Numerous flight diversions were reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a fire alarm Thursday at New Mexico's Albuquerque International Sunport air traffic control tower reduced staffing.The FAA issued a ground stop on incoming flights at New Mexico's Albuquerque International Sunport airport due to a fire alarm, according to an advisory.NEWARK AIRPORT PASSENGERS FACE LENGTHY DELAYS DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGESOfficials later issued ground stops at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and Scottsdale Airport in Arizona.Flights are being directed around Albuquerque airspace.Air traffic controllers returned to the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center after the FAA temporarily reduced staffing due to the fire alarm, the FAA wrote in a statement.No fire was detected, but a ground stop was put in place, according to officials.PASSENGER IN CUSTODY AFTER 'DIRECT THREAT' TO AIRPLANE SHUTS DOWN SEATTLE AIRPORT RUNWAYSIn an X post, Albuquerque Sunport said it will provide updates as soon as they are received.The FAA did not immediately release the cause of the fire alarm.Breaking news. This story will be updated.

Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl called out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on social media after the Iranian supreme leader made some wild claims.Khamenei warned in a prerecorded speech against future military intervention from the U.S. in his first statement since Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire.He also claimed the U.S. felt Israel would be destroyed by Iran if it didnt step in.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMPearl, also chairman of the U.S. Israel Education Association, pushed back."Liars and Terrorists will not be trusted. I pray you keep the ceasefire so people in the Middle East can go on living and build on (President Trumps) Abraham Accords," he wrote in a post on X. "But don't think for one second (youre) fooling anyone. The world knows you still want a nuclear bomb and is watching!"Khameneis remarks were seemingly aimed at touting the countrys strength rather than reflecting reality.AUBURN'S BRUCE PEARL CALLS FOR TRUMP TO GET NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AFTER ANNOUNCING ISRAEL-IRAN CEASEFIREAfter Irans attackon Al-Udeid, the American airbase in Qatar, Khamenei bragged that Iran "delivered a heavy slap to the U.S.s face." However, President Donald Trump called it a "very weak response" before revealing that Iran gave the U.S. "early notice" of its planned retaliation."Iran has officially responded to our obliteration of their nuclear facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered. There have been 14 missiles fired 13 were knocked down, and 1 was set free, because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction," Trump wrote."I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured."Fox News Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening-Legalized same-sex marriage turns 10 after landmark Supreme Court decision reshaped American law and culture-Former Biden aide Anthony Bernal subpoenaed by House committee after refusing to appear for deposition-ICE arrests more Iranian nationals across amid sleeper cell concernsThe Supreme Court ruled Thursday that South Carolina has the power to block Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood clinics, in a technical interpretation over healthcare choices that has emerged as a larger political fight over abortion access.The case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, centers on whether low-income Medicaid patients can sue under what is known as Section 1983 part of the Civil Rights Act of 1871 in order to choose their own qualified healthcare provider.It involves South Carolinas blocking of Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which the organization argued violated federal law. In a 6-3 decision, the Court noted that the typical redress for such a violation would be for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to withhold Medicaid funding from the state, not for an individual to sue the state."Section 1983 permits private plaintiffs to sue for violations of federal spending-power statutes only in atypical situations where the provision in question clear[ly] and unambiguous[ly] confers an individual right," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion, ruling that the law in question in the present case "is not such a statute."READ MORE.TAXPAYER BURDEN: FIRST ON FOX: Congressman calls on Noem, Dr. Oz with a plan to 'swiftly remove' 1.4 million illegal migrants who receive MedicaidCOURT BATTLE RAGES: Abrego Garcia lawyers ask US judge to order return to Maryland amid ongoing criminal case'SWISS ARMY KNIFE': What has Vance accomplished in first 5 months as VP? His peers weigh inFAKE NEWS FRENZY: Trump admin pushes back against 'false reporting' by mainstream media outlet on children deportationsJUDICIAL POWER GRAB: Revisiting Justice Scalias same-sex marriage dissent: prophetic or inflammatory?TWISTED PRIORITIES: Hegseth