San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward admitted the tragic death of his 23-month-old daughter, Amani Joy, might impact what comes next for him professionally. 

Ward, 28, is currently a free agent, though 49ers general manager John Lynch has indicated he’d like to re-sign Ward if the contract makes sense. 

The football star announced the death of his daughter in October 2024, writing via Instagram that “she was the best blessing we could have asked for.” Ward and his partner, Monique Cook, welcomed Amani in November 2022. An official cause of death was not announced, though she had battled heart issues throughout her short life. 

“You know, I’ve got a lot of trauma in California,” Ward told reporters on Monday, January 6. “There were great times, but the worst thing that’s happened to me — that’s probably ever gonna happen to me, knock on wood — happened in California.”

San Francisco 49ers' Charvarius Ward and GF Monique Cook’s Romance Timeline

Ward is coming off his third season with the 49ers after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

“It just brings back bad memories,” Ward continued. “Every time I get on a plane to come back to California, San Jose, here, it’s just a bad memory. I go through that every night by myself because my girl doesn’t want to come back to California because of what happened.

He added of Cook, “She’s my strength right now. I need her.”

Ward admitted “it was hard for me personally to go to work every day, every game,” even going as far to say he “almost left a couple of times.”

“S—, I know fans probably hate me [for thinking about leaving the team], but f— it, it’s real life,” he said. “It’s bigger than football. This is the hardest time of my life for sure.”

According to The Athletic, Ward spent much of the 49ers locker clean-out day on Monday signing jerseys for his teammates, seemingly indicating that he wouldn’t be returning to the team. 

Still, Ward offered that there’s still hope he’ll be a Niner next season. “If they can afford me, there’s a chance I can come back,” he said. 

Girlfriend of 49ers' Charvarius Ward Speaks Out After Daughter’s Death

Two days after announcing Amani’s death, Ward acknowledged he was struggling with his grief. 

“My soul’s bleeding. I need you Amani. You did not deserve this. ,” he wrote via his Instagram Story alongside a picture of Amani laying on his chest. 

In Ward and Cook’s initial note about Amani’s passing, the couple said their late daughter “overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.”

“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better,” their post continued. “She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

Randi Mahomes, mother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, noted how things have improved for Dairy Queen employees since her days working at the fast food chain. 

During a trip to a fast food chain’s Tyler, Texas location on Monday, January 6, Randi posted a photo via her Instagram Story of a hiring call for full-time employees on the door.

“$11 an hour,” Randi wrote. “I only made $4.25 an hour when I worked there in high school.”

According to the website of her company, QB Producer, Randi grew up in the small east Texas town of Troup with a population of around 1,100. 

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After high school, Randi met Patrick Mahomes Sr., Patrick’s father. The two got married before divorcing in 2006. The couple also share son Jackson, 24. 

Randi later welcomed a daughter, Mia, 13, from a separate relationship after her divorce. 

In addition to being mother to her three kids, Randi “spends most of her time at Hollytree Country Club as an event planner where she has worked since 2005.”

Described as Randi’s “platform for sharing her dreams and inspirations,” QB Producer sells t-shirts, hats and jewelry, in addition to the children’s book “Play Together,” which Randi cowrote. 

“At her core, Randi is still just a home-grown mom living in a small town that is learning that there is a big world out there through her children,” the website explains, “While she navigates through this crazy life, she hopes to reflect back on her journey and share her experiences and lessons with all parents. Through living her life to the fullest and supporting her children, Randi looks forward to the opportunity to share her dreams, ideas and survival tactics.

Recently, Randi has been busy taking care of her father, Randy, who has been ill since last year. 

For the Chiefs’ September 29 showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers, Randi shared a photo via her Instagram Story of herself, Mia and Randy watching the game from his hospital room.

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“Game day with my dad and Mia,” Randi captioned the picture. Randi shared the same photo via X and asked her followers for “prayers please for my dad.”

Earlier in the month, Randi shared via X that her father was “not well” and had been admitted to the hospital. 

In April 2023, Randi lost her mother, Debbie, after an undisclosed health battle.

“I love you momma, I will see you again in Heaven , “ Randi shared via Instagram alongside a slideshow featuring images from her mother’s life. 

Ahead of the Los Angeles Rams playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, Kelly Stafford is willing to take one for the team. 

Stafford, the wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, revealed she’s been battling a nasty illness with the NFL playoffs around the corner. 

“I can’t think straight,” Kelly said Tuesday, January 7 on her “Morning After” podcast. “I currently believe I have the flu. Two of my daughters have the flu.”

Things are so bad, Kelly explained, that she “wasn’t able to move yesterday” when she was in attendance at the Rams’ regular season finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, January 5. 

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“I passed out on a little bench in the suite,” Kelly noted. “We had all of our friends in town and I was a real downer.”

Due to her sickness, Kelly said husband Matthew “won’t come close to me, which I completely understand.”

So, with that in mind, Kelly said she’s prepared to pack her bags. “If all my kids have the flu, I don’t think we should be in this house with him,” she said. 

Kelly got ahead of the criticism and explained why it would be her and her four daughters — twins Sawyer and Chandler, 7, Hunter, 6, and Tyler, 4 — who would be moving out instead of Matthew. 

“I know everyone’s like, ‘Why would y’all move? There’s 5 of you and 1 of him,’” she said. “Because all of his work stuff and his film room and everything is here. So we would just get out of here. I think that is on the table right now.”

Kelly added, “We have 105 fevers going around this house right now and we can’t have Matthew with that going into the playoffs. So we’re going to do our best to not let him get that.”

