Though Woods has somewhat stepped away from the PGA Tour in recent years — focusing on his businesses as well as Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) as they prepare for their second season — Woods’ career still leaves people in awe the more they learn.

Woods’ dominance on the links cannot be understated. So, as the man of the hour hits five decades, let’s take a look back at the 10 best moments of his career.

Keep in mind, this is a subjective list. You are allowed to disagree with it, but if you do, know that you are wrong and you look silly.

Top 10 moments of Tiger Woods’ career

10) ‘Better than Most’ — 2001 Players Championship

Ask any golfer and they can tell you the exact putt that the words ‘Better than Most’ came from. The iconic putt was great in and of itself, but it was made legendary by analyst Gary Koch’s commentary, repeating ‘Better than Most’ over and over with increasing enthusiasm as it got closer and closer to the hole.

9) 2000 U.S. Open

Woods’ dominance is well-documented, but it wasn’t always. The 2000 U.S. Open was one of the first tournaments where fans started to realize just how much damage Woods could do. After leading by just one shot after the first round, Woods then kicked his game to another gear, leading by six after 36, 10 after 54, and 15 when all was said and done.

Woods was the only player in the entire tournament to finish under par. He finished at 12-under.

8) Woods aces the 16th at 1997 Phoenix Open

Often referred to as the ‘loudest hole in golf,’ the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is known for producing legendary moments. Of course, Woods had to add himself to that mix. Woods’ ace in 1997 sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy, the kind of eruption that would make Shooter McGavin lose his mind.

7) Just short? — 2005 Masters

This is arguably the shot that Woods is most known for. Any golf fan can close their eyes and see the ball stop at the lip of the cup, flashing that iconic Nike logo, and leaving the crowd disappointed just moments before it takes one final turn into the cup and sending everyone into hysterics. The fact it happened at Augusta just added to the legend.

6) 2022 Masters

Woods did not win this tournament, but Woods’ career isn’t all about the wins, it’s also about the resilience, the ability to get back up when you get knocked down. Woods was involved in a serious car crash just 14 months prior to this tournament. Somehow though, Woods still managed to make the cut, extending his streak of consecutive Masters cuts made to 22, tying him with Fred Couples and Gary Player for the longest such streaks in tournament history.

5) ‘Hello, world’

Fresh off winning the U.S. Amateur for the third time in his young career, the golfing world was waiting in anticipation wondering if Woods would remain an amateur. However, it was clear that there was something in the works. After all, Woods’ dad, Earl, had secured a five-year, $40 million deal with Nike, which in all likelihood, wasn’t a spur of the moment deal.

Woods’ iconic ‘I guess, hello world’ marked the beginning of what would become the most iconic professional career in golf history.

4) The ‘Tiger Slam’

Not many golfers can say they’ve won a career Grand Slam. Tiger Woods won all four tournaments in a year. Though some skeptics will say that it doesn’t count since they didn’t all happen in the same year, those people don’t have friends, so who cares what they have to say.

Woods won all four major tournaments in a row, making him the defending champ at each of the biggest events in golf. That’s like being an undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing, but probably a thousand times less likely.

It’s very likely that we never see another golfer win all four majors in a row. That’s how insane this feat truly was.

3) 2006 Open Championship

Though this wasn’t the first or even the second time Woods would win the Open Championship, Woods’ victory in 2006 was iconic because of what Woods was dealing with at the time. Woods lost his father, Earl, earlier that year. You can see the emotion on Woods’ face after the winning putt as he shares an embrace with his caddie.

2) 1997 Masters

Woods was under a lot of pressure prior to this tournament. He was the young up-and-comer who would bring in a new era of golf. But he’d never won a major, he’d yet to make a major impact on the sport.

Then the 1997 Masters happened. He won by 12 strokes, and set a then-record four-round score of 270 (-18).

Even more iconic was Woods’ resilience in the tournament. Through nine holes, Woods carded a 4-over and was struggling immensely. He then shot four birdies and an eagle on the back nine, finishing the first round at 2-under. That was just a taste of all that was to come.

1) 2019 Masters

By 2019, Woods was well past his prime. He wasn’t the same dominant force that shook the Earth when he walked by. Woods hadn’t won a major in over a decade. Fans had written him off, but Woods wasn’t done.

It was a flash from the past that had fans giddy with enjoyment. He didn’t dominate like fans were accustomed to years prior, but he managed the win anyway. The best part was definitely him embracing his children behind the 18th green, the same place he hugged his parents after his win in 1997. It was really a full circle moment and an exclamation point on one of the greatest careers ever.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

Southern California coach Lincoln Riley blamed Notre Dame for why the historic rivalry between the two teams has paused, adding the Fighting Irish didn’t keep to their word.

USC and Notre Dame announced on Dec. 22 their rivalry would not continue after they couldn’t come to terms on the future of the series that has been played 96 times since 1926. A week after the news, Riley was asked at a press conference on Monday, Dec. 29 ahead of the Alamo Bowl about what led to the halt of the rivalry game, and he pointed to Notre Dame as the reason.

Riley said both sides worked for months to continue the series and recently, USC athletics director Jen Cohen offered a proposal that would extend the game for two more years and Notre Dame rejected it.

‘We took Notre Dame at their word that they would play us anytime, anywhere,’ Riley said.

