Sep 7, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) catches the ball for a touchdown being defended by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
As this stage in the offseason, the top NFL free agent lists proliferate. The Vikings, despite a cap crunch that has yet to be resolved (at least publicly), are going to participate, if only in a modest manner.
But while adding talent is an exciting thing, Minnesota is encountering a discouraging reality: many of the top team fits could have been had for cheap. Indeed, we’re four years on from the disastrous 2022 NFL Draft, meaning the four-year rookie pacts are expiring. Many of the top names who look like nice fits belong to players who could have become Vikings players.
The Vikings Get Salt in the Wound
If you enjoy feeling sad, consider the draft picks just one more time:
Pretty stunningly, the ten-person draft class is most likely going to venture elsewhere without a single player signing a second deal to remain. Of the crew, Jalen Nailor is the lone success story; drafting a promising WR3 in the 6th is excellent work. Otherwise, that’s a tough first go at drafting.
Nov 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Jalen Nailor (1) in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Shrinking things down to just the opening five draft picks allows us to see some of the promising talent that’s now out there in NFL free agency.
On ESPN, Matt Bowen proposes team fits for a list of the top free agents. The Vikings get a single mention, getting linked to off-ball linebacker Nakobe Dean. Consider what could have been possible:
For whatever it’s worth, the Bowen piece sees Walker as the 18th FA, Taylor as the 12th FA, Dean as the 48th FA, Chenal as the 45th FA, and Woolen as the 14th FA.
Obviously, the fight isn’t particularly fair. No GM, no matter how excellent, can withstand a battle with hindsight. Reality takes place and mysteries get solved, making it easy to tell the future that is the past. There is, nevertheless, some point to the exercise.
There’s a case to be made that what the Vikings need right about now is a young, dynamic runner like Walker. A tall, lengthy corner like Woolen would be great, too. Linebackers Dean and Chenal would be an upgrade, just as Taylor would be perfect for how the secondary operates.
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Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
The Vikings are experiencing an off-field equivalent to mistakes on the field.
Consider, for instance, a snap where the defensive tackle doesn’t get into the gap he’s supposed to be in. As the runner breaks through that early lane, the linebacker then misses a tackle since he wasn’t expecting to need break toward that area of the field so dramatically. The safety then needs to take on a powerful runner with a ton of momentum, leading to a business decision that results in an uninspired effort to tackle.
The (fictional) scenario above is an example of how an early mistake at the line of scrimmage can ripple through the rest of the defense and play more broadly. So, too, can the same logic be applied to drafting.
The Vikings are currently in a cap mess largely due to spending so freely on free agents. Needing to spend so freely on free agents largely overflows from poor drafting, the place where young, cost-controlled talent is found. In other words, mistakes from 2022 don’t stay in 2022. Instead, these 2022 mistakes have a real impact on what’s occurring in 2026.
In football, everything is interconnected.
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Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah watches from the sideline during the NFL International Series matchup on Sep. 28, 2025, at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, observing roster depth and execution as Minnesota competed on a global stage while managing evaluation responsibilities in an uncommon overseas setting. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The point, folks, is not that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is solely to blame for all that ails Minnesota. There’s no way that’s true (or anywhere close to true; there’s a ton of blame to go around). Nor, in fact, is the argument that Minnesota should have been capable of drafting in accordance with the insights that only reality can provide. Such a threshold is impossible to clear.
Rather, the point is that the Vikings are now turning over couch cushions to (possibly) sign one or two strong talents when these same players had been available four years ago for the price of a draft pick, a rookie contract, and a roster spot. The Vikings can now have these players, but they do so after they’ve become older and more expensive.
Connecting on one or two of these picks would have made a massive difference for the present moment.
At a time when the Vikings feel stretched thin, the need to launch the cap version of a fundraiser for free agents who were there for the taking must feel like salt in the wound.
Team USA women’s figure skater Alysa Liu won gold in the women’s free skate final on Thursday, ending a 20-year drought for American women to medal in the event, and a 24-year drought to win gold.
