Steelers' Cameron Heyward excited for Dublin NFL game
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is excited for first NFL game in Ireland, which will be held in Dublin later this year.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe National Football League has confirmed a first regular season fixture in Ireland.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be the host team at Dublin's Croke Park.
Dublin will be one of three new cities to host regular season games next season with fixtures in Madrid and Berlin previously announced.
Friday's announcement comes two days after the NFL said there will be a game in Melbourne, Australia, in 2026.
"The Steelers are excited and honoured to play in the NFL's first ever regular season game in Ireland," said Dan Rooney Jr, the team's director of business development and strategy.
"The Rooney family has deep ties to the island, having immigrated from there in the 1800s, eventually settling in Pittsburgh, PA, where my great grandfather would go on to found our franchise in 1933.
"We're excited to represent our hometown of Pittsburgh internationally and play in front of a growing number of Steelers fans abroad.
"Today's announcement builds off our deep connections to the island and charts a path forward to what we feel is a very exciting future for the Steelers in Ireland."
Super Bowl LIX – Preview
Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist in New Orleans
Image source, Getty ImagesSnoop Dogg seemed to love his night hosting the NFL Honors award ceremony.
It began as more like a roast as Snoop picked out some of the game's biggest names and made jokes at their expense.
They enjoyed it at first but Joe Burrow and Sam Darnold looked awkward when Snoop poked fun at Cincinnati's defence and Darnold's former team, the New York Jets.
And the rapper didn't even hold back on the two teams that will be contesting Super Bowl 59.
Some claim NFL officials have been favouring the Kansas City Chiefs so Snoop said that Sunday's game will be an "incredible Super Bowl match-up between the Eagles... and the refs".
He then turned on Philadelphia, saying that "the Chiefs have the chance to do a Super Bowl three-peat for the first time in history. The Eagles have the chance to be liked by the rest of America - also for the first time in history."
The Pittsburgh fan then came back on to the stage wearing a full Steelers uniform and later did a skit with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell which could have been weird but, credit to 'the Comish', it actually ended up being really funny.
Never mind music, perhaps Snoop now needs to give comedy a go.
Most Valuable Player - Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills quarterback)
Offensive Player of the Year - Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles running back)
Defensive Player of the Year - Patrick Surtain (Denver Broncos cornerback)
Offensive Rookie of the Year - Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders quarterback)
Defensive Rookie of the Year - Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams linebacker)
Comeback Player of the Year - Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals quarterback)
Coach of the Year - Kevin O'Connell (Minnesota Vikings)
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year - Arik Armstead (Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end)
Image source, ReutersJosh Allen has been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season.
It is the first time the Buffalo Bills quarterback has won the award, with the 27-year-old being selected ahead of 2023 winner Lamar Jackson.
"I'd like to thank the Bills organisation - [owners] Kerry and Kim Pegula, [general manager] Brandon Beane, [head coach] Sean McDermott," said Allen.
"Thank you guys for drafting me seven-and-a-half years ago. It feels just like yesterday, it really does.
"I know this is an individual award and it says Most Valuable Player on it but I think it's derived from team success and I love my team.
"We've got such a great locker room at Buffalo. It truly takes everybody to have team success and I'm so fortunate to beat part of a great organisation.
"I'd like to thank my parents. In my 20-plus years of playing football, they've missed maybe 15 games in their entire life. They are so dedicated to supporting me and my favourite team-mates, who are my sister, my brother and my little sister.
"I love you guys, I know you take a lot of pride in this as well, and last but not least my fiancee Hailee. You've been my rock, my best friend, and I would not be standing on this stage if it weren't for you."
Image source, Getty ImagesThe season's best NFL players are recognised by All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections, and Josh Allen was named as this season's Pro Bowl starter for the AFC Conference ahead of Lamar Jackson.
However, All-Pro selections hold more prestige as fewer players are selected, and Jackson was picked ahead of Allen in the All-Pro first team.
Normally, that would be significant in terms of the NFL MVP race.
The panel of 50 broadcasters/journalists that make the All-Pro selection also pick the NFL MVP, and the last time the first-team All-Pro quarterback was not also MVP was 1987.
Votes are cast at the end of the regular season so although Allen's Buffalo beat Jackson's Baltimore in the play-offs - before losing to defending champions Kansas City - it will have no bearing on who is named this season's NFL MVP.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesThe leading contenders to be this season's NFL MVP are Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Allen went clear in the MVP race with a superb run at the start of December before the Bills finished the season with a 13-4 record.
Jackson, who was named MVP for a second time last year, finished the season strongly to help the Ravens to 12-5 and close the gap on Allen.
While who had the best season is hard to call, Allen is the favourite and his advocates argue he is more valuable to Buffalo than Jackson is to Baltimore.
The Bills traded their top receiver in the off-season while the Ravens signed one of the league's best running backs in Derrick Henry.
Henry rushed for 1,921 yards - second to Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley - and Baltimore's receiving group is stronger than Buffalo's, putting more onus on Allen to get the job done.
