A pair of NFL legends and former Kansas City Chiefs teammates recently traveled to Israel to lobby for the cause Israeli and American hostages Detained by Hamas.
Nick Lowry, one of the league's all-time greats, and former star linebacker Tony Richardson returned from a five-day trip, sponsored by Athletes for Israel, earlier this month. Weeks later, a diplomatic breakthrough led to the release of three hostages and the promise of more to come. Lowry, the Chiefs' all-time leading scorer and, like Richardson, a team Hall of Famer, told Fox News Digital that making a difference off the field is more important than what he accomplished in his illustrious career.
Israel releases 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement to free the hostages
“What is the Hall of Fame?” said Lowry, who played college football at Dartmouth and earned a graduate degree from Harvard. “There's something in the field, and then there's your contribution to your community. Ultimately, that's your legacy.”
Amit Levy holds a photo of his sister Nimah in front of the US Capitol at a rally to bring them home on December 8, 2024. (Lee Vogel for the Forum for Families of Hostages and Missing Persons)
These days, 68-year-old Lurie's focus is on combating anti-Semitism and racism, and calling for the release of Hamas hostages, like Naama Levy, 20. Levi was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base, less than one kilometer from Gaza, where she was stationed as an observation soldier. October 7, 2023. The Times of Israel reported that 15 observation soldiers were killed that day, and six were taken hostage.
Footage published by Hamas shows a terrorist dragging Levi by her hair into a jeep. Her hands were tied, her ankles were cut, her face was bleeding, and her sweatpants were stained with blood.
“Nima cannot speak, but we, the world’s athletes, must speak on her behalf now,” Lowry said in a video clip he posted on social media.
Lori is part of the #SportSpeaksUp campaign, led by Eric Rubin, CEO of Project Max, a movement dedicated to fighting racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance through sports. The campaign is supported by Athletes for Israel, a non-profit organization that works to bring legendary sports figures to the Holy Land.
Nima Levy enjoys running triathlons, like her father and grandfather.
In Israel, Lurie met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and IDF soldiers. He also visited the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre, which he described as “overwhelming”. He said: “There are pictures of these people, full of life, two-thirds of them women, very beautiful, full of life, and there were flowers and offerings of love and support in their memory.”
Lori was rebaptized at the Sea of Galilee and visited the Wailing Wall, which he said was a profound spiritual experience.
“As a Christian, just by touching the wall, you feel like you're connecting with God,” Laurie said.
Lowry and Richardson also toured the hostage yard Tel AvivThey noticed an extended dinner table with 200 seats decorated to honor each hostage. The Levi's chair is decorated with flowers.
They sat with Levi's father, Yoni, and her brother, Amit, 22. Lori said Yoni Levy talked about how much his daughter loved bringing light and laughter to people, her vision of becoming a peacemaker, her strong will and competitive spirit.
Amit Levy told Fox News Digital that he could tell Lori was enjoying hearing about his sister.
“I think everyone who hears about it can feel its power and be truly inspired by it,” Amit Levy said.
Levy is a fun-loving teenager who grew up in Israel and India and is close to her family, which also includes her mother, the doctor for the Israeli soccer team; and her 16-year-old sister, Michele; And his brother Omri (12 years old), according to Amit Levy. He said that his sister loves to attend parties and laugh with friends, in addition to being a “very moral girl” with a caring nature, who devotes herself to helping others and calling for peace.
Levy was a diplomacy major in high school and later volunteered once a week at a kindergarten for African refugees in southern Israel for 10 months.
“She had a great relationship with the kids there,” Amit Levy recalls.
Naama Levy volunteers at a kindergarten for African refugees in southern Israel.
Levy is an exemplary person who participated in the “Hands of Peace” delegation, which encouraged Israeli and Palestinian youth to work together to bring about change, according to her brother.
“I would tell her that she might be a little naive at some points, because sometimes the world is not a fun place,” he said.
He also remembers how, when she was an elementary school student, his sister would wake her parents at 5 a.m. to take her to triathlon competitions, like her father and grandfather, who continues to compete as he approaches the age of 80.
The last time her family heard from Levy was in December 2023, when newly released hostages recounted seeing her in the tunnels beneath Gaza. Amit Levy said: “They said she was hit by a grenade fragment that was still in her leg, because grenades were thrown at her and her friends in the shelter on October 7.”
It has been nearly 500 days since Levi and more than 100 others were kidnapped. Amit Levy described how the released hostages “felt her strength and amazing personality from the short time they had to meet her,” giving him and his family “air to breathe.”
However, there were no subsequent reports about it.
“I feel so proud to know these people. They are in my heart now.” – Nick Lowry, former NFL star
Levy's family members find hope by reminding themselves how strong she is “physically and especially mentally” and that she knows her mission is to survive.
Lori also visited the football field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, where 12 Druze children and teenagers were killed and at least 42 others wounded by a missile fired by Hezbollah on July 27, 2024. There, Lori reassured Joan Ibrahim, a 27-year-old boy. The 13 year old was crying because he blamed himself for not being able to save his friend who was killed.
Robin described how the group went to the field where the tragedy occurred and started playing football with the children, and suddenly, even if for just a moment, they forgot their grief and sorrows. He said it felt like half the city had left and the “darkness had evaporated.”
Lowry marveled at the resilience of the Israelis he met, describing their collective attitude as “no one will ignore me.” He noted that even immediately after the air strikes, people were surfing and drinking cocktails on the beach.
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Lurie said defending Jewish people is part of his “emotional DNA,” because his grandmother documented the atrocities committed at the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. He is committed to bringing Jews and Christians together, and he and Robin expressed how committed they are to continuing to meet these families.
“I feel so proud to know these people. They are in my heart now,” Laurie said. “Football may be a tough sport, but this is the most important work we have ever done… We are connected for life.”
