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Former MLB player Jeremy Giambi died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound ... according to the medical examiner in Los Angeles.

He was only 47 years old.

As we previously reported, sources told us it was evident the former 7-year Major League Baseball vet took his own life earlier this week at his parents' home in the L.A. area.

We're told a family member found Jeremy around 11:40 AM on Wednesday ... and immediately dialed 911. Rescuers responded, but sadly, there was nothing they could do to help Giambi.

Jeremy played from 1998 to 2003 ... for the Royals, Athletics, Phillies, and Red Sox. He had a career batting average of .263, hit 52 home runs, and batted in 209 runs throughout his career.

His best season came in 2002, when he played in 124 games and hit 20 homers.

The Athletics issued a statement on Jeremy's death, saying ... "We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi. We offer our condolences to Jeanne, Jason, and his family and friends."

Jeremy is the younger brother of former AL MVP Jason Giambi.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Move over Bengals and Rams fans ... Drake now might be the most nervous person on the continent watching the Super Bowl this weekend -- 'cause he revealed he's betting more than $1 MILLION on the Big Game.

The "Hotline Bling" singer disclosed his bets on his social media page Thursday evening ... showing he's laying down serious cash on the Rams and Odell Beckham Jr.

In screenshots of his wagers -- which appear to be placed in Bitcoin -- Drake showed he's got nearly $500K on the Rams to beat Cincy outright.

Drake also revealed he's betting nearly $800K on Odell catching a touchdown and logging more than 62.5 receiving yards.

In total, if Drake hits all three bets, he stands to make over $2 MILLION.

Of course, the bets aren't too surprising -- Drake's rich after all, but he's also good buds with Beckham. In fact, along with his betting slips, Drake showed a photo of what appeared to be gloves given to him by OBJ.

Kurt Warner tells TMZ Sports he's 100 percent sure Torry Holt will make the Hall of Fame one day ... despite being snubbed for the honor once again on Thursday night.

"He's a lock to get in," the Rams legend said of his former teammate. "Yes. Just a matter of time."

Holt was expected to finally get the call for the 2022 class at the NFL Honors ceremony ... but when the names were announced, he was surprisingly not selected.

Holt had seemed fairly confident about it all when we spoke to him earlier Thursday morning ... and it no doubt had to be disappointing to learn he didn't get in.

But, Warner says his former favorite target shouldn't sweat ... telling us he knows Torry will get a bust in Canton eventually.

"Unfortunately, as I know well, it takes a little bit of time sometimes," said Warner, who had to wait several years before he was finally inducted into the HOF.

"We're in his corner and we do whatever we can 'cause his time is coming. I do believe that [he'll make it next year]."

Holt is in his eighth year of eligibility for the Hall. He's now been a finalist three times.

Shannon Sharpe has heard the NFL talk the talk -- but now he wants the league to actually walk the walk, and change its hiring processes so Black coaches land more vacant jobs.

Sharpe broke it all down for TMZ Sports out at Tommie Hollywood in L.A. this week ... saying he's, quite frankly, fed up with all of Roger Goodell's promises to look into the league's hiring policies.

"We've heard this before," the Hall of Famer said. "We've heard this before. 'Yeah, I'm not pleased with the diversity hiring and yada yada yada.' And it’s the same thing."

"Change behavior," Sharpe said. "Let's see some hiring."

If you missed it, after Brian Flores alleged that NFL teams are racist when it comes to hiring Black head coaches ... Goodell promised to re-evaluate the league's policies with the hopes that it can potentially lead to change.

Goodell even said he'd consider abolishing the Rooney Rule -- which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for vacant head coaching roles -- if he thought it would help.

Sharpe tells us he doesn't want to hear that kind of talk anymore -- saying he simply just wants to see action now.

"Guys just want a fair opportunity," Sharpe said. "Nobody wants to get hired because they're Black. But, what we know right now is that we're not getting the same opportunities other counterparts that go in there [are getting]."

The Broncos legend tells us he wants league owners to step up and ensure they're not making interviewing Black coaches "a sham."

2 Chainz has a suggestion to help Snoop Dogg take his Super Bowl halftime performance to a higher level ... burn one on stage!

