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Chiefs great Jim Tyrer and the debate surrounding his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

3 February 2025 at 06:30

Across all sports, every new class in their respective Hall of Fame brings about spirited debate. This year for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is no different. 

But for one finalist, the circumstances surrounding his place in Canton are more than just a case of championships and stats. His place in the Hall of Fame will likely come down to a tragic case of a murder-suicide. 

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There are five total finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame senior class, including a coach and a contributor. The players up for vote are Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer. 

Of the three, the biggest questions surround Tyrer.

Born in Newark, Ohio, on Feb. 25, 1939, Jim Tyrer is largely considered one of the most dominant offensive tackles of his era. 

After playing football at Ohio State, where he was an All-America choice, Tyrer began his 14-year playing career with the Dallas Texans of the American Football League in 1961. His sheer size and strength at left tackle translated to early success on the field, which carried over with the team’s move to Kansas City and the eventual merger with the NFL.

Tyrer was a three-time AFL champion and nine-time AFL All-Star, and he helped the Chiefs win the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 1970. He was a starter in each of his 13 seasons with Chiefs, playing in 180 consecutive games for the third-longest streak in team history. 

Tyrer was selected as a member of the AFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s and is in the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame. He played his final season for Washington in 1974. 

It’s no doubt that Tyrer’s career is worthy of consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the tragic events that took place on Sept. 15, 1980, have kept his name off the ballot for more than 40 years. 

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Tyrer was a finalist for the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and was largely expected to be selected. But in the fall of 1980, that would change. 

According to KCTV’s reporting at the time, Tyrer shot his wife, Martha, dead just after 4 a.m. in the bedroom of their home while their four children slept before eventually taking his own life. He was 41 and Martha was 40. 

While those closest to the family, including teammates, were shocked by the news, reports would soon surface that there were issues. 

ESPN reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada told NPR last week that Tyrer had struggled to find work after his playing career had ended and that the family was experiencing financial struggles. There were also rumors that Tyrer had been dealing with "depression" and "paranoia." 

But in the nearly 45 years that have passed and with the development of science with regard to the long-term effects of playing in contact sports, many argue that Tyrer likely suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).  

Dr. Doug Paone, who treated Tyrer days before the murder-suicide, told the Kansas City Star’s Vahe Gregorian in December that he is confident that Tyrer had CTE. 

"If it walks like a duck, it quacks, it has webbed feet and water goes off its back, it’s not a zebra: It’s CTE," he said. "(Tyrer) would be the poster child for CTE."

At least three of the five senior finalists will be elected to the Pro Football Hall. They will need 80% of the votes from the Selection Committee, who will be allowed to vote for three finalists. If none receive that percentage, then the sole finalist with the most votes will be inducted into the 2025 class.  

For Tyrer, the voters appear divided. ESPN spoke to some last month when Tyrer was named a finalist. 

"It's morally abhorrent and unacceptable to put a murderer in the Hall of Fame if you have the power to do otherwise," longtime voter Jason Cole told the outlet, adding that he has "incredible compassion for the family."

Cole noted that considering CTE would be "opening up a giant can of worms."

Opposite of that, Gregorian told ESPN that CTE could be used to explain the tragedy that led to Tyrer and his wife’s untimely death. 

"I think when you see that this is a man, who had for decades lived a life that was admired by many, that this change in him was caused by [CTE]," Gregorian said, "... I think to me, it says this was because of severe brain damage, not being of a willful act by this person. I don't know, that makes me look at it differently."

The bylaws of the selection process instruct voters not to consider any off-the-field contributions – good or bad – in their decision-making. The class of 2025 will be announced next Thursday at the NFL Honors in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX. 

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Eagles' A.J. Brown recalls feeling like a 'paid actor' at previous Super Bowl, a loss to the Chiefs

1 February 2025 at 21:46

NFL star A.J. Brown made headlines when cameras recently captured him passing time during a Philadelphia Eagles game reading a book, "Inner Excellence," by self-help author Jim Murphy.

Brown's sideline routine contributed to a spike in book sales, with "Inner Excellence" quickly jumping into the top spot on Amazon's trending list the day after the Eagles' wild-card win over the Green Bay Packers. 

The book ranked 523,497 prior to the sudden increase in attention brought on by Brown.

Brown and the Eagles will now turn the page and focus on preventing a Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl three-peat. The Eagles are hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2023 Super Bowl.

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Brown caught six passes for 96 yards and scored a touchdown in the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona. But Kansas City took the lead in the fourth quarter and celebrated a 38-35 victory.

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Two full NFL seasons have passed since the loss, and the Eagles could still be haunted by the memory of how they let a chance at winning the franchise's second Super Bowl championship slip away.

A play here, a play there, and the Eagles could have been Super Bowl champions.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts replied "next question" when asked his most vivid memory from the 2023 Super Bowl, and Brown recounted a missed opportunity for him to score a touchdown that could have changed the outcome.

"The play really kept me up thinking about, ‘How did I miss that?’ and what I got confused on," Brown said.

The play?

"I don’t want to get into it because we may run it back," he said.

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Brown finished the 2024 season with 67 catches and a team-high 1,079 yards despite missing four games. It was the third consecutive year Brown surpassed 1,000 receiving yards.

"A.J. is the best receiver that this city has ever seen," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.

Brown was rewarded in April with a three-year contract extension that included $84 million in guaranteed money. He was about to become the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL at $32 million a year until Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson's deal topped his later that summer.

