Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue Passes Away
Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Roger Goodell‘s predecessor, passed away Sunday morning, per Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer and others. Tagliabue was 84.
A graduate of New York University School of Law, Tagliabue was a practicing attorney from 1969 to 1989, and the NFL was one of his clients. League owners selected him as Pete Rozelle‘s successor in 1989.
The league continued its inexorable growth under Tagliabue’s leadership, growth that included the addition of multiple expansion teams during the 1990s (Jaguars, Panthers, Ravens, Browns) and early 2000s (Texans). Baltimore, which had lost the Colts to relocation in the 1980s, was one of the finalists for a new team in 1993, though it lost out to Jacksonville and Charlotte at that time. Tagliabue’s comments that Baltimore should “build a museum” with its proposed stadium funds became a highly-publicized source of bitterness, though then-Browns owner Art Modell moved his franchise to Baltimore shortly thereafter, renaming his club the Ravens.
Tagliabue oversaw that move and the introduction of the current iteration of the Browns — who kept the franchise’s prior history, name, and colors — to the league in 1999. There were several other relocations during Tagliabue’s tenure, including the moves of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders to St. Louis and Oakland, respectively, and the move of the Oilers (now Titans) from Houston to Tennessee.
Tagliabue also laid the framework for the league’s highly-successful forays into foreign markets. While Goodell ended the former commissioner’s NFL Europe league in 2007 (shortly after his ascent to the top job), he quickly replaced it with the current NFL International Series, which continues to flourish.
Goodell’s predecessor has also received praise for his efforts in convincing then-Saints owner Tom Benson to return his team to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and for denying Arizona the opportunity to host the Super Bowl in 1992 due to the state’s refusal to establish Martin Luther King, Jr. day as a state holiday. The Chevy Chase (Md.) native was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Goodell issued a statement on Tagliabue, which can be found here (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). Tagliabue’s cause of death was heart failure complicated by his Parkinson’s disease, per Schefter. He is survived by wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily.
We at PFR extend our condolences to Tagliabue’s family and friends and thank him for his numerous contributions to American football, which is why our site exists.
Jets QB Justin Fields To Start In Week 10
It appears Justin Fields’ respectable showing in the Jets’ narrow victory over the Bengals in Week 8 – their first win of the season – bought him a little extra time as New York’s QB1. The team had a Week 9 bye, and although head coach Aaron Glenn held off on an official announcement, ESPN’s Adam Schefter says Fields will get the nod against the Browns in Week 10.
At halftime of a Week 7 loss to the Panthers, Glenn benched Fields in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor. Taylor did not fare any better than his younger counterpart, but the Jets did plan to have him start their Week 8 contest against Cincinnati (owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized Fields after the Carolina game, which further underscored Taylor’s expected promotion).
Unfortunately for Taylor, a knee injury prevented him from playing in that game. Fields went on to post a 99.0 quarterback rating – against an admittedly poor Bengals defense – and completed 21 of 32 passes for 244 yards and a score in the victory. He also rushed 11 times for 31 yards.
It will not be any easier for the Jets to win games after the trade deadline, as defensive cornerstones Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams have been dealt elsewhere in exchange for future draft capital. The club is clearly in rebuild mode, and while it appears Fields is unlikely to consistently live up to his potential as a former first-round pick, it makes sense for New York to continue evaluating him rather than asking the 36-year-old Taylor to play out the string.
After all, $10MM of Fields 2026 salary is already guaranteed, and a pre-June 1 release this offseason would create a $22MM dead money charge at a time when Aaron Rodgers will already be accounting for $35MM of dead money. The fact that Fields seems destined to be on the Jets’ 2026 iteration anyway further supports the notion that they might as well keep giving him opportunities.
He will at least have a new receiver to work with (eventually, anyway). As part of the Gardner deal, New York acquired 2024 second-rounder Adonai Mitchell, who had been buried on the Colts’ depth chart. Mitchell, however, is inactive for Week 10.
Top wideout Garrett Wilson is expected back in Week 10 after missing the prior two games due to a knee ailment.
Lions G Christian Mahogany Suffers Knee Injury
NOVEMBER 9: Awosika will indeed get the first chance to replace Mahogany at left guard, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. However, Campbell did say he would consider moving Glasgow to LG and installing Trystan Colon at center.
NOVEMBER 2: The Lions got some bad news coming out of their Week 9 loss to the Vikings.
