The Jacksonville Jaguars win the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-28 in a thrilling comeback led by rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The New England Patriots miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year, despite signing veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the offseason. Rodgers struggles with injuries and chemistry issues with his new teammates and coaches.
The Cleveland Browns end their 19-year playoff drought, clinching the AFC North division title with a 12-4 record. They also beat the Pittsburgh Steelers twice in the regular season and once in the wild card round, avenging their long-time rivals.
The Los Angeles Rams break the single-season scoring record, averaging 35.6 points per game. Their explosive offense is led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, who throws for 5,084 yards and 51 touchdowns, both career-highs.
The New York Giants fire head coach Joe Judge after a dismal 3-13 season, the worst in franchise history. Judge’s tenure is marred by controversy, poor decisions, and locker room turmoil. He is replaced by former Giants legend Eli Manning, who becomes the youngest head coach in NFL history at 42.
The Seattle Seahawks trade star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Chicago Bears for three first-round picks and two second-round picks. Wilson, who had expressed his frustration with the Seahawks’ management and play-calling, finds a new home in Chicago, where he leads the Bears to the NFC Championship game.
The Kansas City Chiefs suffer a shocking upset in the divisional round, losing to the Miami Dolphins 24-21. The Dolphins, who had sneaked into the playoffs as the seventh seed, stun the defending champions with a late touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle.
The Las Vegas Raiders make history by becoming the first NFL team to have an openly gay player on their roster. Defensive end Carl Nassib, who came out as gay in June 2023, receives widespread support from his teammates, coaches, fans, and the league. He also has a breakout season, recording 12 sacks and four forced fumbles.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fall short of repeating as Super Bowl champions, losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game. Tom Brady, who had announced that this would be his final season, throws three interceptions and is sacked five times by the Rams’ dominant defense.
The NFL announces that it will expand to 34 teams by 2026, adding two new franchises in London and Mexico City. The league also reveals that it will increase the regular season to 18 games and the playoffs to 16 teams, starting from the 2024-25 season.