Football

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are enjoying their respective breaks ... dressing up for a dinner in the Big Apple with a couple of their famous pals.

The singer-songwriter and her footballing beau hit up BondST Restaurant -- a celeb hotspot in NYC -- Friday night ... going for a long, four-hour meal.

Check out the pics ... the two walked into BondST in matching khaki, accented with black -- perfectly coordinated as they walked into the restaurant.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl got off to a hot start Saturday ... with three giant Pop-Tart mascots stripping off their silver wrappings in the pregame festivities.

Here's the deal ... the bowl game -- which has become a fan-favorite since the popular snackfood brand took over the naming rights last year -- kicked off earlier Saturday in Orlando, Florida.

If you don't know, the MVP of the game's winning team gets to choose a flavor of giant Pop-Tart to toast -- and the team gets to dig into the bad boy postgame.

Avert your eyes and ears, Bills Mafia ... NFL legend Rod Woodson tells TMZ Sports Lamar Jackson is the MVP this year -- not Josh Allen.

According to the former Baltimore Ravens defensive back, it's not particularly close, either.

"It's no question in my head," the Hall of Famer said this week, "Lamar Jackson is the MVP."

Sports broadcasting legend Greg Gumbel has died.

The longtime studio host's family said in a statement to CBS on Friday "he passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer."

They added, "Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten."

Nick Saban is being a good sport amid his silly beef with Shane Gillis ... saying he understands the comedian was doing his job when cracking a joke about paying players during his legendary tenure at Alabama -- while proving he's got a sense of humor himself.

The "Tires" star initially made the comments on "College GameDay" earlier this month ... claiming Notre Dame is able to compete now that all schools allow student-athletes to get compensated for their accomplishments -- and not just Bama and the SEC in previous years.

Gillis claimed he was just teasing Saban -- who he referred to as "Alabama Jones" due to his hat choice that day -- and admitted he didn't REALLY think there was shady business going on in the conference.

Caleb Williams might wanna stay off social media for a bit ... 'cause the Chicago Bears' rookie quarterback was on the receiving end of a ton of criticism for his "Thursday Night Football" outing.

While it was the Bears who fell to the Seattle Seahawks in an ugly 6-3 result, it was probably the viewers who took the biggest L on the night ... with the matchup being quite the stinker from start to finish.

Chicago's No. 1 overall pick went 16/28 for just 122 yards and an interception in the defeat ... and folks on social media were quick to sound off on the signal-caller throughout and after the game.

It wasn't too difficult to see who Simone Biles was supporting at the Bears vs. Seahawks game Thursday night ... check out her 'fit -- it was covered in images of her husband, Jonathan Owens!!

The U.S. gymnastics star pulled up to Soldier Field for the "Thursday Night Football" tilt in a hoodie and some sweats that had Owens' face all over them.

The Chicago defensive back's No. 36 digits were also featured on the cozy garb ... and it was clear the 29-year-old appreciated the look, as he gave her a big ole smooch before taking the field.

Josh Allen's shining bright on the field and off of it these days ... as TMZ Sports has learned the new MVP chain he was gifted this week is absolutely loaded with gold and diamonds!!

Dion Dawkins and the rest of the Buffalo Bills offensive line doled out their Christmas present to their star quarterback earlier this week ... and Gabriel Jacobs of Rafaello and Co. -- the jeweler who made the piece -- explained to us the thing really is one of a kind.

Jacobs told us it's dripping in 14-karat white gold ... and has approximately 27 carats of diamonds in it (12 in the necklace and 15 in the charm).

Former Central Michigan Chippewas quarterback Tommy Lazzaro has passed away, the school announced Thursday. He was just 27 years old.

Lazzaro -- a Monument, Colorado native -- was involved in a fatal hunting accident this past Sunday in Florida, according to multiple reports.

Lazzaro made 20 career appearances for the Chippewas ... and was part of the team that went 8-6 and made it to the MAC Championship Game against Miami (OH) in 2019. He led the team with two touchdowns in the contest.

Safe to say Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley got the whole Christmas thing down pat ... 'cause the Eagles superstars' offensive linemen turned into a bunch of kids when they got their awesome golf cart gifts for the holidays!!

Philly's quarterback and running back duo pulled out all the stops for their big guys up front this season ... handing out customized four-wheelers with their names and numbers printed on 'em at a practice earlier this week.

The Eagles just shared video of how the linemen reacted to the kind gesture ... and they were clearly thrilled with their new items.

Christmas is over, but Xavier Legette's still in the giving mood -- although his teammates might not appreciate his latest round of gifts ... as it featured none other than raccoon meat!!

The Carolina Panthers wideout brought in his favorite dish for his squad the day after he chowed down on it for his Dec. 25 dinner ... and he had so much of it leftover, he even offered some to media members.

Most of the people in the vicinity of the unique protein were startled by its appearance ... as it looked far more like ground turkey or pulled pork than bites of a wild animal.

It's great to be a Mahomes this week -- even the ones barely old enough to walk -- 'cause just after Patrick Mahomes won his Christmas Day game ... he doled out some amazing presents to his kids!!

The NFL superstar's wife, Brittany, just showed on social media that she and her hubby balled out for little Bronze and Sterling's Dec. 25 ... gifting them lifelike toy cars!

Bronze -- who just turned two years old -- scored a matte black Mercedes ... and he clearly loved it, as Mom called him the "happiest boy ever" in a snap of him in the driver's seat.

Nina Thomas clearly isn't letting allegations that she swindled her ex, Earl Thomas, out of millions of dollars affect her personal life ... she attended Beyoncé's big concert Wednesday -- and it looked like she had a blast.

The estranged wife of the former Seattle Seahawks superstar hit up NRG Stadium for the Texans vs. Ravens Christmas game in Houston ... and rocked out to Queen Bey at halftime in some great seats.

Nina -- wearing a lowcut spaghetti strap top, some blue jeans and a cowboy hat -- crooned 'Yoncé's tunes along with the musician, and sported a big grin on her face the entire time.

Dave Portnoy is not a fan of Beyoncé and he clearly wants the world to know it ... publicly ripping her during her big Christmas Day halftime show.

The Barstool Sports honcho went in on Queen Bey on Wednesday as she was serenading NRG Stadium in Houston with "Cowboy Carter" tunes ... declaring her "LOST" without Destiny's Child.

Portnoy didn't elaborate much further as he watched the "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" songstress croon during the Ravens vs. Texans intermission ... although he did encourage his fans to roast her on his outlet's new Jon Gruden show, "The Shred Line."

LeBron James wants the NFL to stay in its own lane ... saying even though he loves his football as much as the next person, the league needs to leave the Christmas entertainment to the NBA.

King James made the declaration in his on-court interview following the Los Angeles Lakers' thrilling 115-113 road win over Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday ... hours after the NFL's two games were completed.

Despite the Shield's matchups involving some of the biggest athletes in the league like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry -- as well as performances from Mariah Carey and Beyoncé -- the football action wasn't nearly as exciting  ... as neither contest was competitive.