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Boeing lands $20B-plus Navy deal for sixth-generation fighter to deliver ‘absolute air superiority’
The U.S. Navy has tapped Boeing to build a new fighter jet that officials say will help American pilots dominate the skies, defeat enemies and come home safely.
The Department of War announced Tuesday that Boeing secured a contract worth more than $20 billion for full-scale development of the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation strike fighter intended to expand the reach of Navy aircraft carriers and eventually replace some of the service’s longtime combat aircraft.
The deal gives Boeing its second sixth-generation fighter program following its selection for the Air Force’s F-47 in 2025, the company said.
"Delivering two advanced fighters in parallel was always our plan, and we invested accordingly. We are ready and able to build multiple concurrent future combat aircraft franchise programs," Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said in a statement.
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The Navy contract includes multiple test aircraft for ground testing, airworthiness evaluations and systems and weapons integration, according to the Department of War.
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"The F/A-XX is a critical pillar in our commitment to maintaining peace through strength. F/A-XX will dominate contested airspace, extend operational reach, and deliver a decisive combat advantage for the warfighter," Michael P. Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said in the announcement.
Duffey called the aircraft a "crucial, non-negotiable investment" in America’s national security and long-term air combat capabilities.
"We are joining forces with Boeing to field these capabilities rapidly, ensuring our warfighters possess the lethal and highly networked systems required to deter aggression, project undisputed power, and secure absolute air superiority," he said.
The F/A-XX falls under the Next Generation Air Dominance program. The department said the carrier-based fighter will extend the Navy’s operational reach and work alongside both manned and unmanned aircraft, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
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Officials said the fighter will also increase the capability of the unmanned aircraft it teams with.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao hailed the contract as the beginning of "a new era" for the service.
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"The Sixth-Generation fighter is a generational leap in air superiority and will provide the world’s best aviators with unparalleled capabilities to fight, win, and come home safe," Cao said.
"We are excited to partner with Boeing, and for our warfighters to continue to dominate the skies and defeat our nation’s enemies."
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Boeing said the aircraft will bring advances in mission systems and operational reach and capacity, though technical and program details remain classified under U.S. national security and export laws.
"It’s an honor to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth-generation platform," Parker said, adding that the company’s team is "ready to execute this critical program."
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The company said construction continues on a secure manufacturing facility in St. Louis as it prepares to build multiple aircraft with next-generation capabilities.
"Investment in facilities is just one part of the story; we’re also investing in technology and people so that we can deliver for our customers," Parker said.
Beginning in the 2030s, the F/A-XX is expected to augment and eventually replace legacy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, according to the Department of War. It will also operate alongside the F-35C.
John Goodman and wife Anna Beth Goodman enjoy rare date night at 'Digger' premiere
John Goodman and his wife, Anna Beth Goodman, had a rare date night out at the Los Angeles premiere of "Digger."
The "Roseanne" actor wore a simple black suit, with a stripped-collared shirt and a grey tie. Anna Beth was photographed wearing a deep plum gown with a black clutch.
John and Anna Beth have been married since 1989, after meeting at a Halloween party in New Orleans. The couple welcomed their daughter, Molly Evangeline, in 1990 and chose to raise her in New Orleans away from the Hollywood spotlight.
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The "Digger" premiere date night outing was another opportunity for John to show off his impressive weight loss.
John began his weight-loss journey in 2007, when he weighed nearly 400 pounds. After getting sober, he worked with personal trainer Mackie Shilstone, adopted a Mediterranean-style diet and focused on portion control.
In 2010, Goodman revealed that he had lost more than 100 pounds after cutting sugar from his diet and committing to regular exercise, including working out six days a week.
"I just stopped eating all the time," he told ABC News in 2016. "I’d have a handful of food, and it’d go to my mouth. I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically. In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a six-pack of Bud or whatever and just go back to my old habits."
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Goodman turned to boxing and daily walks as his form of movement.
