There&#8217;s no bigger sports stage in the United States than the NFL, and this season — thanks to a New England Patriots running back — the NFL shined a spotlight on the plight of persecuted Christians.
Once a year, players can choose any charitable cause to raise awareness and money for through a unique cleat design, which the players wear for their &#8220;My Cause, My Cleats&#8221; game. The Special Olympics, cancer foundations, and youth sports initiatives are all popular picks for players. But TreVeyon Henderson, who in recent years became a Christian, chose to highlight the Global Christian Relief and the work they do to help the 380 million persecuted Christians around the world.
&#8220;When you read the Bible and you look at what Jesus teaches us and warns us about the persecution we will face for following him &#8230; there&#8217;s not much awareness about it,&#8221; Henderson said. &#8220;It really just opened my eyes because the things Christ was warning about are still happening today.&#8221;
Global Christian Relief CEO Brian Orme knows Henderson from his days playing football at The Ohio State University. Orme has followed Henderson&#8217;s rookie year, and noticed earlier this season that the NFL star was sharing the Christian organization&#8217;s posts on X. It was the start of a strong relationship with Henderson and Global Christian Relief. The running back became a monthly donor — then told Orme he wanted to amplify the organization through &#8220;My Cause, My Cleats.&#8221;
Henderson worked with his wife to design the cleats he wore on Monday Night Football on December 1.
&#8220;The blood dripping on the cleats symbolizes the blood that has been shed on the cross, the blood that&#8217;s been shed from people who have lost their lives for pursuing and following Christ,&#8221; Henderson said.
<div id="attachment_1014423" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1014423" class="size-large wp-image-1014423" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-34-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-34-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-34-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-34-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-34.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Credit: Global Christian Relief</div>
The other side of the cleats show people holding up the Cross.
&#8220;This symbolizes the faithfulness of the persecuted church. Despite the blood that&#8217;s being shed, the one thing they&#8217;re not losing is their faith.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“God has been using these stories to open my eyes and give me this desire to help however I can.”
In a moment when TreVeyon could&#8217;ve focused on himself, he turned his attention to persecuted Christians. 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/hIwqBu0YMv">pic.twitter.com/hIwqBu0YMv</a>
— Global Christian Relief (@GC_Relief) <a href="https://twitter.com/GC_Relief/status/1996362052894629909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
Global Christian Relief has seen greater exposure since Henderson&#8217;s endorsement.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a great example of what it looks like when influence meets conviction,&#8221; Orme told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Him leveraging his platform has a tremendous impact and builds credibility.&#8221;
Orme said Henderson showcasing his faith is part of a bigger movement the country has seen in recent months.
&#8220;God is choosing this moment through President Trump, Nicki Minaj, Bill Maher, all these different voices, to draw attention to what&#8217;s happening. He&#8217;s choosing this time to raise that awareness, and we&#8217;re praying that God will continue to create that momentum for the church.&#8221;
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nicki-minaj-puts-nigerias-christian-persecution-in-the-spotlight">Nicki Minaj Puts Nigeria’s Christian Persecution In The Spotlight</a>
In some parts of the world, Christians are being expelled from their families, imprisoned, and in some cases executed. Global Christian Relief provides safe housing, aid, Bibles, and legal support for Christians in the areas where it is most dangerous for them to profess their faith.
&#8220;We meet with believers in these regions, work through local churches to give them the resources that they need to not only survive, but to thrive as a life of the gospel.&#8221;
Henderson, like so many Christians in America, didn&#8217;t realize the extent of global Christian persecution. But now that he&#8217;s worked with Global Christian Relief and spread their message through football, he wants others to join the fight.
&#8220;I just hope here in the U.S., it encourages us, that it strengthens our faith to be more courageous, to be more bold, but to also have compassion for other brothers and sisters in Christ and to help however God may call you to help,&#8221; he said.
Henderson and the Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Orme said because of Henderson&#8217;s bold faith, the running back has a lot of new fans rooting for his success.
&#8220;TreVeyon, he&#8217;s a football player, but more than anything, he is a believer in Christ, and he is passionate,&#8221; Orme said. &#8220;Even just a few minutes of conversation with him, he&#8217;s gonna talk about his faith, he&#8217;s gonna talk about what God&#8217;s doing. He&#8217;s been a blessing to us.&#8221;

Credit: Kathryn Riley/Getty Images/Global Christian Relief

NFL Star Shares Gospel, Stands Up For Persecuted Christians

Christianity

Football

Religion

Sports

U.S.

