Elite NFL prospect says he doesn't believe in existence of outer space, other planets

Texas Tech defensive back Tyler Owens has made it clear that he's very much on the outside looking in when it comes to modern science. 

Owens, who is projected to have one of the fastest 40-yard dash times at this week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis, shared some interesting views on our solar system with reporters on Thursday. 

"I don't believe in (outer) space," Owens told Bleacher Report. "I'm very religious, so I think we're just, like, alone right now. I don't think there's other planets or stuff like that.

"I used to believe the heliocentric stuff, that the Earth revolved around the Sun, but then I started seeing some flat-earth stuff and that was kind of interesting, then they started bringing up some valid points." 

The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Owens played his first three seasons at Texas before transferring to Texas Tech for the last two seasons. He had 37 tackles and two pass breakups in 2023 and could be converted into a hybrid linebacker/safety in the pros. 

He's also not the first elite athlete to question our understanding of the universe. Most famously, NBA star Kyrie Irving said he believed the Earth was flat in 2017 while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

"This is not even a conspiracy theory," Irving said on the "Roadtrippin' with RJ & Channing" podcast. "The Earth is flat...it's right in front of our faces. I'm telling you, it's right in front of our faces. They lie to us." 

After widespread condemnation, Irving apologized — sort of — while speaking at the Forbes Under 30 Summit in 2018. 

"Even if you believe in that, don't come out and say that stuff," Irving said. "That's for intimate conversations because perception and how you're received, it changes. I'm actually a smart-ass individual...at the time I didn't realize the effect. At that time I was like 'I'm a big conspiracy theorist, you can't tell me anything,' so I'm sorry about all that."