While Brown is paid like an elite receiver, he said he felt like nothing but a "paid actor" at the 2023 Super Bowl.

Brown said if he had his way, the Eagles would arrive in New Orleans on Friday, hold a walk-through Saturday and play the game Sunday. His Super Bowl experience was like something out of a movie in which he played the role of a football player. He has tried to steel his emotions amid this year's Super Bowl hype.

"It’s about us, but it’s not about us," he said. "We have so much we have to do for everyone else. The media, the fans. There’s only so little time that we get to focus on what’s important, and that’s the game."

Brown said he’s been turning down media requests "left and right" because, when it comes to Super Bowl hype, "none of this stuff matters."

The Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET Feb. 9 from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chiefs' Travis Kelce sends three-word message of support to Eagles fans as Super Bowl matchup looms

1 February 2025 at 15:30

Jason Kelce stepped away from football after the 2023 season. The former offensive lineman spent his entire standout career with the Philadelphia Eagles — the reigning NFC champions.

The Eagles will soon travel to New Orleans to continue preparations for Super Bowl LIX. The Kansas City Chiefs will meet the Eagles at the Caesars Superdome for the big game, creating a rematch of Super Bowl LVII. Jason and his younger brother Travis Kelce competed against each other in that game, with the Chiefs ultimately defeating the Eagles.

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Travis was recently named to his tenth consecutive Pro Bowl, while Jason has settled into broadcasting during his first year of NFL retirement. The former Eagles center Kelce signed with ESPN last year and made routine appearances on "Monday Night Countdown" throughout the 2024 football season. 

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In November, Jason announced he would host "They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce" starting in early Jan. 2025 and continuing through the NFL postseason. Travis made an appearance on the latest edition of the show and was asked to share a message for Philadelphia fans. 

The Chiefs tight end appeared to shrug his shoulders before responding with "Go Birds, baby!" as the live studio audience inside Philadelphia's concert hall Union Transfer applauded.

Jason quickly pointed to what he perceived as a disingenuous show of support from his brother. "You don't mean that," he said while laughing.

Travis then spoke about his appreciation for his brother before doubling down on his Eagles support. 

"What do you mean? I’m a Jason Kelce fanatic, dude," Travis continued. "I love that guy. I still got all the gang green from you guys’ Super Bowl and your run in Philly. I still got some Philly pride man. I’m wishing the best for those guys, but, you know, uhhh, go birds."

"There’s absolutely no chance you mean that," Jason concluded.

After starting the 2023 campaign with a 10-1 record, the Eagles went on to win just one of their final six games. Philadelphia subsequently suffered a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round. 

Kelce announced his retirement shortly after the Eagles' playoff exit. He ended his career with seven Pro Bowls and six First-team All-Pro selections.

The end of the 2024 regular season and the ongoing postseason have been more enjoyable for Philly. The Eagles were presented with the George Halas Trophy last Sunday after the team won the conference title and clinched a spot in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 9 from the Caesars Superdome.

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Ex-NFL player Kyle Rudolph discusses Vikings' QB decision, referees, the Super Bowl and NFL Draft giveaways

1 February 2025 at 07:00

Kyle Rudolph left the Minnesota Vikings a couple seasons before they went 14-3 in 2022, when they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Giants.

Two seasons later, they had almost a carbon copy of that campaign. This year, they went 13-4 but had another first-round playoff exit.

"You got to make the plays when it matters most, and they just didn't do it each of those last playoff games," Rudolph told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

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Now, the Vikings have to decide whether to keep Sam Darnold or hand the keys to the offense to J.J. McCarthy.

Minnesota drafted McCarthy with the 10th selection of last year's NFL Draft, and he was in the running to start until a knee injury in the preseason ended his season. That gave the nod to Darnold, who took advantage of the opportunity and had, by far, the best season of his career.

Darnold was playing himself into a lucrative contract until his final two games. Now, who knows what he'll get on the open market?

At the very least, he may get a decent deal like Baker Mayfield's. But even that might be a lot for Minnesota, Rudolph said.

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"Well, I think it really, so much in football comes down to the money piece. You know, when you have a salary cap, and you're trying to build a roster, unfortunately, you have to make decisions that are solely based on the ramifications of the salary cap and what that does for your roster," Rudolph said. 

"So, when you look at Sam Darnold and the year that he had in Minnesota, there's just so many factors that go into it ultimately for Sam. Does he want to go to the highest bidder? Do I think Minnesota can be the highest bidder? No, I do not. You have so much other talent on that roster that they would like to keep and have to pay. If that's what Sam decides, and he wants to go to the highest bidder, I don't think Minnesota has a chance. 

"If Sam says, ‘I love playing for Kevin O'Connell. This is the best year of my career. He brings the best out of me, I love being on this team,’ I think he would have to take some sort of a discount. And then the third piece that comes in is, ultimately, you always have the franchise tag. 

"So, if they were decide to franchise tag Sam, they could keep him on that one-year franchise tag deal. But, again, that makes things really, really tough on the salary cap because that's a one-year full salary cap hit. So, it'll be interesting what they decide.

"To this point, Kevin [O'Connell] has proved that it really doesn't matter who the quarterback is. Jaren Hall, Josh Dobbs, Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold — he's going to get the most out of him, and they're going to go win football games."

The Vikings will be home watching the Philadelphia Eagles try to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs, who are in their fifth Super Bowl in the last six years with a chance to three-peat.

