Travis Kelce's absence from Taylor Swift's whirlwind week had fans asking questions ... but the star tight end had a pretty good excuse ... pro football.
While Taylor was making headlines from Hollywood to Madison Square Garden, Travis has been in Kansas City taking part in the Chiefs' organized team activities and mandatory minicamp in advance of the upcoming NFL season.
Travis' NFL commitments explain why he was nowhere to be found at the "Toy Story 5" premiere earlier this week -- where Taylor made waves by getting a VHS copy of the original film signed by Tom Hanks -- and why he wasn't sitting courtside with her Wednesday night as she watched the Knicks pull off their historic NBA Finals comeback.
Nick Saban is comparing the state of college sports to a Ferrari heading for the Grand Canyon at 150 miles per hour ... and he's begging Congress to step in and pump the brakes before it crashes.
The coaching legend spoke at a Senate hearing in support of the "Protect College Sports Act of 2026" on Wednesday ... and in his 11-minute opening statement, he said he loves how players can now profit off their name, image and likeness -- but hates how it has become "pay for play."
In his testimony, Saban brought up the real issues in college sports now that players get paid ... saying it's all about money instead of development, and competition has resorted to who has the biggest wallet, which he thinks is a race to the bottom.
Deion Sanders is a Hall of Famer in the present department ... 'cause Karrueche Tran tells TMZ Sports she was certainly feeling the love on her birthday earlier this month.
We caught up with the stunning 38-year-old out at LAX recently ... and had to ask if the Colorado Buffaloes coach got her anything special for her big day.
Sam Houston State University is mourning the loss of defensive back William Davis, who has died at the age of 22, TMZ has confirmed.
A spokesperson for Sam Houston State University tells TMZ … "We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of SHSU student-athlete Will Davis."
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
The school's Head Football Coach Phil Longo released a statement saying ... "It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Will Davis. Will was a beloved member of our Bearkat football family here at Sam Houston who touched the lives of everyone he knew."
Congressman Jonathan Jacksonsays college athletes shouldn't just dominate on Saturdays and Sundays ... they should use their transfer power to fight for civil rights, too.
Jacobcaught up with the Rep. from Illinois Friday on Capitol Hill ... where Jackson unloaded on states he believes are rolling back voting rights protections -- and argued athletes should respond by bolting for schools elsewhere.
Watch the video ... Jackson specifically called out Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama ... saying if state lawmakers are "going to take African-Americans' voting rights and their representation away," athletes should use freedom of choice and hit the transfer portal.
Shilo Sanders had a controversial approach to defending his brother, Shedeur ... telling an award-winning journalist to "go make a sandwich" for saying Deshaun Watson should be named the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback.
The sexist comment came under an Instagram post that reshared Cleveland reporter Mary Kay Cabot's recent take on the team ... when she said it was best if the Orange and Brown went ahead with the former All-Pro as the guy under center instead of Sanders, who started seven games as a rookie in 2025.
Shilo wasn't having any of it ... and resorted to the misogynistic clapback.
Former NFL star Jeremiah Trotter now has two sons in the NFL after this year's draft ... and he tells TMZ Sports he wholeheartedly believes they'll both end up better than he ever was!!
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Josiah Trotter in the second round on Friday after playing at West Virginia and Missouri in college ... joining his older bro, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Jr., in the league.
Trotter Sr. -- an Eagles Hall of Famer and All-Pro linebacker in his own right -- said he knew when his boys were young they were destined for the NFL ... and he's "truly blessed" to see it come true.
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.
All TMZ Sports had to do was mention Caleb Downs' name to get Michael Irvin fired up -- the Hall of Famer tells us the Cowboys knocked their first-round draft pick outta the park ... and he's gonna help Dallas win a Super Bowl this year!!!
We caught up with No. 88 at LAX fresh off Day 1 of the NFL draft ... and our camera guy only got two words out before Irvin unloaded a passionate rant on the Ohio State standout.
"We're happy about that," Irvin said Friday. "Boy a bad boy, now. That's a bad dude. He is a game changer. He is one of the few right now in the game that plays like that dude Kyle Hamilton from the Ravens. That's the kinda safety -- plays all over the field and makes a difference all over the place. So I'm happy about it."'
Ex-University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore's former mistress and assistant, Paige Shiver, just dropped a bombshell about their relationship -- she claims she was pregnant with his baby.
Shiver shared the shocking news during an interview with ABC News that partly aired on "Good Morning America" Friday morning. She tearfully said she wanted to keep the baby, but her docs told her it wouldn't be safe to carry the child due to her Pompe Disease, a progressive disorder that weakens muscles and causes respiratory and heart issues.
Shiver also spoke about the manipulation tactics Moore allegedly used during their relationship, explaining ... "[He] had complete control over me, over my emotions, over my career, and he knew that, and he used it against me."
Everyone knows Fernando Mendoza is going to be the first pick in the NFL Draft, but who's the best defensive player out of the bunch ... Arvell Reese says it's him!
"I think I'm the guy because I think I play with a relentless effort, and I play with a violent mindset," the 20-year-old former Ohio State star told TMZ Sports.
"I'm putting violence and relentless effort first."
Draft experts have the All-American slotted anywhere between the second and fifth pick ... with many believing he'll go to the New York Jets, who pick second, or the Arizona Cardinals, if Gang Green passes on Arvell.
A planned pregame skydiving entrance at Virginia Tech turned into a tense scene Saturday when a parachuter got stuck on the scoreboard.
The skydiver was supposed to glide into the stadium carrying a massive American flag ahead of the Hokies' spring game under new head coach James Franklin ... but instead ended up tangled high above the field.
Video shows the chute snagged across the top of the scoreboard wedged between the giant "C" and "H" ... with the skydiver left dangling for roughly 20 minutes as fans looked on.
Crissy tells us she was sacked on Thursday from USA Today ... just days after she blasted Dianna's resignation.
Crissy tells TMZ she's "beyond distraught" ... especially because Nancy Armour did a story for the network expressing a similar sentiment about Dianna without punishment.
Dominiq Ponder-- a quarterback at the University of Colorado -- had double the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he was involved in a fatal car crash that took his life last month in Boulder County.
According to the medical examiner's autopsy report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Ponder's blood-alcohol content was recorded at .167 g/100 mL -- the legal limit in Colorado is 0.08.
The medical examiner also listed his cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries the 23-year-old suffered as a result of the crash.
Former Wisconsin tight end Jack Pugh -- a once highly touted recruit who bravely opened up about his struggles off the field -- has died at 25 years old.
The Badgers announced the news Tuesday, saying Pugh -- who spent three years in the program -- was “a positive light” and someone who truly cared about others … adding teammates and staff deeply loved him.
Waiting for your permission to load the Twitter Tweet.
Pugh arrived in Madison as a four-star prospect in the 2021 class, despite being relatively new to football. The Ohio native didn’t even play the sport until his junior year at Hilliard Bradley High School … but still racked up offers from powerhouse programs like Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State.
But behind the scenes, Pugh was fighting a much tougher battle.
TMZ Sports has obtained more body cam footage from Sherrone Moore's arrest ... showing the ex-Michigan coach putting the blame on Paige Shiver for both his firing and legal troubles -- claiming she should be the one in jail for lying to police.
Pittsfield PD just dropped its batch of clips from Dec. 10, 2025 ... which includes more than two hours of Moore in a hospital room bawling over his disastrous day.
Moore was taken to the medical facility for a mental health evaluation before being booked in the Washtenaw County Jail ... after he allegedly threatened to harm himself in front of Shiver over losing his job.
