Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore will not serve jail time after being convicted of stalking his ex-mistress, Paige Shiver.
Moore was instead sentenced Tuesday to 18 months of probation by Judge Cedric Simpson in Washtenaw County Court, as The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/14/sports/ex-michigan-football-coach-sherrone-moore-sentenced-to-probation-for-stalking-incident-involving-ex-mistress/">reported</a>. The former head coach appeared in court arm-in-arm with his wife, with whom he shares three children.
Prosecutors said Moore threatened to kill himself in front of Shiver, with whom he had been having a relationship. The 40-year-old had faced charges including felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. Shiver was Moore&#8217;s executive assistant during their two-year affair.
Details of the charges were first revealed during Moore&#8217;s arraignment in December, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sherrone-moore-charged-with-home-invasion-threatened-to-kill-himself-prosecutors-say">reported</a>.
According to prosecutors, Moore forced his way into Shiver&#8217;s apartment in mid-December, grabbed several butter knives and a pair of scissors, and threatened to take his own life after repeatedly calling and texting her. 
“I am going to kill myself. I am going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You’ve ruined my life,” Moore said, according to prosecutors.
First Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said Shiver, 32, was terrorized by a &#8220;series of very intimidating and terrifying statements and behaviors&#8221; inside the apartment.
Prosecutors said Shiver and Moore had been in an intimate relationship for years before she broke it off, which they argued led to Moore’s erratic behavior. 
Judge Simpson noted the seriousness of Moore’s crimes during sentencing. 
“You had no right to do what you did,” the judge stated, per the Post. “I know that [Shiver] was placed in fear. It was a traumatic experience that day for you. It was certainly a traumatic experience for her.&#8221;
“You had no right to spread your pain to her,” Simpson added. “I don’t know where your wife, Kelli, finds her strength… you, sir, took her for granted.”
Moore’s lawyer said he has taken steps to address his behavior since the incident. 
“Sherrone has engaged in counseling, gained insight into his life … recentered himself around his family and taken responsibility, expressing genuine remorse,” attorney Ellen Michaels said.
The judge ordered Moore to have no contact with Shiver. His probation is set to be reviewed in October.

Sherrone Moore

Former Michigan Football Coach Sentenced After Stalking Ex-Mistress

College Football

College sports

Crime

Football

Michigan

Sports

University of Michigan

Mike Vrabel is executing a different type of defense this week as the New England Patriots coach and former Super Bowl champ responds to photos capturing him in a pool with veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Vrabel and Russini, both married, were caught holding hands, hugging, and lounging in the water recently at a resort in Sedona, Arizona.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and top NY Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini hold hands and hug at luxury hotel <a href="https://t.co/BpPD0ScwBQ">https://t.co/BpPD0ScwBQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/xrdqqmgDUC">pic.twitter.com/xrdqqmgDUC</a>
— Page Six (@PageSix) <a href="https://twitter.com/PageSix/status/2041644814626615436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
The pictures, first published by the New York Post&#8217;s Page Six, appear to show more than an off-the-record conversation between the NFL coach and the reporter for The Athletic, though both deny any wrongdoing.
&#8220;These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,&#8221; Vrabel told the <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/07/celebrity-news/new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-and-top-ny-times-nfl-reporter-dianna-russini-hold-hands-and-hug-at-luxury-hotel/">Post</a>. &#8220;This doesn’t deserve any further response.&#8221;
A &#8220;Page Six Spy&#8221; reported Vrabel and Russini had breakfast on the patio of the Ambiente Sedona luxury resort on March 28 before hitting the pool and lounging together in a hot tub.
Russini&#8217;s representative says she was in Arizona on a girls&#8217; trip with a group of friends, though no one else is visible in the published images.
&#8220;The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,&#8221; Russini told The Post.  &#8220;Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.&#8221;
Russini, who worked for ESPN for years before joining The Athletic, has been married to Shake Shack exec Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020. The couple has two young sons.
Vrabel has been married for more than two decades. They have two sons; the oldest played for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots coach and NFL insider have a long professional history, too. Before taking over in New England, Vrabel spent six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the team Russini regularly covered in Nashville during her time at ESPN.
The Athletic is standing by its senior NFL insider, who also hosts the &#8220;Scoop City: Inside the NFL&#8221; podcast.
&#8220;These photos are misleading and lack essential context,&#8221; Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, told The Post. &#8220;These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.&#8221;
After the weekend in Arizona, both Vrabel and Russini attended the NFL&#8217;s annual meetings in Phoenix.
Russini later filed a report to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7167284/2026/04/02/annual-nfl-coaches-photo-2026-edition-plus-no-1-qbs-pro-day/">The Athletic</a> about her interactions with NFL coaches in Arizona. The first line of the piece reads: &#8220;The NFL offseason means … controversial headlines.&#8221;
The NFL offseason drama now involving Vrabel and Russini continues as the league moves toward Draft Day later this month.