The Trojans coach added five minutes after the offer was rejected, Notre Dame announced a home-and-home series with Brigham Young that effectively ended any chance of the rivalry continuing. He said ‘that might be the fastest scheduling act in college football history.’

The main blocking point in the future of the game centered on the scheduling. Traditionally, it took place at Notre Dame in mid-October in odd years, and in even years, occurred in Los Angeles in November. The recent deal for the series ended with the 2025 game. The belief was USC wanted the game to be played earlier in the schedule to avoid it being in the middle of conference play. 

‘Had Notre Dame lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere, we would be playing in the next two years, and looking ahead after that and hopefully, continuing the series,’ Riley said. ‘They did not follow through on it. Thus, we are not playing them the next couple years.’

Riley has stated several times he has great respect for Notre Dame and the rivalry and wanted to keep it going. Since Riley took over at USC in 2022, Notre Dame has won three of the four meetings, including three consecutive victories. He said he’s hopeful something can be worked out in the future and ‘we at SC would love for the game to continue, and we have no problem following through on our promises in the future.’

After it was announced the rivalry would be paused, both schools said in a joint statement they ‘look forward to meeting again in the future.’

Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51–37–5.

AI-assisted summary
• Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking a job at the next level.
• Freeman confirmed his decision to remain with the Fighting Irish on social media.
• Freeman received a raise to remain at Notre Dame, according to multiple reports.

As Billy Madison once said, it’s “back to school, back to school” for Marcus Freeman. 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking job opportunities beyond his current one. Once those reports circulated, the 39-year-old confirmed his stance with a message on social media.

“2026 … run it back,” Freeman wrote. “Go Irish.”

Freeman was by no means a shoo-in for any current or potential NFL head-coaching vacancy. But the 2024 Coach of the Year was drawing interest from teams, per multiple reports. With good reason. He’s a young, successful coach who presents competence and projects confidence. Any organization looking for the traditional “culture-changer” archetype – cough, New York Giants, cough – would have had Freeman’s name on the interview list. 

For those front offices, it’s on to the next. 

Fans of Freeman, 39, say his leadership style will translate to the pros. Any team looking for a “CEO” at head coach rather than an offensive or defensive whiz – although Freeman made his bones as a successful defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Notre Dame – would have to look at him. His experience, from leading the most visible program in America to playing at Ohio State, is another positive bullet point on Freeman’s resume.

Of all the cycles to fully commit to the NFL interview process, this was close to an ideal one for Freeman, since his current team is sitting at home, on the wrong side of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s policies and debates. The irked Irish – somewhat impolitely – also denied any bowl invitations.   

Perhaps Freeman wanted more options, with two openings currently, the Giants and Tennessee Titans. More jobs will become available. The normal average is seven NFL head coach openings each year, however, and that number might be lower this offseason. The counterpoint to that is the absence of a hot-shot coordinator or two who are sure to receive any of the openings, a distinction Ben Johnson held, for example, before being hired by the Chicago Bears last year. 

Get ready for the annual Marcus Freeman to NFL rumor cycle

The fluidity of roster construction in the college ranks, thanks to the transfer portal and NIL, has decreased the gap in the difference of responsibilities a college coach faces compared to a pro coach. Everybody’s getting paid now. Everybody’s a professional (allegedly). Egos are more pronounced in the NFL, but so is the overall maturity of the locker room, in most cases. 

Freeman boasts a 43-12 record since taking over after Brian Kelly’s departure four years ago and led Notre Dame to the national championship game last year. Every time his name floats into NFL coaching conversations, Freeman can look at Notre Dame’s coffers and do the “money please” dance. ESPN reported that the Irish gave Freeman an “enhanced contract,” on the heels of a raise in December 2024 that paid him $7.4 million annually, according to USA TODAY Sports’ NCAA coaches’ salary database. Per Sports Illustrated, the new deal puts him in the “top tier” of compensation among his peers. 

For Freeman, this can become an annual tradition – the next-generation Pete Carroll. On-field success. Rumors. Raise. Rinse and Repeat. 

Until Freeman actually makes the jump, that’s how it’ll go. And NFL owners will have to simply wonder what he’d look like leading their team. 

Three more college football bowl games are on the Tuesday docket as the new year draws ever nearer.

The day’s slate features a couple of Big Ten squads in action in their respective opponents’ home states. One will be in SEC country, while the other faces Big 12 opposition. But before the power conference representatives take the field, a matchup of so-called mid-major squads gets a brief turn in the spotlight in the matinee.

Here’s a breakdown of the trio of contests slated for the penultimate day of 2025. Yes, we’re obligated to use the word penultimate whenever possible – it’s in our contract.

Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech

Time/TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN in Shreveport, La.

Why watch: The Tuesday tripleheader kicks off with yet another clash between representatives of the Sun Belt and Conference USA. The Chanticleers will be led by interim coach Jeremiah Johnson before Ryan Beard fully takes charge after his arrival from Missouri State ahead of next season. Given their passing issues all year, they’ll likely count on RB Ja’Vin Simpkins and more mobile QB Samari Collier to mount drives. If Collier is unable to play due to injury, the job will likely fall to Tad Hudson. The Bulldogs have been only slightly more successful in the passing game, but QB Trey Kukuk directed victories starting Tech’s last two contests.

Why it could disappoint: Some of the Chanticleers are in the portal, but other players might be auditioning for future roles. The Bulldogs should have the edge in crowd support and interest level.