The Rams will host the Vikings at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium on Monday, January 13. Despite Minnesota having a 14-3 record, Los Angeles, who finished the season 10-7, get to play at home by virtue of winning the NFC West. 

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Kelly didn’t have time to listen to any critics who argued against the NFL’s seeding practices, which gave the Rams home-field advantage in the first round. 

“I don’t really understand the complaints,” she said. “Your team made the playoffs. If they’re that good to win the Super Bowl, they should win the Super Bowl.”

Given their record, Kelly told upset Vikings fans “you should have no problem with us,” before adding, “But you are going to have a problem with us, just saying.”

The Rams-Vikings Wild Card game kicks off on Monday, January 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN.

Sean M. Higgins, the man charged with killing brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, has pleaded not guilty. 

Higgins pleaded not guilty to all charges, including first-degree manslaughter, during an arraignment hearing on Tuesday, January 7. 

In December, Higgins was indicted on two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, two counts of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, a fourth-degree charge of tampering with physical evidence and a second-degree charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. 

Higgins allegedly struck and killed Johnny, 31, a star for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew, 29, when they were riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey on August 29, the evening before their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding was scheduled. 

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During the arraignment on Tuesday, it was revealed that Higgins was offered a 35-year prison sentence if he pleaded guilty to both aggravated manslaughter charges and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. 

At the scene of the crime, it was revealed that Higgins’ blood-alcohol level was .087, which is over the legal limit of .08. He admitted to officers he had been drinking, including consuming beers while behind the wheel of his vehicle. 

According to Salem County assistant prosecutor Michael Mestern in Tuesday’s hearing, Higgins would need to plead guilty to both aggravated manslaughter charges in exchange for consecutive 15-year sentences.

Mestern also said the offer would require Higgins to plead guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident in return for a five-year prison term.

If Higgins is convicted, each charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter carries a maximum of 30 years. Vehicular homicide carries a maximum of 10 years per charge.

In an email to The Athletic, Higgins’ attorneys, Richard F. Klineburger and Matthew Portella, argued some of the indictment counts were improperly charged.

“While this case has garnered significant media attention, it is essential to remember that our client is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the email read. “As a combat soldier who has served our country with distinction and honor, Mr. Higgins has the utmost faith in our judicial process and would not want to taint the proceedings with statements made outside of the Courtroom.”

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The email concluded, “We believe that the facts of this case will reveal that this tragedy was not the result of any malfeasance but rather a combination of uniquely unfortunate circumstances unlikely to ever occur again.”

Higgins is accused of hitting Johnny and Matthew with his Jeep Grand Cherokee while attempting to pass two vehicles on a two-lane road. The brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Higgins is next scheduled to appear in court on February 4.

In a season filled with lucky breaks for the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes received another one on the homefront. 

Mahomes, 29, revealed his wife, Brittany Mahomes, is due to give birth to the couple’s third baby on Sunday, January 12, during Kansas City’s playoff bye week. 

“He told me his wife Brittany is due to give birth to their 3rd child on Sunday. If she doesn’t give birth by then she will be induced Monday,” CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson shared via X on Monday, January 6. 

The timing is fortuitous because the Chiefs have earned the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs, meaning they won’t begin their playoff quest until the weekend of January 18.

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Wolfson, 49, added, “There was def extra motivation for Patrick to get that bye week! .”

Patrick and Brittany — who got married in March 2022 — already share daughter Sterling, 3, and son Bronze, 2. In July 2024, they revealed their third baby will be a girl. 

In an interview with Kay Adams that aired during Netflix’s coverage of the Chiefs’ Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patrick said the new addition would be arriving “any day now.”

“Brittany says I’ve been stressing her out too much this season,” Mahomes told Adams, 38, in the sit-down chat. “So I got to try to not put so much stress on her through these football games.”

He added, “Hopefully God works the right way and we can have that baby on the bye week somewhere, and then everything will work out perfectly.”

After the Christmas Day win over the Steelers, which earned the Chiefs the first-round bye, Patrick gushed about the importance of the victory. 

“I told my pregnant wife I was gonna get the No. 1 seed so we can go have that baby,” he said in his postgame interview.

Brittany responded to the interview via her Instagram Story from home, where she was watching the game. 

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“Always keeping his promises,” Brittany wrote. 

Patrick and Brittany, 29, announced they are expecting their third baby with a joint Instagram post in July of last year. 

“Round three, here we come ,” the post read, which featured a video of Sterling showing off a sonogram of her soon-to-be sister for the camera.

The Chiefs quest for a historic third-consecutive Super Bowl will start on either Saturday, January 18, or Sunday, January 19. Their opponent will be decided by the winners of the Wild Card weekend games, which kick off Saturday, January 11. 

Before returning to action on Sunday, January 5, Detroit Lions star Alex Anzalone showed off the gruesome journey it took to get there. 

Hours prior to the team’s Sunday Night Football showdown with the Minnesota Vikings at Detroit’s Ford Field, Anzalone, 30, posted a picture via his Instagram Story of his broken forearm post-surgery. 

“Everyone wants to be a dog, until you have to do some dog s—,” Anzalone wrote alongside a picture of his stitched-up left arm. 

Anzalone broke his left forearm after colliding  with teammate Brian Branch’s helmet in the Lions’ November 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

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According to the Detroit Free Press, Anzalone has a metal plate under the scar on his forearm. Anzalone underwent surgery one week after he sustained the injury.

He returned to the lineup on Sunday, six weeks after surgery, to help the Lions defeat the Vikings 31-9 and earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs. They also clinched the NFC North division for the second season in a row. 

