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Aaron Rodgers didn't leave anything up for interpretation.

The 2026 season will be his last.

"This is it," Rodgers said during a news conference May 20 on the second day of organized team activities followinghis return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second year.

Rodgers, 42, signed a one-year contract with the Steelers earlier this week aftermonths of speculation on whether he would play again for his 22nd season.

The four-time NFL MVP, who spent the first 18 years of his career with theGreen Bay Packers, is reuniting with former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy for his final season in Pittsburgh. McCarthy was hired by the Steelers earlier this offseason.

McCarthy coached Rodgers for 13 years and the two teamed to win a Super Bowl during the 2010 season. Rodgers won his first two MVPs under McCarthy and they went to the playoffs for a franchise-best eight straight seasons from 2009-16.

Rodgers has implied retirement in the past.

He said last year after also signing a one-year contract with the Steelers that he was "pretty sure this is it."

"That’s why we just did a one-year deal," Rodgers said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on it."

Now, a year later, Rodgers is back with the Steelers, the team he helped lead to a division title in 2025.

Aaron Rodgers on retirement

Here's how Rodgers answered the question about retirement on May 20.

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Asked by a reporter if the 2026 season could be his last year, Rodgers replied emphatically "yes" before confirming that he plans to call it quits after the year.

Rodgers will get a chance for a bit of redemption afterlast season's dismal 30-6 loss in the wild card round in which his final pass was an interception.

Rodgers turns 43 in December.

It will also give him a chance to move up another list. He enters the 2026 season fourth all-time in touchdown passes with 527 but with 13 more the future first-ballot Hall of Famer will pass Peyton Manning for third.

Last season, in 16 games with the Steelers, Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes, threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Aaron Rodgers on the Steelers in 2026

What does Rodgers think of the Steelers' chances this season?

"I think you have to temper expectations this time a year," Rodgers said, "because all the years I played sometimes you get excited about guys how they look in shorts and a helmet and then when the pads go on it just changes everything. It changes the offensive line first and foremost, but it changes how guys play.

"Some guys slow down, some guys speed up, some guys have extra confidence with pads on, some guys have some trepidation with the pads on.

"You just got to temper your expectations, not make any snap judgments and wait to camp to see how things come together. But I am excited about these guys. I am excited about the team and it's fun to be back in the locker room with those guys."

A year afterthe Packers played Rodgersin a regular season game in Pittsburgh – a 33-25 win for Green Bay – they'll see him again in 2026, thoughthis time just in the preseason.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Aaron Rodgers provides major update on NFL future, retirement

The New York Knicks are no strangers to playing with plenty of momentum during the NBA playoffs. Nor are the Cleveland Cavaliers unfamiliar with climbing back from discouraging losses.

But Game 1 of their Eastern Conference finals series on Tuesday might have provided the Knicks with their most momentum yet and presented the Cavaliers their biggest challenge.

The host Knicks will aim to take a 2-0 series lead as the Cavaliers will look to bounce back from a stunning defeat in Game 2 of the best-of-seven set on Thursday.

The Knicks won Game 1 in historic fashion, overcoming a 22-point deficit in the final 7:52 of regulation and never trailing in overtime on their way to a 115-104 victory.

The victory was the eighth straight for the Knicks, who won their previous seven games by an average of 26.4 points before mounting the second-biggest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history.

The Los Angeles Clippers trailed the Memphis Grizzlies by 24 before earning a 99-98 win in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round series in 2012.

On Tuesday, the Knicks squandered an 11-point second-quarter lead and were outscored 66-33 over a span of 21-plus minutes between the second and fourth quarters. But Jalen Brunson scored 15 points in the fourth quarter as New York ended regulation on a 30-8 run before OG Anunoby scored nine points in overtime.

"They were playing great basketball, had us on our heels, give them a lot of credit -- obviously we played well in the fourth and overtime," Brunson said. "It was the middle, second and third quarter, where we let go of the rope. So that's our biggest takeaway."

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That plus the fact that the series isn't over just because of a resounding Game 1 victory. In 2012, the Clippers had to go the distance to eliminate the Grizzlies, who forced a decisive Game 7 after falling behind 3-1.

"They're going to come out with extreme energy, attention to detail, focus, sense of urgency and desperation," Knicks forward Josh Hart said. "They're looking at it like that was our game that we gave away."

The loss was the seventh of the postseason for the Cavaliers, who needed the full seven games to eliminate the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors in the first round and the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the second round.

"We've had some tough ones, but it's one loss," said Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who scored 29 points but just three during the Knicks' fourth-quarter surge. "It's not like that loss gives them two or three games. It's one. So we have an opportunity to come back here in two days and steal one here."

Cleveland squandered a 2-0 series lead against the Raptors, who forced Game 7 when RJ Barrett hit a 29-footer that bounced high above the rim and through the net to give Toronto a 112-110 win.

The Cavaliers trailed the Pistons 2-0 in the second round, then won three straight before missing a chance to close out the series at home last Friday, when Detroit rolled to a 115-94 victory. However, Cleveland responded with a 125-94 road rout in Sunday's Game 7.

