NFL

Rhode Island locals are eager to host Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's forthcoming wedding ... RI State Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy tells TMZ.

The local politician tells TMZ ... he hasn't heard whether or not Swelce plans to have their nuptials in the Ocean State, but he's hopeful it happens ... given the star-studded wedding could bring serious business to his constituents.

Per Rep. Kennedy, the wedding would be great for the state's economy, as Tay and Trav's celeb friends would likely flock to the area and spend big bucks ... on everything from housing to restaurants to entertainment.

Brett Favre says there is one facet of Aaron Rodgers' Hall of Fame career that perplexes him ... admitting to TMZ Sports he's shocked the star quarterback only has one Super Bowl ring.

No. 4 sat down with us this week to break down his former teammate's Steelers debut ... and while he raved over Rodgers' play in Pittsburgh's season-opening win, he did relent he's surprised there's not some more championship bling on Aaron's mantle.

"What I'm most surprised by," Favre said as he reflected on Rodgers' time in the NFL, "is he hasn't won more Super Bowls, as prolific as he's been."

Jalen Carter's spit just cost him a wad of cash -- the NFL just hit the Eagles defensive tackle with a $57K fine for his role in a wet incident with Dak Prescott in the season opener.

The NFL revealed the punishment on Tuesday ... days after Carter was caught in the act at the beginning of "Thursday Night Football" last week.

The league stated the fine will be Carter's game check -- which comes out to $57,222.

Taylor Swift was right by Travis Kelce's side as he toasted his new venture -- the soft opening of his steakhouse, which he co-owns with Patrick Mahomes -- turning the night into a celebration of both business and love.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the couple arrived hand in hand to 1587 Prime Steakhouse around 6:15 PM Monday, making their way up the grand staircase before greeting family and friends. Once inside, they tucked into a semi-private corner booth, where things stayed low-key but affectionate.

Taylor wore in a blue denim mid-thigh dress paired with wedges, her hair swept to the side, while Travis kept it casual in a green striped shirt and cap. We're told the two acted like any normal couple -- laughing with his teammates, trading quick kisses, and flashing smiles across the room whenever they drifted apart.

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's new restaurant isn't just about good eats -- it'll also give fans a chance to drink like the NFL superstars AND their lovely ladies ... thanks to signature cocktails in honor of the Chiefs besties, Taylor Swift and Brittany!!

The 1587 Prime steakhouse is gearing up for its grand opening next week in Kansas City, Missouri ... and the eatery features a detailed interior, a menu personally taste-tested by Mahomes and Kelce themselves -- and four drinks inspired by the famous couples.

TMZ Sports has learned Mahomes' signature drink, "Showtime," is a mix of aged rum blend with coconut, Coors Light syrup, lime and soda.

One of Emmitt Smith's former business associates is asking the court for the right to countersue the NFL legend ... claiming the ex-running back defrauded him.

Smith initially sued Johnny Wimbrey back in Dec. 2024 -- alleging he gave Wimbrey and several other defendants hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest ... but claims the funds were "misappropriated for other purposes."

This week, though, Wimbrey filed to amend a previously dismissed lawsuit against Smith -- alleging the Dallas Cowboys great was actually the one who caused the financial losses.

Florida Gators defensive lineman Brendan Bett is sharing his regret over hocking a loogie at South Florida football player Cole Skinner on Saturday ... issuing an apology for his actions.

The redshirt sophomore took to his Instagram Monday to address what happened during the Gators' 18-16 loss to the Bulls ... directing his message to everyone ranging from "Gator nation" and Skinner himself.

"There is no excuse for my actions. I'm truly sorry to both you and your family."

Peyton Manning was more like Prayin' Manning on Monday night ... as he revealed he's desperately trying to get Pope Leo XIV to be a guest on his "ManningCast" show.

During the third quarter of the Vikings vs. Bears game at Soldier Field, Manning informed his massive audience that he went to great lengths to try to get His Holiness to come talk ball with him and his brother, Eli, during a "Monday Night Football" matchup.

Peyton said he penned two handwritten letters -- one for the pope and another for his executive assistant -- and while they went unanswered for Monday's contest ... he threw up a Hail Mary that one day the pope might join him and his little bro on their ESPN2 broadcast.

Ray Lewis had no problem playfully running his mouth at Andre Reed before their teams faced off on "Sunday Night Football" ... but after the Buffalo Bills pulled off an incredible comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens -- guess who's talking now??

TMZ Sports spoke with the Pro Football Hall of Famer fresh off his Bills' Week 1 victory ... and he had a fun response to the legendary linebacker, who warned him prior to kickoff of a "storm" making its way to Upstate New York.

"Ray knew what was up," Andre said Monday. "He's coming to Buffalo, he's coming to the best fans in the NFL. The storm was coming, you're right -- it's not December. These two teams were a storm and it was here, but we had 70,000 plows ready for that storm and we cleared 'em out in the end."

Jalen Carter's made a name for himself with his prowess on the gridiron ... not that he got to show much of it in the first game of the 2025 season, because he was kicked out after just a few seconds of play.

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman was caught in an unsportsmanlike moment, and  promptly removed from the matchup, much to the dismay of Birds fans.

We're going to see how the professional football player made his bones in the world of football ... prior to some stray saliva landing him in hot water.

Carter started playing football for a youth team in his hometown of Apopka, Florida, and he played several positions ... including receiver, cornerback, and outside linebacker, according to ESPN.

He eventually took his talents to Apopka High School, where he continued playing football, but also developed his skills on the basketball court.

Jalen later committed to the University of Georgia, debuted on the football team as a freshman in 2020 ... and helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, where they beat the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide.

JC declared for the 2023 NFL Draft shortly after the Bulldogs' championship.

He was ultimately drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, and he's played as defensive tackle since signing with the team.

Jalen's first season with the Eagles saw the team finish with an 11-6 record, and they ended up in second place in the NFC East division.

However, the team fared much better in the 2024 season, as Jalen and his teammates won it all at Super Bowl LIX ... preventing the Kansas City Chiefs from achieving a three-peat.

Jalen's 2025 season certainly started off with a bang, because he got ejected for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. ... just six seconds into the first game!

Dak and Jalen were jawing at each other following the opening kickoff, which is when the Eagles' DT spat on his opponent ... earning the ejection for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Prescott opened up about the incident after the game, admitting to spitting in the direction of the Eagles at the start of the matchup. However, he claimed he spits "a thousand times throughout the game," according to NBC Sports.

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.