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Tag: NFL

Commanders’ success product of change in ownership, NFL legend Champ Bailey says

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The Washington Commanders have been the surprise team of the 2024 season.

Behind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders earned a wild-card spot in the playoffs and defeated the NFC South division winner in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the best team in the NFC in the Detroit Lions.

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Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

All the Commanders have to do now is top their NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1991 season.

Champ Bailey, who starred for the organization when they were called the Washington Redskins, told Fox News Digital he’s a big fan of the quarterback, but the team’s recent success started when ownership changed hands.

“(Jayden Daniels) is the real deal. I think you can give him a lot of credit for what that franchise is doing right now, but it all starts at the top,” he said. “Once Josh Harris took over the team, and you bring on the ownership team that he has … these dudes, first of all, they love the Commanders because they’re all sort of D.C. guys. And then you have Magic Johnson, who’s the winner of all winners added to that.

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Jan 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws a pass during the first quarter against Detroit Lions in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. (Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)

“So, the culture changes pretty much overnight. And now you draft the right quarterback, which we all know if you can draft the right quarterback, the sky’s the limit for your franchise. The fan base is probably one of the best in the world. I mean, I tell people all the time when I’m out and about, I get just as many Commanders fans come up to me than Broncos fans, and I played in Denver 10 years after I played in Washington. So, it’s been 20 years since I’ve been there and people still remember my career like it happened yesterday.”

Champ Bailey partnered with Truelieve. (Truelieve)

Harris’ group bought the Commanders from Daniel Snyder in 2023 for more than $6 billion. The team started a little rocky in the first season with Harris and Co. as the owners. Washington was 4-13 in 2023 and were awarded the No. 2 pick in the draft.

Washington selected Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2023 from LSU, and his poise and collectiveness along with his innate talent at throwing the football helped the Commanders to a 12-6 record and their first playoff appearance since 2020.

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“I’m just happy that they have a team that they can be proud of, they can root for,” said Bailey, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of Trulieve. “But it all starts with great ownership, great leadership, and now you’re able to insert a great player like Jayden Daniels. Give them a lot of credit. The kid’s talent is amazing – the things he’s doing now. But it all starts at the top.”

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January 25, 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.

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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
NFL legend Champ Bailey dishes on breaking stigma with cannabis, using while playing in league

When NFL fans think of players and cannabis use, former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams probably comes to mind, or even Super Bowl champion Chris Long.

Williams and Long have spoken out at length about using cannabis for a variety of reasons, including for pain management over other painkillers that have been pushed in the past.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey is also in a group of former NFL stars advocating for cannabis use as a physical and mental recovery tool. Bailey is a community outreach liaison for Trulieve, the world’s largest cannabis retailer.

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Champ Bailey partnered with Trulieve. (Truelieve)

The former Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos standout told Fox News Digital in a recent interview he partnered with Trulieve to help the company secure a license in Georgia. Since that was completed, Bailey has been tasked with educating the public about marijuana and breaking the stigmas about it.

Bailey played in the NFL from 1999 to 2013. He was a 12-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro selection and was named to the Hall of Fame All-2000s Team. He said he started using cannabis to help him early in his career.

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“But, fortunate enough for me, I stayed away from it until I was mature enough to really take part in it. And it wasn’t until my second, third year in Washington when I was exposed to it. I always had some exposure to it from a social standpoint, but I never took part in it. And that’s just because of where I was raised. I never thought of it being a benefit to my health,” he explained.

“But once I saw professionals, like myself, doing it, I felt more inclined to try. For one, I didn’t want to go down the road of alcoholism or addicted to any drugs. So, I made it a point to … let’s just crawl before I walk. I did it a few times, and it worked for me. And it calmed my mind, my body. If you’re familiar with anything in the NFL, it’s one of the toughest sports to play. For me, it was just, ‘How do I bounce back and stay at the highest level of my game?’ Well, this helped me do that.

Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) warms up before the start of a game against the Cleveland Browns at Invesco Field in Denver, Colo., Sept. 20, 2009. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)

“Fortunately for me, I found something that benefited me, and it’s more now, ‘How do I educate people on what it did for me so they can potentially look at it as a positive use for them?’ But, of course, everybody has to walk their own path. I recommend guys all the time just talk to your doctor about it.