After getting carted off the field, starting left guard Christian Mahogany was seen in the postgame locker room on crutches. Head coach Dan Campbell told the media after the game that Mahogany would miss significant time with a knee injury.
“Mahogany is going to be out for a while,” Campbell told reporters. “Long time, probably.”
The 2024 sixth-rounder started the Lions’ first eight games of the season and played every snap until he left Sunday’s game. Out of 78 offensive guards with at least 150 snaps, Mahogany ranks 46th in pass-blocking effieciency (96.8), 37th in pressures allowed (12), and 20th in overall grade (68.3), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Mahogany’s injury will force another change to the interior of the Lions offensive line after their offseason overhaul. Longtime center Frank Ragnow retired and veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler left in free agency. Graham Glasgow shifted from left guard to center, rookie Tate Ratledge took over at right guard, and Mahogany won the left guard job after starting only one game as a rookie.
The 25-year-old was replaced by five-year veteran Kayode Awosika on Sunday. He may retain the job going forward, but the Lions could also make a last-minute entry into the guard market before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Cardinals Facing Decision On Kyler Murray’s Future?
Has Kyler Murray played his last snap in Arizona?
That question has spread across the NFL in the wake of the latest developments regarding the Cardinals’ star quarterback. If Murray were to become available in the offseason, he would immediately become one of the biggest names on the annual quarterback carousel.
To recap: the Cardinals won their first two games of the year with Murray under center, albeit against easier opponents. They then lost three straight to the 49ers, Seahawks, and Titans by a combined five points. Murray injured his foot against the Titans, but he only missed a few snaps before finishing the game. He missed the next two weeks with reports of a Lisfranc-related injury raising concern about a longer absence, and did not play in Week 9 despite hopes of a post-bye return.
In Murray’s absence, backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett led the Cardinals’ offense to three of their four highest points and yardage totals of the season, though only one of those games ended in victory. Brissett’s passer rating, yards per attempt, and touchdown-to-interception ratio all outpace his younger teammate, too.
That clearly stirred some discussions in Arizona. First, head coach Jonathan Gannon said earlier this week that “nothing’s changed” regarding Murray and the team’s quarterback situation, indicating that the former No. 1 overall pick would play once he was healthy. The next day, Gannon seemed to change his tune when he announced that Brissett would remain the starter, which was quickly explained Murray’s subsequent move to injured reserve.
It is unclear what happens next. Murray will be on IR until at least Week 14. He was diagnosed with “a mid-foot sprain in the area of a Lisfranc injury,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Nothing is broken or dislocated, but a partially torn ligament and the resulting swelling need more time to fully heal. Murray’s limited participation in practice for the last few weeks suggests that he could play if it was absolutely necessary, but the risk of re-injury has steered the Cardinals down the cautious path.
General manager Monti Ossenfort is expecting Murray to return this season, but whether or not he regains his starting job will be determined at a later date. The Cardinals’ performance in the meantime could be a major factor in that decision. Despite a 2-5 start, they refused to consider selling players at the trade deadline due to a minus-13 point differential that suggested they were better than their record. Monday night’s 10-point primetime win in Dallas supported that theory.
However, Murray’s absence features a tough slate of matchups for the Cardinals. Their next four opponents have a combined 23-11 record on the season, and they have already lost to two of those teams: the 49ers and the Seahawks. Arizona could be all but eliminated from the playoff picture by the time Murray is ready to play.
At that point, it may not make sense to put him back on the field. And if the Cardinals have stayed in the hunt, it would likely be due, at least in part, to Brissett. Perhaps he wins a few games and gets hurt, giving Murray a chance at a late-season charge, but some around the league believe he is done for the year, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Some even believe he might be done in Arizona. Remember, Ossenfort and Gannon did not draft Murray or sign him to his current contract extension. Given their regime’s poor results thus far, they could be looking to handpick a different quarterback to right the ship and secure their jobs for a few more years. That would mean moving on from Murray this offseason, though that’s not a simple proposition by any means.
Murray has $36.8MM of guaranteed money due in 2026, and his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed on March 22, creating a clear decision point for Murray’s future. If he is not in the Cards’ long-term plans, they will have to release or trade him by then.
Other teams may not want to attach themselves to those obligations, so a trade could require Arizona to eat some of Murray’s 2026 compensation. Those teams may still be cautious about his 2027 guarantees and instead may wait the Cardinals out in the hopes they release Murray. That would allow him to choose his next team, and he would only cost the veteran minimum with the Cardinals still responsible for his guaranteed money in 2026.