Prosecutors said that former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, who was arrested on Wednesday, threatened to kill himself in front of a staffer with whom he had an intimate relationship.
These details were revealed Friday in District Court in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the 39-year-old has been charged with felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering.
Moore, appearing virtually for the arraignment, sat handcuffed as the prosecutor described the events that took place on Wednesday after Moore was fired over his alleged inappropriate relationship.
Moore barged into the victim’s apartment on Wednesday, grabbed several butter knives, as well as a pair of scissors, and started threatening his own life, prosecutors said.
&#8220;I am going to kill myself. I am going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You’ve ruined my life,&#8221; Moore said, according to prosecutors.
First Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said the victim was terrorized: “A series of very intimidating and terrifying statements and behaviors there in that apartment.”
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible c-link--underline" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
According to new information released by Pittsfield Police, Moore left the apartment after making the threats to harm himself, prior to officers arriving.
Moore was quickly located by officers a few miles south of the apartment. The 39-year-old was taken into custody without incident and transported to a local hospital for evaluation before being booked in the Washtenaw County Jail.
Magistrate Odetalla gave Moore a $25,000 cash bond. He will be GPS tether monitored and has been told not to make contact with the victim or go to her residence. As a condition of his bond, the judge ordered Moore to continue his mental health treatment.
The victim, who isn&#8217;t being named in this case, had an alleged relationship with Moore that lasted years, despite Moore being married with three daughters. The prosecutors said Monday that when the victim broke the relationship off, Moore didn&#8217;t take it very well and continued to call and send numerous texts to the victim. The victim informed Michigan of the relationship on Wednesday, leading to Moore&#8217;s swift termination.
After posting bond, which Moore&#8217;s attorney Joe Simon expects to happen Friday, the former coach cannot leave Michigan without court approval. Simon wouldn&#8217;t comment on where Moore is going after posting bond. His next court appearance is January 22, 2026.
The University of Michigan told The Daily Wire that the school is unable to comment any further on this &#8220;personal&#8221; matter.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/moore-comes-to-light-after-michigan-head-football-coach-arrested-following-surprise-firing">&#8216;Moore’ Comes To Light After Michigan Head Football Coach Arrested Following Surprise Firing</a>

Sherrone Moore

Sherrone Moore Charged With Home Invasion, Threatened To Kill Himself, Prosecutors Say

College Football

Crime

University of Michigan

With the 126th Army-Navy Game fast approaching, the prerequisite social media trash talk has already begun to ramp up between Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Navy Secretary John Phelan.
Kick-off for the 2025 Army-Navy Game, between West Point&#8217;s Black Knights and the Naval Academy&#8217;s Midshipmen, is at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 13, at M&amp;T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
Army comes into the game at a disadvantage, with a 6-5 season compared to Navy&#8217;s 9-2 showing, but that did not stop Driscoll from taking the first shot with an X post calling out West Point&#8217;s longtime rivals.
&#8220;@SECNAV, hope you brought your life vest! The Black Knights are about to sink @NavyFB on Saturday. @WestPoint_USMA’s spirit rally on Friday is the appetizer and Saturday’s game is the main course&#8230; and @USNavy is on the menu,&#8221; Driscoll posted on Sunday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SECNAV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECNAV</a>, hope you brought your life vest! 🛟🌊The Black Knights are about to sink <a href="https://twitter.com/NavyFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NavyFB</a> on Saturday. <a href="https://twitter.com/WestPoint_USMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WestPoint_USMA</a>’s spirit rally on Friday is the appetizer and Saturday’s game is the main course&#8230; and <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a> is on the menu. 🍽️🛳️ <a href="https://t.co/7xsxrnlsxE">pic.twitter.com/7xsxrnlsxE</a>
— Secretary of the Army (@SecArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecArmy/status/1998549463775023160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Phelan shot back, &#8220;I brought you tissues, a pacifier and diapers. Unfortunately you will need them Saturday, not for your kids, for yourself! GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecArmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecArmy</a>, I brought you tissues, a pacifier and diapers. Unfortunately you will need them Saturday, not for your kids, for yourself! GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY! <a href="https://t.co/c8G1GAQKYm">https://t.co/c8G1GAQKYm</a>