"I dug it. Yeah. Nobody’s going to get hurt, but it’s just hitting the mitts and trying to learn," he told The Rolling Stone in 2023. "I never got good enough where I would trust myself to spar because once I get whacked in the face, I don’t know if I wouldn’t lose it."
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"But it’s usually just an hour, hour and a half of hitting the mitts, hitting the bags, learning footwork. It’s great," Goodman added.
"The Big Lebowski" actor has also credited giving up alcohol as a contributing factor.
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Goodman quit drinking in 2007 following years of alcohol abuse. He has spoken candidly about the moment he realized he needed to make a change, saying he wanted to "live life better."
Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
‘F--- her’: Jasmine Crockett torched by ex-Dem colleague over who she left off endorsement list
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, drew backlash from a former colleague for leaving James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, off her list of endorsements on Monday.
Talarico, who beat Crockett in the party’s Senate primary earlier this year, was not among 14 candidates supported by Crockett’s Feuling Individual Rights Everywhere (FIRE) PAC. To former Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., who served 3 terms, the list is clear evidence Crockett is putting personal reservations over the party’s success in the Lone Star State.
"F*** her. That’s all I can say. And that statement has nothing to do with blind loyalty to Dems," Wild said in a post to X. "It has everything to do with her being a narcissistic drama queen who has used her platform (such as it is) only to advance herself. Karma will suck."
Wild’s post is just the most recent controversy surrounding Crockett, a progressive who has called on her party to inch farther left through fiery rhetoric that’s garnered national attention during her time in Congress.
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In the past, Crockett has drawn scrutiny for incendiary comments like calling Gov. Greg Abbott, who is permanently in a wheelchair, "Governor Hot Wheels," describing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., as having a "beach-blong, bad-built, butch body," and describing MAGA Latino voters as having a "slave mentality."
Most recently, Crockett received public backlash for entering Chris Brown into the congressional record, honoring his musical legacy in the Black community despite a history of violence against women.
JASMINE CROCKETT TORCHED FOR HONORING SINGER WITH NOTORIOUS HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: 'COMPLETELY VILE'
Crockett posted her own reply to Wild and others, noting that she had personally extended congratulations to Talarico after he beat her earlier this year in the March primary.
"Y’all are corny! Keep receipts. I’ll be happy when people either give a damn about FACTS or news media goes back to the news instead of deciding to ride the tabloid lane. NOW FOR THE 1000th time maybe write an article about KEN F*in PAXTON. Y’all sound like corny groupies," Crockett wrote.
Crockett, who lost to Talarico in a race decided 52.4% to 46.2%, did endorse Talarico the day after the election after results were finalized.
"This morning I called James and congratulated him on becoming the Senate nominee. Texas is primed to turn blue, and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win," Crockett wrote.
"I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot," Crockett added.
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Notably, Crockett’s FIRE PAC has raised only $144,960 and mostly focuses on smaller races. All of the 14 candidates listed on the post highlighted by Wild are state or local candidates. Gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa was also not on the list.
Representatives for Crockett did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Suspect accused of killing Pittsburgh pediatrician sexually assaulted woman hours earlier: police
The suspect accused of killing a Pittsburgh pediatrician and critically injuring his wife during a midnight home invasion allegedly sexually assaulted a separate woman in public just hours earlier.
Elijah Hemingway, 32, allegedly ambushed the woman Wednesday morning as she was walking along a path that connects to an alley in Wilkinsburg, the Allegheny County Police Department said in a Facebook post Saturday.
Officials alleged Hemingway then stole the woman's cell phone during the incident.
Authorities said the victim did not know Hemingway before the alleged assault.
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Wilkinsburg police then notified Allegheny County detectives, who further investigated the alleged sexual assault alongside the homicide case.
Detectives recovered "multiple items connecting Hemingway to the reported sexual assault, along with the victim's cell phone that was reported stolen during the incident," Allegheny County police said.
After a consultation with the district attorney's office, county police said they filed additional charges against Hemingway, including rape, sexual assault and robbery.
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The Wilkinsburg attack happened just outside Edgewood, Pennsylvania, where Hemingway allegedly entered a home and stabbed a couple just hours later while they were sleeping early Thursday morning.