“Any time you get hurt or deal with adversity, mindset-wise it’s an opportunity to grow,” Anzalone told reporters after the game. “I feel like I’ve grown in different ways. You get the game taken away from you, and when you come back, it’s a blessing to play again.”

After missing the Lions six previous games, Anzalone said the win over the Vikings was “a statement.” Detroit head coach Dan Campbell praised his returning linebacker for the jolt his presence gave the team. 

“His return was huge,” Campbell, 48, told reporters. “Look, I’ve said it before, he’s really our quarterback on defense. There’s a lot of confidence he brings, a lot of energy. He can calm the storms. I thought it was going to take him a minute to work himself back in, and it didn’t take long at all. He was back to what he was before he got injured.”

When Anzalone returned from the game, he shared a message his wife, Lindsey Anzalone, had written on a dry erase board for him. 

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“Welcome home!” Lindsey wrote, in a photo Alex posted via his Instagram Story. “We are so proud of you!”

Alex captioned the photo, “My why .”

The couple, who got married in June 2019, share two children: son Cooper, 3, and daughter Carter, 14 months. 

After their first-round bye, Anzalone and the Lions will return to action during the NFL Divisional Playoffs, which kick off Saturday, January 18, as Detroit attempts to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history. 

Sports media personality Skip Bayless has been accused of repeatedly harassing a former Fox Sports hairstylist, allegedly offering her $1.5 million to have sex with him. 

In a lawsuit filed on Friday, January 3 in Los Angeles and obtained by Front Office Sports, Noushin Faraji — who was an employee of Fox Sports from 2012 through August 2024 — says the behavior began when she started working on FS1’s Undisputed, which Bayless cohosted alongside Shannon Sharpe from 2016 to August 2024. 

Bayless allegedly made the money offer to Faraji after she told him she had ovarian cancer in an attempt to ward off his advances. In response, Bayless said he could “change” her life.

“The more you say no the more I want you,” Bayless told Faraji, according to the suit.

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During her time on Undisputed, Faraji claimed Bayless would give her “lingering hugs and kisses on the cheek while putting his body against hers and pressing against her breasts.”

Faraji, who is a single mother, claimed she told Bayless multiple times she was not interested and did not “date at work.”

In addition, Faraji alleged Bayless made an offensive remark about her background when she attempted to thwart his actions.

“Mr. Bayless made another advance at Ms. Faraji,” the lawsuit states. “Ms. Faraji responded: ‘Skip, stop, you have a wife.’ Mr. Bayless responded: ‘Aren’t you Muslim? Doesn’t your dad have three to four wives?’ Ms. Faraji responded that her father was dead, and when Mr. Bayless looked taken aback, she made an excuse to leave.” (Bayless has been married to Ernestine Sclafani since 2016.)

According to the lawsuit, Faraji made multiple complaints to the Human Resources and Employee Relations departments while working at Fox. 

In a statement to Front Office Sports, Fox Sports said, “We take these allegations seriously and have no further comment at this time given this pending litigation.”

Us Weekly reached out to a lawyer and representatives for Bayless for comment. 

Undisputed was canceled in August 2024, though no mention of inappropriate conduct by Bayless accompanied the announcement. Faraji says she was fired by Fox Sports shortly after the show’s cancellation. 

At the time, Bayless said he had been “planning to pursue other opportunities for several months. I had a great 8-year run with a lot of great people at Fox, but now I’m excited for what’s coming up. Stay tuned.”

“Despite Ms. Faraji being an excellent hairdresser and continuously being requested by talent, she was shrunken down to how much she could appease Mr. Bayless, and once Mr. Bayless was gone, so was her job,” the lawsuit says.

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The lawsuit also claims that Bayless accused Faraji of having sex with Sharpe, 56, Bayless’ former Undisputed cohost. 

Faraji alleges that Bayless apologized for the accusation about Sharpe in 2023, acknowledging it was untrue. 

Sharpe himself responded to the lawsuit Sunday, January 5 on his “Nightcap” podcast.

“That ain’t got nothing to do with me,” Sharpe said. “It doesn’t. What do y’all want me to say? That ain’t got nothing to do with me. So, there’s nothing to address.”

Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Michelle Siemienowski gave concerned fans an update after she got bonked in the head by a kickoff while working on the sideline. 

Siemienowski was hit by Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey’s errant kick during the second quarter of the team’s game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, January 5. The cheerleader fell to the ground after the football hit her in the back of the head while she faced the crowd.

The first-year cheerleader managed to laugh off the incident, though a tear was noticeably falling down her cheek. She was immediately tended to by members of the DCC squad and Commanders punter Tress Way, who happened to be standing nearby. 

“I’m alright everyone ,” Siemienowski shared via her Instagram Story on Sunday night. 

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The entire incident was caught by cameras for Fox Sports, who was broadcasting the game. “At least she’s smiling,” analyst Mark Sanchez said. “Ouch. Those game balls are no joke.”

Siemienowski earned kudos from the Fox Sports social team, who posted a video of her getting hit with the ball via X on Sunday

“Shoutout to this #DallasCowboys Cheerleader for taking the hit like a champ ” they shared.

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Siemienowski, who closed out her rookie season as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader on Sunday, also received some well wishes from the cheerleading community. 

Los Angeles Rams cheerleader Skylar Yeung wrote via her Instagram Story, “You are such a trooper i love you .”

“We were so worried for you! You handled it like a pro. We love you, Ski,” wrote the Danceology Performing Arts Campus, where Siemienowski studied, via an Instagram Story. 

Siemienowski’s Cowboys teammate Kelly Villares wrote via her Instagram Story, “You’re a champ.”

