Football

Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough got a ringing endorsement from former All-Pro DB Tyrann Mathieu following his big upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday ... "kind words" Shough reacted to when he chatted with TMZ Sports!

We spoke with Shough -- who was with his Pro Bowl teammate Cam Jordan at a Raising Cane's event -- just a few days removed from Mathieu's declaration that ... "This city should absolutely get behind him & embrace him as QB for (the) next decade!!"

In other words, Tyrann's seen enough -- Tyler's the guy.

"Being around [Tyrann] and for a short amount of time, and everything that he's done, and especially in this state, what a great honor," Shough told us.

T.J. Watt underwent surgery on Thursday to repair and stabilize a partially collapsed lung after a dry needling treatment session at the Pittsburgh Steelers facility ... his brother, J.J., announced on Friday.

Watt shared the news on social media after the team announced he was admitted to the hospital with a health scare. While no recovery timeline is currently available, he is expected to be released from the hospital on Friday.

"He and his family are very appreciative of everyone's kind words and well wishes," J.J. said.

Bijan Robinson is expressing his regret over repeating the controversial name of a playground game during an interview ... saying even though he didn't mean any disrespect by uttering "smear the queer" on live TV, it shouldn't have come out of his mouth.

The Atlanta Falcons star was chopping it up with the Prime Video crew after his team's big win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" ... when Richard Sherman praised his ability to avoid being tackled throughout the contest.

Robinson had 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground ... and 82 yards through the air in the 29-28 win.

The NFL world is still processing the fact that 44-year-old Philip Rivers is back on the Indianapolis Colts ... and that includes Cam Newton, who admitted he felt like it was a "slap to my face" he didn't get a call.

Newton spoke about the signing on his "4th&1" podcast ... where he clearly seemed annoyed that the Colts didn't check in on his availability.

When his co-host asked if Cam's work in the media gives off the vibe he'd be interested in, Newton didn't agree with the narrative.

Football fans are waiting on pins and needles for the next update on the Sherrone Moore scandal ... but they'll have to hang tight just a bit longer to find out more on his potential legal trouble -- officials tell TMZ Sports charging decisions are not expected to be made on Thursday.

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office says the ex-Michigan football head coach remains behind bars as the investigation into an alleged assault continues.

The Captain of Corrections in Washtenaw County also tells us ... "We can only confirm he is being housed in our facility. No charge information will be released until after his arraignment on Friday afternoon."

Cam Skattebo is a happy man Wednesday morning -- the New York Giants running back showed the world he is up and walking again after suffering a gruesome ankle injury two months ago.

The Giants rookie shared the update with his fans on Instagram ... publishing a clip of himself strolling into the team facility without the assistance of a scooter or a boot.

"God is good man," Skattebo said. "Just want to say thank you to everybody that supported, man. We getting back let's go."

An arrest has been made in connection with the shooting of New York Jets player Kris Boyd ... a person of interest was taken into custody in Buffalo on Monday, TMZ Sports confirmed.

Law enforcement sources say a 20-year-old man was arrested in Western New York just hours ago ... and is currently on his way back to the Big Apple to face charges in the case.

NYPD and U.S. Marshals were both part of the apprehension.

A security guard working the Jacksonville Jaguars game vs. the Indianapolis Colts found himself closer to the action than he could have ever expected ... getting sent to the ground after wide receiver Michael Pittman was shoved into him.

The incident went down with a little over 10 minutes to go in the third quarter. Indy quarterback Riley Leonard found Pittman sitting in the end zone ... a touchdown that was ultimately called back due to offensive pass interference.

Before that call, Jaguars defensive back Montaric Brown gave Pittman a healthy shove after the catch -- sending him right into the stadium worker, who wound up on the wet field.

Zach Ertz couldn't hold back the tears after a big hit resulted in him being carted off the field ... and, there's now speculation he won't play in the NFL again.

The Washington Commanders tight end took the field in his team's game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday ... and, with about 2 minutes left in the third quarter, he  jumped to try and catch a pass from QB Marcus Mariota.

While in the air, Vikings safety Jay Ward leaned down and went straight through Ertz leg ... causing his knee to bend like elastic. It's a brutal hit ... so, watch at your own risk.

Is Matthew Stafford a Hall of Famer?? If you ask his favorite target in Detroit, Calvin Johnson, we will absolutely see the quarterback in Canton one day ... but he tells TMZ Sports an MVP trophy on his résumé solidifies his chances.

We spoke with Johnson amid one of Stafford's best seasons ... and he said the game "looks easy to him right now."

"He's playing good football. He has some great receivers around him. Seems like the offensive line is doing a great job as well."

JaMarcus Russell knows a thing or two about Lane Kiffin and LSU football, and the former number one overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft is pumped to see what the polarizing head coach has in store for his alma mater!

TMZ Sports chatted it up with Russell and Dwayne Bowe -- former star teammates at LSU -- about their school's hiring of Kiffin, and both are pumped to see how he makes his mark on one of the country's top programs.

Russell, in particular has a unique view of the 50-year-old ... since Lane was his head coach in Oakland with the Raiders until Al Davis fired him four games into the 2008 season.

If there's one thing Jaxson Dart and Theo Johnson can take away from the N.Y. Giants 2025 season, it's a desperate need to study the area's geography ... 'cause the duo were caught on camera getting a much-needed lesson from their coach!

The hilarious moment went down during the season premiere of Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East Tuesday night, when Dart began questioning the winds at the Meadowlands, and where the stiff breeze originated.

Interim offensive coordinator Tim Kelly told them it was coming off "the massive ocean two miles that way" ... to Dart and Johnson's dismay.

"I thought the ocean was that way," Dart responded.

Bill Belichick's Tar Heels couldn't protect their endzone on Saturday, but the North Carolina head coach at least provided some coverage for his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson ... ditching his coat to keep her warm after the game.

The football legend shifted into boyfriend mode after NC State embarrassed his team in a 42-19 effort ... taking the puffy blue jacket off his back to make sure the 24-year-old Hudson was warm in the Raleigh weather Saturday night.

It didn't look like Hudson was prepared for the cold -- she was wearing a navy and Carolina blue ensemble with see-through printed pants ... and her arms were fully exposed.

NFL great Rodney Harrison had fans worried he was dealing with a medical issue after he appeared to be struggling on live TV ahead of "Sunday Night Football" ... but thankfully, the two-time Super Bowl champ seemed completely fine after the game.

The concerning moment happened as NBC's pregame crew consisting of Harrison, Jac Collinsworth and Tony Dungy broke down the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders matchup before kickoff ... when the Colts coaching legend looked to get the 52-year-old former Patriots safety involved in the conversation.

Harrison stumbled over a few words before admitting he forgot the question ... and when Collinsworth tried to help out two different times, he gave up on contributing to the discussion.

Bert Kreischer's a diehard Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, and he LOVES Baker Mayfield ... and we now know why.

The uber-popular comedian joined Babcock on the heels of the Bucs' third straight loss, when we asked whether he'd lost faith in his squad.

Kreischer hasn't, saying "I still feel good" ... though it's the why that's notable.

Calvin Johnson says it's NOT time to panic in Detroit -- even after losing on Thanksgiving, and sitting outside the NFL playoff picture -- 'cause there's plenty of football left to play!

The Lions, who breezed into postseason action last season with a 15-2 record, haven't been nearly as dominant in 2025, losing two of three, including Thursday's Turkey Day game against their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

The 31-24 loss means the Lions don't control their destiny with the division, but they're still very much in the playoff hunt, according to Calvin.