It's widely been argued Kansas City has the refs on their side. But Rudolph disputed the idea of any conspiracy or favoritism.

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"If you go and look at the statistics and dive into kind of like where are the Chiefs compared to every other team in the NFL in terms of calls for and calls against, they're kind of right there in the middle of the pack," Rudolph said. 

"But what is different about the Chiefs, they're on national TV almost every week. They're playing in primetime a whole lot. They're always making deep playoff runs, five out of six years in the Super Bowl. Obviously, you have all the off-the-field publicity with Travis [Kelce] and Taylor [Swift] and Patrick’s stardom. It’s just, you see it a lot more.

"They look for things that trigger, ‘Oh, that's a foul. That's a penalty.’ It’s the slightest jersey grab, but that’s something that triggers their psyche to say, 'Oh, I saw that jersey grab, I'm throwing the flag.’ It's just an immediate reaction to them. So, no, I don't think there's favoritism. Obviously, in the world that we're in today, if that were ever to be the case … we have all the resources in the world to find out … right? We would know."

Rudolph spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of his own charity, Alltroo, where fans can donate to the campaign, and in turn, those dollars go directly to players' charities. But Rudolph and his partners have added a couple of twists.

This year, with just a $10 donation to Alltroo, fans can win both a trip to the Super Bowl with Drew Brees in New Orleans and an opportunity to announce a draft pick in Green Bay later this year if they donate to a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee's charity. 

Considering that 94% of people who donate to Alltroo had never donated to a nonprofit before, Rudolph says it's a "win-win" for everyone.

"What we wanted to create was an opportunity for die-hard sports fans, not just the high-net worth individuals or the big corporate brands, to have an opportunity to support us. And then the flip side is people are winning once-in-a lifetime experiences and items that may be out of reach. 

"So, trying to create that win-win scenario where we're raising additional funds for charity that wouldn't otherwise be, and then, ultimately, offering these once-in-a lifetime experiences to fans that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it," Rudolph said, noting that Super Bowl prices are "insanely out of price for a lot of people."

"Whatever you're willing to donate to these players’ causes, 100% of the proceeds will go directly to these player causes. So, we can just be the vehicle that passes through these donations and then, at the end of the day, a lucky fan's gonna have the opportunity to go up there and announce a draft pick at the draft and realize someone else's dream. 

"So, all in all, super cool for me to have the opportunity as a former nominee to really spearhead this initiative on behalf of the league. For as little as a $10 donation, you have a chance to win."

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Tom Brady's former teammate, Rob Gronkowski, discusses how Patrick Mahomes can dethrone Brady as NFL's GOAT

1 February 2025 at 07:00

Patrick Mahomes is on the fast track of surpassing Tom Brady as the NFL's greatest ever.

With a win in this year's Super Bowl, Mahomes would become the first player to win four rings before turning 30.

And if you compare the quarterbacks' first seven full seasons, Mahomes' numbers trump Brady's.

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Brady won more than half of his rings after turning 37, cementing himself in the conversation. But the chatter will be hot and heavy if the Kansas City Chiefs can finish a three-peat, something no team has done in the Super Bowl era.

Rob Gronkowski had a front-row seat for Brady's illustrious career, winning four titles with him, three in New England, and one more in Tampa Bay. 

"Good thing I went back to football and did that," Gronkowski recalled in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

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But even Gronk knows his quarterback might be in trouble. However, it will be tough, and there's a reason why Brady has the upper hand for the time being.

"In order for Patrick Mahomes to dethrone (Brady), it’s gonna be tough because Tom beat him twice in playoff football. We absolutely demolished Patrick Mahomes," Gronkowski said, referring to the 2021 Super Bowl.

Advantage, Brady.

But that doesn't mean there's no chance for Mahomes. Gronk said Mahomes doesn't even need to match Brady in titles before being in the conversation.

"He’s gonna have to win about five, six championships in order to get in that conversation of being the greatest ahead of Tom Brady," Gronk said.

ROB GRONKOWSKI TAKES NFL OFFICIALS TO TASK OVER ALLEGED CHIEFS FAVORITISM

Those sentiments echo those of Victor Cruz, who already has Mahomes as the "No. 2" to Brady.

"To me, I can’t put him above [Tom] Brady just yet, but he’s right there. He’s 1A, 1B for me," Cruz told Fox News Digital in October. 

"If he gets to five and he continues to keep his team relevant year in and year out, when we look up at the numbers, it’s gonna be insane just to see where he nets out and just to see when it’s all said and done where he is, because what he’s doing thus far, it's pretty special."

First, the Chiefs will have to get through the Philadelphia Eagles, who the Chiefs beat two years ago in the Super Bowl to get Mahomes his second title. He earned his third last year against the San Francisco 49ers, the same team Mahomes beat for his first ring.

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NFL star Xavier Worthy recalls meeting Taylor Swift after Chiefs' AFC title game win: 'She's taller than me'

30 January 2025 at 18:52

NFL rookie Xavier Worthy is sharing some details about meeting Taylor Swift. 

The music star made her way to the field inside Arrowhead Stadium shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game

Cameras captured Worthy taking note of Swift's stature moments after he greeted the "Anti-Hero" singer. 

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"Oh s---," Worthy said as he smiled. "She's taller than me."

The Chiefs' roster lists Worthy at 5-foot-11. By most accounts, Swift stands around one inch shorter than the Chiefs wide receiver. While Swift and Worthy are similar heights when flat-footed, the heels Swift was wearing at the time of the exchange could have made her appear to be taller than Worthy.