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In July, Siemienowski revealed she had been chosen as a member of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad for the 2024-2025 season. 

“I cannot believe I am saying this…I am officially a DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADER ,” she posted via Instagram. “This has been my dream for as long as I can remember.”

Siemienowski added, “Thank you to my parents, family, and friends for being so supportive and encouraging throughout this process. Thank you God, for I have prayed every single day for this blessed new chapter of my life. This has been the most life changing experience, but this is only the beginning. I am so grateful to say that I achieved my dreams and earned my boots!.”

The post concluded, “I am so excited to represent the most amazing organization and get the opportunity to cheer on America’s Team!”

Tennis star Naomi Osaka announced she has split from longtime boyfriend Cordae, the father of her 17-month-old daughter, Shai. 

“Hi everyone, just wanted to say that Cordae and I are no longer in a relationship,”  Osaka, 27, shared via her Instagram Story on Monday, January 6. “No bad blood at all, he’s a great person and an awesome dad.”

Osaka and Cordae, a 27-year-old rapper, welcomed their daughter in July 2023. The couple had been dating since 2019. 

She continued, “Honestly really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together .”

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Osaka’s announcement came on the heels of a trio of mysteriously prophetic posts she made via her Instagram Story the day before. 

“I’ve come to the conclusion that what’s meant for me is meant for me and maybe certain situations occur to train my mind for what’s to come,” she wrote on Sunday, January 5. “Maybe there’s bigger and better things on my path and I just have to continue the journey to encounter them.”

Osaka added, “That being said this is about to be a great year .”

The four-time major champion also expressed her gratitude to her “team and everyone close to me for having my back and keeping me sane (though that’s debatable LOL).”

In a separate post, Osaka thanked her “friends all around the world (I think saying fans is a disservice).”

She added, “I’ve always said it feels like we’re going through this journey together and I really hope you’re having as much fun as I am .”

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The messages came after Osaka made it to the finals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. She was visibly upset after being forced to retire in the championship match against Clara Tauson with an abdominal injury on Saturday, January 4, her first WTA Final in nearly three years. 

In a statement released on Sunday, January 5, Osaka said she would be having an MRI to assess the damage of the injury, with the Australian Open set to begin on Sunday, January 12. 

“I don’t feel that it’s too serious and I still feel very optimistic about AO,” Osaka noted. 

After her run to the finals in Auckland, Osaka broke back into the top 50 in the world rankings on Monday, January 6. It marked the first time Osaka had been inside the top 50 since January 2023, before she went on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her daughter. 

© Theo Wargo/Getty Images

On a big night for his wife Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard also had his mind on his hometown football team. 

Bell, 44, shared a video via her Instagram Story on Sunday, January 5 of Shepard, 50, watching the Sunday Night Football game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings on his phone.

Shepard had the phone sandwiched between his legs while Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford presented the award for Best Motion Picture – Animated to Flow. 

“#Priorities,” Bell captioned the video. 

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Shepard and Bell were both born in suburban Detroit, but the two didn’t meet until they both moved to Los Angeles. They got married in October 2013 and share two daughters: Lincoln, 11, and Delta, 10. 

While it was a successful night for the Lions — they defeated the Vikings 31-9 to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs — the same couldn’t be said for Bell and her show Nobody Wants This. 

Bell lost the award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy to Hacks star Jean Smart, and Hacks also beat out Nobody Wants This for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. 

Adam Brody, Bell’s costar on the Netflix series, also lost Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy to The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White. 

Bell and Shepard have long professed their love for their hometown sports teams. In 2017, Bell discussed her fandom of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. 

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“Everybody was obsessed with hockey, so [during] my high school career nobody cared about Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise,” Bell explained. “As a young girl, I had posters of [Red Wings players] Darren McCarty and Chris Osgood and all those guys.”

She continued, “They were all Gods to me. I wore a tag on my shirt in high school that said Mrs. Osgood. I was really trying to live the secret and put it out there. I was like 16. I was like, ‘Maybe if I just wear it on my heart, he’ll know.”

Days before attending the Golden Globes together, Bell gave a special 50th birthday shoutout to Shepard on Thursday, January 2, which included a couple of rare photos of their daughters. 

“Happy birthday to the most affectionate 220 lbs man that ever existed,” she shared via Instagram. “I cannot imagine life without you .”

Patrick Mahomes was kept out of the Kansas City Chiefs regular season finale against the Denver Broncos. 

Mahomes, 29, did not play in the Sunday, January 5, game after the Chiefs secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home field advantage throughout the playoffs after their 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day. 

With the game rendered meaningless from a standings perspective, the Chiefs decided not to risk having their superstar starting quarterback take any snaps. 

In his place, veteran backup Carson Wentz started the game at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High. 

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“I’ve been through that before, so I’m not too worried about all that,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday, January 1 about sitting Mahomes. “It gives the other guys an opportunity here to grow and you can use everybody.”

Reid, 66, added, “The primary thing is to make sure that we stay sharp in all areas through this game and for the upcoming weeks … We want to stay sharp mentally and physically and then that’s our responsibility to do that and how we manage the time. I make sure I do that practice-wise and the guys go out, players and coaches, and work on that.”

Wentz, 32,  only attempted two passes this season as Mahomes’ backup, but said he was ready to meet the moment. 

“I’m going to prepare to go out there and win and then have a good performance with this offense,” Wentz told reporters on Wednesday. 

He continued, “I think it would be tremendous just getting reps. Obviously preseason is helpful, but that was even limited and seems like another lifetime ago already. This will definitely be helpful if needed in whatever capacity down the stretch there in the playoffs. But quite frankly, I’m just excited to get out there and play ball.”

