The news was expected to come at some point after the Eagles were knocked out of the playoffs by San Francisco on Sunday.
Two days later, the team announced that Kevin Patullo had been removed as offensive coordinator after one season. But it’s possible that Patullo could remain on the staff in another role.
Patullo has been with the team since coach Nick Sirianni was hired in 2021. He went from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator a year ago after Kellen Moore left to become the coach of the New Orleans Saints.
Now, the Eagles’ next offensive coordinator will be the seventh play-caller Jalen Hurts has had in the NFL in what will be his seventh season in the league. So who might the Birds target as the next offensive coordinator?
Well, there’s no shortage of strong candidates to help fix a star-studded offense, and maybe they’ll look to hire an outside voice, considering that Sirianni’s last two internal promotions — Patullo and Brian Johnson — were finished after one season.
Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell started 10 games in his rookie season.
Jihaad Campbell was touted as a versatile defensive weapon who offered the Eagles the ability to line him up in multiple spots. But he saw more opportunity inside during Nakobe Dean’s injury rehabilitation, which led the rookie to start next to Zack Baun for the first seven games of the season.
The Camden County native, a first-round pick out of Alabama, played in all 17 games while starting 10 of them. He excelled in pass coverage and was solid against the run. With his first season in the books, Campbell will likely be utilized and trusted more next season because Dean is a pending free agent whose return to the Eagles seems unlikely.
What we’re …
🤔 Wondering: What folks are saying about the Eagles parting ways with Patullo as the play-caller.
📖 Reading: The viral 11-year-old Eagles fan Sam Salvo wanted Patullo flipping burgers. He says “it worked.”
🏒 Learning: Pro hockey is returning to Trenton after a 13-year hiatus and the new minor league team officially got a name.
Jesús Luzardo made 32 starts and worked 183⅔ innings in his first season with the Phillies, both career highs.
Jesús Luzardo hasn’t spoken with the Phillies yet about a contract extension.
But it’s a conversation he would like to have.
“It’s not something that I’m closed off to,” said Luzardo, appearing as a guest this week on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast. “I just got married and hopefully eventually have a family, and just being stable in a certain place, knowing that you’re comfortable within an organization … it’s something I would be really interested in.”
Sixers guard Kyle Lowry receives an ovation in what could be his last game in Toronto, where the Raptors legend won an NBA title.
Tyrese Maxey told Lowry at the start of Monday’s matchup against Toronto that his Sixers teammates would “do whatever we’ve got to do to get you in tonight.”
Maxey kept his word and allowed Lowry to check in late, as the 39-year-old soaked in potentially one last ovation from an adoring crowd that watched the North Philly native become a six-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion. It was a joyous curtain call and “probably one of the greatest basketball moments of my personal career.”
Flyers right wing Nikita Grebenkin was one player who looked to provide energy on Monday.
After two straight sobering losses to perennial powerhouse Tampa Bay, the Flyers need to refocus if they want to stay in playoff contention in the hotly contested Eastern Conference. Here are three lessons that they learned and need to carry with them as they move through a gauntlet before February’s Olympic break.
Rick Tocchet believes the Flyers need to simplify. The first-year coach believes his team, which is considered the fourth-youngest team in the NHL, is trying to make the perfect play too often instead of making the right reads. So he says, “We’re going to have to really dummy it down a little bit.”
Sports snapshot
Since the transfer portal opened, 22 former Iowa State players, including quarterback Rocco Becht, have followed Matt Campbell to Penn State.
Big swings: Penn State and Temple have leaned on the transfer portal to shape their football rosters for next season.
Mourning a coach: Temple assistant men’s basketball coach Bill Courtney, 55, died suddenly, the school announced Tuesday.
Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel (left) shown with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni after their matchup in 2023.
Kevin Patullo isn’t the first person to experience the downside of this city’s manic emotional instability when it comes to professional sports. But my point here isn’t to shame anybody. Actually, my point is to lobby the Eagles to spend whatever it takes to hire Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator. The Eagles need to bring in a fresh set of eyes and a proven track record of inventive run-scheming. They need to reinvent this offense, and McDaniel is the perfect mind to do it, writes columnist David Murphy.
🧠 Trivia time answer
Who has the most wins in the playoffs as coach of the Eagles?
C) Andy Reid with 10 wins — Mike R. was first with the correct answer.
What you’re saying about A.J. Brown
We asked: What do you think about the prospects of the Eagles trading A.J. Brown? Among your responses:
Possibility is high they try to trade him even if all they can get is a bag of footballs in return. If they can’t trade him they should just cut him. A malcontent is nothing but a cancer on the team and his on the field efforts are highly questionable right now. Can anyone say “Ricky Watters?” — Bob A.
I wish our fans would stand by the team win or lose. That’s what most parents of young athletes do. Pretend it’s your kid out there playing for the Eagles. What would you say when they lose? We are not going to win the Super Bowl every year. But every year we, as fans, get to show our love and support for them. — Cindy F.
It’s time for A. J. to take his show elsewhere. Once upon a time we had another star who also thought he was bigger than the game itself. When he short armed a pass in 1995 his response was “for who for what.” Ricky found out that afternoon what Philadelphia fans were all about. Never happened again and he had 3 super years with the Birds. There’s only 4 reasons we lost that game to the 49ers’ and none of them fall on coaching. The 3 catchable balls A. J. dropped and the extra point Elliott blew. He makes that kick and we’re 3 down. We kick a 20 yard field goal with 5 seconds to play. Games tied and who knows what could happen in OT. Now if AJ catches any one of the three drops and we’re in the Red Zone and no one’s better in the Red Zone than us. The kicker has to go and the dead cap $ will unfortunately keep AJ around for another season. He’ll be a free agent after next season so maybe he’ll be playing lights out for a free-agent contract and leaves his EGO at the door. — Ronald R.
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown can’t pull in a pass in the playoff loss to the 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
The Eagles have multiple problems. 1. Sirianni. He is going to be fired this time next year. To be honest, Nick is not smart. 2. AJ Brown. If he was correct criticizing the play calling, then keep him. 3. Patullo should never have been handed the OC position for a SB team. Nick, again, showing his lack of maturity in hiring an unqualified friend. 4. I read once a coach say, “Every season we change our entire offensive scheme.” Nick hasn’t changed anything in years. This is an abomination of dereliction of responsibility as the head coach. The question is either Nick is lazy, or he is incompetent. 5. Hurts. He is a below average QB if he will not run the ball. Hurts cannot read the field quickly. He simply doesn’t process the coverage. He refuses to throw to where the receiver will be. He waits until the receiver is already there and then passes. — Jack D.
