NFL

One of the NFL's fresh faces in the 2025 season is J.J. McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback, who's on a comeback mission!

The thing is, McCarthy actually joined the league in 2024, but ended up sitting out his first season after suffering a serious injury.

We're going to see how the athlete moved past his setback in pursuit of his pro football goals ... and how he's preparing for some pretty big changes in his personal life.

J.J.'s football career kicked off back when he was attending high school at Nazareth Academy, located outside of Chicago.

He played several seasons for the school before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season.

McCarthy went on to join the University of Michigan's football squad, and he made his debut with the Wolverines in 2021.

He remained with the team for a total of three seasons, and helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship in 2023.

McCarthy's time in the NFL started in 2024, when the Vikings drafted him in the first round, making him the tenth overall pick.

He wasn't a starting player right away, as he spent his rookie season on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his meniscus.

J.J.'s set to make his debut as the Vikings' QB1 on September 8th, when the team opens the season against NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears.

Fun fact: He'll become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to make his pro debut during a week one Monday Night Football game, according to ESPN.

McCarthy's start in the NFL isn't the only big thing happening for him in September ... because he's expecting to become a father, too!

The pro baller will share the soon-to-arrive child with his longtime partner, Katya Kuropas, who he met in high school.

The pair dated for five years before they announced their engagement with a January 2024 joint Instagram post.

Everyone knows a big part of playing in the NFL is taking a few knocks every now and then ... and we think Justin Jefferson's had his fair share over the years!

The wide receiver's spent several years with the Minnesota Vikings, and although he's become one of the flashiest guys on the gridiron -- with his jewelry and his touchdown celebration dance -- his career's also been marred by a few injuries.

We're going to see how the athlete moved from college stardom to becoming one of the NFL's most talked about offensive threats ... all while dealing with physical setbacks.

Jefferson started playing football at an early age, and he was a member of the football squad at Destrehan High School in his home state of Louisiana.

JJ remained in his home state for college, as he committed to and enrolled at Louisiana State University in 2017.

While his first season with the LSU Tigers was relatively uneventful, he became one of the team's key players throughout its 2018 season, as he racked up 875 yards, according to ESPN.

Justin led the country in receptions during his junior season, and he helped lead the Tigers to a national championship.

His efforts with LSU paid off in the end, as he ended up becoming a first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings in 2020.

Justin later told ESPN he "definitely didn't think" he would've been one of the team's first picks, although he expressed he felt "blessed" to have been chosen to play.

He's spent his entire NFL career with the Vikings, and it looks like he's planning on sticking with the team a little longer, because he signed a $140 million contract extension in June 2024.

Oh, and it's worth mentioning, Justin helped to popularize the Griddy -- a viral dance move he first used as a touchdown celebration during his LSU days -- and continued in the NFL. Lots of other players, in multiple sports, have picked up the move, too.

Jefferson's time in the NFL hasn't always been smooth, and he's had to deal with several hamstring injuries over the course of his career.

He missed a total of seven games during the 2023 season after he suffered a strain in his right leg, according to ESPN.

He ended up having to sit out of several practices in 2025, when he strained his left hamstring in July.

5:31 PM PT -- Tyreek Hill's attorney is adamant Keeta Vaccaro's claims are false, saying in a statement to TMZ Sports the allegations "are nothing more than an attempt by Ms. Vacarro, her mother and/or her counsel to shake Mr. Hill down."

"These new allegations are further proof that Ms. Vacarro and/or her counsel are set on
partaking in a smear campaign in hopes that Mr. Hill will settle and give she and her counsel an unreasonable and unwarranted amount of money," Julius B. Collins said. "Mr. Hill will not be moved by this and awaits his day in Court to present his evidence."

Keeta Vaccaro -- Tyreek Hill's estranged wife -- is now alleging the NFL superstar roughed her up on multiple occasions during their 17-month marriage.

Travis Hunter's new hairdo may have surprised fans on Sunday, but his wife, Leanna, was turning heads, too -- thanks to her sexy gameday outfit and custom Jaguars boots for her husband's NFL debut.

The star rookie caused quite the stir when he took the field for his first official game ... sporting a buzzed haircut as the Jags faced the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

Leanna was front and center to see Hunter’s milestone moment ... and she made sure her outfit matched the occasion.

11:05 AM PT -- The fan at the center of the incident has been indefinitely banned from the Bills' home stadium and any other NFL venue, according to reports.

Lamar Jackson is owning up to his role in a physical altercation with a fan in the Baltimore Ravens' season-opening game against the Buffalo Bills ... claiming while the spectator put hands on him first, he has to be better.

The moment happened in the third quarter of the "Sunday Night Football" matchup at Highmark Stadium ... when the guy slapped Jackson and teammate DeAndre Hopkins while they celebrated a touchdown near the stands.

