Football

Patrick Mahomes is on the verge of winning a fourth Lombardi Trophy in just eight years in the NFL ... and Warren Moon tells TMZ Sports if he can pull it off on Sunday, he would confidently say he dethroned Tom Brady as the G.O.A.T.

The legendary quarterback is down in New Orleans ahead of the Super Bowl ... and he spoke all about the Kansas City Chiefs superstar's stellar run -- all before turning 30 years old.

"For a first seven-year starter for anybody in this league, how can you top this?" Moon said. "How can you top this?"

Cardi B is in full celebration mode ahead of the Super Bowl … turning up in style on the streets of New Orleans with a top-shelf booze brand!

Peep this vid of Cardi turning Bourbon Street into "Cardi Gras" Friday… linking up with Fat Tuesday, tossing back her vodka-infused Whipshots collab with the company, and lobbing 'em into the crowd so everyone could get a taste of the party.

Everyone in town got a front-row seat to the Cardi B show -- she was out and about, keeping the vibes high and making sure everyone is hyped for the weekend.

Hollywood is taking over New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX ... and the list of celebrities planning on attending the big game Sunday is pretty impressive ... there's actors, comedians, rappers, singers, influencers and more.

Our sources tell us Cardi B, Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart, Jake From State Farm, Russell Wilson and Ciara are expected to be at the Caesars Superdome to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kevin's a Philly guy, Russell plays in the NFL, Cardi's been in NOLA marketing her alcohol brand, State Farm has brand deals with Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce ... and we're told Pete's developed a good relationship with the head of security for the Eagles ... so lots of connections to the game for these celebs.

Patrick Mahomes doesn't need many pep talks for big games these days -- he is, after all, going for his fourth championship this weekend -- but if he wants one from Dad ... Patrick Mahomes Sr. is giving TMZ Sports a sneak peek into what his message will be!

The elder Mahomes told us on Friday out in New Orleans that if his Chiefs star son leans on him for advice heading into Sunday's tilt with the Philadelphia Eagles ... his note will be simple.

"Players make plays," he said.

The Raiders landing Pete Carroll has generated a ton of excitement for the franchise ... and even their former coach Jon Gruden is hyped up about it -- telling TMZ Sports the Silver and Black nailed the hire.

We caught up with the Super Bowl-winning coach out on the streets of NOLA ahead of Super Bowl LIX ... and he sang the 73-year-old's praises.

"He's a world champion coach," Gruden said. "He's won everywhere he's been. He won it all at USC, he won it all at Seattle and there's no reason he can't put the Silver and Black back."

Eli Manning's being a great sport about his Hall of Fame snub ... TMZ Sports just caught up with him out on Bourbon Street, and it's clear as day he's not sweating the slightest bit.

Check out our chat with the New York legend down in New Orleans on Friday ... while there's a large sector of the football world up in arms over him not getting the official call to Canton on Thursday, he's very obviously not bothered.

The 44-year-old former signal-caller was in amazing spirits -- and even cracked a joke about the situation!!

Louisiana authorities have made an arrest in connection with the death of Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano ... whose body was found in his hotel room after he went to New Orleans to cover Super Bowl LIX.

Danette Colbert was arrested Friday after allegedly using Manzano's credit cards at several stores in the area following his death ... according to the Kenner Police Department. Colbert has reportedly been charged with fraud and theft-related offenses, as the investigation continues.

Police say security video from the hotel where Manzano was staying shows Colbert with the journalist Wednesday morning ... and later leaving his hotel room solo. He was later found dead in the room.

Jonathan Ogden thinks Lamar Jackson got robbed of the NFL's MVP award on Thursday night ... and he tells TMZ Sports he's convinced the QB lost it because voters simply felt bad for Josh Allen.

The Ravens legend held nothing back during our conversation down in New Orleans ... just minutes after Allen beat out Jackson for the hardware at NFL Honors.

Ogden was adamant Jackson's numbers crushed Allen's in every way -- and he's sure a bias against the Baltimore signal-caller -- who's won two MVPs in the past -- played a role in Josh ultimately walking away with the trophy.