Going to be a long off season, but don’t worry about anything, just put your trust in Howie. Not sure who is ready to deal for Brown, but I think it is time for the Eagles to part with him. An outstanding receiver who needs to play in a Vince Lombardi culture where he knows what the boundaries are. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers can handle him, but would they want him? — Everett S.
It is always easy to trade someone, the key question is who will replace him and will it be an upgrade. — Gary P.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Gina Mizell, Jonathan Tannenwald, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Lochlahn March, Ariel Simpson, Gabriela Carroll, Devin Jackson, David Murphy, and Greg Finberg.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Wednesday. Kerith will be back in your inbox with tomorrow’s newsletter. — Bella
The Flyers have been one of the NHL’s biggest surprises this season with a 22-13-8 record and are seeking a first postseason appearance since 2019-20. With the midway point of the season having just passed, Jackie Spiegel recently caught up with Flyers president Keith Jones to discuss the team’s strong start, timeline for contention, Matvei Michkov’s development, and more.
While Jones says the Flyers are still focused on building something “sustainable,” he did say the players deserve to be rewarded for their strong start and that the team needs to “enhance what they’ve done” as they push for the playoffs.
Jones called Denver Barkey one of the organization’s biggest bright spots in the prospect pool, and also mentioned Porter Martone, Oliver Bonk, Alex Bump, Jack Berglund, and Heikki Ruohonen as others who are making strides.
While Matvei Michkov’s decreased usage and lack of production have been hotly debated, Jones believes this season and the lessons he is learning will be invaluable to his ultimate ceiling in the future.
Note: This interview, which was conducted on Dec. 31, has been edited for brevity.
The Flyers have been one of the NHL’s biggest surprises this season with a 22-13-8 record and are seeking a first postseason appearance since 2019-20. With the midway point of the season having just passed, Jackie Spiegel recently caught up with Flyers president Keith Jones to discuss the team’s strong start, timeline for contention, Matvei Michkov’s development, and more.
Note: This interview, which was conducted on Dec. 31, has been edited for brevity.
Q: Close to the midway point. How would you assess things so far?
A:It’s been a really good, basically, first half of the season for us. Players have advanced, and have kind of fit in and found chemistry, which you figured would take a little bit of time with the number of new faces that we added. The coaching staff has done an excellent job of trying a few different combinations and then figuring out what worked and sticking with it. I think it’s been, from that perspective, a really good beginning to this season.
Q: What have you liked so far about Rick Tocchet as a head coach with the Flyers?
A: A lot. I like the way he communicates with his players. I like the way that he is straightforward, honest, doesn’t allow things to fester, addresses things immediately, and then works really hard to, from a game-to-game basis, improve on things that we may have struggled with in the previous game. His practices or his video [work] with his assistant coaches are very focused on correcting and encouraging, and I think that’s really important, especially with a young team.
Q: When someone is writing a TV script for a series, they sometimes write the ending in advance. Outside of winning the Stanley Cup, what does the end goal look like?
A: The only plan would be to create something that’s sustainable. And there are all kinds of variables, with any professional sport; injuries play a major part. So you can plan all you want and have things that just kind of change those plans, but overall, our goal is to become a playoff team that is a sustainable one. Not just a one-and-done.
So you build that through the foundation of your team, and I’m really pleased with what Danny [Brière] has done, along with Brent Flahr, in starting to really build up our prospect pool. We’re starting to see a couple of those guys arrive, and others getting closer to arriving. And it’s always good when you can have players develop together, build those relationships that can last them a decade or more, playing in the same organization, and that’s what we envision.
Keith Jones believes this season of learning will be good for Matvei Michkov in the long run.
Q: So you prefer to hold on to the assets right now?
A: Yes. In general, we’re not going to mortgage the future in order to have one year and say, ‘Oh, we figured this out. We’re a playoff team.’ So that’s still something that I know Danny’s very focused on and [governor Dan Hilferty] and I will encourage him to stay on that path.
Q: Is there anyone in the prospect pool who stands out to you?
A: I would have liked to tell you it was Denver Barkey, but he’s already arrived on the scene. We’re obviously very happy with the way that he’s progressed. And Oliver Bonk has started to get into form now with the American League team in Lehigh, and it’s been fun to see that team have some success as well.
Alex Bump continues to push and develop … And then we have Jack Berglund, watching him perform extremely well, which we expected at the World Junior tournament. … [With] his size, he has the ability to play in front of the opposition’s net, so he’s very good on the power play in that regard. So, as you build a team, you’re looking for pieces that can take over roles that you feel are necessary in order for you to advance. And he’s one of those guys.
Porter Martone, obviously, is very similar in that regard. He’s an outstanding playmaker for a player of his size, great set of hands. Another leadership type personality. … Heikki Ruohonen is doing an outstanding job for Finland, learning his way at Harvard, which is awesome.
Keith Jones believes Jack Berglund can be a big part of the Flyers’ future.
Q: Matvei Michkov is always a hot topic. How would you evaluate his season thus far?
A: I think it’s going to be a very important year in his career. I think that there’s going to be a lot of development. I think he’s doing a great job of working on the things that he’s being asked to work on. I love his level of compete. I love his ability to stay in there, stay in the fight, and I’m really pleased with the way he’s started to pick things up lately.
His attitude’s been outstanding, and I think when he looks back on his career in 15 years, he’s going to be pretty happy about some of the things that he went through this year in order to get to where he needs to go.
Q: The free agency market is so different today, with so many players already locked up. And you’ve previously discussed the need to upgrade at center. Is it more via trades now?
A: Yeah, there’s a lot that goes into it. You can see what Danny did this offseason, really calculated, smart additions to the team. And then you get to know the players even better when they’re under your watch. So a lot that has to do with internal growth and then also having the ability, whether it’s cap space, whether it’s prospects, whether it’s draft choices, to jump and go after something that’s really enticing. So we’re always looking.
Q: Can you just take us quickly through the Trevor Zegras trade and how you think his season is going thus far?
