Two of the biggest NFL-related storylines of the winter have involved former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft not being selected for this year’s Hall of Fame class.

Retired tight end and future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski earned the first three Super Bowl rings of his career while featuring for the Patriots during the franchise’s dynastic run of the 2000s. During one of his Super Bowl LX Radio Row stops on Wednesday, Gronkowski said he thinks it is “ridiculous” that Belichick won’t be a Hall of Famer before next year at the earliest.

“Coach Belichick needs to be in the Hall of Fame, and it needed to be a first ballot,” Gronkowski explained, per Madison Williams of Sports Illustrated. “Now there’s no such thing as a first-ballot Hall of Fame coach. No other coach ever in history should go first-ballot. There’s a guy out there, Andy Reid, but he can’t go first-ballot now because Coach Belichick wasn’t first ballot.”

Asked about whether there had been any conversations between the Chiefs and his representation about a new contract, Thornton deferred to his agents.

“I think that’s between like them and my agents,” Thornton said.

Anderson then reframed the question, asking whether Thornton would like to return to the Chiefs. Naturally, after enjoying the most successful season of his career in K.C., Thornton wants to be back in 2026. However, the Chiefs seem to have some work to do to sell him on that.

“Definitely want to be back to Kansas City,” Thornton said. “But, you know, I mean, I want to —wherever I go — I want to have my fair share of targets go out there and contribute and play at a high level.”

While Thornton clarified that he felt he got his fair share of work in Kansas City, the reality paints a different picture. After playing 72% or more of the offensive snaps in the first three weeks of the season, Thornton averaged just 29% of the offensive snaps in the 11 ensuing games. With that, his targets and offensive contributions began to fade while his special teams contributions started to go up. 13 of his 19 catches on the season came in the first five weeks. 272 of his 438 yards and all three of his touchdown grabs also came in those first five games.

First Chiefs Touchdown; Oct. 11, 2009

Acquired from the Patriots in an offseason trade, Vrabel and the Chiefs got off to a rough start in his first season. But after four losses, head coach Todd Haley caught the Cowboys off guard, inserting Vrabel as a tight end.

With both teams in their 1960s throwbacks, the Chiefs wearing their red Dallas Texans threads, Vrabel got a free release on a goal-to-go snap, ran a quick out route toward the pylon, and caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cassel.

However, after a Dwayne Bowe touchdown knotted the game in the final minute of regulation, Tony Romo hit Miles Austin on a 60-yard touchdown in overtime to give Dallas a 26-20 win.

Not much is known about the upcoming nuptials between Kelce and Swift, but the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end has now weighed in on what can be expected.

The lovebirds started dating in the summer of 2023 and got engaged in an intimate manner in August of last year.

They’ve remained low-key on their wedding plans ever since then as the football star endured a disappointing season with the Chiefs.

While entering the venue for his “New Heights” podcast’s Super Bowl party on Wednesday, Kelce implied that there would be a massive amount of beer at his and Swift’s wedding after being asked by a TMZ reporter, “How many kegs of Garage Beer will be at that reception?”

In response, he said, “Man, I can’t even count that high.”

Kelce and his brother, Jason, co-own the brand, Garage Beer, which has taken the liquor world by storm since its release.

Around the NFL

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford edged New England Patriots counterpart Drake Maye to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award Thursday night, then made news in his acceptance speech by announcing he’ll return next season.

Stafford received 24-of-50 first-place votes and finished with 366 points. Maye got 23 first-place votes and finished with 361 points. It was the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.

In his 17th NFL season, the 37-year-old Stafford became the oldest player in NFL history at the time of his first MVP. He also became the third-oldest player to win MVP, behind Tom Brady (2017) and Aaron Rodgers (2021).

SAN FRANCISCO — The 49ers will be the Los Angeles Rams’ opponent for the first NFL regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, during the 2026 season.

The announcement was made Thursday by Australia Zoo’s Robert Irwin on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

The Rams were announced as the host team last February, but their opponent wasn’t revealed until Thursday. The date and time are still to be determined, but the NFC West division rivals will play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The game, which is being played in partnership with the Victorian State Government and Visit Victoria, is part of what will be an NFL-record nine international games scheduled for 2026.

RIO DE JANEIRO — The National Football League today announced the Dallas Cowboys will be one of the participating teams for the 2026 NFL Rio game to be played at the Maracanã Stadium.

The game in Rio will be part of an NFL record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums.

“We are proud to welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Brazil for the first‑ever NFL game in Rio de Janeiro,” said NFL Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez. “Introducing one of the league’s most iconic teams to the Maracanã Stadium marks a powerful milestone in the continued growth of the sport worldwide. Bringing a regular-season game to Rio strengthens our connection to a vibrant and passionate football community and underscores our long‑term commitment to the market.”

Jones played arguably some of the best football of his career last season, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. The quarterback told NFL Network’s The Insiders that it was in some ways the career reset he needed, working with Kyle Shanahan and a talented 49ers offense for a team in contention.

“Getting back to having fun and being around a group of guys that I really mesh well with, coaches and players,” Jones said Wednesday. “I felt like it was very laid back, but we put in a lot of work in OTAs. Just for them to take me under their wing and for me to learn from all the Hall of Fame players we have, it was awesome.

“Kyle has been great for me. We’re really on the same … I call it ‘wi-fi.’ We’re just a really good match.”

But Jones also understands that his best chance to start might be with another team. He’s under contract for the 2026 season with the 49ers, having signed a two-year contract last year, and said he’d be “really excited” to spend next season in San Francisco, even if there might be starting jobs open elsewhere.

“Honestly, it’s a business. You know how this goes,” Jones said. “I’ve proven I can be a starter. I’ve proven I can be a starter in multiple different spots. I have 50-plus starts or whatever. I know how to do it, but it’s also a business. I understand both sides of it.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — While the Kansas City Chiefs may not be in the Super Bowl this year, there’s still some local ties.

Mason Richman was a gentle giant at Blue Valley High School. Following a college career at Iowa, he trained to make the NFL.

“It was a very unexpected team, very unexpected, seventh round, but it’s been phenomenal and he’s really embraced it,” Kathy Richman-Wallace said about her son making the NFL.

“Chances are so minute, and for it to all work out and for him to be in the situation he’s in, with Seattle, the organization, you can’t say enough, but here we are. Somehow,” John Richman, Mason’s dad said. “A year ago at this time, we didn’t know if he was going to get drafted or make the team.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Among the players slated for unrestricted free agency this offseason, there will be a few that the Kansas City Chiefs will be ready to call when rounding out the roster. Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson believes he is one of them.

In a phone interview with Robert Niedzwiecki of The Winchester Star, Johnson sounded confident that Kansas City would welcome his return as free agency plays out.

Johnson spent the majority of the 2025 season on the Reserve/Injured list due to a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason. He was activated to the 53-man roster leading into the Christmas game against the Denver Broncos, but only played special teams in that game and the Week 18 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.