Clark has a Ping deal now, but he first switched to the wand back in March without a contract. Ping announced a unique putter-only deal with Clark on the eve of the U.S. Open last week, a first for the company in more than 50 years of sponsoring Tour players.
Now, the company has its first major victory in over a decade and the potential for a gear-industry disruption.
For the first two-plus months that Clark had the all-white, center-shafted putter in his bag, he did so without incentive. It was a bit of a wild journey to get there.
Advertisement
The now two-time major winner’s previous equipment contract with Titleist expired at the end of last year, leading him to become one of the most high-profile gear free agents to start 2026.
Clark joked at the Memorial earlier this month that he was “dating” different clubs at the beginning of the year as he cycled through both drivers and putters. With the flatstick, he settled into a L.A.B. Golf DF3 at the end of last season, moving away from the counterbalanced Odyssey Jailbird with which he won the 2023 U.S. Open, but it wasn’t long before he switched things up.
First, he started playing the grip upside down. Then he bought a new Bettinardi putter at his home course pro shop and gamed it at the Players. Two tournaments later, Clark walked on to the Ping Tour truck to have some work done to his G440 Max 3-wood.
Advertisement
PING Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset CB Custom Putter
“During a discussion in Houston regarding his equipment, we noted he was using a center-shafted onset putter and how we just introduced two new onset mallets in our Scottsdale TEC line,” Ping Player Development Manager Dylan Goodwin, who worked with Clark on the switch, told GOLF. “We explained the technology and our philosophy on torque. He liked the look of both models and the principle behind them. He requested we build both to his specifications at the time.”
Unlike the L.A.B. or the Bettinardi Antidote models Clark was using, Ping’s Scottsdale TEC Onset models are not “zero-torque” putters. Instead of the shaft going through the center of gravity of the head, Ping places the shaft directly in front of the CG to create stability by “pulling” the majority of the mass.
Clark tried out both the Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset and Ketsch Onset models and found the Ally Blue, with a slightly more face-balanced design with five degrees of toe hang versus 15 on the Ketsch, better fit his stroke. Specifically, he noted an improved start line, fixing a left miss.
Advertisement
He put a standard 35″ Ally Blue Onset model in play in Houston and used it for two events before going back to the Ping Truck at the RBC Heritage. There, Clark asked for a new Ally Blue Onset CB to match the same specs of the counterbalanced Odyssey Jailbird 380 he used to win the 2023 U.S. Open.
Clark was part of maybe the wildest gear story of 2023 when he earned his first two victories, including the major at the Los Angeles Country Club, with a counterbalanced Jailbird with lead tape covering the entire sole. Rickie Fowler was the first player to switch to that kind of build, and Clark asked for the “Rickie-build.” Both players, along with Keegan Bradley, a longtime user of the head, won that year.
At the time, the Jailbird was a potentially forgotten-about Odyssey head, but within one summer it became the company’s flagship mallet and was back in production. Clark wanted that same heavy feel again.
“We initially built a standard 370g head at 38” with a SuperStroke 3.0 17” grip,” Goodwin said. “However, he felt this setup lacked the head feel and control he prefers. To address this, we built two new options: one with a standard head weight and a 17g tip weight, and another with a 400g head featuring tungsten in the sole plate. Since Wyndham adds lead tape to the sole regardless of the initial build, he found the 400g head too heavy with the added tape, but the 387g head (which finished at 400g with the lead tape) was perfect.”
Advertisement
Clark excelled with the added stability both from the shaft and CG placement, as well as the overall weight. It showed in the stats.
“Since I switched to this Ping putter, it’s been amazing,” Clark said at the RBC Canadian Open two weeks ago. “Now I feel like all the hard work I’ve put into my swing is paying off because when I hit the greens or hit it close, I’m actually making the putts, where maybe earlier in the year I wasn’t.”
Wyndham Clark gets makes his second U.S. Open title the first major title for Ping’s new Scottsdale TEC putter.
It’s the first major title for a Ping putter since Bubba Watson at the 2014 Masters. pic.twitter.com/Dlmo7RhXoY
After finishing 4th in the field at Shinnecock in SG: Putting, Clark has risen from 155th on the PGA Tour in the stat, where he was losing .725 strokes a round, to 43rd, gaining .239 strokes. He’s also 5th in putting average at 1.702.
