Tim Howard for Defense secretary? Obama will ‘think about’

President Obama quipped Friday that he’ll consider Tim Howard, the star goalkeeper for the U.S. soccer team, as the next Secretary of Defense.  

Although the U.S. team lost 2-1 to Belgium Tuesday, eliminating them from the World Cup, Howard had a remarkable game, tallying 16 saves through the 120-minute match – the most in the tournament since statistics began being kept in 1966.

{mosads}In response, fans launched a petition on the White House website urging Obama to shift Howard from the goal box to the Pentagon. 

“Chuck Hagel’s got that spot right now,” Obama said Friday during his weekly radio address. “But if there is a vacancy, I’ll think about it.”

Obama also praised the entire soccer team for their play in Rio, where they battled a tough bracket to reach the second round.

“We are so proud of you,” he said. “You’ve got a lot of new believers.”

Both Obama and Hagel have spoken with Howard by phone since Tuesday’s match.