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

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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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) and quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate after a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter of the 2018 Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Eagles won 41-33. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

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.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) after the Super Bowl Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (AP Photo/Charlie )

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.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after a touchdown run by running back Kareem Hunt during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.,Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

“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.”

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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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February 1, 2025
Brandon Marshall on Josh Allen’s woes against Patrick Mahomes: ‘Sometimes you run into a Michael Jordan’

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As Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs head to their third straight Super Bowl, NFL fans can’t help but feel for the Buffalo Bills and quarterback Josh Allen.

The Chiefs can make history in New Orleans Feb. 9 by winning their third straight Super Bowl. That history has come at the expense of Allen, who is 0-4 in postseason games against Mahomes and the Chiefs.

As good as Allen is — he’s an MVP frontrunner alongside Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson this year — he has been unable to get the Bills back to the Super Bowl for the first time in over three decades.

And his postgame interview after falling to the Chiefs 32-29 showed his raw emotion. He was short with his answers and looked dejected.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen walks off the field after the AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

One ex-NFL star, though, broke down Allen’s challenge of having to get through Mahomes to achieve the team’s goals to other sports greats.

“Sometimes you run into a Michael Jordan. Sometimes you run into a Tiger Woods in their prime, and you got to deal with it,” former All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall told Fox News Digital while discussing his new venture with his “I Am Athlete” partnering with Revolt.

“If these guys can pull off one or two, then that’s what they can do. But [Mahomes has] been in the league eight years and been to the Super Bowl five times.

“Great job, Josh Allen, but this is the wrong era to be a quarterback.”

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Marshall said that was “no knock” against Allen, Jackson, Joe Burrow or even C.J. Stroud with his Houston Texans falling to the Chiefs in the divisional round.

But as good as Basketball Hall of Famer Karl Malone was with the Utah Jazz, they couldn’t beat Jordan and the Bulls in the two NBA Finals they played. And when Woods was in his golfing prime, some players accepted that finishing second place any given week was an accomplishment because Woods would likely be lifting the trophy.

It’s the unfortunate result of greatness. Someone or some team has to lose.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes rolls out to pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Marshall described Mahomes and the Chiefs as a “once-in-a-lifetime” phenomenon to watch in sports, and it’s not just because of the two-time MVP.

“There’s a few people. There’s Patrick Mahomes. It shows his greatness,” Marshall explained. “It shows Andy Reid’s greatness, and they both need to be in the conversation of the greatest quarterback of all-time and also the greatest coach of all-time, challenging Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

“Another person that we have to include in this conversation since he’s taken over this defense is Steve Spagnuolo. Before he got there in 2018, this defense was dead last. It was one of the worst defenses in the league for a few years. Insert Coach Spags. Now they’re top 10, and they’re doing a phenomenal job, which results in Patrick Mahomes being more of a game manager.

“He’s still spectacular and magical, but he doesn’t need to go out there and put up 40 points. He doesn’t need to go out there … he doesn’t even need Tyreek Hill.”

Allen’s numbers in the last three Bills games against the Chiefs in the playoffs are outstanding: 931 total yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. Yet, he’s lost them all.

Like Marshall said, it’s not a knock on Allen. It’s just clearly showing how great Mahomes and this Chiefs dynasty is it looks to make history against the Philadelphia Eagles.

PUSHING BOUNDARIES WITH REVOLT

Revolt Sports, co-hosted by Brandon Marshall and Kayla Nicole, aims to push boundaries with sports and culture talk in a new partnership with “I Am Athlete.” (Revolt Sports)

Marshall loves watching and discussing the league he played in 13 seasons and other sports and culture with his “I Am Athlete” sports media platform. But he feels he’s going to take it to the next level with the brand’s partnership with Revolt, the Black-owned multimedia platform that announced its launch of Revolt Sports.

Marshall, with media personality and cultural commentator Kayla Nicole as a co-host, will be featured on Revolt Sports Weekly powered by “I am Athlete,” which will feature unscripted discussions with the duo and other celebrity contributors from the top stories in sports to the hottest cultural topics.