“I played some ugly golf the last two days, but my putter and short game kind of kept me in it,” Clark told NBC’s Mike Tirico Sunday after hoisting the U.S. Open trophy.
There’s no telling whether Clark’s improvement will lead to the same fever around the Ally Blue Onset that surrounded the Jailbird three years ago, but it’s safe to assume that at least a few have jumped off the shelves in the last few hours.
Not since TaylorMade’s 2022 signing of Scottie Scheffler has a company pulled off a better-timed sponsorship agreement than Ping just did.
Advertisement
Wyndham Clark’s putter Specs:
Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset CB Loft: 3˚ Lie: 70˚ Length: 38″ Headweight: 400g (17g tip weight + 13g lead tape) Insert: PEBAX Grip: SuperStroke Tour 3.0 17″
This tally was only surpassed by one man. Lionel Messi, the player who has spent 15 years surpassing all of his contemporaries, scored a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria.
He followed that triple with a brace against Austria in his second game. It was a real statement start from a man many believe is still the world’s best player. At this World Cup, it feels like there might only be one man who can keep up with him.
France have now booked their place in the last 32 of the World Cup (AP)
“Messi, it’s clear,” answered Mbappe when asked who was best out of himself, Messi, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland in the build-up to the game.
“For me, it’s not a question in my head,” he went on to explain, highlighting that the only thing that matters now is helping France to win a third World Cup. Anyone watching the action in Philadelphia would be forgiven for thinking slightly differently.
Advertisement
Mbappe, himself fresh off becoming his country’s top all-time goalscorer after his brace against Senegal, was making his 100th appearance for Les Blues. But as soon as this match kicked off, it certainly felt like the all-time World Cup scoring record was also on his mind.
The France striker was on the front foot from the off, and it was strangely suitable that he was scythed down by Amir Al Ammari so cynically early on. Perhaps that is the only way to stop him.
Mbappe’s brace took him to 16 World Cup goals, a tally only bettered by Lionel Messi (Getty)
Mbappe’s early combinations with both Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele were an exciting reminder that this France squad possesses an unrivalled depth of attacking talent, and while they could not find the final ball early on, it was clear that they were here to make a statement.
For Mbappe specifically, some showmanship on the right wing suggested that he was in the mood to entertain, and he didn’t take long to deliver on that promise as he scored a superb opener.
Receiving the ball just outside the area, and with Iraq affording him far too much space, he needed no invitation to rifle a ferocious strike into the far corner past a helpless Ahmed Basil. It was ruthlessly efficient and made to look so easy, as if it had been scored in a YouTube video filmed during a training exercise.
Advertisement
That was the only goal of the first half at the Philadelphia Stadium, and the action on the pitch gave way to action off it as a thunderstorm moved in, delaying the start of the second half by two hours as drenched fans packed the concourses and the seats emptied.
Mbappe’s opening goal was the 15th that he’s scored in World Cups (AP)
As the rain continued to hammer down, the storm circling around the Philadelphia Stadium at half-time felt like a suitable metaphor for Iraq. France were not going to lose their rhythm, and it was only going to get more difficult from here.
It was not long before Iraq conceded again. If the first goal had required remarkable skill, the second required almost none, with Ahmed Basil failing to control a simple pass before Dembele squared it for Mbappe to tap into an empty net. The Frenchman was not about to let the weather – or Messi – steal the show.
While the rain in Philly subsided, the France onslaught did not. Mbappe remained at the heart of things, showing some stunning touches in such difficult conditions and almost grabbing an assist as he took down a pass brilliantly before laying it off to Olise, whose sumptuous lob had Basil flailing before it bounced back off the crossbar.
Olise remained at the heart of things throughout, the orchestrator to Mbappe the finisher, and he had his moment late on, sliding a great pass into the path of Dembele, who lasered a low finish into the corner to seal the result.
