Aidan Hutchinson Reveals He Found Solace in This Fantasy-Romance Book Series During His Leg Injury Recovery (Exclusive)

Michael Owens/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Aidan Hutchinson revealed to PEOPLE the new hobby he pursued while recovering from his season-ending injury last season

• The Detroit Lions star suffered a broken tibia and fibula during a game agains the Dallas Cowboys in October 2024

• Hutchinson also opened up about his return to the field, including how he's feeling in his first season back since undergoing surgery for the injury

Aidan Hutchinsonis reflecting on a pivotal chapter of his life.

The Detroit Lions star, 25, looked back on the season-ending injury that he sustained during a game against the Dallas Cowboys in October last year, and revealed to PEOPLE the hobby that he picked up during his recovery.

"My sisters got me on reading these fantasy romance books," he says, while sharing how he spent his time away from the game after breaking both his tibia and fibula during the 2024-25 NFL season.

Hutchinson, who is the youngest of his family with two older sisters Aria and Mia, then revealed that the specific books he was hooked on. In fact, it wasthe five-book seriespenned byNew York Times' best-selling authorSarah J. Maasthat took the internet by storm.

Todd Rosenberg/Getty

"A Court of Thorns and Roses," he shared ofthe series that racked up millions of views onlineand on TikTok (specifically BookTok, the side of the app that deals exclusively in book reviews and recommendations).

"They got me on that whole series," he adds of his sisters.

Hutchinson's injury took him out of the game for the entire season due to its severity. His months-long recovery required a combination of surgery and physical therapy in order to be cleared for activity in May, and to return to training camp in the September that followed.

During his downtime, though, he focused on the pages.

"You got a lot of off time when you're rehabbing, so I was just crushing through these fantasy books," he tells PEOPLE. "I mean, I loved them. Call it a guilty pleasure. You know what I mean?"

He adds, "It was great. It was great, but that was definitely something new that I hadn't done before."

And just because Hutchinson resumed his game play as a defensive end with the Lions, doesn't mean he's completely abandoned his newfound love.

"I finished that series, so now I'm on a different series," he shares of moving on fromACOTAR. "It's a little bit slower now that the season started. But I still read it, do my audio books and stuff. It's been great."

This season is Hutchinson's third year in the league since he was selected by the Lions as the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL. And in the months since his return from injury, he told PEOPLE he's gained a new perspective on the sport.

Aidan Hutchinson with his family

"We lost to the Packers in the first game... losing that game sucked. But to me, I had my health, I was okay, we're going to move on to the next week," he says, explaining, "And last year I couldn't say the same."

"After we played the Cowboys, I got my season stripped away from me," he continues. "So just having the ability to be healthy and continue to do what I'm put on this earth to do is really, it's really a blessing."

Now that the 2025-26 NFL season is underway, rest assured that Hutchinson is back and better than ever.

"I'm feeling great," he tells PEOPLE of his return to the gridiron. "I really feel like it's all behind me and I've been playing good football since I got back... You're even more grateful and blessed because of that injury last year."

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

January 01, 2026

Aidan Hutchinson Reveals He Found Solace in This Fantasy-Romance Book Series During His Leg Injury Recovery (Exclusive)

Michael Owens/Getty NEED TO KNOW Aidan Hutchinson revealed to PEOPLE the new hobby he pursued while recovering from his season-ending inj...

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Bye, bye: NFC's top prize goes to 49ers-Seahawks winner

There will be plenty on the line Saturday night when the Seattle Seahawks meet the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.

Namely, the NFC West title, the conference's top playoff seed and a first-round playoff bye.

Both the Seahawks (13-3) and 49ers (12-4) carry six-game winning streaks into the matchup.

The 49ers have overcome season-ending injuries to defensive stalwarts Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to move into position to earn home-field advantage through the Super Bowl, which is scheduled for Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, with a victory.

"Back when Fred got hurt, if you told anybody we'd be 12-4 and be battling Week 18 for that one seed, you're absolutely crazy," 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. "Nobody would've believed you. So it's been a special season already, and one I definitely don't take for granted. But we're not done. I have all the confidence in the world that we can get this thing done."

The 49ers would get the No. 1 seed with a victory by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker because they won 17-13 at Seattle in the season opener. Brock Purdy threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to backup tight end Jake Tonges with 1:34 remaining and Bosa clinched the victory with a strip-sack of Sam Darnold with 36 seconds left and the Seahawks at San Francisco's 9-yard line.

The preparation time for both teams will be shorter than usual.

The Seahawks had to make a cross-country flight home after a 27-10 road victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Zach Charbonnet rushed for a season-high 110 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

The 49ers beat the visiting Chicago Bears 42-38 in a nationally televised game Sunday night as Purdy overcame a pick-6 on the opening play from scrimmage to throw for 303 yards and three touchdowns and rush for two more scores.