The first episode, which featured Marshall’s former UCF teammates, Josh “Beezo” Bellamy and Mike Sims-Walker, discussed the NFL’s conference championship matchups, while also going deep on whether celebrating rapper Big Meech with a welcome back party next month after spending 16 years in jail for drug trafficking and money laundering is right for the community.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“People want the real. They want authentic, and that’s what our culture is,” Marshall explained. “These are the conversations we’ve been having in the locker room since sports were established. It’s the same conversations we have in the salons and barbershops. This is the same conversation we have on the stoops on the block, same conversations.

“’I Am Athlete’ lives at the intersection of hip-hop and sports. So, talking about things that are relevant to the culture — pop culture, whatever you have it — is just a general conversation that is natural to us. That’s what you’ll get from this show every single week. We’ll dive into the hottest topics in sports and also the biggest stories in pop culture.”

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January 30, 2025
49ers’ Deebo Samuel rooting against Patrick Mahomes in Chiefs’ historic pursuit: ‘All the reason to hate’

San Francisco 49ers star wideout Deebo Samuel likely won’t be tuning in to watch the Super Bowl, but he is hoping the Philadelphia Eagles pull off an upset over the Kansas City Chiefs as the defending champs chase history.

Samuel didn’t hide his feelings toward the Chiefs on the latest episode of his podcast “Cleats & Convos.”

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel after the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. (Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images)

“I was rooting for Josh Allen and the Bills honestly, just because I’m a fan of their game and the season that they’ve had,” Chicago Bears wideout Rome Odunze, a guest on this week’s podcast episode, said before admitting that he can’t discredit what Kansas City has achieved.

But Samuel disagreed.

FORMER HEAD OF NFL OFFICIALS DISMISSES CLAIMS LEAGUE FAVORS CHIEFS: ‘I REALLY DON’T’ SEE IT

“They [Chiefs] beat me twice so I got all the reason to hate,” he said, referring to Patrick Mahomes’ first Super Bowl victory over the 49ers in 2020 and their most recent last season.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to the Chiefs for always finding a way to win,” he continued. “We’ve got the Chiefs and the Eagles – you know, I’ve got a love-hate for both, but I got all the love for my brother A.J. Brown over there, so I definitely want to see him win. I definitely don’t want to see Mahomes get the third one. I’m rocking with A.J. and Saquon [Barkley] with this one for sure.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Mahomes and company are pursuing a rare accomplishment when they arrive in New Orleans next week: becoming the only NFL team to ever win three Super Bowls consecutively.

But the Eagles are chasing a history of their own. A win in New Orleans on Feb. 9 would make Jalen Hurts just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to win the Lombardi Trophy after losing his first Super Bowl start.

Of the 36 starting quarterbacks to lose in their Super Bowl debuts, only Len Dawson, Bob Griese and John Elway returned victoriously.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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January 29, 2025
Patrick Mahomes may make ‘argument’ for NFL GOAT with 3rd straight Super Bowl title, legendary kicker says

Adam Vinatieri, who played Super Bowl hero with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and also won a title with the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning, suggested in a recent interview that Patrick Mahomes is making an “argument” for greatest NFL player of all time.

Vinatieri was asked whether Mahomes is close to surpassing Brady, who won six Super Bowl titles with the Patriots and another with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when it comes to the greatest of all time (GOAT) conversation.

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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after defeating the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Jan. 26, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

The former kicker said there’s an “argument” to be made.

“There’s definitely an argument for that. I cringe to say that because I’ve been around some of the best players, best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL and I love Tom and Peyton. I’ve never played with Patrick, but I can only assume if you’re his teammate, you feel exactly the same way about him as I feel about those guys,” he told TMZ Sports.

“I’ve always said, Tom’s got seven Super Bowls, until someone does something that he hasn’t, he’s still the man. But we’re getting to something even Tom, even the great Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick, and that team has not done. If they can pull it off, I dare say you got an argument. You definitely have an argument. And people will say, ‘Oh, you know, Joe Montana, this or that,’ and I don’t think we could ever agree on who is the best ever, but Patrick is right there, and that whole team.”