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) <a href="https://twitter.com/SECNAV/status/1998600237515202903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And then he followed up with another, adding, &#8220;Let me know if you need my corpsman’s information. Always happy to help the Army patch up after Saturday. GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecArmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecArmy</a> , let me know if you need my corpsman’s information. Always happy to help the Army patch up after Saturday.
GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!<a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USMC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USMC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NavalAcademy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NavalAcademy</a> <a href="https://t.co/NBFnehtQK3">pic.twitter.com/NBFnehtQK3</a>
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) <a href="https://twitter.com/SECNAV/status/1999091817657360852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Both teams on the field will be wearing uniforms designed to honor 250 years of service to country.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible c-link--underline" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
The Army described the uniforms in a thread posted one month prior to game day, saying in part, &#8220;For the past 250 years, the United States Army has stood as America’s enduring symbol of service and sacrifice. Born in the desperate conditions of the American Revolution, the Army’s legacy is one of steadfast commitment to the defense of liberty, reflected in its motto, &#8216;This We’ll Defend.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
For the past 250 years, the United States Army has stood as America’s enduring symbol of service and sacrifice.
Born in the desperate conditions of the American Revolution, the Army’s legacy is one of steadfast commitment to the defense of liberty, reflected in its motto, “This… <a href="https://t.co/s02t82uDtq">pic.twitter.com/s02t82uDtq</a>
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/USArmy/status/1988924807681868043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Navy&#8217;s team followed five days later with their own uniform unveiling.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Every detail was taken into consideration when <a href="https://twitter.com/UnderArmour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnderArmour</a> made these uniforms <a href="https://t.co/168T92kRln">https://t.co/168T92kRln</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoNavy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Navy250?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Navy250</a> <a href="https://t.co/UIfdjjmWgb">pic.twitter.com/UIfdjjmWgb</a>
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NavyAthletics/status/1990823195344048371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And of course, the rivalry has infected Capitol Hill. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) announced a friendly wager with Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) — a former Navy SEAL &#8212; Todd Young (R-IN), and West Point graduate Jack Reed (D-RI).
&#8220;We’re 2 days away from America’s Game. I’m team Army, but @TimSheehyMT and @SenToddYoung are Navy fans. @SenJackReed and I challenge our colleagues to a friendly wager. If Navy wins, we’ll wear Navy gear. If (and when) Army wins, Senators Young and Sheehy will have to wear Army gear. Looking forward to a great game. Go Army, Beat Navy!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We’re 2 days away from America’s Game. I’m team Army, but <a href="https://twitter.com/TimSheehyMT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimSheehyMT</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SenToddYoung?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenToddYoung</a> are Navy fans. <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJackReed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJackReed</a> and I challenge our colleagues to a friendly wager. If Navy wins, we’ll wear Navy gear. If (and when) Army wins, Senators Young and Sheehy will have to wear Army… <a href="https://t.co/I6NYBf0s31">pic.twitter.com/I6NYBf0s31</a>
— Senator Dave McCormick (@SenMcCormickPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMcCormickPA/status/1999226325182349365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Even the United States Secret Service got into the rivalry with a video of two agents — one a West Point alumnus and one who&#8217;d graduated from the Naval Academy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Army–Navy rivalry brings incredible energy when <a href="https://twitter.com/GoArmyWestPoint?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoArmyWestPoint</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NavyAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NavyAthletics</a> meet on the field. Alumni and veterans in the Secret Service carry that friendly rivalry into their work. This year we will secure the December 13 game in Baltimore.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArmyNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArmyNavy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArmyNavyGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArmyNavyGame</a> <a href="https://t.co/pPIFR3zzN5">pic.twitter.com/pPIFR3zzN5</a>
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretService/status/1998509418569150828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
President Donald Trump said in late November that he <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/trump-moore-crime-baltimore-army-navy-football-president/">planned to attend</a> the game.