Jackson retaliated by shoving the young man while the cameras were rolling -- a moment he wished hadn't happened.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills completed an incredible comeback to cap off the first Sunday of the NFL season ... but the quarterback noticed some fans missed out on all the fun -- and he shaded the folks who beat the traffic in his postgame interview.

The MVP sent the message to the fair-weather fans while speaking on the field with Matt Prater, who kicked the game-winning field goal after just signing with Buffalo earlier in the week.

At one point, Buffalo was down 40-25 with 11:42 remaining in the fourth quarter ... and some members of Bills Mafia had seen enough -- 'cause they made their way for the exit signs.

Madison Beer and Justin Herbert are charging around Los Angeles ... after his squad smacked Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs around.

The pop star and her quarterback boyfriend were spotted holding hands on their way out of Delilah -- a popular celebrity hot spot -- in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Beer's wearing a tight, low-cut crop top in these pics while Herbo dressed casually in a black t-shirt and jeans ... and, both could barely contain their grins as they left the place.

Football season just kicked off, folks, and we want to see if you can take a break from the games and guess who this sports executive is!

We ran into this CEO back in 2017, just after the Chargers moved up the coast from San Diego to Los Angeles, and we wanted to see how he felt about the team's change in scenery.

The NFL is back ... and the wives and girlfriends (and one VERY famous fiancée) are all ready to catch their men in action!!

The 2025 season brings big names like Ciara, Cardi B and Normani -- CiCi is happily married to Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, the rapper is seeing Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs and the Fifth Harmony member is engaged to Steelers pass catcher DK Metcalf.

Taylor Swift will see much more TV time this season (sorry, haters) -- she got engaged to Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce last month.

Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson is carrying more than team pride onto the field this season ... he'll be honoring the memory of his late friend, Kyren Lacy, with custom cleats in a heartfelt tribute to the former LSU star.

TMZ Sports has learned that Robertson reached out to popular cleat artist Joe Castro just a few weeks before Lions season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

We're told Robertson -- who signed with Detroit in 2024 -- looked at Lacy as a little brother, both growing up together in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Travis Kelce may have been struck by Cupid's arrow ... but he took a different type of hit at his Kansas City Chiefs game last night when he was slapped by his opponent!

Take a look at the clip from the Chiefs' game against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, Friday night -- defensive tackle Teair Tart unleashed his wrath on Travis ... brutally slapping him across his face.

The wild attack came during the game's 3rd quarter after TK collided with and shoved TT during a block, which clearly PO'd Teair. While the slap wasn't a disqualifiable offense, the referee threw the yellow flag and Teair got a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty.

Eric Ebron says if his old Colts team wants to return to its winning ways ... it's gotta make some front office changes -- ASAP.

The ex-Indianapolis tight end didn't mince words during a sit-down with TMZ Sports this week ... saying he believes the guys in charge of the Colts' rosters have screwed things up since Andrew Luck left the team in 2019.

"After Andrew Luck retired," Ebron said, "I don't think we've made a good decision yet as an organization."

Kansas City Chiefs football is officially back ... but the team will be missing its most popular fixture for the 2025 season kickoff in Brazil -- Taylor Swift.

TMZ has confirmed the superstar will be notably absent tonight when her fiancé's team takes on the Los Angeles Chargers at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo.

Sources tell TMZ ... it's not a shocker Taylor skipped the international game ... since none of the WAGs made the trip. It's just a 2-day jaunt leaving no time for the fams to intermingle. Plus, it's safe to assume security for Taylor played a role in the decision-making.

Haliey Welch is well aware there's another high-profile spitter in town after the Eagles-Cowboys mess ... and the "Hawk Tuah" OG is down to combine loogie forces!

As TMZ reported ... Jalen Carter spat on Dak Prescott just after the start of Philadelphia's season-opener against Dallas. He was booted from the game ... and has since apologized.

Haliey tells TMZ ... she thought it was "hilarious" that she was trending right along with Jalen after the spit heard around the sports world occurred, adding ... “I guess he’s now the Hawk Tuah Man!”

NFL season is here and we're serving up a famous WAG whose vacay legs can easily be mistaken for hot dogs! Can you guess the frankfurters in the photo? We'll throw you a few clues, then it's on you to run her into the end zone!

Her future hubby played college ball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and now he's saddled up with the Dallas Cowboys.

Travis Kelce's clearly been spending time with Taylor and a tailor ... as the Chiefs star pulled up to Kansas City's season-opening game in Brazil looking fresh in a custom suit!

The tight end -- who is entering his 13th NFL season -- turned heads as he arrived at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo ... donning some shades, a white shirt and an all-black suit.

The 10-time Pro Bowler looked serious as he went to clock-in ... not stopping to talk with anybody as he buried his AirPods in his ears.