Advertisement
Dembele assisted Mbappe’s second and rounded off the result with a goal of his own (Getty)
Though they would be expected to win this game easily, France beat Iraq in a manner that was eye-catching in its ruthlessness and quality, in stark contrast to how teams such as Spain and Portugal have toiled against lesser sides at this tournament.
As always, Mbappe was at the forefront of it all, a constant threat against an admittedly weak Iraq side. But while some might argue that a group stage match against such opposition does not bring a lot of pressure for someone like Mbappe, a player of this calibre always takes to the pitch with a different weight of expectation.
The celebrations certainly suggested as much, with the Frenchman celebrating both his strikes with plenty of excitement. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to tell whether this reaction was him inadvertently admitting that he has an eye on the record that Messi shattered in his own spectacular week.
In any case, as he was brought down in the area after nutmegging a defender, and as he tried the audacious volley from a clipped pass late on, it was clear that Mbappe was enjoying himself once more on the world’s biggest stage.
Mbappe had chances to complete his hat-trick but could only fire wide and straight at Ahmed Basil (AP)
For all the criticisms of his club career so far, it’s undeniable that his World Cup exploits put him among the tournament’s greatest players. Despite his press conference comments, the 26-year-old seems set on reminding everyone that he is still one of the world’s top players, and scoring his 15th and 16th World Cup certainly goals went some way to doing so.
Indeed, despite all their talent, it feels like France will need Mbappe to deliver to the same levels he did in 2018 and 2022 if they are to win this tournament. Thankfully, although it’s early days, he looks set to do so.
Advertisement
If 2018 was Mbappe launching himself to stardom, 2022 was a reminder of his world-beating talents. We do not yet know what 2026 will be, but if he can carry on this form, it could be the tournament that elevates him to the pantheon of the sport.
One analyst has a bone to pick with a specific region of golf fans following the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills this past week.
Golf Channel’s Eamon Lynch believes a golf major shouldn’t ever come across Long Island, New York again after seeing what unfolded at one of the country’s storied courses in Shinnecock Hills during the U.S. Open.
“Long Island golf fans re a stain on the game of golf,” Lynch said during a segment on Monday following Wyndham Clark’s second U.S. Open victory for his career.
Golf Channel commentator Eamon Lynch looks on during the second round of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa., on June 13, 2025.(Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Lynch continued to unload on Long Islanders who attended the event, saying they “do not deserve” to see another major at any of its storied courses, including Bethpage Black, which hosted this past year’s Ryder Cup.
Clark was at the center of Lynch’s argument, as authorities had to kick patrons at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday out after heckling the U.S. Open’s leader. Fans were heard screaming, “Don’t choke Wyndham,” as well as, “Get in the bunker” during his final round.
“This isn’t a New York problem,” Lynch added. “It doesn’t happen at Winged Foot, doesn’t happen at Baltusrol on the other side of the Hudson River. It happens on Long Island every single time.”
As of now, the PGA of America has the PGA Championship set up for Bethpage Black in 2033.
At that very course, Rory McIlroy and other members of Team Europe were the subject of taunts and heckling that got in the way of the Ryder Cup this past summer. McIlroy was even seen stepping back from the ball to quip back at one of the hecklers, while others, including his friend Shane Lowry, were also quick to respond.
Then, during Team Europe’s victory run on American soil, McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, had a beer thrown at her while walking on the course.
Advertisement
Rory McIlroy talks with Golfweek journalist Eamon Lynch during the pro-am before the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course in Orlando, Fla., on March 1, 2023.(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf,” McIlroy said at the time. “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.”
While nothing of the sort was seen during the four rounds at the U.S. Open this past week, Lynch still believes Long Island golf fans have been too “repetitive” and “predictable” to allow high-stakes tournaments to be played there in the future.
“It’s the drunk crypto bros who buy a ticket with Daddy’s credit card,” Lynch said, even adding that some of the fans have been privileged in their lives to the point they’ve been “without ever being stopped for something they’ve said.”
“Maybe golf in its entirety needs to take the August National model,” he said. “No phones, no tolerance, no second chance.”
Shinnecock Hills saw Clark become somewhat of a villain among the crowd despite leading the pack throughout the tournament. He’s had a history of throwing clubs, and he notoriously was banned from Oakmont during the 2025 U.S. Open after damaging two lockers inside the clubhouse out of frustration. He’s no longer allowed on the property.