Credit: Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire/Chris Graythen via Getty Images

‘It’s Laughable’: Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Downplays Poolside Photos With Married NFL Reporter

ESPN

News

Patriots

The Athletic

Twenty-five centuries ago, Thucydides wrote of heroic men that their story, after death, “abides everywhere without visible symbol, woven into the stuff of other men’s lives.” We know them when they are gone by their enduring effect upon us, and upon those who knew them — and upon those whom they never knew, but who live and flourish in the shade of their works. The hero lives beyond his own.
That was the late great Coach Lou Holtz in full. After 89 years on the field, he has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beloved-notre-dame-football-coach-lou-holtz-dies-at-89">gone on</a> to his reward — and he also lives on, among us, in the lives he transformed, and in the country he served.
He was the greatest of men — a college football hall of famer, a devoted father, and a faithful Christian.
He was also one of my best friends. I had the opportunity to reflect upon his friendship, and his example, at his visitation and memorial in South Bend, Indiana this week. Seeing the men and women gathered there — the friends and family, and just as importantly the Americans who he never knew but knew him — it was impossible to miss the simple truth. Lou Holtz was a heroic man. It was a quiet heroism, a modest heroism, and a heroism he would have denied with all sincerity. But his life was one of heroism all the same.
Selfless service and a solid personal example, you see, can be heroic in their way. He possessed both in full.
<div id="attachment_1060871" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1060871" class="size-large wp-image-1060871" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-864x576.jpg" alt="GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: ESPN reporter Lou Holtz looks on during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-108124301.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</div>
Coach Holtz was a source of inspiration to me ever since we first met 33 years ago at the 1993 Cotton Bowl game, where Texas A&amp;M played Notre Dame, and I was the Cotton Bowl Queen. It was a cold, cold day out, but it turned out to be the beginning of a warm, lifelong friendship.
Coach Holtz famously said, “God did not put us on this earth to be ordinary.” And his extraordinary life proves that he lived up to those words better than most.
We could point to his many victories on the field, as the only college football coach in history to lead six different programs to bowl games and four different programs to final top 15 rankings.
But those victories are just part of the story — the fruits of a lifelong commitment to servant leadership.
In addition to serving as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, Coach Holtz was active in national politics for many years. Decades after we first met, we reunited when I was at the helm of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. As the years went on, we developed a bond over a shared vision for America that solidified under President Trump. Coach Holtz was an early supporter of the president, who awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020 — an honor that was well deserved.
Coach Holtz was a great American, a great coach, a great man. But most important in the eyes of God: he was a good man. He was never content with merely speaking about the Gospel — he was intent on putting it into practice. His decades of charitable work, most recently through the Holtz’s Heroes Foundation, served communities in need and provided scholarships to former student-athletes facing financial, physical, or mental hardships.
In 2021, he helped me launch the America First Policy Institute, which he later told me was the most important team he would ever be a part of. Instead of kicking his feet up, he spent his final years coaching America back to greatness and inspired countless Americans along the way — including me. The last time I saw him, he was still working, still laboring, still leading for the causes he held dear — God and America.
Whether on the football field, on the civic field, or on the field of faith, Coach Holtz carried the ball and kept the flame of greatness alive. Although he’s no longer with us, his dedication to truth and goodness lives on in the lives of those he impacted. There are so many who will walk in the paths he set forth without knowing it was him who gave them the opening drive. But we who know, we who loved him, we will always remember.
Thank you, Coach, for your life, for your example, and for your faith. We won’t let you down.
* * *
Brooke L. Rollins is the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Disclaimer: Brooke Rollins is writing in her personal capacity as a private citizen and the views expressed herein are solely her own.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Remembering Lou Holtz, The Coach America Needed