The pediatrician killed in the attack was identified as Dr. Idris Evans, 46, who was pronounced dead after first responders rushed him to a hospital.
According to a police report, Hemingway attacked the couple while in his underwear. Evans' wife told police that he appeared "psychotic" and claimed to be "God" during the incident.
As the couple fought back, Evans' wife yelled for their children, ages 8 and 12, to get out of the house, according to the police report.
She also told investigators that Evans called the attacker "Elijah," as though he knew him, according to the police report. However, county authorities told KDKA they could not confirm whether Evans and Hemingway had any preexisting relationship.
Evans' wife told police she did not know the suspect and was unsure how he entered their home.
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During the investigation, police said Hemingway gave an account of the night that did not align with their findings.
Hemingway claimed Evans had invited him back to the home hours earlier and allowed him inside, according to the police report. He also accused Evans of attacking him with a knife and said he sustained a stab wound to his back, the report said.
However, authorities said they found no stab wound on Hemingway's back and could not locate a bicycle he claimed to have used to get to the home.
Authorities brought seven charges against Hemingway in Thursday's attack, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and trespassing.
Court records show that Hemingway, who has a criminal history dating back to 2016, was released without bail in July in a February burglary.
Fox News' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Actor Chazz Palminteri rips Sonny Gray, recalls 'surreal' Robert De Niro story on 'The Craig Carton Show'
Oscar-nominated actor and Bronx native Chazz Palminteri joined OutKick's "The Craig Carton Show," offering his thoughts on MLB pitcher Sonny Gray, throwing his support behind the Giants' signing of JJ McCarthy, and reflecting on his working relationship with Robert De Niro.
Palminteri, a lifelong New York sports fan, recounted a cold personal encounter with current Boston Red Sox starter Sonny Gray from Gray's stint with the Yankees.
"Here's something I got to say: Sonny Gray, Sonny, you hear me, Sonny? Sonny Gray, that son of a b– –h," Palminteri said.
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"And I'll tell you why: because I went to meet with him when he was with the Yankees, and he was like, 'Ah, you know... really?' I said, 'You don't, Sonny? From one Sonny to another Sonny...' I was doing the whole bit with my restaurants. He goes, 'Well, I'm busy.' I said, 'Okay.'"
Palminteri pointed to Gray's 6.98 home ERA in pinstripes, arguing the righty folds under the spotlight.
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"Sonny Gray is the ace of the Boston staff. He's pitching Game 2. Why is he not pitching Game 1? He's the ace!" Palminteri said. "You know why? He chokes. He can't pitch. And you know what? We're going to have to see him pitch in the Bronx. He cannot pitch in the Bronx. Never! He was a failed Yankee. Every other place he goes, huge success. In the Bronx, he chokes!"
Transitioning to Hollywood ... Palminteri shared the moment he realized his life was changing while developing "A Bronx Tale" ('93) alongside Robert De Niro, who directed the gangster flick. Palminteri wrote the story and developed it from his one-man stage show.
"Think of somebody saying to you right now, 'Hey, Craig, you know, I love your show. Listen, I think your life is really interesting. Robert De Niro wants to do your life story, and he wants to play your father.' You would be like, 'What the f– –k?' Right?" Palminteri recalled.
"I hit the elevator button. I'm going down the elevator, and I went, 'I just acted with Robert De Niro!' And I said no to him for lunch!" Palminteri joked. "I was like, 'What the f ...'
"That's when it hit me. And then I got off the elevator and I went, 'All right, it's all right. Come on, babe, you belong here. You waited your whole life for this.' Then I was okay. He's on Mount Rushmore. If you want to put four up there, he's up there."
In a "Usual Suspects"-level plot twist, Palminteri shockingly backed the Giants' polarizing signing of backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Palminteri argued that early career struggles do not define a player's potential, pointing to guys like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield who got drafted, bombed, busted, and then roared back.