Music City Bowl: No. 23 Tennessee vs. Illinois

Time/TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in Nashville, Tenn.

Why watch: The Volunteers fell short of their bid to return to the College Football Playoff but at least get to play their final game in front of a home-state crowd. The Fighting Illini, who also spent time in the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25 during the season but couldn’t crack the Big Ten’s top tier, should provide a suitable matchup. Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar stepped into a challenging situation and did what he could, but the SEC’s most accomplished defenses were too much to overcome. His primary playmakers should be WR Braylon Staley after Chris Brazzell opted out of the game. QB Luke Altmyer had similar issues as Aguilar at Illinois, though he took better care of the ball despite sketchy ground support. His main deep threat is WR Hank Beatty, who is also a dangerous punt returner.

Why it could disappoint: The Vols’ no-show in their regular-season finale against Vanderbilt raises serious questions about their mindset heading into their bowl game. The Illini were on the short end of a few blowouts themselves, so things could get sideways for them as well.

Alamo Bowl: No. 16 Southern California vs. TCU

Time/TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN in San Antonio, Texas.

Why watch: The Trojans were realistically behind the proverbial playoff eight ball after their early setback at Illinois, but for the most part they won the games they were supposed to. TCU also had some nice results but also some curiously uneven performances that had their fans frustrated for large portions of the fall. Unfortunately for the viewers, the most recognizable names will not be participating as USC WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane are prepping for the draft and Horned Frogs QB Josh Hoover is transferring. Trojans QB Jayden Maiava will need to find some new targets, while TCU turns to backup Ken Seals, who has attempted just six passes all season but completed four of them.

Why it could disappoint: The Horned Frogs figure to be at more of a personnel disadvantage. If TCU’s defense can’t get stops early, it might be a long night.

At this time last season, we were asked to make some bold predictions for NHL teams in 2025. We went with three, and it’s now a great time to re-examine those bold predictions and see how we fared. Here we go:

2025 Prediction 1: TheToronto Maple Leafs finally win second-round series but get eliminated in Eastern Conference final

The Rationale: “The meat of this prediction is that, at long last, the Maple Leafs will not only win their first-round series, but they’ll win a second-round series for the first time since 2001-02. That will mean they likely eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, but we’re not nearly so confident in Toronto’s play in the Eastern Conference final series.”

How’d We Do? Not too shabby. It wasn’t fully correct, but we did have the Leafs winning a playoff round, and we were one game away from being 100 percent accurate on the entire prediction. Toronto was a handful for the Ottawa Senators last season, and they nearly knocked off the back-to-back Cup-champion Panthers. 

Small consolation for Leafs fans, but this is what makes the Buds’ current struggles so strange – Toronto’s core is still talented enough for them to be playoff contenders, and Leafs star Mitch Marner’s absence shouldn’t be the sole cause for the Leafs’ struggles.

It may already be too late for Toronto to avoid missing the playoffs this year, and a catastrophic end like that will ensure major trades happen in Leafs Land next summer.

Anyhow, let’s say we get a passing grade for this prediction. Not an A+ result, but not bad at all.

The Rationale: “The Avalanche’s overall lack of depth — especially in goal and at forward — will mean Colorado doesn’t have the talent base needed to go on a deep post-season run unless they only play their top stars.” 

How’d We Do? In the words of Christoph Waltz’s character in the ‘Inglorious Basterds’ film: That’s a bingo.

Okay, if you want to quibble about it, the Avs didn’t get steamrolled. And yes, we did write as part of that prediction that Mikko Rantanen would stay in Denver. But we’ll take success as it comes, and we did believe Landeskog would be back in action, only for the Avalanche to lose in the first round. We’re calling that a big win.

2025 Prediction 3: The Pittsburgh Penguins will finally start to tear down their roster, trading Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang after the Penguins fail to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

The Rationale: “The Penguins have been an up-and-down team this season, but though they’re fourth in the Metropolitan Division, they’re outside of a wild-card spot and have a handful of teams below them that aren’t far behind. That means there are plenty of potential reasons why the Penguins could fall down the Metropolitan Division standings and wind up missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

“If and when the Pens miss the playoffs yet again, there will be pressure to drastically change the lineup. While captain Sidney Crosby isn’t going anywhere, trades for Malkin and Letang could finally become realistic enough to happen.”

How’d We Do? On this one, we are going to claim a bit of success in predicting that Pittsburgh would miss the playoffs for the third straight year. But despite another stellar season from Crosby, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas did not make changes to his aging core.

Sure, there were some fringe changes Dubas made this past summer, but the Pens looked like a sinking ship right out of the gate last year – remember that six-game losing streak, or going 7-12-4 to start the season? Dubas chose to run it back with the same group this season.

Now, you might say that the Penguins validated Dubas’ optimism in them by being a better team in the current season, but once there is some separation in the standings, Pittsburgh is going to have a difficult time staying in the playoff mix. As a matter of fact, they’re currently outside of a playoff spot.

We’re going to give ourselves a C+ on this prediction. It could’ve happened and could still happen, so while we’re certainly not giving ourselves an A or B grade on this one, it still got some things right.

So, out of three predictions, we hit a home run with one, we had an RBI single in another one, and we had a line-drive flyout on the third.