A: He’s done a great job. And it’s really proof of Danny’s willingness to wait for the right time, and he was really patient on this one with Anaheim. It’s been well documented that it was a long process. Trevor kind of fit what we were looking for, and he has been all that and more with what he’s done for us. So I give Danny a lot of credit on that one as well as he waited for the right time to find the right deal that worked for both teams at that time, and we’ve been able to really see the benefits of that in our lineup.
The Flyers have been one of the NHL’s biggest surprises this season with a 22-13-8 record and are seeking a first postseason appearance since 2019-20. With the midway point of the season having just passed, Jackie Spiegel recently caught up with Flyers president Keith Jones to discuss the team’s strong start, timeline for contention, Matvei Michkov’s development, and more.
Note: This interview, which was conducted on Dec. 31, has been edited for brevity.
Q: Close to the midway point. How would you assess things so far?
A:It’s been a really good, basically, first half of the season for us. Players have advanced, and have kind of fit in and found chemistry, which you figured would take a little bit of time with the number of new faces that we added. The coaching staff has done an excellent job of kind of trying a few different combinations and then figuring out what worked and sticking with it. I think it’s been, from that perspective, a really good beginning to this season.
Q: What have you liked so far about Rick Tocchet as a head coach with the Flyers?
A: A lot. I like the way he communicates with his players. I like the way that he is straightforward, honest, doesn’t allow things to fester, addresses things immediately, and then works really hard to, from a game-to-game basis, improve on things that we may have struggled with in the previous game. His practices or his video [work] with his assistant coaches are very focused on correcting and encouraging, and I think that’s really important, especially with a young team.
Q: You talk about staying in the moment, but you are sitting in a playoff spot. Are you still looking at things through the glass, that this is still a rebuild?
A: I think we’ve been clear that the players will decide. So obviously, it’s a very important stretch over the next six to eight weeks of play. And the players have done a really good job of putting themselves in a position where we’re going to look to enhance what they’ve done. Previously, that was not the approach. It’s really important that we reward our players for playing so hard for one another and for us.
Keith Jones and Danny Brière say that the team’s rebuild and no upward trajectory has been a collaborative effort.
Q: Two years ago, management had a similar statement about the players deciding the approach. But then Sean Walker was traded, and things kind of fell apart. Do you use that as a warning now?
A: I think it’s just a different time for us now in our development. So I think it’s a combination of things. I think looking back on what we did there was the right thing to do, and that’s why we did it. Same as last year. But this year feels different. And we’re a couple more years into what we’re trying to eventually accomplish. So it’s just about being there for one another to remind each other where we’re at in this process, and having the support of [governor] Dan Hilferty and [Comcast CEO] Brian Roberts on top of that, really makes it a job that we want to get right.
Q: When someone is writing a TV script for a series, they sometimes write the ending in advance Beyond winning a Stanley Cup, what’s the end goal here look like?
A: The only plan would be to create something that’s sustainable. And there are all kinds of variables, with any professional sport; injuries play a major part. So you can plan all you want and have things that just kind of change those plans, but overall, our goal is to become a playoff team that is a sustainable one. Not just a one-and-done.
So you build that through the foundation of your team, and I’m really pleased with what Danny [Brière] has done, along with Brent Flahr, in starting to really build up our prospect pool. We’re starting to see a couple of those guys arrive, and others getting closer to arriving. And it’s always good when you can have players develop together, build those relationships that can last them a decade or more, playing in the same organization, and that’s what we envision.
Q: Do you look at things from the perspective that the first step is playoffs, and then being a sustainable playoff team, and then, after all that, building a Stanley Cup contender? Or does it all happen at once?
A: If you’re a consistent playoff team, you’re a contender in my eyes. There are always tweaks that can take place when you’re in that position. You’ll see teams that are there right now; they’ll trade some of their draft equity and younger players in order to really enhance their opportunity of winning. So eventually we’ll get to that place. We’re not there right now, but I look forward to when we are there.
Q: So you prefer to hold on to the assets right now.
A: Yes. In general. We’re not going to mortgage the future in order to have one year and say, ‘Oh, we figured this out. We’re a playoff team.’ So that’s still something that I know Danny’s very focused on and [Hilferty] and I will encourage him to stay on that path.
Could St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas be the type of player the Flyers cash in some of their future chips for?
Q: In working with Brière, how much is it his vision or is it a team vision with you, Hilferty, and him?
A: Well, he’s the general manager. When it comes to players and acquisitions, that’s Danny’s job. My job is to help him with that, enhance that, give him the resources that he needs to make that happen. But Danny’s a general manager, and he’s a really good one.
Q: Is there anyone in the prospect pool who stands out to you?
A: Yeah, I would have liked to tell you it was Denver Barkey, but he’s already arrived on the scene. We’re obviously very happy with the way that he’s progressed. And Oliver Bonk has started to get into form now with the American League team in Lehigh, and it’s been fun to see that team have some success as well.
Alex Bump continues to push and develop … And then we have Jack Berglund, [we’ve been] watching him perform extremely well, which we expected at the World Junior tournament. He’s the captain of Team Sweden, and he’s producing at a high rate. That’s really exciting for us. With his size, he has the ability to play in front of the opposition’s net, so he’s very good on the power play in that regard. So, as you build a team, you’re looking for pieces that can take over roles that you feel are necessary in order for you to advance. And he’s one of those guys.
Porter Martone, obviously, is very similar in that regard. He’s an outstanding playmaker for a player of his size, great set of hands. Another leadership type personality. He is the captain of the Canadian team. It’s a great honor for him, and we’re thrilled about that.
Just like Denver Barkey, he was the captain of the London Knights that won the Memorial Cup. Oliver Bonk was an assistant captain. These are the type of players that we want in our organization. That’s a handful of them. Heikki Ruohonen is doing an outstanding job for Finland, learning his way at Harvard, which is awesome.
Q: Max Westergård has also looked impressive at World Juniors. What have you seen from him?
A: Yeah, he can fly. Brent Flahr shines in the fifth round. He’s had some great fifth-round picks.
Q: Speaking of the fifth round, let’s talk Alex Bump. Why wasn’t he the one to get the call-up recently?
A: He just needs more seasoning, that’s all. There are just little parts of the game that he’s going to figure out, and it’s much easier to figure out down there before you come up here. He’s doing everything we’re asking him to do. He continues to improve. He’s done some amazing things offensively, which we know he can do, and he’s not far off. But he’s an exciting prospect for us.