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Worthy later confirmed Sunday's game marked the first time he met Swift. 

"I just met her." Worthy told ABC 30. "It's the video going viral right now. I was like, 'Damn, she's tall. She's taller than me.'"

Worthy added that Swift recognized him because Kansas City selected him in the first round of April's draft. 

"We were on the field, and she walked right past me and said, ‘Oh you're the one who got drafted?" Worthy said. "So, we met like that. It was cool."

Swift's boyfriend, Travis Kelce, recently said the pop star continues to support him.

"She's fully encouraging me to enjoy playing this game," Kelce said earlier this month.

Kelce, 35, is playing in his 12th season in the NFL. He appeared in 16 of 17 games and finished the year with 823 receiving yards.

The 2024 campaign marked the second consecutive year the star tight end did not reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark, which prompted some questions about whether he would step away once the postseason comes to an end.

"I got all the support in the world to keep chasing these dreams," Kelce added. 

Kansas City has advanced to the last seven AFC title games. The Chiefs will take on the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl Feb. 9 in New Orleans. The Chiefs are vying for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl championship.

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NFL legend Troy Aikman says league 'owes' it to fans to get officiating issues fixed amid drama

30 January 2025 at 17:17

Ahead of the Super Bowl, referees are under a lot of scrutiny, with fans and experts debating whether the officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs.

Troy Aikman, an ESPN broadcaster and Pro Football Hall of Famer, said the league "owes" it to its fans to address the officiating issues, especially with how much money people have at stake when they gamble and the NFL continuing to promote betting. 

"I know the officials have a tough job. I mean, the scrutiny that they’re under. As we’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized," Aikman said during a recent appearance on "SI Media with Jimmy Traina."

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"And the game has not become less controversial. The game has become more controversial," Aikman said. "I just think that we’re at a point that this has tipped a little bit because the league is partners with a number of these gambling services.

"Here you are promoting gambling — people are gambling more than they ever have before and those types of calls – there’s a lot at stake regardless. But especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well. 

"I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right, and I think we’re at a point in time where we can. We can get it more right. So, that was really my position in just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘Hey, we gotta fix this. We gotta address it in the offseason.’"

The conversation about the referees continued after last week’s AFC championship win for the Chiefs.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s failed fourth down conversion on a QB sneak became a hotly debated topic because some observers questioned whether the Chiefs actually stopped him short of a first down.

Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s reception while battling with Bills safety Cole Bishop for the ball in the first half also had fans skeptical that the referees made the right call because it looked like Bishop had a good hold on the ball. 

Tavia Hunt, the wife of Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, took to social media to address the "referee favoritism" ahead of the Super Bowl.


The Super Bowl is still over a week away, and conversations about the officiating won’t go away anytime soon. 

The Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

FOX’s Super Bowl coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET. Coverage can also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.

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Eagles star Brandon Graham has chance to play in Super Bowl LIX after injury derailed season

30 January 2025 at 16:29

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham may not be done just yet. 

Graham, 36, has been out since Week 12 with a triceps injury and thought his season — and possibly his career — might be over. 

The Eagles opened the practice window for the one-time Pro Bowler Thursday, giving him a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

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"If I had to go out like this, I gave everything I got," Graham told reporters after being injured in November. 

Graham said in training camp the 2024 season would be his last when speaking to reporters. 

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With the Eagles reaching the Super Bowl, it has given Graham enough rest and recovery to open his practice window to give him a chance to play.

Graham has played the most games of any player in Eagles history with 206, 13 more than Jason Kelce, who is second in franchise history with 193. 

Graham has spent his entire 15-year career with the Eagles after being drafted by the team with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Michigan. 

In 11 games this season, Graham had 20 combined tackles and 3½ sacks before getting hurt. 

Graham has 76½ career sacks and was a key part of the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning season in 2017. 

The Eagles are looking to avenge their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two seasons ago and getting Graham would be a boost.

The Eagles take on the Chiefs in the Super Bowl Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

FOX’s coverage of the Super Bowl begins at 1 p.m. ET that day. Coverage can also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.

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Bills GM Brandon Beane discusses controversial 4th-down play in AFC title game: 'He got that'

30 January 2025 at 15:47

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane heard what the league office had to say, but he still believes his quarterback picked up a crucial first down in the AFC Championship.

The Bills were crushed by the Kansas City Chiefs once again in the playoffs, falling just short of a Super Bowl appearance in a 32-29 loss on the road this past Sunday. 

One of the most controversial plays from the game was a fourth-and-inches quarterback sneak by Josh Allen. In real-time, it appeared that he made the gain, but referees called him short, forcing a turnover on downs to the Chiefs. 

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Five plays later, Patrick Mahomes rushed into the end zone for his second rushing score of the game to take a seven-point lead after a two-point conversion.

Other than the controversial spot, the play prior, where Dalton Kincaid appeared to pick up the first down, is just as questionable. And replay shows a Chiefs player was lined up in the neutral zone when Allen took the snap on the sneak attempt, which should’ve been flagged for a first down. 

Beane discussed that particular sequence of events on Thursday. 

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"It’s frustrating," he said, per SI.com. "There’s only so much I can say. We work with the league to try to get clarity. I’ll give them credit. They’ve taken our calls. They’ve sent video and things like that. If you’re talking about like the fourth-down play, I feel like [Allen] got that. I still feel like he got that. I felt that in the moment and nothing has changed my mind on that."