tears into reporters, alleging they 'cheer against Trump' and Iran strikesEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Fmr. Trump Secy. of State Pompeo says Iran strike sends message: 'America is back leading in the world'WOKE WASTE SLASHED: FIRST ON FOX: Noem uncovers and kills multimillion dollar Biden-era DEI, LGBTQ programWAITING FOR THE CALL: Top Dem demands answers from Social Security, claiming wait times spiked during DOGE cutsSPIES IN THE SKIES: Drone incursions on US bases come under intense scrutiny as devices upend modern combatART OF THE TROLL: White House drops 'Daddy's Home' meme after viral NATO summit momentHEROES SURVIVE FIRE: Caine reveals details on the 44 young soldiers who defended largest US base in Middle East from IranTORTURE AND ABUSE: Belarusian dissident thanks Trump admin for his freedom, demands the UN actREGIONAL OUTREACH: Trumps crown jewel Abraham Accords may expand to normalize ties between Israel and other nationsAUTHORITARIAN LUXURY: North Korea's Kim cuts tape at coastal tourist site; foreigners not yet welcome'HISTORIC' TEAM: Mossad chief thanks US for help with Iran, says 'significantly thwarted' regime threatsNUKE SITE SHOWDOWN: 'The mission was accomplished': Senate Republicans push back against leaked report on Iran strikesPOWER PLAY BACKFIRE: FIRST ON FOX: GOP senator calls for parliamentarian's firing after serving Medicaid blow to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'UNELECTED POWER: Fury erupts as unelected Senate 'scorekeeper' blocks Trump's agendaFLIP-FLOP FIASCO: DC House delegate's office backtracks after 88-year-old's statement that she'll run for re-electionVALUES VS. VERDICT: WATCH: Republicans share views on gay marriage decade after Supreme Court decisionTHREATS UNLEASHED: Republican congresswoman's office evacuated after pro-abortion activists send chilling threatsSMACKDOWN: Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' faces setback as Senate rules knock out key Medicaid provisionsGREAT DIVORCE: Decade after landmark ruling, Republican support for same-sex marriage cratersNEW ROUND BEGINS: JB Pritzker takes aim at Trump in launching Democratic re-election bid for Illinois governorCAMPAIGN LAUNCH: 'No dignity' in socialism: NYC Mayor Adams announces re-election bid after Mamdani wins Dem primaryGREEN BRAINWASHING: Parental rights watchdog exposes left-wing climate group's strategy to recruit kids for environmental activismRED RISING: New York Republicans warn of 'disaster' if 'dangerous' Zohran Mamdani wins mayoral raceGet the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

A bill to deport illegal immigrants convicted of driving while under the influence (DUI) netted the support of 37 House Democrats on Thursday.The bill was introduced by conservative Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and passed by a 246 to 160 vote.No Republican voted against the bill, and it was opposed by 160 Democrats.Democrats who voted for the legislation include Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as moderate Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., Jared Golden, D-Maine, Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., Don Davis, D-N.C., and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., among others.148 DEMOCRATS BACK NONCITIZEN VOTING IN DC AS GOP RAISES ALARM ABOUT FOREIGN AGENTS"Today's vote in the House sends a clear message: if you are a guest in this country, and you break our laws and put American lives at risk by driving under the influence, there will be consequences," Moore said.The bill is named after Jeremy and Angel Seay, a couple from Moore's own community who were killed by an illegal immigrant who was found to have been drunk driving, Moore said.It's also named after slain Arizona police officer Brandon Mendoza, who was killed by an illegal immigrant found to have been driving under the influence.REPUBLICANS CHALLENGE 'IRRELEVANT' BUDGET OFFICE AS IT CRITIQUES TRUMP'S 'BEAUTIFUL BILL'Democrats who opposed the bill argued it was an attempt at fearmongering."I participated in the judiciary hearings that led to this bill being sent to the floor, and I carefully reviewed the majority report. There's absolutely no evidence in that hearing or report showing a causal connection between immigration status and drunk driving," Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., said when the House Rules Committee debated the bill earlier this week."And most notably, for all this talk, this legislation takes no real meaningful action to repair our broken immigration system."But Moore said he was "amazed" that 160 Democrats voted against the bill."It just shows that if it comes to anything about holding illegal immigrants accountable, even if it's killing our own people in drunk driving cases, they're against any kind of reforms on immigration," Moore said.House Democrats' senior leadership are among the 160 who voted against the bill, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.The legislation would have to be taken up by the Senate and then signed into law by President Donald Trump to go into effect.

