Willie Snead (Photo courtesy of Twitter @cravetheauto)
The New Orleans Saints will not match the Baltimore Ravens’ two-year offer sheet to wide receiver Willie Snead, according to ESPN.
Snead, 25, was a restricted free agent and signed the offer with the Ravens last week. The Saints had five days to match, but declined.
The offer is worth $7 million with $3.4 million in incentives and has a $2 million signing bonus, ESPN reports. He will go to a Ravens passing offense that was ranked 29th in the league last year.
On Twitter, Snead thanked New Orleans Saints fans and ended the post with the hashtag #TrustGod.
The new scenery is also a chance for Snead to improve on his numbers, which fell last year. He only caught eight passes for 92 yards with no touchdowns. The previous two seasons combined he hauled in 141 passes and seven touchdowns. But from an earlier post on Twitter, Snead is eager to return back to form.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
The Dallas Cowboys have a new word to describe their mindset on and off the field each week: “Godfidence.” It’s a word head coach Brian Schottenheimer brought into the team’s vocabulary as he looks to build a culture of faith, purpose and brotherhood.
For Schottenheimer, his faith in Jesus isn’t merely a motivational tool that he pulls out when things are going well. It’s at the center of how he views his life and his work, and it’s something he’s made clear is the most important thing to him since he took over as head coach in January 2025.
“That’s who he is,” quarterback Dak Prescott said during his press conference after Sunday’s 34-30 win over Houston. “That’s who I am, and that’s who a lot of our guys on our team are. Just trying to be contagious, understanding that we’re all here because of God and we’re all here to serve a greater purpose.”
Prescott has been with the Cowboys for 11 seasons and played under three different head coaches. He said there’s a noticeable difference in the culture under Schottenheimer, especially as it pertains to players feeling more comfortable in expressing and being vocal about their faith.
There usually aren’t many empty seats at team chapels, which Prescott said is also a credit to team chaplain Jonathan Evans and his father, Dr. Tony Evans.
“I’ve been through so much in my life. God’s always been the reason and Who I fall back on and my refuge,” Prescott said. “I can’t thank Him enough and never will be able to thank Him enough. So just to see that transcend throughout our team, starting with our head coach, is special. It’s something we take pride in, but at the end of the day, it’s about giving Him the glory.”
The Cowboys are 2-2 and enter a primetime game on “Thursday Night Football” against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dallas is averaging 30.5 points per game, which is tied for second in the NFL, with Schottenheimer in his second year as head coach and primary playcaller after serving as the offensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy from 2023 to 2024.
Schottenheimer’s message on the field so far this season has been about consistency and finishing. And connecting it all is the idea that they’re one family. Schottenheimer makes no apologies for what fuels him.
“God is the center of everything that I do — as a husband, father, football coach, whatever,” he said in his press conference Monday. “I think it’s very strong among our team.”
He displays that faith with his action, but also publicly on his body. He has five tattoos that he says remind him of his “whys.” On his left forearm is “Jireh” which is Hebrew for “The Lord will provide.” Near that one are three nails in the form of a cross.
When McCarthy and the Cowboys agreed to part ways, there was always a risk that coordinators like Schottenheimer would also be left out of a job if the new head coach wanted to bring in their own hires. At 51 years old, Schottenheimer had put together a lengthy resume as a position coach and coordinator, so he’d likely be able to find work on another staff. But the thought of having to move and start over again elsewhere crossed his and his wife Gemmi’s minds.
Their faith kept them grounded, she recently said.
“If we didn’t have our faith, I think we could’ve crumbled many times,” Gemmi said this summer on the “Twins Take Podcast.” “This is such an unstable life that we live and you never know what’s next. It’s really year-to-year and it’s a lot of uncertainty. But I think we’ve always had this solid foundation of knowing that the Lord’s never going to leave us and He’s never going to guide us in the wrong direction. We may not like it, but I think we know that what we’re doing is exactly what we’re supposed to be doing.”
Whatever his next path looked like, Schottenheimer still hoped that being a head coach would be part of his resume one day. And as it turned out, he didn’t have to move, and his chance to become a head coach also came. Instead of hiring an external candidate, owner and general manager Jerry Jones elevated Schottenheimer to head coach ahead of the 2025 season.