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game, Jan. 26, 2025. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Vinatieri credited Andy Reid and the organization with how it dealt with a bevy of challenges over the last few seasons to keep the Chiefs in the running for a Super Bowl.

This year alone, Kansas City was hit with injuries at the wide receiver position. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown missed most of the year.

“Andy Reid, one of the greatest coaches. You can’t go seven years straight and three Super Bowls straight without making a damn good game plan week in and week out, dealing with injuries, dealing with free agency and then continue to be able to do it. It’s super impressive no matter who is looking through the hourglass at that,” Vinatieri said.

He added that the Chiefs going to the Super Bowl and potentially becoming the first team to win three consecutive titles is “absolutely crazy.”

“When you have a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes that can pull magic out of a hat over and over and over again, it blows me away,” he said. “In the beginning of the season, they’re winning games but barely. And I’m like, ‘Do they have what it takes again this year?’ Sure enough, it just keeps going and they beat really good teams all the time the way that they do it.

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Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Tubi)

“Can’t say enough good stuff and if they can ‘three-peat,’ the first team to ever do it, I will take my hat off and say, ‘My gosh!’ You wanna talk about dynasties, I’ve been a part of teams they called dynasties, and if they can pull this one off, you’ve got 100% of my respect for sure.”

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 28, 2025
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes apologizes for botched TD celebration

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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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates his touchdown during the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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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Patrick Mahomes scrambles for a touchdown during the AFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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.

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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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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Patrick Mahomes thanks God as Chiefs have chance at NFL history with 3rd straight Super Bowl

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are on the cusp of NFL history, as they cemented yet another trip to the Super Bowl with an AFC Championship win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.

As he drank in another successful campaign that got him back to the “Big Game,” Mahomes had to first tap into his faith during a post-game interview.

“First off, I want to give all glory to God,” he told CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson after the 32-29 thriller that went the Chiefs’ way at home. “Without Him, none of this is possible, and I truly mean that.”

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, reacts against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Mahomes then showed all the love to his team as they gave just as much as he did to make this chance at history happen.

“I’m just so proud of my teammates and how they responded. That was a great football team. I’m just at a loss for words. I’m excited for New Orleans,” he said.

It seems, even three times in a row, the feeling of going to the Super Bowl never gets old for the NFL superstar.

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The Chiefs found themselves going back and forth with the Bills all game long. Mahomes’ second touchdown run of the game was after a crucial fourth-down stop by the defense, yet Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense responded with a fourth-and-goal touchdown of their own in the fourth quarter to tie it at 29 apiece.

Mahomes and the Chiefs were ultimately able to drive deep enough into Bills territory that Harrison Butker made it 32-29 with a field goal, but it was on the defense to get a stop against Allen, who previously beat them in the regular season.

That is exactly what happened on fourth-and-5, as Allen heaved one in the air after a well-timed Chiefs blitz and his tight end, Dalton Kincaid, could not haul it in. Mahomes, then, got first downs thanks to Isiah Pacheco and Samaje Perine, his veteran backs, both moving the chains on short passes to ice the victory.

Those efforts on both sides of the ball are why Mahomes pointed to how much of this was a team effort yet again to reach the Super Bowl.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, celebrates his touchdown with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, #87, during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

“I think I’ve always said it, it’s not about one guy, it’s not about a couple guys,” he said. “It’s about the whole entire team. When we needed the defense to get stops, they got stops. Offense, we made plays. That’s why we’re so special. It’s a team effort, and it’s a team football game.”

As he hoisted yet another AFC title trophy, Mahomes gave a shout-out to the fan base as well for being boisterous as always to help give them the home field advantage before it’s neutral ground at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

“I appreciate Chiefs Kingdom for being out here, being loud and proud. We love you, Chiefs Kingdom.”

It is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which started this Chiefs’ dynasty as they beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, late in the fourth quarter. Mahomes won his second Super Bowl of his career in that game after previously beating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.