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against 24-year-old Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who was residing in Perrysburg, Ohio, where he also attended high school claiming to be a teenager until last month.The grand jury returned the indictment this week, charging Labrador Sierra with possession of a firearm by an alien who is in the U.S. unlawfully, making a false statement while purchasing a firearm, and making or using false documents, the DOJ said in a news release.The indictment alleges that Labrador Sierra submitted a false date of birth to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on federal applications to acquire Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents in 2024 and 2025.The suspect also allegedly possessed a Taurus G3C 9mm semiautomatic pistol, which he was not allowed to have, since he was in the U.S. illegally, and the DOJ alleges that Labrador Sierra submitted false information to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to purchase the firearm.LOCAL CHARGES DROPPED AS FEDS TARGET VENEZUELAN ACCUSED OF POSING AS TEEN AT OHIO HIGH SCHOOLHe allegedly provided false statements on a federal form to purchase the firearm and made statements to deceive the licensed firearms dealer at the point of sale. For example, the indictment alleges that Labrador Sierra said he was not a U.S. citizen or national; was not illegally or unlawfully in the U.S.; and was not an alien who entered the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa.If Labrador Sierra is convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm as an illegal alien. He could also face 10 years in prison for making a false statement while purchasing a firearm and up to five years in prison for making or using false documents or writings.Earlier, court documents showed that Labrador Sierra had been charged with forgery after he allegedly enrolled in a public high school using fraudulent documents.VENEZUELAN MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY POSED AS TEEN PARTICIPATED IN OHIO HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING EVENTSThe Perrysburg Police Department said last month that it had been contacted by the Perrysburg Local Schools about possible fraudulent activity involving one of its students.A fraud case was ultimately established and handed over to the departments detectives for further investigation.Detectives worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and it was discovered that Labrador was a 24-year-old from Venezuela.Investigators also learned that Labrador Sierra had used fraudulent documents to enroll in Perrysburg Schools and was posing as a 16-year-old student.VENEZUELAN MAN ARRESTED AFTER POSING AS TEEN TO ENROLL IN OHIO HIGH SCHOOLPerrysburg School officials said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that Labrador Sierra had been enrolled at Perrysburg High School under the name and age of a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor on Jan. 11, 2024, in accordance with federal and state requirements for enrolling students experiencing homelessness or without a legal guardian.Between Jan. 11, 2024, and May 14, 2025, the school said, Labrador Sierra obtained documentation and support, further complicating the situation. For instance, he obtained a state-issued drivers license, social security number and Temporary Protective Status (TPS) from U.S. Immigration.The school also said that Labrador had completed an application for a visa with help from Advocating Opportunities, which provides free legal assistance.VENEZUELAN ILLEGAL ALIEN, ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA LEADER IN CALIFORNIA, ARRESTED ON IMMIGRATION CHARGESThe Wood County Juvenile Court granted guardianship of Labrador Sierra to a Perrysburg family.School officials said the guardians had contacted the school on May 14 to report that they had received information indicating Labrador Sierra was not a minor, but instead a 24-year-old man.Labrador Sierra reportedly denied the allegation when district administrators met with him on May 15.The school district issued a statement shortly after his arrest, noting that Labrador Sierra had been a member of the junior varsity soccer and swim teams.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLabrador Sierra was ultimately taken into custody during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 on Tuesday afternoon.DHS told Fox News they have located Labrador Sierra's information under a different spelling of his name. They added that Labrador Sierra is a visa overstay who first came to the U.S. in 2019.DHS also confirmed that Labrador Sierra has received TPS.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new sanctions on Thursday that he called "necessary" to "deter and dismantle" the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States.The new policy imposes new visa restrictions on family members and close personal and business associates of foreign drug traffickers.Speaking with reporters Thursday afternoon, State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said that this move "will not only prevent them from entering the United States, but also serve as a deterrent for continued illicit activities."In a statement released by the State Department, Rubio stressed the importance of further expanding sanctions to stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the country."The fentanyl crisis in the United States is unprecedented, with overdoses remaining the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 44," said Rubio.STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE IN ISRAEL, WEST BANK AND IRANThe secretary said that "more than 40 percent of Americans reportedly know someone who has died from an opioid overdose, and in 2024, the United States averaged over 220 overdose deaths daily.""Todays action expands upon existing tools," he said, adding that the State Department "will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs from entering the United States and harming U.S. citizens."Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that is often trafficked into the United States across the southern and northern borders by cartels and other criminal elements. In 2024, fentanyl was linked to the deaths of 48,422 persons in the United States, according to the CDC.During his campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to wage a war against fentanyl traffickers through increased border security and by cracking down on illegal immigration. Since taking office, Trump has deployed U.S. troops to the southern border, targeted cartels and transnational criminal groups as "foreign terrorist organizations" and hit cartel leaders with sanctions.LIBERAL NEWS OUTLET MOCKED FOR REPORTING ON MYSTERIOUS DROP IN FENTANYL FLOWING ACROSS BORDERAccording to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), the U.S. law enforcement seizures of fentanyl, which the group explains is a "key indicator of broader total smuggling at and between the southern borders ports of entry," have dropped 50% since the November election. CIS states that this significant decline indicates a "greater decline in total fentanyl smuggling."In May, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that authorities had made one of the biggest fentanyl busts in U.S. history with the seizure of 409 kilos of fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilos of fentanyl powder. Bondi said that around 35 kilos of methamphetamine, 35 kilos of meth, 7.5 kilos of cocaine and 4.5 kilos of heroin also had been seized along with $5 million in cash and 49 rifles and pistols.Sixteen people including three women, were arrested in the operation. Six of the males are in the U.S. illegally, according to Bondi.BONDI ANNOUNCES ONE OF LARGEST FENTANYL SEIZURES IN US HISTORYBondi described fentanyl as a weapon of "mass destruction" and laid down a stern warning to drug pushers looking to distribute the potentially deadly drug throughout the nation."When we catch you like all of these individuals, if convicted, we will put you behind bars. There will be no negotiating and we will lock you up for as long as humanly possible," Bondi said. "We will not negotiate with those who are killing our family members, including brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, parents, friends, everyone in this room."