"I wish it wasn't (a short week). We just had a short week," said 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, referring to his team having played on Monday, Dec. 22, at Indianapolis. "So I really wish it would have been Sunday, but it is what it is. Hopefully the guys can heal up and be ready to go."

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald didn't seem concerned.

"Whatever," he said on Seattle Sports 710 AM. "When's the game? All right, let's go put together a plan. Let's go."

The short week could affect injured players and whether they can make it back.

Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross didn't play the past two games because of a hamstring injury and missed practice time this week, as did his backup Josh Jones (ankle/knee). Seattle signed rookie Amari Kight off the practice squad just in case.

Seattle safety Coby Bryant (knee) didn't practice on Wednesday. On the plus side, the Seahawks will get linebacker Derick Hall back after a one-game suspension.

San Francisco left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) and defensive end Keion White (groin) missed practice on Wednesday. Juszczyk (hip), running back Christian McCaffrey (back), tight end George Kittle (ankle), wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle), defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and cornerback Upton Stout (concussion) were limited.

Kittle, asked if he would be ready to play Saturday, replied, "Absolutely."

The Seahawks can't afford another sluggish start, especially against a 49ers team that has scored 37 or more points in each of its past three games.

Seattle has scored an average of seven points before halftime over its past five games.

"We've had some games where we've started really great (and) we've had some games where we haven't and been able to rebound," Macdonald said. "I think it's hard to attribute it to just one thing. If not, I think we would have probably found a solution by now."

-Field Level Media

byAlpha World

in

January 01, 2026

Bye, bye: NFC's top prize goes to 49ers-Seahawks winner

There will be plenty on the line Saturday night when the Seattle Seahawks meet the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara,...

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Joe Burrow argues for 'change' with Bengals in three-year playoff drought: 'What we've been doing hasn't worked'

NFL fans know Joe Burrow is a true franchise quarterback, one of the few elite players who can lift up an entire team and immediately make it a contender. Despite the presence of Burrow, however, the Cincinnati Bengals haven't made the playoffs in three seasons.

That's quite the feat, one that hasn't gone unnoticed by Burrow, whoadvocated for "change" within the organizationWednesday, per ESPN.

"We don't want to be in the spot we are in now, so something's got to change," Burrow said Wednesday. "Whether it's players we have continuing to improve and get better and play championship-caliber football or bringing in guys that will or whatever it may be. Obviously, something has to [change]."

It marks yet another eyebrow-raising comment by the 29-year-old Burrow over the past few weeks. With the Bengals in the midst of their worst season since 2020, Burrow has been vocal abouthis enjoyment of the gameandadmitted he's considered a futurewhere he's no longer a Bengal.

Burrow kept his "change" comments centered around players, saying either those currently on the team need to take a step forward or the organization needs to bring in championship-caliber talent to lift the team back into the playoffs.

While Burrow didn't mention coaching or front-office upheaval, there may be some Bengals fans who believe that could be the necessary "change" to push the Bengals back into contention. Under Zac Taylor, the Bengals have been criticized for their slow starts. While he was able to lead the team to a Super Bowl in his third season, the fact that Taylor has failed to take a Burrow-lead team to the playoffs in three straight years is a concern.

Burrow, however, isn't completely blameless in his team's failure to make the postseason the past three seasons. When healthy, Burrow is undoubtedly an elite quarterback. But various injuries have prevented him leading the Bengals to glory. Burrow missed seven games in 2023 due to a wrist issue and nine games this season with a toe injury. Both injuries essentially sunk the team's chances in those seasons.

Keeping Burrow healthy and upright would go a long way toward the Bengals returning to the Super Bowl in the next couple seasons. The team's front office was criticized for not doing enough last offseason to strengthen its offensive line. Those critiques were immediately validated after Burrow went down in Week 2 with his injury.

Because of that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Burrow is advocating for change. If he can avoid taking big hits, Burrow has it in him to lead the Bengals to a championship. But if the Bengals continue to embrace the status quo — like they did last offseason — the remainder of Burrow's time in Cincinnati could end in bitter disappointment.

byAlpha World

in

January 01, 2026

Joe Burrow argues for 'change' with Bengals in three-year playoff drought: 'What we've been doing hasn't worked'

NFL fans know Joe Burrow is a true franchise quarterback, one of the few elite players who can lift up an entire team and...

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Around 40 killed, 100 injured in explosion in Swiss ski resort bar, police say

LENS, Switzerland - Around 40 people have been killed and 100 injured, most of them seriously, after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during a New Year's Eve party in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Swiss officials said on Thursday, Jan. 1.

