NFL teams and players have joined in with other Americans on social media to celebrate the Fourth of July; the USA’s Independence Day. Here is a collection of some Independence Day posts on social media from around the league:

The Kansas City Chiefs are making a movie in 2024 with Hallmark, and Patrick Mahomes will not be headlining. Kansas City and Hallmark are collaborating with the NFL and Skydance Sports to produce a holiday movie. Tyler Hynes, Hunter King and Ed Begley Jr. will star in the Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. The film is slated to premier on the Hallmark Channel this winter during the 15th annual Countdown to Christmas programming event. “We are honoured to partner with Hallmark on a project as unique as this,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said in a statement. “As a club, we pride ourselves on exploring new ways to grow our brand, as well as connect with new audiences. This partnership unites two passionate fan bases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season.” Production will start in July and film in Kansas City, Missouri, locations, including GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (the Chiefs’ home stadium). “With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organisations,” Hallmark chief brand officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans that define Kansas City, all wrapped up in the comforting and uplifting Hallmark way. “ While the Chiefs are on their quest to three-peat, Kansas City fans may see the Lombardi Trophy or may two later this winter.

Tom Brady had a dedicated approach to football during his career in the NFL that was well documented.  During an interview with “The Pivot’’ podcast, the seven-time Super Bowl winner shared some regret about his fierce method. “What I would have changed was, ‘OK, there’s part of me that still loves …’ You see these young players. I see, like, Patrick [Mahomes] out there at quarterback, laughing, having fun,” Brady told former NFL players and current podcast co-hosts Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder in May.  “I’m like, ‘I used to be like that!’ What the hell happened to me? I just got too serious.” Brady appeared to have a serious and debatedly robotic approach that the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick had during the franchise’s unprecedented era of success. Whenever Brady got emotional, he would get in his teammates’ faces to yell at them on the sideline or smash a table. But he got less uptight when he left the Patriots to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. Brady announced that he would retire from the NFL “for good’’ after the 2022 season. The NFL icon is now gearing up to join the broadcasting booth. He, and NFL on FOX play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt, will call the Dallas Cowboys Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns on September 8th. The game will mark his debut as FOX Sports’ lead NFL analyst. Brady also stepped into the broadcast booth during last month’s UFL Championship match. As Brady prepares for the next step in his career, he also reflected on the things he could have done differently. “You just learn from it, and go, ‘OK, now the next phase of life, enjoy it a little more,’” Brady said. He also talked about the challenges he faced during the early years of his career. “So much [of], I think, the early part of my career was trying to fulfil people’s new expectations of me and me still being the 14-year-old boy that wanted to fit in. I was like, ‘I just want to go to the field and play,’” Brady said. “Now, there were all these other things to choose from. “Next thing you know, you’re overwhelmed because you didn’t sleep, you didn’t eat right, you were partying. I’m like, ‘I don’t really like the way I’m feeling.’” Brady had an eventful few months leading up to his highly awaited transition to broadcasting. New England held a star-packed Hall of Fame induction ceremony for him at Gillette Stadium in June.

The Dallas Cowboys pursue their first Super Bowl title since 1995 and like any other team that sees itself as a championship contender, they had to make some tough choices about what to do as some of their key players’ contracts come to an end. This decision somehow involves Micah Parsons. Quarterback Dak Prescott is possibly the most pressing case, as the league’s leader in touchdown passes in 2023 is entering the last year of his deal in 2023. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb hopes to reset the market for his spot, but Dallas have not clarified his future too with free agency looming. Parsons is another key player who will need a new contract with the Cowboys, but he may be disheartened to learn that he will need to be a bit patient. Cowboys safety Malik Hooker recently sat with ex Dallas receiver Keyshawn Johnson on FOX Sports’ “All Facts No Break.” He told Johnson that if he were Jerry Jones, he would rather extend Lamb and Prescott’s contracts, before coming to two-time All-Pro Parson’s deal. “I feel like CeeDee should be paid first for the simple fact of what he does for us, how valuable he is for us, the leader he is for us as a team,” Hooker said in comments that could upset Prescott as well as Parsons. Lamb, who delivered 12 touchdowns last year, could become a free agent after the 2024 campaign if Dallas does not give him a contract. Parsons has a little time to wait after the Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. His contract expires after 2025, and Hooker’s comment may just be a reflection of this reality. However, Parsons could use Hooker’s comments as motivation in 2024. The edge rusher finished second or third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in all of his three NFL seasons, and if he  wins that award in year four, his contractual status will become hard to ignore.