Bible

Charity

Coach

NCAA football

Notre Dame University

Opinion

Secretary of Agriculture

Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz has died at the age of 89, the university <a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/legendary-national-championship-coach-lou-holtz-passes-away/">announced</a> on Wednesday.
A cause of death was not immediately stated.
Holtz was considered one of the most influential coaches in college football history, winning 249 games as a collegiate head coach. He began his coaching career at William &amp; Mary in 1969 and spent one season in the NFL before returning to college football.
One hundred of those wins happened at Notre Dame, where he served as head coach from 1986 until 1996.
“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. said in a statement published on their website.
“Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University.”
The statement went on, “Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”
Holtz called coaching for Notre Dame “the dream of a lifetime.” 
&#8220;I remember at school that we would pray every Friday before a game for Notre Dame&#8217;s success,” he said, per <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48103098/legendary-football-coach-commentator-lou-holtz-dies-89">ESPN</a>. “So, it&#8217;s just part of our religion. It&#8217;s a part of the way we are, and the football team should reflect the values of Notre Dame. That means we had to play with great enthusiasm, we had to play together. We had to play with great character, great integrity, but we also should be playing for our lady on the Dome.&#8221;
After retiring from coaching, Holtz worked in television, including spending more than a decade with ESPN.
The coach was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, the university website noted, and was the man behind several honored Notre Dame football traditions including the “Play Like A Champion” sign in the locker room.
Holtz was also a close friend and longtime supporter of Donald Trump. The president honored Holtz with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in December of 2020 for his contributions to the nation. 
Holtz is survived by his four children, Luanne, Lou “Skip” Junior, Kevin and Elizabeth. The latter three graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
&#8220;He was successful, but more important he was Significant,&#8221; his son Skip <a href="https://x.com/CoachSHoltz/status/2029313222537253174">shared</a> on X.