"Just understanding that we didn't have the best effort (Tuesday) night, we didn't have the best outcome," Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen said. "And the resiliency is going to show (Thursday in) how we come out."

--Field Level Media

President Donald Trump's success in unseating a Republican congressman from Kentucky who had bucked him demonstrated his dominance in steering the GOP where he wants the party to go.

Yetpolls showthe president has been leading Republicans into politically perilous territory with the broader electorate, and his demands of absolute loyalty could put GOP lawmakers in a bind as the midterm election approaches with many of the president’s policies proving unpopular.

"This doesn’t play well with swing voters. Most want an independent voice in Congress," retiring Nebraska GOP Congressman Don Bacon told USA TODAY of Trump’s involvement inknocking out Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie."One can have a totally loyal minority or a majority. I prefer a majority."

Trump's sway with his MAGA base, which has made him such a force in GOP primaries,isn't translating to other key voting groupsand hisapproval ratings have suffered, threating to drag down other Republicans even as he pushes them to get behind him.

Trump's Republican targets fall

Trump targeted Massie for defeat after the lawmakervoted againstthe president’s signature tax cut legislation last year andpushed to releasethe government’s files on Jeffrey Epstein. Trump-backed candidate EdGallrein defeated Massieby 10 percentage points in themost expensivecongressional primary in U.S. history.

The president was deeply involved in the contest,repeatedly slammingMassie in social media posts and public comments leading up the May 19 primary election. Trump touted his primary endorsement record the next day,telling reporters"we won everything."

Massie’s ouster is the latest example of Trump’s long history of purging the party of those he clashes with, such as former Rep. Liz Cheney and former first-term Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of Trump’s closest allies,resigned this yearafter splitting with him over the Epstein files.

Trump has been active in GOP primaries during the 2026 campaign cycle, helpingunseat five Republican state senatorsin Indiana who opposed him on redistricting andU.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, who voted to impeach him. And he is seeking to knock off Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, accusing him of not being supportive enough andendorsing Cornyn's primary opponent, Ken Paxton, who is more aligned with the MAGA base.

Some senators disgruntled about Trump's primary involvement

Trump's efforts have upset some Republicans.

"There are a lot of folks in our conference who are disappointed," Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, said after Trump’s endorsement of Paxton.

GOP Senate leadership backed Cornyn, arguing he has a better chance of winning the general election.

The president downplayed GOP concerns about Paxton, telling reporters May 20 that Republican senators will be "alright with it" because "they want to win" and "I know how to win." But the Paxton endorsement is adding tocriticism within his own partythat Trump is hurting his chances of maintaining a GOP congressional majority by his actions in the primaries.

"It weakens the GOP in the long run" and for November, Bacon said.

The pressure Trump is exerting on Republican lawmakers to fall in line puts them in a difficult position when his policies are unpopular, said Bacon, adding, "That’s how we become the minority."

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Mark Bednar, a Republican strategist and former House leadership aide, said Trump’s push to enforce party unity could help the GOP as the election approaches, arguing the "muscle" Trump applied to the primaries will help "build a cohesive coalition."

Bednar said that Republicans need to speak with "one voice" heading into the election.

"An important step to getting to that point is kind of clearing the static and the cobwebs of internal disagreement," he said, arguing Republicans who clash with Trump are a distraction.

GOP primary winners need more votes in November

Republicans face a difficult election cycle. They control Congress and the White House, and the party in power typically is at a disadvantage in the midterms. Trump’s low polling numbers also could be a drag on the party.

Massiesuggested in his concession speechthat the president is not focused on the right issues, highlighting his push to build a White House ballroom.

"While gas is almost $5 and diesel's almost $6 they're talking about this big ballroom they're going to build and it looks like the Roman Empire, architecture from the Roman Empire," Massie said. "I see a few analogies there. And people are just trying to make ends meet."

The president’s approval rating has been dropping amid the Iran war, with just 40% of the overall electorate happy with his job performance, according to theReal Clear Politics polling average. Recentsurveysshow a majority of voters disapprove of his handling of the economy, cost of living and Iran.

The war has driven up gas prices, which are now at $4.55 for a gallon regular nationwide on average,according to AAA.

Republicans still strongly back Trump, with 83% approving of his job performance in a recent New York Times/Siena poll. But 91% of Democrats and 70% of independents disapprove of the president,according to the survey.

Former Michigan GOP Congressman Fred Upton, who voted to impeach Trump and later endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, told USA TODAY in a text message that GOP candidates in swing districts "for sure are very wary of the 2-edged sword with gas prices headed above $5 and the belief particularly among independents that the country is headed in the wrong direction."

Yet lawmakers who try and distance themselves from Trump are likely to face his wrath, said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

"They’re stuck. There’s nothing they can say, nothing. Whatever Trump says is law," Sabato said.

The president is "insisting that they ford the stream" in backing him unconditionally, he added, but it could turn into "an onrushing river that sweeps them away."

