NFL

Patrick Mahomes is devastated after tearing his ACL in Sunday's game ... writing an emotional message on social media -- questioning "why this had to happen" to him.

The Kansas City Chiefs' superstar suffered the injury with less than two minutes left in a Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs confirmed it was a torn ACL in his left knee ... an injury the 30-year-old is now trying to come to terms with for the first time in his career.

"Don’t know why this had to happen," Mahomes said on his X page after the injury report was published.

Patrick Mahomes' season is over after a devastating knee injury took him out of Sunday's game ... with the team just announcing he's torn his ACL.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback led his squad against the Los Angeles Chargers ... and, down 16-13 later in the fourth quarter, Mahomes rolled out to the right -- looking to make a play with his legs.

Watch at your own risk ... Mahomes throws the ball away to avoid a tackle for loss -- but his left knee lands awkwardly and gives out.

Taylor Swift's already practicing her aunt skills -- playing with Jason and Kylie Kelce's kids at Travis' game on Sunday -- while her man dealt with heartbreak on the field.

The singer-songwriter was spotted in her usual spot while Kansas City took on the Los Angeles Chargers ... laughing and talking to one of the Kelce brood.

Tay even picked up the kiddo and held her on her shoulder while walking around the box ... clearly getting in some quality time with her future fam.

The NFL world was stunned when the Colts signed 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers to replace an injured Daniel Jones ... and that includes the team's top wide receiver, Michael Pittman, who told TMZ Sports he was "shocked!"

While that was his first emotion, Pittman told us there was also excitement about the move, especially since Rivers was his first quarterback after entering the league in 2020 (it was PR's last season, until now, of course).

"He really taught me everything that I learned about being a pro and about routine and everything," Pittman told Babcock.

"So I feel like there is a lot of love there. I'm excited for him. He's just like, he's fired up. He still feels like the same young guy that he was in 2020 and we'll see what transpires."

Who is the NFL's Most Valuable Player?! Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon is weighing in on the hottest debated question in the league!

"I think it goes from week to week, and these next three weeks are going to really decide who wins this thing, because there's no clear-cut winner right now," Moon told TMZ Sports when asked for his take on the race.

"Everybody thought Matthew Stafford two weeks ago, then he had the bad game last week. Everybody kind of put Josh Allen out of it, then all of a sudden he becomes Superman the last couple of weeks. And then Drake [Maye] has been very steady the whole season. So right now, I would think he would be my MVP candidate at this minute," Warren explained, while adding that could change after the Pats and Bills play on Sunday.

The Bills will travel to New England for a tilt against the Patriots on Sunday, and there are more than just AFC East implications on the line, according to the longtime pro.

"We'll have to see because [the Pats] play Buffalo this week. I think that's going to be a big showdown between Josh Allen and Drake Maye to see not only who wins that division, but also who wins the MVP. And the way that Josh is playing right now, he's got a chance to go back-to-back."

FYI, Maye has 23 touchdowns and 3,412 passing yards, with only 6 interceptions this season. Allen has 22 touchdowns and 3,083 passing yards, with 10 picks. Best of all, numbers-wise, is Stafford, who has thrown 35 touchdown passes on 3,354 yards, with just 4 interceptions.

Of course, Allen was the 2024 winner and is currently third when it comes to the betting odds.

Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough got a ringing endorsement from former All-Pro DB Tyrann Mathieu following his big upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday ... "kind words" Shough reacted to when he chatted with TMZ Sports!

We spoke with Shough -- who was with his Pro Bowl teammate Cam Jordan at a Raising Cane's event -- just a few days removed from Mathieu's declaration that ... "This city should absolutely get behind him & embrace him as QB for (the) next decade!!"

In other words, Tyrann's seen enough -- Tyler's the guy.

"Being around [Tyrann] and for a short amount of time, and everything that he's done, and especially in this state, what a great honor," Shough told us.

T.J. Watt's sudden lung issue freaked out a lot of people, including Steelers legend Brett "Da Beard" Keisel, who tells TMZ Sports he's hoping for a quick and full recovery so the defensive monster can return to the field ASAP!!

We spoke with the two-time Super Bowl champion this week ... shortly after Watt had surgery on his partially collapsed lung following a dry needling treatment at the Steelers' practice facility.

