orange Bowl wins and two AP national championships.

Carroll returned to the NFL again in 2010 with the Seattle Seahawks. His second NFL tenure was an immediate success. Seattle won the Super Bowl in 2013 and Carroll stayed in town for 14 years, never winning fewer than seven games in a season.

Simms: Tom Coughlin

Coughlin was an NFL assistant for years, including serving as New York Giants wide receivers coach when Simms’ father Phil was their starting quarterback from 1988-90. Then, he left to become head coach at Boston College. Over three seasons with the Eagles, Coughlin went 21-13-1 with a Carquest Bowl win in his final game.

His NFL return began in Jacksonville with an expansion franchise. Coughlin was the Jaguars’ first head coach and he turned them into instant contenders. The Jags made the postseason in four of their first five seasons, including two AFC title game appearances. Coughlin spent eight seasons in Jacksonville, going 68-60.

Coughlin is best remembered for his run as the Giants head coach, though. He took over Big Blue in 2004 and stayed for 12 seasons, winning two Super Bowls against Belichick and the Patriots. Over 20 total NFL seasons, Coughlin went 170-150 with 12 postseason victories.

Florio: Paul Brown

Brown is best known for his NFL résumé, but his head coaching career actually began at the amateur level. From 1941-43, Brown went 18-8-1 as Ohio State’s head coach, earning the school’s first national championship in 1942. Then, he spent two seasons leading the Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets before jumping to the pros.

Brown then became the Cleveland Browns’ head coach, GM and part-owner in 1946, where he built the team into a powerhouse. Cleveland went 111-44-5 in 17 seasons under Brown, winning three NFL championships and four All-America Football Conference championships.

After leaving Cleveland, Brown helped create the Cincinnati Bengals, where he again served a three-headed role of coach, president and owner. He went 48-36 in eight seasons with the Bengals, and the franchise is still owned by his son Mike to this day.

Simms: Jim Harbaugh

After retiring from the NFL as a player in 2001, Harbaugh immediately went into coaching. By 2004, he was the head coach at San Diego. The Toreros went 7-4 in his first season, then 11-1 in each of the next two. Harbaugh bounced for Stanford in 2007, taking over a team that went 1-11 the year prior. By 2010, the Cardinal went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl.

Harbaugh then tried his hand at the NFL, joining the 49ers for 2011 and beyond. While that run only last four seasons, Harbaugh did go 44-19-1 over that span with a Super Bowl loss and two other NFC title game appearances.

The Michigan alum then returned to his alma mater in 2015 and stayed for nine seasons. The Wolverines made the College Football Playoff in his final three years, culminating in a national championship in 2023 as he finished his tenure at 86-25. Harbaugh will return to the NFL sidelines this season with the Chargers, a franchise he played for from 1999-2000. If he can win a ring with L.A., he would join Johnson, Carroll and Barry Switzer as the only coaches to win a national title and Super Bowl.

Florio: Bill Walsh

Two stints at Stanford bookended Walsh’s historic NFL run with the 49ers. He went 9-3 and 8-4 in two seasons with the Cardinal before jumping to the NFL. In the pros, he won three Super Bowls in 10 seasons with San Francisco and went 92-59-1.

Walsh walked away from the 49ers after his third Super Bowl win and appeared to be done with coaching. But after four years off, he finally got back into it with Stanford. Walsh lasted three seasons, going 10-3 in 1992 before two sub-.500 campaigns.

The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Long snappers can be a forgotten — and thankless — position in football. They may only get on the field for a handful of plays each game, and for the most part, they go completely under the radar unless they make a critical mistake.

What goes into being an NFL long snapper, and what does their job entail? Here’s a look at one of the more unique roles in football.

What is a long snapper?

A long snapper is a center on special teams who snaps the ball to a holder or punter. They are also responsible for blocking following the snap, as well as punt coverage.

While a typical center hikes to a quarterback under center or snaps the ball a few yards in a shotgun or pistol formation, a long snapper is responsible for sending the ball a further distance. A long snap for a field goal or extra point is typically between 7-8 yards, while a snap to a punter is around 15 yards.

When did NFL teams start using long snappers?

Long snapper was not its own position until the early 1970s, when Washington coach George Allen gave a roster spot to George Burman, according to Pro Football Reference.

Before that, the player who played center was also responsible for special team snaps.

