I started this website to elevate women in football, to make women the full outfit, not just the accessory. In the decade since launching, we’ve accomplished that and so much more. We’ve broken news, introduced you to a range of women in football, provided advice from fantasy football tips for the industry’s best ranker, produced a boatload of sharp analysis and commentary, and even had the honor of being an answer on Jeopardy! We’ve won awards and established ourselves as a respected media brand, the kind where they start pitching cool people to you. We also published a lot of quirky stuff, the stuff you can’t do at legacy media companies. (Some of which I’m embarrassed to read now but fun nonetheless.)

When we started, there were basically no other outlets covering the advancement of women in the NFL. That has changed. We still have a long way to go but between other the coverage from other outlets and mostly the great work of the NFL’s Sam Rapoport to create a legitimate pipeline for women, equality in the league is slowly getting normalized.

While I will continue to cover the NFL and its societal issues for The Guardian and other outlets, the time has come to close shop at The Football Girl, at least in its prior form. I plan to keep the site alive for the time being and will try to add a bit more informational and educational content as time allows. And to the dismay of my husband, I will continue tweeting football things on a way too frequent basis. 

The main impetus for this change is that my heart and soul is now fully engaged in the world of youth sports. I am a coach, a board member, and most importantly, a parent who wants to help my kids get all the benefits of youth sports while minimizing the greedy, toxic side. I’m thrilled to announce that I recently started a Substack newsletter to join together with like-minded youth sports parents. If you fall into that camp, I really hope you’ll subscribe and come along for the ride. It’s free! 

There will be some youth sports-related football coverage that I will cross-post here, but for the most part TFG, as you’ve known it. will be no longer.

I am so grateful to the litany of contributors, and assistant editors who have come along for the ride, especially Pat Fitzmaurice (who is now kicking butt over at FantasyPros). But my deepest gratitude is reserved for you, the readers. Without your support, this journey would have never happened. 

Thank you for everything,

Melissa Jacobs – always and forever a Football Girl

The post The Football Girl’s Next Chapter appeared first on The Football Girl.

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For Kids With a Future Career in NFL Analytics

Blitz Champz Football Card Game $19.99

This super fun and educational card game is the perfect vehicle for teaching kids (7+) the basic rules of the game while building up their math skills. Developed by star women’s professional player Adrienne Smith, the original deck emphasizes football accessibility to all by featuring male and female players. But if you want to make your kid or their friends the star, Blitz Camp offers a customizable option. Either way, this game should keep your kids occupied for a long time!

For Adults With Cold Feet

FOCO Womens Slide Slippers $29.99

What better way to cheer on your favorite team by watching a bunch of freezing fans on television while your feet are hugged with endless warmth?

For Fans Who Value Comfort Over Style

FOCO Oversized Sherpa Hoodie $59.99

Ah, the sweet comfort of Sherpa in the harsh temperatures of NFL winters in the winter…or anywhere cold for that matter. Bonus: It’s reversible!

For Trivia Lovers Who Know “Everything” About Their Team

The Ultimate Chicago Bears Trivia Book (Available for other teams) $9.85

Even the most diehard fans should learn something new about their team’s history. And if they truly know everything, this is the book to prove it.

For The Superior Gender to Brag About Their Superior Fantasy Skills

“I’m Better Than My Husband” Tee Shirt $17.99

Of course you’re better than your husband at fantasy. Now shout it to the world.

The post Holiday Gift Guide: Football Goodies For The Whole Family appeared first on The Football Girl.

For the 2022 season, the competition committee has modified the overtime rules for the playoffs.

Postseason Overtime Rules:

• Each team will have the opportunity to possess the ball.

• There will still be a coin toss but the winner will not always choose to be the receiving team.

• The overtime period will remain 10 minutes. There is the possibility of multiple overtime periods.

• If the score is either tied or the second team to gain possession is still in the midst of its first drive when the first period ends, a new 10 minutes period will begin.

• This rules will apply through four overtime periods, all 10 minutes in length.

• Each overtime period will have a two-minute intermission.

• If a winner if not determined at the end of four overtime periods, play will continue until. winner is determined.

Regular Season Overtime Rules:

• Rules remain unchanged.

• There will be a 10 minute overtime and a coin toss to determine first possession.

• Both teams will have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the first team with possession scores a touchdown.

• Each team will have two overtimes.

• If no winner emerges after 10 minutes, the game will end in a tie.

Preseason Overtimes Rules:

• There is no overtime. Games will end in a tie is knotted up at the end of regulation.

The preseason elimination came into effect in 2021 after increased concerns about player safety. The NFL’s regular season overtime rules took effect in 2010 after its previous sudden death rule was deemed unfair. And not seeing Josh Allen have the opportunity to possess the ball in the 2021 division game against the Chiefs sparked further change.

The post NFL Overtime Rules Explained appeared first on The Football Girl.