He’s showing great patience as well. He demonstrated that last year at the end of his college season, not burning a year on his entry-level contract and electing to go down and play in the American Hockey League. He’s sharp. He gets it. And he’s going to be rewarded for his patience, and we will be for ours as well.
Rookie Alex Bump, who is second on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with 20 points in 28 games, could be close to earning an NHL debut.
Q: How do you balance development then? Using Alex Bump as an example. He’s building his game, and maybe he is finally ready to make the next step, but there’s no room. How do you balance that?
A: You want the player to force you to make room, so that’s affecting his game in the minors to the point where you can’t keep them down there anymore. So they’ll let you know, just like our team up here lets us know where they’re at. Just by observing and watching, and paying attention, the players will tell you when it’s time to come up.
Q: Matvei Michkov is always a hot topic. How would you evaluate his season thus far?
A: I think it’s going to be a very important year in his career. I think that there’s going to be a lot of development. I think he’s doing a great job of working on the things that he’s being asked to work on. I love his level of compete. I love his ability to stay in there, stay in the fight, and I’m really pleased with the way he started to pick things up lately.
His attitude’s been outstanding, and I think when he looks back on his career in 15 years, he’s going to be pretty happy about some of the things that he went through this year in order to get to where he needs to go.
Q: How would you gauge your defense now with Rasmus Ristolainen back?
A: Solid’s a good word. Underrated is probably another good word too. There’s a really good mix of intelligence and athleticism, size. I like the balance that’s there.
And I like having the option of Noah Juulsen there as well; I like that he brings physicality, has a tremendous attitude, and doesn’t change whether he’s in the lineup or not. He’s a really good team guy, and those are important parts of the puzzle, too, because there are not enough chairs when the music stops on a nightly basis. So you need players who are not so much accepting of that, but are willing to do whatever it takes to get back in the lineup.
Q: Are there any areas you want to improve on with the roster?
A: As it jumps out to me right now, there’s nothing immediately. We’re always looking to get better. If something’s there, we’re going to do it to get better.
Q: The free agency market is so different today, with so many players already locked up. And you’ve previously discussed the need to upgrade at center. Is it more via trades now?
A: Yeah, there’s a lot that goes into it. You can see what Danny did this offseason, really calculated, smart additions to the team. And then you get to know the players even better when they’re under your watch. So a lot that has to do with internal growth and then also having the ability, whether it’s cap space, whether it’s prospects, whether it’s draft choices, to jump and go after something that’s really enticing. So we’re always looking.
Q: How do you handle the salary cap rising? Does it change things?
A: We love it. We think it’s great. I wish it would go up another 50 million. But we’re lucky, because we have great ownership, that’s the one huge advantage that we have. So we welcome it.
Flyers forward Trevor Zegras has been a revelation in his first season with the team.
Q: You were the team’s president when Travis Sanheim almost got traded to the St Louis Blues. He was just named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the Olympics. What’s it been like watching his development and growth, and looking back, are you happy you didn’t make that trade?
A: It’s been awesome. The only reason you would ever make a trade like that is because you’re getting a boatload back, and depending on where you’re at in your evolution, those trades sometimes do happen. But are we surprised that Travis is doing the things that he’s doing? No. So we’re really pleased for him. He’s obviously a huge minute-muncher for us on the back end. It’s a joy to watch him skate and come barreling up the ice. He’s just a super good kid, and we’re all really proud of him.
Q: Brière seems to be finding diamonds in the rough. For example, there was Walker, Ryan Poehling, and now Carl Grundström. Can you explain what Danny Brière is doing?
A: He’s very patient and methodical, thoughtful, and there are 1,000 phone calls a day that he’s making. So it’s from a relentless work ethic and a really high level of intelligence in the hockey world. Yeah, not surprised that he’s doing as well as he is.
Q: Can you just take us quickly through the Trevor Zegras trade and how you think his season is going thus far?
A: He’s done a great job. And it’s really proof of Danny’s willingness to wait for the right time, and he was really patient on this one with Anaheim. It’s been well documented that it was a long process. Trevor kind of fit what we were looking for, and he has been all that and more with what he’s done for us. So I give Danny a lot of credit on that one as well as he waited for the right time to find the right deal that worked for both teams at that time, and we’ve been able to really see the benefits of that in our lineup.
Q: Can you just expand on what you mean by he fit what we were looking for?
A: You’re always looking for high skill level, talented players, and at the time, he was a distressed asset. So that’s what you have to do. You have to be thoughtful and a little bit lucky, and provide an environment where the player can shine. Our players help in that regard, too. So it’s a full organizational effort, starting at the top.
Q: What would be your message to the fans right now?
A: First of all, thank you. I see our fans all the time, and I appreciate them supporting us. I think that we’re trying to get it right for them. We’ve [Danny and I] played in front of them, in playoff positions, and we want our guys to experience that as well because I know they’re just terrific hockey fans that can really bring you to another level when you play in front of a packed house, and that’s what we’re working towards.
I thank them for continuing to come out to games, follow the team, and I just would let them know that, which we do often when we see them, we’re going to do everything we can to try to get this right.
Villanova picked up its fourth consecutive Big East road win Tuesday with an 88-82 victory at Providence.
Villanova (14-3, 5-1 Big East) was able to outscore Providence (8-9, 1-5), which entered the game averaging 89.1 points. Devin Askew led the Wildcats with 20 points and seven assists off the bench.
“I thought we did a good job in the first half of slowing them down,” coach Kevin Willard said. “We gave up a lot of twos, but once a game gets up and down, sometimes you’ve got to find ways to score. And I think against them, you’ve got to get up and down a little bit.”
The Friars were the highest-ranked KenPom offense (36th) Villanova has faced since its 89-61 loss to Michigan on Dec. 9. Providence’s leading scorer Jason Edwards, who is scoring 17.2 points per game, missed Tuesday’s matchup because of a foot injury.
Three Friars — Jaylin Sellers (24), Jamier Jones (23), and Stefan Vaaks (21 points) — combined for 68 of their 82 points.
“You’ve got to match [Providence’s] pace,” Willard said. “[Even] on the road, where I don’t like to do that. They just get out and go so well. And they have so many guys that can hurt you that you’ve got to take advantage and go right back down.”
The Wildcats collected 14 offensive rebounds, with Duke Brennan being responsible for five of them. Brennan totaled 14 points and eight rebounds.
