Football

3:39 PM PT -- We talked to Jamal Lewis about the pardon ... and the story is crazy!

The retired NFL star told Michael J. Babcock he had NO IDEA clemency was an option, so he actually missed the phone call when it came in from Alice Johnson.

Check out the interview with Jamal!

Donald Trump is throwing a lifeline to some former gridiron stars ... signing off on pardons for a handful of ex-NFL players who dominated on the field, but also got tangled up in legal trouble.

The Commander-in-Chief granted clemency on Thursday to five former football standouts, wiping away criminal convictions tied to drug crimes, fraud and other offenses ... framing the move as a shot at redemption long after their playing days ended.

"As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation," White House "pardon czar" Alice Marie Johnson posted to X while thanking Trump for his "continued commitment to second chances."

The personal chef who accused Stefon Diggs of choking her following a Patriots game in December is speaking out after his first court appearance Friday in Boston, saying she's focused on healing as the legal process begins to play out.

Mila Adams shared her statement shortly after Diggs entered a not-guilty plea in the case, writing that she would "never make false claims for personal gain or to damage someone's reputation."

"I did not seek public attention and reported this matter through the proper legal channels. This is an active criminal matter, and I will continue to respect the legal process. I will not engage in rumors, personal attacks, or respond to misinformation on social media, and I will ask others to refrain from spreading false narratives."

Stefon Diggs appeared in court on Friday for his arraignment over the alleged assault of his personal chef, with the NFL star pleading not guilty just days after the Patriots wideout played in Super Bowl LX.

Diggs, 32, along with his lawyers, was in front of the judge in the Dedham District Court for about a minute ... with Stefon pleading "not guilty" to the charge he assaulted his chef in December 2025.

After the hearing, Mitchell Schuster, part of Diggs' legal team, told reporters the allegations are false.

Valentine’s Day is creeping up ... and while couples are busy emptying their wallets, Lou Young is waving a financial red flag.

We caught up with Lou at Druski’s "Coulda Been Love" Season 2 event Wednesday, and he told TMZ straight up -- fellas need to chill before they blow the rent money trying to impress. Why? Because March 1 is looming ... and rent waits for no one.

Stefon Diggs is switching teams the day before his arraignment on charges stemming from an alleged assault on his personal chef -- the NFL star has hired a new attorney to help him with his legal battle.

According to court records viewed by TMZ Sports, the 32-year-old has retained Sara Silva of Silva Kettlewell and Pignatelli LLP, moving on from Michael DiStefano. We've reached out to Silva for comment, but have not yet heard back.

Silva has more than 20 years of trial experience and was named the 2020 Lawyer of the Year in Massachusetts by Boston University School of Law.

The Backstreet Boys made headlines Sunday with their hilarious Super Bowl commercial ... but that's not enough for them -- they now have their sights set on the next halftime show!

AJ McLean threw their hat in the ring last night during a show at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

The singer proposed the idea of the band headlining the 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show to a screaming crowd, who -- it's safe to say -- fervently supported the idea.

Taylor Armstrong is backpedaling hard ... apologizing after saying she was embarrassed by Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show.

As you know, the "RHOBH" alum blasted the performance for being "totally in Spanish with a Cuban flag!!" ... but in a lengthy IG post Wednesday, she clarified she simply didn’t personally connect with the show's creative direction.

Taylor said as an American she understands Spanish is a major part of U.S. culture ... and she confessed her "lack of awareness of the Latin culture" led her to mistakenly label the flag Cuban.

New details have emerged in the case against former New York Jets first-round pick Darron Lee after authorities say he murdered his girlfriend ... with police detailing the gruesome scene they found at the home and prosecutors indicating they will seek the death penalty.

Lee appeared in a Tennessee courtroom on Wednesday following Friday's arrest for first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Gabriella Carvalho Perpetuo.

Prosecutors said there was the presence of "blood in every room," including inside a vehicle in the garage. They say Lee was the one who called 911, telling dispatchers Perpetuo was unresponsive and that he believed she fell in the shower.