Army Officials Testify In Senate Hearing On Defense Authorization Request For 2026

Army-Navy Hype Heats Up As Leaders Trade Pre-Game Jabs

Military

U.S. Army

U.S. Navy

BOSTON—On a brisk November morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shipped up to Boston with two goals: making his forgotten Merchant Mariners remember who they were, and bringing home the Secretaries&#8217; Cup.
That&#8217;s the trophy that goes to the victor of an annual college football game that pits the Merchant Mariners against the Coast Guard, a smaller but beloved version of the annual Army-Navy game. Fans, alumni, and family of the &#8220;Kings Point&#8221; mariners and the Coast Guard travel from all over the country to support their teams.
This year, Duffy and Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem — whose agency includes the Coast Guard — joined their teams for the final showdown of the season. They had a bet: whoever lost would host the other team at their agency back in the nation&#8217;s capitol. It was a rare non-political event attended for the two high-profile politicians, who were there to cheer on their teams and talk trash to each other.
&#8220;Our Merchant Marine Academy, they&#8217;re excited to play on a on a big venue like this,&#8221; Duffy told The Daily Wire ahead of the game. &#8220;And sometimes they don&#8217;t get the attention that they deserve &#8230; they&#8217;re critical as part of America&#8217;s infrastructure and making sure that we can defend ourselves.&#8221;
&#8220;The Merchant Marine Academy, our young men and women go out and make sure we have the capability of supporting the military in doing sea lifts, making sure products are moving, supplies are moving, and our midshipmen provide those services,&#8221; he explained.
The Merchant Marine Academy is housed under the Department of Transportation, which formerly also housed the United States Coast Guard. The &#8220;Coasties&#8221; were moved under Homeland Security&#8217;s umbrella in 2003. But the reshuffling did nothing to the football rivalry, which dates back to 1949.
The Daily Wire spent the day with Duffy as he wandered around Fenway Park, even down to the locker room, where he aggressively hyped up the mariners before they headed out onto the field. &#8220;You guys have more heart, more grit,&#8221; Duffy told the animated mariners. &#8220;So please go kick some Coast Guard ass today!&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Military Game at Fenway Park You’ve Never Heard Of" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dK1sGZB3qwM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Many of the midshipmen who were at the game were delighted to chat with the transportation secretary, who spent a big chunk of his time hanging out in the stands with them.
&#8220;Oh, yeah,&#8221; Edward Lippert told The Daily Wire, asked if he was a Duffy fan. &#8220;He&#8217;s the man. He&#8217;s the man.&#8221;
&#8220;I love that guy,&#8221; added Christian Meyers. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to see him.&#8221;
The two young men, who are both seniors at the academy, responded emphatically when asked what it means to them to be mariners. Meyers will go into Navy aviation after graduation, and Lippert will be sailing on his third mates license in the maritime industry.
&#8220;Oh man, it&#8217;s everything,&#8221; said Lippert. &#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s how cargo moves around the world right? World needs mariners.&#8221;
&#8220;Pretty much everyone here will graduate with a license in the US Coast Guard that&#8217;s capable of operating any boat or vessel in the American fleet,&#8221; he added.&#8221;We move cargo, whatever it be, cars, containers from point A to point B. We&#8217;re what puts food on your shelves.&#8221;
The second mariner conceded that without their work, American lives would be significantly impacted.
&#8220;It&#8217;d be really hard to live,&#8221; he said, asked where Americans would be without them. &#8220;Costs would be insane. I mean, there would be no food in supermarkets. There&#8217;d be nothing. There&#8217;d be nothing without us.&#8221;
Duffy feels that the Merchant Marine Academy has been not only forgotten but downright neglected by other secretaries of transportation, including his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg (&#8220;Boot-edge-edge,&#8221; as Duffy chuckled aside to his kids).
&#8220;They&#8217;ve been shunned,&#8221; Duffy said of the mariners. &#8220;They haven&#8217;t had the investments. They have one of the most beautiful campuses, but no one has  reinvigorated it. No one has invested in it.&#8221;
When Duffy first arrived in Kings Point, New York to visit the Merchant Marine Academy, he found out that these midshipmen had gone four months without hot water. A green energy effort brought in an electric boiler that didn&#8217;t work and ultimately led to the midshipmen going without water for months, he said with a shake of his head.
&#8220;So they&#8217;re taking cold showers. They have mold in in their dorms. Their dishwasher broke. They didn&#8217;t have regular plates and silverware. They had plastic plates, plastic silverware.&#8221;
When he brought it up to the midshipmen, he expected that they would be angry. Instead, he joked, they beat their chests and were proud of their tough situation: &#8220;I said, &#8216;No hot water?&#8217; And they&#8217;re like, &#8216;ROAR!! You&#8217;re damn right we did! No hot water!'&#8221;
He also found out that President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration removed a mural of Jesus Christ on the water from the academy and put it in the basement.
&#8220;Shameful,&#8221; said Duffy. &#8220;It&#8217;s been in the academy for over 50 years!&#8221;
&#8220;I said that&#8217;s it, we are going to we are going to resurrect the painting of Jesus on the water out of the basement and put him back in his place of prominence. And when I mentioned it to the to the midshipman, they lost their minds.&#8221;
He doesn&#8217;t have to &#8220;bring faith back to the academy,&#8221; he said, questioned about the move: &#8220;These are faithful young men and women.&#8221;
One way that he&#8217;s boosting morale is by telling the mariners that the &#8220;black sheep&#8221; is their mascot, leaning into the idea that they are the &#8220;black sheep&#8221; of the academies and need to fight to reclaim their identity. Duffy himself was sporting a Merchant Mariners sweatshirt with the black sheep on it, as were his daughters and son who attended the game with him.
&#8220;I just I think it&#8217;s wrong that we have a great American academy with great young American men and women, that we don&#8217;t respect them,&#8221; Duffy shared. &#8220;They are the black sheep of all the academies, right? And sometimes when you feel a little beaten, you&#8217;re an underdog, you come back, have a little more heart, a little more energy, a little more fight.&#8221;
&#8220;You can see we have our black sheep shirts on,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And we embrace it and we still kick ass. We still have grit. We still crush it like what&#8217;s going to happen today on the football field here at Fenway.&#8221;
The mariners did indeed crush the Coast Guard that day in the very final seconds of the game. Duffy joined them on the field, holding the trophy high above his head as he cheered, exuberantly celebrating with the young men — and even jokingly trash talking Noem, who didn&#8217;t come down to the field for the Merchant Marine Academy victory.
&#8220;Well done man,&#8221; he told the mariners as they left the field, shaking their hands and slapping them on the back. &#8220;Thank you for fighting! Well done.&#8221;

Untitled design (76)

Sean Duffy Wants To Put The Merchant Mariners On The Map — Starting With A Football Win.