The predictions business is fraught with danger, so getting the framework of the predictions right was the key for us, and we didn’t do badly at all in that regard this past year. But who knows – in our next round of predictions, we could miss on all of them.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

If it’s going to happen, it’s going to require a full 17 games for Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett to take possession of what is perhaps the NFL’s most coveted and well-known defensive record – the single-season mark for quarterback sacks. He needs just one to eclipse the standard of 22½ set by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan nearly a quarter of a century ago (with an assist from Brett Favre) and matched by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt in 2021.

Yet Garrett is hardly the only star seeking entry into the league’s record book as the 2025 campaign winds down and certainly not the only one who could benefit from the bloated schedule. Here are four other stars (and one team) chasing history of their own, some of these marks in much more immediate jeopardy than others:

Trey McBride – most receptions by a tight end in a season

The Washington Commanders’ Zach Ertz broke new ground seven years ago, hauling in 116 balls when he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. McBride, the Arizona Cardinals’ two-time Pro Bowler – and, arguably, their best player – needed eight more grabs over the final two weeks to overtake Ertz’s benchmark. (UPDATE: McBride broke the record in Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati, his 10 receptions putting him at 119.)

Christian McCaffrey – most 1,000-1,000-yard seasons

In 2019, CMC joined Roger Craig and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as the only players to gain 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. With 110 yards through the air in Week 18, McCaffrey would become the first to accomplish the feat multiple times.

Christian McCaffrey – most receiving yards by a running back in a season

He’d need an even 159 in the last game to top Faulk’s mark (1,048) in the Super Bowl era, which began in 1966.

Denver Broncos – most sacks by a team in a season

The 1985 Chicago Bears are immortalized as perhaps the greatest squad to ever grace a football field. But it was the ’84 Bears who racked up 72 sacks, the most ever by one club. The 2025 Denver Broncos have slowed down in that department lately but have 64 of their own. They’d need quite a performance in the regular-season finale to catch Da Bears, but it’s possible − especially against the Los Angeles Chargers’ leaky offensive line.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua – most receiving yards in a season

They’re long shots at this point, though JSN’s Seattle Seahawks will have more at stake than Nacua’s Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. Smith-Njigba leads the league with 1,709 receiving yards, while Nacua, who missed Week 7 with an ankle injury, has 1,592. Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson – Megatron – set the record in 2012 with 1,964 yards. Nacua, who plays Monday in Atlanta, has eclipsed 170 in three outings this year, including a career-high 225 in his most recent one – the epic 39-38 loss to Smith-Njigba’s Seahawks. JSN hasn’t hit 170 in a game in 2025 but has surpassed 160 twice. But given none of us his teammates are within 1,000 yards of him, he could go off at any time as the lone guy Pro Bowl QB Sam Darnold routinely feeds.

Bijan Robinson – most yards from scrimmage in a season

The Atlanta Falcons star leads the NFL with 2,026 combined rushing and receiving yards. It would take some serious doing to bypass Chris Johnson, who had 2,509 in 2009 – CJ2K is still the only player to hit the 2,500 plateau. But funny things happen in prime time, and Robinson’s Falcons host Nacua and the Rams on Monday night … and have little left to play for aside from playing spoiler − specifically to the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers − and maybe chasing some outrageous historical numbers. Keep an eye on No. 7.

The San Francisco 49ers earned a critical win in a 42-38 shootout against the Chicago Bears on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 17 to keep themselves alive in the NFC West race.

While offense was the name of the game at Levi’s Stadium throughout Sunday’s action, it was a key defensive stand that sealed the San Francisco victory.

Caleb Williams and the Bears did everything in their power to mount a game-winning drive in the final 2:15 of regulation. Ben Johnson’s team managed to quickly matriculate the ball down the field and survive a fourth-and-5 to set the team up with a goal-to-go opportunity with four seconds remaining.

The Bears were out of timeouts when Williams spiked the ball on first-and-goal to stop the clock after Colston Loveland and D’Andre Swift used a hook-and-ladder play to put Chicago on the 2-yard line. With such little time remaining, the Bears had time for just one shot into the end zone.

Williams snapped the ball on second down and tried to find an open receiver. Nobody broke open immediately before Bryce Huff pressured the second-year quarterback, flushing him to his left. Williams was able to continue surveying the field but still couldn’t find anyone open.

Eventually, Yetur Gross-Matos got pressure in Williams’ face, and the quarterback was forced to just throw the ball at will. It fell harmless to the ground in the end zone, sealing San Francisco’s win.

The 49ers’ victory will give them a chance to earn an NFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC in Week 18. They need only beat the Seattle Seahawks head-to-head to earn both honors.

Meanwhile, the Bears have been eliminated from the race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed and will instead be locked into either the conference’s No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the league’s playoff picture.

