Denver Broncos have announced their decision to release quarterback Russell Wilson, bringing an end to a hugely disappointing two-year stint.

Wilson was acquired in a high-profile trade from Seattle Seahawks but the Broncos won just 11 of the 30 games he started, and he was benched for the last two games of the 2023 campaign.

Wilson will be released after the new league season begins on March 13.

The Broncos said in a statement: “We spoke with Russell Wilson today to inform him of his release after the start of the league year.

“On behalf of the Broncos, we thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community while wishing him the best as he continues his career.

“As we move forward, we are focused on building the strongest team possible for the 2024 season and beyond.

“We are excited to improve this off-season and will have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency.”

Mike Evans is staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after all.

The star wide receiver has agreed to a two-year, $52million contract with the Buccaneers, according to multiple reports.

The deal, which includes $35million guaranteed, was reported Monday, just days after it was announced Evans was going to test free agency.

Instead, he will continue his career with the Buccaneers - the team he has been with since it selected him seventh overall in the 2014 NFL draft.

A five-time Pro Bowler, Evans is the only player in NFL history to begin his pro career with 10 consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus yards receiving.

Playing in all 17 games in 2023, the 30-year-old tied the Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill for the NFL lead in touchdown receptions with 13, while catching 79 passes for 1,255 yards - the third highest of his career.

He is Tampa Bay's franchise leader in receptions (762), receiving yards (11,680) and TD catches (94).

The Bucs' next order of business is re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield - a move that is expected to get done this off-season.

Mayfield and Evans helped Tampa Bay capture last season's NFC South title and pull off an upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles in a wild-card game.

The season ultimately ended with a loss to the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.

In the two play-off games, Evans had 11 receptions for 195 yards with one TD.

One person has died and more than 20 others have been injured after shots were fired near the scene of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade.

A video on social media showed armed officers rush into Union Station on a day supporters gathered near the building at the end of the parade route to celebrate Sunday’s victory with the team’s players and staff.

The Kansas City Police Department said at least 22 people suffered gunshot wounds, including the fatally injured victim, and confirmed three people had been taken into custody.

Radio Station KKFI said on social media that one of their presenters, DJ Lisa Lopez, was killed in the shooting.

KKFI said in a statement: “Our hearts and prayers are with her family. This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community.”

Kansas City Police Department chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference: “At the conclusion of the Chiefs’ rally today, there were shots fired on the west side of Union Station.

“Immediately, officers responded to the area, took two people into custody and also immediately rendered life-sustaining aid to those victims.”

At a later briefing, she added: “We have confirmed there is one deceased person. Our gunshot total has went up to 22.

“Right now, we’re still working on the total number of victims. This is still an active investigation.

“We do have three persons detained and under investigation for today’s incident.

“Our investigators are working with all of the surviving victims to connect them with loved ones. We are also working to identify our deceased victim so we can notify their family as soon as possible.”

The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed their players, coaches and staff were all safe and accounted for.

“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the team said in a statement.

“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City.

“We are in close communication with the Mayor’s office as well as the Kansas City Police Department.

“At this time, we have confirmed that all of our players, coaches, staff and their families are safe and accounted for.

“We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”

Kansas City players and staff were celebrating beating the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas on Sunday to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 19 years.

Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes took to social media, saying: “Praying for Kansas City.”

Travis Kelce wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me.”

Linebacker Drue Tranquill posted: “Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act. Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing.”

Offensive lineman Trey Smith thanked first responders, adding: “You’re the ones who should be celebrated today.”

A statement from the NFL read: “We are deeply saddened by the senseless shooting that occurred today near the end of the rally in Kansas City for the Chiefs. Our thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected.

“We are grateful for the quick and thorough response of law enforcement and emergency personnel.”

Earlier, the city had been in party mode as Super Bowl MVP Mahomes and team-mate Travis Kelce took centre stage on a platform near Union Station.

