The San Francisco 49ers posted a dominant win over the Los Angeles Rams in the first NFL game ever played in Australia. Brock Purdy led the offense with three touchdown passes, and the match drew a crowd of more than 100,000 at Melbourne’s iconic cricket ground.
Defending champions the Seattle Seahawks rallied from a 10‑0 deficit to beat the New England Patriots 13‑10 in the NFL season opener at Lumen Field. The win featured multiple interceptions, a 45‑yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith‑Njigba and a late field goal by Jason Myers, while Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw three interceptions. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Sam Darnold’s hip injury was not a fracture.
British tight end Seydou Traore, the first graduate of England’s NFL Academy to reach the NFL, secured a spot on the Miami Dolphins’ 53-man roster for the upcoming season. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft and signed a four-year rookie contract worth $4.8 million.
Aaron Donald, a 35‑year‑old NFL defensive legend, announced he is ending his retirement to return to the Los Angeles Rams. He has signed a reported one‑year deal worth $20 million, adding veteran talent to the Rams’ defensive line.
Six‑time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick said a European NFL franchise is a question for the league and its commissioner, while welcoming the sport’s global growth. Speaking in Dublin before a college football game, he noted past discussions about a London Jaguars team and emphasized the NFL’s intent to build a worldwide brand.
NFL owners have approved the sale of the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to a consortium headed by Vinod Khosla for a record $9.612 billion, making it the second‑largest franchise transaction in North American sports history. The deal transfers ownership from the estate of the late Paul G. Allen, with Khosla pledging to maintain the team’s winning legacy.
The New Orleans Saints have added two‑time All‑Pro kicker Daniel Carlson to their roster, creating a direct competition with Charlie Smyth for the starting kicking role. Both players will vie for the job as the team prepares for its final pre‑season game against the Dallas Cowboys before the 2026 regular season begins.