NFL

Hailee Steinfeld's clearly having an impact in her role as Queen of Buffalo -- Christian Benford tells TMZ Sports she's made the Bills' best player, Josh Allen, a "happier" man!!

We caught up with Buffalo's star cornerback on Friday -- and with Steinfeld dominating the box offices with her new "Sinners" flick, we had to ask how her two-year-long relationship with Allen has impacted his quarterback.

Benford told us he's noticed a much more jovial signal-caller -- explaining, "You could say he's happier. You know what I'm saying?"

Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are making waves in football, and they now have an open invite to venture into Hollywood, too ... 'cause "All American" actor Kareem Grimes, who wants the NFL rookies to guest star on his show!!

Grimes -- who portrays Preach in the hit series -- spoke with TMZ Sports after the football drama's seventh season wrapped up this week ... and he actually had three names in mind when we asked which jocks he'd love to see join the fun.

"Shedeur and Travis have been in front of cameras," Grimes said, "They have their own YouTube channel, so I'm pretty sure you put 'em in a space, they'll thrive!"

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes had some fun one-on-one time away from their kids over the weekend in South Florida where they were seen letting loose.

The couple was photographed having a great time at the club Carbone Beach on Friday night in Miami Beach ahead of the F1 Miami Grand Prix.

The couple was photographed hitting the dance floor at one point, showing off their best moves alongside former soccer star Ashlyn Harris.

Star Jacksonville defensive end Arik Armstead is thrilled the Jaguars got two-way phenom Travis Hunter ... telling TMZ Sports he's super pumped to welcome his new teammate -- even if the Heisman winner doesn't spend much time on his side of the ball.

"I think this is rare air," Armstead -- who actually announced the big pick at the draft -- told us. "We have a player here who would have been a first-round pick as a receiver or a cornerback. And, you know, that's very unlikely that a prospect could be a first-round pick at two different positions."

So, where do you utilize a guy who is awesome on offense and defense? We asked Arik.

Football fans around the world were baffled when projected first-round pick Shedeur Sanders fell all the way to Day 3 in last weekend's NFL draft ... but former Browns great Eric Metcalf thinks it's a blessing in disguise -- telling TMZ Sports the QB can now play "carefree."

We caught up with the former Browns running back and wide receiver ... and he seems certain the former Colorado superstar's stock plummeted to No. 144 not because of his talent -- but his overwhelming confidence.

"All of the scouts, all of the teams said that he was accurate, he could throw the ball ... everything you wanted from a quarterback,” Metcalf said. "And for him to not get drafted in the first, second or third round is kinda a slap in his face and we all know what it was about."

Desmond Watson -- the 437-pound NFL rookie affectionately known as the "Tush Push Terminator" -- might have a bit less junk in his trunk when it comes time to stopping QB sneaks in 2025 ... as he tells TMZ Sports he's looking to shed a bunch of lbs before he takes the field for his first pro season.

The former Univ. of Florida defensive lineman, who was just picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted last month, has found a whole lot of success while up over 400 pounds ... playing in 51 games with the Gators over the last four years.

But, he told us that while being big has its pros ... he believes slimming down could make him a whole lot quicker in the NFL.

John Elway was in good spirits hobnobbin' with other celebs and throwing back a beverage from a styrofoam cup just 2 hours before he was involved in the golf cart accident that killed his good friend, Jeff Sperbeck.

Take a look at these photos TMZ Sports obtained from a swanky day party last Saturday inside The Madison Club -- a golf community in La Quinta, CA -- Elway looked to be having a solid time.

Wearing a red and gray checkered shirt with a white ballcap, the NFL Hall of Famer was mingling with a small group around the bar.

MTV reality star Johnny Bananas was riding with John Elway and Jeff Sperbeck during the fatal golf cart accident, with sources telling TMZ Sports ... "The Challenge" competitor tried to keep the agent alive after he fell off the vehicle.

We spoke to someone familiar with the incident ... who tells us, Bananas -- real name Johnny Devenanzio -- and Sperbeck were standing on the back of the cart as Elway drove and his wife sat in the front seat.