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However, the Eagles have a difference maker this time, with Saquon Barkley scoring three touchdowns, along with quarterback Jalen Hurts, in the rout of the Washington Commanders to win the NFC Championship earlier on Sunday.

It is bound to be a thriller in New Orleans, and Mahomes will have the brightest football spotlight on him and the Chiefs yet again as they hope to etch their names in the NFL history books.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
ESPN’s Adam Schefter under fire for using Patrick Mahomes as reference for possible NFL change

ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter faced criticism on Saturday for his report about the league possibly considering using replay assist when it came to quarterback slides.

Schefter wrote on X, “For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way.” The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was criticized for the late slide against the Houston Texans that led to an unnecessary roughness penalty after linebacker Henry To’oTo’o hit him right after he dropped to the ground.

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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes slides against Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o during the AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Jan. 18, 2025. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Amid the controversy over the slide, head referee Clay Martin defended the call. He said there was forcible contact to Mahomes’ “hairline” on the other unnecessary roughness call.

NFL fans were upset with Schefter for using Mahomes as a reference point. Still, Schefter used statistics to back up his point. He compared penalties between the Chiefs and their playoff opponents over the course of their eight-game winning streak.

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Adam Schefter of ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” on the sideline prior to the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Nov. 21, 2022. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)

According to researcher Paul Hembo, Kansas City’s opponents have been flagged for roughing the passer six times compared to zero times for the Chiefs. When it came to unnecessary roughness, Kansas City’s opponents have seen four penalty flags and only one against the Chiefs.

Still, fans were outraged.

Actor Eric Stonestreet, a huge Chiefs fan, called out Schefter on NFL Network.

“He calls out Patrick Mahomes in his tweet like Patrick Mahomes is the only one on the beneficiary end of a roughing the passer call,” he said. “He’s got the biggest reach in all the NFL and here he’s out implying and furthering this conspiracy theory that the league is rigging the game.”

Mahomes was asked about the alleged favoritism during the week.

“I don’t feel that way,” he said. “… I just try to play football at the end of the day. The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as best they can.

“For me, it’s go out there, play hard, try to do whatever I can to win the football game, and then live with the results based on my effort and how I play the game, and that’s what we preach here in Kansas City.”

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Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Tubi)

The Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 26, 2025
Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick supports Trump revoking Fauci’s security detail

Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick gave her seal of approval to President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke Dr. Anthony Fauci’s security detail.

In an Instagram story Friday night, Patrick shared a news story about Fauci losing the security detail with a quote from Trump, adding the caption “Damn right.”

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) requested security for Fauci in 2020 to protect him from threats he received as the top health official and public spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic. But that detail was pulled Thursday night.

“I think, you know, when you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off and, you know, you can’t have them forever,” Trump said of the decision. “We took some off other people, too, but you can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you work for government.”

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Dr. Anthony Fauci (William B. Plowman/NBC via Getty Images)

When asked if he would feel partially responsible if something were to happen to Fauci, Trump said he would not.

“No. You know, they all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security,” Trump said. “Certainly, I would not take responsibility.”

STEPHEN A. SMITH REGRETS BACKING VP HARRIS, ‘OPEN’ TO VOTING GOP: ‘NOT INTERESTED’ IN THE ‘FEAR MONGERING’

Patrick has been one of the more outspoken figures in her sport in support of Trump and Republicans over the last year. She most recently suggested it must be difficult for California residents to accept how their state is managed after the government response to the LA wildfires.

After Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said Wednesday teams have struggled to maintain water pressure on the system, which allows water to be pushed into fire hydrants, Patrick responded with a post on X.

Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick speaks during a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, at Lancaster Airport Nov. 3, 2024, in Lititz, Pa. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

“California has 840 miles of coast line and 3,000 lakes and reservoirs. Why don’t they have enough water to fix any and all fires?” she wrote on X.

“At some point I have to imagine it’s getting difficult for hardcore Cali lovers to accept the state of their state and how it’s managed.”

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She then wrote that it’s time for Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign, using the term “Newscum.”

In October, Patrick confirmed in an interview on “Jesse Watters Primetime” she would be casting her first-ever vote for president in 2024, and it would be for Trump.