Lou Holtz

Beloved Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz Dies At 89

Death

Before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots even kick off for Super Bowl LX in San Francisco on Sunday, the game will already be in the record books as the first Super Bowl to feature two teams that missed the playoffs the previous season.
The unusual Super Bowl matchup is a fitting ending to a season that saw the downfall of past seasons&#8217; dominant teams and the rise of new talent. At the beginning of the 2025 season, neither the Seahawks nor the Patriots were expected to compete for a Super Bowl. The Seahawks, coming off a 10-7 record in 2024, were overlooked in a stacked NFC West division this year. The Patriots, meanwhile, were believed to be in the middle of a long rebuild with a young quarterback after finishing with just four wins last season.
But now, both teams have clawed their way to the biggest game in sports.
At first glance, Super Bowl LX seems to lack the intrigue that NFL fans are accustomed to. There&#8217;s no dynasty looking to collect more hardware and there&#8217;s no superstar quarterback who&#8217;s expected to dominate the game. But Super Bowl LX has plenty of storylines to make it a must-watch game.
<h3>Redemption on Both Sides</h3>
<div id="attachment_1040521" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040521" class="wp-image-1040521 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2257728168.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />SEATTLE, WASHINGTON &#8211; JANUARY 25: Sam Darnold (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)</div>
When Seattle runs out of the tunnel and onto the field at Levi&#8217;s Stadium, it will be led by quarterback Sam Darnold, whose NFL career appeared to be reduced to playing full-time backup just two years ago. Darnold was picked No. 3 overall in the 2018 draft by the New York Jets with the hope that he would become the team&#8217;s franchise quarterback. The hype around Darnold in New York, however, lasted only three seasons as he went just 13-25 with the Jets before he was traded to the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2021 season.
In Carolina, Darnold played well in some games, but dealt with injuries and battled to remain a starter before he was let go and signed by the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. In San Francisco, Darnold backed up young QB Brock Purdy and made his first Super Bowl appearance, but he didn&#8217;t contribute much to the Super Bowl run, only appearing in one game all season.
In 2024, Darnold got another chance on a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, where he became the starting quarterback and led the team to a surprising 14-3 record and a playoff appearance. Darnold&#8217;s solid season with the Vikings wasn&#8217;t enough to keep the critics off his back as many analysts and commentators slammed him for choking in big games down the stretch. His impressive record with the Vikings also wasn&#8217;t enough to keep him in Minnesota as the team opted to let Darnold go, and he was quickly signed by the Seahawks.
Many thought of Darnold as a reliable veteran who could lead a team to some wins while it continued to build up the offensive line and receiving core, but despite leading the league in turnovers this season, Darnold did enough to lead the Seahawks to the best record in the NFC and a dominant playoff run.
<div id="attachment_1040523" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040523" class="wp-image-1040523 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258770424.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />DENVER, COLORADO &#8211; JANUARY 25: Mike Vrabel (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)</div>
There&#8217;s a redemption arc on the New England sideline, too, where head coach Mike Vrabel is hoping to win a Super Bowl in his first year with the Patriots after being fired by the Tennessee Titans in 2023. Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker, is also looking to become the first person in NFL history to win Super Bowls as a player and a coach for the same franchise.
Vrabel&#8217;s journey to the big game was likely not what he envisioned. Just a few years ago, Vrabel appeared destined to be the man to lead the Tennessee Titans into glory. Under Vrabel, the Titans made a remarkable playoff run in 2018, defeating Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots and then beating the AFC&#8217;s best team, the Baltimore Ravens, to reach their first AFC championship game since 2002. The Titans would eventually lose to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who went on to win Super Bowl LIV.
Vrabel reached the playoffs with the Titans again in 2020 and 2021, attaining the #1 overall seed in the AFC in 2021. The Titans, however, struggled in those playoff appearances, losing in the wild card round to the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 and getting upset by the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round in 2021.
In a shocking decision, the Titans fired Vrabel after rough seasons in 2022 and 2023. Vrabel took a break from coaching the following season before he was hired by the Patriots ahead of the 2025 season. In just one season with New England, Vrabel has already proven that he should have never been fired, but a Super Bowl ring would put an exclamation point on his return to the NFL.
&#8220;From Day 1, he set that standard. That culture,&#8221; Patriots linebacker Harold Landry <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-players-laud-mike-vrabel-for-setting-standard-for-super-bowl-turnaround">said</a> of Vrabel. &#8220;And he brought in guys to kind of help him with that message. [Vrabel] is just at the forefront of it all. Guys have a lot of respect for him because he&#8217;s been here and done it as a player.&#8221;
<h3>Rematch of the Unforgettable</h3>
<div id="attachment_1040525" style="width: 864px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040525" class="wp-image-1040525 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-854x576.jpg" alt="" width="854" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-854x576.jpg 854w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-300x202.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694-768x518.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-474971694.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px" />GLENDALE, AZ &#8211; FEBRUARY 01: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots intercepts the pass at the goal line late in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</div>
The Seahawks and Patriots last met in the Super Bowl on February 1, 2015, in Glendale, Arizona. It&#8217;s a game that won&#8217;t be soon forgotten — no matter how hard Seahawks fans try to erase it from their minds. Simply saying the phrase &#8220;2nd down from the one-yard-line&#8221; or the name &#8220;Marshawn Lynch&#8221; is all that&#8217;s needed to evoke memories of that unforgettable game when Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7rPIg7ZNQ8">inexplicably decided</a> to throw the ball on a game-deciding play from the one-yard line instead of handing it off to one of the league&#8217;s most dominant running backs, and Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler jumped the route and intercepted Russell Wilson.
Of course, this year, Carrol is not calling plays on the Seattle sideline, and Wilson and Lynch won&#8217;t be lining up together. New England&#8217;s team is no longer defined by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick&#8217;s dynasty, but the shadow from that 2015 Super Bowl still looms, and if Seattle lines up at the New England one-yard line late in the 4th quarter, there will be no escaping the comparisons to the play call from more than a decade ago.
<h3>An Opportunity for History</h3>
<div id="attachment_1040527" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040527" class="wp-image-1040527 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2258688802.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />DENVER, CO &#8211; JANUARY 25: Drake Maye (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)</div>
While Sam Darnold goes for redemption, 23-year-old Patriot Drake Maye is seeking to become the youngest starting quarterback to ever win the Super Bowl. If he hoists the Lombardi trophy on Sunday night, Maye — who is 23 years and 162 days old — would surpass Steelers great Ben Roethlisberger, who won his first Super Bowl at 23 years and 340 days old.
Maye, who was taken by the Patriots as the third overall draft pick in 2024, became one of the NFL&#8217;s most consistent quarterbacks in his second season. Maye ranked fourth this season in total passing yards at 4,394, which was just ahead of Darnold&#8217;s 4,048 yards. Maye was also third in the NFL in total touchdown passes with 31.
The New England quarterback has a lot to live up to after Brady&#8217;s two decades of MVPs and Super Bowl championships for the Patriots. But the young gunslinger Maye is off to an impressive start, and if he gets his Super Bowl ring on Sunday alongside his new head coach, things in New England will look eerily similar to 2002 — only Maye would be one year younger than Brady was when the all-time great won his first Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LX