Boston

Department of Transportation

Kristi Noem

Sean Duffy

What really happened on the first Thanksgiving? Why do we eat turkey? How long has football been associated with Thanksgiving? Are Americans still honoring the spirit of the holiday? 
The Daily Wire&#8217;s Morning Wire interviewed historian Melanie Kirkpatrick to get to the bottom of these questions – and more. 
According to Kirkpatrick, author of “Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience,” Thanksgiving goes back even before the Pilgrims. 
“Many of the European explorers who came to this continent called days of thanksgiving, and of course, the original thanksgivings were called by Native American populations,” Kirkpatrick explained.
“The pilgrims, after their first harvest, they gathered their people together and called a day of thanksgiving,” she explained. “And I&#8217;ll point out that it&#8217;s very wonderful when you consider that half of the pilgrims had died between the arrival of the pilgrims and the day of thanksgiving. But nonetheless, they gave thanks for the blessings of the harvest and for being together. And then, of course, Native Americans joined them.”
“There were about 90 Native Americans who joined them, and they celebrated for three days,” Kirkpatrick said. “We know all of that because thanks to two articles, two commentaries by two of the pilgrims.”
However, Kirkpatrick said, “a lot of the other stuff we traditionally associate with the pilgrims is not necessarily true.”
“There&#8217;s a famous painting of the first Thanksgiving, showing the pilgrims having a meal outside. That&#8217;s true,” she said. “But if you look at the other items in the painting, not so true. For example, the pilgrims are all dressed in dark colors. And in truth, they wore bright colors, which goes against what we all learned in kindergarten about how the pilgrims dressed.”
“Similarly, the Native Americans who were there were depicted as wearing elaborate headdresses, like you&#8217;d see in the Plains Indians. But that wasn&#8217;t true either,” she said. “They wore maybe one or two feathers.”
<h3>Did they really eat turkey at the first Thanksgiving?</h3>
Kirkpatrick says we don’t know what exactly was eaten. However, one of the pilgrims mentions “the great store of wild turkey that was available.”
“So they probably had turkey,” she said, adding that they had venison, too. 
“We know they had venison because the Indians brought as a gift a bunch of deer that they had killed,” Kirkpatrick said. “That was a standard feature of Thanksgiving Day up through &#8230; parts of the 19th century actually.”
Turkey became common on Thanksgiving as there were so many wild turkeys in New England, the author said. 
“I just saw a flock of turkeys out my window the other day – I live in Connecticut. So they were easy to find,” she said. “Also, they were, by the end of the 18th, early 19th century, they were domesticated, so they were special.”
Kirkpatrick added, though, that in New England in the 19th century, the central feature of the Thanksgiving Day meal was actually chicken pot pie.
“I know people in New England whose families still have that tradition of having chicken pot pie around the time of the holiday – not necessarily on Thanksgiving Day,” she said. “And as the holidays spread out west, American settlers brought their own food traditions with them. So you find beef being eaten on Thanksgiving instead of turkey, and as settlers from other places came to this country, they brought their own traditions with them, like lasagna and stir fries, curries. So the meal is still evolving.”
<h3>What do we know about the origins of the official Thanksgiving holiday? </h3>
“The early settlers in New England fixed the dates of their thanksgivings by community or by church,” Kirkpatrick said. “And then the governor of the New England colony would name a date.” 
The celebrations were very “ad hoc,” she said. But this all changed when the “Mother of Thanksgiving” stepped in to make the holiday official. 
“Along came Sarah Josepha Hale, who was the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Magazine, the most popular and most widely read magazine of the early part of the 19th century,” Kirkpatrick said. “She was from New Hampshire, and she adored the thanksgiving holiday, and she decided to try to make it national. She saw it as part of American culture, part of our heritage, and she tried to persuade presidents of the United States to name a Thanksgiving Day.”
“Hale used the power of her magazine to write about Thanksgiving and encourage governors to coordinate the date so that they would have the same date,” she continued. “Finally, as the Civil War was approaching, she intensified her campaign. And in 1863, she wrote to Lincoln asking him to name a date when the whole country could celebrate. He did, and in 1863 was the first date that at least part of the country, the North, the Union, celebrated on one day.”
“Every president since Lincoln has named a day, an official date of Thanksgiving,” the historian explained. “Interestingly, it wasn&#8217;t until 1941 that Thanksgiving became official. Congress passed a resolution naming the fourth Thursday of November the date of Thanksgiving, and President Franklin Roosevelt signed it into law.” 
<h3>Thanksgiving And Football </h3>
Relatively soon after football developed in the United States, it was connected to Thanksgiving. 
The tradition of tying football with Thanksgiving started to grow around the 1870s, Kirkpatrick said. “The first football games took place in the late 1860s between Rutgers and Princeton,” she said. “And then there was a college championship game that was played in New York City, and New Yorkers really got into it, and it was played on Thanksgiving Day. So that tradition in New York sets the scene, sets the trend, and other cities followed suit. And then high schools and community groups would have it by the 1890s.”
“There was a tradition of having games on Thanksgiving morning, and the guys would go off to the games and the women would stay home and make dinner, and everybody would reconvene in the afternoon and celebrate Thanksgiving,” she said. 
<h3>How Thanksgiving has evolved </h3>
Discussing the evolution of Thanksgiving, Kirkpatrick said the “value has shifted somewhat,” but people still associate the holiday with charity and family and friends. 
“It&#8217;s not as religious a holiday as it used to be,” she explained. “For the first couple of hundred years, people went to church on Thanksgiving morning, too, before they went to football. But we don&#8217;t see that as much. It&#8217;s still religious in the sense that if a family is going to say grace before a meal, it&#8217;ll be on Thanksgiving.”
“But the values of generosity to the poor, for example, have long been associated with Thanksgiving,” she said. “The earliest example I found of that was, I think, 1624. And today, people participate in helping, making sure that the military gets a good Thanksgiving dinner, and prisoners and people who have a hard time affording the meal.”
“I think maybe the saddest image in American culture is somebody who has no place to go on Thanksgiving Day,” Kirkpatrick added. “It&#8217;s a day that&#8217;s associated with family and friendship, as well as food.”