Villanova shot 32-for-64 from the field, 10-for-28 beyond the arc.
Villanova guard Tyler Perkins, shown on Nov. 15, scored 15 points on Tuesday night.
Perkins is rejuvenated
Tyler Perkins scored 15 points for the Wildcats, shooting 6-for-12 from the field, along with eight rebounds.
He came up big in key moments, especially in the second half. Perkins scored on a post-up in the paint while Providence was trying to cut into Villanova’s double-digit lead.
“That was huge because that kind of got us back up [by eight points],” Willard said when asked about Perkins. “I thought [that] was huge at that point.”
Perkins is averaging 14.4 points and 5.4 rebounds on 48% shooting over the last five conference games.
Villanova’s bench helps drive offense
Outside of Askew, Villanova’s bench has been quiet offensively since conference play began. Askew scored eight points during a 10-0 scoring run early in the first half.
He has come off the bench in all of Villanova’s games this season besides the season opener against Brigham Young.
During conference play, Askew has developed into a veteran Willard can lean on in difficult moments. Askew is averaging 10.8 points over his last five games.
Malachi Palmer collected 10 points in the first half to tie his career high, which he set at Maryland last year.
“My mindset is just come in and play as hard as possible and whatever happens, happens,” Palmer said.
Being unselfish
Willard has consistently talked about the unselfishness of his team this season. Acaden Lewis has been the prime example of what Willard has harped on.
The four-time Big East Freshman of the Week dished out a team-high eight assists while scoring only seven points, marking his fourth consecutive and ninth overall game with six or more assists.
Villanova guard Acaden Lewis, shown last week against Creighton, had a team-high eight assists on Tuesday night.
As a whole, Villanova had 21 assists, its second-best total this season. The Wildcats had 28 against Sacred Heart on Nov. 11.
Six of eight Villanova players who played collected at least one assist.
Up next
Villanova will host St. John’s (12-5, 5-1) in its first game at the Xfinity Mobile Arena this season on Saturday (8 p.m., Peacock). St. John’s entered the season ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, but has since dropped out.
Villanova split the regular-season series with St. John’s last year.
When 11-year-old Sam Salvo woke up on Christmas morning, he was surprised with tickets to the Eagles’ wild-card game. When he woke up on Monday morning, after the Eagles’ loss, he was all over the internet, thanks to his viral postgame rant.
“[When I got the tickets], I didn’t know who they were playing, but I was already excited,” Salvo said. “I thought they were going to win. I was like ready to do a backflip. I was so excited.”
Salvo remembers the excitement leading up to kickoff. Lincoln Financial Field, covered in Eagles green as fans piled in to watch the Birds take on the San Francisco 49ers, was ready to erupt. The Eagles took a six-point lead into the fourth quarter, but their Super Bowl defense ended early with a 23-19 defeat.
“It went from everyone being excited to be there, everyone getting ready for a dub,” Salvo said. “Then everyone got pretty sad really quickly. Everyone around me was sad.”
However, one fan in the crowd said something that resonated with Salvo: Win or lose, we’re the [expletive] Birds.
So Salvo left the stadium with his head held high, despite the crushing loss, and that’s when an opportunity presented itself. As he and his father walked toward the parking lot, they noticed 6abc reporter Briana Smith conducting interviews.
“When we were walking past the broadcaster, my dad was like, ‘No, I’m not trying to waste any time here,’” Salvo said. “And then I said, ‘I want to do it.’ So, I did it.”
The Blue Bell native stepped up to the microphone and let out what has become one of the most viral lines to come out of the Eagles’ playoff loss: I also want Kevin Patullo flipping burgers at the local McDonald’s.
“Whenever he’s an offensive coordinator,” Salvo told the camera, “it’s like he’s flipping burgers. … One half he’s cooking, and the other half is completely raw.”
The original post has more than a million likes. For Salvo, the attention was unexpected.
“Absolutely not [was I expecting it to go viral]. I had no idea,” the sixth grader said. “I was just hyped that I was on the news. Small win. But I never thought that I would expand this far.”
The video has gained more than 20 million views on Instagram alone — in fact, that’s just the original post, and does not count the tens of millions of views its received on other platforms and in other posts. Naturally, Salvo has become quite the popular kid.
“[After the game] I was thinking about how much the offense changed when Kevin Patullo came in,” Salvo said shortly after the news broke Tuesday. “So I just wanted to say anything about him that could get him fired. And it worked.
“I’m feeling good about it. Now we can hire a new offensive coordinator. If we could get Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, I think that would be great.”
Kevin Patullo lasted just one season as the Eagles offensive coordinator.
Salvo says he’s been bleeding green ever since his uncle gave him his first jersey … when he was born. Now, he also enjoys watching and analyzing games, listening to New Heights with Travis and Jason Kelce, and tuning into The Pat McAfee Show.
“He’s always been around grown-ups,” said his mother Zuzana. “So football Sundays have always been a huge thing. The talk and all that stuff has always been a big part of his life. You cannot stop that fire.”
Salvo’s passion for football is something he hopes to turn into a career down the line, if he doesn’t become a pro tennis player.
“I will absolutely try and be a football announcer,” Salvo said. “I don’t care if it’s college football, just any football.”
And as far as next steps for the Eagles this offseason, Salvo has a few more opinions on Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, whom he also said also needs to go during his viral interview.
“I’m not going to be mad if he stays, but I need him to show a little bit more effort,” Salvo said. “Because it’s been kind of annoying when we’ve been throwing him deep balls and he’s been showing no effort to even try and catch it.”
Brown, who had a heated exchange with Nick Sirianni during Sunday’s loss, has dodged the media twice since the end of the season.
Jesús Luzardo hasn’t spoken with the Phillies yet about a contract extension.
But it’s a conversation he would like to have.
“It’s not something that I’m closed off to,” said Luzardo, appearing as a guest this week on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast. “I just got married and hopefully eventually have a family, and just being stable in a certain place, knowing that you’re comfortable within an organization … it’s something I would be really interested in.”
Stability has eluded Luzardo since he got drafted in 2016. The 28-year-old lefty has been traded three times — from the Nationals to the Athletics in 2017, the Athletics to the Marlins in 2021, and the Marlins to the Phillies before last season.
But Luzardo’s first year with the Phillies was the best of his career. He made 32 starts and worked 183⅔ innings, both career highs. He posted a 3.92 ERA that was inflated by nearly one run by back-to-back starts in which he believed he was tipping pitches. And he incorporated a sweeping slider that became his go-to breaking pitch.