The last American woman to win a singles figure skating medal at the Olympics was Sasha Cohen in the 2006 Turin Games, and the last American woman to win a gold medal in singles figure skating was Sarah Hughes, who pulled off that accomplishment in 2002 when the Winter Games were held in Salt Lake City.
She landed all her jumps and smiled throughout, and exploded into a demonstrative celebration after she finished. She was even heard yelling, “that’s what I’m f—ing talking about!’ and “holy s—!” while celebrating with her team.
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Liu finished with 226.79 total score, 150.20 free skate score, 76.59 short program score. It was her season-best in free skate score.
But she still had to watch Japanese rivals Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai go after her.
Sakamoto was only good enough to come up just behind Liu. Nakai appeared to come much closer, as there was a noticeable tension in the crowd as judges reviewed Nakai’s moves before delivering her final score. But once they announced that Nakai had come up short, the crowd exploded in celebration for Liu.
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Liu was the only American woman who qualified for a chance at the podium after Tuesday’s short program, as teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito came up short.
All the pressure was on Liu to win a gold for the U.S. in an individual figure skating event after her teammates came up short, men’s star Ilia Malinin fell to eight place after two falls.
Liu has become a fan favorite for the U.S. this year, playing a key role in helping her country win gold in the team event after her dramatic comeback story. She only just returned to the world stage after a brief retirement following her performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Liu called the experience “a little bit freaky and exciting.”
“You know what I mean? It’s so… unbelievable. You know what I mean like, that’s crazy,” Liu previously told Fox News Digital at a roundtable interview at the USOPC Media Summit in October.
“Like, imagine finding that out at such a young age, I mean, like In a weird way, I was like, ‘Am I like in some prank show?’ Like, is this world real like I must be some movie character. But, I mean, it was like it made sense to me, you know, from like everything my dad did back in his activist days.”
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She hasn’t ruled out seeing her life, and experience in an international spying incident, adapted into a movie.
Alysa Liu of the United States arrives to compete during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Still, she has some preferences if her story makes it onto the big screen.
“They gotta make me look like super cool hero or something. And just, I can’t just be the kid that got spied on and did nothing about it,” she said. “But honestly, I would just have the main focus be like my dad’s story, because like his story is so cool and like also just like everything that only happened because of what he did, so, like I feel like we got to start with the roots.”
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Ben Griffin won’t call himself a gear nerd and he doesn’t like to tinker with his setup, but he does love to test.
“I’m friends with a lot of the reps out here on Tour, and I like going into the trucks and talking with them and learning about their new equipment,” Griffin told GOLF earlier this month. “I’m open more than other players to just hit products for different companies, maybe to give them feedback or whatever. So I’m just more open that way.
“I’m not really trying necessarily to change anything, but I’m just testing for fun,” he continued. “Just to see what’s out there. And if something is significantly better, I’m not afraid to make that switch.”
That’s what he was doing Monday of the WM Phoenix Open this year, testing Ping’s new G440 K driver with different shafts, seeing if anything could beat his gamer. By the end of that session, despite seeming like he had the new 440 K grooved, he seemed inclined to keep his older G430 Max 10K in the bag. That club led him to the best season of his career in 2025, winning his first three PGA Tour titles.
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Three days later, on Thursday, he reversed course and the new 440 K was in the bag.
That’s the freedom Griffin has now, as a gear-free agent after previous contracts with Mizuno and UST Mamiya golf shafts expired at the end of last season. The world’s 11th-ranked player can play whatever clubs he likes this year.
But there’s one spot in the bag where Griffin is locked in and it’s the piece of gear that he believes is the most important in the game: his golf ball.
Earlier this season, Griffin signed a three-year extension with Maxfli, now part of Dick’s Sporting Goods, as the company’s only golf ball endorser on the PGA Tour.