The rapper flew into LAX Thursday, he's in town to open up Pineapple Express, his new biz, and to take part in some of the many SB festivities this weekend.

Speaking of weed -- we asked his thoughts on fans wanting Snoop to smoke a blunt during the halftime show. Clearly entertained by the question, 2 Chainz started to crack up ... saying it would be "legendary" if Snoop actually pulled it off.

2 Chainz stated his case, bringing up the fact marijuana's legal in CA, and told our cam he'd try to call Snoop to convince him to do it.

As you know, Snoop is performing in LA for the big game's halftime show ... and will be on stage with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.

We don't yet know a whole lot about what'll happen during the performance, but one thing Dr. Dre promised on Thursday was no nudity from Snoop or Eminem.

Jerry Jones is so disappointed over the Cowboys missing out on this week's Super Bowl -- he said he'll be yelling into his pillow in Los Angeles this week lamenting it all.

The Dallas owner dropped the incredible line to TMZ Sports outside of Craig's in L.A. on Thursday night ... comparing the sounds of his upcoming sobs to an animal that's been caught in a trap.

"When ya'll hear what sounds like -- over these Los Angeles hills -- when you think they got one of these mountain lions with its tail caught," Jones said, "that's me screaming into my pillow for not being in that Super Bowl."

Jones was smiling and laughing when he said the quote, but watch the clip -- it ain't hard to see the 79-year-old is truly bummed about not playing the Bengals for the title this weekend.

Of course, Jones' Cowboys really didn't even get close ... they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs last month by the 49ers in a disappointing fashion.

Jones, though, doesn't seem too upset at his QB for the early exit ... he told us he believed Dak Prescott got snubbed for Comeback Player of the Year honors on Thursday night when he lost the award to Joe Burrow.

Tom Brady needs to come back home and retire as a member of the New England Patriots ... so says Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who tells TMZ Sports the legendary quarterback has "no love for Tampa Bay."

We spoke with Dave outside Saddle Ranch in West Hollywood ... and he says he truly believes the 7-time Super Bowl champ is really done -- but his final stop will be Foxborough.

Portnoy tells us, "I think he’s going to sign probably a 1-day contract with the Pats and retire as a Patriot. That's where his heart is."

Dave says all is well between Brady and the Pats after the QB initially snubbed them out of his retirement message ... calling it a "mistake" on his end.

"He apologized to me personally. He said I'm a soldier for life. The next day he created a Patriot video, and he did it two years ago ... he thanked the Patriots fans."

BTW, Portnoy is as loyal as it gets when it comes to the Pats. He was arrested back in 2015 at NFL headquarters after Brady was suspended by the league for Deflategate.

Dave seems to think that TB12's mental blunder wasn't intentional at all ... explaining he was probably forgetful in that moment -- but now he's back in his good graces.

As for Tampa, Dave says Brady's past 2 seasons pretty much meant nothing ... and it doesn't even come close to the relationships he built with the team that drafted him back in 2000.

"He has no love for Tampa Bay," Dave says ... "And he wants to retire where it all began, and where he built his legacy. And it's definitely not Tampa."

Dave says he's confident Tom could've played until he was 50 if he wanted to ... but the only way he wants to see him return is under one condition.

Tired of seeing NFL players not go all-out at the Pro Bowl? Patriots star Matthew Judon tells TMZ Sports he has the solution -- a whole new setup for the game that includes flag football and past legends!!

Judon explained his proposal outside of Tommie Hollywood in L.A. on Wednesday ... saying if people really hate the NFL's all-star game now, he's down to change it up to a flag game with former stars.

"What we should do, and it could be competitive, start an old, a washed-up, like, you know, the old pros vs. the new pros," Judon said.

"We can go out there and we can play, like, flag with them or something like that."

Of course, Judon is talking about changes to the game because people REALLY hated on the contest this past weekend.

Fans, and even past legends like Deion Sanders, criticized players for not going full speed, and not even really trying to tackle each other.

Judon says all of that was by design, explaining nobody wants to get hurt following a long season.

"You don't want anybody to get injured, man," Judon said. "The real game is the real game ... the Pro Bowl is for the experience."