Mahomes had told a cheering crowd the Chiefs were going for a “three-peat” next season while Kelce led the supporters in some chanting.

One person has died and more than 20 others have been injured after shots were fired near the scene of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade.

A video on social media showed armed officers rush into Union Station on a day supporters gathered near the building at the end of the parade route to celebrate Sunday’s victory with the team’s players and staff.

The Kansas City Police Department said at least 22 people suffered gunshot wounds, including the fatally injured victim, and confirmed three people had been taken into custody.

Kansas City Police Department chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference: “At the conclusion of the Chiefs’ rally today, there were shots fired on the west side of Union Station.

“Immediately, officers responded to the area, took two people into custody and also immediately rendered life-sustaining aid to those victims.”

At a later briefing, she added: “We have confirmed there is one deceased person. Our gunshot total has went up to 22.

“Right now, we’re still working on the total number of victims. This is still an active investigation.

“We do have three persons detained and under investigation for today’s incident.

“Our investigators are working with all of the surviving victims to connect them with loved ones. We are also working to identify our deceased victim so we can notify their family as soon as possible.”

The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed their players, coaches and staff were all safe and accounted for.

“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the team said in a statement.

“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City.

“We are in close communication with the Mayor’s office as well as the Kansas City Police Department.

“At this time, we have confirmed that all of our players, coaches, staff and their families are safe and accounted for.

“We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”

Kansas City players and staff were celebrating beating the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas on Sunday to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 19 years.

Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes took to social media, saying: “Praying for Kansas City.”

Linebacker Drue Tranquill posted: “Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act. Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing.”

Offensive lineman Trey Smith thanked first responders, adding: “You’re the ones who should be celebrated today.”

A statement from the NFL read: “We are deeply saddened by the senseless shooting that occurred today near the end of the rally in Kansas City for the Chiefs. Our thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected.

“We are grateful for the quick and thorough response of law enforcement and emergency personnel.”

Earlier, the city had been in party mode as Super Bowl MVP Mahomes and team-mate Travis Kelce took centre stage on a platform near Union Station.

Mahomes had told a cheering crowd the Chiefs were going for a “three-peat” next season while Kelce led the supporters in some chanting.

One person has died and there are multiple injuries after shots were fired near the scene of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade.

A video on social media showed armed officers rush into Union Station on a day supporters gathered near the building at the end of the NFL side’s parade route.

The Kansas City Police Department confirmed that one person had died and two armed people had been taken into custody following the incident.

Kansas City Police Department chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference: “At the conclusion of the Chiefs’ rally today, there were shots fired on the west side of Union Station.

“Immediately, officers responded to the area, took two people into custody and also immediately rendered life-sustaining aid to those victims.

“We’re still gathering information on the number and the status of victims. We know that one of the victims is deceased.

“Right now, we have up to 10 to 15 injured. We do not have an exact number of people who were victims of a gunshot wound.

During the press conference, it was announced that the Kansas City Chiefs had confirmed all their players, coaches and staff were safe and accounted for.

Gun shots were fired near the parade route where the Chiefs celebrated their latest Super Bowl title in downtown Kansas City on Wednesday.

Minutes after the conclusion of the rally, one person was shot and nine were injured, according to multiple reports.

The Kansas City Police said shots were fired near Union Station, where players had just addressed fans moments earlier.

The KC Police also said two armed individuals were taken into custody.

City officials estimated that around 1 million people gathered in Kansas City to celebrate the Chiefs' third Super Bowl title in the last five seasons.

Three days after their come-from-behind 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers, Chiefs players and coaches rode on double-decker buses along the parade route as confetti cannons exploded and jubilant fans screamed and applauded.

Gun shots were fired near the parade route where the Chiefs celebrated their latest Super Bowl title in downtown Kansas City on Wednesday.

Minutes after the conclusion of the rally, eight to 10 people were injured, according to multiple reports.

The Kansas City Police said shots were fired near Union Station, where players had just addressed fans moments earlier.