Man carving roasted turkey at traditional Christmas table

A Historian Explains The History And Traditions Of Thanksgiving

The History And Traditions Of Thanksgiving, Explained By A Historian

America

new england

Pilgrims

Thanksgiving

Turkey

The NFL’s first transgender-identifying cheerleader has been let go from the squad and is now blaming the organization for discriminating against him.
Justine Lindsay, who was previously a member of the Carolina Panthers squad, left the team in August after cheering for the organization since 2022, <a href="https://www.out.com/gay-athletes/justine-lindsay-nfl-transgender-fired">per</a> Out Magazine.
“I was cut because I’m trans. I don’t wanna hear nobody saying, ‘She didn’t wanna come back.’ Why the hell would I not wanna come back to an organization that I’ve been a part of for three years,” Lindsay told Gaye Magazine during an Instagram livestream, adding that he still has Panther pride despite the alleged discriminatory firing.
“I love them down. I appreciate everything that they’ve done for me, but I feel like I was done wrong,” he added. “It was like a big slap in the face to not only me, but for the youth. And this was right after Trump became president.”
“I was devastated. It stung. I was hurt,” he added.
The Carolina Panthers did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.
Lindsay is planning to compete in the Miss International Queen pageant for trans-identifying men next year, and mentioned that during a statement ahead of this year’s NFL season.
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
&#8220;For now, I’m focusing on my pageantry work and community involvement, striving to be recognized not just as an NFL cheerleader, but as someone making a positive impact, especially during these uncertain times,&#8221; he said in a statement in August.
&#8220;Being in the NFL was a stepping stone to get me where I need to be, and God is blessing me each and every day, giving me the breath to do the work and change lives. My focus is to educate and uplift the younger generation of leaders to focus on their dreams and goals. Don&#8217;t let a president who is delusional stop them from reaching their goals, whether they are trans, African American, not American, etc.&#8221;
Male cheerleaders became a topic of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fan-backlash-against-male-nfl-cheerleaders-intensifies-vikings-issue-statement">debate</a> ahead of this year’s NFL season as several were featured in promo videos for various teams, including the Minnesota Vikings.

Justine Lindsay

NFL’s First Ever ‘Trans’ Cheerleader Fired, Cries Discrimination: ‘Cut Because I’m Trans’

NFL's First Ever 'Trans' Cheerleader Fired, Cries Discrimination: 'Cut Because I'm Trans'

Cheerleaders

Discrimination

North Carolina

Social Issues

Transgender

An NFL star is about to face his toughest opponent: the legal system. Antonio Brown, who shined for years as one of the top wideouts in professional football, is back in the United States to stand trial for a shooting that happened in Miami earlier this year.
Brown was extradited Thursday from Dubai and is now booked at the Essex County Correctional Facility in New Jersey, per booking documents.
A warrant for an attempted murder charge was issued earlier this year. According to WPLG in Miami, authorities said at that time that Brown was believed to be overseas.
The Miami news outlet reported U.S. Marshals went to Dubai to get Brown, once they knew he was there.
The attempted murder charge comes from an incident that happened May 17 at a boxing event put on by popular streamer Adin Ross.
At that event, Brown was allegedly seen in a fight with multiple people while holding a pistol and chasing someone.
WPLG reported back in June that a warrant was issued for Brown&#8217;s arrest, stating he was facing a second-degree attempted murder charge with a firearm. The warrant said Brown&#8217;s target was Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, who was fighting with Brown.
The former football player claimed after the incident that he was innocent.
Before Brown&#8217;s legal troubles, he was one of the most prolific players in the NFL. He played 12 seasons in the league, the majority of which were with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His storied career ended in 2022, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he infamously ran off the field during their game against the New York Jets.
Brown competed on season 22 of &#8220;Dancing with the Stars.&#8221; He finished fourth that season.
His personality shined on the football field, as well as the ballroom, where he made his phrase &#8220;business is boomin'&#8221; a popular saying among his fans.
Those days seem like a different lifetime. In recent years, Brown has made headlines for multiple arrests, including for assault and failure to pay child support, among other charges.
He&#8217;s expected to be extradited to south Florida for his latest charge. Per WPLG, authorities haven&#8217;t given any further information on when that will happen.

Antonio Brown

Business Not Boomin’ For Antonio Brown After Extradition On Attempted Murder Charge

Dubai

World

Former University of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron has entered the race for lieutenant governor, saying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk inspired him to “get off of the sidelines” and serve his state.
&#8220;Alabama&#8217;s conservative and cultural values are under attack from every direction,&#8221; McCarron said in a <a href="https://www.wsfa.com/2025/10/23/former-alabama-qb-aj-mccarron-announces-run-lieutenant-governor/">press release</a> announcing his candidacy. &#8220;That&#8217;s why Charlie Kirk&#8217;s assassination affected so many of us so deeply. His example convinced me to get off of the sidelines, get into the game, and stand tall for our conservative beliefs, so today, I&#8217;m announcing my candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama.&#8221;
McCarron was a standout quarterback at the University of Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to back-to-back BCS National Championships in 2012 and 2013 as a starter. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and spent several seasons as their backup before brief stints with the Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons. Most recently, he started at quarterback for the St. Louis BattleHawks in the United Football League.
Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to <a href="http://dailywire.com/Subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DailyWire.com/Subscribe</a> to join now.
McCarron endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016.
The ex-NFL player is currently working as a college football analyst and co-owns McCarron Real Estate with his wife, Katherine, who was Miss Alabama USA in 2012. They live in Mobile with their three children.
Earlier this year, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), the former head coach at Auburn University, announced he was running for governor of Alabama.
“The Montgomery insiders and career politicians have had their chance. It’s time for political newcomers and outsider candidates like me to lead the battle,” his statement said. “When Coach Tuberville is governor, I’ll be the quarterback who helps pass his conservative outsider agenda.”
Other GOP candidates in the lieutenant governor race include Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, pastor Dean Odle, and Nicole Jones Wadsworth, per <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46699763/ex-qb-aj-mccarron-running-alabama-lieutenant-governor">ESPN</a>. The state primaries will be held on May 19, 2026.