We're told Sperbeck lost his balance and fell backward off the cart -- hitting his head on the asphalt around 7 PM.

Travis Kelce looked like he invaded Taylor Swift's closet for a photo shoot in NYC this week ... 'cause the Kansas City Chiefs superstar rocked an outfit that gave big "folklore" vibes.

The 35-year-old tight end was spotted posing for the camera for an apparent fashion collab ... and it's hard not to make comparisons to the cardigan his girlfriend famously sported (and sold) in support of her 2020 song.

While Kelce's white top didn't feature any buttons, the similarities are still there ... with dark-colored piping along the waist and neck. Good enough for us!!

Abdul Carter is trying to figure out what jersey number he'll rock for the NY Giants ... and while Lawrence Taylor told him to kick rocks after he inquired about number 56, another Big Blue legend is striking a different tone!

Phil Simms was asked if he'd hear out either Carter or Jaxson Dart if they were to ask the Super Bowl-winning QB if they could take his #11 jersey down from the proverbial rafters at MetLife Stadium. While LT, Simms' former teammate, had no interest ... the Giants signal-caller is open to passing down his legendary number.

"I let him have it in a second," he said. "I say can you help it a little, make it better? I think it would be a lot of fun, it wouldn't bother me."

Shedeur Sanders is already making a serious impact in Cleveland ... 'cause Guardians star Jose Ramirez broke out the Browns' new signal callers' signature celebration after a massive walk-off win on Thursday!

In case you missed it, Ramirez sealed the 4-3 win in the 10th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays after a stolen base put the perennial All-Star in scoring position. Then came the walk-off.

FYI, Ramirez became the first Cleveland baseball player to notch 250 steals and 250 homers.

Ex-NFL superstar Steve Smith allegedly ruined a marriage earlier this year ... and now, he's being sued over it.

Antonio Martinez claims in a lawsuit -- which he filed in North Carolina this week -- that Smith broke up his loving relationship with Nicole Martinez after he "willfully, maliciously and intentionally" seduced her during a September 2024 encounter in Baltimore.

Antonio alleges the former Ravens wideout met Nicole while he was in town to shoot an episode of "The NFL's Most Interesting Jobs with Steve Smith."

Jeff Sperbeck, John Elway's longtime agent and friend, has died at 62 years old, officials announced on Wednesday.

Sperbeck's time of death was listed as 1:10 AM.

As we previously reported, Jeff was on life support following Saturday's accident ... where he suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling off a golf cart that Elway was driving.

We're told Elway, Sperbeck, their wives, and John's son were on their way back from a post-Stagecoach party around 7 PM on April 26 ... when Jeff fell off the back of the cart, hitting his head on the ground, and suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson aren't gonna be able to sweep their dumpster fire interview under the rug ... 'cause the couple's CBS sit-down got the Hollywood treatment on John Mulaney's Netflix show.

The hilarious segment happened on Wednesday's "Everybody's Live" ... with Richard Kind taking on the role of the legendary coach -- and Fran Gillespie portraying his polarizing girlfriend.

The whole thing kicked off just over 10 minutes into the episode ... with Kind decked out in a cutoff, ragged crewneck and Gillespie in a grey sweatshirt.

Henry Ruggs isn't giving up on his NFL career as he serves his lengthy prison sentence -- so says his former teammate, Josh Jacobs, who claims the wide receiver is training his ass off behind bars.

Ruggs is currently serving three to 10 years for a high-speed crash on November 2, 2021, in which he slammed his Corvette into Tina Tintor's vehicle, killing her and her dog.

The 26-year-old will be eligible for parole in 2026 ... and if he does end up getting out, Jacobs said he will look to return to his day job.

1:41 PM PT -- CBS is calling B.S. on Bill Belichick's claims ... saying in a statement Wednesday, "there were no preconditions or limitations" on topics they could broach during the conversation.

"This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place," a CBS News spokesperson said, "and after it was completed."

Bill Belichick is racing to Jordon Hudson's side ... defending his girlfriend's behavior during that awkward CBS interview -- while bashing the media company for the way it handled the now-infamous sit-down.