The break also provides Mahomes the opportunity to continue healing an ankle injury he sustained in the Chiefs’ December 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. 

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Mahomes left the game in the fourth quarter after being dragged down from behind by Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson while simultaneously being hit high by Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall. 

He was later seen being transported on a golf cart inside Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field and was initially questionable for the Chiefs game against the Houston Texans on December 21. 

Mahomes would ultimately start that game and throw for 260 yards, scoring both a passing and rushing touchdown in the 27-19 victory. 

The Chiefs will open their quest for a historic third consecutive Super Bowl when the NFL Divisional Playoffs begin on January 18. 

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and his girlfriend, Molly Walding, have a love story almost a decade in the making. 

Leonard, 22, and Walding have been in each other’s lives since they both attended Fairhope Middle School in Fairhope, Alabama. 

Since then, the couple has experienced it all — from high school dances and birthday celebrations to long-distance love in college and Notre Dame’s run to the College Football Playoff. 

For a full timeline of Leonard and Walding’s relationship, keep reading. 

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September 2016

Walding posted a photo via Instagram of the pair together to celebrate Leonard’s birthday while the two were in middle school in Alabama.

Leonard had his hand on Walding’s shoulder as she beamed for the camera, still with a mouthful of braces. 

October 2017

The pair attended their first high school dance together as students at Fairthorpe High School in Fairthorpe, Alabama. 

“what a nighttttt★ ,” Walding captioned a trio of photos via Instagram from the big evening. 

June 2019

Leonard and Walding celebrated their one-and-a-half year dating anniversary at the Bluegill Restaurant in Spanish Fort, Alabama.

“a year & a 1/2 of nothing but smiles!!!!,” Walding captioned a photo via Instagram of the pair smiling on a dock outside the restaurant.

December 2019

The couple’s two-year anniversary was also cause for celebration. Walding posted a photo of the pair via Instagram standing in front of a Christmas tree. 

“Been dating my biggest crush for 2 years now ,” she wrote.

Leonard commented on the picture, writing, “Dang u look good.”

December 2020

Leonard and Walding’s third anniversary came with a bit of trepidation. 

“Happy 3!!!! Like if you think we can make it 4 more being 500 miles apart,” Walding wrote alongside a picture of the duo via Instagram.

The post came in anticipation of Leonard heading to play football at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and Walking on her way to Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. 

April 2022

The duo, of course, found a way to make it work as evidenced by Walding’s picture from Duke’s spring game ahead of his second season at Duke. 

“I’m a big fan of ya!!!!!!” Walding wrote via Instagram. 

December 2023

Days after Leonard announced he was transferring to Notre Dame, Walding said she was excited to celebrate the couple’s sixth anniversary together. 

“See you tomorrow!!!!!!!! Eeeek,” she wrote via Instagram.

Leonard also shared an anniversary post on the same day. “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. Happy 6 years,” he said via Instagram. 

November 2024

Walding traveled to South Bend, Indiana to celebrate Notre Dame’s Senior Day and a win over Virginia in the team’s regular season home finale. 

“Shoutout to @riley.jleonard for giving us something to look forward to every weekend!!!!! Still rooting for #13 ,” she shared via Instagram alongside a carousel of photos from the field at Notre Dame Stadium. 

January 2024

Walding was on hand in New Orleans as Leonard helped lead Notre Dame over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, earning the school a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. 

“What an adventure it has been!” she wrote via her Instagram Story. 

Polish ski jumper Andrzej Stękała came out as gay following the death of his longtime partner, Damian. 

Stękała, 29 — a member of the Polish national team and bronze medalist at the 2020 Ski Flying World Championships —  shared a slideshow of photos and videos via Instagram from the duration of their relationship alongside his heartfelt message. 

“I want you all to know the real me. I am gay,” Stękała wrote in the Wednesday, January 1 post. “For years I’ve hidden this from the world — from you, from the media, and sometimes even from myself.”

He continued, “In 2016, I met the person who changed my life. He’s been my rock, my support, my biggest supporter. Together we shared life, passions, joys and difficult moments. He was my everything, my home, my heart. We loved in silence, hiding our love from the world to protect what was most important to us.”

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Stękała revealed that Damian died in November, but did not disclose a cause of death. 

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A post shared by Andrzej Stękała (@andrzejstekala)

“I can’t describe the pain I’ve felt,” he wrote. “The world we built together fell into pieces. Everyday without him is a struggle, but also a reminder of how endlessly I loved and how deeply I was loved.”

With the turning of the calendar, Stękała vowed to enter “a new chapter.”

“I don’t want to hide who I am anymore,” he shared. “I am myself — a man who loved and still loves. And I know that he would want me to continue living in peace with myself.”

Stękała added, “Please understand and respect. My story is a tale of love that deserves light, not shadow.”

The athlete thanked his support system of “family and friends” for giving him “the courage to open up.”

The post concluded, “For the rest of my days, I will carry his name in my heart.”

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Many of Stękała’s friends and members of the skiing community left their supportive comments on his post. 

“Stay strong Andrzej heartbreaking to read about your loss,” Norwegian world champion Halvor Egner Granerud wrote. “Hope your brave 2025 will be a good year for you, filled with the freedom of not hiding who you are. All the best wishes .”

Sondre Ringen, a Norwegian ski jumper, wrote, “You’re brave and strong Andrzej Wish you all the best amongst this tragic loss.”

“A beautiful, albeit heartbreaking, story about just love,” journalist Krzysztof Jankowski Jankes commented. “Thank you for opening up to us.”