Here we look at a sample of the offensive players you should know who could make a splash in year one and walk away with the coveted title of Offensive Rookie of the Year. (Sorry offensive linemen, while you are crucial and underappreciated, we are not including you since the last time someone at your position won the award was, well, never.)

Kenny Pickett, QB. Pitt: Pickett is a co-favorite to win rookie of the year because he’s the most pro-ready of the available quarterbacks. Pickett comes off a spectacular senior season in which he produced 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns. The mobile prospect could be snagged by a team like Carolina or Pittsburgh or Seattle and have a chance to be a Week 1 starter.

Malik Willis, QB, Liberty: A lot of folks are pegging Willis to the Steelers at no. 20 and with good reason. Willis has the highest ceiling of any quarterback. He’s a scary rushing weapon with a canon of an arm but is far from a polished prospect. Willis would be well positioned to sit behind Mitch Trubisky for a while and learn the ropes before jumping in mid-season or in 2023 and enjoying the Steelers crop of weapons.

Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State: As the best yards after the catch prosect in this draft, Wilson could be highly targeted if he lands on a team like Atlanta who lost Calvin Ridley. Or like Ja’Marr Chase last season, Wilson could also breakout on a high-powered offense that already boosts a nice slate of complementary players.

Drake London, WR, USC: The 6’4” athletic specimen is well set up for mismatches, especially given how well he uses his body (being a former basketball is a huge help). London may be the most complete receiver in the draft. 

Jameson Williams WR, Alabama: Yes, Williams is recovering from an ACL tear. But assuming he fully recovers, his speed and route running is going to help some lucky team improve its vertical threat game in a major way. 

Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State: Another Buckeye (it’s like they grow on tress in Columbus!). Olave has elite separation and should be an immediate deep threat at the next level. 

Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: Burks could be Deebo Samuel 2.0. He comes off a senior season in which he put up over 1100 receiving yards and averaged 8.9 yards per rushing attempt. 

Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State: Oh hey, running backs are people too. And Hall might be the more versatile back in the class and would alleviate a lot of pressure from a quarterback. 

Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State: Another complete back, Walker will make an immediate impact with his speed, agility and blocking abilities. 

The post NFL Draft 2022: OROY Contenders To Know appeared first on The Football Girl.

Per multiple reports, the latest version of Rodgers offseason drama has concluded before it heated up. Rodgers will remain in Green Bay, the terms of which have not been officially released. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Rodgers deal is worth $200 million over four years which would make the back-to-back MVP the highest paid player in NFL history. But Pat McAfee, who has Rodgers on his widely popular Pat McAfee Show on a weekly basis, refuted those terms.

This is false.

— at McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 8, 2022

McAfee did, however, corroborate the masses in confirming Rodgers’ return to Green Bay. The continuation of Rodgers’ career in Green Bay comes after much drama last offseason, which included the now common tropes of possible retirement and possibly playing for a new team. In the end, Rodgers remained in the place he has had endless success. As the 2021 season approached, Rodgers smartly got the Packers to restructure his contract which gave him the option to re-sign with Green Bay or seek a trade this offseason.

Because this is Rodgers, things were not simple. A few weeks ago, Rodgers posted what read like a quasi-retirement post on Instagram. Turns out it was nothing more than giving thanks on a Gratitude Monday.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aaron Rodgers (@aaronrodgers12)

Rodgers’ return to Green Bay is disappointing from the plethora of quarterback-needy franchises hoping to land his services. Broncos wideout Jerry Jeudy offered his thoughts, which are likely shared by many other receivers and fanbases not named Green Bay.

— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) March 8, 2022

But at least Jordan Love is probably available.

The post Aaron Rodgers to Remain in Green Bay appeared first on The Football Girl.

All four teams are also in the advantageous position of deep familiarity. The Bengals knocked off the Chiefs in Week 17, and the 49ers erased a 17-point deficit to topple the Rams in Week 18. As the final four games near, here’s a look at the matchups and intangibles that will go into deciding the slate for Super Bowl 56.

AFC Championship: Bengals at Chiefs, 3PM ET on CBS

While the latest odds for Super Bowl 56 put the Chiefs as favorites to hoist Lombardi, the Bengals have an air of destiny. It’s safe to say that Cincinnati made the right move by passing on offensive lineman Penei Sewell and instead selecting Ja’Marr Chase with the no. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.   

Chase and Joe Burrow absolutely smoked the Chiefs in Week 17. Chase accounted for 266 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns out of Burrow’s 446 yard-4 TD total. These two have remained hot in the playoffs. 

The Chiefs will need to adjust but also need to provide answers for Burrow’s other weapons like Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and C.J. Uzomah. The Chiefs defense, which evolved from one of the league’s worst to one of the best after acquired Melvin Ingram mid-season, has struggled in the past four weeks (granted two of those weeks were against the Bills and Bengals). But Tyrann Mathieu (concussion) is tracking to play which should help.