49ers vs. Bears SNF takeaways

• The 49ers offense is good enough to win a Super Bowl. The 49ers marched the ball down the field at will against the Bears on ‘Sunday Night Football’ despite being without George Kittle and losing left tackle Trent Williams on the first play of the game. Brock Purdy was efficient again, making several spectacular throws on the run and totaling five touchdowns for the second time in as many games. Christian McCaffrey handled 27 touches and turned them into 181 yards and a score, showing off his explosive playmaking ability on the ground and through the air. San Francisco simply has so many ways to beat its opponents and if the team can get fully healthy before their first playoff game, they have a legitimate chance to go on a Super Bowl run.
• The Bears offense might also be title-worthy. Caleb Williams continues to show growth under Ben Johnson. Rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland are also coming along nicely, while Chicago sports one of the most productive running games in the NFL. The main difference between the 49ers and Bears is seasoning, as Williams is in just his first season working with Johnson. Occasionally, some growing pains pop up – live Burden and Loveland’s drops on Chicago’s final drive – but there’s plenty to like about what the Bears are doing. If Chicago’s offense plays as it did against the 49ers, the Bears may have a chance to get hot at the right time and go on a Super Bowl run of their own.
• Luther Burden is a star in the making. Burden has become increasingly involved in the Bears’ offense and was the team’s top receiver against the 49ers. He tallied 138 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions, showing off a knack for getting open and shiftiness that could make him a big-time playmaker. Burden looks like an ideal, long-term complement for Rome Odunze, so the Bears have to be excited about the young core of weapons it has already built around Williams.

49ers vs. Bears highlights

49ers vs. Bears final score: San Francisco 42, Chicago 38

Caleb Williams got the Bears a goal-to-go opportunity after a hook-and-ladder play got Chicago to the 2-yard line. With just four seconds left in the game, Williams snapped the ball and tried to find an open receiver. The 49ers were sticky in coverage and didn’t allowed anyone to get free.

Bryce Huff was the first 49er to pressure Williams, who eventually had to release the ball with Yetur Gross-Matos baring down on him. The throw fell short of the Chicago receiver in the end-zone, clinching a victory for the 49ers and keeping them in the NFC West race.

Caleb Williams completes fourth-down pass to Colston Loveland

The Bears were facing a fourth-and-5 after a couple of incompletions. Williams got time to throw in the pocket and found Loveland open beyond the sticks.

The Bears used their final timeout and there are 26 seconds remaining in regulation. Chicago needs 13 yards to take the lead.

Bears have ball on 49ers’ 26-yard line with 40 seconds left

Caleb Williams and the Bears have methodically moved the ball down the field since getting it back after San Francisco’s touchdown. They are now facing a second-and-5 from the 49ers’ 26-yard line. The Bears have 40 seconds and two timeouts remaining.

Jauan Jennings catches 38-yard TD pass from Brock Purdy to give 49ers lead

The 49ers have re-taken the lead. This time, it’s Jauan Jennings who managed to hit pay-dirt. The veteran receiver came across the middle of the field and found a pocket of space behind the Bears’ linebackers. He then got a quality screen from Ricky Pearsall and managed to run the ball into the end-zone for the score.

Eddy Pineiro’s extra point was good, so the Bears will have 2:15 to overcome a four-point deficit.

49ers 42, Bears 38

Cairo Santos makes 29-yard field goal to give Bears lead

For the first time since opening the game with a pick-six, the Bears have taken a lead against the 49ers. Chicago mounted an 11-play, 78-yard drive but couldn’t quite punch the ball into the end-zone.

Santos was called upon on a fourth-and-goal from the 11-yard line and made the 29-yard kick. The Bears are now leading 38-35 with 5:22 left in regulation.

Bears 38, 49ers 35

Bears pressure Brock Purdy, force Thomas Morstead’s 1,000th punt

The Bears finally managed to stop the 49ers from scoring again. This time, defensive lineman Austin Booker beat backup left tackle Austen Pleasants and pressured Purdy as he was throwing. The quarterback’s throw bounced to the ground as a result, and Morstead was called on to attempt his 1,000th career punt.

Morstead’s kick was a good one, and Devin Duvernay was forced to fair catch it at the 11-yard line. There is 11:23 remaining in regulation and the Bears will now look to take their first lead since it was 7-0.

D’Andre Swift scores 22-yard touchdown to open fourth quarter

The Bears have once again tied the game. One play after Caleb Williams completed a fourth-down pass to Colston Loveland to move the chains, Swift took a hand-off to the left side of the line and his blockers opened up a big lane for him.

Cairo Santos made the extra point to tie the game at 35. The game has been tied at 7, 14, 21, 28 and now 35, which NBC’s play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico said had never before happened in the NFL regular season.

Bears 35, 49ers 35

How much does Brock Purdy get paid?

Purdy is making just $1.1 million in salary this season, which is the last of the four-year rookie deal he signed with the 49ers after being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, Purdy signed a five-year, $265 million extension during the offseason that will kick in during the 2026 NFL season. He also got a $40 million signing bonus for the 2025 NFL season, per Spotrac.com, so he actually made just over $41.1 million in 2025 when factoring in a $8,820 workout bonus in his contract.

Purdy’s average annual value (AAV) of $53 million per season on his extension is tied for the seventh-highest in the NFL with Jared Goff. His total contract value of $265 million ranks fifth-highest in the NFL behind only Patrick Mahomes ($450 million), Josh Allen ($330 million), Joe Burrow ($275 million) and Trevor Lawrence ($275 million).

Brock Purdy tosses 6-yard TD to Kyle Juszczyk to put 49ers ahead

The 49ers have now scored touchdowns on all five of their red-zone possessions. This time, Purdy made an incredible play after a play-action pass. He was pressured by a couple of Bears defenders but managed to find a lane through them. He then acted as if he was going to run before throwing the ball back to Juszczyk, who was wide open in the end-zone.

Eddy Pineiro made the extra point and San Francisco is once again up by seven.

49ers 35, Bears 28

Trent Williams injury update

The 49ers have officially ruled starting left tackle Trent Williams out for the remainder of Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury.