Earlier in the game, a crucial replay review confirmed a catch by Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy, and it also bothered Beane. Defensive back Cole Bishop went up with Worthy for an interception, and it appeared both of them had their hands around the ball as the tip of the pigskin hit the ground. 

Like the later play, it resulted in a Chiefs touchdown as Mahomes scampered into the end zone.

"The play that we challenged was a good challenge," he explained. "I’m not sure either player had possession on the Bishop-Worthy play when the ball touched the ground."

Some fans have accused referees of favoring the Chiefs during this Super Bowl run, with another controversial call coming in the divisional round against the Houston Texans. 

Will Anderson Jr. was called for a personal foul, a 15-yard penalty, for a hit to the head on Mahomes despite replay showing that wasn’t the case. Nonetheless, the third-and-long that wasn’t converted on an overthrown pass gave the Chiefs more life on their drive. 

Officiating will be a storyline heading into this matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, especially after fans believed their previous Super Bowl meeting two seasons ago ended controversially after James Bradberry was called for holding JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

The penalty set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal to start this streak for the Chiefs. 

Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox and streaming exclusively on Tubi. 

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Chiefs' Travis Kelce floats 'conspiracy' his brother 'can get behind'

30 January 2025 at 06:30

Prior to the Philadelphia Eagles' 55-23 drubbing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship, the famous Rocky statue in downtown Philadelphia was wearing Commanders gear.

Actually, the statue was dressed in Redskins garb, the Commanders' former identity.

But Travis Kelce isn’t buying into the fact that the opposing team’s fans are the ones dressing up the "Rocky" statue.

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"I’m fully aware of the fact that it happens every single meaningful game, I don’t think it’s the other team doing it at this point," Kelce said during a recent episode of "New Heights."

Jason Kelce, former Eagles star center and avid supporter of the team, proposed who might be dressing up the statue.

"You think the Eagles are doing it?" Jason asked.

"100%," Travis responded

The Rocky statue has been dressed numerous times in opposing team’s colors, with each occasion normally leading an Eagles victory. 

When the Eagles won the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots, someone put a Tom Brady jersey on the statue.

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During the Eagles run to the Super Bowl in 2023, Rocky was dressed in both New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers gear before the Eagles dismantled both teams en route to the big game. 

Jason then referenced a Kansas City Chiefs shirt on Rocky ahead of the Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl matchup in 2023, but Travis expressed skepticism that a Chiefs fan was the culprit.

"Yeah that was Chiefs gear," Travis said doubtfully, "It was like a red shirt that said Chiefs on it."

"They like wrote Chiefs in Sharpie or something. It’s got to be Philly, it’s got to be Eagles fans."

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Jason supported Travis's theory, saying that it’s "a conspiracy I can get behind."

Travis thinks the motivation for dressing Rocky up in the opposing team’s gear is to get Eagles fans riled up.

"They’re just firing up the entire city, getting it nice and rowdy," Kelce said. 

Rocky has not yet been dressed in Chiefs gear, but there is still plenty of time before kickoff in the Super Bowl

Kelce’s Chiefs will take on the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 9 on FOX.

FOX’s coverage of Super Bowl LIX will begin at 1 p.m. ET. Coverage can also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.

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Ex-NFL star Julian Edelman slams Chiefs’ referee favoritism: ‘Bunch of bull-oney’

30 January 2025 at 03:39

Ex-NFL star Julian Edelman slams Chiefs’ referee favoritism: ‘Bunch of bull-oney’

Former NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman heard it all when he was playing for the New England Patriots when it came to referees always being on their side. 

The Kansas City Chiefs are going through the same thing as they’re on the cusp of history, as they could be the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls. Not even Edelman and the Tom Brady-led Patriots were able to accomplish that during their dynasty. 

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During an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show," Edelman was asked by the program’s namesake if he'd heard about the referee favoritism conspiracy theories going around during this year’s playoff run, specifically when it came to his own experience dealing with that during his days in Foxborough.  

"It’s apparent when you’re on top, everyone wants to bring you down," Edelman responded. "It’s a bunch of baloney that the league is helping the Kansas City Chiefs. If you have a problem with it, go beat ‘em. The refs aren’t involved when you throw interceptions, when you fumble the ball, when you jump offsides, when you don’t convert third down or fourth down. They can’t control that. If you want to beat ‘em, go beat ‘em. Don’t talk about it – be about it. I’m so sick and tired about people saying that about the Chiefs."

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Edelman faced similar criticism during his time with the Patriots from 2009-2020, where he was a three-time Super Bowl champion (2014, 2016, 2018). Fans would theorize that the referees were favoring Brady and the Patriots throughout those Super Bowl runs, but Edelman shed some reality on the situation. 

"We all have scouting reports on each ref crew and how they like to [call] the game," he said. "You learn about it during that first part of that game.  If they’re calling it tight, you tighten back. If they’re not, you just hope they’re consistent throughout the whole thing, which they usually are.

"Yes, they miss calls and they do these things, and there’s some bad calls here and there. But there’s a handful of roughing the passers for guys that don’t even have a resume that you looked at this year that got the call. If it’s close, leave it alone. Yeah, they’ll probably have to address that sideline awareness stuff, but these whole graphics about, ‘Oh, they get the call, and they don’t give the call to them.’ Because they’re coached better."

Because of the dynasty talk revolving around the Chiefs, the natural comparison to the Patriots, which was the league’s last dynasty, have been made. 