The KC Police also said two armed individuals were taken into custody.

City officials estimated that around 1 million people gathered in Kansas City to celebrate the Chiefs' third Super Bowl title in the last five seasons.

Three days after their come-from-behind 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers, Chiefs players and coaches rode on double-decker buses along the parade route as confetti cannons exploded and jubilant fans screamed and applauded.

Kansas City police said multiple people were struck after shots were fired as the Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl success in front of a large crowd.

A video on social media showed armed officers rush into Union Station on a day supporters gathered near the building at the end of the NFL side’s parade route.

The Kansas City Police Department confirmed two armed people had been taken into custody following the incident.

A statement said: “Shots have been fired around Union Station. Please leave the area.

“Shots were fired west of Union Station near the garage and multiple people were struck. We took two armed people into custody for more investigation.

“Anyone nearby needs to leave the area as quickly and safely as possible to facilitate treatment of the shooting victims. Please avoid the Union Station parking garage area to allow first responders through.”

Kansas City Chiefs players and staff were celebrating beating the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas on Sunday to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 19 years.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce admits his outburst toward coach Andy Reid during the Super Bowl on Sunday was “unacceptable”.

Kelce got into Reid’s face and shouted at the 65-year-old in the first quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers, which the Chiefs went on to win to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 19 years.

Reid was knocked off balance but made little of the incident and, when Patrick Mahomes threw the match-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr to secure a 25-22 overtime success, all was forgotten.

Kelce’s high-profile relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift meant there was even greater focus on him heading into the Super Bowl.

The 34-year-old says he was unhappy with being taken off, jokingly telling ESPN: “I was just telling him how much I love him.”

Kelce grew frustrated after Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled the ball from eight yards out while he was off the field.

On his New Heights podcast alongside brother Jason, he added: “It’s definitely unacceptable and I immediately wished I could have taken it back. Coach Reid actually came right up to me after that and didn’t even have harsh words for me.

“I’m a passionate guy. I love coach Reid. He knows how much I love to play for him, how much I love to be a product of his coaching career.

“It came in a moment when we weren’t playing very well and I wasn’t playing very well.”

Co-host Jason, who plays for Philadelphia Eagles, said: “The yelling in his face, too, was over the top.”

The Chiefs celebrated their successive Super Bowl crowns with a trophy parade in Kansas City on Wednesday.

Star quarter-back Patrick Mahomes has already turned his focus to winning a hat-trick of successive Super Bowls.

“We’re going for that three-peat. Don’t get it twisted, we’re doing it. Three times, first time in NFL history. We’re doing it,” Mahomes told the crowd.

Louis Rees-Zammit says his American Football dream is “alive” after starting out on the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) following his switch from rugby union.

The Gloucester, Wales and British and Irish Lions wing stunned the world of rugby last month by quitting the sport in an attempt to secure a contract with an NFL team in 2024.

Rees-Zammit has joined the NFL’s intensive 10-week IPP programme in Florida, where he has been training as a wide receiver while also doing some running back drills.

“There’s a lot of transferable skills over from rugby,” Rees-Zammit, 23, told BBC Wales’ Scrum V programme.

“I’m absolutely loving training. My pursuit to be in the NFL is alive and I’m excited to see what the next 10 weeks holds.

“It’s tough to get your head around it a little bit at the start but, as with everything, you get used to it.

“The vision out of the sides (of the helmet) kind of effects things. But I’m getting used to it now and I’ll see what happens.”

Rees-Zammit says 10 international players have joined the IPP, with a pro day held at the end of the programme to determine whether individuals are good enough to make the NFL grade.

He said: “You basically come here and work the game of football on and off the field, in the classroom and training six days a week.

“Ten weeks of intense training to see if your dream becomes a reality.

“It was the hardest decision of my life (to leave rugby), but it was always something I wanted to do, since a young age, and I thought it was the right time.