Those who leaked a preliminary assessment rejected by the White House on the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities will face justice for sharing the document, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.President Donald Trump and multiple leaders are saying that the strikes destroyed three Iranian nuclear sites. A leaked report from the Defense Intelligence Agency, published by CNN and the New York Times, cast doubt on that though, saying that the strikes only set back Irans nuclear program by several months. CNN first reported the assessments findings, citing seven people who were briefed on the report. The outlet reported the findings were based on a battle damage assessment from U.S. Central Command.Leavitt pushed back on the early assessment's credibility, claiming the report was "flat-out wrong.""Everyone knows what happens when you drop 14 30,000-pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration," Leavitt said in a Tuesday statement.Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the FBI is conducting an investigation to get to the bottom of the matter and who shared the document with the media.TRUMP SLAMS RUSSIA'S CASUAL THREAT TO ARM IRAN WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS: THATS WHY PUTIN'S THE BOSS'Additionally, Leavitt told reporters that leaking classified information is a criminal offense and that those who fail to follow the law "need to be held accountable for that crime.""This administration wants to ensure that classified intelligence is not ending up in irresponsible hands, and that people who have the privilege of viewing this top secret classified information are being responsible with it," Leavitt told reporters Thursday."Clearly, someone who had their hands on this and it was a very few people, very few number of people in our government who saw this report," Leavitt said. "That person was irresponsible with it. And we need to get to the bottom of it. And we need to strengthen that process to protect our national security and protect the American public."Meanwhile, the U.S., Israel and Iran's Foreign Ministry have all said that the three nuclear sites U.S. forces struck have encountered massive damage.EX-CLINTON OFFICIAL APPLAUDS TRUMPS 'COURAGEOUS' IRAN CALL, DOUBTS HARRIS WOULD'VE HAD THE NERVEIrans Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei told Al Jazeera Wednesday that the country's nuclear facilities were "badly damaged," and Israels Atomic Energy Commission said the U.S. strikes were "devastating."On Sunday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said that initial battle damage assessments suggest "all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction."Trump issued a word of caution to Iran Wednesday, should it attempt to repair its nuclear program once more, and said the U.S. wouldn't hesitate to launch another strike against Iran.Trump personally called for the firing of one of the reporters who authored the story about the initial assessment, claiming in a Wednesday Truth Social post that the reporter should be "IMMEDIATELY reprimanded, and then thrown out like a dog."RUSSIAN LEADER CLAIMS MULTIPLE COUNTRIES PREPPED TO PROVIDE IRAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOLLOWING US STRIKESEven so, CNN came to the defense of the reporter, Natasha Bertrand."We stand 100% behind Natasha Bertrands journalism and specifically her and her colleagues reporting of the early intelligence assessment of the U.S. attack on Irans nuclear facilities," CNN said in a Wednesday statement. "CNNs reporting made clear that this was an initial finding that could change with additional intelligence. We have extensively covered President Trumps own deep skepticism about it."Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Following the uncovering of a massive bribery scandal at USAID, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is ordering a full audit of all government contracting officers who have exercised grant-awarding authority under the agencys business development program over the last 15 years.In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said the scale of the USAID fraud is a "damning reflection of systemic failures in oversight and accountability." She further said that the fraud "was not an isolated incident."In response, Loeffler instructed Associate Administrator Tre Pennie, who oversees government contracts awarded by SBA, to "act decisively" to crack down on any potential similar abuses in the agency.Loeffler instructed Pennie to immediately initiate a full-scale audit of the agencys awarding officers back to 2010.DEM SENATOR ACCUSES TOP TRUMP OFFICIAL OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN DYING"The role of federal government contracting officers is not ceremonial or self-dealing; rather, it is a position of immense authority and fiduciary responsibility," said Loeffler. "The contracting process must be transparent and built on merit, not personal gain."This comes after USAID, an agency tasked with administering civilian foreign aid, was essentially dismantled by the DOGE waste, fraud and abuse cuts made under Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. The move was met with massive protests from Democrats who claimed that cutting USAID would impoverish and harm recipients across the globe.Despite claims of how much good the agency was doing, it was recently discovered that an influential contracting officer at USAID named Roderick Watson was able to carry out a massive, long-term bribery scheme dating all the way back to 2013.Watson, 57, pleaded guilty to "bribery of a public official," according to a DOJ press release.TOP DEM DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, CLAIMING WAIT TIMES SPIKED DURING DOGE CUTSAccording to the DOJ, Watson sold his influence starting in 2013, with contractors Walter Barnes, owner of Vistant, and Darryl Britt, owner of Apprio, funneling payoffs through subcontractor Paul Young to hide their tracks.A DOJ press release said that Britt and Barnes "regularly funneled bribes to Watson, including cash, laptops, thousands of dollars in tickets to a suite at an NBA game, a country club wedding, downpayments on two residential mortgages, cellular phones, and jobs for relatives. The bribes were also often concealed through electronic bank transfers falsely listing Watson on payroll, incorporated shell companies, and false invoices."The statement said that Watson is alleged to have received bribes "valued at more than approximately $1 million as part of the scheme."Vistant was awarded in November 2023, as part of a joint venture, a contract worth up to $800 million with one of the focuses of that contract being to address "a variety of issues affecting the root causes of irregular migration from Central America to the United States," an issue that President Joe Biden tasked then-Vice President Kamala Harris with during his presidency.FOR SALE: DOGE MOVES TO SELL OFF ALMOST HALF A BILLION IN FEDERAL REAL ESTATE, RELOCATE CABINET AGENCY HQSSeveral days later, that contract was canceled after USAID published a notice that said Vistant was excluded from government contracting due to "evidence of conduct of a lack of business honesty or integrity."The joint venture then successfully sued the government over being put on that exclusion list and was re-awarded the contract and given a $10,000 payment in August 2024.In her letter, Loeffler said the USAID scandal "represents a collapse in the very safeguards that are supposed to protect American taxpayer dollars and ensure fair access for legitimate small businesses."She slammed the Biden administration for awarding the $800 million contract to Vistant despite the business being labeled by USAID as lacking "honesty and integrity.""The fact that a federal official was able to act as the linchpin of a persistent, large-scale fraud operation speaks to a failure in internal controls and a breakdown in the contracting environment that demands immediate correction," said Loeffler.MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE LAUNCHES PROBE INTO PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDSShe said that SBA plays a "critical role" in federal contracting and "will no longer stand by while abuses are perpetrated at the expense of taxpayers and deserving small businesses."Loeffler said the agencys audit will begin with high-dollar and limited competition contracts within SBAs 8(a) business development program. The findings will be referred to the U.S. Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the DOJ.Any officials or businesses found in violation of the SBAs ethical standards or who have committed criminal misconduct will be referred to the appropriate authorities and SBA will assist the DOJ in recovering misappropriated funds, Loeffler said."We will not allow public trust to be quietly eroded by backdoor deals and unchecked discretion," said Loeffler."We owe it to Americas small businesses to get this right," she went on. "Your office has the authority, and now the mandate, to act decisively."