Redemption, Rematch, And Records: Super Bowl LX Is Filled With Great Storylines

General

New England Patriots

San Francisco

Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl

U.S.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell promised reporters that Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny would refrain from spouting divisive rhetoric during the big game on Sunday.
Goodell responded to questions about potential political statements from the singer, saying, “I think Bad Bunny, and I think that was demonstrated last night [at the Grammys], is one of the great artists in the world, and that’s one of the reasons we chose him.”
“But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on and that this platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents, and to be able to use this moment to do that,” he continued, per <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/02/nfl-roger-goodell-bad-bunny-political-statements-ice-super-bowl-lx-1236706763/">Deadline</a>. “I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.” The NFL commissioner&#8217;s statements come as rumors circulate that the Puerto Rican singer, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, is planning to wear a dress to the event. Ocasio has been outspoken in his political views so far and didn’t mince words during his Grammys acceptance speech.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out,” the singer said from the stage during the awards ceremony Sunday night. “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans,” he added.
Ocasio previously referred to ICE agents as “motherf*ckers” and “sons of b*tches” in a video he posted to Instagram. The three-time Grammy Award-winner said during an interview 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. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said.
Goodell previously defended choosing Bad Bunny as the halftime performer at Super Bowl LX after significant backlash following the announcement last fall.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfl-commish-gives-update-on-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-amid-backlash">said</a> of the performance. “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.”
Turning Point USA announced it would host an alternative event to rival the Super Bowl halftime show, as many Americans questioned the selection of Bad Bunny as the headliner.
The lineup for “The All-American Halftime Show” was announced Monday. Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett will take the stage in a show TPUSA says will celebrate faith, family, and freedom, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/turning-point-usa-unveils-star-studded-all-american-halftime-show-to-rival-super-bowls-bad-bunny">reported</a>.
“We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” Kid Rock said in a statement, per Fox News. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible, or is it? He said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.&#8221;

Bad Bunny

NFL’s Goodell Promises Bad Bunny ‘Understands’ His Role For Super Bowl

Roger Goodell Implies Bad Bunny Won't Get Political At Super Bowl Like He Did At Grammys