The Ravens also had six All-Pro selections compared with Buffalo's one - Allen.
Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers are the only active players to have won MVP. Is it time for Allen to join them?
Image source, Getty ImagesTerry Crews played in the NFL before starting an acting career
The Super Bowl hype actually takes a back seat on Thursday as the winners of this season's NFL awards are announced.
The awards are decided by the Associated Press (AP), an American news agency, with the ceremony taking place at Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.
A total of 20 awards will be presented, with the big prize being the NFL's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2024 season.
The event is being hosted by Snoop Dogg and will be attended by dozens of current and former players and coaches, including actor Terry Crews. Traditionally, any of the players set to compete in the Super Bowl do not attend.
Here are the main honours that will be announced:
Most Valuable Player
Offensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Comeback Player of the Year
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Coach of the Year
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist in New Orleans
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles spoke to the media for the final time today before Super Bowl 59.
For three days running they have held media opportunities at their respective hotels, which are both based in the centre of New Orleans.
They had their first practice sessions on Wednesday and you know whenever either team are going to and from their training facilities.
Never mind a team bus, an NFL team requires five coaches to transport its players and staff, and they get a police escort from more than a dozen motorbikes.
The first bikes come past before the first coach is even in sight and it takes a good minute for all of the motorcade to pass through, with sirens blaring all the way through.
It does make you wonder, if this is what it's like when the players are going to and from practice, what will it be like at the weekend when the president is in town?
Nesta McGregor
Sport Reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesKendrick Lamar says he never dreamt he'd ever get the call to perform at the NFL Super Bowl half-time how. On Sunday the rapper will become the first solo Hip-Hop act to perform during American football's showpiece event.
Fresh from winning five Grammy awards last weekend, the musician says he wants to use the platform to remind people that his genre of music should garner the same respect as any other genre of music.
The 37-year-old says he doesn't always feel rap music gets the respect it deserves and promised to remind people of its origins – with the MC battle a pivotal part.
The last year has seen Lamar involved in a musical back-and-forth with Canadian artist Drake.
He also said deciding what songs from his 20 year career to squeeze into a 13 minute performance was tough. He says "storytelling" will be the theme of his performance.
Lamar says he deals with nerves before a performance by running and doing push-ups as well as listening to The Isley Brothers.
Image source, BBC SportThere has been plenty of speculation over whether Kendrick Lamar will perform Not Like Us, his huge hit from last year which has pretty much been the anthem of Super Bowl week here in New Orleans.
Drake has since filed a defamation lawsuit over the song, which won five Grammy awards on Sunday, taking Lamar's overall tally to 22.
If this news conference is anything to go by, Sunday's show will be uncensored. Let's just say that not all of Lamar's comments have been for a family audience.
Image source, BBC SportThere's a big round of applause from the huge number of reporters and cameras at the news conference for the Apple Music Super Bowl half-time show as headliner Kendrick Lamar takes to the stage.
He's started by talking about his history as an artist and going through his favourite tracks from his career so far.
He's looking relaxed but not yet giving away any hints about what tracks will be in his hugely-anticipated set at the Superdome on Sunday.
Image source, Getty ImagesAs the designated home team, the Philadelphia Eagles chose to wear their home green jerseys for the Super Bowl - so the Kansas City Chiefs will be in their white away shirts
That will not be an issue for Patrick Mahomes and company though, as he has a perfect record in play-off games wearing white, winning all three contests - including the previous Super Bowl victory over the Eagles...
Mahomes has played 20 play-off games now but worn home red in 17 due to usually playing at Arrowhead with the Chiefs so dominant.
The Eagles were also the 'home' side last time and picked their green colours, while the Chiefs were also the away side when losing the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay, when the Bucs opted to wear white.
Mahomes has big play-off wins over the Bills, Ravens and Eagles wearing white, averaging a 76.4% completion rate, 212.7 yards and two touchdowns a game. He also had a QB rating over 100 in all three.
And he's not the only one who enjoys wearing white - as teams in white jerseys have gone 16-4 over the last 20 Super Bowls.
Andy Reid's Chiefs dynasty
Image source, Getty ImagesFans of 31 other NFL teams are a bit sick and tired of the Kansas City Chiefs winning all the time - but Patrick Mahomes is more than happy being the villain.
"If winning football games makes you a villain, we're going to keep going out there and doing it," said Mahomes.
"We embrace who we are. We believe we play the game the right way, with a lot of heart and passion for the game."
It was a similar story with Tom Brady's New England Patriots when they dominated - something Mahomes knows only too well from his younger days as a Dallas Cowboys fan.
"It's all fun because I was that guy," Mahomes added. "I was a Cowboys fan growing up, and I used to hate the Patriots.
"But I think, more than anything, I appreciate the greatness of the Patriots now when I see how hard it was to do what they did.
"Hopefully we're just giving people a great product to watch, and they can see the love for the game that we have. All the other stuff is kind of outside noise."