Watt -- former NFL Defensive Player of the Year -- will miss at least the December 15 "Monday Night Football" matchup ... and Keisel has his fingers crossed his recovery doesn't take too long, while still prioritizing his full health.

Hailee Steinfeld and her husband, NFL star Josh Allen, are expecting their first child together!

The actress announced the baby news Friday in her weekly newsletter, and in a subsequent Instagram post.

The social post features a video of the "Sinners" star showing off her baby bump in various adorable embraces with her man. In one clip, the reigning NFL MVP gets down on his knees to kiss his wife's exposed belly.

T.J. Watt underwent surgery on Thursday to repair and stabilize a partially collapsed lung after a dry needling treatment session at the Pittsburgh Steelers facility ... his brother, J.J., announced on Friday.

Watt shared the news on social media after the team announced he was admitted to the hospital with a health scare. While no recovery timeline is currently available, he is expected to be released from the hospital on Friday.

"He and his family are very appreciative of everyone's kind words and well wishes," J.J. said.

Bijan Robinson is expressing his regret over repeating the controversial name of a playground game during an interview ... saying even though he didn't mean any disrespect by uttering "smear the queer" on live TV, it shouldn't have come out of his mouth.

The Atlanta Falcons star was chopping it up with the Prime Video crew after his team's big win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" ... when Richard Sherman praised his ability to avoid being tackled throughout the contest.

Robinson had 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground ... and 82 yards through the air in the 29-28 win.

It's safe to say Todd Bowles wasn’t in a great mood after his Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost on a last-second field goal to the Atlanta Falcons ... going on an expletive-laced postgame press conference -- calling his team’s performance "in-f***ing-excusable."

Bowles met with the media after Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez lifted Atlanta to a 29-28 win to send the Bucs to a 7-7 record following "Thursday Night Football," and he wasn’t hiding his feelings.

“It's inexcusable," Bowles said. "We don't make excuses. You gotta f***ing care enough where the sh*t hurts. You gotta f***ing care enough where the sh*t hurts. Gotta f***ing mean something to you. It's more than a job, it's your f***ing livelihood. How well do you know your job? How well can you do your job? You can't sugarcoat that sh*t.”

Warren Moon once started a game at 44 years old -- something Philip Rivers may also do come Sunday -- and the Pro Football Hall of Famer is reacting to the shocking signing, and offering advice, 'cause playing quarterback is never easy, especially in your mid-40s!

"We've seen guys like Joe Flacco come back and do great coming out of retirement, but he wasn't in retirement very long," Moon told TMZ Sports this week. "In this situation, I'm a little more alarmed because he's been away from the game for so long."

T.J. Watt experienced a health scare at the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice facility on Wednesday ... and was hospitalized with a lung issue.

Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten shared the concerning news on Thursday, stating the linebacker is at a medical facility for further medical evaluation after experiencing "discomfort" during practice.

"He will not be at practice on Thursday," Lauten said, "and his status for Monday night's game vs. Miami is in question."

The NFL world is still processing the fact that 44-year-old Philip Rivers is back on the Indianapolis Colts ... and that includes Cam Newton, who admitted he felt like it was a "slap to my face" he didn't get a call.

Newton spoke about the signing on his "4th&1" podcast ... where he clearly seemed annoyed that the Colts didn't check in on his availability.

When his co-host asked if Cam's work in the media gives off the vibe he'd be interested in, Newton didn't agree with the narrative.

Taylor Swift's got some practice shaking off the haters ... and now, she's got a simple response for critics who want her to "go away."

Check out her Wednesday appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" -- she claps back at naysayers who plead with her to exit the spotlight, bluntly arguing ... "I don't want to!" Case closed.

Nearly in the same breath, the "Opalite" hitmaker shouts out her fiancé Travis Kelce as being one of her 3 favorite people to turn to for life and career advice, enthusiastically noting ... "I can talk to him about any of this."

Philip Rivers can't wait to get back on an NFL field ... but his wife, on the other hand, is a little concerned about him going out there at 44 years old -- the new Colt admitted on Wednesday she's nervous about his safety and well-being on the gridiron.

The NFL quarterback -- who signed with Indianapolis' practice squad after Daniel Jones' season-ending injury -- spoke with the media minutes ago ... his first time at the NFL podium since he retired in 2021.

When Rivers, 44, was asked about his family's reaction to his comeback ... he revealed his wife, Tiffany, is anxious.