Wyndham Clark celebrates with his girlfriend Emily Tanner after winning the final round of the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., on June 21, 2026.(Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour)
Kylian Mbappé celebrates one of his two goals in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
France overcame a lengthy weather delay to defeat Iraq 3-0 and strengthen their position at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday night.
The Group stage match was suspended for more than two hours due to lightning activity near the stadium. Play was stopped at the end of the first half at 5:49pm local time and eventually resumed at 8:00pm.
Despite the interruption, France remained in control and secured a comfortable victory through a brace from captain Kylian Mbappe and a goal from Ousmane Dembele.
Advertisement
Mbappe opened the scoring before the weather stoppage and added his second goal after play resumed. Dembele then wrapped up the win with his first-ever World Cup goal.
The result moved France onto six points from two matches and underlined their status as one of the favourites for the tournament.
Mbappe’s double was also a personal milestone. The 27-year-old now has 16 World Cup goals, leaving him just two short of the all-time record of 18 goals set earlier on Monday by Lionel Messi.
Advertisement
France dominated throughout the contest, registering 16 shots compared to Iraq’s two, while the Asian side failed to record a shot on target.
Mbappe came close to completing his hat-trick late in the game but fired over the bar after breaking clear of the Iraq defence.
The victory extends France’s impressive start to the tournament as Didier Deschamps’ side continue their quest for another World Cup title, while Iraq face a difficult challenge to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
With Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announcing his resignation this morning and Andy Burnham as a possible successor, the fitness, health and wellness sector is evaluating its position.
Burnham understands the importance of physical activity and has been a strong advocate, so is this what the sector is waiting for?
In an interview with HCM’s sister publication, Sports Management, before the pandemic Burnham – as Mayor of Manchester – spoke about physical activity being a passion for him and his goal to get 75 per cent of people in Manchester physically activity by 2025.
He used his devolved power in Manchester to pivot GPs from a medical model to a social model, expanding their role to treat isolation and physical inactivity as aggressively as clinical symptoms.
Advertisement
Under the Active Practices Charter, GP surgeries across Greater Manchester partnered with local leisure trusts to encourage GPs to connect patients with walking groups and local fitness sessions.
He also championed Parkrun and the Daily Mile in schools.
According to Sport England Active Lives data, 76.4 per cent of adults in Manchester exercise for at least 30 minutes a week, with 66.3 per cent meeting the WHO guidelines of 150 minutes. The smoking rate is also relatively low at 17 per cent.
“I’ve always had a simple belief that activity is good for people and also good for society,” said Burnham.
Advertisement
“If physical activity was placed at the heart of primary care, we’d be in a different league in terms of health.
“Can we get to a point where exercise referral – linked to a full package of nutritional advice and counselling – is the default option as a starting point rather than us turning immediately to medication?”
Burnham has also argued that preventative healthcare cannot be mandated from Westerminster, but must be built from bottom-up leadership in local neighbourhoods.
UK Active CEO, Cameron Saunders, said on LinkedIn that he’s cautiously optimistic about what a Burnham government might be able to deliver:
Advertisement
“Physical activity in primary care – Burnham has always believed exercise referral should be the default NHS offer, not an afterthought. As Mayor he pushed hard to embed it in Greater Manchester’s devolved health system. As PM, he’d have the levers to reform the GP contract – specifically the Quality Outcomes Framework – to incentivise activity referrals nationally; that’s a potential structural shift our sector has been waiting decades for.
“The Manchester Model, on a national scale. Burnham’s blueprint – Daily Mile in schools, social prescribing, active travel infrastructure, community-based provision – is proven. He’ll hopefully want to roll it out everywhere. For leisure operators, that means new commissioning frameworks, stronger referral pipelines and genuine integration with public health.
“Gyms as NHS delivery partners. He said it explicitly: gyms need to become the standardised, recognised exercise referral option that GPs can confidently prescribe to. That’s not a nice-to-have – it’s a policy architecture waiting to be built, delivered across public and private. Will he recognise it’a time to stop taxing prevention in order to fund cure?