Eisen asked Edelman if he sees any similarities between his Patriots teams and the Chiefs in recent years. 

It all comes down to getting the job done in clutch situations.

"They’re situational tight," Edelman said. "You watch them on third down, you watch them in the red area. A lot of these games when you get to this time of the year, they’re not won by the team that makes the most plays. Yeah, that’s part of it. It’s always the team that makes the least amount of mistakes. That’s what they do. They play mistake-free, they play situationally tight, they’ll lull you to sleep, and then they’ll beat you when they need to. That’s stuff we used to do."

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Pat Mahomes Sr. claims he was victimized by social media hack after perceived Bills insult

29 January 2025 at 18:13

Pat Mahomes Sr., the father of two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, is back in the spotlight.

The elder Mahomes contends he was not responsible for a recent comment posted to his social media account, which appeared to reference the Buffalo Bills. 

"Today is a great day to not be from Buffalo," Mahomes Sr.'s X account said after the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the Bills in Sunday's AFC championship game.

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The former MLB pitcher later took to his Instagram account to try and clear the air by asserting he was the victim of a social media hack. 

"Haven’t been on Twitter/X in years," Mahomes Sr. wrote. "My account was hacked and I do not have access to it. Pls disregard any tweets from @pmahomes."

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He added another statement to his Instagram account.

"Attention: Patrick Mahomes Sr.’s X account has been compromised," the Instagram post said. "The Mahomes family holds the utmost respect for the Buffalo Bills organization and the #BillsMafia fan base. We are actively working to resolve this issue. Thank you for your understanding."

Mahomes Sr. also offered an apology in an Instagram story post, writing, "Sorry for the misunderstanding. Would never."

The account in question appears to have been moderately active over the past several months after an extended period of virtually no posts dating back to December 2022. The account has shared about six posts since June 2024. 

It was unclear whether any of the six most recent posts were compromised.

Some of the account's previous posts reference MLB icon Willie Mays. The baseball legend died at the age of 93 in June. The social media page also features pictures of the elder Mahomes wearing his Minnesota Twins jersey and the Chiefs quarterback when he was a baby. 

This is not the first time Mahomes Sr. has made headlines. In August 2024, he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated and was sentenced to five years probation.

Tyler, Texas, news station KLTV reported that Mahomes Sr. would have to continue attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as a condition of the deal. He also had to serve 10 days in jail.

Police footage obtained by TMZ last year showed Pat Mahomes Sr. pleading with officers and mentioning his son's name multiple times during a February 2024 arrest. 

"Can I say one thing?" Mahomes Sr. said. "My son is getting ready to play in the f---ing Super Bowl."

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Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes apologizes for botched TD celebration

27 January 2025 at 15:37

If there was one thing Patrick Mahomes may want back in the AFC Championship, it could be the celebratory spike of the football following his second touchdown run.

Mahomes faked the handoff to his running back and took the ball to his right. He had just enough blockers in front of him to get some momentum to bulldoze his way into the end zone. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin failed to make the tackle and the two other defensive backs behind him couldn’t keep the quarterback out of the end zone.

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As Mahomes celebrated with Travis Kelce, he tried to spike the ball into the ground. However, the ball flopped out of his hands and flailed its way over to the sideline. He apologized for the head-scratching mishap in a post on X.

"I also apologize. That is why i dont try to spike the ball," he wrote with cry-laughing emojis.

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Mahomes had two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown in the win. He was 18-of-26 with 245 passing yards and 43 more yards on the ground.

He now has seven rushing touchdowns in the postseason over the course of his career. He passed former Chiefs running back Damien Williams for the most in Chiefs postseason history.

The win also marked the 17th of his career in the postseason. He passed Joe Montana for second in NFL history. Tom Brady had 35 postseason wins in his career from 2001 to 2022.

Kansas City will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. The game will be broadcast on FOX and streamed on Tubi.

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Brittany Mahomes rips Bills fans over 'absolutely disgusting' Week 11 stunt after AFC title win

27 January 2025 at 11:32

Brittany Mahomes got the last laugh over Buffalo Bills fans on Sunday as she watched her husband and the Kansas City Chiefs win the AFC Championship and advance to Super Bowl LIX.

Mahomes fired off a post on her Instagram Stories following the team’s 32-29 win directed at the Bills Mafia. She didn’t forget about the noose a group of Bills fans hung around a Kermit the Frog doll dressed as Patrick Mahomes before the two teams met in Week 11.

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"Do we remember this Buffalo? Absolutely disgusting… So as you go home tonight, I pray we become better people," she wrote in the post.

The Bills won the game 30-21 in the regular-season matchup. It was one of two losses the Chiefs had this season. It also came at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, instead of Kansas City, Missouri.

The difference appeared to be palpable. The Chiefs held strong and a late Patrick Mahomes drive set up a Harrison Butker field goal to help them win the game.

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Brittany Mahomes has proven to keep receipts from critics before.

After the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, she fired off a social media post aimed at former NFL star Bart Scott’s prediction the team would miss the playoffs that season. The Chiefs were coming off a Tyreek Hill trade.

After the Chiefs’ AFC title win over the Baltimore Ravens last season, Mahomes had another message for critics.

"We went there. We won. Anyone have anything else to say? See yall in Vegas," she wrote in an Instagram post at the time.

The Chiefs will meet the Eagles once again – this time in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The game will take place on FOX and stream on Tubi.