“I talked to mine about it. So, it’s one of those things. Let’s stop being shy about talking about it and potentially go down that road. The only way you’re gonna learn is being open and honest about your use or your interest in using. That’s sort of been my journey and that journey continues.”

Bailey explained to Fox News Digital his mission was to break the stigma about indulging in the drug that was illegal in most states before 2012. Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana use, and California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis in 1996.

Bailey said he uses himself as an example.

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“I’m a good example. I really just use my story to get people to understand,” he told Fox News Digital. “But then it’s also encouraging others to tell their story. I’m not the only guy that played football, basketball or any pro sport and use cannabis. A lot of guys do it more than you think. But for some reason, athletes are put on this pedestal, and we all have to walk this fine line and appear to look clean.

“Well, cannabis is part of our regiment for a lot of us. So, using those stories helps break those stigmas. I think about the adults I grew up with. I couldn’t have these conversations with them 10 years ago because they all see it as a gateway drug, and I’m like, ‘Well, if that’s the case, then why haven’t I used that gateway to go do something else that’s harmful to me and many of my guys that have done the same?’ Those are the ways you break those stigmas. You have to use your stories.”

Dealing with teammates in an NFL locker room is a little different, but less difficult to show.

An NFL team is made of up players from different backgrounds, faiths, creeds and points of view. If someone is smoking marijuana, which was mostly illegal and against NFL rules when Bailey was playing, a player would get the side eye.

Former professional football player Champ Bailey talks to a fan during a pregame event at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Sept. 10, 2023. (Brent Skeen/USA Today Sports)

“I played a long time, so I got to see a wide range of different personalities and different beliefs and where people come from. There’s not a more diverse environment than being in an NFL locker room. Guys would find out some of us were smoking, and they were appalled until they really see, ‘Oh, this actually works for them’ because they’re able to stay dialed in to what we’re doing. ‘Oh, how do we act when we’re on it?’ OK. Now we’re at work, does it affect us? No. This actually helps me come to work and perform at the high level I do,” he said.

“So, that’s the way we were able to break those in the locker room. But it takes strong leadership and really standing for what you believe in because, again, it was illegal, and it was against the rules to do it. I would never go out of my way to encourage anybody to do it (at the time). It was just more, ‘This is what works for me.’ If you’re curious, talk to somebody about it, especially your doctor, then go from there. It works for me and several others. I just share my experiences. There’s no other way to do.”

Skirting the rules was another thing.

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Ricky Williams was one of the top running backs in the NFL at the prime of his career. He lost games and even a season for his failed drug tests for marijuana.

Bailey suggested that NFL players who were using the drug at the time knew when the tests occurred and stopped using marijuana before they were tested.

“They were very strict back then, but I wouldn’t say in a way they wanted to catch you. Like, we knew when the tests were coming, so we always quit at a certain time, which … even at the time, you realize that was at a detriment to my recovery because the times we had to quit was in the offseason when they would have these yearly tests.

“It’s one of those times where you’re working harder than you work during the season because you’re training to get back in shape, and those are the times you really want it,” he said. “I could just remember guys always talking about what we had to quit when. Some guys would get tested earlier than others, so guys would get back on it and others were still waiting. It was a topic of conversation to figure out how to navigate that, but we all stuck together — the ones that were using — and we made sure that we all got through it.

Champ Bailey before a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., Oct. 6, 2024. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

“Some did pass, some did it. We’ve all had our experiences with the drug program in the league. But, for better or worse, it was a waste of time. When you look back on it, I think the league realized they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us, and things have changed. Things have changed over time. And I’m proud to say that they give me the courage to really speak up more because they’re starting to turn the page on what it means to use cannabis.”

Bailey said he’s seen how marijuana use helped firsthand.

He recalled a teammate going through drinking issues when he turned him on to marijuana.

“He knew I consumed so it was more he wanted to figure out what was better,” he said. “And once he started doing it, he was like, ‘Man I’ve been missing out.’ And that became his vice, so to speak, because now he realized this actually contributed to this success.

“He ended up playing double-digit years in the league, great career. So, no regrets there. I was just happy enough that I was in a position to show him that there was a better way. And there’s a lot of stories guys have about other interactions they had. I just want to encourage guys to be open and reveal more of these stories because it helps.”