“Prevention over prescription. Burnham has always been frustrated that the NHS reaches for medication before lifestyle intervention. Let’s hope a Burnham government would push hard on this – moving physical activity from the margins of health policy to the centre.
Advertisement
“After “Two Year Kier” I’m cautiously optimistic about what a Burnham government might be able to deliver, you’ve got to live in hope, right?”
Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Steelers are sorting through a mess of their own making with Mike McCarthy at HC and Aaron Rodgers at QB. These two are going to collect headlines whether there’s success (unlikely) or failure (more likely).
Pretty quietly, the team has been collecting ex-Vikings players, too.
Pittsburgh’s official social media passed along word of adding WR Joaquin Davis. He’s a tall and super fast depth receiver who got shown the door after GM Nolan Teasley took over (signing some Seattle talent was deemed more desirable). Davis will be looking to prove helpful to McCarthy & Rodgers as he tries to secure long-term employment in The Steel City.
Doing so meant reuniting with Rodgers, both of whom played in Green Bay. Where Tonyan differentiates himself from Rodgers is that the TE wanted to play in the Twin Cities, leading to an opportunity to do so. Meanwhile, Rodgers desired to do so but the Vikings (mercifully) opted against the option. Given how things unfolded in 2025, signing Rodgers for a single season may have been the better move had the only criteria been on-field competence.
The wild part in the broader conversation is that Davis and Tonyan are far from alone when it comes to former Vikings getting a chance over in Pittsburgh.
Advertisement
Aug 16, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Joaquin Davis (80) pulls in the ball in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals bat Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Consider some of the former Vikings putting in work for the Steelers:
DL Esezi Otomewo
DL Dean Lowry
LB Jamin Davis
TE Robert Tonyan
WR Joaquin Davis
OL Doug Nester
As it relates to Davis specifically, a spot on the 53-man roster always appeared difficult. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings aren’t going anywhere. Securing a spot as the WR4 or WR5 was going to be supremely difficult.
Standing at 6’4″ and running a forty in the 4.3 range is always going to attract attention in the NFL. Davis, predictably, has been getting chances. Rodgers isn’t the deep-ball assassin that he once was but he’s still above average. Maybe Davis can prove helpful.
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during the second half of an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Considering the situation from the other direction — ex-Steelers putting in work as Vikings — means considering a more modest list. Most notable, perhaps, is corner James Pierre. He’s joined by d-lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk.
Prior to becoming the DC in Minnesota, Brian Flores was the world’s most overqualified linebacker coach with Mike Tomlin’s Steelers.
Since the Vikings and the Steelers play in opposite conferences, a Super Bowl battle is a possibility. Seeing that incredibly unlikely matchup take place would mean seeing some ex-Vikings trying to get revenge on football’s biggest stage.
LoLdle answers for June 23, 2026 are finally revealed for fans who got stuck today. Puzzle iteration 1447 can be quite a hassle if players are not familiar with all of the characters and their aspects. That said, those actively grinding LoL should be able to decipher the clues by following the hints correctly.
Nevertheless, here is the Quote puzzle in the 1447th entry of LoLdle:
“Peace, no matter the cost.”
All League of Legends LoLdle answers 1447th edition (June 23, 2026)
New temporary game mode: Worlds Mayhem 🏆 Build your dream roster. Simulate a Worlds run. Can your team become Worlds Champions? Play it now on Inspired by the awesome 82-0 game.
Advertisement
The League of Legends LoLdle answers for June 23 are shown below:
Classic: Lillia
Quote: Karma
Ability: Bel’Veth; Bonus: W (Above and Below)
Emoji: Naafiri
SplashArt: Cho’Gath;Bonus: Shan Hai Scrolls Cho’Gath
The Classic answer for June 23’s LoLdle is Lillia. Next, the Quote puzzle points to Karma, who is also one of the better and more feasible choices in the support role in the current League of Legends meta.
Next, the Ability clue refers to Bel’Veth’s W ability named “AboveandBelow.” The Emoji puzzle, on the other hand, indicates Naafiri and her characteristics. Lastly, the Splash Art puzzle wraps up by including Cho’Gath’s Shan Hai Scrolls skin.
Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has declared that Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time following the Argentine’s latest World Cup record.
Messi made history after scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria, becoming the highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 18 goals.
Reacting to the achievement while working as a pundit on SuperSport, Troost-Ekong had no doubts about where Messi stands among football’s all-time greats.
Advertisement
“Messi is the GREATEST,” Troost-Ekong said.
“Lionel Messi is just something special. He does things other players cannot do.”
The Nigerian defender also praised Cristiano Ronaldo for his remarkable achievements in football but believes Messi’s success at the World Cup gives him the edge in the long-running debate.
Advertisement
According to Troost-Ekong, Messi’s triumph with Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and his outstanding performances at the 2026 tournament have strengthened his claim as the greatest player in history.
The former Super Eagles captain pointed to Messi’s current form in the United States, where the Argentine has already scored five goals in just two matches.
Troost-Ekong believes those achievements, combined with Messi’s ability to produce moments of magic on the biggest stage, settle the argument over who is football’s greatest player.
William Troost-Ekong on World Cup punditry duty with Supersports
“Messi is the GREATEST,” he repeated.
The 39-year-old Argentina captain is currently the leading scorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and has helped the defending champions secure a place in the knockout stage.
One of the summer’s biggest potential transfers has made his intentions known.
Speaking after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria on Monday, Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez told assembled media he wants a transfer from the La Liga side, saying, according to an ESPN translation, “I think the best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfill my dream.”
Though Alvarez didn’t elaborate on what — or what team — constitutes his dream, he has already been at the centre of the perpetual tug-of-war between Real Madrid and Barcelona atop Spanish soccer’s hierarchy this summer.
Barca, which will require a new No. 9 to replace the departed Robert Lewandowski, has been linked with the Argentinian striker since before the domestic season ended. The reigning La Liga champions are Alvarez’s preferred landing spot, according to ESPN.
Advertisement
Now that Alvarez has made public his desire to move on from Atleti, the El Clásico foes will likely renew their historic rivalry in the transfer market. Though Madrid was the first to submit a bid for the attacker, Barca presumably has an edge if only through a greater appetite on Atleti’s side to do business with it as opposed to its local rival.
Since arriving at Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in 2024, Alvarez has scored 49 times across 106 appearances in all competitions.
Kansas City Chiefs superfan and NFL analyst Nick Wright voiced strong support for the organization’s decision to bet on its young wide receiver trio rather than make a big move at the position, as reported by ESPN. The team has been linked to re-signing free agent Tyreek throughout the offseason.
Speaking on “First Things First” on Monday, Wright endorsed the front office’s draft-focused philosophy as the smart path to sustaining Patrick Mahomes’ dominance in the long term. He outlined the Chiefs’ ideology around trusting Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton.
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
“They were never going to, in my opinion, overspend at wide receiver because they feel like they have spent at wide receiver, and they have to have those guys pan out,” Wright said. “It is a lot of ifs they are relying on, but that is the philosophy.
Advertisement
•
“And that is why I think they don’t make what I consider some of the panic moves some of the other AFC contenders I have seen them make, to try to, ‘Oh, this didn’t work out, we will trade a couple picks to try to fill in there.’ That is not how they are going to do business.”
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
Nick Wright’s comments come amid ongoing chatter about a potential Tyreek Hill reunion. The speedy veteran receiver, who’s now a free agent, was once a cornerstone in the Chiefs’ offense. However, the franchise isn’t taking a chance on him despite a diminished value post-injury.
Advertisement
Nick Wright describes the Chiefs’ internal feeling on the offense’s struggle in 2025
The Chiefs struggled to produce on offense last season, costing them playoff football in the process. On “First Things First,” Nick Wright noted that the Chiefs aren’t considering it a disaster, as he described the internal feelings around the offense’s struggles in 2025.
“They believe internally that last year’s lack of production was a combination of injuries and, on it, being unavailable: the suspension, plus Xavier Worthy getting hurt immediately and not being 100%,” Wright said.
