The rookie out of Notre Dame and his wife, Anna Raridon, announced Tuesday that they lost their baby boy to anencephaly, a fatal birth defect that stops the forebrain and cerebrum from forming in the womb.There is no cure or standard treatment for the condition.About 75% of affected pregnancies end in stillbirth.
Infants born alive usually pass away within a few hours or days.Devastating.RAIDERS' AIDAN O'CONNELL ANNOUNCES DEATH OF HIS FATHER, LEANING ON FAITH IN TIME OF SORROW"When Eli and I went in for our 20-week anatomy scan, excited to see our sweet baby boy, our hearts were forever changed," Anna wrote on her Instagram account."Our little one was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal condition in which he would not survive outside the womb."While we are absolutely devastated that we were unable to bring our baby boy home, I am grateful to have loved him deeply, kept him safe, and had been his home for the past 9 months before he was called back to Heaven."What comes next is a mother who, rather than getting lost in the unspeakable pain of losing a baby, chose to lean into her faith during a time of deep tribulation.New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon makes a touchdown catch in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash., on Sept.
9, 2026.(Boston Globe via Getty Images)"I have often found it easy to glorify the Lord when life is going well, but it is in our deepest trials that we are drawn closest to Him," Anna continued.
"We may never understand the why behind this journey, but one thing we know with certainty is that God promises to care for His children."I believe our little boy was lovingly knitted together in the womb by God, knowing how deeply he would be loved by our families, our friends, Eli, and me.Though his time with us was brief, his life still precious, his purpose still meaningful, and he will forever be a part of our story."And then the Raridons left a message for their baby boy:"I have loved you ever...