The latest<\/p>\n
Rob Gronkowski reacts to Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft Hall of Fame snubs | Yardbarker<\/a><\/p>\n Two of the biggest NFL-related storylines of the winter have involved\u00a0former\u00a0New England Patriots\u00a0head coach\u00a0Bill Belichick and\u00a0Patriots owner Robert Kraft\u00a0not being selected for this year\u2019s Hall of Fame class.<\/p>\n Retired tight end and future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski earned the first three Super Bowl rings of his career while featuring for the Patriots during the franchise\u2019s dynastic run of the 2000s. During one of his Super Bowl LX Radio Row stops on Wednesday, Gronkowski said he thinks it is \u201cridiculous\u201d that Belichick won\u2019t be a Hall of Famer before next year at the earliest.<\/p>\n \u201cCoach Belichick needs to be in the Hall of Fame, and it needed to be a first ballot,\u201d Gronkowski explained, per\u00a0Madison Williams\u00a0of Sports Illustrated. \u201cNow there\u2019s no such thing as a first-ballot Hall of Fame coach. No other coach ever in history should go first-ballot. There\u2019s a guy out there, Andy Reid, but he can\u2019t go first-ballot now because Coach Belichick wasn\u2019t first ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 pending free agent WR Tyquan Thornton makes his 2026 NFL free agency priorities clear | A to Z Sports<\/a><\/p>\n Asked about whether there had been any conversations between the Chiefs and his representation about a new contract, Thornton deferred to his agents.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s between like them and my agents,\u201d Thornton said.<\/p>\n Anderson then reframed the question, asking whether Thornton would like to return to the Chiefs. Naturally, after enjoying the most successful season of his career in K.C., Thornton wants to be back in 2026. However, the Chiefs seem to have some work to do to sell him on that.<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely want to be back to Kansas City,\u201d Thornton said. \u201cBut, you know, I mean, I want to \u2014wherever I go \u2014 I want to have my fair share of targets go out there and contribute and play at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n While Thornton clarified that he felt he got his fair share of work in Kansas City, the reality paints a different picture. After playing 72% or more of the offensive snaps in the first three weeks of the season, Thornton averaged just 29% of the offensive snaps in the 11 ensuing games. With that, his targets and offensive contributions began to fade while his special teams contributions started to go up. 13 of his 19 catches on the season came in the first five weeks. 272 of his 438 yards and all three of his touchdown grabs also came in those first five games.<\/p>\n Mike Vrabel\u2019s 3 Most Memorable Moments With Chiefs | Sports Illustrated<\/a><\/p>\n First Chiefs Touchdown; Oct. 11, 2009<\/p>\n Acquired from the Patriots in an offseason trade, Vrabel and the Chiefs got off to a rough start in his first season. But after four losses, head coach Todd Haley caught the Cowboys off guard, inserting Vrabel as a tight end.<\/p>\n With both teams in their 1960s throwbacks, the Chiefs wearing their red Dallas Texans threads, Vrabel got a free release on a goal-to-go snap, ran a quick out route toward the pylon, and caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cassel.<\/p>\n However, after a Dwayne Bowe touchdown knotted the game in the final minute of regulation, Tony Romo hit Miles Austin on a 60-yard touchdown in overtime to give Dallas a 26-20 win.<\/p>\n Mina Kimes comments on the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 shocking 2025 season | Chiefs Wire<\/a><\/p>\n Kansas City\u2019s impressive 10-year playoff streak, which included seven straight AFC Championship appearances, ended with the conclusion of the 2025 season, marking their first postseason absence since 2014 after finishing 6-11.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just tough to be dominant in the NFL year after year. Because of the, you know, the Patriots and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. We think that\u2019s possible or even normal, but it\u2019s just not because of the way the salary cap works,\u201d said Kimes, \u201cIf you win, you pick so late, and you\u2019re not, you also play so much football, which I think impacts injuries, and so all of that hit, I think from a roster perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n Miscues and numerous self-inflicted issues cost the Chiefs games, leading to the tumultuous record.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the outside, we probably overrated parts of the roster coming into the season. Some of that was exposed a little bit, the inability to find stars at big, important positions, pass rusher, receiver, and then some of it was, like, last year they got a little bit lucky,\u201d said Kimes, \u201cSometimes, like, that\u2019s turnover, point differential, all of that. It usually swings. So I think it was just a confluence of factors in Kansas City, but (I\u2019m) still such a believer in the quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) and the coaching staff. I can\u2019t imagine that next year won\u2019t be better.