"I'm telling you, the kid's got a strong arm. Definitely better than, I hate this, Jameis Winston. I don't like him because he's got happy feet, and he's afraid to get hit, and I could see it in his eyes," Palminteri said. "He makes these stupid throws where you just go, 'God, he got away with that.'"
"I want a young arm, a young pair of legs in there. And I'm happy J.J.'s here," Palminteri added. "Look, the guy won the championship in high school, won the championship in college. He's a winner. Maybe the fame got to him a little bit, but you know what? He's been humbled. Bing! I think he's gonna be good."
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Mariachi band's national anthem at Bears vs. Eagles game ignites racism debate and US Senator response
To bring you up to speed, the Monday Night Football game between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles was preceded by the national anthem – performed by a mariachi band.
And what has followed in the nearly 24 hours since that performance is a dispassionate, logical discussion about the quality of the performance and The Mariachi Herencia de México's choice of going for a big finish the crowd definitely didn't expect but mostly celebrated.
Nope.
Sorry, but social media doesn't do dispassionate or subtle music critique.
What it has done is spawn an emotional and at times vitriolic debate that has included charges of racism by one of the group's performers, counter-charges of the NFL continuing an offensive outsourcing of America's game to foreigners ...
...And a United States senator getting involved.
So, not tame stuff.
And if you cannot abide the heated exchange, then stop right here because the next few paragraphs will get into it.
But for the curious and engaged:
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We begin with the performance itself. To an ear not trained in music's finer points, it sounded like any other national anthem early on in that the three-horn section of the ensemble led the way.
Mariachi bands don't play salsa music, people. So no drum or bongo section setting the rhythm.
Where it got a little different (sideways?) was when the ensemble, dressed in their full traditional mariachi garb including wide brimmed sombreros, seemingly tried for a big finish. And that big finish didn't sound like the traditional Star Spangled Banner at all.
Well, it wasn't long before the critics hit the online streets. Some reactions:
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To be accurate, The Mariachi Herencia de Mexico is a two-time Grammy-nominated group out of Chicago. And they were brought to the game as part of the Bears' and NFL's celebration of Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month.
The reaction to the group, meanwhile, came from both the left and the right sides of the political spectrum – with some people on the right questioning why the anthem was used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month – even though Hispanics are the USA's largest minority group – and some people on the left basking in the fact the people on the right might be triggered.
Some people from both sides also praised the performance.
That wasn't enough for one of the group's leaders, Alonso Orozco Jr., who saw the negative reactions and charged they were racist.
"Yesterday, we had the opportunity to perform the United States National Anthem for the NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Eagles, and it was incredible to so so with love and respect for a great nation," Orozco posted on X.
"However, a huge wave of racist criticism has emerged."
What came next was a United States senator seeing an opportunity to dive into the fray that had nothing to do with United States Senate business. Arizona's Ruben Gallego came to the defense of the mariachi band.
(And here I am, a United States sportswriter, writing mariachi band controversy play-by-play.)
Anyway, here's the dispassionate analysis the online exchange missed:
The NFL is indeed doing hard and consistent work to take America's game international. And while that will likely first include more games abroad and then teams in Europe, Mexico might decades from now also have a franchise.
That NFL business decision has some fans in the United States upset because they see themselves as losing games when they're shipped abroad.
That may explain some of the reaction that was then heaped on the mariachi band. But, to be fair, there were indeed some unkind comments online and none of those are apparent when other performers take unorthodox approaches to the national anthem, such as performing it with bagpipes.
But, again, all of this happened online.
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Nobody ran on the field playing a banjo to defend America's honor.
One more thing: It is not racist to criticize a performance.
It is not racist to have a dissenting opinion about the choice of performers or their performance. It's America, amigos.
SI Swimsuit gave Justin Verlander a proper retirement send off with look back at Kate Upton cover shoot
Justin Verlander took the mound for the last time on Saturday and gave up two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work while striking out six. It was just the veteran right-hander's second start of the entire season.
He was lifted from the game by his daughter Genevieve in a spectacle that, if I'm being honest, seemed to be a bit much. There were tears, if you're into that sort of thing, and he walked off the mound into retirement.