The Bengals offensive line was smoked last week by the Titans’ defensive front. Through a variety of stunts, Burrow was sacked a remarkable nine times (and they still won!). The Chiefs like to utilize the straight up blitz, which Burrow is a master at exploiting. Will the Chiefs study the Titans film and add a few more stunts?

There are no more adjectives left to describe what Patrick Mahomes can do with a football in his hands. He’s ridiculous. However, the Bengals figured out a way to hold Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce to 65 yards in Week 17. Obviously holding those two to anything in that ballpark would be a massive boost for the Bengals. 

Crowd noise at Arrowhead is a real x factor. The Bengals will need to watch for false starts and make sure their communication is tight.

NFC Championship: 49ers at Rams, 6:30ET on FOX 

Kyle Shanahan certainly has bragging right over his former assistant Sean McVay. The 49ers have beat the Rams a whopping six straight but none of the will matter if the Rams win at home on Sunday and host the Super Bowl in two weeks.

Cooper Kupp is going to have a day. Despite San Francisco’s impressive track record against the Rams, Kupp has feasted on the 49ers secondary, topping 100 yards every meeting against their nemesis this season. The 49ers have a top notch run defense (Sony Michel eked out just 43 yards on 21 carries in Week 18) so stopping the other Rams receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyler Higbee will be key.

Will the Rams be able to do the impossible and stop Deebo Samuel. Ever since Shanahan starting utilized Samuel as a multi-layer threat, he’s become arguably the most dangerous weapon in the game. The Rams couldn’t contain Samuel in Week 18 – he had 45 rushing yards, 85 receiving yards and a score. 

QB play: Matthew Stafford is the more respected quarterback in terms of ceiling goes but both of these quarterbacks are prone to at least one major mistake a game. But they both have proven to be clutch. Stafford made some aggressive, picture-perfect throws to seal the Rams’ win over Tampa, avoiding overtime. And Garoppolo, for all the heat he takes, led the 49ers on their game-winning drive last week as well.

Trent Williams’ health could be a major factor. The All-Pro left tackle has missed practice all week with a tweaked ankle but could suit up on Sunday. When Williams missed Week 18, Garoppolo was sacked three times. When he returned against Dallas, Garoppolo wasn’t sacked at all.

San Francisco likes to call SoFi Stadium, Levi’s South, a reference to the fact that the Rams’ home stadium turned into a sea of red in Week 18. The Rams tried to avoid a repeat by restricting ticket sales to Los Angeles zip codes for the NFC Championship early in the week but they were shamed into opening up sales to all. Given how well the 49ers travel, it’s doubtful SoFi will feel like the Rams House it strives to be. A repeat of red could be quite demoralizing to the home team. 

The post Championship Weekend: Keys to Victory for Bengals, Chiefs, Rams, 49ers appeared first on The Football Girl.

Among the many tentacles of the 49ers discussed:

• Jimmy Garoppolo’s ability to overcome mistakes

• A tale of two halves for Kyle Shanahan

• Why the Rams didn’t trust Matt Stafford to throw on 3rd and 5 to seal a win

• The importance of Niners Nation turning SoFi Stadium into a “home” game

• An early look at how the 49ers and Cowboys match up

The post TFG Pod: 49ers’ Golden Playoff Ticket appeared first on The Football Girl.

2021 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyProsECR – Expert Consensus Rankings

The post Fitz on Fantasy: 2021 Week 18 Complete Player Rankings appeared first on The Football Girl.

But its newest addition (at least as of this posting), Colts quarterback Carson Wentz, is particularly notable. Wentz is first and foremost not vaccinated. As it stands, assuming Wentz tested positive for COVID, he would be sidelined for 10 days. The 9-6 Colts are hanging are in the throes of the AFC’s tight playoff race. They currently hold the number 5 seed but there are three 8-7 teams outside salivating to get in, including the Raiders who they face this week. That means the Colts’ playoff hopes may rest on the arm of rookie Sam Ehlinger who was drafted in the sixth round and has seen virtually no action this season.

However, Colts fans may have a stroke of good luck on the docket. According to a number of reporters, the NFL and NFLPA are close to adopting the CDC’s new quarantine guidelines which reduce the quarantine period of those testing positive from ten to five days. This even applies to the unvaccinated. But for Wentz to make a quick return, these guidelines would need to become official in the next few days, he would need to show no symptoms, and, of course, would need to produce a negative test before rejoining the team.

Another silver lining for the Colts is that like all players who test positive, Wentz will have a 90 day reprieve from COVID testing. That means no more tests until after the Super Bowl.

Per usual, the goalposts of COVID are always on the move, in both the NFL and life.

The post Colts place Carson Wentz on reserve/COVID-19 list appeared first on The Football Girl.

2021 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyProsECR – Expert Consensus Rankings

The post Fitz on Fantasy: 2021 Week 17 Complete Player Rankings appeared first on The Football Girl.