2025-26 NFL Thread

[Pakuni]

Goes from a crapshow with the Jets to a slightly better crapshow in Nashville.

But that's a bullet dodged for Titans fans if the Nagy stuff had been true.  Imagine your team's ownership/front office falling out with and chasing Vrabel out of town to now see him very likely headed to a SB...while you hire a disaster to replace him, and then hire someone who flopped in their first HC gig and then went back to their old job and did nothing of note to give more confidence that they were improved, and arguably performed worse.

I do think Saleh is a fantastic defensive coach, and very likely a better choice than Nagy, but I'm not sure what the Titans are seeing to give him this chance so soon after his New York meltdown.
Maybe the Jets are just so toxic he never stood a chance, but he did some objectively bad things there ... bringing in Nate Hackett to appease Rodgers, failure to develop (or bring in anyone who could develop) Zach Wilson, waffling on QB starters, lack of team discipline, etc.
Maybe he'll figure it out this time around, or maybe like Vic Fangio and Wade Phillips, he was born to be a DC. Either way, kind of a risky hire for a team at an inflection point and very dependent on the growth of a young QB.

[MU82]

Seriously, what is the attraction of Nagy? Reid, not he, is the mastermind of the KC offense, and he flamed out spectacularly in Chicago. I don't get it.

[GB Warrior]

Seriously, what is the attraction of Nagy? Reid, not he, is the mastermind of the KC offense, and he flamed out spectacularly in Chicago. I don't get it.

and by extension, Bieniemy. Do these guys exist outside the Reid Cinematic Universe?

[MU_B]

Maybe he'll figure it out this time around, or maybe like Vic Fangio and Wade Phillips, he was born to be a DC. Either way, kind of a risky hire for a team at an inflection point and very dependent on the growth of a young QB.

Also, if the young QB grows and has a great year, your OC is probably getting a HC job in the next cycle. Weird pairing.

[Pakuni]

Seriously, what is the attraction of Nagy? Reid, not he, is the mastermind of the KC offense, and he flamed out spectacularly in Chicago. I don't get it.

Tennessee's new(ish) GM is a longtime Kansas City guy, so that explains the connection there.
I don't think he's an especially good head coach, but his tensure in Chicago wasn't as bad as it's remembered, IMO. He was 25-13 with Mitch Trubisky as his starting QB. Even if you take away his first year, he was 14-10 in games Trubisky started. Not world-beating, but not a disaster either.
Things really fell apart when Justin Fields was foisted upon him and he hired Sean Desai as his DC.

I still wouldn't want him coaching my team, but he's not exactly the worst coach the Bears have sent out there this century.

[Pakuni]

Mike McDaniel going to the Chargers as OC.

[GB Warrior]

Mike McDaniel going to the Chargers as OC.

Now that can be a fun mix of philosophies. Should be interesting to say the least

[JWags85]

Now that can be a fun mix of philosophies. Should be interesting to say the least

Given Harbaugh's preference for running the ball and McDaniel's proficiency and innovative mind for doing that, could be really fun.

Not to mention, really good mentor for him to learn how to be a successful HC for his next time around. Not that Harbaugh's NFL tree is that profound, but still. 

[MUBurrow]

Not to mention, really good mentor for him to learn how to be a successful HC for his next time around. Not that Harbaugh's NFL tree is that profound, but still. 

[Hards Alumni]

Yep.  HS football is fun live cause of the energy but also cause the small size of crowd/stadium mean you can see basically everything.  Smaller college stadiums are similar. The stadium at Miami (OH) was/is around 23,000 with no end zone stands, so sight lines again were great. 

But when you get to a large college or NFL stadium? Unless you're at the 50 yard line halfway up, at least half the game (in a game of feet/inches) is all a guess or confusion what happened in the moment.  I had 10th row seats on the 10 yard line at Soldier Field one time.  I spent the vast majority of the game with my back to the field trying to look at one end zone screen or peering 125 yards away at the far end zone screen.  It frankly stunk.  Hell, the guy behind us had the game streaming on his phone to have a better idea of the action.   Add rough weather to that? Sheesh 

Sounds like you need to go to a game in Green Bay.

[WhiteTrash]

Sounds like you need to go to a game in Green Bay.

I don't know if that would help. Soldier Field has some of the best sightlines and seat proximity to the field in college or the NFL. Even a couple of Packer fan friends say its a great stadium to watch a game (except for the Bears fans). It has the advantage of being the smallest venue in the NFL and they took advantage of that.

Some people, understandably, just enjoy the TV version of football, which is awesome.

[Hards Alumni]

I don't know if that would help. Soldier Field has some of the best sightlines and seat proximity to the field in college or the NFL. Even a couple of Packer fan friends say its a great stadium to watch a game (except for the Bears fans). It has the advantage of being the smallest venue in the NFL and they took advantage of that.

Some people, understandably, just enjoy the TV version of football, which is awesome.

That stadium is a dump, and there isn't crap to do around it on game day.  The two experiences are night and day.

[JWags85]

Sounds like you need to go to a game in Green Bay.

Ive been to 5 games at Lambeau, in a variety of seats, stretching from the first in the mid 90s post expansion, a couple after the south end zone expansion, through most recently in 2022. It changes nothing. Am I supposed to think the atmosphere is far better cause of aluminum benches?  Its a cool venue and experience but there is nothing about it that changes the viewing atmosphere/experience unless you're a diehard Packer fan who is enamored by the mystique.