The Tigers rallied in the 9th and ended up winning the game in walk-off fashion on a two-run home run off the bat of Eduardo Valencia. The win erased what would have been one more loss on Verlander's record.
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Even with the longer than normal mound visit, in a day and age with a focus on pace of play, and an unauthorized person on the field participating in it, it felt as if something was missing.
Sure, Verlander was making his final start, but his wife Kate Upton was also retiring after more than a decade of memorable moments in Major League Baseball as a girlfriend and wife of a future Hall of Famer.
On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit stepped up and gave the Verlanders a proper send-off with a look back at the model's 2024 cover shoot.
"In honor of Justin Verlander retiring this past weekend, a look back at @kateupton ’s 2024 cover shoot💙🧡," SI Swimsuit wrote on Instagram.
Now we can respectfully call it a career for Justin Verlander.
You can't tell the entire story of how great he was without mentioning his bikini model wife. That's now been done. She was there for a lot of the ups and the downs after all.
He now rides off into the sunset at 43 with World Series rings, Cy Young awards, a ton in career earnings and a 34-year-old Kate Upton, who still has her fastball.
Not a bad way to head into retirement after putting together a legendary career.
Carville mocks Dem candidate staffers as 'weak' and 'soft' for complaining about treatment to New York Times
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville blasted staffers who complained to The New York Times about working for former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola as she runs for the Senate.
The Times article, "Angry Outbursts, Slurs and Firings: Tumult Rocks a Key Senate Campaign," featured comments from former aides who described chaos in Peltola's congressional office and Senate campaign as the Democrat hopes to flip a Republican seat.
"I want to react to a story I read in The New York Times concerning the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate from the state of Alaska," Carville said in a brief video posted to the Politicon channel Monday. "It would appear that we have some upset little staffers that she is not — when she's under pressure — not nice to ‘em.
"Of course, The New York Times didn't understand when you're in the middle of a political campaign, and you're a candidate, and you're under pressure, and you got everything coming in from everywhere, and you're trying to raise money, and you're trying to fend off attacks, and you're trying to do this, maybe you don't have time to be overly courteous to little pussified staffers that just — they — 'I want my name and my humanity,’" he continued.
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"I got news for you. When I ran campaigns, you didn't have a f---in’ name until you did something," Carville said. "'Hey, you, come over here! Do this! Do what the f--- you’re told and shut up!’ And you know what? Then, when you achieve something, or you do something, then you get a name. But until that, in politics, you don't have a name. Go do something else. Go be a social worker. They'll give you a name right away.
"Now, if somebody does something obviously dehumanizing or overly rude, then that's one thing," Carville added, juxtaposing that with "Telling people to go get coffee for you or calling them by, ‘Hey, you.’ Everybody wants a pronoun. Well, I'll give you a pronoun. ‘You’ or ‘a--hole come over here.’"
He went on to mock various demands that employees might have, replying, "Well s---, that’s why we lose."
He also suggested that female political candidates are scrutinized more heavily when accused of lashing out at staffers.
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"Why don't we just call every female candidate for everything a goddamn b-----? You'd save time," he said.
"But let's stop this nonsense that everybody that works in politics is all equal and everybody's opinion needs to be respected, and it doesn't matter," he said, calling it "nonsense."
"But do me a favor. If you, if you're that f---in’ delicate, if you're that much of a some kind of a honeysuckle, whatever it is, go do something else with your life," he added. "You're too weak. You're too soft."
After predicting that he would be criticized by far-left media outlets, Carville emphasized his message was directed at the Democratic staffers listening.
"But all — every — to every staffer on every Democratic campaign, on every — anything: just put your head down, work your a-- off and save the country and f--- your feelings," he said.
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Democratic strategist and pollster Doug Schoen spoke to Fox News Digital about how working in politics requires a "thick skin," but he said the allegations against Peltola were troubling.