Does every NFL team have a long snapper?

Nowadays, every NFL team has a long snapper on their roster.

Do long snappers get drafted?

NFL teams rarely use draft capital on long snappers, but it does happen.

The Kansas City Chiefs were the first NFL team to select a specialty snapper when they took Todd Thomas in the fifth round of the 1981 draft.

Camaron Cheeseman was the last long snapper to hear his name called in the NFL draft, as the Washington Football Team used a sixth-round pick on him in 2021. No long snapper has been selected across the last three NFL drafts.

How much do long snappers get paid?

On average, NFL long snappers get paid just over $1 million annually. The salary range for long snappers in 2024 goes from $795,000 to $1.553 million, per Spotrac.

Joe Cardona of the New England Patriots is set to be the NFL’s highest-paid long snapper this season at just over $1.5 million. In September 2023, the Indianapolis Colts signed long snapper Luke Rhodes to the richest contract in league history for a player at his position, giving him a four-year extension worth $6.465 million.

Do long snappers win awards?

Long snappers are eligible for season-long honors in the NFL.

Kendall Gammons was the first recorded long snapper to make the Pro Bowl, earning a selection in 2004 with the Chiefs. Other long snappers to reach the Pro Bowl include Tyler Ott, Rick Lovato, Brian Jennings and Jon Dorenbos.

The NFL made long snapper an All-Pro position in 2020, with Baltimore’s Morgan Cox becoming the first first-team long snapper in league history. In 2023, Ross Matiscik of the Jacksonville Jaguars made the first team and Andrew DePaola of the Minnesota Vikings made the second team.

In college, long snappers can earn the Patrick Mannelly Award. Mannelly was the first player to be drafted explicitly as a long snapper and played 16 seasons with the Chicago Bears.

The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

After each team finishes its preseason slate, rosters will be under construction as teams frantically try to meet size requirements for both the active squad and practice squad.

Some cuts will be easy, while others will be difficult decisions that could come back to haunt teams.

Here’s a full breakdown of NFL cutdown day in 2024, which is just over a week away:

NFL Aug 19

What is the longest field goal in NFL history? Looking back at record-setting kicks

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Ranking the toughest NFL schedules in 2024

Simone Biles Aug 17

Simone Biles makes appearance at Jonathan Owens' Bears preseason NFL game

What is NFL cutdown day?

Cutdown day is the deadline when teams must trim their preseason rosters to fit the regular season roster size. They can accomplish this by releasing players, trading players or moving players to their practice squads.

When are NFL roster cuts in 2024?

In previous years, there were cutdown days after every preseason week to gradually trim rosters down from 90 to 53. That rule changed last season, as there’s now just one date when teams must get to 53 players: Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Players can be traded or cut before Aug. 27, but there is no rule requiring teams to gradually make moves anymore. A team could theoretically carry 90 players throughout the entire preseason — but it would then have to cut 37 players on the cut day.

Since this is the first year without multiple cut days, it’s unclear how each team will handle the process of setting its regular season roster.

When does the NFL preseason end in 2024?

The third and final week of the 2024 preseason will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 25, with the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders facing off on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET.

That leaves those teams with only two days to make roster cuts. Week 3 will have two games on Thursday (Aug. 22), three games on Friday (Aug. 23), eight games on Saturday (Aug. 24) and three games on Sunday (Aug. 25) before roster cuts on Tuesday (Aug. 27).

How many players are on an NFL team in 2024?

Teams are allowed to carry 90 players in the offseason, but rosters must be cut to 53 players by Aug. 27 and remain at that number throughout the season.

Despite having 53 players on the roster, only 48 are allowed to be active on game day.

In addition to the 53-man active roster, each club can carry up to 17 players on its regular season practice squad.

NFL practice squad rules for 2024

Practice squads can now include 17 players, as long as one is considered an international player. That player can be chosen through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program or via their own scouting department.

Here are the qualifications for practice squad players, who can be signed by any other team and leave immediately at any time if it’s for an active roster spot:

• Players who do not have a season of NFL experience (rookies).
• Players who were on the active list for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only season (second-year players).
• Up to four players per team who have played no more than two seasons (no game limitations).
• Up to six players per team with no limitations as to their number of seasons played.