Bailey said he would encourage more people to learn about the benefits of cannabis.

“It’s not what it was taught 20-30 years ago,” he told Fox News Digital. “I think people are turning the corner. We just got to continue to tell our stories. If you’re a user, speak up about it and educate people on why you use it and how it benefits you. The more we can tell those stories the better off we’d be.

Washington Redskins running back Ladell Betts (46) runs past Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) in the third quarter at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Nov. 15, 2009. (Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports)

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“I think that’s why my vision aligns so well with Trulieve because they believe in the same thing. It’s not all about pushing their brand. It’s more, ‘How do we get people to come around to what cannabis can do for you and, really, see it as a benefit to society and not a negative thing?”

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 24, 2025
NFL fines Joe Mixon for comments he didn’t make about referees, then fines him again for ones he did make

The NFL fined Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon for comments he never made about referees during the team’s controversial playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Saturday.

After Mixon and his agent appealed the fine and publicly pointed out that Mixon did not make those comments, the NFL re-issued the fine with comments he did make.

The original fine claimed Mixon said, “Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with Chiefs. These officials are trash and bias.”

That statement did not come from Mixon. Former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh wrote it in a social media post.

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Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, #28, and quarterback C.J. Stroud, #7, celebrate Mixon’s touchdown run against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)

Mixon then went on a social media tirade denying that he made the statement and expressing outrage over the league’s fine.

The NFL later re-issued the fine with his actual words in its place, which reads “Everybody knows how it is playing up here. You can never leave it in the refs’ hands. The whole world see, man,” according to NBC Sports.

League rules prohibit public criticism of officiating “because it calls into question the integrity of, and public confidence in, our game.”

Officials came under widespread criticism by Texans players and head coach DeMeco Ryans, as well as many media pundits and fans on social media over two questionably roughing the passer penalties that were called against the Texans for hits on Patrick Mahomes last Saturday.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, is hit during an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

The first penalty came when Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was called for roughing the passer on a third down in the first quarter. Anderson appeared to push Mahomes in the chest after he had thrown an incomplete pass to tight end Travis Kelce. Anderson was flagged.

The second penalty came during a Mahomes scramble in the third quarter. He had two blockers on a run and three defenders bearing down on him. He moved to his right and then back to his left when he decided to slide.

Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game, saying one of the controversial calls was a result of “forcible contact to the face mask area,” which warranted a flag. He said there was forcible contact to Mahomes’ “hairline” on another unnecessary roughness call.

Mahomes himself has defended the referees for the calls when he was asked by reporters Wednesday if he believed referees were giving him preferential treatment.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, is tackled by Azeez Al-Shaair, #0 of the Houston Texans, during the first quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes answered. “At the end of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they possibly can. And all you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results. … I think that’s what we preach here in Kansas City.

“You get new referees every year, you get new circumstances, and you never can really tell because every play’s different. And that’s what makes the NFL so special. I feel like I’ve just continued to play the game, and I just try to win. And whatever happens kind of happens.”

Meanwhile, Kelce refused to speak on the issue when he was asked about it by his brother, Jason Kelce, during their podcast “New Heights” on Wednesday.

“I’d like to plead the Fifth,” the tight end said, jokingly referring to his constitutional right to remain silent.

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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 23, 2025
Netflix raises U.S. subscriber prices, attributes success to ‘Squid Game,’ NFL games, Paul-Tyson fight

Evercore ISI senior managing director Mark Mahaney analyzes Uber and explains why he’s raising his Netflix price target on ‘Varney & Co.’

Netflix subscribers will see a noticeable jump in their monthly subscription fees, as the streaming company revels in new viewership.

In a letter to shareholders on Tuesday, the company announced it had increased prices across most plans in the U.S., Canada, Portugal and Argentina.

Standard monthly memberships jumped a dollar, up to $7.99 a month, according to Gregory K. Peters, Netflix co-CEO, president and director.

Lucas Bahdi and Armando Casamonica fight during Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2024. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix / Getty Images)

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Memberships without ads will increase more than two dollars, up to $17.99 per month, Peters said. Premium subscribers will have to shell out an extra two dollars a month, bringing the monthly fee to $24.99.