Contributing: Zachary Schermele

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Donald Trump ousts Thomas Massie. Could strategy backfire in midterms?

Three sisters whose bodies were recovered from the ocean off Brighton beach in England have been named

NEED TO KNOW

• Police formally identified the women as Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, one week after their bodies were found at around 5:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 13

• "No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives," the sisters' father, Joseph, said in a tribute

Three womenwhose bodies were recovered from the oceannear the coastal city of Brighton, England, have been named.

On Wednesday, May 20,Sussex Police confirmedthat the women had been formally identified as sisters Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, one week after their bodies were found at around 5:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 13.

Emergency services had been called to the beach near Black Rock parking lot off Madeira Drive in Brighton on the day the bodies were recovered, police said.

“Jane, Christina and Rebecca were sisters, from the Uxbridge area of London. Their next of kin are being supported by specialist officers during this incredibly difficult time,” authorities added in a release.

Police said that the investigation into the siblings' deaths is ongoing, but confirmed that “at this time, there is no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality.”

Authorities added that “specialist detectives are working hard to gather the full facts and circumstances of their deaths.”

“This has included the review of hundreds of hours of CCTV, enquiries at properties and businesses around the beach area to try and trace the women's last movements and extensive engagement with our partners in Brighton and London,” police continued, per the release.

Police are urging anybody who might have information regarding the case to come forward.

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The sisters' father, Joseph, paid tribute to his daughters in a heartbreaking statement shared by Sussex Police.

“Today, with a heart full of sorrow and love, I pay tribute to my beloved daughters — Jane, Christina, and Becky — whose lives ended so tragically far too soon,” he said, adding that “no words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives.”

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Joseph continued, “Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love.”

He said that each of the three women was “unique and precious” in their “own special way.”

“Your smiles brightened dark days, your laughter brought comfort, and your presence made life more meaningful. Though your time on earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts forever,” Joseph shared.

Mentioning each of his daughters individually, Joseph then said, “Jane, your strength and loving spirit will never be forgotten. Christina, your kindness and beautiful heart touched so many lives. Becky, your warmth and joyful soul brought happiness wherever you went.”

“You were deeply loved, and you will always be deeply missed. The tragedy of losing all three of you has left an emptiness that words cannot heal. There are days when the grief feels unbearable, yet I hold tightly to the memories we shared — the laughter, the conversations, the love, and the bond that death can never take away,” he continued.

“Though you are no longer here beside us, your spirits live on in our hearts every day. Love like yours never dies. You will forever remain a part of our lives, our prayers, and our memories,” Joseph concluded. “Rest peacefully, my precious daughters — Jane, Christina, and Becky. You may be gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever remembered.”

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove, said that “the thoughts of everyone at Sussex Police” were with the family following the "devastating" loss.

Hays said, “I know this incident has had a profound impact on the local community in Brighton, and across the country and I'd like to reassure the public we will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to understand exactly what led to the tragic events of that Wednesday morning.”

“This investigation will continue in earnest, with Jane, Christina and Rebecca's family at its [center]. I would ask that they are given the privacy to come to terms with this terrible tragedy,” he concluded.

Sussex Police had no further statements to add when contacted by PEOPLE.

Read the original article onPeople

Jason Kidd’s run with the Dallas Mavericks is over.

The Mavericks announced on Tuesday night that they have mutually parted ways with their head coach after five seasons.

Kidd has spent the past five seasons with the Mavericks. He took over ahead of the 2021-22 campaign after longtime head coach Rick Carlisle left for the Indiana Pacers. Kidd oversaw the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals in 2024 alongside star Luka Dončić, but the team has struggled ever since the shocking deal that sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

In total, Kidd compiled a 205-205 record with the Mavericks, which marked his third head coaching job in the league. Kidd, a Hall of Famer who played for the Mavericks himself and was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the team in the 1994 NBA Draft, previously held short stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, too.

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Kidd, who signed a contract extension last summer, had four years and more than $40 million left on his deal with the Mavericks.

“Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals,” team president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. “We are thankful for Jason’s leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team. In my short time here, I’ve developed an enormous amount of respect for what he has built. He will always be an important part of the Mavericks family.”

The Mavericks have not been to the playoff since the Dončić trade went down, and are coming off a 26-56 record last season — which marked their worst season since the 2017-18 campaign. The Mavericks selected Duke star Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick last summer, and have the No. 9 overall pick in the draft next month. Flagg and whoever the Mavericks select will get to join star guard Kyrie Irving on the court next season, too. Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL.

The split with Kidd is just the latest in what’s been a big reset for the Mavericks. The organization hired MasaiUjiri, a former Toronto Raptors executive,as their next president earlier this month. Ujiri is taking over for Nico Harrison, who was fired after extreme backlash from fans following the Dončić trade. Ujiri and the Mavericks then hired Mike Schmitz to take over as the team’s general manager.

Ujiri and Schmitz will now start looking for a new head coach to replace Kidd next season. Those three will then be tasked with reviving the franchise.

“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team,” Ujiri said. “We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention. We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve.”