Williams suffered the injury on the first play of the game, a Brock Purdy pick-six. Austen Pleasants will continue to play in place of Williams, as he did in the first half.

Bears tie game with D’Andre Swift TD run to open second half

The Bears enjoyed a strong start to the second half. They held the ball for 5:09 and marched down the field, with Caleb Williams hitting Jahdae Walker for a key 19-yard connection on a third-and-14 and Luther Burden scooting for a 23-yard gain after catching a dump-off from Williams.

Chicago capped the drive with a Swift run. The veteran back took the ball around the right side of the line and managed to find a lane into the end-zone.

Cairo Santos then banged through an extra point to tie the game back up early in the second half.

Bears 28, 49ers 28

Bears playoff scenarios

The Bears have already wrapped up the NFC North and a top-three seed in the NFC. However, their game against the 49ers will decide whether Chicago has a chance to remain in the race for the NFC’s No. 1 overall pick.

With a win against the 49ers, the Bears would clinch a top-two seed in the NFC. However, a loss would ensure Chicago would either get the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, pending the results of the team’s Week 18 game against the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles’ game against the Washington Commanders.

49ers playoff scenarios

The 49ers have already clinched a playoff berth but need to win against the Bears to remain in the NFC West race.

Below is a look at how the 49ers can clinch the NFC West:

• 49ers win vs. Bears in Week 17 AND
• 49ers win vs. Seahawks in Week 18

If the 49ers can’t beat both the Bears and the Seahawks, they would be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NFC.

Caleb Williams stats at halftime

Williams and the Bears ran just 19 plays compared to the 49ers’ 47 in the first half. As such, Williams’ stats aren’t quite as impressive as Purdy’s.

Williams has completed 6 of 12 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He had two nice downfield strikes to Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland for the touchdowns but will need to improve upon his shorter-area accuracy to sustain drives in the second half.

Christian McCaffrey stats at halftime

The 49ers have leaned on McCaffrey as their top offensive weapon with George Kittle (ankle) unavailable for Sunday’s game. McCaffrey has generated 121 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries while adding two catches for 20 yards through the air.

Brock Purdy stats at halftime

Purdy has remained hot during his Week 17 ‘Sunday Night Football’ game. He has completed 14 of 20 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown while adding 23 yards and two scores on five rushes.

Purdy’s lone blemish was the pick-six he threw on the first play of the game. Since then, he has been razor-sharp, leading the 49ers to 330 total yards of offense in the first half.

49ers take 28-21 lead into halftime

The 49ers have just a seven-point lead over the Bears, but San Francisco has been dominant across the first 30 minutes of action.

The 49ers completely controlled the clock, holding onto the ball for 21:56 of the first half. They generated a whopping 330 yards of offense in the first half and only punted once despite losing left tackle Trent Williams to a hamstring injury on the first play of the game.

To their credit, the Bears have stayed in Sunday’s game. Caleb Williams has tossed a couple of long touchdowns to rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland while T.J. Edwards opened the game with a pick-six that gave Chicago an early lead.

The Bears will get the ball first coming out of the locker room. They will be looking to sustain drives and keep their defense from tiring in what has thus far been a high-scoring shootout.

Brock Purdy scores 3-yard touchdown on read-option run

Purdy scored his first rushing touchdown of the game on a scramble. His second came on a designed read-option run during which he kept the ball after a fake to Christian McCaffrey. Eddy Pineiro made his fourth extra point of the game to give the 49ers a touchdown lead once again.

San Francisco’s score came just a couple of plays after Purdy threw an interception that was nullified by an illegal use of hands to the face penalty against the Bears.

49ers 28, Bears 21

Caleb Williams hits Colston Loveland for 36-yard TD on free play

Williams managed to get the 49ers to jump offside just before the snap, creating an opportunity for a free play. The second-year quarterback hung back in the pocket and scanned the field while moving to his right before finding Loveland, a rookie tight end, open near the goal-line.

Williams deliver an accurate strike to Loveland, who brought the ball down for a 36-yard touchdown. Cairo Santos made the extra point and the Bears and 49ers are once again tied with 12:20 left in the second quarter.

Bears 21, 49ers 21

Christian McCaffrey scores 5-yard TD on toss play

The 49ers’ latest touchdown drive was capped off by McCaffrey, who took a toss around the right side of San Francisco’s offensive line and was able to weave through the Bears defense for an easy score.

Eddy Pineiro makes the extra point again and the 49ers are once again up by a touchdown.

49ers 21, Bears 14

Caleb Williams hits Luther Burden III for 35-yard TD

The Bears have scored their first offensive touchdown of Sunday’s game. Williams was able to deliver a perfect downfield strike to the rookie Burden, who gained separation from the San Francisco secondary to make the catch in the end-zone.

Cairo Santos made the extra point and the teams are once again all square with 2:58 left in the first quarter.

Bears 14, 49ers 14

Where did Brock Purdy go to college?

Purdy played collegiately at Iowa State. He was a four-year starter for the Cyclones and completed 67.7% of his passes for 12,170 yards, 81 touchdowns and 33 interceptions over the course of his career.

Purdy’s strong performance was enough to get him drafted, but just barely. He was the 262nd (and final) pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has since cemented his legacy as one of the best ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ picks in league history.