Peters described the company’s new pricing as “highly accessible.”

“You’ve seen us take up price across a number of markets in EMEA and APAC and LatAm over the last couple of quarters across most plans and including ads, too. And those changes have gone smoothly,” Peters said. “We certainly expect the same for these latest changes.

“I think it’s worth noting and reiterating that we believe that our starting price — it’s $7.99 in the U.S., $17.99 in Canada for standard with ads — is an incredible entertainment value and it’s a highly accessible entry point.”

The new prices are already reflected on the streaming service’s website.

The Netflix logo is seen on a TV remote controller in this illustration taken Jan. 20, 2022. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic / Reuters)

Netflix saw a whopping 19 million new subscribers in the fourth quarter, contributing to its total 302 million subscribers globally.

Live events, including the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight and two NFL games, contributed to the company’s recent success, according to leadership.

The fight was the most-streamed sporting event of all time, and on Christmas Day, the platform delivered the two most-streamed NFL games in history.

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NFLX NETFLIX INC. 953.99 +84.31 +9.69%

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Ted Sarandos, co-CEO, president and director, noted the underlying economics of full-season big league sports is challenging, but if there was a way to make it work, Netflix would explore it.

In addition, the company saw success with the second season of its original series, “Squid Game,” which garnered nearly 166 million views.

Other top performing shows included: “The Diplomat” season 2 with 21.4 million views, “Senna” with 16.2 million views, “The Empress” season 2 with 21 million views, “Outer Banks” season 4 with 36.8 million views, “The Lincoln Lawyer” season 3 with 33.9 million views, and “Virgin River” season 6 with 27.5 million views.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, left, and actor Lee Jung-jae attend Netflix’s FYSEE event for “Squid Game” at Raleigh Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles on June 12, 2022. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix / Getty Images)

Leadership noted the company only earns 6 percent of the revenue opportunity in the countries and segments it currently serves.

By improving and expanding its offerings, the company hopes to increase the share every year.

“As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix,” investors were told in the letter.

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Revenue in the fourth quarter jumped 16% year-over-year, reaching $10.25 billion, according to company data. A $15 billion stock buyback pushed shares up 13% on Tuesday afternoon.

January 23, 2025
NFL legends make emotional trip to Israel in push for hostages’ release

A pair of NFL legends and former Kansas City Chiefs teammates recently traveled to Israel to press the case for Israeli and American hostages held captive by Hamas.

Nick Lowery, one of the league’s all-time greatest placekickers, and former star fullback Tony Richardson returned from the five-day trip, sponsored by Athletes for Israel, earlier this month. Weeks later, a diplomatic breakthrough resulted in the release of three hostages and the promise of more to come. Lowery, the Chiefs’ all-time leading scorer and, like Richardson, a member of the team’s Hall of Fame, told Fox News Digital that making a difference off the field is more important than what he achieved in his illustrious gridiron career.

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“What is a Hall of Famer?” said Lowery, who played college football at Dartmouth and went on to earn a graduate degree from Harvard. “There’s one on the field, and then there’s your contribution to your community. In the end, that’s your legacy.”

Amit Levy holds up a picture of his sister, Naama, in front of the U.S. Capitol at the March to Bring Them Home on Dec. 8. 2024. (Leigh Vogel for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

The 68-year-old Lowery’s focus these days is on combating antisemitism and racism, and advocating for the release of Hamas hostages, such as Naama Levy, 20. Levy was abducted from the Nahal Oz base, less than a kilometer from Gaza, where she was stationed as a surveillance soldier on October 7, 2023. The Times of Israel reported that 15 surveillance soldiers were killed that day, and six were taken hostage.

Footage released by Hamas shows a terrorist dragging Levy by her hair into a Jeep. Her hands were bound, her ankles cut, her face bleeding and her sweatpants were blood-stained.
Lowery stated in a video posted to social media, “Naama can’t speak. But we, athletes of the world, must speak for her now.”

Lowery is part of the #SportSpeaksUp campaign, led by Eric Rubin, CEO of Project Max, a movement dedicated to fighting racism, antisemitism and intolerance through sports. The campaign is supported by Athletes for Israel, a nonprofit organization that brings legendary sports figures to the Holy Land.

