
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce receives a heartfelt message from DC Steve Spagnuolo
The successful NFL career of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was very close to ending after Super Bowl LIX. He returns for a thirteenth season and hears praise from teammates and the coaching staff as he heads into 2025.
During the recent episode of New Heights, the Kelce brothers were joined by Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who shared his appreciation for the Chiefs' legendary tight end.
"I'm not saying this because you're sitting here," Spagnuolo said, "Trav, but you're one of the purest, down-to-earth megastars that anybody could ever meet."
Spagnuolo joined the Chiefs' coaching staff in 2019 and has led a resurgence in the defense, making it one of the best units in the league. He may not coach Kelce directly, but he does practice against him often, building mutual appreciation between the two.
"You're the best," Kelce said. "That means the most coming from you, coach."
Kelce and Spagnuolo aim to unite the team for another trip to the Super Bowl.

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USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
49ers NFL draft rewind: San Francisco bolsters DL with CJ West
San Francisco training camp is in full swing and it's starting to get good. Monday was the 49ers' first padded practice and one of the surprise standouts was fourth-round draft pick CJ West, a defensive tackle out of Indiana. The 6-foot-1, 316-pound defensive tackle impressed in reps against Dominick Puni, Matt Hennessy, Zack Johnson, Drew Moss and Connor Colby on Monday. West began his collegiate career at Kent State, but he finished up as part of the Hoosiers' magical 2024 college football season. West earned honorable mention All-Big Ten status at Indiana as he racked up 42 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup in 13 games and 10 starts during the 2024 campaign. With West starting to generate some headlines, let's examine what West brings to the table in San Francisco and also what the 49ers have said about him thus far. San Francisco 49ers DT CJ West Stats: 150 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 passes defensed in 52 games What the 49ers said after drafting CJ West 49ers general manager John Lynch shared why San Francisco scooped West up with the 113th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. "Adding another guy to the mix in CJ. We had some departures this offseason, and we felt it was important to restock, and not just with guys, we wanted to put guys that fit our vision for what we want that room to be. CJ, I think, if we're talking about him, is stout, sturdy, but also has the quickness and strength to play in the other team's backfield. Makes a lot of splash plays in the other team's backfield. "I had the chance to watch him live this year when we went back to Ohio State, Indiana was there, made an impression in that game. But more so his film, his body of work has really stood out, and we just felt was a really good fit. Another add to the D-line we're building," Lynch said. CJ West comments on joining the 49ers After West learned his draft fate, he was asked if he envisioned himself as a nose tackle or a three-technique. "I'm multiple. I can do it everywhere. But my bread and butter is at the one-technique. That's where I just abuse centers, punch them in the face, be as violent as possible, just creating havoc down there in the middle," West said. The Hoosier product also shared which NFL defensive tackles he's modeled his game after. "Actually, he used to play for the 49ers. Akiem Hicks is one of the guys that I watched a ton growing up, he played for the Bears as well. His violence at the one-tech, the things he used to do, just taking on blocks. And I watched a lot of Maliek Collins as well, he just departed from the 49ers not too long ago. "He kind of, see his pass-rush game, he had a nasty spin move that he used to do. And just kind of mimic those things and work on that as this draft process has been going on. And I also watch a lot of Grady Jarrett. Of course, Aaron Donald, everybody watches Aaron Donald, one of the greatest of all time. But yeah, I watch a lot of players," West said. West revisited his interactions with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek throughout the draft process. "Oh, it was great. They're coaches that really know what they're doing and they also have passion for the game. You could just see it in the way they talk. When I was on the phone with them, you just see it in the way they talk, the way they coach. "And that's the type of coaching style that I love. That's the type of coaching I want to be in. And that's the program and culture that I want to be in as well. So, I'm excited to get to work. I can't wait," West said. 49ers training camp update After the 49ers' first padded practice, Saleh commented on his early impressions of West. "Yeah. I mean, he's like a little fire hydrant, right? But, he's powerful. He's got heavy hands. He's going to be fine. He's like a lot of rookies, there are so many things that they're learning, especially on the interior of the D-Line where it's a game within a game. "You know, the first thing they learn is pocket push and then they learn how to capture an edge and rush from there. I wasn't there. I heard he did a really nice job over there, but I'm excited to get to the tape to see it," Saleh said. More 49ers: Return to training camp vital for 49ers potential breakout star


USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 3 — Justin Herbert
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: No. 25 — Bucky Irving No. 24 — TJ Ward No. 23 — Tez Johnson No. 22 — Troy Dye No. 21 — Samie Parker No. 20 — Patrick Chung No. 19 — Kayvon Thibodeaux No. 18 — Troy Franklin No. 17 — Nick Reed No. 16 — Jairus Byrd No. 15 — Jeff Maehl No. 14 — Walter Thurmond III No. 13 — Bo Nix No. 12 — Penei Sewell No. 11 — DeForest Buckner No. 10 — Joey Harrington No. 9 — Dennis Dixon No. 8 — Jonathan Stewart No. 7 — De'Anthony Thomas No. 6 — Kenjon Barner No. 5 — Haloti Ngata No. 4 — Royce Freeman Today, let's continue with No. 3 — the Hometown Hero, Justin Herbert Player Overview A carousel of elite quarterbacks has passed through Eugene over the past couple of decades, but few have had as significant an impact as Justin Herbert. He didn't post the most incredible statistics from season to season, but the totality of his collegiate career is what made him so special to the Ducks. In 2016, Herbert became the first true freshman to start for Oregon in nearly 30 years, taking over as one of the lone bright spots on one of the worst Ducks teams of the century. He would help improve the team's record in each of his four years on his way to establishing himself as an Oregon legend, winning a Rose Bowl before going to the NFL and becoming one of the best passers in the league. Justin Herbert's Career Stats 44 Games - 10,541, 95 TD, 23 INT Justin Herbert's Single Best Season 2019 – 14 Games, 3,471 yards, 32 TD, 6 INT All the obstacles Herbert faced through his first three years culminated in a masterpiece of a senior season. Not only did he have the best statistical season of his career, but he also led the Ducks to a 12-2 record and a thrilling one-point victory in the Rose Bowl over the Wisconsin Badgers. Herbert's arm talent and efficiency in the passing game during this season cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in Oregon history. Justin Herbert's Historical Records Justin Herbert NFL Draft Herbert's senior season solidified his status as one of the top quarterbacks in the class, being picked No. 6 overall in the 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert's NFL Success His career began at a feverish pace, becoming one of the fastest quarterbacks in NFL history to reach 100 passing touchdowns and 10,000 yards. His stats have deflated in the past couple years due to a change in offensive philosophy, but Herbert is still widely viewed as one of the most talented passers of this era. He hasn't been able to find his footing in the playoffs just yet, but at just 27 years old, the Chargers star has ample time to improve his already impressive legacy. Justin Herbert's Lasting Legacy There are some quarterbacks in Oregon's history with better individual seasons than Herbert, but very few have chiseled out the complete body of work that he has. The hometown hero started in each of his four years with the Ducks and left Eugene as arguably the most accomplished quarterback to play there. Being near the top of multiple all-time Oregon statistical categories and two bowl game wins makes Herbert one of the most essential Ducks in program history, and his connection to the town, growing up in Eugene and going to Sheldon High School, makes his case as one of the greats even stronger. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.


New York Post
9 minutes ago
- New York Post
NYC gunman Shane Tamura referenced ex-NFL player Terry Long — who had CTE — in note slamming league
The crazed gunman behind the deadly Manhattan shooting left behind a note referencing former NFL star Terry Long — the Pittsburgh Steelers player who was diagnosed with CTE after downing antifreeze to kill himself, sources said. Shane Tamura, 27, killed an NYPD officer and three other people on Monday evening when he stormed the Midtown skyscraper that's home to the football league's headquarters. In the wake of the bloodshed, cops discovered a rambling note where Tamura mentioned the ex-NFL star and claimed that he, too, suffered from CTE – a brain injury linked to head trauma. Advertisement 4 Terry Long played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Getty Images 4 Shane Tamura played football in high school and was a standout player. DailyNews PrepSports 'Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,' the note stated, according to sources. 4 Gunman Shane Tamura seen toting a rifle before shooting and killing four people in Midtown on Monday, July 28, 2025. Obtained by NY Post Advertisement 'You can't go against the NFL, they'll squash you.' 4 Running back Tim Worley #38 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the football as guard Terry Long #74 and tight end Mike Mularkey. Getty Images 'Please study brain for CTE. I'm sorry. The league knowingly concealed the dangers to our brains to maximize profits. They failed us.' Long, who was an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 80s, was diagnosed with CTE after he killed himself in 2005 by downing antifreeze.