Entertainment

Halftime Show

Roger Goodell

The NFL is being dragged for appointing a “Chief Kindness Officer” ahead of Super Bowl LX next weekend.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that the league is partnering with more than 160 “creators” to promote the Super Bowl in the week leading up to the big game. This includes naming YouTuber Dhar Mann as “Chief Kindness Officer,” a nod to his feel-good content, and having him produce football-themed videos on kindness.
The outlet noted that Mann will release the content on both his channel and the NFL’s official channel. This “series of digital, social, and on-the-ground activations” is reportedly “designed to activate kindness and sportsmanship across fans and players throughout Super Bowl events.”
For example, the “Be Kind To Your Rival” social campaign encourages fans to say nice things about opposing teams and their fans. Mann will donate $1 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, up to $100,000, for every qualifying post that includes the #KindnessWinsBig hashtag.
“Instead of a halftime show, we’re gonna do a hug time show,” Mann said in a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dhar.mann/video/7600906194936450335">TikTok video</a> promoting the partnership with the NFL. At another point, he tells the refs, “How about instead of throwing these [penalty] flags, we just present them nicely.” The video also shows Mann encouraging football players to find nice things to say about their opponents.
The campaign has sparked widespread mockery on social media, with fans saying the move underscores how out of touch the NFL is with its audience.  
“The NFL has no idea of who their fan base is,” one X reply <a href="https://x.com/plzbepatient/status/2017023884378407422?s=43">said</a>. 
“Not sure any business hates their fans more than the @NFL and @nflcommish Roger Goodell,” conservative activist Robby Starbuck <a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/2017052441229889605">agreed</a>. “People are watching for champions and gladiators, not to have a chief kindness officer. Ridiculous.”
“They have ignored the real fans in search of mythical fans that do not exist and could not care less about football in general; however, they will cry victim at the first hint that they aren&#8217;t being catered to,” another comment said.
Critics have also pointed to Mann’s past legal troubles. In 2011, he pleaded no contest to five felony counts of defrauding the city of Oakland after being accused of stealing $44,000 in redevelopment grant funds, per <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/style/dhar-mann-youtube.html">The New York Times</a>. He was fined $37,500 and served no time.
Mann told the outlet in 2021 that the conviction was later expunged.

Dhar Mann

NFL Slammed For Appointing ‘Chief Kindness Officer’ Ahead Of Super Bowl

NFL Absolutely Trashed For Appointing 'Chief Kindness Officer' Ahead Of Super Bowl

Social Media

Superbowl

YouTube

President Trump confirmed he’s not attending the Super Bowl this year, complaining about the slate of performers and saying it ultimately came down to the distance he’d have to travel.
Trump told The New York Post during an Oval Office <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/24/us-news/trump-tells-the-post-hes-skipping-the-super-bowl-slams-halftime-performers-bad-bunny-and-green-day/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_sf_cserv_ref=17469289&amp;utm_sf_post_ref=658557296&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social">interview</a> that he wasn’t pleased with the selection of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny for the halftime show, or with the addition of Green Day for the opening ceremony. Both bands have made statements against the Trump administration and their policies.
“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” the president said. He also noted that his reason for skipping was that the Super Bowl is being played this year in California.
“It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve [gotten] great hands [at] the Super Bowl. They like me,” Trump told NY Post. “I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”
Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl while in office last year when he watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. That game took place in New Orleans.
Trump already said it was “absolutely ridiculous” that Bad Bunny was selected to perform at Super Bowl LX this year.
“This guy does not seem like a unifying entertainer and a lot of folks don’t even know who he is,” Newsmax’s Greg Kelly said during a phone interview in October, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-absolutely-ridiculous-that-nfl-chose-bad-bunny-for-super-bowl-halftime-show">reported</a>. Kelly asked Trump if people should “entertain blowing off the NFL.”
“I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s crazy, and then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment, I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Trump added.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, had already said he refused to perform in the United States due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers doing their jobs and enforcing federal immigration laws.
Ocasio referred to ICE agents as “motherf***ers” and “sons of b****es” in a video he posted to Instagram.
The three-time Grammy Award-winner said during an interview 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. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Social media users also pointed out that none of Bad Bunny’s songs are in English. He later addressed the backlash he and the NFL received following the announcement, advising viewers to learn Spanish if they didn’t like it.

Donald Trump

Trump Says He’s Skipping Super Bowl, Slams ‘Terrible’ Halftime Act

Trump Says He's Skipping Super Bowl, Slams 'Terrible' Halftime Act

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Music

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

Religion

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.”
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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 Charged With Home Invasion, Threatened To Kill Himself, Prosecutors Say

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.
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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;

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

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