The final day of this year's Tight End University involved a different sport than football, one that co-founders Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Greg Olsen thought would be the perfect way to build more camaraderie."We did see how Nashville summers are pretty hot, didnt want to put guys in the fields two days in a row. So, you know what, whats a way to get everybody around? Golf. Everybody loves golf," Kittle told Fox News Digital before playing at Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, just outside of Nashville.It was still a scorcher under the Tennessee sun, but Kittle was ready to go out with his group, which included Kelce, Olsen and his coach, Jon Embree. And they may have needed some ear plugs when it was Kittle's turn to tee up.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThat's because Kittle has a certain loyalty to his driver, one with an ear-piercing noise that resembles an aluminum baseball bat rather than today's usual sound coming off the face of a "big stick."The Nike SasQuatch Sumo2, known more commonly as simply the "Sasquatch," is no longer produced. Its square face and body, mixed with it's black-and-yellow finish, makes it truly one-of-a-kind much like the man who still wields it today.Modern golf technology has created better drivers since, but Kittle hasn't wavered from using it since 2014. He explained why.49ERS STAR GEORGE KITTLE DISHES ON TAYLOR SWIFT'S SURPRISE NASHVILLE PERFORMANCE"I was a really, really bad golfer not saying that Im good now but I was really bad in college. I didnt have nice clubs," Kittle explained when asked why he won't stray away from this particularly old driver for some newer technology. "A guy that I played with, a [Iowa Hawkeyes] defensive lineman named Brant Gressel, he had all these nice clubs. He was like an 80s golfer in college. He had like three bad drives in a row, and he just whips it into the woods, the Sasquatch."I was like, Hey, can I have that? He said, If you can get it, you can have it. Walked into the woods, grabbed it, and its been my driver since 2014. I keep it straight, it makes a great noise, and its great for conversation because people are obsessed with it. It works for me and thats all that really matters."Kittle called the loud ping, a sound that would make you jump three holes away, let alone at a driving range, "cleansing" to him.And if you think otherwise, Kittle doesn't want to hear it."It reminds me of playing tee ball in like sixth grade," he said. "Is there anything better? Just going out there with the boys just hitting the ball around? I love it. And if you dont like it, its heresy and it will be punished."Now, because the club is no longer made, Kittle didn't want to take any chances at having to buy a modern driver and figure out what worked for his swing ever again.He took matters into his own hands, and thanks to some research, he doesn't have to worry about that."In case I ever broke it, I found like six of them on eBay and I bought all of them," he said, smiling.It's much like wearing that favorite part of cleats or gloves in football: if it works, why switch things up?For Kittle, golf is more about the vibes than the results on the scorecard. So, while his competitive juices are always flowing on the football field, this golf trip at TEU was all about showing his peers a great time before they went back home to prepare for the grind that is NFL training camp."Overall, just a fun time to get out there, have a couple Bud Lights, enjoy yourself and really thankful for Hermitage for letting us out here today," Kittle said.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

In less than one year, the United States men's national soccer team will be competing in the World Cup as one of three host nations.Eleven of the 16 host stadiums are located in the U.S., which will host the quarterfinals, semifinals and final.The USMNT has not had much success in the World Cup. The squad reached the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2014 but failed to even qualify for the tournament in 2018. It returned to the Round of 16 three years ago but couldn't get out of the Copa Amrica group stage on home soil last year.After the 1994 World Cup in North America, soccer's popularity in the USA skyrocketed, and Major League Soccer was born because of it. Now, 32 years later, former USMNT player Taylor Twellman believes the future of the sport's popularity in the U.S. rides on what the U.S. team does in next year's tournament.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMTwellman is gearing up for the celebrity golf American Century Championship next month, which he said is a "dream come true." He said that more and more of his professional athlete friends are "asking way more questions about soccer than there ever was when I was playing," especially at the famed charity event."That itself tells you that, now, there is all of a sudden way more attention, way more awareness, a little more education of what success is and what isnt and a level of expectation," Twellman told Fox News Digital in a recent interview."If the United States men get to the quarterfinal of this World Cup, you are talking about the real precipice of soccer in the United States of America and in North America becoming really, really, really at the forefront of everyones mind.WITH WORLD CUP EXACTLY 1 YEAR OUT, USMNT LEGENDS SAY PRESSURE IS TURNED UP A NOTCH"And, often times, it is not talked about the top four major sports of the country. Yet everyone looks at the numbers and says baseball, NHL. Everyone is kind of sweating a little bit with soccer just around the corner. That is where I think success in this World Cup, that is where I think could really turn the corner is if the men really have a great tournament."Twellman added it would be a "massive failure" if the team does not at least make it to the knockout stage. The last time the USA participated in a World Cup and did not advance past the group stage was 2006."If they get out of the group, and it is a favorable draw, then were probably talking, You got to get to the quarterfinals as a host nation. But I think the draw depends on a lot of that," he said. "So, there is a lot to be said on that. But I do understand the level of urgency. And I would say the anxiety around the U.S. mens national team is in line with the growth of the sport in the country."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.