A fire broke out at 1.30 a.m. in a bar called "Le Constellation" in the resort in southwestern Switzerland. The cause of the blast remains unclear but authorities said it appeared to be an accident.

"At the moment we are considering this a fire and we are not considering the possibility of an attack," prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud told a press conference, adding that authorities had opened a full investigation.

Some of the victims are from other countries, said Stephane Ganzer, head of security for the Valais canton. The canton's head of police, Frederic Gisler, said a helpline had been opened for relatives.

"I can't hide from you that we are all shaken by what happened overnight in Crans," Gisler told the news conference.

"Our count is about 100 injured, most seriously, and unfortunately tens of people are presumed dead," he said, adding that patients had been dispatched to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich.

The Italian foreign ministry said information from Swiss police indicated about 40 deaths, but Gisler declined to give a specific figure.

Earlier, police said many people were being treated for burns and that the area had been completely closed off, with a no-fly zone imposed over Crans-Montana. Authorities said 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances had been deployed.

"What was meant to be a moment of joy turned, on the first day of the year in Crans-Montana, into mourning that touches the entire country and far beyond," Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelinsaid on X, expressing condolences.

Prosecutor Pilloud said authorities were trying to get the bodies of the victims to their families.

"A lot of resources have been put into forensics to identify the victims. These resources are intended to allow us to get the bodies to the families as soon as possible," she said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the fire may have been caused by fireworks.

"It seems to have been an accident caused by a fire, by some explosion, by some firecracker thrown during New Year's celebrations," he told Italy's Sky TG24 tv channel.

(Additional reporting by Dave Graham in Zurich and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru;Editing by Neil Fullick, Gareth Jones, Philippa Fletcher)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:40 killed,100 injured in Swiss ski resort bar explosion, police say

byAlpha World

in

January 01, 2026

Around 40 killed, 100 injured in explosion in Swiss ski resort bar, police say

LENS, Switzerland - Around 40 people have been killed and 100 injured, most of them seriously, after an explosion tore th...

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More than 2,000 measles cases reported in the US in 2025 as ongoing outbreaks threaten elimination status

The United States reported more than 2,000 measles cases in 2025, federal data shows, a higher annual total than the country has seen in decades.

Ongoing outbreaks — particularly in the upstate region ofSouth Carolinaand along the border between Arizona and Utah — continue to add dozens of cases each week, threatening the measles elimination status that the US has held for a quarter-century.

As of December 30, there have been 2,065 confirmed measles cases in the US in 2025, according todatapublished Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The last time there were more than 2,000 cases reported in one year was in 1992, just a couple years after health leaders updated recommendations to say that children should get two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine instead of just one.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known, but the MMR vaccine offers highly effective protection. One dose is 93% effective against measles infection, and two doses are 97% effective,according to the CDC.

However, vaccination rates have been falling for years. For the 2024-25 school year, just 92.5% of incoming kindergarteners had received the MMR vaccine, CDCdatashows — below the 95% threshold that public health experts say is necessary to prevent outbreaks.

Measles has been considered eliminated in the US since 2000, meaning no outbreaks or other chains of transmission have lasted longer than a year. But multiple large outbreaks in 2025 may be connected, which puts the elimination status on the line if cases continue to grow through late January.

An outbreak centered in West Texas that started in late January wasdeclared overin mid-August. There were hundreds of related cases across Texas and New Mexico, and three unvaccinated people died: two children and one adult.

In early October, the South Carolina health department confirmed that there was a measles outbreak in the upstate region. That outbreak has spread to nearly 180 cases over the past four months and continues to grow; at least 20 new cases have been reported since Friday, and nearly 300 people are in quarantine because of exposure to a known case.

"We know that a large number of our cases are those who we've placed in quarantine because of known exposures," Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina's state epidemiologist, said Tuesday. Measles continues to spread through household transmission, in schools and at churches, she said.

An outbreak on the Utah-Arizona line also continues to grow, with more than 350 cases reported between the two states in 2025.

In November, the Pan American Health Organization, part of the World Health Organization, determined thatCanada had lost its measles elimination statusamid a large ongoing outbreak there.

"It's important to say that all the other 34 countries in the region, they keep their certification as measles-free," PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said at the time.

But possible genetic links between the Texas outbreak and the ongoing South Carolina outbreak put that status at risk for the US.

"The trajectory that we're looking at now is that we do anticipate more cases well into January," Bell said. "What that means for us nationally in terms of how they are defining our designation in this country as having eliminated measles is unclear."

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byAlpha World

in

January 01, 2026

More than 2,000 measles cases reported in the US in 2025 as ongoing outbreaks threaten elimination status

The United States reported more than 2,000 measles cases in 2025, federal data shows, a higher annual total than the country has seen in de...

Read More