Arizona Cardinals

Josh Mauro, a college football star turned 8-year NFL vet, died last week at the age of 35, his family announced on Tuesday.

The cause of death is not currently clear.

"With many tears and broken hearts, yet anchored in the unshakable certainty that our precious Josh Mauro is now healed and made new—living in the presence of the Lord—we humbly covet your prayers as our family walks through the devastating loss of our amazing son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend," Josh's dad, Greg, wrote on social media.

DeAndre Hopkins opened up to TMZ Sports about his approach to free agency this offseason ... and he admitted if the Minnesota Vikings hit him up, he'd love to run it back with his old QB, Kyler Murray.

The 33-year-old vet spoke at length about his thought process as he figures out where to call home in 2026 ... and he made it clear he can absolutely contribute at a high level.

D-Hop is currently up for grabs after spending one season with the Baltimore Ravens, and we asked what's next for the five-time Pro Bowler.

When we brought up reconnecting with Murray, his teammate in Arizona from 2020 to 2022, he had nothing but high praise for the quarterback.

"Kyler ... that's my bro, man. Kyler is like family," Hopkins said at LAX this week.

Former NFL first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche found himself in some trouble last week ... when cops say they saw him walking out of a store with groceries in his pants ... but it was past run-ins with the law that got him put in the slammer.

According to a police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, the former Arizona Cardinals' defensive tackle was exiting a Kroger in Georgia last week ... when an officer conducting a business area check says they observed the 31-year-old with "many large objects, square and rectangular shapes, consistent with concealed grocery items, inside his sweatpants."

The officer says they then called for backup as Nkemdiche walked to a gas station.

Kyler Murray's time with the Arizona Cardinals is set to end a week from Wednesday as the team plans to release him at the start of the new league year -- and the former first overall pick penned an emotional farewell to the city ... apologizing for not bringing home a Super Bowl.

The news broke on Tuesday that barring a trade between now and next week, the team will release him once the clock strikes 4 PM ET on March 11.

Not long after it went public ... Murray took to his X account to thank everyone who showed him and his family love during his time with the organization.

We're a few days away from throwback Thursday, but that didn't stop Baker Mayfield from strolling down memory lane during Monday night's "Manningcast," cracking a joke about his infamous 2017 arrest!

Mayfield was a guest on Eli and Peyton Manning's popular show, where the three quarterbacks were chopping it up with the 8-year pro and NFL star ... when they rolled a week 6 highlight of Baker scrambling, looking like a Mike Vick (not really) rather than the Bucs signalcaller.

The Giants legend then asked Bake when he got the time to practice scrambling ... and cue the comedy.

Kyler Murray was remorseful after a recent social media post resulted in a ton of backlash ... telling reporters he meant no harm when he shared a picture of himself wearing a Michael Vick jersey while posing with a dog.

Murray addressed the controversy during his media availability on Wednesday ... when he explained, "In no way, shape, or form do I condone animal cruelty or dog fighting, whatever it is."

"I saw how it affected people and decided to take it down," he said. "So, I apologize to anybody and whoever I affected with that."

Congratulations are in order for J.J. Watt and his wife, Kealia ... as the former all-pro defensive end and soccer star announced the birth of their second child -- Niko!!

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year shared the news on social media Tuesday ... introducing the world to their newest bundle of joy with a series of sweet photos where everyone -- including their firstborn, Koa -- was nothing but smiles.

"Overcome with joy and gratitude," he wrote.

Mack Wilson Sr.'s music has taken the internet by storm after his team, the Arizona Cardinals, tapped the part-time rapper to create a song announcing the squad's 2025 schedule.

Rocketship, Mack's stage name, has become a hit online -- and with his full EP dropping Friday -- TMZ Sports asked the 27-year-old linebacker a critical question ... Super Bowl or Grammy?!

"Super Bowl, bro," Wilson Sr. said without an inkling of hesitation.

Congratulations are in order for J.J. Watt and his wife, Kealia ... the couple just announced they're expecting their second child!!

The Watts dropped the big news Monday afternoon ... showing off the former National Women's Soccer League player's baby bump as their son, Koa, gave it a peck.

There is no word yet on the gender or the due date for the little bundle of joy ... but they are all smiles in the photos dropping the news!!

James Conner -- an Arizona Cardinals superstar who's beaten cancer -- is offering up advice to Randy Moss as he faces his own battle with the disease ... telling TMZ Sports the Hall of Famer should make it a priority to lean on his loved ones.

Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma back in 2015 when he was a college running back at the University of Pittsburgh ... but he ended up beating it, and he's since gone on to have a hell of an NFL career.

This week -- while he was out at a Raising Cane's bike giveaway charity event -- he told us he was praying for Moss ... while encouraging the ex-Minnesota Vikings receiver to stay positive.

NFL cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is setting the record straight on his dating life ... saying he's NOT the guy kissing Bobbi Althoff in a blurry video making rounds this week -- despite what some folks thought on social media.

The podcaster shared the clip to her Instagram story ... showing her kissing and being all lovey-dovey with a taller man -- but purposely leaving his face out of frame to preserve his identity.

The irresponsible X aggregators were quick to spread the misinformation ... stating as fact it was the Arizona Cardinals player on the other side of Bobbi's smooches in the footage.

11:57 AM PT -- A spokesperson from the Arizona Department of Public Safety tells TMZ Sports ... the fracas all began after two women pushed each other.

"One female fell down," the rep said. "A male friend ran after the suspect ... brushing by other males before a fight ensued."

The spokesperson added three men were ultimately arrested for misdemeanor assault.

Several Arizona Cardinals fans whaled on each other in the stands of the team's game Sunday afternoon ... and things turned so violent -- one guy actually left the area leaking blood.

The Arizona Cardinals are apologizing to one of their fans and season ticket holders ... after the woman was forced to throw away her MAGA hat, or risk missing Sunday's game.

The controversial incident went down before the Rams vs. Cardinals game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ ... when Susan Rosener, who was with her husband, was stopped at a checkpoint.

Stadium security informed Rosener she couldn't enter due to her "Make America Great Again" hat, Donald Trump's famous slogan.

Former NFL star Adrian Wilson has struck a deal with officials to close out his domestic violence case -- ensuring if he completes a series of conditions ... the whole thing will be behind him in a matter of months.

Scottsdale, Ariz. court records show the five-time Pro Bowler cut the pact with prosecutors on Tuesday -- agreeing to enter into a pretrial diversion program to eventually rid himself of the disorderly conduct charge he had been facing.

As part of the agreement, officials dropped the other two counts against him -- domestic violence assault and domestic violence damage to property.