Naama Levy enjoys running in triathlons, like her father and grandfather.

In Israel, Lowery met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana and Israel Defense Forces soldiers. He also visited the site of the Nova music festival massacre, which he called “overwhelming.” He said, “There are the pictures of these people, full of life, two thirds of them women, absolutely beautiful, full of life, and there were flowers and offerings of love and support for their memory.”

Lowery was re-baptized at the Sea of Galilee and visited the Western Wall, which he said was a deeply spiritual experience.

“As a Christian, simply touching the wall, it feels like you’re connecting to God,” Lowery said.

Lowery and Richardson also took a tour of Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where they observed an extended dinner table with 200 seats decorated to honor each hostage. The chair for Levy was decorated with flowers.

They sat with Levy’s father, Yoni, and her brother, Amit, 22. Lowery said Yoni Levy spoke of how much his daughter loves to bring light and laughter to people, her vision to become a peacemaker, and her strong will and competitive spirit.

Amit Levy told Fox News Digital that he could tell Lowery enjoyed hearing about his sister.

“I think everyone who hears about her can feel her strength and is really inspired by her,” Amit Levy said.

Levy is a fun-loving teenager who grew up in Israel and India and is close with her family, which also includes her mother, who is the doctor for the Israeli national soccer team; 16-year-old sister, Michal; and brother, Omri, 12, according to Amit Levy. He said his sister loves attending parties and laughing with friends, in addition to being “a very moral girl” with a caring nature, devoted to helping others and advocating for peace.

Levy was a diplomacy major in high school and later volunteered once a week at a kindergarten for African refugees in southern Israel for 10 months.

“She had a great connection with the children there,” Amit Levy recalled.

Naama Levy volunteered at a kindergarten for African refugees in southern Israel.

Levy is an idealist who participated in the “Hands of Peace” delegation that encouraged Israeli and Palestinian youth to work together to create change, according to her brother.

“I would tell her that maybe in certain points she might be a bit naïve, because the world sometimes isn’t such a pleasant place,” he said.

He also recalled how, as an elementary school student, his sister used to awaken their parents at 5 a.m. to take her to triathlon competitions, like their father and grandfather, who continues to compete as he approaches the age of 80.

The last time her family received news about Levy was in December 2023, when newly released female hostages recounted seeing her in the tunnels beneath Gaza. “They said she was injured from grenade shrapnel still in her leg, because there were grenades thrown at her and her friends at the bomb shelter on October 7,” Amit Levy said.

It has been nearly 500 days since Levy and more than 100 others were abducted. Amit Levy described how the released hostages “could feel her strength and her amazing personality from the short time they got to meet her,” which gave him and his family “air to breathe.”

However, there have been no subsequent reports about her.

“I feel so honored to know these people. They’re in my heart now.” – Nick Lowery, former NFL star

Levy’s family members find hope by reminding themselves of how strong she is “physically and especially mentally” and that she knows her mission is to survive.

Lowery also visited the soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, where 12 Druze children and teenagers were killed, and at least 42 injured by a Hezbollah rocket on July 27, 2024. There, Lowery comforted Jwan Ibraheem, a 13-year-old boy who was crying because he blamed himself for not being able to save his friend who was killed.

Rubin described how the group went onto the field where tragedy struck and started playing soccer with the kids, and suddenly, even if just for a moment, they forgot about their sadness and grief. He said it felt like half of the town came out and “the darkness evaporated.”

Lowery marveled at the resilience of the Israelis he met, characterizing their collective attitude as “no one’s going to take my light.” Even right after air raids, people were surfing and having cocktails at the beach, he noted.

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Lowery said that standing up for Jewish people is in his “emotional DNA,” because his grandmother documented atrocities at the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. He is dedicated to bringing Jews and Christians together, and he and Rubin expressed how they are committed to continuing to meet with these families.

“I feel so honored to know these people. They’re in my heart now,” Lowery said. “Maybe football is a tough sport, but this is the most important work we’ve ever done…. We’re bonded for life.”

Eve Glover is a contributing writer for Fox News Digital.