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Chiefs' Drue Tranquill tells critics to 'kick rocks' amid avalanche of complaints over team's AFC title win

27 January 2025 at 11:02

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill had no time for critics who used officiating as a catalyst for the team’s AFC Championship win or those who complained about the team making the Super Bowl for the third consecutive time.

Tranquill had nine tackles in the Chiefs’ 32-29 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, but as NFL fans complained about this and that, Tranquil responded.

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"Shoutout to the @BuffaloBills .. heck of a battle," he wrote. "The rest of y’all can take all that "ref" talk & kick rocks. We stand on business."

He also had words for former NFL player Will Compton and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.

Tranquill is a veteran linebacker who started his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. He joined the Chiefs before the start of the 2023 season and was a part of the defense that guided Kansas City to a Super Bowl title over the San Francisco 49ers last season.

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Entering the 2024 season, he became the team’s starter. He played in 16 of the team’s 17 games. He had 94 tackles, two sacks, two pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. The Chiefs were fourth in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed this season.

Kansas City allowed at least 30 points twice this season – to the Bills and the Denver Broncos. Both games were in the regular season and both resulted in the team’s only two losses.

Additionally, Tranquill has 14 tackles in the two games the Chiefs have played in the postseason so far.

The run defense will be key in Super Bowl LIX. Saquon Barkley has proven to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ key X-factor this season and will be putting the pedal to the metal come Feb. 9.

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Chiefs stars eye NFL immortality in Super Bowl LIX: 'Let's go make history'

27 January 2025 at 09:36

The Kansas City Chiefs are AFC champions once again and are one more win away from completing what was thought to be impossible – three straight Super Bowl titles.

Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes spoke about the opportunity to make history in his postgame interview with CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz.

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"It always comes down to the wire. Luckily, we were on the winning side this time. But like I said, I’m just excited to get down to New Orleans," Mahomes said. "Let’s go make history."

Nantz mentioned on the stage with Travis Kelce that the tight end was already thinking about three consecutive Super Bowl titles before Kansas City eked out a Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers last year. 

"Never satisfied, baby! When you play in front of Arrowhead Stadium like this every single AFC Championship. You kidding me?" Kelce said.

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Since the NFL merged with the American Football League and called the title game the Super Bowl, there have been eight repeat champions.

The Green Bay Packers (1966-67), Miami Dolphins (1972-73), Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-75 and 1978-79), San Francisco 49ers (1988-89), Dallas Cowboys (1992-93), Denver Broncos (1997-98), New England Patriots (2003-04) and the Chiefs (2022-23).

Only the Chiefs have gotten the opportunity to win a third straight title. Before the merger, the Packers won three straight NFL championships from 1929 to 1931. The Packers won the NFL championship in 1965 and then Super Bowls I and II.

What will it take to win a third straight title? Only defeat one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL in the Saquon Barkley-led Philadelphia Eagles. Also, try to dig deep and block a defensive front that includes Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Milton Williams.

The Chiefs and Eagles will play in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9. The game can be seen on FOX and Tubi.

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Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift celebrate Chiefs' AFC Championship win

27 January 2025 at 09:10

Taylor Swift was seen entering Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs in their effort to make history and compete for a third straight Super Bowl championship.

Swift was far from the focal point of the contest as the Chiefs topped the Buffalo Bills. The CBS broadcast showed her reacting to a big play in the game along with at least two shots of her hanging out with her mother, Andrea, and Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna.

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The next time Swift was shown was on the field as she and Donna watched Travis celebrate the team’s third consecutive conference title. Cameras also caught the two lovebirds sharing a few kisses in the mix of the celebration.

Swift was a major focus for the NFL and broadcasts during the 2023 season as she and the Chiefs’ star tight end announced themselves to the world as a couple. The "Swift Effect" was real, and her fandom drew an increase in viewership for the game.

However, Swift herself expressed some dismay with the attention she received in a 2023 interview with Time magazine.

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"I don’t know how they know what suite I’m in," she said. "There’s a camera, like, a half-mile away, and you don’t know where it is, and you have no idea when the camera is putting you in the broadcast, so I don’t know if I’m being shown 17 times or once.

"I’m just there to support Travis. I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads," she added, referencing the hype that came with her appearances – good and bad.

This season, Swift was seen at Arrowhead Stadium a few times, but she also had to continue with her "Eras Tour." When the Chiefs were off, she and Kelce were spotted in New York City having dinner multiple times.

Now, Swift is likely to be back for the big game when Super Bowl LIX heads down to New Orleans.

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Josh Allen crushed after losing to Chiefs again in playoffs: 'To be the champs, you got to beat the champs'

27 January 2025 at 08:26

The Kansas City Chiefs once again saw confetti falling in their favor in a crucial game, as they won the AFC Championship for the third straight season to give themselves a chance at Super Bowl history in New Orleans next month. 

On the other sideline, the Buffalo Bills were gutted when they saw Samaje Perine run for the first down necessary to seal the 32-29 victory. 

After the game, quarterback Josh Allen let his feelings out when asked about his emotions following yet another loss to the Chiefs in the postseason.

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"It’s just not fun," he said after letting out a sigh. "But to be the champs, you got to beat the champs, and we didn’t do it tonight."

Allen is now 0-4 against the Chiefs in the postseason, so the regular season victory over Kansas City at the Bills' Highmark Stadium does not matter in the end for this squad or its quarterback. 