“It’s an organization that I had a really good time in,” Luzardo said. “I love the city, I loved where I lived, and the organization as a whole, how they treat us as players, how they treated my family. But at the end of the day, it’s not entirely up to me or in my hands.
Jesús Luzardo, who pitched for Venezuela in 2023, said he’s skipping this year’s World Baseball Classic.
“I’m a firm believer that what is supposed to happen will happen. I haven’t had any of those conversations yet. If they were to come, I would be open to hearing them.”
Regardless, Luzardo said he won’t be in the World Baseball Classic despite receiving calls from Team USA and Venezuela. He pitched for Venezuela in 2023.
“Going into a free-agency year, I made the decision that, unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to pitch in the Classic,” Luzardo said. “I want to take my time, take a slow spring training, fully get ready with the team, make sure my body bounced back after a career high in innings.”
Meanwhile, lefty Cristopher Sánchez is interested in representing the Dominican Republic in the WBC, a major league source said this week. Sánchez was the Cy Young runner-up in the National League last year. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper committed to playing for Team USA in the tournament, which runs from March 5-17; catcher Garrett Stubbs intends to play for Israel.
Luzardo will make $11 million this year and could be in line to at least double that salary with another good season. Two potential barometers: Framber Valdez and former Phillies teammate Ranger Suárez, free-agent lefties who could sign nine-figure contracts before spring training.
The Phillies will have $38 million rolling off the books after this season when Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker’s contracts expire. But they have $165.9 million committed to seven players for 2027: Zack Wheeler, Schwarber, Trea Turner, Harper, Aaron Nola, Brad Keller, and Sánchez. And they had a Zoom call Monday with free-agent infielder Bo Bichette about a long-term contract that would add another big salary.
Extra bases
The Phillies acquired righty reliever Chase Shugart from the Pirates for minor-league infielder Francisco Loreto. Shugart, 29, got designated for assignment after posting a 3.40 ERA in 35 appearances last season for Pittsburgh. He has minor-league options and figures to provide more depth to the bullpen.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — After amassing a 64-14 record across four seasons at St. Joseph’s, Hannah Prince on Tuesday was named the head field hockey coach at Penn State.
Prince, 33, had served as the Hawks’ head coach since 2022. St. Joe’s made the NCAA Tournament in each of her four seasons — success that included two Atlantic 10 regular-season titles and four A-10 tournament titles. In 2024, the Hawks won a program-record 20 games and reached the NCAA championship game, a first in any team sport in school history.
“I am deeply grateful to Saint Joseph’s University and to Vice President and Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner for trusting me with the opportunity to lead the field hockey program on Hawk Hill over the past four seasons,” Prince said Tuesday in a statement. “The student-athletes are truly the heart of this program. This team means more to me than I can put into words, and it has been an honor to coach such a resilient, kind, and committed group. I will miss them tremendously and will always be proud to be a Hawk. I wish the program nothing but continued success in its next chapter.”
Following the historic 2024 campaign, Prince and her staff were named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year. She then led the team to its fifth straight A-10 tournament title and another NCAA Tournament, where St. Joe’s beat Drexel before falling to North Carolina.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Penn State field hockey program,” Prince said. “ … I am honored to join an athletic department with such a strong tradition of success and pride. I am excited to work with our field hockey student-athletes, bringing my passion for the game every day as we uphold the values of Penn State.”
Prince’s coaching career, which began at New Hampshire in 2015, includes stops as an assistant at St. Joe’s and Princeton and later as an associate head coach at Louisville.
Before coaching, Prince was a four-year starter at Massachusetts, where she won three A-10 titles. She was named NFHCA first-team all-region and first-team all-conference and also has represented the United States in international competition, winning a gold medal at the 2017 Pan American Cup.
Prince’s Hawks teams were mainstays in the NCAA Tournament and in the NFHCA rankings. Now, she’ll look to bring the Nittany Lions back to contention. They last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and finished with a 7-10 record in 2025.
“Nittany Lion Field Hockey has a proud and storied tradition, and I am ready to pour my passion and energy into building a program that competes for championships,” Prince said.
It’s been a frustrating year-plus for Carter Amico.
In November 2024, the Flyers prospect suffered a broken kneecap while playing for the United States national team development program. The injury, subsequent surgery, and recovery cost him all but 17 games in his draft year, and contributed to him slipping out of the first round in June’s draft.
The Flyers ultimately selected the towering 6-foot-5, 225-pound defenseman with the 38th pick and hoped to watch him develop under the tutelage of coach Jay Pandolfo at Boston University. That was not to be, as Amico has left the program halfway through his freshman year to join the Muskegon of the United States Hockey League for the remainder of the season.
Woah!! The Lumberjacks have a big new defenseman in town, and we mean big!
The Maine native had played in 18 of the Terriers’ 21 games this season but was not getting big minutes and did not register a point. Amico was a minus-seven on the season and did not play in any of BU’s three games last weekend.
He will join the reigning USHL champion Lumberjacks, who are currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Last week, Muskegon’s best player and projected top-5 2026 NHL draft pick, Tynan Lawrence, left the Lumberjacks to enroll early at Boston University. In essence, this became a one-for-one swap.
A source told The Inquirer that the move will allow Amico an opportunity to play more minutes as he continues to work back from his injury and added that the defenseman could enroll at another NCAA school next season.
The Flyers remain high on Amico, who is an agile skater for someone his size, brings physicality, and has shutdown potential. The 18-year-old, who missed the team’s offseason on-ice sessions while rehabbing his knee, will hope a fresh start in the USHL will get him back on track.
“He was high on our list,” amateur scout Shane Fukushima said at the draft last year. “He’s a massive body that missed the majority of the year; I think if that had not happened, he would have been selected higher in the draft. We feel that the upside is high and he’s just scratching the surface.”
After one season as Eagles offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo’s play-calling career is officially over in Philadelphia.
Patullo was the favored target for disgruntled Eagles fans throughout the season, but especially after the team’s wild-card round loss to San Francisco. His home was vandalized in November, a local golf simulator facility let fans hit golf balls at a photo of his face, and of course, he’s been getting flack from fans on social media all season long.
So it was no surprise that the announcement that the Eagles would find a new offensive coordinator for next season was met with cheers from most of the fans.