“Coaching, which is that they replaced wide receiver coach and offensive coordinator, and a total lack of any running game threat that allowed teams to only play the pass. That’s, you know, that is one bucket of this. They think all of those things (played a role in the lack of production).”
Nick Wright and many other Chiefs fans are expecting something different from the offense next season. The team will be looking to have their wide receivers available throughout the upcoming season, as they’ve made significant additions to improve the run game with names like veteran Kenneth Walker.
A Minnesota Vikings fan looked on intently on Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the second half of the matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. The afternoon crowd reflected a mix of anticipation and frustration as the game’s momentum shifted late, leaving fans hanging on every possession in another tense home-field showdown. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Best guess on this end of the internet is that Vikings defender Ivan Pace Jr. is facing a tough battle to get onto the final roster. Minnesota would likely be keen to participate in a trade. That’s far from gospel truth, though.
Mr. Pace is a 25-year-old linebacker who offers a pile of aggression and physicality. Coaches, as Mike Zimmer used to say, would “rather say whoa than go.” Basically, coaches would rather need to restrain a player operating with too much compete than motivate somebody who doesn’t appear particularly motivated.
Add it all up and there is a lot to like in Pace. He’s a homegrown talent who is young and who has the potential to improve. Better yet, his mentality appears perfectly-suited for life working under the tutelage of Brian Flores.
Advertisement
With all of that being said, what of the subtraction chatter?
Demoted Vikings Defender Ivan Pace Jr. in Danger of Subtraction
All along, Pace has been doubted, largely due to being a smaller player.
Looking back, there’s simply no way he should have fallen out of the 2023 NFL Draft. Seeing a redo take place would involve the blitzing specialist going reasonably high. Not a 1st and possibly not somebody for the 2nd or 3rd, but the 4th or 5th would represent good value. Bringing him to town as an undrafted player was an instance of highway robbery from former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Advertisement
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. kneels quietly in the end zone during pregame moments, with Dec 25, 2025 set at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as players prepare for a Christmas Day matchup against the Detroit Lions, capturing a focused and reflective scene before kickoff in a divisional showdown. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Since being promoted to a starting position as a rookie, Pace has been slowly declining. Or, at least, his portion of the pie has decreased, leaving him with less and less snaps.
Consider just his overall snap count on defense across his three years:
2023: 706
2024: 414
2025: 323
Obviously, that’s a discouraging trend. Making matters even worse is that Pace was involved in all seventeen games in 2025 versus just eleven in 2024. Not only did he play less snaps, but Pace played less snaps while playing six more games.
Another factor to consider is the broader injury turmoil for the ’25 Flores defense. Guys like Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, and Josh Metellus all missed time. In theory, that should have created more work for Pace.
I recognize that a pair of those players are edge rushers and one a safety, but the Flores defense involves shuffling aplenty. Metellus, for instance, is commonly tasked with playing linebacker. Not having Metellus therefore creates a need for somebody to eat into those linebacker snaps (such as a linebacker).
And then not having Greenard and Van Ginkel for some games meant moving Eric Wilson up to edge rusher. Seeing Wilson vacate his normal off-ball linebacker spot didn’t lead to a major boost in playing time for Pace.
Advertisement
Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) returns a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown as linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) look to block against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Per Over the Cap, Ivan Pace is demanding a $3.52 million cap hit in 2026. None of that money would get left behind as dead money in either of a cut or a trade.
Best guess is that a cut isn’t going to happen. Added cap space is always to be coveted, but Minnesota could have already moved on had there been a desire to add cap room. What appears more likely is a willingness to move on from Pace if somebody offers a Day 3 pick. In that scenario, the Vikings defender would give back cap space while further fortifying the draft ammo.
Otherwise, Pace can be kept around as the LB4 behind Cashman, Wilson, and Jake Golday. He can show improvement (cutting down on missed tackles and not getting eviscerated when in pass coverage) so as to demand a contract in Minnesota. Or he’ll be allowed to walk next offseason, putting a comp pick on the board.
Ivan Pace, 25, hasn’t seen the final chapter of his story written. He is nevertheless needing to overcome the sort of doubt that made him such a fascinating story as an undrafted talent who quickly proved capable of shining in the NFL.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login