Sports Editor

Michael Nowels

Mike Nowels is the sports editor for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. He has roots in Colorado and Arizona and joined the Bay Area News Group in March 2019. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in elementary education and minors in teaching English as a second language and sociology. He holds a Master's degree from Arizona State's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Language: Spanish (Some)

Affiliation: Associated Press Sports Editors

Expertise: Sports

San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle (85) high-fives San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) after Kittle scored a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

49ers’ high-flying offense well represented on Pro Bowl roster

December 24, 2025 at 4:32 a.m.

The 49ers are missing a pair of Pro Bowl stalwarts due to injury, but their special teams crew picked up several spots.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) warms up before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

What the 49ers said after beating the Colts

December 22, 2025 at 9:33 p.m.

Kyle Shanahan: "Last night was the first time I mentioned anything about (the playoffs), because we got into the playoffs last night. I didn’t want to talk about it all...

Stanford's Kathryn Plummer (2) hits on the block of Nebraska's Jazz Sweet (12) in the first set of a championship match of the NCAA Div I Women's Volleyball Championships, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

San Francisco lands team in pro women’s volleyball league

December 19, 2025 at 11:50 a.m.

The announcement means a fourth consecutive year an expansion women's sports team will debut in the Bay Area.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks off the field after their 37-24 win over the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

What the 49ers said after beating the Titans

December 14, 2025 at 6:39 p.m.

Kyle Shanahan on Brandon Aiyuk being move to the "left team" list: "It's extremely unfortunate that it has gotten to this point but when this year is over, we'll see...

Andrea Kitahata #20 of the Stanford Cardinal dribbles against Taylor Huff #3 of the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the Division I Women's Soccer Championship at Wake Med Soccer Park on Dec. 4, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

What to know before Stanford faces Florida State in women’s soccer title game

December 8, 2025 at 4:45 a.m.

Florida State beat Stanford in the 2023 championship match. High-scoring Stanford is looking to tie FSU with four NCAA titles.

Defensive Coordinator Tosh Lupoi of the Oregon Ducks looks onto the field during the Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium on April 26, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Cal makes it official: Tosh Lupoi named Bears’ new head football coach

December 5, 2025 at 5:20 a.m.

Tosh Lupoi has business to tend to with Oregon bound for the College Football Playoff, but he will have a new job once the No. 4 ranked Ducks' run comes...

Bay FC head coach Emma Coates poses for a photo. (Courtesy of Bay FC)

Bay FC hires new manager Coates, citing developmental work for England

December 4, 2025 at 11:31 a.m.

The club emphasized Coates' work in "individual player growth, culture building and modern, possession-based football."

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) looks on while the Phoenix Suns make a free throw in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Warriors injury roundup: Melton set to go, but Curry remains out

December 4, 2025 at 2:17 a.m.

The Warriors are expected to have a veteran starting-caliber guard return to their lineup on Thursday when they face the 76ers in Philadelphia, but it won't be Stephen Curry.

Cal nears deal to hire Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi as head coach: sources

December 3, 2025 at 4:12 a.m.

Lupoi, a Walnut Creek native and former De La Salle standout, was a defensive lineman in Berkeley from 2000-2005 and coached the Bears line from 2008-11

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Skyy Moore #9 of the San Francisco 49ers returns a punt past Corey Bojorquez #13 of the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

What the 49ers said after beating the Browns

December 1, 2025 at 4:11 a.m.

"I love our character, I love our urgency and I like where we're at," Christian McCaffrey said of the 49ers at the bye week.

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