As for potential destinations for Murray, keep an eye on Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, per Jones. His unit has disappointed this season, but that is partially due to multiple injuries to star quarterback Jayden Daniels. Kingsbury said last year that he wanted to return to a head coaching job in the future, but he declined interest from multiple teams last offseason, due in part to his desire to stay with Daniels. However, a new job this offseason could offer the opportunity to reunite with Murray, which could be enough to get Kingsbury out of Washington.
The Cardinals signed Brissett on a two-year deal this offseason, which could set him up to be a bridge starter in 2026. A poor finish their year could position them to target a top prospect in the draft; that effort could be further aided by any draft capital received from a potential Murray trade.
This season has not gone to plan for the Cardinals. Now, they’ll have to come up with a new one for their future.
Jets’ Breece Hall Didn’t Request Trade; Latest On Jermaine Johnson
The Jets grabbed the most headlines in the NFL at the Nov. 4 trade deadline, moving on from star defenders Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in blockbusters with the Colts and Cowboys. After the departures of Gardner and Williams on Tuesday, a report that running back Breece Hall wanted a trade emerged. Nothing came together, leaving Hall to finish the season with the Jets.
Addressing the rumors earlier this week, Hall said that he did not request a trade, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. At the same time, the 24-year-old neither confirmed nor denied whether he would have welcomed a change of scenery. With his first-ever trip to the open market on the horizon in the offseason, Hall will be able to choose where he plays in 2026. That is, if the Jets don’t slap the franchise tag on him.
While Hall may not have asked out of New York before the deadline, he did think the team would trade him, Armando Salguero of OutKick relays. The Jets reportedly turned down a fourth-round offer from the Chiefs. Gang Green wasn’t going to budge for less than a third-rounder.
Like Hall, Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson was popular in the rumor mill leading up to the deadline. Johnson also stayed put, but it wasn’t for lack of interest. The 49ers were among the teams in on Johnson, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who reports that one club offered the Jets a third-rounder for him.
It’s unclear if that was San Francisco, but a swap with the 49ers would have reunited Johnson with Robert Saleh. Now the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Saleh was the Jets’ head coach when they used a first-rounder on Johnson in 2022. He made his lone Pro Bowl under Saleh in 2023.
A deadline day report indicated the Jets had netted at least one second-round offer for Johnson, but Jones’ information clashes with that. The Jets wanted a second-rounder for Johnson, per Jones. General manager Darren Mougey wasn’t going to move Johnson for less. The Jets picked up Johnson’s fifth-year option for 2026 last spring, meaning they’re not in immediate danger of losing him to free agency.
The Jets wouldn’t part with Hall or Johnson before the deadline, but those two will remain fascinating names to watch during the offseason. The team has a few months to re-sign Hall – if that fails, it could tag him – and Johnson is likely to draw trade interest again in 2026.
Latest On Eagles’ New-Look Defense
Now coming off their bye week, the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles will have a different look on defense heading into a Monday night showdown with the Packers. Philadelphia made one of the most noteworthy moves at this year’s trade deadline, acquiring pass rusher Jaelan Phillips from Miami for a third-round pick on Monday.
With Phillips on the verge of his Eagles debut, his presence could impact linebackers Nakobe Dean and Jihaad Campbell. After suffering a torn patellar tendon in the playoffs last January, Dean opened the 2025 campaign on the physically unable to perform list. He didn’t begin seeing significant snaps until Week 7, leaving Campbell as one of the Eagles’ top two linebackers alongside Zack Baun.
Although Campbell, a first-round pick from Alabama, held his own during Dean’s absence, the latter amassed a higher number of defensive snaps in a 38-20 win over the Giants in Week 8. Despite that, Zach Berman of The Athletic expects Campbell to log the majority of playing time down the stretch.
While Campbell can also line up on the edge, there’s now less need for the rookie in that role. The Eagles are suddenly much deeper in that area with Phillips on board, Nolan Smith returning from IR, and Brandon Graham coming out of retirement. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is set to deploy “a more defined split between nickel and base,” writes Berman, which points to fewer snaps for Dean. Considering Dean’s a pending free agent, that would be a disappointing development for the 24-year-old.
The 6-2 Eagles will also enter the second half of their season with a remodeled secondary after free-wheeling general manager Howie Roseman swung a pair of cornerback trades during their bye. Roseman reeled in Michael Carter II from the Jets for a 2027 seventh-round pick and wide receiver John Metchie on Oct. 29. A few days later, he landed Jaire Alexander from the Ravens in a late-round pick swap on Nov. 1.