"He is absolutely right regarding the intensity of political campaigns," he said. "Working on a race is hard, and it is tense, and therefore a thick skin is definitely a plus. While it is absolutely inappropriate and wrong for a candidate to act as Peltola has been alleged to have acted, I don't believe the allegations, however serious, will affect the outcome of the Alaska Senate election. This is an election that is a referendum on Donald Trump and his governance, first and foremost."
Former RNC national spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko agreed that the life of a campaign staffer is not for the faint of heart, and it becomes an absolute crucible as the election draws near.
"Criticisms of Peltola aside, I do agree with Carville when it comes to campaign life and intensity," she said. "He is 100% correct about how cut-throat campaigns can be, and I’m sure how cut-throat they were back when he was working on them and before our culture changed as dramatically as it has.
"Campaigns are full of surprises, usually bad ones, meaning you never know what you’re walking into," Pipko continued. "The closer you get to Election Day, the less you eat or sleep. And the high-stakes atmosphere usually gets the best of folks that aren’t able to compartmentalize their feelings and their thoughts, or who simply don’t have the stamina to keep up with how ruthless a campaign cycle can be. Campaign life is not for the faint of heart. In fact, I’d argue campaign life is not for most people, and that’s OK."
Fox News Digital contacted Peltola and The New York Times for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
Ex-NFL player Jack Brewer leads charge to end fines for players using religous, political eyeblack messaging
Former NFL player Jack Brewer met with officials from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday as he seeks federal scrutiny of the league’s decision to fine Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei’Trel Clark for displaying a religious message on his eye black.
Clark was fined $6,651 after wearing eye black bearing the message "Glory Be 2 God" during Arizona’s Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Brewer, an ordained Christian minister and member of the federal Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, told OutKick that his meeting was intended to determine whether the NFL’s treatment of Clark could raise an employment-discrimination issue.
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"When you start talking about freedom of speech in this country and you start talking about employees’ rights in this country, it’s a big deal," Brewer said. "As a Christian man, I’m not going to stand for that. And as a former NFL player, I’m not going to stand for that."
Brewer said the meeting was "very well received" and left him confident that further conversations with the agency would take place.
"The goal was to first understand: Do we have a potential case? What does that look like? What would the player’s rights be?" Brewer said. "My goal was just to establish some communication and talk about next steps, which we did. And so now we’ll start to work to gather information and get a deeper understanding of really what goes on in the minds of a league like the National Football League."
Brewer initially raised the issue in a Sept. 25 letter to EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, requesting a meeting about the fine and the league’s policies governing religious expression.
"The NFL treated Clark’s gratitude to God, as expressed in four words, as a punishable personal message," Brewer wrote in the letter obtained by OutKick. "This fine represents an action that strikes at the heart of religious liberty and sends a chilling message to every person of faith in professional sports."
Brewer asked the EEOC to consider whether the NFL would be required to accommodate a player’s sincere religious expression when doing so would not impose an undue hardship on the league or its teams.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires covered employers to reasonably accommodate employees’ sincerely held religious beliefs and practices unless an accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer’s business. In its 2023 decision in Groff v. DeJoy , the Supreme Court held that an employer must demonstrate that an accommodation would create "substantial increased costs" in relation to its particular business.
However, Brewer’s meeting does not mean the EEOC has opened an investigation or concluded that the NFL violated federal law. Any potential case would require a fact-specific examination that could include Clark’s employment relationship with the Cardinals and NFL, whether he requested a religious accommodation, and the effect an exception to the uniform rule would have on the league’s operations.
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An individual or organization may file an EEOC charge on another person’s behalf, according to the agency, but Brewer did not say that a formal charge had been filed.
The NFL cited Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 in its disciplinary letter to Clark. The rule prohibits players from displaying personal messages in writing or illustration on game day unless the message has received advance approval from the league's office.
Clark posted the fine notice on social media and wrote that he "needed answers."
"I got to report to God at the end of my days on the day of judgment," Clark wrote. "I’ll always give God the glory and out loud. All good."
Brewer argued that allowing four words on a player’s eye black would place little apparent burden on a multibillion-dollar sports league.