AJ McCarron

Charlie Kirk Just Inspired A Legendary Alabama Quarterback To Run For Office

Former Alabama QB Announces Bid For Lt Governor, Cites Charlie Kirk As His Inspiration

Alabama

Charlie Kirk

Elections

Politics

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that there are no plans to replace Bad Bunny as the halftime performer at Super Bowl LX in February.
Goodell made his first statement on the matter as backlash against the Puerto Rican performer, who only performs songs in Spanish and has expressed anti-ICE sentiments, has grown in recent weeks. A <a href="https://ew.com/petition-replace-bad-bunny-with-george-strait-super-bowl-halftime-show-passes-50000-signatures-11833542">petition</a> to replace Bad Bunny (real name Benito Ocasio) with country performer George Strait earned more than 50,000 signatures.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said of the performance, per <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show-reconsidered-nfl-126764247">ABC News</a>. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”
“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” the commissioner added. “[Ocasio] understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”
“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said of Bad Bunny’s global appeal. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.&#8221;
The artist’s selection, which was made in conjunction with Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation, was controversial because of his past anti-ICE statements, including his refusal to schedule any tour stops in the United States due to alleged fears about his fans being taken into ICE custody at his shows.
“…There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” Bad Bunny said, referring to ICE agents as “motherf***ers” and “sons of bitches.”
Ocasio also addressed the backlash he and the NFL received about none of his songs being English, advising viewers to learn Spanish if they didn’t like it.
Earlier this month, Turning Point USA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/turning-point-usa-announces-bad-bunny-free-all-american-halftime-show-to-rival-nfls">announced</a> that they would be hosting an alternative All-American Halftime Show at the same time as the Super Bowl halftime show.

Bad Bunny

NFL Commish Gives Update On Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Amid Backlash

NFL Commish Confirms They're Not Replacing Bad Bunny For Super Bowl, Despite Backlash

Music

Roger Goodell

Super Bowl

Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny addressed the backlash the NFL has been receiving after it was announced that he’d be the halftime performer at the upcoming Super Bowl, saying anyone unhappy with it should just learn Spanish.
Many people reacted negatively to the 31-year-old recording artist headlining the event, as they noted that, first and foremost, none of his songs were in English. 
Social media users also pointed out that Bad Bunny, whose legal name is Benito Ocasio, had previously refused to perform in the United States as a form of protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents enforcing federal law.
Ocasio referenced the criticism during an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.
“Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors,” Bad Bunny said in Spanish. “It’s more than a win for myself; it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.”
The singer then switched to English, saying, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bad Bunny&#8217;s monologue! <a href="https://t.co/pjS0Ejckcg">pic.twitter.com/pjS0Ejckcg</a>
— Saturday Night Live &#8211; SNL (@nbcsnl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/1974684057045786842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Reactions on social media echoed what NFL fans have been saying since it was announced that Bad Bunny would be the halftime performer.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout!</a>
“That smug, arrogant clown standing on SNL telling Americans to ‘learn Spanish’ if they want to understand his halftime show? That’s the perfect snapshot of what the NFL has become under Roger Goodell. A bloated, elitist trash heap that worships identity over unity, politics over patriotism, and virtue signaling over actual entertainment,” one commenter <a href="https://x.com/SchoenPhotog/status/1974828994764972492">wrote</a>. “The NFL can go to hell.”
“Imagine an English-speaking artist going on live TV in another country and telling the locals they have four months to learn English. They&#8217;d be canceled by morning,” another person <a href="https://x.com/asectomidnight/status/1974699539631116504">said</a>. “But when its reversed? It&#8217;s called REPRESENTATION.”
Previously, Ocasio referred to ICE agents as “motherf***ers” and “sons of bitches” in a video he posted to Instagram.
The three-time Grammy Award winner said during an interview earlier this month that he didn’t book any tour stops in the United States because he was worried ICE agents would target concert attendees.
“There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

