With 2026 now upon us, it's a perfect time to look ahead and wonder what the new year has in store for all of Philadelphia's beloved sports teams. Some goals are lofty, and others a little more realistic...
While a Super Bowl repeat is still very much on, it's also a logical target for the defending champions. The longer-term plan should be to find an offseason fix for the relentless offensive inconsistency fans have endured this season.
It's certainly not a talent issue, but the discussions of whether the head coach or offensive coordinator should shoulder the blame continue tor age on, regardless of whether the team wins or loses.
We saw a glimpse earlier in the season of just how noisy things can get if the Eagles start to lose football games. Winning does cure everything, but one look into that crystal ball was enough to give many a cold shiver down their spine.
The likelihood is that there will be a changing of the guard at offensive coordinator this offseason, but if Nick Sirianni remains the common denominator, and things don't improve, then the pressure will only build.
It's absolutely imperative that the Eagles find a fix for the offensive woes that have held them back massively in 2025. Most in the city trusts Howie Roseman's ability without question, so talent acquisition is rarely a concern. But the play-sheet is a whole different ballgame and one that's growing evermore confusing to understand.
If the Eagles are to become the dynasty we know they can be, then this has to be the primary offseason target.
The Sixers are slowly edging towards a crossroads. Joel Embiid is now 31 years old and injuries are beginning to take their toll, while the Paul George signing has been underwhelming. In the absence of the veterans, Tyrese Maxey, rookie V.J Edgecombe, and an emerging group of players such as Quentin Grimes, have all stepped up and pushed a new shape on the floor. Maxey is having an astounding season, Edgecombe is looking like an early home-run hit, and the team looks far more efficient with the offense running through Maxey than it does Embiid.
The contracts are obviously an issue here, and it's not like the Sixers are inundated with cap space, but if this season winds up being another instance of falling short, one has to wonder how long the leash is on both Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey, and whether or not some shock moves would come in the following offseason.
It's hard to really hang your hat on Embiid as the cornerstone of your team right now, no matter how much people may want to. The question is whether the Sixers are happy to keep doubling down and ride out as much of that expensive contract as possible, or if there's a change of heart in the front office after catching a glimpse of what life after the big man might look like.
The Phillies dropped out of the playoffs bitterly early, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of fans, but the Harper/Schwarber era has seen the team make some huge strides.
The core of the team is still very much a playoff-worthy unit, but as the contracts of Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler begin to snowball, and a hefty amount of bankroll now locked up in Kyle Schwarber's deserved extension, it's not like there's much wriggle room to improve things further. Given how cold the offense became in the latter stages of 2025, it's fair to wonder just how long the Phillies can maintain this current setup if the goal is to win a World Series.
The all-star talent is clearly there, with the Phillies boasting some of the most renowned sluggers in the league. The pitching rotation has been excellent for several years now. But maintaining hot streaks deep into October and reducing otherwise uncharacteristic errors are crucial to long-term success.
For Middleton, Dombrowski and the rest of the front office, the challenge now is working out how to send this group to the next level. We're talking macro improvements that could make the world of difference come playoff time, but any edge they can find absolutely must be capitalized on at all costs.
The team has done a sensational job at sustaining its growth, but the main goal for 2026 is simply to find a way to get that line moving upwards and to the right once again, instead of bottoming out by the time the stakes are raised.
The Flyers are finally making some positive strides. After years of frustration, the pieces seem to finally be falling into place for a team desperate to get back to its glory days. It's been a process, but a marquee acquisition in the offseason might have just expedited things that much more.
For 2026, it's all about really finding where the new weaknesses are. The goaltending situation looks to have stabilized and there's an exciting core of players who can push this team in the right direction.
But as things stand, the power play remains a concern, and as inspiring as the endless grit the team displays to claw back crucial overtime points, it's simply not sustainable, especially if playoff hopes are realistic.
Learning how to control the game more efficiently on the ice and continuing to build slowly off of it has to be the plan for next year. It would be easy to get excited by a rapid rise out of the doldrums of the Metro division and go all-in at the deadline or this coming offseason. But there's no need to tamper with something that is clearly working and looks very exciting if things continue to improve over the next few years.
The Philadelphia Union shockingly dominated MLS this season, winning the Supporters Shield and renewing hopes that the elusive MLS Cup would finally come home. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't to be, as the team fell to NYCFC in the semifinals.
Weirdly, this felt like the opportune season to win it all. After an offseason of immense turnover, nothing really was expected of Philly, and making the MLS Cup Semifinal was a huge overachievement. It would be fair to expect some form of regression, and with Tai Baribo already out the door, things already looking shaky.
It's going to take an immense offseason from a front office that already has enough to worry about off the pitch, and the goal should simply be to find some bargain-bin players who can fill a hole, while investment in the next generation continues to spearhead the long-term future and growth of the team.