“We were really just obedient in that regard and we were just like, ‘Whatever You have in store for us is what’s meant to be,’ and then it happened,” Gemmi said. “You have to just trust that whatever path you’re on, that’s exactly where God has you and you’re supposed to be there. You never know when something is going to happen.”
Among his many stops, Schottenheimer recalled being a quarterbacks coach under his father, longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, for the San Diego Chargers in 2003. Team chaplain Shawn Mitchell made a profound impact on him and his faith, and the younger Schottenheimer felt led to start a coach’s Bible study. He was just 28 years old and it was about six months before he found out he had thyroid cancer. Meanwhile, Gemmi was three months pregnant with their son, Sutton.
Brian credits that season of life to helping him get much more connected with God personally, and it also helped strengthen his and Gemmi’s marriage and faith walks.
“Some of the things that we’ve been through are bigger than football,” he said on the podcast. “Football is our job. It’s not our life. We love it. It’s what we do, but it all starts with God.”
Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan points Heavenward after one of his touchdowns, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan chose a great time to have his best game as a professional, as he snagged 14 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns to lead Carolina past the Detroit Lions, 32-26, on “Sunday Night Football.” The performance set career highs in both receptions and yards, and it tied a career high in receiving TDs.
Later, the Panthers added another touchdown and a field goal to hold on for the victory, which moved them to 2-2 on the season and guaranteed they’ll be tied atop the NFC South after Week 4 (the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints — both 1-2 — play Monday night).
“Obviously, it’s a good feeling,” McMillan said of his performance in Sunday’s postgame press conference, with his characteristic eye-black crosses still on his face. “It’s just in that moment, I just feel the trust from obviously the coordinators making the call for me, getting the ball in my hands, and obviously [Young] just giving me the opportunity. Just super grateful, for sure.”
McMillan’s two receiving touchdowns under the Sunday night lights were the first two of his 2026-27 season, although he did reach the 100-yard plateau in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. His scoring drought to begin this season nearly mirrored his rookie campaign a year ago, when he didn’t catch a TD until Carolina’s sixth game.
“I’m not really worried about it, man,” McMillan said last year after being asked about his lack of touchdowns early in the season. “God never makes a mistake. When the time comes and it happens, it’s meant to be.”
Despite the delay, McMillan finished last season with seven touchdowns and 1,014 yards on 70 receptions, a performance which earned him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in February. In his acceptance speech at NFL Honors, McMillan made sure to credit his Heavenly Father.
“God has just been so amazing to me,” he said while wearing a cross necklace and a traditional Hawaiian lei. “He has blessed me with amazing opportunities. He has surrounded me with such incredible people who have invested in me and impacted my life. God is just so amazing. Without Him, none of this would be possible. I’m just so grateful, so blessed, man.”
McMillan was born in Hawaii, and family is central in Hawaiian culture. The McMillans are no different. Tetairoa’s mother, Shawny Dutro, introduced him at NFL Honors wearing a lei of her own. Meanwhile, Tetairoa credits his grandmother, Blanche McMillan, with inspiring him in all areas of his life.
“She inspires me in her faith,” Tetairoa said of his grandmother last season, via Panthers.com. “She’s so strong in her faith. She’s always been the rock of our family. … I feel like she taught me a lot about humility, hospitality, just having a big heart. Even to this day, she still surprises me with how big her heart is.”
Shortly after Tetairoa’s NFL dream came true when Carolina selected him No. 8 overall in the 2025 draft, the McMillan family threw him a party in Hawaii with many friends, such as Fifita, and family in attendance. The party featured worship music, and McMillan even came on stage to lead the crowd in a song.
At one point during the party, Fifita told McMillan, “It’s just amazing to see that as far as you’ve come, as much limelight as you’ve gotten, the attention, all the accolades, you’ve never forgotten who your identity was. You always identify in Christ. You give Him all the glory.”
Praising the Lord is something McMillan did often in the aftermath of the draft, including on social media.
As he seeks to continue to honor God on and off the field, McMillan will have a few extra days to enjoy Sunday’s performance; Carolina is now on its bye week. The Panthers are back in action for a road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. ET.
Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga celebrates a win over the Los Angeles Rams, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
He made arguably the two biggest plays of the game, but Talanoa Hufanga didn’t want any of the spotlight Sunday night. A timely sack late in the game on quarterback Matthew Stafford forced the Los Angeles Rams to settle for a field goal, but with his team down three, it was an interception he returned 66 yards for a touchdown that changed the tide and gave the Denver Broncos their first lead of the game.
After being down 16-0 at halftime, the Broncos eventually pulled out a 30-26 win to improve to 2-1 on the season.
“Honestly, man, all praise to God,” Hufanga told NBC Sports following the game. “Just come out here, believe in myself, believe in my teammates to be in the right spot, all glory to God that I can go out there and play and have some fun.”
Broncos Players Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga gave all glory to God after his Sunday Night Football win! Praise the Lord!🙌 📸: @nbcsportspic.twitter.com/V7FUJ4D1rC
Head coach Sean Payton said the pick-six was the play of the game.
“[Hufanga’s] been such a consistent performer for us and leader,” Payton said. “I love him, I love coaching him.”
In total, Hufanga recorded five tackles, three passes defended, a sack, two interceptions and the touchdown against the Rams. For his efforts, he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. He became the first player since 1982 (when the individual sack became an official statistic) to record a sack and multiple interceptions — including an interception return of 50 or more yards for a touchdown — in a single quarter of a single game, which he accomplished during the fourth quarter against L.A.
“It’s one of those recognitions, it’s a personal award, but at the same time there are things that go into it,” Hufanga said Wednesday, praising his teammates and coaches that also helped him make plays. “… As much as it’s an individual award, it does feel like when you have a player that can get that award on your defense, [that’s] a team award. That’s guys putting me in the right position too, so I’m super thankful for that.”
This is the second year in Denver for Hufanga, who began his pro career in 2021 with the San Francisco 49ers after they drafted him in the fifth round out of USC, where he earned Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and consensus All-American honors in 2020. He became a full-time starter and a Pro Bowler with the 49ers in 2022, but injuries interrupted his next two seasons.
In the midst of recovering, he leaned on his faith in God, even referencing Psalm 139:23-24 in an Instagram post after the 2023 season.
“The season came to an abrupt end for me, but the season of growth God has for me is just beginning!” he wrote. “Thank you to all the friends, family and fans that are sending me thoughtful messages and prayers. Y’all’s support means so much to me. My dawgs out there holding it down, can’t wait to be back out there with y’all! Bang Bang Niner Gang!!”
He entered free agency following the 2024 season and signed with the Broncos in March 2025 on a three-year, $45 million contract. After being a second-team All-Pro last year, he’s seemingly found a home in Denver and is one of the leaders for a strong defense hoping to help the team back to the playoffs. The Broncos’ run last season ended with a 10-7 loss in the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots.
Hufanga was asked Sunday night about some missed opportunities on interceptions last season (when he had zero) as well as a couple dropped possible interceptions in Sunday’s game. After missing a lot of time due to injuries over the course of a couple seasons, that helps him keep things in perspective.
“Praise God to come out there and just play the game I love and walk out healthy,” Hufanga said in a postgame press conference. “You definitely do, and when I talked this offseason, you try and not get too down on yourself. I actually had to have a pep talk with myself. Like I dropped two [possible interceptions] at the beginning of the game, and it was in there, for sure. ‘Ah, don’t be the guy — make the plays when they come.’ So just sitting back with some patience and letting the game come to me, for sure. Man, two big plays, but this team is just incredible. Regardless of what you’re going through, you see this team, this team rises, so very thankful, for sure.”
The injuries may have kept him off the field more than he wanted, but his time with the 49ers was incredibly formative for him personally and spiritually.
“Change is always exciting, but this is a season of my life I will always cherish and reminisce as one of the best times of my life,” he posted on Instagram after signing with the Broncos. “Thank you to all the teammates and coaches that not only helped me grow as a football player, but as a man of God. You all have become family to me and I’ll never forget the relationships I have been fortunate enough to make.”
Hufanga, fresh off one of the best performances of his career, will face his old team this week as the Broncos play the 49ers in Santa Clara, California, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.