Bad Bunny Backlash Explodes After He Tells NFL Fans To Learn Spanish

Celebrities

Puerto Rico

Saturday Night Live

singer

The NFL is facing major criticism following its announcement that artist Bad Bunny will perform at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
Critics are pointing out that the decision appears political as Bad Bunny, who hails from Puerto Rico, has refused to perform in the United States due to his disagreement with immigration enforcement and has openly denigrated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, calling them “motherf***ers” and “sons of bitches” in a <a href="https://x.com/MillyMendezpr/status/1935082845803839745">video</a> he posted to Instagram in June.
The three-time Grammy Award winner said during an <a href="https://i-d.co/article/bad-bunny-puerto-rico-residency-issue-375-cover/">interview</a> earlier this month that he didn’t book any tour stops in the United States because he was worried ICE agents would target concert attendees.
“&#8230;There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
The singer, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, released a <a href="https://media.nfl.com/news-and-releases/music-entertainment/global-sensation-bad-bunny-to-perform-at-apple-music-super-bowl-">statement</a> Sunday about performing at the Super Bowl. 
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history,” he said. 
Roc Nation will produce the show in conjunction with Apple Music. Company chairman Jay-Z said in a statement, “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
The move is being interpreted as a political statement because Ocasio has been outspoken in his political beliefs. He endorsed Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. 
Bad Bunny also supports the blurring of gender roles. “What defines a man, what defines being masculine, what defines being feminine?” he <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/bad-bunny-june-cover-profile">said</a> in a 2022 interview with GQ. “To me, a dress is a dress.” The Left celebrates the singer for wearing makeup and dresses as a way to protest against traditional masculinity.
On July 4, the singer released a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5V5WZVcVE">music video</a> for his song, “NUEVAYoL,” which included a voice meant to sound like President Trump apologizing for his crackdown on illegal immigration. 
“I want to apologize to the immigrants in America. I mean the United States. I know America is the whole continent,” the faux Trump voice says. “This country is nothing without the immigrants.”
This, along with other factors, led to an avalanche of backlash on social media. 
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck noted how most of Bad Bunny’s songs aren’t even in English. “This is not a pick designed to unite football fans or let people just enjoy the show. It was a pick designed to divide fans, and no doubt Bad Bunny will find some way to push a woke message,” he shared on X. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bad Bunny was picked by <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RocNation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RocNation</a> to play the Super Bowl this year.
He made the following racist comment: &#8220;I highly doubt the type of gringos I don’t fuck with listen to me. Those were all the people at the Super Bown who were pissed odd about how Latino the halftime show… <a href="https://t.co/UqU5Ksobkm">pic.twitter.com/UqU5Ksobkm</a>
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1972668839222526326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Are NFL owners in on this idiocy or are they just culturally that disconnected from reality and how [NFL commissioner Roger Goodell] uses the NFL to push left wing social issues?” asked Starbuck. “Is it that hard to pick a unifying music act who doesn’t want to peddle woke propaganda?”
“&#8230;This isn’t about music, it’s about putting a guy on stage who hates Trump and MAGA,” Starbuck concluded.
“I&#8217;m thoroughly convinced the NFL has no idea who Bad Bunny actually is,” another person <a href="https://x.com/redsteeze/status/1972498134145376610">quipped</a>.
The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

NFL Picks Anti-ICE, Anti-Trump Rapper Bad Bunny For Super Bowl Halftime Show

Entertainment

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Jay-Z

The days following the assassination of Charlie Kirk have been filled with tributes, both public and private, including from major corporations and celebrities. 
Ahead of Sunday’s NFL games, a league spokesperson said it would be left to individual teams to decide whether to acknowledge Charlie Kirk’s tragic death. Some clubs chose to do so, while others did not.
The Tennessee Titans displayed a photo of Kirk and his family on the Jumbotron while observing a moment of silence before the game.
The Miami Dolphins also held a moment of silence for Kirk, the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and “any other victims of violence.” They also offered a “prayer for unity in our country.”
The New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys honored Kirk’s memory, while the New Orleans Saints held a moment of silence.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Even the DALLAS COWBOYS just honored Charlie Kirk on their big screen, holding a moment of silence
Afterward, the crowd broke out in cheers and applause!
Absolutely NOBODY knew how loved Charlie loved until he was gone ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/LtbK3SXKoI">pic.twitter.com/LtbK3SXKoI</a>
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1967302647003984138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Kansas City Chiefs made an announcement at Arrowhead Stadium before their game Sunday night. It said, “Our nation has witnessed several acts of senseless violence in recent weeks, including the deaths of schoolchildren in Colorado, churchgoers in Minnesota, and Charlie Kirk in Utah.”
“At this time, we ask you to join us in a moment of silence as we remember those we have lost.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers did not hold an audible tribute but marked the occasion with a pregame flyover and flags at half-staff.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings chose not to hold any tributes for Kirk.
The Colts explained that the team instead held a moment of silence for Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil, the namesake of their stadium. They noted this tribute had been scheduled since his death last month. 
Prior to the weekend, the Green Bay Packers held a moment of silence before their Thursday night game against the Washington Commanders on September 11, one day after Kirk’s assassination.
“He was a national figure,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a <a href="https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-teams-held-moment-silence-173347810.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHad-ke6OB-aLl4yHefMeCFEo_4IBe4TVCZ-RtSidcso0xWRLI8kL9WwYMGcuAZaBW9jBTFZGMlRRTuYD4jFWgITejZU94vbGONf6Ovf4ywOxk-uuH18Q_7eChQkgo-MHweBNX_t_hl9ob7N8Ru7H6D6tyAYvhIFfAnxoARx6-WD">statement</a> to USA Today Sports. “The murder took place about 24 hours before the game.”
“There have been a variety of moments of silence and tributes in-stadium and on-air in all games or a game immediately following events that rise to a national level. Clubs also often hold moments following a tragic event that affects their community.”
Outside of football, other professional sports teams also paid tribute, including Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen, who wrote “Charlie Kirk” on the side of his hat between two crosses. The New York Yankees also observed a moment of silence before their game on Wednesday. 
A memorial for Kirk <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/charlie-kirk-memorial-to-be-held-next-sunday-in-massive-nfl-stadium">will be held</a> next Sunday, September 21, at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale. The venue seats 63,000 people.

Charlie Kirk tribute

NFL Didn’t Require Tributes, But Teams Honored Charlie Kirk Anyway

NFL Teams Weren't Mandated To Honor Charlie Kirk, But Many Did It Anyway

assassination

Menu