Kelly Stafford vulnerably acknowledged the negative toll social media has recently taken on her mental health.

Stafford, 34, made the candid admission while discussing New Year’s resolutions on the Thursday, January 2 episode of her podcast “The Morning After.”

“I want to get off social media so bad. I don’t want to be on it anymore. It’s honestly giving me depressing thoughts,” Kelly said, while audibly fighting back tears. “But in the work that we are in, that’s not really an option.”

Stafford, the wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, explained being active on social media is crucial to the success of her podcast, but she said comments about her appearance have forced her to seriously weigh the pros and cons. 

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“I’m human,” Kelly noted. “I post something about a game or something and either I need to wear more makeup or now I am looking like I had plastic surgery because I actually had time to do my makeup and I did it because I felt like I needed to.”

Kelly joked, “ I’ll be the first one to tell you when I get a facelift and I’ll tell you where the doctor I go to is.”

“I’m old,” she added. “This should not be happening. It is very, very scary to raise four girls in a world where opinions of people you’ve never met matter to you.”

Kelly and Matthew, who got married in 2015, share four daughters: twins Sawyer and Chandler, 7, Hunter, 6, and Tyler, 4. 

“I’m not going to tell people that I’m going to have tougher skin, because I’m not,” Kelly said. “I’m a woman in my 30s and I have feelings. But I am going to try and do a better job of remembering that clearly people who are commenting certain things are unhappy with situations in their own life.”

Kelly admitted bluntly, “If people are setting out to hurt me with comments, congratulations. You have done it.”

Furthermore, Kelly explained how her husband has begun noticing the negative impact social media is having on her well-being.

“This has been a back-and-forth with Matthew, too, because he can see it,” she said. “I put down the phone, he knows immediately. ‘What did someone say?’ That’s a problem because I’m carrying it way past just putting my phone down. It is in my mind, it is in my heart. I am trying to do my best to fix that.”

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Kelly issued a plea to any podcast listeners who might be the ones responsible for the vitriolic attacks being spewn online. 

“I do want to make it aware that if you’re listening to this and you’re a person … God, I’m sorry,” she said as her voice began to crack. “And you’re one of those people that comments horrible things on anyone’s Instagrams, just stop. It’s hurtful. You never know what something you could say could do to someone. So just stop.”

Ultimately, Kelly said her resolution for the year is “to every day remind myself that the people who matter, those are the opinions that matter to me.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Notre Dame’s Sugar Bowl victory celebration over Georgia was a family affair for Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman. 

After Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10 on Thursday, January 2 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Freeman, 38, posed with his wife, Joanna, and their six children on the field as confetti fell around them and the university’s band played jubilantly in the background. 

Marcus and Joanna got married in 2010 after meeting during their time at The Ohio State University. Together, they share six children: son Vinny, 17, daughter Siena, 12, son Gino, 11, son Nico, 9, daughter Capri, 7, and son Rocco, 6.

With Notre Dame’s victory, the team advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they will face Penn State on Thursday, January 9. The winner of that game will then face the winner of Ohio State/Texas in the National Championship Game on January 20. 

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Joanna and the kids have been by Marcus’ side throughout his tenure at Notre Dame, dating back to his introductory press conference in 2021. 

Shortly after his hiring, Joanna candidly admitted that their relationship hasn’t exactly been the stuff of fairy tales.

Marcus Freeman celebrating the win with his family pic.twitter.com/4Q5JQFiUqv

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2025

“We don’t have a super romantic love story,” Joanna told Yahoo Sports in 2021. “We had a lot of breakups and make-ups. We fell hard. We fell fast. We were really young when we met, and in a lot of ways, we really grew and matured into adults together.”

After Thursday’s game, Freeman was asked about the historical significance of the victory. Prior to this season, a Black coach had never coached a game in the College Football Playoff. Along with Penn State head coach James Franklin, there are two Black coaches in this year’s semifinals. 

“You’re very grateful,” Freeman said. “It’s a reminder that you are a representation for many others and many of our players that look the same way I do. Your color shouldn’t matter. The evidence of your work should.”

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He continued, “But it takes everybody. That’s what I continue to remind myself. When people will try to point the finger at you, it’s a great reminder [that] you’re not in this position without everybody, without all these guys. And that’s what I told them in the locker room.”

Freeman explained that he felt awkward at the postgame trophy ceremony, insisting that the spotlight shouldn’t be shone on him alone. 

“I couldn’t get off that stage fast enough because everybody couldn’t be up there,” he told reporters. “It’s about the team. It’s about everybody who puts everything they have into making sure that we can achieve that success.”

Freeman added, “So, it’s a great honor. It’s a privilege. But again, as the head coach of this place, I understand we’re not in this position unless everybody in this program gets their job done.”

© Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Sloane Stephens has read all of the comments calling on her to retire — but don’t expect her to listen. 

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, the tennis star, 31, explained how she’s learned to let social media criticism roll off her back more than 15 years into her professional career. 

“People don’t have any filter,” said Stephens, who spoke to Us via her partnership with Daily Harvest. “They also don’t realize that you’re another human being. They would never say it to your face. It actually prohibits people from putting their lives out there because they don’t want to be judged.”

Stephens added, “It’s all about what the athlete can handle, right? ‘You should retire?’ I’m like, ‘If these people are still paying me, I’m not going.’ I think people don’t realize, if someone was paying you a lot of money, you wouldn’t quit your job. You wouldn’t leave your job.”

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Ultimately, Stephens explained she’s in her “phase of I don’t give a s—.”

