Latest news with #MecoleHardman
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How The NFL Wins With Free Chargers-Chiefs Broadcast On YouTube
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 11: Mecole Hardman Jr. #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with ... More Patrick Mahomes #15 and teammates after catching the game-winning touchdown pass to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) YouTube is steadily taking over the larger concept of 'TV,' as the company has regularly called attention to recently. And with over 12% of U.S. streaming viewing, according to April data from Nielsen's The Gauge, the video platform is the most direct way to deliver content to audiences. Naturally, the NFL – which owns the largest piece of the TV pie – would want to tap into that. Hence the announcement last week that the Week 1 Friday night matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers would appear for free on YouTube. While it's not the first time the NFL has streamed a game for free, it's by far the biggest contest to get that treatment. It's also the natural extension of the league's increasing migration to streaming, following Thursday Night Football on Amazon, the launch of NFL+, YouTube nabbing Sunday Ticket rights, Peacock playoff matchups, and Netflix Christmas games. But those are all gated experiences that successfully test the limits of what NFL fans will pay for games and related content. The league parked games elsewhere and fans followed. Here, you could argue, the NFL is embracing the opposite approach, parking itself (again, for free) where fans already are. And not just any fans, either, but specifically, younger fans. According to Tubular Labs audience data provided exclusively to Forbes, on average, the NFL's U.S. YouTube audience is 18.9% viewers 13-to-25. At the peak over the last 13 months, that group hit 10.6 million unique viewers in that age range – 22.7% of the total unique audience. The NFL's unique U.S. viewers on YouTube, April 2024-April 2025, compared to share of unique viewers ... More that are 13-to-24 years old. It's a substantial number, even without a live game for those audiences to tune into. By giving younger viewers a live game to watch on a platform they prefer (a Deloitte survey last year said that 60% Gen Z viewers preferred user-generated content – social videos – because it's easier to find something to watch), you could expect that number to climb. And maybe even convert younger fans in the process, into more regular NFL viewers, when their existing habits of eschewing traditional TV, largely prevent them from watching games at all. In some ways, it is a familiar path for the league, strategically positioning itself where the proverbial ball is going for TV audiences. As cable television was beginning its ascent in the late 1980s, live games started appearing on burgeoning networks like ESPN and TNT, and helped fuel their growth and popularity. The league's out-of-market play, NFL Sunday Ticket, debuted in 1994 on DirecTV, at a time when satellite TV was in its infancy and the package helped fuel satellite's explosion (to the point where it was among the primary reasons why AT&T originally acquired DirecTV in 2014). Parking games on Amazon Prime Video to some extent since 2017, the NFL got ahead of TV's fast-track move toward ad-supported streaming services. And now, appearing on YouTube, the league cashes in on the platform's relevance with younger viewers – while also helping push YouTube's expansion into becoming what more and more audiences (across age breakouts) are considering 'TV.' There's potential for concern, too, of course. While consumers will watch billions of hours of YouTube content, much of what's on the platform (from creators and media companies alike) from a long-form perspective is optimized to both attract and keep audience attention. The NFL, on the other hand, is by default a vehicle for ad deliveries. Wall Street Journal research from 2010 revealed that despite lasting for over three and a half hours, an NFL game only features about 11 actual minutes of game action. So how do the NFL and YouTube fix that dynamic for this Chiefs/Chargers matchup – on a Friday night, no less, when attention can be hard to come by – especially if it becomes a more lopsided game? You could argue that on YouTube, and with a younger audience overall, those challenges are even greater than they normally are for a sport that almost encourages channel surfing during lulls. But that also presents an opportunity for creativity: Both in terms of technical delivery and the presentation of the game in a way that keeps viewer engagement high no matter what's going on within the field of play. Regardless of how the league (and YouTube) solve for those potential hurdles, expect all eyes to be on how the game's broadcast plays out; which automatically spells yet another win for the NFL.