I don't know if that would help. Soldier Field has some of the best sightlines and seat proximity to the field in college or the NFL. Even a couple of Packer fan friends say its a great stadium to watch a game (except for the Bears fans). It has the advantage of being the smallest venue in the NFL and they took advantage of that.

Some people, understandably, just enjoy the TV version of football, which is awesome.

Exactly.  And its not like I was comping it to a game in Miami or LA or somewhere with less of an engaged and excited fan atmosphere.

Ive been to an OSU game at the Shoe in Columbus, multiple USC games at the Coliseum in LA, CU-CSU at Folsom, Texas-Texas Tech game at Texas Memorial Stadium.  I'm not basing my opinion off of just a couple games at Soldier Field.  Id much much rather watch a huge game at a bar/restaurant with a great TV situation or home with friends than be there in person.

EDIT:

That stadium is a dump, and there isn't crap to do around it on game day.  The two experiences are night and day.

Imagine calling another stadium a dump while your preferred stadium champions terrible aluminum benches in freezing weather cause of tradition   

Again, unless you're a Packer fan in love with the mystique, its not like pre/post game options around Lambeau are ground breaking.  Parking on someone's lawn doesn't mean its the best stadium district in the country.  I can't even begin to think the lesser in-game viewing experience at the stadium versus on TV is suddenly worth it cause of tailgating.  Even if so, fine, I'd rather go tailgate and then go watch the game at a bar or house.

I'm truly not trying to crap on Lambeau, even as a Bears fan. You have to be a South Side meatball moron Bears fan to pretend Lambeau stinks or isn't a special stadium.  I totally get the history/uniqueness of the stadium/city, Ive been there with multiple Packers fans for their first time and I see how exciting it is for them.  But literally every ranking that places Lambeau as the top NFL stadium or in the top 3 mentions history and legend and football origins, nothing about the actual stadium.

But to say that seeing games at plenty of other major stadiums in college/NFL and making an assessment about in person vs TV viewing (especially in sub 50 degree weather) is suddenly invalid cause ITS NOT LAMBEAU is just extreme green and gold tinted bias.

Also, not lost on me is the irony that the same people will crap all over Wrigley or Fenway as a dump when its a super unique and historic stadium with an amazing pre/post game atmosphere, while glazing Lambeau for the same.

[Pakuni]

Sounds like you need to go to a game in Green Bay.

Lambeau is perfect for the fan who finds the seating at Wrigley Field a little too comfortable.

As for nothing to do around Soldier Field ... go four hours early, tailgate your ass off, watch the game and go home. If you've got energy or the desire to go do something after that on a Sunday night, bully for you. I'm exhausted.

[Hards Alumni]

Ive been to 5 games at Lambeau, in a variety of seats, stretching from the first in the mid 90s post expansion, a couple after the south end zone expansion, through most recently in 2022. It changes nothing. Am I supposed to think the atmosphere is far better cause of aluminum benches?  Its a cool venue and experience but there is nothing about it that changes the viewing atmosphere/experience unless you're a diehard Packer fan who is enamored by the mystique.

Exactly.  And its not like I was comping it to a game in Miami or LA or somewhere with less of an engaged and excited fan atmosphere.

Ive been to an OSU game at the Shoe in Columbus, multiple USC games at the Coliseum in LA, CU-CSU at Folsom, Texas-Texas Tech game at Texas Memorial Stadium.  I'm not basing my opinion off of just a couple games at Soldier Field.  Id much much rather watch a huge game at a bar/restaurant with a great TV situation or home with friends than be there in person.

EDIT:
Imagine calling another stadium a dump while your preferred stadium champions terrible aluminum benches in freezing weather cause of tradition   

Again, unless you're a Packer fan in love with the mystique, its not like pre/post game options around Lambeau are ground breaking.  Parking on someone's lawn doesn't mean its the best stadium district in the country.  I can't even begin to think the lesser in-game viewing experience at the stadium versus on TV is suddenly worth it cause of tailgating.  Even if so, fine, I'd rather go tailgate and then go watch the game at a bar or house.

I'm truly not trying to crap on Lambeau, even as a Bears fan. You have to be a South Side meatball moron Bears fan to pretend Lambeau stinks or isn't a special stadium.  I totally get the history/uniqueness of the stadium/city, Ive been there with multiple Packers fans for their first time and I see how exciting it is for them.  But literally every ranking that places Lambeau as the top NFL stadium or in the top 3 mentions history and legend and football origins, nothing about the actual stadium.

But to say that seeing games at plenty of other major stadiums in college/NFL and making an assessment about in person vs TV viewing (especially in sub 50 degree weather) is suddenly invalid cause ITS NOT LAMBEAU is just extreme green and gold tinted bias.

Also, not lost on me is the irony that the same people will crap all over Wrigley or Fenway as a dump when its a super unique and historic stadium with an amazing pre/post game atmosphere, while glazing Lambeau for the same.

What would you like to do before or after a game at Lambeau that you can't do?  There are bars, breweries, tailgating, live music, a full size football field, food trucks, meet and greets, etc.  And in the winter you've got ice skating and a snow tube hill.  You can go to the atrium and the Packer hall of fame or get a stadium tour in the days before or afterwards.  I just don't know what other amenities could be provided.

Look, the benches at Lambeau suck, but there is a nostalgia hit with them.  They've been there for decades, and are part of the stadium.

I've been to Soldier field twice.  Once for a game, and once for a concert.  It was a mess getting in both times.  At least the concert was awesome (Stones).

It sounds to me like you just enjoy watching games at home.  Nothing wrong with that.