\u201d<\/p>\n Travis Kelce Hints At Very Boozy Nuptials With Taylor Swift In Rare Comment About Their Wedding Plans | Yahoo Entertainment<\/a><\/p>\n Not much is known about the upcoming nuptials between Kelce and Swift, but the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 tight end has now weighed in on what can be expected.<\/p>\n The lovebirds started dating in the summer of 2023 and got engaged in an intimate manner in August of last year.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve remained low-key on their wedding plans ever since then as the football star endured a disappointing season with the Chiefs.<\/p>\n While entering the venue for his \u201cNew Heights\u201d podcast\u2019s Super Bowl party on Wednesday, Kelce implied that there would be a massive amount of beer at his and Swift\u2019s wedding after being asked by a\u00a0TMZ<\/a>\u00a0reporter, \u201cHow many kegs of Garage Beer will be at that reception?\u201d<\/p>\n In response, he said, \u201cMan, I can\u2019t even count that high.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelce and his brother, Jason, co-own the brand, Garage Beer, which has taken the liquor world by storm since its release.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Around the NFL<\/p>\n Matthew Stafford wins NFL MVP in closest vote since 2003 | ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n Los Angeles Rams\u00a0quarterback\u00a0Matthew Stafford\u00a0edged\u00a0New England Patriots\u00a0counterpart\u00a0Drake Maye\u00a0to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award Thursday night, then made news in his acceptance speech by announcing he\u2019ll return next season.<\/p>\n Stafford received 24-of-50 first-place votes and finished with 366 points. Maye got 23 first-place votes and finished with 361 points. It was the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.<\/p>\n In his 17th NFL season, the 37-year-old Stafford became the oldest player in NFL history at the time of his first MVP. He also became the third-oldest player to win MVP, behind Tom Brady (2017) and\u00a0Aaron Rodgers\u00a0(2021).<\/p>\n 49ers named Rams\u2019 opponent for NFL\u2019s 1st game in Australia | ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 The\u00a049ers\u00a0will be the\u00a0Los Angeles Rams\u2019 opponent for the first NFL regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, during the 2026 season.<\/p>\n The announcement was made Thursday by Australia Zoo\u2019s Robert Irwin on \u201cThe Pat McAfee Show.\u201d<\/p>\n The Rams\u00a0were announced as the host team last February, but their opponent wasn\u2019t revealed until Thursday. The date and time are still to be determined, but the NFC West division rivals will play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).<\/p>\n The game, which is being played in partnership with the Victorian State Government and Visit Victoria, is part of what will be an NFL-record nine international games scheduled for 2026.<\/p>\n Dallas Cowboys to play in first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro in 2026 | NFL.com<\/a><\/p>\n RIO DE JANEIRO \u2014 The National Football League today announced the Dallas Cowboys will be one of the participating teams for the 2026 NFL Rio game to be played at the Maracan\u00e3 Stadium.<\/p>\n The game in Rio will be part of an NFL record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Brazil for the first\u2011ever NFL game in Rio de Janeiro,\u201d said NFL Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez. \u201cIntroducing one of the league\u2019s most iconic teams to the Maracan\u00e3 Stadium marks a powerful milestone in the continued growth of the sport worldwide. Bringing a regular-season game to Rio strengthens our connection to a vibrant and passionate football community and underscores our long\u2011term commitment to the market.\u201d<\/p>\n Niners backup QB Mac Jones embraces trade talk, wants to \u2018be a starter\u2019 again in NFL like Sam Darnold | NFL.com<\/a><\/p>\n Jones played arguably some of the best football of his career last season, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. The quarterback told NFL Network\u2019s\u00a0The Insiders\u00a0that it was in some ways the career reset he needed, working with Kyle Shanahan and a talented 49ers offense for a team in contention.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting back to having fun and being around a group of guys that I really mesh well with, coaches and players,\u201d Jones said Wednesday. \u201cI felt like it was very laid back, but we put in a lot of work in OTAs. Just for them to take me under their wing and for me to learn from all the Hall of Fame players we have, it was awesome.<\/p>\n \u201cKyle has been great for me. We\u2019re really on the same \u2026 I call it \u2018wi-fi.