Brock Purdy scrambles for 10-yard TD to give 49ers lead

The 49ers quickly got into scoring range after getting the ball back from the Bears thanks to a 41-yard run by Christian McCaffrey. Purdy finished off the drive by finding a running lane off a bootleg left and diving across the goal-line to give the 49ers their first lead of the game.

Eddy Pineiro made the extra point and San Francisco now has a seven-point lead.

49ers 14, Bears 7

49ers punt for first time since November

The 49ers went two full games without punting to open December. They managed two more drives in their third one before Thomas Morstead was called on to punt for the first time since Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns.

Morstead unleashed a 49-yarder that pinned the Bears back at their own 16-yard line.

When was the Bears’ last Super Bowl win?

The Bears have just one Super Bowl win in their history. That came in Super Bowl 20, which was played in January 2026 to determine the champion of the 1985 NFL season.

The Bears beat the New England Patriots 46-10 in a game during which Chicago ran for four touchdowns with Jim McMahon, Matt Suhey and William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry.

Brock Purdy finds Jake Tonges wide open for 1-yard TD

The 49ers managed to strike back quickly against the Bears. Purdy hit Demarcus Robinson for a 25-yard gain that set San Francisco up with a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

The 49ers ran a hard, play-action fake on first-and-goal and Tonges was able to completely lose the defense. Purdy tossed him an easy touchdown before Eddy Pineiro made the extra point to tie the game after San Francisco’s early gaffe.

49ers 7, Bears 7

Trent Williams injury update

The 49ers didn’t just throw an interception on the first play of the game. Their star left tackle, Trent Williams, also suffered an apparent injury. He was receiving treatment in the blue medical tent during San Francisco’s second drive and was replaced at his post by backup Austen Pleasants.

The 49ers didn’t immediately provide an update on Williams’ status but later announced he was ‘questionable’ to return because of a hamstring injury.

Brock Purdy throws pick-six on first offensive snap

The 49ers are off to about as bad a start as possible to their ‘Sunday Night Football’ game against the Bears. Purdy tried to fire a pass over the middle of the field to Jauan Jennings to open the game, but Chicago cornerback Jaylon Johnson managed to jump the route and tip it into the air.

T.J. Edwards came down with the deflection and found a clear path to the end-zone, following his blockers to get an early-game score.

Cairo Santos drilled the extra point and the Bears are leading by a touchdown just 15 seconds into the game.

Bears 7, 49ers 0

Why isn’t George Kittle playing?

Kittle suffered an ankle injury in the 49ers’ win over the Indianapolis Colts on ‘Monday Night Football.’ The veteran tight end was unable to practice ahead of the team’s game against the Chicago Bears, so the 49ers listed him as inactive for Sunday’s game.

The 49ers have already clinched a playoff berth, so that may have led the team to approach Kittle’s injury with caution. San Francisco still has a chance to win the NFC West but will need to beat Chicago to create a battle for the division against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18.

Bears ‘VMH’ patch, explained

The Bears added the ‘VMH’ jersey patch for the 2025 NFL season to pay tribute to their former owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died in February at the age of 102.

McCaskey inherited ownership of the Bears from her father, George Halas Sr., following his death in 1983. She oversaw the team when it won Super Bowl 20 following the 1985 NFL season and was the longest-tenured owner at the time of her passing.

Like her father’s ‘GSH’ patch, McCaskey’s patch features a permutation of her initials, which were ‘VHM.’ The ‘VMH’ patch places McCaskey’s last name as the centerpiece of the logo, while her maiden name-turned-middle initial is on the right side of it.

What does ‘GSH’ on the Chicago Bears uniform mean?

That acronym is a reference to the team’s founding owner, George Stanley Halas Sr. It has been incorporated into Chicago’s uniforms since 1983, following his death at age 83.

Chicago Bears inactives list

• WR Rome Odunze
• WR Olamide Zaccheaus
• QB Case Keenum
• CB Dallis Flowers
• DB Nick McCloud
• LB Ruben Hyppolite II
• OL Luke Newman

San Francisco 49ers inactives list

• TE George Kittle
• WR Jordan Watkins
• DL Robert Beal Jr.
• RB Isaac Guerendo
• DL Kevin Givens
• CB Renardo Green
• LB Curtis Robinson

What TV channel is the 49ers vs. Bears game?

• TV channel: NBC

The Week 17 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears game will be broadcast by NBC on Sunday. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (game analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the ‘Sunday Night Football’ contest.

What time is the Bears at 49ers game?

• Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET

The 49ers vs. Bears game will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 28.

49ers vs. Bears live stream

• Live stream: Peacock

Per usual, NBC will simulcast its ‘Sunday Night Football’ offering on Peacock, its proprietary streaming service. Cord-cutters can also catch the action on the NFL’s own streaming service, NFL+.

Watch ‘Sunday Night Football’ with Peacock

49ers vs. Bears prediction, picks

Here’s how the NFL experts at USA TODAY Sports believe the Week 17 matchup between the 49ers and Bears will shake out:

• Jarrett Bell: 49ers, 26-24
• Nick Brinkerhoff: 49ers, 28-24
• Chris Bumbaca: 49ers, 29-25
• Nate Davis: 49ers, 24-23
• Tyler Dragon: Bears, 25-21
• Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: 49ers, 35-28

49ers vs. Bears odds, moneyline, O/U

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 6:15 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): 49ers -200 (Bet $200 to win $100) | Bears +165 (Bet $100 to win $165)
• Against the spread (ATS): 49ers -3.5 (-105) | Bears +3.5 (-115)
• Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Is George Kittle playing today vs. Bears on Sunday night?

