NFL – Chicago Bears hire Colts DC Matt Eberflus as head coach

Matt Eberflus is the new coach of the Chicago Bears, tasked with turning around a franchise mired in mediocrity for much of the past decade. He spent the past four years as Indianapolis’ defensive coordinator. The 51-year-old Eberflus called his new job a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The hire is the first big move for new Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who took over on Tuesday. Poles and Eberflus are first-timers in their respective positions in the NFL. The Bears fired general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy after a 6-11 season, hoping new leadership will lift a struggling franchise.

NFL – Roethlisberger retires at 39: Time to 'hang up my cleats'

Ben Roethlisberger’s NFL career is over. The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has announced his retirement. In a video message, Roethlisberger said it was “time to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats” after 18 seasons, two Super Bowls, countless team records and a likely spot in the Hall of Fame. The 39-year-old Roethlisberger called his journey from a kid growing up in northwestern Ohio to the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft to a likely future Hall of Famer “exhilarating” but said he is retiring “a truly grateful man.” The Steelers never had a losing season during Roethlisberger’s tenure and captured Super Bowls 40 and 43. The player known as “Big Ben” posted a 165-81-1 record as a starter, the most in franchise history and 5th-most ever.

NFL – National Football League – Conference Championships

Sunday

AFC:  Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs, 3:00 p.m.

NFC:  San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, 6:30 p.m.

NFL – NFC title game slightly delays Super Bowl stadium prep

Last year the NFL had a team play in its home stadium in a Super Bowl for the first time. On Sunday, the league will see another first that does put a delay in some of their preparations for this year’s big game. The NFC championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers marks the first time that a conference title game is taking place at the Super Bowl venue. Katie Keenan, the NFL’s Senior Director of Event Operations, said that the league had prepared for that contingency, but that it has delayed what work they can do inside SoFi Stadium.

NHL – National Hockey League

Tonight

Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.

NBA – National Basketball Association

Tonight

Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic, 7:00 p.m.

Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:00 p.m.

Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m.

NBA – Durant, James lead ASG starters

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will be the starters and captains for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. Joining Durant on the Eastern Conference starting lineup are Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH'-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON'-poh), Philadelphia center Joel Embiid (joh-EHL' ehm-BEED'), Chicago guard DeMar DeRozan and Atlanta guard Trae Young. Denver center Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH'-lah YOH'-kihch), Golden State forward Andrew Wiggins, Warriors guard Steph Curry and Memphis guard Ja (jah) Morant will start with James on the Western Conference team.

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball

Saturday

Michigan at (10) Michigan State, 12:30 p.m.  UofM: 94.9 WSJM 12:00                       MSU: 103.7 Cosy-FM 11;30

Miami (OH) at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 p.m.

Western Michigan at Ball State, 3:30 p.m.

Central Michigan at Northern Illinois, 4:00 p.m.

Virginia at Notre Dame, 6:00 p.m.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball

Yesterday

(20) Notre Dame 83, Syracuse 62