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
The Green Bay Packers unveiled their 2025 schedule. Get home game tickets
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. The NFC North is a tough division. As a result, on paper, it might look like the Green Bay Packers' third-place finish out of four teams in 2024 was a disappointment. However, if you look a little more closely, you'll see that the season was actually a resounding success for Jordan Love's club. The Pack went 11-6 and won huge games against the Vikings, Texans and Rams before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Really, they were just in a tough division toplined by the 15-2 Detroit Lions and 14-3 Minnesota Vikings. So, even though last year was a solid showing for the squad, they made sure to shore up the roster over the offseason and picked up wide receiver Mecole Hardman, guard Aaron Bank, cornerback Nate Hobbs and kicker Brandon McManus. Now all they have to do is put it all together and win — which is much easier said than done. 'I think every year has got new challenges,' head coach Matt LaFleur said in an interview with the team website. 'You've got to get back to work. That's what it's all about, just putting in that work, getting a little bit better, coming together as a team is going to be critical…how your team comes together plays a pivotal role in how you're going to perform.' If you want to be there to help root the Packers on live — they'll need all the help they can get considering they have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL — tickets are available on Vivid Seats for all eight recently announced home games at Lambeau Field in 2025. That includes huge matchups against the Detroit Lions (Sept. 7), Washington Commanders (Sept. 11), Philadelphia Eagles (Nov. 10), Minnesota Vikings (Nov. 23) and Baltimore Ravens on a date that's yet to be determined. Not familiar with Vivid Seats? They're a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. Vivid Seats offers a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Green Bay Packers 2025 home game tickets Below, you'll find a list of all upcoming Green Bay Packers home games at Lambeau Field including dates, start times and opponents. Full Packers 2025 schedule If you think you might find yourself traveling with the Packers this year, here's where you can find them on the road once the 2025 season begins. Lambeau Field seating chart Never made the pilgrimage out to the legendary Lambeau? To make life easy, check out a map of Lambeau Field here for a better picture of all the views from the stands. Vivid SeatsVivid Seats Vivid Seats How to watch/stream Packers games There is no shortage of ways to watch Packers games live from the comfort of your own home this season. You can find LaFleur's squad on ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network on select dates. Through the regular season, most NFC games will be broadcast on Fox. For prime-time games, 'Sunday Night Football' can be found on NBC along with Peacock, 'Monday Night Football' is reserved for ESPN (and sometimes ABC) and 'Thursday Night Football' streams on Amazon Prime Video. Huge concert tours in 2025 Many of the biggest stars in music have shows booked at arenas and stadiums all over the U.S. this year. And, luckily, quite a few of them are headed to Green Bay. After a bit of whittling down, our team found five of the concerts we're most excited about headed to the area these next few months. • Staind with Breaking Benjamin (May 27) • Coheed and Cambria with Mastodon (June 7) • Jason Aldean (Sept. 5) • Bonnie Raitt (Sept. 17) • Jon Pardi (Oct. 18) Need a little more music in your life? Check out our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Analyzing Packers roster post-free agency, pre-2025 NFL draft
Analyzing Packers roster post-free agency, pre-2025 NFL draft The bulk of free agency for the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFL is over, and the 2025 NFL draft is now three weeks away. It's time for a roster reset. The Packers currently have 72 players on the active roster. Green Bay signed four veteran free agents (Aaron Banks, Nate Hobbs, Mecole Hardman and Kristian Welch) and saw seven free agents depart for new teams, and three free agents remain unsigned. How does the roster look with most of free agency in the rear-view mirror and the draft now only weeks away? Where is help required? Here's a look at the roster, position by position, after a month of free agency and with the draft now three weeks out: Quarterback On the roster: Jordan Love, Malik Willis, Sean Clifford Lost: None Unsigned: None The Packers say they want to draft and develop a quarterback every year, but 2025 will put that claim to the test. Willis, who was acquired in a trade for a seventh-round pick last August, returns after a superb season as Love's backup. Clifford, a 2023 fifth-round pick, returns for his third season in the offense. Clifford wasn't good enough to be the No. 2 last summer, and 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Pratt didn't make the team and departed for Tampa Bay. Willis (unrestricted) and Clifford (restricted) will both be free agents in 2026, so another investment here is possible. Running back On the roster: Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd Lost: A.J. Dillon (Eagles) Unsigned: None This is one of the strongest positions on the roster. Jacobs turned in a Pro Bowl season in 2024, Wilson produced over 500 total yards and was efficient as the primary backup, and Brooks provided a reliable runner and blocker. Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick, returns after a nightmare rookie season on the injury front. He could provide a dynamic playmaking option if his body holds up in Year 2. Dillon, who signed with the Eagles, sat out the 2024 season after injuring his neck in training camp. A draft pick is unlikely, but expect the Packers to add numbers here via college free agency. Wide receiver On the roster: Christian Watson (injured), Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath, Bo Melton, Mecole Hardman, Julian Hicks, Corneilius Johnson, Tulu Griffin Lost: None Unsigned: None Watson (ACL) is expected to miss time to start 2025, but the Packers could go into next season with the current group of receivers and be just fine. Yet even after signing Hardman to a one-year deal, a draft pick at receiver seems inevitable, given the contract situations for Watson and Doubs (entering final year of rookie deals) and the underperformance of the position group overall during the 2024 season. An investment at receiver could help the passing game in 2025 and keep the position healthy years into the future. A pick during the first two days of the draft looks increasingly likely. Tight end On the roster: Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims, Messiah Swinson, Johnny Lumpkin Lost: None Unsigned: John FitzPatrick, Tyler Davis FitzPatrick wasn't tendered as a restricted free agent, but it's still possible he could return on a low-cost, one-year deal at some point. He was active over Sims for the playoff loss in Philadelphia, and the team likes his combo of size and athleticism. This position is in good shape overall, with Kraft emerging as one of the NFL's best young tight ends and Musgrave returning from last year's significant ankle injury. The Packers need Kraft to get more targets, and Musgrave to avoid the injuries that have plagued his first two seasons. Sims will need a strong summer to stick again as the third tight end. Offensive line On the roster: Elgton Jenkins, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Aaron Banks, Jordan Morgan, Kadeem Telfort, Jacob Monk, Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings, Marquis Hayes, Trey Hill Lost: Josh Myers Unsigned: Andre Dillard The Packers swapped out Myers, the team's starting center, for Banks, who will start at left guard and push Jenkins to center. The offensive line is now at least six deep in players the Packers believe can start right now -- including Morgan, who will compete to start at both left tackle and right guard. Tom, Walker and Rhyan are all entering contract years, and only Tom is likely to get a new deal before the 2025 season. The Packers have good numbers along the offensive line, but additions are coming -- both via the draft and college free agency. Staying deep up front requires yearly investment, and continued development. Defensive end On the roster: Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr., Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre, Jeremiah Martin Lost: None Unsigned: None The Packers know they need a better four-man pass-rush in 2025, but so much of the "need" here is based around the team's evaluation of Van Ness and Cox Jr. entering their third NFL seasons. They need to take big jumps and be consistent, reliable contributors. Are they capable? Can the Packers afford to rely on internal progression at such a key position? Enagbare is entering a contract year, so a draft pick at edge rusher is all but assured. But how high of a draft pick? Defensive tackle On the roster: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, James Ester, Leonard Payne, Keith Randolph, Nesta Jade Silvera Lost: TJ Slaton Unsigned: None Losing Slaton could force the Packers to play Clark more as a true nose tackle and give Wyatt and Brooks even more snaps as the 3-technique in the 4-3 front. Clark saw a lot of double team blocks in 2024, but he also produced the least productive season of his career after signing a big third contract. He needs a big rebound. Wyatt, who is disruptive when healthy, will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026 if the Packers don't pick up his fifth-year option or agree to an extension. With a deep draft class at defensive tackle, expect the Packers to take at least one. Linebacker On the roster: Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Kristian Welch Lost: Eric Wilson Unsigned: None The Packers re-signed McDuffie and cancelled out the loss of Wilson by returning Welch, solidifying the linebacker position for 2025. The team still wants more numbers at linebacker. Like Devonte Wyatt, Walker would be a free agent in 2026 if his fifth-year option isn't exercised or an extension doesn't get done. A draft pick here is probably unlikely. Cornerback On the roster: Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Nate Hobbs, Kalen King, Kamal Hadden, Isaiah Dunn, Kaleb Hayes Lost: Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, Robert Rochell Unsigned: None The Packers are actively trying to trade Alexander, but they say a return in 2025 remains possible. We see it as highly unlikely. Trading or releasing Alexander would continue the makeover at corner, where the Packers let three free agents depart and signed Hobbs to a solid deal. The Packers see Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine as starting caliber, and 2024 second-round pick Javon Bullard was a preferred option in the slot to end last season. King and Hadden, two draft picks from 2024, return after a year on the practice squad. Could the Packers take a corner early? Sure. But it won't be surprising if the team thinks the position is in better shape now than most outsiders believe. Safety On the roster: Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Kitan Oladapo, Zayne Anderson, Omar Brown Lost: None Unsigned: None The safety position got remade last offseason and now looks rock solid. Bullard played more and more as a slot corner to end 2024, so the numbers here might be deceiving. McKinney and Williams ended up being the preferred safety duo, Oladapo looked good after returning from a foot injury, Anderson is a core special teamer who proved he can play defensively in 2024, and Brown is an intriguing young developmental player. Specialists On the roster: K Brandon McManus, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matthew Orzech Lost: None Unsigned: None Bringing back McManus solidified the specialists for 2025. Orzech (unrestricted) and Whelan (restricted) will both be free agents in 2026, so it's possible competition is brought in this summer at one or both positions.
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Green Bay Packers sign former Georgia WR, Super Bowl hero
Green Bay Packers sign former Georgia WR, Super Bowl hero Another Georgia Bulldog found a new home in free agency. The Green Bay Packers signed former Bulldog Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Hardman was a five-star recruit when he was signed by Georgia in 2016. He played three seasons with the Bulldogs, racking up 60 receptions for 911 yards and 11 touchdowns, including a big touchdown in the 2018 national championship. He also starred as a special teamer, fielding 39 punt returns for 592 yards and 35 kick returns for 875 yards. Teams were interested in Hardman's raw attributes during the 2019 NFL draft. He ran a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, one of the fastest in Georgia history. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Hardman 59th overall in the 2019 draft. Hardman has been a depth receiver primarily for the Kansas City Chiefs. He also had a brief stint with the New York Jets. He became one of the best punt returners in the league, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl and becoming a 2nd-team All-Pro in 2019. With the Chiefs, he won three Super Bowls (LIV, LVII, and LVIII). He scored the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 53. With Green Bay he will more than likely be useful depth due to the injury history of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. He will do tremendous work for the Packers' special teams too, since they were ranked dead last in punt return yardage and in the bottom ten in average yards per punt return last season.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Green Bay Packers sign former Georgia WR, Super Bowl hero
Another Georgia Bulldog found a new home in free agency. The Green Bay Packers signed former Bulldog Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Hardman was a five-star recruit when he was signed by Georgia in 2016. He played three seasons with the Bulldogs, racking up 60 receptions for 911 yards and 11 touchdowns, including a big touchdown in the 2018 national championship. He also starred as a special teamer, fielding 39 punt returns for 592 yards and 35 kick returns for 875 yards. Teams were interested in Hardman's raw attributes during the 2019 NFL draft. He ran a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, one of the fastest in Georgia history. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Hardman 59th overall in the 2019 draft. Hardman has been a depth receiver primarily for the Kansas City Chiefs. He also had a brief stint with the New York Jets. He became one of the best punt returners in the league, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl and becoming a 2nd-team All-Pro in 2019. With the Chiefs, he won three Super Bowls (LIV, LVII, and LVIII). He scored the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 53. Packers signing WR Mecole Hardman to one-year deal. (via @TomPelissero, @MikeGarafolo) — NFL (@NFL) March 18, 2025 With Green Bay he will more than likely be useful depth due to the injury history of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. He will do tremendous work for the Packers' special teams too, since they were ranked dead last in punt return yardage and in the bottom ten in average yards per punt return last season. This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Green Bay Packers sign Georgia Bulldogs WR