The 49ers’ star tight end is officially inactive for tonight’s game.

Kittle was considered ‘highly unlikely’ to play on ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He was expected to test his ankle before the team announced its inactives but it appears he needs more time to recover.

49ers inactives today vs. Bears

• RB Isaac Guerendo
• WR Jordan Watkins
• TE George Kittle
• DL Kevin Givens
• CB Renardo Green
• LB Curtis Robinson
• DL Robert Beal Jr.

Bears inactives today vs. 49ers

• QB Case Keenum
• WR Rome Odunze
• WR Olamide Zaccheaus
• CB Dallis Flowers
• DB Nick McCloud
• LB Ruben Hyppolite II
• OL Luke Newman

NFL playoff picture: NFC bracket

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West leaders)*
2. Chicago Bears (11-4, NFC North winners)*
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East winners)*
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8, NFC South leaders)
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4, wild card No. 1)*
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4, wild card No. 2)*
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

NFL playoff picture: AFC Bracket

1. Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West winners)*
2. New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East winners)*
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, AFC South leaders)*
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)
5. Houston Texans (11-5, wild card No. 1)*
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
7. Buffalo Bills (11-5, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched

NFC West standings

The 49ers enter tonight’s game tied with the Rams in second place in the division. They are ahead by virtue of the division head-to-head record.

• Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
• San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
• Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

NFC North standings

The Bears have locked up the NFC North division title for the first time since 2018 after the Packers’ loss to the Ravens on Saturday in Week 17.

1. Chicago Bears (11-4)* NFC North winners
2. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
4. Detroit Lions (8-8)

Bears remaining schedule

• Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
• Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions (8-8)

4th & Monday: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz 

Do you like football? Then you’ll enjoy receiving our NFL newsletter in your inbox.   

Get the latest news, expert analysis, game insights and the must-see moments from the NFL conveniently delivered to your email inbox. Sign up now! 

NFL draft order 2026

Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-14; .544 SOS
2. New York Giants: 3-13 record; .531 strength of schedule
3. New York Jets: 3-13, .548 SOS
4. Tennessee Titans: 3-13, .576 SOS
5. Arizona Cardinals: 3-13; .577 SOS
6. Cleveland Browns: 4-12, .494 SOS
7. Washington Commanders: 4-12; .504 SOS
8. New Orleans Saints: 6-10; .491 SOS
9. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-10; .511 SOS
10. Cincinnati Bengals: 6-10; .520 SOS
11. Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 6-9; .498 SOS
12. Miami Dolphins: 7-9; .487 SOS
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8, .530 SOS
14. Dallas Cowboys: 7-8-1; .430 SOS
15. Detroit Lions: 8-8; .493 SOS
16. Baltimore Ravens: 8-8; .507 SOS
17. Minnesota Vikings: 8-8; .515 SOS
18. Indianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-8; .537 SOS
19. Carolina Panthers: 8-8, .521 SOS
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7; .513 SOS
21. Green Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-6-1; .479 SOS
22. Los Angeles Chargers: 11-5; .461 SOS
23. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5; .469 SOS
24. Buffalo Bills: 11-5, .472 SOS
25. Houston Texans: 11-5; .530 SOS
26. San Francisco 49ers: 11-4, .494 SOS
27. Los Angeles Rams: 11-4, .526 SOS
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 12-4; .487 SOS
29. Chicago Bears: 11-4; .450 SOS
30. New England Patriots: 13-3; .386 SOS
31. Denver Broncos: 13-3; .425 SOS
32. Seattle Seahawks: 13-3; .494 SOS

AI-assisted summary
• Simone Biles was on the sidelines as a credentialed photographer for the Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers game.
• Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, is a safety for the Chicago Bears.
• The decorated Olympic gymnast often travels to support her husband at his games.

When she’s not winning gold medals, Simone Biles stays busy.

Her latest quest? Becoming a NFL photographer.

The decorated American Olympic gymnast, with seven gold medals to her name, roamed the sidelines of the San Francisco 49ers’ 42-38 victory over the Chicago Bears prior to and during ‘Sunday Night Football’ as a credentialed photographer.

Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, is a safety for the Bears. The couple wed in 2023. Biles often travels to his away games, but she’s not typically on the clock.

Biles is not the first athlete to take photography more seriously than a hobby. Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. has been credentialed for major golf tournaments and former pitcher Randy Johnson has published works chronicling wildlife in Africa. Biles’ fellow Team USA gymnast, Suni Lee, recently snapped some shots at a Minnesota Vikings game.

Owens has seen his role largely confined to special teams over the last month of the season.

The NFL’s Week 18 schedule is finally here.

The penultimate week of regular-season action clarified which few pieces of the playoff puzzle still have to fall in place. With that coming into focus, the league was able to determine a setup for every team’s finale.

The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet on Saturday afternoon to determine the likely winner of the NFC South (barring the Atlanta Falcons winning out). Then, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers will clash Saturday night with the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line.

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will close out the season on Sunday night to decide the AFC North title.

Here’s a look at the NFL Week 18 schedule with times and dates for all 16 showdowns:

NFL Week 18 schedule

Saturday, Jan. 3

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:30 p.m. ET

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 4

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m. ET

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET

Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET