NFL

Druski addressed his viral moment from the NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, where he butchered the name of Offensive Player of the Year award winner Jaxon Smith-Njigba ... with the comedian revealing he reached out to the NFL star, but never heard back.

The comedian swung by CBS Mornings, where Nate Burleson asked him about his pronunciation of Smith-Njigba's name -- which sparked fierce backlash online.

"I like to mess around," he said. "Sometimes you can go too far."

Dacoda Jones is keeping the focus on her little boy -- just days after accusing Kansas City Chiefs star Rashee Rice of abuse in a bombshell lawsuit.

The NFL wide receiver’s ex took to Instagram to celebrate their son, Cayden, turning 2 years old … sharing a sweet collage of photos and a caption that read:

“How are you already two?! My sweet face where is time going 🥹 my spark of energy, my bundle of joy, you complete me in every day Happy Birthday baby boy mama lovessss you 🫶”

The post was full-on mama mode -- no legal talk, no drama -- just birthday love and cuddly snaps of the toddler smiling alongside his mom.

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots won't have to wait long to get another crack at the Lombardi Trophy ... they'll be back next year for Super Bowl LXI, so says Mark Wahlberg!

TMZ Sports ran into the actor and Pats superfan outside of ABC Studios in New York City on Wednesday, just a week and a half removed from New England's 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

We asked Mark about the loss and Maye's setbacks -- he had three turnovers and was sacked six times -- but Wahlberg ain't sweatin' the crushing loss to the season, and their star player's struggles.

"Okay, but he went to the Super Bowl in his second season," Wahlberg said when asked about the Maye haters. "That's pretty good!"

Rashee Rice's lawyer, Sean Lindsey, released a statement, claiming that on October 9, 2025, Jones stated under penalty of perjury in an affidavit for non-prosecution that Rice did not punch her. It was just a verbal argument.

"We will allow the legal process to run its course and have no further comment at this time," Lindsey said.

Rashee Rice's longtime partner and mother of his children has filed an explosive lawsuit against the NFL star, accusing him of choking, strangling, scratching, hitting, and headbutting her over a nightmare 19-month period.

The grisly details are part of a lawsuit filed by Dacoda Jones this week in district court, and obtained by TMZ Sports ... where she lays out what he says was a horrific pattern of abuse between December 2023 and July 2025.

"Rashee Rice continued to repeatedly [assault] Dacoda Jones over the course of their relationship," the lawsuit claims.

Jones -- who has two children with Rice -- says she was also subject to "other violent and abusive behaviors," which included the Chiefs' wideout throwing things at her, "punching walls, and breaking furniture."

Jones claims the abuse caused "bleeding, swelling, bruising, and other pain and physical injury to her neck, face, mouth, arms, legs, chest, and shoulder."

To make matters worse, Dacoda says most of the abuse occurred while she was pregnant.

It's not the first time Jones has gone public with the allegations of abuse. Last month on social media, Dacoda accused Rashee of getting physical with her ... and at the time, included photos she says prove he was abusive.

After hearing of the allegations, the NFL launched an investigation into Rice for possible violations of the league's Personal Conduct Policy. The investigation is still active.

We actually saw RR at LAX recently, and asked him about the situation ... but he stayed mum.

Rice, a game-breaking weapon on the field, has been in hot water off it. He served jail time in 2025 after pleading guilty to multiple felonies for his role in a multi-vehicle crash on a Dallas highway.

In that case, the NFL suspended Rice six games before he returned to play for Kansas City.

On a personal level, Rice has a new woman in his life, recently going IG official on Valentine's Day with Instagram model Rubi Rose.

If Matthew Stafford ever gets honored with a statue, it shouldn't live outside SoFi Stadium ... so says former Rams star Todd Gurley ... but the former NFL running back has a good explanation.

Gurley -- who played for the Rams from 2015 to 2019 -- broke it down to TMZ Sports at the Fanatics party during Super Bowl week ... and based on chatter he's heard, it'll take a LOT for anyone to get the honor at the state-of-the-art venue in Inglewood.

"Since they share the stadium with the Chargers, if they build a statue of anyone, or they like put them in the stadium, the Chargers have that same right to do that for their player as well. So I don't think they kinda wanna do that," Gurley said. "From my understanding."

Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman was jumped by four people at a Manhattan hotel early Monday morning ... but thankfully, despite being hospitalized, he only suffered minor injuries.

The incident occurred around 4:30 AM at the SIXTY LES in the Lower East Side, where the DB was approached by a group of men who apparently realized he played in the NFL.

The confrontation quickly escalated into a physical altercation, sparking a brawl in the hotel lobby. The suspects took off, leaving Hickman with injuries that required a trip to the hospital

The Browns said he was treated for minor injuries and is now resting at home with his family.

Cardi B, for the first time, is publicly acknowledging that she and Stefon Diggs are dunzo ... while at the same time, sticking up for the Patriots star wideout in a big way, after rapper BIA took a shot at him this weekend!

Not up on your rap beef? Cardi -- currently at the start of her big "Little Miss Drama Tour" -- and BIA have drama that goes back years. But, if anyone thought Cardi's split from Stefon signalled it was open season to trash the football player, she made it crystal clear that ain't the case.

"Can u name someone with more bms than receiving yards? I can! and I know that… ykwnvm," BIA wrote on social media, obviously taking a dig at Diggs.

Cardi, who had a baby with SD in November, responded, but not immediately, waiting until she hit the stage in Los Angeles Sunday night.

TMZ Sports has obtained the body-worn camera footage from the January arrest of Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore ... and it shows the NFL vet telling cops he had no weapons in his car, before a search revealed otherwise.

Police initially pulled over the car -- owned by Lattimore and driven by a female acquaintance -- for a minor traffic violation. When they ran the plates, they were expired, according to law enforcement.

Before returning to his patrol car to begin writing up the citations, the officer asked if there were any guns or knives in the car.

Former NFL star Tre Johnson -- an All-Pro offensive lineman -- suddenly passed away on Sunday while on vacation with his family, his wife confirmed ... leaving everyone in shock.

He was only 54.

Irene Johnson announced the devastating news on her Facebook page Sunday, saying Tre died earlier in the day while on a brief family trip. The cause of death was not revealed.

"His four children, Chloe, EJ, EZ, and Eden, extended family, friends, and I are devastated and in shock," Irene said.

Jerry Jones is the most powerful owner in the NFL ... but he tells TMZ Sports things could ended up much differently for him if Michael Irvin never played for the Dallas Cowboys.

We caught up with the Hall of Fame owner at the Fanatics party during Super Bowl week ... and he spoke highly of his former superstar receiver -- not only for his athletic abilities, but also the mindset he brought to the whole franchise.

The praise came up when we asked if Irvin should bring his signature "belt to ass" celebrations to the Cowboys ... after it became a bit of a phenomenon for his Miami Hurricanes this past season.

Super Bowl 50 champ T.J. Ward is doubling down on the Denver Broncos ... predicting his old squad will be playing for it all next year.

And he’s not whispering it -- he called his shot when TMZ Sports caught up with him Super Bowl week at SI The Party.

“They'll be in the Super Bowl next year!!!” Ward said.

The former “No Fly Zone” hammer says Denver is sitting on something most NFL teams would kill for: continuity. In a league where rosters flip overnight, the Broncos are bringing back their quarterback, running backs, defense, coaching staff -- the whole engine.

Shaquem Griffin is buying all the way in on the Seattle Seahawks -- and he says their championship is the start of an NFL takeover.

The former Seahawks linebacker told TMZ Sports on his way to the Seahawks' Super Bowl afterparty that there might be more than one Lombardi trophy coming to the Emerald City ... because the blueprint is already working.

Is a dynasty brewing???

Travis Kelce's used to big hits while playing sports ... but he's not usually the guy doling them out -- and certainly not with a golf ball!

The Kansas City Chiefs star played the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Friday ... but ran into some trouble on the 18th hole -- when he shanked a ball that smacked a bystander.

Check out the clip ... the woman is being attended to by several staff members when Travis wades through the crowd.

Travis Kelce's love was the key that opened Taylor Swift's thighs ... and he's looking to pass that on this Valentine's Day in the form of a virtual card!

See it for yourself -- the official X account for "New Heights" -- Travis and Jason Kelce's hit podcast -- shared a photo of a grinning Kelce from the podcast on a red background.

The card reads, "Wood you be my Valentine?" ... and features a prominent redwood tree in the upper left corner.

Drew Brees earned his spot in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame class ... and he tells TMZ Sports he believes it's only a matter of time before fellow quarterbacks Eli Manning and Philip Rivers join him in Canton.

We caught up with the New Orleans Saints legend at the Fanatics party during Super Bowl weekend ... fresh off the announcement he'll need fitted for a gold jacket.

Incredibly deserved, obviously ... but most of the chatter around the Hall this year was about Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, not making the cut ... and same for Manning, the only guy to beat Tom Brady twice in the Super Bowl, in his second year of eligibility.

Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves has made a fortune off chicken fingers ... so would he ever put his money toward owning an NFL team??

The businessman -- who is worth around $22 BILLION -- tells TMZ Sports it's certainly possible ... after all, he loves everything about the sport.

"For me, I love football -- I love the fanfare of it," Graves said at Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast party during Super Bowl week. "I love the fact that coaches and teams have to put together this amazing play calling, amazing teams, the athletes are incredible -- so I love all that."