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Matt Leinart's glad the NFL moved the Rams' playoff game out of Los Angeles ... making it clear to TMZ Sports on Friday, it wouldn't have been right to play the tilt as fires continue to ravage the city.

The league officially relocated Monday's L.A. vs. Minnesota Wild Card round matchup to Arizona on Thursday, citing the safety of its players and its fans ... and Leinart told us at LAX he's all for the move.

The former quarterback -- who actually played his college ball in L.A. and then parts of his pro career in Glendale, Ariz. -- said things are simply "more important than football" at the moment.

Martellus Bennett has gone from catching touchdowns to dropping motivational words ... the ex-Super Bowl champion has just authored a children's book -- and it's super inspiring.

The work is called "Dear Black Boy" ... and Bennett told TMZ Sports this week it's a tale aimed at encouraging young Black boys to follow their dreams in any field -- not simply the sports world.

"When I look at Black boys, I don't see athletes," the former New England Patriots tight end said. "I see a world of possibilities within them. So, I ask them, what are they interested in, not what they play."

Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler says there are precisely TWO NFC teams that can defeat the surging Lions squad ... and they just happen to be playing each other this weekend!

"The only two teams can beat Detroit are [the Packers and Eagles]. Nobody else can beat Detroit. No, it's impossible," the Green Bay legend told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1).

Why?

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are trying to stay positive amid the L.A. wildfires, keeping busy with a trip to Legoland after evacuating their L.A.-area home.

Witnesses tell TMZ that John and Chrissy, along with their kids, were spotted at Legoland in Carlsbad, CA on Friday afternoon, leaving after a fun-filled day.

They were accompanied by a large group and bodyguards, but despite everything, they seemed happy and relaxed, enjoying a break from L.A.

As L.A. wildfires wreak havoc, one local church is stepping up -- offering critical housing and counseling services to help those displaced, TMZ has learned.

Pastor Jeremy Johnson from Fearless Church in L.A. tells TMZ they’re opening their doors with 150 beds ready for those in need -- plus free hot meals, coffee, and shower access to help evacuees get back on their feet.

He also emphasized they’re stocked with essentials like baby food, pet supplies, and water -- along with emotional support services for those in need.

Deadly L.A. wildfires have destroyed homes and businesses this week ... and the massive blazes have also upended local ecosystems to a horrifying degree.

Jeff Corwin tells TMZ ... right now the focus of the fires is -- properly -- on people dying and homes turned to ash. But, domestic and wild animals have also been severely affected in this "unprecedented catastrophe."

The famed biologist host points out there's only 350 California condors left in existence … “and a significant portion of the population lives in ground zero of the Palisades fires” -- so there is a chance they could end up nearly wiped out.

William McNamara might be an actor ... but the only acting he did this week was acting like a hero -- 'cause he saved multiple animals left behind in the Pacific Palisades wildfire.

The longtime film and TV actor joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and, we had a ton of questions about his animal rescue operations this week -- kicking off when officers closed the roads into the Palisades.

McNamara explains some people left animals at home and went out for the night ... and, when they tried to come back to rescue the animals, cops wouldn't allow them in.

The Kardashians fled their homes in Hidden Hills after a dangerous wildfire broke out in the nearby area ... threatening their neighborhood.

Sources tell TMZ ... as of Thursday night, Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kylie, Kendall, Kris and Rob all left their homes. The family followed the mandatory evacuation order that was issued due to the Kenneth Fire, which rapidly spread across 1,000 acres in a few hours.

While the evacuation order has now been lifted, our sources say it's unclear whether the Kardashians have returned home.

NeNe Leakes is telling 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' superfan Cynthia Erivo not to despair ... 'cause she could make a return to the show -- if the offer was right.

We caught up with the 'RHOA' alum in New York City earlier this week ... and, we had to ask her about the "Wicked" star revealing she's a huge fan of NeNe -- and, asking Bravo to bring her back to the show.

NeNe says she loves Cynthia and thanks her for her praise ... before adding she totally agrees -- so, sounds like Leakes thinks 'Atlanta' needs a dose of herself baked back in the show.

Spencer Pratt's digging through what's left of his and Heidi Montag's home ... searching through the ruins for anything that may have survived the devastating fire.

The reality television star returned to Pacific Palisades Thursday ... just days after his home burned in the Pacific Palisades Fire -- looking high and low around the property for crystals and other personal items.

Check out the pics ... Spencer's standing in the burned remains of the house, picking through blackened pots and grabbing a small silver object -- though it's not totally clear what he's holding.

If Brandon Jacobs were in charge of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Eli Manning wouldn't have to wait long to have a bust in it ... as the ex-Giants tailback says his former teammate is "no question" a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Jacobs didn't mince a single word when TMZ Sports got him talking about Manning's HOF candidacy this week ... saying Eli's two Super Bowl wins over the New England Patriots should be enough for a gold jacket alone.

"Well, s***," Jacobs said, "he beat Tom Brady twice -- that's enough!"

Kristin Cavallari is heading for 'The Hills' ... looking to get out of Nashville ASAP -- and, she's willing to take a whole lot less for her home to do it.

The reality television star's Tennessee home is now listed for just under $9 million ... a $950K cut from the asking price she established in August 2024.

This was already a reduction from her original asking price ... 'cause she wanted $11 million when she put the house up in June 2024 -- so, clearly she's trying to get the property off her books.

Adam Carolla is one of many people caught in the uncertainty of the L.A. wildfires, unsure if his Malibu home is still standing -- but he says, unfortunately, it comes with the territory when you live there.

The comedian joined "TMZ Live" from Las Vegas Thursday, where he's performing, and didn’t hold back ... saying if people choose to live in fire-prone areas, like Malibu, that’s their prerogative -- and he believes they will go back and rebuild.

However, he says he gets it if insurance companies don't want to cover people living in a "place that's gonna catch on fire every 15 minutes."

Former Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. says fleeing from the L.A. wildfires this week was a horrifying experience -- as he had only seconds to get out -- and it's clear he's disappointed he couldn't save his Games medals as he hastily evacuated.

The 50-year-old -- who earned 10 pieces of hardware in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics -- sat down with Harvey and Charles on Thursday's "TMZ Live" to detail how he escaped the flames that have been ravaging L.A. this week ... and he said it was everything but easy.

Hall Jr. says the blaze came on him and his house so quickly -- he only had "probably tops of three minutes" to get some belongings and get out.

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are two lucky Hollywood stars ... 'cause both of their houses appear unscathed while the rest of their neighborhoods burn around them.

TMZ has obtained photos and video of the two properties ... showing Hanks' cliffside home and Spielberg's sprawling, wooded estate still standing.

Check out the clip ... the house just above Hanks' went up in flames -- with smoke still wafting in the air -- while Tom's pad stands without even a speck of ash on it.

Henry Winkler is among those claiming the deadly blazes ravaging L.A. are definitely arson ... but unless he has some proof, fire officials tell TMZ The Fonz needs to chill.

Following yet another blaze that started Wednesday night -- this time in the Hollywood Hills -- HW exclaimed on X ... "THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA . May you be beaten you unrecognizable !!! The pain you have caused !!!"

Here's the issue ... there's no way to know at this moment exactly where and how the series of fires started ... but an investigation is underway, an L.A. Fire official tells TMZ.