Carter is an established slot corner, yet the Eagles already have second-year standout Cooper DeJean in the fold. The addition of Carter could point to the Eagles moving the versatile DeJean outside on a full-time basis, but that’s unlikely to happen, according to James Palmer of The Athletic. The Eagles can continue shifting DeJean between the slot and the boundary, though, as no one has stepped up on the outside as a capable complement to No. 1 corner Quinyon Mitchell. Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo have struggled, while Jakorian Bennett went on IR on Sept. 24 with a pectoral injury.
The Eagles opened Bennett’s practice window on Oct. 22, and he has been a full participant this week. It seems he’ll be back sooner than later. At the very least, he and Alexander will give the Eagles more depth on the outside down the stretch.
Alexander was a two-time Pro Bowler during a fruitful run with Green Bay from 2018-24. However, after he underwent offseason knee surgery, the 28-year-old was unable to regain his old form in his short Baltimore stint. A healthy scratch for most of his time with the Ravens, Alexander has played just 61 defensive snaps this year.
The oft-injured Alexander, who hasn’t played more than seven games in a season since 2022, said this week (via Berman) that he’s healthy, adding that he believes he’s still in his prime. It remains to be seen how often the Eagles will use Alexander, but Roseman took a low-cost flier with the hope that he has something left in the tank.
Chiefs Could Make Free Agent DL Addition
Not long before the trade deadline, the Chiefs emerged as a suitor for reinforcements along the defensive line. That was in spite of the team’s recent reunion with Mike Pennel. 
The veteran was granted his release from the Bengals, something which paved the way for a third Kansas City stint. Another move – this time via trade – was considered a possibility for the Chiefs as a means of acquiring further depth along the D-line. Nothing took place on that front, but another acquisition could still be in store.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes the Pennel deal will not stop Kansas City from making an addition move along the defensive front. Few defensive tackles were viewed as true trade candidates, and with the major exception of Quinnen Williams none were dealt at the deadline. As Jones notes, though, the Chiefs could turn to the free agent market for a late-season acquisition.
Chris Jones has been available for each of the team’s nine games so far, but in that span he has notched only two sacks. The three-time All-Pro’s down year in terms of production has not been helped by the underwhelming output of veteran Derrick Nnadi. Rookie Omarr Norman-Lott is out for the season, so adding a rotational presence along the interior could prove to be impactful down the stretch.
Production along the edge has been an issue outside of George Karlaftis. With Felix Anudike- Uzomah also out of the picture for the remainder of the campaign, adding a pass rusher would come as little surprise. In any case, a low-cost move should be expected. Kansas City currently sits near the bottom of the league with just $3MM in cap space. That reality informed the team’s approach at the trade deadline, but it may not get in the way of a modest signing.
Bears Pursued CB Alontae Taylor Trade
Shortly before the trade deadline, the Bears were mentioned as a team to watch. A blockbuster deal was not expected, and indeed the team’s only move was the acquisition of Browns pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. 
During his post-deadline media availability, general manager Ryan Poles spoke further about his actions on the trade front. He noted (via Adam Jahns of CHGO Sports) calls were made to a number of other teams regarding additions along the edge. Several high-profile options in that regard were mentioned as candidates to be dealt, and a trio of players (Keion White, Dre’Mont Jones and, most notably, Jaelan Phillips) wound up changing teams.
Poles said conversations took place with a wide array of potential sellers, adding some of the prices seen in the league’s blockbuster deals were “stunning” in his view. In the end, it comes as little surprise Chicago was not among the suitors which made a massive move. Poles, head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen “kept the big picture in mind” when evaluating trades. The Bears are currently 5-3 on the year, but that assures them of little in terms of playoff positioning given the state of the NFC North.
As such, a more expensive acquisition like Phillips – who was dealt for a third-round pick – or Trey Hendrickson – who was available for a second-rounder – was not pursued at the deadline. Chicago will move forward with only Tryon-Shoyinka in place as a new depth option. The Bears did, on the other hand, work toward a notable move elsewhere on defense.
Chicago was “deep in talks” with the Saints about a trade for Alontae Taylor, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. The fourth-year cornerback was also a target of the Colts prior to their Sauce Gardner blockbuster. The Bears would have represented a logical landing spot for Taylor. He and Allen worked together during the latter’s time as New Orleans’ head coach. Taylor, 26, would have provided the Bears with a welcomed starting option in the secondary during a year in which cornerback injuries have been an issue.