“As an athlete, you have such tough skin in general,” the 2017 US Open champion said. “For the bettors and the people who are literally like, ‘You should have won, you f—ing bitch.’ So when people comment on my post like, ‘Why are you posting this?’ It’s my page. Get the f— off.”

While Stephens boasts well-worn armor, she acknowledged how “younger athletes haven’t experienced it.”

“I’m like, ‘Oh, whatever,’” she said of her social media mindset. “If I post and you don’t like it, just follow somebody else. Unfollow me. Block me. Do whatever you need to do. If you feel secure in your world and in your life and in your tennis or whatever it is, you don’t react as much to things other people are saying.”

As for her physical health, Stephens — who still spends 40 weeks a year on the road — gushed about how her partnership with Daily Harvest came about, ironically, quite organically. 

“During COVID is when I first started using Daily Harvest because we were all trying to figure out how to get healthy options,” she explained. “I couldn’t go out and I wasn’t cooking. Throughout my career, I’ve always had little bits and stints where I’ve been someplace for a month. I’ve always loved using meal prep options because it’s just easier for me.”

Now, Daily Harvest has unveiled a line of protein-packed smoothies in flavors Vanilla Bean, Dark Chocolate and Mixed Berry. 

Daily Harvest has also collaborated with Doc & Glo, Stephens’ body care company, to highlight both brands’ commitment to supporting active lifestyles and overall well-being.

“When they came out with a smoothie, I knew that had me written all over it,” she said. “It’s so easy, so simple. It just fits. It’s genuine.”

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton has been waiting a lifetime for this moment. 

Gunner was elevated to the role of starting quarterback for the University of Georgia after quarterback Carson Beck suffered an elbow injury during the SEC Championship Game against Texas on December 7. Beck underwent season-ending surgery and has since declared himself for the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Born in Tiger, Georgia, roughly 75 miles from University of Georgia’s campus in Athens, Gunner grew up a massive fan of the Bulldogs. A son of two collegiate athletes — his father, Rob, played football at Georgia Southern and his mom, Sherri, played basketball at Erskine College — he has athletics in his blood. 

“The number one thing for Gunner is he’s known our community, and especially our family, his friends, and those people closest to him, believe in him,” Rob told UGASports in a story published on Sunday, December 29. “We’ve always loved him and want the best for him. This is something that he’s worked for [and] something he’s dreamed of.”

Rob added, “You look at pictures of your kid, and they’re throwing the ball in your backyard and dreaming of being the starting quarterback at the University of Georgia. It has happened. It is unreal.”

For more about Gunner’s story, keep reading. 

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Gunner’s great-grandfather, V.D. Stockton, served in World War II. A newspaper at the time referred to him as “Gunner Stockton.”

According to The Athletic, Gunner’s parents liked the nickname so much that they decided to give it to their son. 

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In October 2010, Gunner’s grandfather, Lawrence Stockton, died shortly after leaving Georgia’s 34-31 overtime loss to the Florida Gators at Jacksonville’s EverBank Field.

According to ESPN, Lawrence walked back to a tailgating area after the game and collapsed and died from a heart attack. He was 63 years old. 

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Gunner shares a close bond with his oldest sister, Georgia, his only sibling. 

The duo shared a cute moment when Georgia was dropped off at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina in the summer of 2019.

“PC officially has a baller on campus,” Gunner shared via Instagram. “I know it’s gonna be hard for you not seeing me everyday but hopefully it won’t be too hard for ya . You are the best. Love you more than you know ”

In 2021, Gunner and Georgia took in a Bulldogs game from the sidelines of Sanford Stadium. 

“Pretty good way to end the week,” Gunner shared via Instagram alongside a picture of him and his sister.

Gunner, Georgia and the rest of their extended family spent the holidays together in 2024, just days before the Bulldogs’ game against Notre Dame in the 2025 Sugar Bowl, as evidenced by a series of photos shared by Georgia via Instagram. 

Gunner Stockton Originally Committed to South Carolina

Gunner originally committed to play quarterback at SEC rival South Carolina. However, he announced his decommitment in January 2021. 

“After much discussion and prayer with my family, I have decided to decommit from The University of South Carolina,” Gunner said in a statement at the time. “Back in August, I made the decision to commit to the University, program, and staff. A lot has changed since that time, and I feel that I should reevaluate my situation.”

Gunner’s decision came on the heels of Will Muschamp, the head coach to which Gunner committed, being fired. 

The quarterback announced his commitment to the University of Georgia later that month. 

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If you see a 1984 Ford F-150 driving around Georgia’s campus, that’s just the team’s starting quarterback. 

“It was literally broke down, parked up at their house and wouldn’t crank,” his father, Rob, told the Athens Banner-Herald in a story published on Friday, December 27. “He wanted to get it running, so me and him tinkered with it.”

According to the outlet, Rob helps run an automotive dealership that’s been in the family since 1956.

The truck has no air conditioning and more than 300,000 miles on the odometer. 

“I would say he’s going to continue driving that old truck no matter what kind of opportunities knock for him,” Rob said.

© Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey suffered such a gruesome leg injury on Wednesday, January 1 that his teammates made sure to hide it from the fans in attendance. 

In the fourth quarter of the Pistons game against the Orlando Magic at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, the left leg of Ivey, 22, got trapped underneath the Magic’s Cole Anthony while both players were chasing a loose ball. 

Ivey was immediately in absolute anguish on the floor as he was attended to by the Pistons’ medical staff. Eventually, one of Ivey’s teammates grabbed a towel from the bench to cover up his leg and the rest of the team made a circle around him. 

A stretcher was used to transport Ivey off the court as the arena watched on with hushed silence. Ivey’s teammate, Ausar Thompson, was seen wiping tears away. 

