By Draven Dabrowksi
Sports Writer
The 2025–26 NFL season is finally here. It is that time of year when fans everywhere convince themselves this is their season, while others are rooting for their teams to chase dynasty status and add another trophy to an already stacked case.
With a new season comes fresh storylines and plenty of surprises. Aaron Rodgers, in what is expected to be his final season, now calls Pittsburgh home and will open week one against none other than his former team, the New York Jets. Just a week before kickoff, Jerry Jones stunned the football world by trading away the heart of the Cowboys’ defense, Micah Parsons, to the Green Bay Packers—a move that left fans in Dallas reeling.
It is not just veterans making headlines. Young stars are poised to take center stage as the next generation of talent emerges. Jayden Daniels, the second-year quarterback for the Washington Commanders, is coming off an award-winning rookie campaign—throwing for over 3,500 yards, rushing for nearly 900 more, and delivering clutch fourth-quarter heroics. Out west, the Las Vegas Raiders are putting their faith in rookie running back Ashton Jeanty to spark the offense with his dynamic ability as both a runner and receiver.
No new season begins without talk of who is considered a contender. In 2025, that conversation starts with the Philadelphia Eagles. Fresh off their Super Bowl win, the Eagles carry the weight of high expectations and the target that comes with being champions. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has already proven he can deliver in the biggest moments, and the roster remains one of the deepest in football.
Their opener against the Dallas Cowboys renewed one of football’s greatest rivalries and gave fans the first glimpse of a Dallas defense without Parsons. What started as a back-and-forth game was delayed by a passing storm. One of the biggest talking points going in was the “tush push,” and the Eagles used that play to their advantage on several key third-and-short drives. The game ultimately went in Philadelphia’s favor, as the Eagles pulled out a 24–20 win.
Week one is loaded with intrigue across the league. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs travel to São Paulo, Brazil, where they will face quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West showdown abroad. In New England, Mike Vrabel makes his regular-season debut as head coach of the New England Patriots, bringing new energy to a franchise, which needed to have a turnaround due to playing poorly previously. To cap off the opening week, the NFC North takes center stage with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings battling in a primetime matchup.
The beauty of week one is that it never truly defines a season, but it always sets the tone. One upset can send a whole fanbase into a spiral. Meanwhile, analysts will overreact to every big play and every mistake, because in the National Football League, perception changes fast. That is part of what makes opening weekend so enjoyable; every storyline feels larger than life.
And as the weeks unfold, the questions will only grow louder. Will Josh Allen finally get Buffalo over the hump? Is this really Rodgers last season? Or will a young star like Jayden Daniels or Cam Ward steal the spotlight from the league’s established stars? We may not know the answer till mid–way through the season, but one thing is certain: football is back.
Has some good stuff in here really got me thinking about what’s gonna happen in this unpredictable season.