January 22, 2025
Ohio State national champion Jack Sawyer leaning on faith as he gears up for NFL: ‘Keep trusting His plan’

For Ohio State Buckeyes standout linebacker Jack Sawyer, the last 48 hours have been quite a “whirlwind” if you ask him.

On Monday night, he helped the Buckeyes cap a resilient College Football Playoff run with a national championship victory over Notre Dame. And you can expect what happened when the team returned to Columbus, Ohio.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Sawyer told Fox News Digital before his celebratory “shift” at Raising Cane’s in Columbus alongside his star quarterback teammate Will Howard. “Obviously, it’s been a whirlwind after the game when we first got back to Columbus. Now, it’s maybe even more of a whirlwind, but we’ve had a lot of fun with it and so happy we were able to get the job done for Coach Day and the city of Columbus.”

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Will Howard and Jack Sawyer take picture with Ohio State fans outside Raising Cane’s in Columbus, Ohio. (Raising Cane’s)

Sawyer pulled up to Raising Cane’s early Wednesday morning with “already 100 people outside,” all of whom were waiting to praise the two Buckeyes for their contributions to a championship season.

But while the Buckeyes’ celebrations continue, the end of the season means both Sawyer and Howard are set to become NFL Draft prospects, as they aim for their transition to pro football.

Sawyer’s draft stock skyrocketed as he had a tremendous CFP run, including the strip-sack, scoop-and-score against his former Ohio State roommate, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, to seal the Buckeyes’ victory in the Cotton Bowl to cement a spot in the national title game.

OHIO STATE FANS BREAK INTO OHIO STADIUM TO CELEBRATE 1ST NATIONAL TITLE SINCE 2014

While his motor on the field, and work ethic off it, are qualities that teams will be looking at during the scouting process, Sawyer knows that his faith will continue to play a large role in what happens next.

“It’s everything to us,” Sawyer said about his faith, bringing Howard into the fold as well. “It’s a number in our lives when you put God first like that and truly seek to grow with him and follow his plan. He’s going to open so many doors for you that you would never think you could achieve otherwise.

“For me and Will, and really everyone on the team, our faith’s been the biggest thing keeping us up and keeping us moving forward after a couple tough losses in the season.”

One of those losses was a massive upset by the Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes’ bitter rival whom Sawyer naturally refers to as the “Team Up North,” on Nov. 30. It was a loss in Columbus that led to a brawl on the field between the two teams, where Sawyer was seen ripping a Michigan flag away from midfield after the Wolverines wanted to celebrate their win even more.

At the time, it was a disaster for head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. They weren’t able to get a shot at the Big Ten title, and many questioned if they had what it took to make that CFP run.

Jack Sawyer poses with football at Columbus Raising Cane’s. (Raising Cane’s)

But Ohio State showed what resiliency looks like in the face of adversity, especially with a load of naysayers believing the Buckeyes once again wouldn’t be able to take their talented team to the title game.

“We knew we had to get to work and fix the things we needed to fix and attack it as hard as we could,” he said. “That’s exactly what we did. No one saw the work we were putting in behind the scenes.”

For Sawyer personally, he went into his next game after losing to Michigan and racked up 1.5 sacks with two passes defended and five total tackles in the rout against Tennessee in the first round of the CFP. Then, he had two sacks and three passes defended in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, followed by his 83-yard return for a touchdown against the Longhorns.

“I think it’s just taught me a lot about life,” Sawyer said of this title run. “It’s taught me about how everything is not always going to go your way, but if you keep trusting in God and fight and keep getting up every day swinging, eventually you’re going to come out the other end.

“I think that is something I’m going to take with me to the next level, and it’s something I hope teams see in me. No matter what, I’m going to give it my all, keep fighting and continue to grow every day.”

Again, this is time for celebration after a long, hard season for Sawyer, his teammates and his coaches. But the NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner, and pretty soon, Sawyer will likely be hearing his name called in April when the NFL Draft kicks off.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

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Whichever team writes his name on their card, he knows he’ll be giving his all to make an impact like he has in Columbus. But he won’t stress any step moving forward, as his faith will remain a constant as he looks ahead to his next major life moment.

“Anything’s possible with God, and I’m going to keep trusting his plan,” Sawyer concluded. “Like I said, he blessed us far more than we could ever thank him enough for.”

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 22, 2025