George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. He was 76.

Foreman’s family announced his death on social media.

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote.

A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt in one of the greatest fights ever staged.

Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening.

He then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer — 19 years his junior — with one perfect combination to claim Moorer’s two heavyweight belts.

Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and actor.

He was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, a rudimentary cooking machine which sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.

“George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family,” Top Rank president Bob Arum said. “We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.”

NFL

The Chargers added to their tight-end depth by signing Tyler Conklin, formerly of the New York Jets, to a one-year contract.

Conklin, a seven-year veteran, will likely compete for the starting position with Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk when training camp begins in late July in El Segundo.

Tight end was one of the thinnest spots on the roster before the Chargers signed Conklin, one of the NFL’s top possession receivers at his position. Conklin, 29, has had 50 receptions or more in each of the past four seasons, including a career-high 61 in 2023 with the Jets and 2021 with the Minnesota Vikings.

Last season with New York, Conklin caught 51 passes for 449 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.

— Elliott Teaford

Aaron Rodgers might still want to play football. He might even do it in Pittsburgh. The four-time NFL MVP met with the Steelers on Friday, multiple sources reported. Rodgers spent several hours in the team’s facility gathering information but left without signing a contract.

Pittsburgh currently has an opening at quarterback. Justin Fields, who along with Russell Wilson led the Steelers to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth last season, signed with the Jets last week. Wilson is a free agent but does not appear to be part of Pittsburgh’s plans for 2025. The Steelers signed veteran backup Mason Rudolph to a two-year deal this week.

Rodgers, 41, appears to be in no rush to make a decision. He’s spent time in California recently trying to figure out if he wanted to come back for a 21st season.

The New York Giants and quarterback Jameis Winston agreed to terms on a two-year, $8 million contract, multiple sources reported. Winston, 31, joins Tommy DeVito as the only quarterbacks on the Giants’ roster.

The New Orleans Saints brought back receiver Brandin Cooks, their 2014 first-round draft choice, on a two-year, free-agent contract. Cooks had spent his previous eight seasons with New England, the Rams, Houston and Dallas.

Cooks’ 15 career touchdown passes of 40 or more yards are fifth most in the NFL in the past 11 seasons. In 158 career games, Cooks has 710 receptions for 9,532 yards (13.4 avg.) and 60 touchdowns. He has reached 1,000 yards receiving in a season six times.

GOLF

Viktor Hovland is searching for his swing and found himself in contention at the Valspar Championship, where Jacob Bridgeman has a one-shot lead and a host of others were right behind going into the weekend in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Bridgeman was among several players atop the leaderboard on a chilly day until the Copperhead course bit back at some point. He had a two-shot lead until missing a par putt from 4 feet on the 18th hole. That gave him a 2-under 69. Bridgeman was at 6-under 136.

Hovland (67), Byeong Hun An (67) and Ryo Hisatsune (66) were one shot back, with a large group at 4-under 138 that included Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele, who extended without stress his consecutive streak to 60.

NHL

The Edmonton Oilers lost both a game and another star Thursday, falling 4-3 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets after Connor McDavid left with a lower-body injury. McDavid exited following a second-period collision with Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey.

The Oilers were already without NHL-leading goal scorer Leon Draisaitl (lower body). Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said that both players will likely be out at least a week.

The Oilers also lost starting goaltender Stuart Skinner late in the third period against the Jets, but Knoblauch said he will be available today against the Seattle Kraken.

Skinner was pulled by the concussion spotter, a decision Knoblauch said postgame he would not have made. Skinner also disagreed with the decision.

Penguins 6, Blue Jackets 3: Sidney Crosby scored his 25th goal and added an assist for host Pittsburgh.

MLB

Colorado’s Thairo Estrada broke his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch from Texas’ Kumar Rocker and will be out 4-8 weeks, manager Bud Black said.

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish will start the season on the injured list because of inflammation in his right elbow, manager Mike Shildt said. Shildt said there is no timetable for Darvish’s return.

WINTER SPORTS

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott was among five Olympic champions who won events at the world freestyle skiing and snowboard championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, less than a year out from the Winter Games.

New Zealander Sadowski-Synnott added a third world gold medal to the Olympic snowboard slopestyle title she won in Beijing in 2022, on a busy day with eight finals after several events were rescheduled to avoid poor weather forecast for the weekend.

Canada’s Liam Brearley won his first career world championship medal with gold in snowboard slopestyle, leaving Beijing Olympic silver medalist Su Yiming of China to settle for second place once again.

Jaelin Kauf of the United States won an all-American final in the dual moguls, beating her teammate Tess Johnson by 21 points to 14 in the final. Kauf was the silver medalist in moguls at the 2022 Olympics. Dual moguls, where two skiers compete side by side, joins the Olympic program next year.

Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury missed out on a fourth consecutive world moguls title earlier in the championships, when Japan’s Ikuma Horishima won gold.

It was the other way round in dual moguls as Kingsbury managed to complete a quadruple in that event, beating Horishima in the final. It was Kingsburg’s fifth career world championship gold in that event, fourth in a row.

Host nation Switzerland celebrated three gold medalists as Mathilde Gremaud won her second world gold medal in women’s ski slopestyle and there were ski cross gold medals for Fanny Smith — who last won a world championship in 2013 — and Ryan Regez.

Norway’s Birk Ruud, the 2022 Olympic big air champion, won men’s ski slopestyle.

MOTORSPORTS

Lewis Hamilton won his first race for Ferrari, securing today’s Sprint victory from pole position following an early duel Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix in Shanghai.

Hamilton got a great start to take the lead into turn one, and managed the gap to Verstappen, until the Dutchman was passed for second on lap 15 by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri into the back straight’s hairpin. The pair completed the podium.

COLLEGE SWIMMING

Gretchen Walsh and Alex Walsh each won an individual title, and the sisters helped Virginia dominate the 400-yard medley relay in the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships in Federal Way, Wash.

Gretchen Walsh picked up her second individual title of the championship in an American, NCAA and US Open record time of 46.97, beating Olympic champion Torri Huske by almost two seconds in the 100 butterfly. She is the first woman ever to break 47 seconds in the event.

Alex Walsh won a fifth different individual event in her career after securing the 100 breaststroke. Only one other swimmer, Tracy Caulkins, has accomplished that feat. It was Alex Walsh’s ninth individual national title.

Virginia’s Claire Curzan edged Florida’s Bella Sims by one-tenth of a second to win the 100 backstroke in 49.11.

The Cavaliers lead the team leaderboard with 383 points. Stanford is second at 292 and Texas third with 288.