The Schefter tweet announcing Patullo gone has done wonders for my mental health.
While most fans are celebrating the decision, it appears that Patullo might not be gone entirely.
Further clarification here from a source:
Kevin Patullo will no longer be the #Eagles OC, but that doesn’t mean he has been fired. He could remain on staff as I mentioned was a possibility on my podcast yesterday.
As far as former players, Ike Reese said on 94 WIP that he thought Patullo was being made a scapegoat for the team’s failures this season.
“Let’s be honest — Kevin Patullo is a first-year offensive coordinator,” Reese said. “He was supposed to take the 29th-ranked passing offense and turn it into what, exactly?”
Emmanuel Acho, on the other hand, praised the move, and said Patullo’s failure should be the end of coach Nick Sirianni’s attempts to hire from within.
Now don’t allow Nick Sirianni to promote from within.
Go out and find the best for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, not the most convenient. https://t.co/TfGnintdq3
Even LeSean McCoy, who said earlier this week that he believed some of the problems on offense were due to Jalen Hurts, was thankful to see the team move on.
Jalen Hurts will begin his sixth season as the Eagles’ starting quarterback in September. He is about to have his seventh play-caller. Kevin Patullo, the 44-year-old, first-time offensive coordinator, was removed from his position on Tuesday in the aftermath of the Eagles’ wild-card exit. Now, Nick Sirianni and the Eagles will be tasked with hiring the team’s next offensive play-caller. The team’s last two internal promotions — Patullo and Brian Johnson — were finished after one season. If the team decides to fill the vacancy with an outside voice, here are eight candidates they could consider:
Brian Daboll is out of work after a mostly bad tenure with the Giants but is respected in league circles for his offensive mind.
Brian Daboll
Could the Eagles tap a division rival’s former head coach as their next offensive coordinator? Daboll, 50, was fired in November in the middle of his fourth season with the New York Giants. He has a history with Hurts, serving as Alabama’s offensive coordinator when Hurts was there in 2017, which culminated in a national championship.
Daboll has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator at the NFL level, serving in that role with the Cleveland Browns (2009-10), Miami Dolphins (2011), Kansas City Chiefs (2012), and Buffalo Bills (2018-21). With the Bills, he helped develop a young Josh Allen. But could he be bound for another head coaching gig? He is reportedly interviewing with the Tennessee Titans.
Kliff Kingsbury received high marks for his work with Jayden Daniels in 2024.
Kliff Kingsbury
How about another division rival’s former offensive coordinator? The Washington Commanders fired Kingsbury, 46, following their 5-12 season after two seasons in that role. He has worked with various notable quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, Kyler Murray with the Arizona Cardinals, and Jayden Daniels with the Commanders.
At the NFL level, Kingsbury called plays as the Cardinals head coach from 2019-22 and with the Commanders. While he came up in the “Air Raid” scheme, his offense in Washington attempted to strike a balance between the run and pass. He is drawing head coaching interest, though, as he interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens on Monday.
Browns now have requested a head coach interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. pic.twitter.com/nxO3tZxMtl
Scheelhaase, 35, is currently serving as the Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator. It’s just his second season coaching in the NFL, including his 2024 stint as a Rams offensive assistant and passing game specialist, but he has made a quick impact. Scheelhaase has helped coach Sean McVay orchestrate a passing game that led the league in yards in 2025 and ranked 10th in 2024 with Matthew Stafford as its quarterback.
He doesn’t have NFL play-calling experience. However, he called plays at Iowa State in 2023 as offensive coordinator under new Penn State coach Matt Campbell (Sirianni’s roommate at Mount Union). The Eagles might have to get in line — according to multiple reports, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns have requested interviews with Scheelhaase regarding their head coaching vacancies.
From yesterday:#49ers OC Klay Kubiak emerging as future head coach candidate#FTTB
Could the Eagles tap the offensive coordinator for the team that knocked them out of the playoffs this year? Kubiak, 37, doesn’t call plays under San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, so the Eagles could attempt to interview him. Is he ready for that responsibility? Kubiak, the middle son of former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, has spent all five seasons of his NFL coaching career with the 49ers. Among his previous titles were offensive passing game specialist (2024) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2022-23).
Todd Monken had some success with Lamar Jackson before John Harbaugh’s staff was fired earlier this month.
Todd Monken
The 59-year-old Monken is the most experienced candidate on this list, as he concluded his 37th season coaching (11 at the pro level) this year. He spent the last three seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator under former coach John Harbaugh, working with dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson, who won his second NFL MVP award under Monken in 2023, and All-Pro running back Derrick Henry. Monken served in the same role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-18) and the Cleveland Browns (2019).
But would Monken be willing to part ways with Harbaugh, who is bound to get hired to another head coaching gig this offseason? According to The Athletic, one of the issues that led to Harbaugh’s firing in Baltimore was his unwillingness to oust Monken. Monken has interviewed with the Browns regarding their head coaching gig, too.
Mike McDaniel was Vic Fangio’s boss in Miami and would be his peer in Philadelphia, under this scenario.
Mike McDaniel
Could Vic Fangio reunite with his former head coach? McDaniel, 42, was fired by the Dolphins last week after four seasons as their head coach and offensive play-caller. He is part of the Shanahan coaching tree, having worked with both Mike in Denver and Washington and Kyle in Atlanta and San Francisco, including a stint as the 49ers’ offensive coordinator in 2021. Like Shanahan’s offense, McDaniel’s scheme is known for its emphasis on speed and misdirection. He has expertise in the running game, having spent four seasons as the 49ers’ running game coordinator (2017-20). McDaniel reportedly will interview for head coaching jobs (Browns, Falcons, Titans, and Ravens) and an offensive coordinator position (Detroit Lions), so he is in high demand.
Doug Nussmeier has experience with the Eagles, but the current Saints offensive coordinator would have to come to Philadelphia in a lateral move.
Doug Nussmeier
Could the Eagles turn to a familiar face to fill the vacancy? Nussmeier spent the 2024 Super Bowl-winning season as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach under Kellen Moore. While the running game was the focal point of the offense, Hurts was efficient as a passer that year, completing a career-best 68.7% of his passes and throwing just five interceptions, his lowest total as the starter.
When Moore departed for the New Orleans Saints’ head coaching job, he took Nussmeier with him and made him offensive coordinator (with Moore as the play-caller). The 2025 season was Nussmeier’s first with that title in the NFL, but he’s been an offensive coordinator at various college programs, including Fresno State, Washington, Alabama, Michigan, and Florida.