Don't fret, Cowboys fans ... Dallas legend Michael Irvin says despite Dak Prescott's playoff struggles, he's 100 percent sure the quarterback will win a ring for his former team.

"Oh, absolutely, my brother!" Irvin told TMZ Sports outside of Academy Nightclub on Wednesday. "Absolutely!"

A few years ago, that prediction was a popular one ... the quarterback won Rookie of the Year in 2016 and looked like an elite signal-caller.

But, Dak faded toward the end of the 2021 season ... and really struggled against the 49ers in the playoffs, causing many to question if he is, in fact, capable of getting Dallas its sixth Super Bowl title.

Irvin, though, clearly ain't sweating yet ... telling us he still has plenty of faith in the 27-year-old QB.

"Other people don't know what it takes," The Playmaker said. "I've ran that race. I know what it takes. And Dak has what it takes."

Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the Super Bowl halftime show will be penis-free ... 'cause Dr. Dre says he convinced Eminem and Snoop Dogg to NOT whip out their junk during the performance.

Yes, he really said that!! 😂

The legendary rapper made the revelation while speaking at a press conference on Thursday ... and it's safe to say you can cross "dong exposure" off your list of prop bets for the show.

Dre says there WILL be a few surprises ... but no sort of wardrobe malfunctions will be happening on his watch.

"I had to talk Snoop and Eminem out of pulling their penises out," Dre said. "It's just actually Eminem."

Snoop -- who will be performing alongside Em, Dre, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige -- says he might still show a lil' somethin' somethin' ... but calm down, he's only talking about taking his shirt off.

Of course, SB halftime shows have had their history of racy moments ... from Janet Jackson's wardrobe mishap in 2004 to J Lo and Shakira's dancing routine that ramped up 1,300 FCC complaints in 2020.

Torry Holt needs to see more from Matthew Stafford -- possibly even more than a Super Bowl win this weekend -- to say the QB is a future Hall of Famer ... telling TMZ Sports the Rams star isn't quite on that level for him yet.

Holt -- who is expected to be named to the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class later Thursday evening -- kept it real with us at LAX Thursday morning ... saying Stafford's career resume, in his opinion, isn't Hall-worthy right now.

"I'm not ready to give that up right yet," the former Rams superstar said while at the airport welcoming fans who flew American Airlines to get to the Super Bowl in L.A.

"But, he is a heck of a football player. Definitely on the trajectory of that next level."

Stafford's career numbers suggest he's a potential first-ballot kind of guy if he secures the SB win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

He's thrown for 49,995 yards and 323 TDs in 182 career games ... though he has made only one Pro Bowl in his 13-year career.

For Holt, he says it's all just too soon to talk about Stafford and the HOF for him.

"For me," Holt said, "it is."

Jerry Harris has pleaded guilty in his child pornography case .... TMZ has learned.

The "Cheer" star was in Chicago Federal court Thursday where he entered the plea to 2 charges -- receiving child porn using interstate commerce and traveling over state lines with intent to illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Harris had been under investigation by the FBI for allegedly soliciting minors for sex back in May 2019. The feds say Jerry requested sexually inappropriate photos from teen boys, which they sent to him.

The judge told Harris sentencing guidelines call for him to get up to 50 years in prison -- but it's ultimately up to the judge who will announce Harris' sentence in a June 28 hearing.

Jerry rose to fame in Season 1 of the popular Netflix series ... but things quickly took a turn for the worse, when he was arrested in Illinois for child pornography in Sept. 2020.

According to the criminal complaint, Jerry was 19 at the time and the alleged victims were 13.

The feds claim the teens' parents say Harris had contacted both of them online and repeatedly asked for pornographic photos and videos.

Harris allegedly started contacting the boys back in December of 2018.

The alleged victims provided law enforcement with screenshots of exchanges with Harris via Snapchat and text messages, among other evidence.

Harris was ultimately charged with producing child pornography. He's still dealing with a civil lawsuit from the 2 alleged victims ... who claim he groomed them into sending the nude photos and he demanded sexual acts.