\u2019 We\u2019re just a really good match.\u201d<\/p>\n But Jones also understands that his best chance to start might be with another team. He\u2019s under contract for the 2026 season with the 49ers, having signed a two-year contract last year, and said he\u2019d be \u201creally excited\u201d to spend next season in San Francisco, even if there might be starting jobs open elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, it\u2019s a business. You know how this goes,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI\u2019ve proven I can be a starter. I\u2019ve proven I can be a starter in multiple different spots. I have 50-plus starts or whatever. I know how to do it, but it\u2019s also a business. I understand both sides of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Kansas City area parents cheering on their son in the Super Bowl | KSNT<\/a><\/p>\n KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 While the Kansas City Chiefs may not be in the Super Bowl this year, there\u2019s still some local ties.<\/p>\n Mason Richman was a gentle giant at Blue Valley High School. Following a college career at Iowa, he trained to make the NFL.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very unexpected team, very unexpected, seventh round, but it\u2019s been phenomenal and he\u2019s really embraced it,\u201d Kathy Richman-Wallace said about her son making the NFL.<\/p>\n \u201cChances are so minute, and for it to all work out and for him to be in the situation he\u2019s in, with Seattle, the organization, you can\u2019t say enough, but here we are. Somehow,\u201d John Richman, Mason\u2019s dad said. \u201cA year ago at this time, we didn\u2019t know if he was going to get drafted or make the team.\u201d<\/p>\n In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride<\/p>\n Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson thinks Chiefs will re-sign him in free agency<\/a><\/p>\n Among the players slated for unrestricted free agency this offseason, there will be a few that the\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>\u00a0will be ready to call when rounding out the roster. Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson believes he is one of them.<\/p>\n In a\u00a0phone interview with Robert Niedzwiecki of\u00a0The Winchester Star<\/a>, Johnson sounded confident that Kansas City would welcome his return as free agency plays out.<\/p>\n \u201cI think [the Chiefs] are going to bring me back,\u201d said Johnson in a phone interview last week. \u201cI can test the market and see how much I\u2019m valued, but the Chiefs know what I can do. We can\u2019t have communication right now because of the [free agency rules], but I have a good understanding with them. They know my talent level.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson\u00a0spent the majority of the 2025 season on the Reserve\/Injured<\/a>\u00a0list due to a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason. He was activated to the 53-man roster leading into the Christmas game against the\u00a0Denver Broncos<\/a>, but only played special teams in that game and the Week 18 matchup with the\u00a0Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>.<\/p>\n Social media to make you thinkFollow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The latest Rob Gronkowski reacts to Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft Hall of Fame snubs | Yardbarker Two of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":733464,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2063],"tags":[220,1586,3851,346,230,258,833,106002,7,118,110,2438,2437,2016,393,58,3209,9318,32,51591,27530,249,6,499,8083,8567,237,7273,1369,2713],"class_list":{"0":"post-733463","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kansas-city-chiefs","8":"tag-49ers","9":"tag-aaron-rodgers","10":"tag-bill-belichick","11":"tag-chiefs","12":"tag-cowboys","13":"tag-denver-broncos","14":"tag-drake-maye","15":"tag-dwayne-bowe","16":"tag-football","17":"tag-kansas-city","18":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs","19":"tag-kansascity","20":"tag-kansascitychiefs","21":"tag-kelce","22":"tag-las-vegas-raiders","23":"tag-los-angeles-rams","24":"tag-mason-richman","25":"tag-matt-cassel","26":"tag-matthew-stafford","27":"tag-miles-austin","28":"tag-nazeeh-johnson","29":"tag-new-england-patriots","30":"tag-nfl","31":"tag-patrick-mahomes","32":"tag-peyton-manning","33":"tag-rob-gronkowski","34":"tag-seattle","35":"tag-thornton","36":"tag-tom-brady","37":"tag-tony-romo"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116023795662216056","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/733463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=733463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/733463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/733464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=733463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=733463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=733463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}