If James Pearce Jr.'s case goes to trial, the alleged victim, Rickea Jackson, is down to take the stand, according to her attorney, who notified the court she's "willing to testify."

Jackson's lawyer filed notice on Tuesday, saying Jackson remains cooperative, and if needed, will give her testimony about the alleged incident with her ex-boyfriend, which led to his arrest on Saturday.

Rickea's attorney also indicated she hopes to put the matter behind her, sooner rather than later.

Tom Brady isn’t handing out participation trophies -- especially not to Logan Paul.

The NFL legend is doubling down on the competitive tone surrounding the upcoming Fanatics flag football showdown in Saudi Arabia … making it crystal clear he’s expecting absolute dominance -- and he’s putting Logan on notice in the process.

Brady addressed the viral back-and-forth with the WWE star after their trash-talk-filled exchange lit up social media … and while TB12 gave Logan a little credit, he made it obvious effort alone won’t cut it.

Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl story is Hollywood-worthy -- and the Seahawks QB has a few A-list ideas about who should play him if/when a movie eventually gets made.

Fresh off hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, Darnold joked to TMZ Sports that if his unlikely redemption arc ever hits the big screen, he’s got a surprising casting shortlist ready to go.

"Ron Weasley?" Darnold said ... laughing while trying to remember actor Rupert Grint’s name. "Trying to think of the one person who has red hair in Hollywood."

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Keion White is breaking his silence after he was shot in the ankle ... but the third-year pro made no comment on the reports that the incident came following an argument with Lil Baby.

White took to his Instagram Tuesday night to thank everyone who reached out to him after the Bay Area incident ... and shared visual evidence that he's in good spirits, despite needing surgery.

"For those who know me, y'all know this won't stope me from spreading peace and joy to the world," White said. "Full steam ahead. I'm in great spirits and ready to make the most of this off-season."

Justina Emmanwori’s Super Bowl learning curve is officially complete -- ’cause the proud mom says she went from barely knowing what a touchdown was … to fully embracing the game after watching her son help deliver a championship.

Fresh off the Seahawks’ win over the Patriots, the mother of rookie safety Nick Emmanwori couldn’t hold back her emotions when TMZ Sports caught up with her postgame … admitting she entered as a total newbie but left the night feeling deeply connected to the game and the team.

“I am so proud,” she told us. “Before, I said I don’t know anything about football -- touchdown, yay! But now, it’s big. I know what football is all about.”

The investigation into the shooting of Keion White just took a wild turn ... because of what reportedly happened between the 49ers DE and rapper Lil Baby before the shots rang out just hours after the Super Bowl.

According to The San Francisco Standard, which says it's seen the police report, 27-year-old White and Baby got into an argument after the Grammy-winning rapper and his friends were turned away from the third-year pro's private event at a local SF lounge.

Per the outlet, a witness told police he saw the verbal argument and went to get help from bar staff ... before he heard two gunshots ring out. When the witness returned, he discovered White had been shot in the ankle area.

The final two sexual misconduct lawsuits against Deshaun Watson have been dismissed, TMZ Sports has confirmed ... ending a saga dating back to March 2021.

According to court documents ... the last two cases were dismissed Friday in a Texas courtroom. Tony Buzbee -- who represented 26 of the 27 women who filed lawsuits against Watson, including one of these last two -- told us, "We settled. Terms are confidential."

Regarding the other case, we reached out to the victim's attorney for comment but have not yet heard back.

James Pearce Jr. "intentionally" hit an officer with his Lamborghini while evading law enforcement after an alleged domestic dispute with WNBA star Rickea Jackson, according to police docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

Jackson told police she and Pearce Jr. recently ended a three-year relationship, saying she blocked the 23-year-old’s number to stop further contact, but it didn't work. Rickea told police James used an alternate phone to continue contacting her.

On February 7 -- as she was leaving an apartment complex -- Jackson noticed Pearce Jr.'s Lambo SUV behind her ... and attempted to get away. While at a red light, she says he approached her vehicle and attempted to open the door.