Don't feel bad, Matt James ... CC Sabathia also hit a guy with an errant tee shot on the course in Arizona on Wednesday -- drilling a Yankees fan in the leg just hours before the 'Bachelor' star hit a photog in the thigh.

CC's unfortunate drive happened on the 18th hole of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Pro-Am ... when a witness tells us the former Yankees superstar pushed his shot so far to the right on the par-4, it struck a man in the leg.

Video, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows the collision was so powerful ... it actually caused the guy to bleed.

Thankfully, we're told the fan ended up being OK -- and, watch the clip, CC was super nice and apologetic about it all.

Sabathia can be heard chatting it up with the man, who actually said he was a big Yankees and CC fan.

Sabathia ended up signing a golf ball as an apology souvenir ... before he headed off to finish out his round.

In case you were wondering, Sabathia is normally a fairly decent golfer -- reportedly with a handicap in the teens.

Cincinnati's Super Bowl practice definitely hit different on Wednesday -- 'cause the Bengals took the field to prepare for the game right in the middle of SoCal's rare wintertime heat wave.

Mother Nature is bringing the heat with 80 to 90-degree temperatures with the Super Bowl just days away -- prompting a heat advisory until Sunday evening.

By the way, it's damn near freezing in Ohio ... but you can see Joe Burrow, C.J. Uzomah and the rest of the Bengals squad appear to be handling the higher L.A. temps well as they hit the field for the first time in Cali.

They better get used to it -- this Super Bowl might be the hottest EVER ... as forecasts predict temps close to 90. Sheesh!!

Worth noting -- SB VII in 1973 holds the record at 84 degrees ... and coincidentally, that game was held at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

Thankfully for the players and fans, SoFi Stadium has roof panels that can be unlatched to let the heat out.

Ed Orgeron is like a proud dad leading up to the Super Bowl ... telling TMZ Sports he's pulling for Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase to win it all on Sunday.

"Proud of Joe," Ed said outside an S.B. party at Academy in L.A. "But, you know what, Joe meant a lot to LSU. Him and Ja’Marr and all those players, we're very proud of them."

Orgeron coached both Joe and Ja'Marr on the 2019 undefeated LSU Tigers team that beat the Clemson Tigers in the championship game ... so he's very familiar with what the dynamic duo can do on the biggest stage.

Despite all the success, Joe and the Bengals are not favored to win against the Rams ... but O says that's how the QB likes it.

"He's been an underdog all his life," Orgeron said. "Just like I’ve been and fought. He likes being an underdog."

As for whether Burrow can add a Lombardi trophy to his collection, O is pretty confident.

"He’s eventually gone do it," said Ed. "He may do it this Sunday. I hope he does. He’s got all the talent in the world."

He added ... "I think this is only the beginning for him, I think he’s going to have a great career in Cincinnati."

Julianna Pena is a woman on a mission, out to prove that her victory over GOAT Amanda Nunes in December was no fluke, saying she can't wait to once again prove she's the superior fighter.

The 32-year-old champ tells TMZ Sports she's pumped to step in the Octagon with Nunes for a second time ... after many people were shocked by the outcome of their first fight.

"I'm so excited! I think I'm one of those people that thrives in a situation where people are counting me out," Pena says.

"A ton of people think that was a fluke. They think she was off on that night. I don’t feel that way and I can’t wait to prove the naysayers wrong again."

Of course, Julianna was a huge underdog when she defeated Amanda ... winning by 2nd round submission at UFC 269 in December 2021.

Now, the two will rematch later this year ... in what Dana White said will be the biggest fight in women's history.

But first, Julianna and Amanda will face off as coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 30" ... where they'll mentor men's heavyweights and women's flyweights.

After TUF ... rematch time!

We also talked to Julianna about "the baddest woman on the planet," Ronda Rousey's return to the wrestling ring (Pena doesn't agree with WWE's description).

The champ weighed in on Ronda's time with the UFC ... and issued this challenge in case she's considering fighting MMA again.

"I've been saying that from the very beginning when the bantamweight division here opened up. They literally just handed a belt to somebody. She had to only fight one person where at the same exact time I had to fight four girls."

She continued ... "If she wants to come back to right real fighting, I would absolutely love to greet her and make that fight happen. It's a dream matchup for me."