"If someone’s writing things across their uniform or putting it out there on top of their helmet, that’s a different story," Brewer said. "But the eye black — think back to Tim Tebow and many, many other athletes, myself. We would write stuff on our tapes, on our forearms. We would write stuff on our eye black.
"To think about fining someone for doing that, it’s unconscionable," he added. "It’s disgusting."
The NFL’s rule does not distinguish between religious and political messages. Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, a practicing Muslim, was fined $11,492 this month after wearing eye black bearing the name "Hind Rajab," a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in 2024. Al-Shaair was also fined $11,593 after displaying the message "Stop the genocide" during the previous postseason.
When asked whether Al-Shaair should receive the same protection he is seeking for Clark, Brewer initially distinguished between expressions of faith and political statements. But he ultimately said the NFL must apply its restrictions consistently, particularly while promoting league-approved social messages.
"I think he should be just as protected," Brewer said of Al-Shaair. "If you’re going to pull down the messaging, pull it all down, but don’t pick and choose."
The NFL has continued to display league-approved social justice messages in stadium end zones and on players’ helmets. Teams have been permitted to select from phrases including "End Racism," "Stop Hate," "Choose Love" and "Inspire Change," while the league has also promoted LGBTQ inclusion through team and league initiatives.
Brewer contended that the difference between league-selected messages and unauthorized player expression creates a double standard.
"You cannot treat people differently based upon whatever it is you want to promote," Brewer said. "If you are an organization like the National Football League, you cannot pick and choose the messaging that you want your players to play underneath."
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Brewer said his immediate objective is to build support among current and former players and ultimately force the NFL to address the treatment of religious expression.
"I want players across the National Football League, current and former, to take a stand, to show unity on something," he said. "As a National Football League player, you should be able to use your platform to profess the gospel, to profess your God and to write it on your eye black."
Brewer emphasized that he would support the right of players from other faiths to seek the same accommodation.
"I don’t care what religion you are," Brewer said. "If you want to have the Star of David on, or you want to say, ‘Thank you, Allah,’ you have every right to do that in this country. That’s what makes this country so great."
The NFL has not responded to request for comment.
UCF Knights salute Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs with slick new Space U uniforms
Thanks to the modern Artemis Missions, mankind is headed back to the Moon in the next few years, but for their annual Space Game uniforms, the UCF Knights are throwing it back to the pioneers who got us there in the first place.
The Knights have been throwing on special space-themed getups for a decade now, and they're pretty much always a feast for the eyes with unique designs, nods to the space program, and of course, the Citronaut.
However, I think this year's batch, which pays homage to the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs of the 1960s, is tough to top.
This is the school's tenth Space Game, which they've dubbed "Mission X," and there is so much cool symbolism in everything.
UCF opened its doors in 1963 — right around the time the Space Race was heating up — as Florida Technological University, and ever since, it has long served as a pipeline to the nearby Kennedy Space Center.
That's why this year, the team is celebrating that particular era and, man, are there some cool details.
The black stitching that criss-crosses the jersey is a nod to the Mercury program's space suits, which featured black stitching and prominent zippers.
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If you look at the cuffs, one is "Canaveral blue" — which has become the go-to Space Game color for UCF — and the other is red, just like the cuffs were on the Gemini program's space suits.
The collar is Canaveral blue, just like the inside of the suits worn throughout the 1960s.
On the shoulders, the patches mimic those worn during the Gemini missions, while this year's Space Game patch is modeled after the patch from the Gemini X mission.
The pants feature the school's old Citronaut mascot (which, as a UCF alum, I wouldn't hate seeing back full-time; I love it), and a striping pattern like the one that appeared on Apollo program rockets and space suits.
Finally, the helmets have a bold red stripe on them, which is a reference to the similar stripe worn on the helmets of Apollo mission commanders.
Alright, I've seen enough: ten out of ten. No notes.
What an absolute home run on all fronts. There are Easter eggs everywhere you look, but the entire uniform still looks killer in its own right.
These beauties will debut at the Acrisure Bounce House on October 30 when the Knights host the Baylor Bears.