Frank Reich was a head coach in Indianapolis and Carolina, and also has a winning past in Philly.
Frank Reich
The familiar faces don’t end with Nussmeier. Reich, the former Eagles offensive coordinator (2016-17) under Doug Pederson, could be available after spending the 2025 season as Stanford’s interim head coach. With the hiring of new coach Tavita Pritchard, Stanford announced that Reich would stay on as a senior adviser. But could he be lured back to the NFL? He brings six years of NFL head coaching experience with Sirianni and the Indianapolis Colts (2018-22) and the Carolina Panthers (2023). Reich also worked with Sirianni while he was the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers (2014-15) and Sirianni served as quarterbacks coach.
When the Union took the field Monday for their first preseason practice, it had been exactly 50 days since their 2025 season ended.
If you think that isn’t much time, you aren’t alone. But it was enough for a lot to happen.
Tai Baribo, Jakob Glesnes, and Kai Wagner were sold, while Mikael Uhre, Chris Donovan, and others found new homes as free agents. Striker Ezekiel Alladoh and centerbacks Japhet Sery Larsen and Finn Sundstrom arrived, with Larsen’s signing announced Tuesday for a transfer fee of around $938,000. (There’s likely to be another new centerback too, in Geiner Martínez.)
Some returning players have new numbers, including new homes for soccer’s most famous numbers of all. Milan Iloski got the No. 10, becoming the first player to wear it since Dániel Gazdag and the 10th in team history; and Bruno Damiani got the No. 9, the 11th player to wear that shirt.
Offseason signing Ezekiel Alladoh at practice with the Union at Subaru Field in Chester on Tuesday.
Alladoh, meanwhile, is the Union’s first No. 23 since Kacper Przybylko in 2021, and the ninth in team history. Larsen got No. 5, which had been Glesnes’ — one of a few signs the 25-year-old Denmark native is ticketed to start.
Tuesday was the first day that practice in Chester was open to the media, and it brought another interesting sight: 16-year-old forward Malik Jakupovic, a much-touted striker prospect, training with the first team. He’s on a reserve team contract right now, but a promotion this year would be welcomed by many observers.
A few other reserve players were also out there, including striker Stas Korzeniowski and centerback Rafael Uzcategui. Korzeniowski, a central New Jersey native and former Penn player, earned praise last year for scoring 12 goals in his first pro season with Union II.
One thing that hasn’t changed is sporting director Ernst Tanner’s status. Major League Soccer’s investigation into his alleged misconduct remains open, and he still is on administrative leave. The latter isn’t expected to change until the former does, and no one involved has put forth a timetable for a resolution.
Malik Jakupovic dribbles a ball during a Union practice at Subaru Field in Chester.
The Union’s sporting decisions continue to be made by a committee of manager Bradley Carnell, director of academy and professional development Jon Scheer, assistant sporting director Matt Ratajczak, and scouting director Chris Zitterbart. Carnell and Scheer will meet the press on Friday, a day before the team heads to Spain for two weeks.
Then there’s something else that has happened since November, not directly about the Union, but certainly connected to them: the World Cup draw.
Danley Jean Jacques knew then that he would have a chance to play on soccer’s biggest stage, but he didn’t know exactly where or against whom.
Now we all know: Haiti will play Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco, and the game against Brazil will be in Jean Jacques’ adopted hometown.
Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques on the ball against Toronto FC at Subaru Park on Aug. 9.
“I’m very happy to be playing here in Philly because I know the atmosphere,” he told The Inquirer. “I think all the fans in Philly will come to support me, and it will be a pleasure to play here.”
Jean Jacques was only 4 years old then. But he knows the history, and how much his home country wanted to draw Brazil in Les Grenadiers’ first men’s World Cup appearance since 1974.
“I know that the Haitian people like Brazil, but they’re going to root for us,” he said. “It will be fun to play against Brazil because the Haitian people like Brazil — but I think they like us more than Brazil.”
Fans in Haiti celebrating their team’s qualification for the World Cup in November.
And how about dueling with players like Vinícius Júnior, the star of Brazil and Real Madrid?
“Yes, that would feel good,” Jean Jacques said. “To play against players like that is a pleasure. I’ll be preparing well to play against them and give it my all.”
Vinícius Júnior played for Real Madrid at Lincoln Financial Field in the Club World Cup last summer.
A place in soccer history
It’s pretty rare for players to be able to play a World Cup game for their country in their club team’s home city. It’s even rarer for players from Concacaf, the region that spans North and Central America.
The last time anyone from around here came close was in 2006 in Germany. Kasey Keller played for the United States in Gelsenkirchen, about an hour’s drive from his club home in Mönchengladbach.
It didn’t happen in 1994, when the U.S. last hosted, because the U.S. didn’t have a major professional league. That year’s national team did most of its tournament prep in a long residency camp.
To land all the way on the nose, you have to go back to 1986 in Mexico. The hosts had many players on clubs in Mexico City and Monterrey, where El Tri held its games that summer.
Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca will host a men’s World Cup for the third time this summer.
The closest modern equivalent arguably comes from women’s soccer: U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps played a 2024 Olympics semifinal in Lyon as a player from OL Lyonnes.
“It’s a very comforting feeling,” Heaps said. “As a player, you get an extra boost of confidence.”
Jean Jacques could end up being one of many players who get the honor in this tournament, and not the first chronologically. Mexico and Canada play their first two group games before Brazil-Haiti kicks off, El Tri in Mexico City and Guadalajara and the Canucks in Toronto and Vancouver.
The United States’ Cristian Roldan could also beat Jean Jacques by a few hours if he makes the team and plays in Seattle against Australia, on the same day as Brazil-Haiti.
Cristian Roldan could play for the United States against Australia in Seattle, his longtime club home with the Sounders.
It’s still a rare honor over soccer’s full history, so there should be no playing it down. But Jean Jacques has plenty to do before the summer, as the Union start their season in just over a month with a return to the Concacaf Champions Cup.
For now, that is at the front of Jean Jacques’ mind. After spending some time off in Miami and with friends in France, he says he’s ready to get back to work.
“We focus on the new season that’s going to start soon,” he said. “We have the Champions Cup in the near future, and we’re going to prepare well for that to start the year well.”