Myles Garrett clearly isn't ready to cross any teams off his trade destination list -- not even some of his AFC North rivals -- 'cause he just revealed to TMZ Sports he wouldn't mind continuing his career in a cold-weather city.

The six-time Pro Bowler, of course, has battled snow throughout his eight-year stint in Cleveland ... and when we got him out after NFL Honors in New Orleans on Thursday night -- just days after he requested a trade from Cleveland -- he made it clear continuing that trend is just fine with him if he is ultimately dealt.

Garrett told us straight up, "I don't mind snow" -- before insisting the only criteria he has for his next team is a stacked roster.

Jason Kelce can clearly take a joke -- even if it's about his controversial interaction with a fan at the Penn State game last year ... 'cause the future Hall of Famer laughed off a jab about his viral f-slur during a savage roast session.

The Philadelphia Eagles legend got on the hot seat during his appearance on Friday's episode of "Pardon My Take" ... when Barstool Sports employee Kate Mannion joined the show to unload some of her most brutal bars.

The segment covered pretty much everything -- from Taylor Swift to Mama Kelce to his recent overexposure in the media.

Randy Moss made a surprise appearance on the big screen Thursday night during the NFL Honors show ... helping present the league's Comeback Player of the Year award -- while also thanking everyone for their support amid his cancer battle.

The legendary Minnesota Vikings receiver appeared virtually in front of the star-studded crowd down in NOLA, rocking the Team Moss gear he dropped following his cancer announcement.

"I want to send a special thank you to all of my doctors," he said. "My beautiful wife, my children, my family, my teammates and all the prayer warriors out there. We are 'Mossing' cancer and I can't wait to get back on television with all my guys."

It was Josh Allen's big night, but his fiancée, Hailee Steinfeld, was shining just as bright ... thanks to her massive engagement ring!!

The Buffalo Bills superstar won his first MVP award at the NFL Honors ceremony in New Orleans ... beating out Lamar Jackson for the recognition.

The couple -- who got engaged back in November -- looked incredible as they posed for the cameras after arriving at the event ... rocking black 'fits for the occasion.

The NFL Honors ceremony looked more like the Tony Awards on Thursday ... with jocks breaking out in a dance battle!!

The hilarious moment went down when Terry Crews and Vikings star Camryn Bynum took the stage ... which was fitting, considering the safety paid homage to the actor's iconic scene from "White Chicks" for an on-field celebration earlier this season.

The conversation turned to Bynum's viral moments throughout the year ... and when Rams player Kobie Turner interjected, the two elected to prove who had the best moves.

Nobody was safe from Snoop Dogg's jokes at NFL Honors on Thursday night -- not even Bill Belichick's girlfriend, who got ribbed by the rap legend for her age!!

The 53-year-old was tapped to man the mic at the annual football awards show in New Orleans ... and in keeping with hosting tradition, he went on a roast to get the party started.

Snoop took shots at a bunch of people -- Jerry Jones, the Bengals' defense and refs at Chiefs games -- before he turned his sights on Belichick's 24-year-old partner, Jordon Hudson.

Ryan Quigley -- who was seriously injured in the New Orleans terror attack -- revealed to TMZ Sports he made a promise to his friend, Tiger Bech, before he was killed on Bourbon Street on New Year's Eve ... and thanks to the Eagles, he's able to see it through at Super Bowl LIX.

The Philadelphia team gifted Quigley Super Bowl tickets after he suffered severe injuries in the January 1 attack ... and as it turns out, Quigley previously promised Bech they would go to the Super Bowl if their favorite team made it.

"I promised him that I would take him to the Super Bowl if they made it this year," Quigley said.

The Super Bowl is going big, about as big as it gets in Hollywood, anyway -- enlisting Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt to be part of Sunday's festivities ... TMZ has learned.

Sources involved in the production tell us both Tom and Brad will have prominent roles in FOX's Super Bowl pregame broadcast. We're told Brad's role will have something to do with a tribute to America about 30 minutes prior to the 6:30 PM ET kickoff.

It's unclear exactly what Tom will be doing for the pregame, but his involvement immediately takes us back to his Olympics Closing Ceremony appearance where he did a skydive to signal the Games coming to L.A. in 2028.