How could Taylor Swift get to the Super Bowl from her Eras Tour? Here are possible routes

Taylor Swift has already logged plenty of miles traveling the world on her record-breaking Eras Tour, and she could soon add over 5,500 more on a one-way trip. That’s assuming the pop star makes the journey from the stage in Tokyo, where she’ll be performing on Feb. 10, to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to …

Thompson: Brock Purdy managed up, managed down and saved the 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The most important run of the night may not have been by Christian McCaffrey. Or Deebo Samuel. Or even by George Kittle on one of his epic catch-and-runs. Nope. It was probably by the game manager. The most momentum-seizing, back-breaking, Lions-taming runs, a case could be made, were by Brock Purdy, …

Mike Macdonald lets the Ravens defense do his talking

If Mike Macdonald’s ascent to one of the NFL’s hottest coordinators and a legitimate head-coaching candidate feels meteoric, that’s probably because he has never embraced the art of self-promotion. The 36-year-old second-year Baltimore Ravens defensive boss has consented to side media interviews in recent weeks largely because he wants to tout the chemistry and cohesion …

Lions are winning playoff games and changing perceptions of what they can accomplish

DETROIT — There’s an oft-shared experience among those who’ve played for the Detroit Lions. A rite of passage, really. You’re told you won’t win anything. That this franchise is known for losing. Players know it all too well and have heard it all too often. “‘Oh, you guys are no good. You guys aren’t gonna …

Super Bowl 2024 odds: 49ers still favorite with Ravens close behind entering championship weekend

The NFL is down to its final four teams, and the San Francisco 49ers (+145) remain favorites to win Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas. After narrowly escaping with a win against the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round, the 49ers host the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game next week. The 49ers …

As Jason Kelce retires, teammates tell stories from his and Travis’ college days at Cincinnati

For those who know Jason and Travis Kelce best, there’s a familiar quality when listening to “New Heights,” the duo’s wildly popular podcast that launched in the fall of 2022. “It’s awesome because I can turn it on and it feels like I’m back in college hanging out with them,” said Craig Carey, a longtime …

How a Stanford professor helped lay the foundation for this 49ers era

For his first few frenetic months as the San Francisco 49ers’ general manager in 2017, John Lynch left his family behind in San Diego. His temporary home at the Santa Clara Marriott became a brainstorming center for reversing the fortunes of a moribund franchise. The 49ers, coming off a 2-14 season, had perhaps the NFL’s …

Brian Flores isn’t afraid and isn’t looking back — how about the rest of the NFL?

Brian Flores swiveled in a chair and repeated the question. “Is there anything else I want to say? … Is there anything … Hmm … ” It was a chilled December afternoon in Eagan, Minn., and the Minnesota Vikings’ defense coordinator was seated inside his dimly lit office. His eyes, shielded by a purple flatbill …

NFL’s Black Monday stories: ‘For the coaches and families, it’s an absolute nightmare’

Most will downplay and dismiss it, especially when pressed in front of a microphone. They’ll claim it’s the last thing on their radar, then lean on some trusty clichés to get through a few weeks of uncomfortable news conferences: on to the next practice, the next meeting, the next game. They’ll say there’s no point …

Bird, ‘The Wire,’ a life sentence paroled and a Colts game 40 years in the making

Bleary-eyed from 16 hours on a Greyhound bus, he strolled into the stadium running on fumes. He’d barely slept in two days. The ride he was supposed to hitch from Charlotte to Indianapolis canceled at the last minute, and for a few nervy hours, Antonio Barnes started to have his doubts. The trip he’d waited …