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Sources told ESPN on Thursday, January 2 that Ivey had suffered a broken fibula in his left leg and would likely miss the remainder of the season. 

“It’s tough. It’s tough on all of us,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “No better teammate, person than J.I. No one who cares more about this thing than him. It’s tough to see.” 

Bickerstaff, 45, added, “At the heart of this team, and what we’ve tried to preach all year since we’ve been here is togetherness. If one guy goes down, you don’t want to let that guy down, so everybody else has to step up. Again, it’s the emotions, it’s the human aspect of it, but I thought our guys did a really good job of just sticking together and getting it done.”

Pistons star Cade Cunningham said Ivey’s injury was “tough on the whole group.”

“To see him hurting like that is tough on us,” Cunningham, 23, told reporters. “He’s built for it, he’s going to shake back knowing him. He’s going to work his tail off and he’s going to be better than ever when he gets back. It’s hard to see that, for sure.”

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After the injury occurred, Cunningham explained he gathered the team for “a prayer.”

“Just wanted to collect ourselves and talk about it and make sure everybody was on the same page about what we had to do from that point on,” Cunningham said. 

Ivey, who was selected by the Pistons with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, had been averaging 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

The Pistons return to action on Friday, January 3 against the Charlotte Hornets. 

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard sealed his team’s blowout win in the Rose Bowl with a kiss. 

After Howard, 23, and the Buckeyes dominated the Oregon Ducks 41-21 on Wednesday, January 1, the quarterback made his way over to his girlfriend, Lauren Leiker, for a smooch. 

Howard flipped his brand new Rose Bowl Champions hat backwards and leaned in for the kiss, which was captured by ESPN social media. The move was complimented by Kelly Stafford, wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who wrote via her Instagram Story: “Have always said it…Backwards hat = easy access ”

While Howard mostly keeps his personal life close to the vest, he posted a picture with Leiker via Instagram in April 2023. At the time of the post, Howard was still the quarterback at Kansas State. 

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Howard transferred to Ohio State ahead of the 2024 season, where he has helped lead the Buckeyes to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Ohio State will play Texas in the 2025 Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10 with a trip to the National Championship Game on the line. 

Outside of the kiss with his girlfriend, the post-game celebration came with a side of awkwardness for Howard. 

Despite being the team’s starting quarterback, Rose Bowl officials denied Howard entrance to the stage for the trophy presentation. 

 

In a clip that circulated on social media, Howard could be seen asking an official for permission to join his teammates for the postgame gathering. 

“That’s the starting quarterback!” Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams pleaded. 

Howard seemingly had a good sense of humor about the entire ordeal, laughing as he told people nearby, “They’re blocking me!”

“Guys, there’s a weight limit apparently,” Howard said. He added, “They’re literally blocking me out.”

Howard eventually was able to make his way to the stage, where he tossed out celebratory roses to commemorate the big win. 

“We came out and played angry and I think it showed,” Howard told reporters after the game. “We jumped out to an early lead and it was hard for them to come back.”

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Howard continued, “We knew they were going to come back and do something, they’re too good of a team to not score any points. We knew they were going to mount some sort of a comeback. It wasn’t going to be perfect so we just had to weather the storm and make sure that we won the game when it counted.”

The quarterback threw for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win, a revenge victory for the Buckeyes after Oregon defeated them 32-31 earlier in the season. 

“It’s unbelievable,” Howard told reporters after the game. “A younger me would be in awe and I just got to take it all in and enjoy this with my boys and we got two more [games], so we’re not done yet.”

Ohio State and Texas will battle in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10 at 7:30 pm ET. The winner will face either Penn State or the winner of the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, January 2 between Notre Dame and Georgia in the National Championship Game on Monday, January 20. 

Livvy Dunne and boyfriend Paul Skenes celebrated New Year’s Eve in New Orleans just hours before a truck attack killed at least 15 people on Bourbon Street. 

Dunne, 22, posted a photo via Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 1 of a night out in New Orleans with her boyfriend Skenes, 22, and their friends Bubba Chandler and Allie Enright. 

The LSU gymnast also posted a photo of a packed Bourbon Street with a heartbreak emoji. 

Dunne and Skenes, a superstar pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, have been dating since the summer of 2023 after meeting at LSU. 

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Chandler, 22, is a pitcher for the Pirates organization who spent his 2024 season with the Double-A Altoona Curve and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. Enright is a former cheerleader at Clemson University, where Chandler played college baseball. 

Enright and Chandler have been dating since at least August 2023, when Enright first appeared on Chandler’s Instagram.

The foursome rang in the New Year in New Orleans hours before a truck plowed its way through the packed French Quarter, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. The FBI has classified the incident as “an act of terrorism.”

One of the individuals killed in the attack was former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech. The 27-year-old was remembered by his brother, TCU football star Jack Bech, after Tiger was murdered. 

“Love you always brother!” Jack, 22, wrote via X on Wednesday. “You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us .”

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Dunne, meanwhile, was getting some last minute celebrations in before she and the LSU gymnastics team kick off their season on Friday, January 3 at home in Baton Rouge against Iowa State.

Though Dunne officially graduated from the university in December, she announced her intentions to return for a fifth and final season in July. 

“This past year I found a renewed love of the sport,” Dunne said in a statement. “I had trained a lot in the off season, so I felt really strong and healthy from the start and ready to contribute. I really enjoyed the dynamic of the team this year and it all came together well. Winning the national championships was a great team accomplishment, but I feel like I have more to give as an individual competitor.”

Skenes and the Pirates open their spring training schedule on February 23.