The five-time All-Pro etched his name in the record books with a game-winning 66-yard field goal to lift the Baltimore Ravens over the Detroit Lions in Week 3 of the 2021 season, passing kicker Matt Prater’s eight-year record in the process.

Other kickers around the NFL are coming for Tucker’s record, though.

Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys matched Tucker’s 66-yard mark, but with much lower stakes. Instead of drilling a game-winner in the regular season, Aubrey’s kick closed out the first half of the Cowboys’ preseason contest against the Las Vegas Raiders.

With Tucker, Aubrey and kickers around the NFL gearing up for the 2024 regular season, here’s a look at the kicking history they will be trying to break this year.

What is the longest field goal in NFL history?

Tucker holds the distinction after launching his game-winning kick at Ford Field in 2021. He broke the record previously held by Prater, who drilled a 64-yard attempt with the Denver Broncos to end the first half in a 2013 contest against the Tennessee Titans.

While Tucker had the benefit of playing inside a dome in Detroit, Prater’s kick came at Mile High in Denver, where the elevation causes lower air density, leading to further distances on throws, punts and kicks.

What is the longest field goal in football history?

Tucker’s kick set an NFL record, but it is still well short of the NCAA record. On Oct. 16, 1976, Abilene Christian’s Ove Johansson uncorked a 69-yard field goal against East Texas State.

With the kick, Johansson broke a collegiate record that had stood for less than 20 minutes. Across the state, Texas A&M’s Tony Franklin hit a then-record-breaking 64-yarder against Baylor at 2:20 p.m. CT. Johansson’s kick went through around 2:40 p.m. CT.

What is the longest field goal attempt in NFL history?

The longest field goal attempt in NFL history would have clobbered both Tucker’s record and Johansson’s.

Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin opted to send out Sebastian Janikowski for a 74-yard kick at the end of the first half of a 2008 game against the San Diego Chargers instead of giving quarterback JaMarcus Russell a chance to throw a Hail Mary. From his own 34-yard line, Janikowski booted a kick that went right of the goal posts and failed to reach the end zone. 

Longest field goals in NFL history

Tucker holds the top spot, while Prater was relegated to second on the podium.

There are six kickers tied for third with 63-yarders and five kickers tied for ninth all-time with 62-yarders.

One common thread between these kicks, aside from astonishing distance, is that they all came at the end of a half. While at other points in the game it might make sense to punt from such a distance, the expiring clock has led to more coaches taking a chance with their kickers to put some points on the board. Of these 15 kicks, four were game-winners and 11 came at the end of the first half.

Only five of the NFL’s 62-plus-yard kicks were made inside domes. The other 10 occurred at outside venues, including three in Denver and one in Mexico City, where Gostkowski also benefited from some elevation.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article was published in July 2022.

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The organization celebrated San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith on the Levi’s Stadium grass before the 49ers and New York Jets squared off in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

And Pearsall, who turned 24 on Monday, celebrated the community heroes with hugs during the heartwarming moment.

The 49ers read a statement aloud to the crowd in Santa Clara, informing fans of what Harrell and Kornblith do on a day-to-day basis.

“We are honored to recognize two of the many front-line heroes involved in the emergency efforts of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall,” the Levi’s Stadium speakers blared out. “Sergeant Joelle Harrell is a San Francisco native who has been policing in San Francisco for over 30 years. She and her husband, Sergeant Frank Harrell, were actively involved in the passionate fans at Candlestick for over 20 years. She takes pride in protecting and serving her community.

“Dr. Lucy Kornblith is an associate professor of surgery at UCSF and a trauma and acute care surgeon at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center. She is proudly married to Dr. Aaron Kornblith and is the mother of Juda. She is grateful to be a part of the team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center that provides life-saving care to injured and critically ill Bay Area patients.”

Kornblith helped Pearsall recover from a gunshot wound to the chest that was inches away from causing a much more worrisome outcome.

Harrell is the officer who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith about how she kept Pearsall — who was unsure if he’d survive — calm by accompanying him and reinforcing his strength. 

She also helped stop Pearsall’s bleeding by placing her police hat on his back where the bullet exited and his shirt on his chest where it entered.

The two heroes served as bright spots in what was a daunting moment for Pearsall and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The 49ers, joined by an upbeat, recovering Pearsall and the Faithful, showed Kornblith and Harrell the love they deserved.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.