However, the ball was in Allen’s hands to change that winless streak late in the fourth quarter. However, with the two-minute warning and fourth-and-5 on the scoreboard, the Chiefs dialed up the perfect pressure, and Allen launched a prayer downfield to tight end Dalton Kincaid. 

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It hit his arms but went incomplete. Then, with the Bills down three points, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs knew a couple of first downs equaled another Super Bowl trip. 

"They gave a good look," Allen said when asked what he saw before that fourth-down snap. "Didn’t see anything in my first cadence. They were sliding left, the corner came…yeah."

There was not much else Allen could say just minutes after falling just short again at the Bills’ first trip to the Super Bowl since 1993. However, Mahomes was classy after the game, giving kudos to Allen during his speech while hoisting the AFC title trophy. 

"I have so much respect for Josh, man," he said to CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz. "He’s a true competitor, a true warrior, a great football player. They always come down to the wire. Luckily, we were on the winning side this time. I’m excited to get down to New Orleans. Let’s go make history."

The Bills wanted to be looking at one more game to hopefully give the franchise its first-ever Super Bowl – they infamously lost four straight from 1990-93 – but they will have to go back to the drawing board with the offseason starting to see if they can change that in 2025. 

Allen could be getting a massive personal accolade, as he is an MVP finalist and expected to be a frontrunner alongside Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for their work during the 2024 campaign. 

However, Allen will say he does not care about individual achievements right now. His Bills lost, again at the hands of the Chiefs, and they will have months to stew over it before a new season begins.

"You can either get it done, or you can’t. We didn’t get it done," Allen said.

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Patrick Mahomes' grandfather in hospice just days before Chiefs' AFC title game vs. Bills, his mother says

24 January 2025 at 15:42

Patrick Mahomes' mother, Randi Mahomes, announced on Instagram Friday that the quarterback's grandfather is in hospice. 

"My dad is in hospice and I'm lost for words," the mother wrote in the post.

Randi added to her post the bible verse Colossians 3:20, which in The Bible says "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."

Randi previously announced that her father was in the hospital in mid-September. 

"Prayer warriors please pray for my daddy. He is in the hospital and is not well His name is Randy," she wrote on X on Sept. 14. A few days later, she made an Instagram post that read, "This is how I fight my battles. If you are seeing this, take a moment, and PRAY for my dad now." 

Now, the news that Mahomes' grandfather is in hospice comes just days before Mahomes is set to lead the Kansas City Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game, as the quarterback is looking to become the first in history to win three straight Super Bowls. 

The news also comes just under two weeks after Mahomes and his wife Brittany welcomed his third child into the world, when daughter Golden Raye was born on Jan. 12. 

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For Mahomes, a historic season has also been one of constant family chaos. His grandfather being placed in hospice shortly after the birth of his third child is only the latest unfortunate development for his family over the last year. 

In March, his brother Jackson Mahomes was sentenced to six months probation for allegedly assaulting a woman. Jackson pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of battery. The sentencing came just months after prosecutors dismissed three felony charges for aggravated sexual battery related to accusations that he had grabbed a woman by the neck and kissed her against her will. 

Then, in August, Brittany was thrust into the center of a national political controversy and faced a barrage of online attacks from liberals after she simply liked a post on President Donald Trump's Instagram. Screenshots of her like went viral, and she faced so much backlash that she had to address the controversy multiple times in other Instagram posts. 

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The controversy surrounding Brittany was elevated due to her widely publicized friendship with Taylor Swift, as Swift is a Democrat who endorsed Kamala Harris in the recent election. Swift was seen sitting separately from Brittany at Chiefs games this year after they were often seen sitting together last season, which only fueled the controversy and conversation over their political differences. 

Trump himself thrust the Mahomes family further into the national political conversation ahead of the election when he acknowledged Brittany's support and thanked her on social media and in a Fox & Friends interview on Sept. 11, as Mahomes was forced to field questions on the subject from reporters later that day. 

Randi also engrossed herself in the controversy when she announced her support for Trump at the Chiefs' game against the Buccaneers on Nov. 4, just one day before the election. Randi invited some criticism to her and the rest of the family by liberals on social media for her Trump support but never acknowledged the backlash like Brittany did. 

Meanwhile, Mahomes' father, Patrick Mahomes Sr., was dealt a jail sentence and five years probation in late September for driving under the influence of alcohol in February. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail, followed by a five-year probation period, and will be subject to "intense supervision" for the first year of his probation, according to KCTV in Kansas City

He also had his driver's license suspended for a year and is required to continue AA courses and will have a breathalyzer ignition device installed in his car.

For the Chiefs quarterback, these distractions all took place in what was, statistically, the worst season of his NFL career as a starter. 

Mahomes put up career-lows in passing yards and touchdowns while missing the Pro Bowl for the first time since taking over the starting job in 2018. 

However, this didn't stop Mahomes from doing just enough to lead the Chiefs to the best record they've ever had in their history, with a staggering 15-2 regular season record. Despite struggling in the passing game, Mahomes did just enough every week to make sure his team won all but one game that he started, all while confronted by numerous family distractions.

The one loss Mahomes suffered for the Chiefs this year came against the very team he will play on Sunday, when the Bills beat the Chiefs 30-21 on Nov. 17. The Chiefs' second loss came in the final game of the regular season when Mahomes sat out to avoid injury with nothing to gain in the standings.

Now, with his grandfather in hospice, Mahomes will take the field for a rematch against the Bills on Sunday with a chance to lead his team to a third straight Super Bowl, as he looks to cap off a turbulent but resilient year. 

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