A trade on that front would have been a rental since Taylor’s rookie contract will expire at the end of the campaign. A lucrative new pact is likely in store in his case this spring, and the Saints’ decision to retain him means an extended stay in New Orleans could be worked out. Failing that, the Bears could be among the teams showing interest on the open market given their pursuit of a trade acquisition.
In the meantime, Chicago will look for other moves to provide depth in the secondary. The Bears are one of several teams scheduled to host Asante Samuel Jr., who recently received full medical clearance. With roughly $6.64MM in cap space, a modest free agent pact would be feasible for Chicago if the team manages to work out a deal with Samuel or another corner currently available.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/8/25
Here are Saturday’s taxi squad moves around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Carl Jones Jr.
- Released: WR Miles Boykin
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Jawhar Jordan
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Tanner Conner
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Ta’Quon Graham
- Released: DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OLB DeMarvin Leal
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: T Logan Brown
- Released: WR Mac Dalena
Bengals Dropped Trey Hendrickson Asking Price To Second-Rounder
NOVEMBER 8: CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms the price for Hendrickson at the deadline was indeed lowered to a second-round pick. Finances proved to be an issue in this case, however. Jones and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport note suitors were not prepared to take on the remainder of Hendrickson’s $16MM salary for that high of a trade price; Jones adds the Bengals were not willing to retain money to facilitate a deal. Per Rapoport, the top offer Cincinnati received ahead of the deadline was a fourth-round selection.
NOVEMBER 6: Three Trey Hendrickson trade windows opened this year. The Bengals let the then-disgruntled defensive end shop around in March, as the team moved Tee Higgins higher in its priority queue. In August, as bumpy extension talks persisted, Hendrickson trade rumors reappeared. At the deadline, buzz about Cincinnati being more amenable to moving on emerged.
But the Bengals still set a high asking price that, at the time, bordered on unrealistic. A report earlier this week indicated Cincy was still asking for a first-rounder. Hendrickson being in a contract year weeks from his 31st birthday made that a tough ask from the 3-6 team, and unsurprisingly, no takers emerged. As it turns out, however, the All-Pro may have been available for less than that price.
Teams believed on deadline day the Bengals would have moved on for a second-round pick, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. While trade talks with that price as the goal appear a bit more logical at this juncture, Fowler adds the Cowboys — who pursued Hendrickson — still viewed that cost as too steep.
Although Hendrickson notched back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and ’24, he has missed two of the past three games with a hip injury. The ninth-year defensive end does have four sacks and eight QB hits this season. Once again, though, the Bengals’ defense has performed poorly.
Hendrickson has provided an undeniable boost, but his presence has not moved the needle much for a team that has once again seen its defense impede a high-powered offense. Even as Joe Flacco‘s arrival has transformed the Bengals’ offensive capabilities — compared to the short Jake Browning period this season — they have lost back-to-back shootouts.
The Bengals were believed to have wanted more than a first-rounder for Hendrickson back in March. Although the Commanders and Falcons were among the teams connected to him, the Bengals balked. They are believed to have received an offer including a second-rounder and change before the draft; again, the team held on as a standoff — one of Cincy’s two contractual staredowns with a D-end this offseason (the other Shemar Stewart‘s rookie terms) — developed and lasted for most of the summer. It would appear the Bengals, only asking for a second this week, dropped their price from that level as well.
A report about the team dropping its price to a second in the summer did not receive much traction, and Hendrickson eventually received a raise — one that did not add any years to his deal. The 49ers, Eagles and Colts joined the Cowboys in pursuing Hendrickson at the deadline, but he will close out the season in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati has not been known as a particularly willing deadline seller, but it now faces the prospect of losing Hendrickson in free agency. Depending on how the Bengals’ free agency math finalizes, a 2027 compensatory pick could be part of this equation. The Bengals following their A.J. Green path and franchise-tagging a 31-year-old standout would not be out of character, though. Hendrickson said he signed his previous one-year, $21MM extension in fear Cincy would tag him in 2025. The Higgins situation not sorting itself out by then, leading to a second tag for the wide receiver, ultimately would have negated that prospect.
A Hendrickson 2026 tag would cost more than $30MM. Considering the help the Bengals will need on defense next year, devoting that kind of money to a tag would divert valuable resources. Hendrickson’s market will be interesting, as an early-30s standout. He pushed the Bengals for post-Year 1 guarantees — a third-rail topic in Cincinnati for most players — so that will naturally be a goal if he reaches free agency for the first time since 2021.