By Michael Grant on

So, you’ve decided to watch the National Football League. Congratulations! You have chosen to follow a sport that’s growing more predictable.

Forget about parity. It has evaporated like Katy Perry’s relevance. We haven’t had a surprise Super Bowl champion since 2017. Those Philadelphia Eagles, coming off a 7-9 record the previous year, entered that season at +4000 odds. They shockingly went 13-3 and defeated the defending champion New England Patriots to win it all with a backup quarterback.

Since the 2014 season, there have been three multi-champions: the Kansas City Chiefs (3), the Patriots (3), and the Eagles (2). As much as people love to complain about the Chiefs, and used to complain about the Tom Brady Patriots, the Eagles are one title away from becoming the new most despised team in the land.

Predictability hasn’t hurt the ratings. Our addiction to football is undefeated.

So why tune in for 2025? We’ll see if RFK Jr. BFF Aaron Rodgers can lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a playoff victory. We’ll see if the Green Bay Packers can take advantage of one of the worst preseason trades in NFL history. We’ll see if a rookie left tackle can be the difference in the Chiefs winning their fourth Super Bowl in seven years. Will see if the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens finally get past Kansas City in the playoffs. We’ll see if any details about the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift marriage plans get leaked.

Will the nuptials be broadcast on traditional network TV, or will we have to re-subscribe to Peacock after the football season ends?

What’s new in 2025?

New rules: In an attempt to discourage touchbacks, kickoffs downed in the end zone will result in the football being placed at the 35-yard line. … Onside kicks can now be attempted at any point in the game, as long as the kicking team is trailing. Teams will still have to declare their intention to onside kick. … In regular-season overtime, both teams will have at least one possession, making it consistent with the playoffs. However, the most impactful new rule might be the use of Sony’s Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system to spot the football.

The Travis Hunter experience: When was the last time the Jacksonville Jaguars were must-see TV? The Heisman Trophy winner and second overall pick is already the second-most famous player on his team behind Trevor Lawrence. Hunter will attempt to repeat what he did at the University of Colorado— play both sides of the ball. Conventional wisdom suggests that being a full-time wide receiver and cornerback is unlikely to last. But it should be fun to watch Hunter try.

Only one rookie quarterback will start: Cam Ward, the top overall draft pick, wasn’t even the consensus best overall player. The past two No. 1 overall quarterbacks have struggled (Bryce Young in 2023 and Caleb Williams in 2024). Expect more of the same for Ward. Perhaps playing the luckwarm AFC South might help his development.

Seven coaches will make their debuts: Shockingly, only two are from the recycle bin (gum-chewing Pete Carroll with the Las Vegas Raiders and rat-seeking Mike Vrabel with the New England Patriots). Among the five rookies, the coach facing the most pressure is Ben Johnson. The former Detroit offensive coordinator got a ton of credit for what he did with the Lions. He’s now in charge of their NFC competitor, the Chicago Bears. Johnson’s priority: fix Caleb Williams immediately.

These guys have retired: Ndamukong Suh, Derek Carr, Julio Jones, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, Patrick Peterson, Terron Armstead, Frank Ragnow, Ryan Ramczyk, Jason Peters, Mike Williams, Brandon Graham, and Mason Crosby.

Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen in the Super Bowl? The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills are the biggest threats to the Kansas City Chiefs’ run to a fourth straight Super Bowl appearance. Will this be the year one of them finally wins the AFC? Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have MVP trophies, but history will not look kindly upon them if they can’t at least win the conference. Allen’s playoff numbers are absurd (25 TD passes, 4 INTs in 13 games). It’s not his fault the Bills are only 7-6 in the postseason. In contrast, Jackson (10 TDs, 7 INTs in 8 games) has not played as well in the playoffs.

The verdict: Jackson has the better overall roster, and the defense is expected to be improved. That should be enough to elevate the Ravens past Kansas City.

Guys with something to prove

George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys – George Pickens has always had outstanding ability. Few receivers are better at tracking down the deep ball. However, there are questions about his consistency and maturity. With the Cowboys, playing alongside CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott seems ideal. Dallas will tolerate the nonsense as long as Pickens produces.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers – By QBR, Aaron Rodgers was one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league in 2024. Why should this year be different for a quarterback who turns 42 in December? The Steelers hope that two years after his Achilles tendon tear, he’ll be healthier and that Mike Tomlin’s staff can coach him back to form.

Kingsley Suamataia, LG, Kansas City Chiefs – In 2024, Andy Reid hoped that Kingsley Suamataia would be the Chiefs’ left tackle of the future. In 2025, Andy Reid hopes that Kingsley Suamataia will be the Chiefs’ left guard of the future. Last year, he was benched. This year, Suamataia doesn’t have to be great, but he must be at least average.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, New York Giants – Kayvon Thibodeaux is hard to figure out. Is the former No. 5 overall pick the rising star (11.5 sacks in 17 games) he looked like in his second year? Or is he merely a decent player (5.5 sacks in 12 games in 2024)? If he plays up to his potential, the Giants could have one of the league’s best defensive lines.

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young showed improvement in his second year, but his numbers still weren’t what you expect for a former No. 1 overall pick. He went from terrible to mediocre (15 TD passes, 9 INTs in 14 games). If he’s merely average again, Carolina will be looking for a new starting quarterback in 2026.

Jake Moody, K, San Francisco 49ers – So many things went wrong for the 49ers last year that some might have overlooked the struggles of Jake Moody. He was 24 of 34 on field-goal tries, converting on just 11 of 20 attempts after returning from a high-ankle sprain. In a league with so many one-possession games, Moody’s job is on the line.

10 things that may happen…

  • Micah Parsons will have three sacks and force two fumbles in Green Bay’s victory at Dallas on Sept. 28. He will celebrate by recreating his viral sleep moment from the preseason.
  • The 49ers’ terrible injury luck will continue when George Kittle gets hit in the eye by a champagne bottle cork while attending his birthday party.
  • Saquon Barkley will rush for 2,000 yards again, but the Super Bowl champion Eagles will be upset early in the playoffs.
  • After Harrison Butker makes a game-winning kick for the Chiefs, the president will sign an executive order mandating that all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients must make a 47-yard field goal to qualify for food stamps.
  • Shane Steichen will be the first coach fired after the Indianapolis Colts start the season 1-9. New owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon will offer Peyton Manning a prominent role with the team

  • Caleb Williams will become the first Chicago Bears quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards, but will complete a pass for minus-5 yards to finish at 3,997 in the final game of the regular season.
  • Ja’Marr Chase will turn down a lucrative endorsement deal with Skyline Chili because he’s a man of principle and knows chili on spaghetti is trash.
  • The Washington Commanders’ old roster will be injury-prone. 
  • Sean McVay will quit the Rams after this season for a TV gig. He will return to the NFL in 2027 to take over the New York Giants, who once employed his grandfather as a head coach.
  • Another television station will misspell Michael Penix Jr.’s surname.

Awards

MVP: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)

Offensive Player of the Year: Malik Nabers (New York Giants)

Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons (Green Bay Packers)

Comeback Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Abdul Carter (New York Giants)

Coach of the Year: Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)

A Super Bowl Aaron Rodgers and Dallas Cowboys fans will hate: The Green Bay Packers over the Baltimore Ravens.

About Michael Grant

Born in Jamaica. Grew up in New York City. Lives in Louisville, Ky. Sports writer. Not related to Ulysses S. Grant.

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