“It feels like voting for Donald Trump is like the vote of reason. It’s like the rational, reasonable choice,” Patrick told Watters.

Danica Patrick’s last raced in the 2018 Indy 500. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Patrick added she doesn’t understand why “MAGA,” or Trump’s slogan of “Make America Great Again,” is considered an “insult” to some.

“I feel like, most of all, though, what this country could be if he gets into office, with all the amazing, brilliant people who are supporting him, I feel like it can not only make America great again, but make America greater than it’s ever been,” she said.

In that same interview, she expressed her belief that transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports, which became a key campaign issue for Trump and Republicans in 2024.

“It’s completely wrong,” Patrick said of transgender athletes being allowed to compete as women. “And this is coming from someone who was a woman who was basically in a man’s sport. A man is just different. Their hormones are different. Their body is different.”

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

January 26, 2025
Patrick Mahomes’ grandfather in hospice just days before Chiefs’ AFC title game vs. Bills, his mother says

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.

BRETT FAVRE BACKS PATRICK MAHOMES ON PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT STANCE AMID TRUMP VS. TAYLOR SWIFT CONTROVERSY

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.

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FILE – Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes chews his mouth guard during warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)

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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January 24, 2025
NFL great Champ Bailey sees why some fans think games are ‘rigged’ amid Patrick Mahomes controversy

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NFL legend Champ Bailey was among those glued to the television when he saw the controversial penalties called on the Houston Texans during their playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes drew two penalties that had the entire NFL world talking on Saturday and nearly drew a third as he was accused of flopping out of bounds on the sidelines as the Chiefs drove down the field.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o during the fourth quarter of the AFC divisional round playoff game in Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 18, 2025. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Bailey, a former Denver Broncos and then-Washington Redskins star cornerback, was upset with the penalty flags on the two plays, particularly the one in which Mahomes tried to slide at the last minute before he was met by two Texans defenders. Houston linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was called for unnecessary roughness on the play.

“It’s like everything else. They review everything,” he said. “So, when they’re able to go back and look at these type of plays, like the play I think you’re referring to on [Saturday] when he drops to the ground and then the guys go over him, don’t even hit him, but they appear to. You should be able to review that [on] some level and say, well, that wasn’t as egregious as we thought in real time, because those things change the trajectory of the game. You really change the outcome now.

TOM BRADY SAYS QBs WHO SCRAMBLE ‘SHOULD LOSE THEIR PROTECTION’ AMID PATRICK MAHOMES CONTROVERSY

Champ Bailey partnered with Truelieve. (Truelieve)

“Defenders are hesitant to hit him, but here he is. He’s dancing around, toying around with the guys and making it seem like he’s the runner and then drops down, and now he’s protected like a quarterback. Once you’re outside of the pocket, man, it’s fair game. I don’t know why he’s protected when he’s outside of the pocket the way he was, because if he was the running back and did the same thing, do you think they throw the flag? No, they don’t.”

Bailey, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of his partnership with cannabis company Trulieve, said he’s started to empathize with fans who think NFL games are supposedly “rigged” or favor Mahomes in some way.

All he’s asking for is some consistency.

“So, let’s be consistent in that way, and when you get it wrong, try to get it right,” Bailey said. “I think the more they can get calls right in real time, the integrity increases in the game and people start to believe that the games aren’t fixed.

“I don’t feel like the games are fixed because I was in it, but when I’m sitting here every year – I’m out of the league – the more and more I start believing what the fans are saying about the games being ‘fixed,’ because you see things like this happen over and over, so they just got to figure out a way to get the calls right and live with it.”

Mahomes said Wednesday he didn’t believe officials favored the Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes gets ready before the AFC divisional round playoff game against the Houston Texans. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

“I just try to play football at the end of the day. The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as best they can,” Mahomes said. “For me, it’s go out there, play hard, try to do whatever I can to win the football game and then live with the results based on my effort and how I play the game, and that’s what we preach here in Kansas City.”

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Kansas City meets the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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January 24, 2025