“If it works out, I have 10 years to try to play the sport I have loved growing up watching or I can come back to rugby and play the sport I love playing.”

Wales have lost their opening two Guinness Six Nations games in Rees-Zammit’s absence, narrow 27-26 and 16-14 defeats to Scotland and England respectively.

“I was jealous of the boys playing and it was in my mind that I was pretty gutted I did not play,” Rees-Zammit said of Wales’ defeat at Twickenham on Saturday.

“The boys put a shift in and just managed to lose, which was tough. They gave it their all.

“Gats (Warren Gatland, Wales head coach) was unbelievable with me when I told him of my decision.

“He asked if it (American Football) did not work what I would be doing and I said obviously I would be coming back to rugby.”

The Kansas City Chiefs were crowned back-to-back Super Bowl champions after a 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best images from the showpiece event.

Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce dedicated their Super Bowl comeback win to head coach Andy Reid after earlier barging into the 65-year-old and shouting in his face.

Kelce, whose high-profile relationship with pop star Taylor Swift meant there was even greater focus on him and the game, was unhappy about not being on the field in the first quarter when Isiah Pacheco fumbled the ball with the Chiefs eight yards out and looking for their first touchdown.

Reid was knocked off balance but made little of the incident and, when Patrick Mahomes threw the match-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr to secure a 25-22 overtime win, all was forgotten.

“Oh you guys saw that?” Kelce told CBS when asked about it immediately after the game.

“I’m going to keep that between us unless my mic’d up tells the world but I was just telling him how much I love him.”

Speaking on ESPN SportsCenter Kelce, who shared a kiss on the pitch with Swift after she flew in from her Eras Tour show in Tokyo the day before, added: “Man, I was fired up — I was fired up that we weren’t hitting on all cylinders.

“I had to give ‘Big Red’ a love tap and let him know that we were all here fighting for him no matter what. I just had to tell him I loved him real quick.

“I put so much trust in him and how he goes about being a head coach, as a leader — he’s one of the best leaders in the game.

“I can’t thank him enough for giving me opportunities year in, year out. This third one, this second one back-to-back, this one’s for him, no doubt.”

Talking to reporters Kelce added: “I’ve got the greatest coach this game has ever seen.

“He’s helped me a lot with channelling that emotion, channelling that passion and I owe my entire career to that guy and being able to control how emotional I get. I just love him.”

The experienced Reid, who won his third Super Bowl title, played down the incident telling ESPN: “He came over and gave me a hug, said ‘Sorry about that”.

He just wants to be on the field and he wants to play. There’s nobody I get better than I get him. He’s a competitive kid, and he loves to play. He makes me feel young.”

In his post-match press conference the head coach added: “He caught me off-balance – he tested that hip out. Normally I get him a little bit but I didn’t have any feet under me.

“As much as he bumps into me, I get after him. We understand that. He just caught me off balance.”

Three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes has labelled Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid the “best of all time” and said he will be back to attempt a Super Bowl three-peat next year.

Mahomes led his team to a 25-22 victory in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, collecting his third ring, after he threw the match-winning touchdown to Mecole Hardman Jr in overtime.

After the game he thanked his coach who he said “knows when to call those plays at the right time”.

Mahomes said: “He’s one of the best coaches of all time, I believe he is the best coach of all time.

“I know he didn’t have the trophies yet, and I have a lot of respect for some of those great coaches, but the way he is able to navigate every single team he has, continue to have success no matter where he is at.

“For me, he brings out the best in me because he lets me be me. He doesn’t try to make me anyone else, I don’t think I would be the quarterback that I am if I didn’t have coach Reid being my head coach.”

Mahomes said he will celebrate and then “do whatever I can to be back in this game next year”.

“I think Tom (Brady) said it best, once you win that championship and you have those parades and you get those rings, you’re not the champ anymore.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said going back-to-back was “surreal”.

“I got asked so many times it is a dynasty? I don’t know what a dynasty is,” he said.

“But it’s a great win because I know hard it is to do, and then how hard the season was, the ups and downs of the season, and how proud I am of the guys for hanging with each other, staying positive with each other.

“They’re passionate players and I love that.”

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said the team is “hurting”.

“If I am going to lose with a group of guys, I’d do it with those guys anytime and we’ll take some time, we’ll get over this and come back next year ready to go.

“That was the toughest defence we have been against this year, we knew it going into the game, that is a good group. We had our chances and needed to score a couple of touchdowns and we didn’t but I was happy with (quarterback) Brock (Purdy).”

The Kansas City Chiefs have become back-to-back Super Bowl winners for the first time in 20 years with a 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.

Needing a field goal to extend the game or a touchdown to win, Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes orchestrated the match-winning drive to end the game with a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr.

The 49ers were leading by three in overtime after they opted for a field goal to go ahead 22-19, but were unable to get the decisive stop.

It was the second time in NFL history a Super Bowl went to overtime and the first post-season game decided under the league’s new overtime rules.

Mahomes finished with 333 throwing yards, two touchdowns and 66 running yards, while 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards with one touchdown.

The only points in the first quarter came through kicker Jake Moody, who made Super Bowl history with the longest made field goal at 55 yards.

Disaster struck 49ers’ linebacker Dre Greenlaw early in the second quarter when he went down with a suspected Achilles injury while running onto the field and was immediately ruled out of the game.

But not long after, a special trick-play led to the first touchdown of the game, with Purdy passing across field to wide-receiver Jauan Jennings before he threw a pass to Christian McCaffrey who ran through to the endzone untouched.

The 49ers restricted Travis Kelce to just one touch for one yard in the first half and sacked Mahomes twice, with the 49ers ahead 10-3 at halftime.

Alicia Keys, Lil John and Ludacris joined Usher during the half-time performance, while Taylor Swift was among celebrities including Blake Lively, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Jay Z watching from the stands.

As play resumed, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker broke Moody’s Super Bowl record with a 57-yard field goal before a fumble error gave the Chiefs a huge chance for their first touchdown.

Mahomes found wide-receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling with a 16-yard touchdown pass to take the lead for the first time in the game late in the third quarter.

However the 49ers hit back – with Purdy finding Jennings this time to score his own touchdown – however the bonus point was blocked, giving the 49ers a three-point lead with 11 minutes left.

A field goal to Butker tied the game once again, before Moody struck back to give the 49ers the lead again with less than two minutes left.

However, Butker finished regulation time with a field goal with six seconds left to tie the game 19-19.

Patrick Mahomes has Tom Brady in his sights on the eve of his bid to win a third Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is preparing to star in his fourth Super Bowl in six seasons in Sunday’s clash against the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.

Brady’s record seven Super Bowl titles saw him retire from NFL as the game’s undisputed greatest of all time.

But Mahomes, 28, has the chance to move to within four titles of Brady, who retired at the age of 45.

“If you ask me that question (of emulating Brady) in 15 years, I’ll see if I can get close to seven,” said Mahomes in a press conference to preview Sunday’s blockbuster match. “But seven does seem like a long way away.

“I have won only two Super Bowls so there are a couple of other guys in front of me before I even get close to chasing Tom.

“All you can do is try to be your best in every single game, play my best football, and hopefully my best football will be good enough to win this third Super Bowl.

“And then it is about doing it next year, and the year after that, and at the end of my career, hopefully I can say I am close to Tom.”

Mahomes’ Chiefs are out to become the first side to win consecutive NFL titles since Brady’s New England Patriots achieved the feat 19 years ago.

Mahomes continued: “I got close to winning back-to-back championships a couple of years ago and fell short in pretty disappointing fashion.

“I was blessed to get to two Super Bowls very early in my career, and we have had to work hard to get back here.

“So to be back on this stage, have that opportunity, and maximise that moment is important because not a lot of teams have been able to do it in the past.”