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“It’s the one product that I definitely believe in the most,” Griffin said. “Since I kind of got started using the Maxfli product, it’s just been like a super natural fit. It’s also been kind of a part of my brand out here on Tour. Everyone kind of refers to me as a guy who plays a Maxfli.”
Since then, he’s gradually risen from a scrappy journeyman young tour pro who briefly gave up the competitive game and got into the mortgage business to a U.S. Ryder Cup team member and one of the best on the PGA Tour.
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It could have been assumed that Griffin, then a second-year PGA Tour pro when he signed with the company, was doing it just for the money. But he said the decision was based on both the performance of the ball and how the brand aligned with his values.
“I’m not trying to just partner with this person because they’re paying me X amount or try to sell a spot on my bag because I have it open,” he said. “I want to partner with companies that I believe in and companies that I can associate myself with and use their products, and Maxfli aligned perfectly for that.
“It’s funny, when you first start on Tour, you’re almost seeking sponsors. Now I’m at the point where I have a lot of options in front of me, and it doesn’t come down to money.”
In some ways, Maxfli’s story of reintroduction to professional golf through himself, Thompson and PGA Tour Champions player Fred Funk, mirrors Griffin’s own comeback story before he earned his PGA Tour card on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022.
“It’s a really good product that kind of got a little bit lost in time with the way the economics worked with the company dating back to the 1990s,” he said. “Now with what Dick’s is doing, they’re really trying to make a push and a comeback, and it resonates really well with me and my story of making a comeback to professional golf.”
Partnering with Maxfli and not a brand with a whole line of clubs allows him the freedom and flexibility that he wouldn’t otherwise have if he were locked in to 8-, 10- or 14-club contract.
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Maxfli announced a three-year extension with Ben Griffin, which is now the only equipment partnership the three-time PGA Tour winner has for this season.
Had a really fun chat with Ben on Monday on going going the free agent route for his clubs, and he said Maxfli was the gear… pic.twitter.com/KGKf9fwd0l
“I have six categories I think about (driver, fairway woods, irons, wedges, putter, and golf ball) and I believe in the Maxfli ball the most of any product, so I’ve already got that locked down,” he said. “That’s never going to change.”
It also allowed him to create a ball that fit his specific needs, which the company did with a new Maxfli Tour X-LS golf ball. The new model keeps the same feel and high speed Griffin loves from the Tour X, but lowers spin at the top end of the bag, giving Griffin the freedom to swing away and not worry about spin going out of control.
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If a golf ball is the most important part of the bag, Griffin’s does exactly what he wants it to do and, from there, he can choose the 14 clubs that best complement it.
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Maxfli Tour X Golf Balls
Best for golfers seeking more spin and speed with a higher launch, from every club in their bag.
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His bag this season remains largely unchanged, and what has changed, he simply describes as updating to a newer model, as he did with his driver. He still has TaylorMade Qi10 fairway woods and he’s still playing Mizuno Pro S-3 irons, although his 3- and 4-irons are the newer and more forgiving M-13, recent additions for this season. He did finally move away from a Scotty Cameron blade putter to a TaylorMade Spider at the end of last season, but he won with that too.
Megan Keller captured gold for the USA’s Olympic women’s ice hockey team with a stunning overtime strike to seal a 2-1 victory over defending champions Canada on Thursday.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) stands on the field at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Nov. 23, 2025, prior to kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings. Willis surveys the stadium during pregame moments as the divisional matchup approaches in the late-season setting. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings have about two dozen quarterback options this offseason, as the franchise publicly declared last month that it will seek a “deep quarterback room” in 2026. And according to SI.com, the proper path is the free-agent acquisition of Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
Willis’s small-sample surge in Green Bay has people talking, and it could put Minnesota in the mix if the price stays sane.
The strong-armed passer revitalized his career in Green Bay, and he’s poised to cash in next month in free agency.
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Willis Buzz Grows after 2025 Efficiency Spike
If you’re a Willis enthusiast, SI.com has you covered from a Vikings perspective.
Gilberto Manzano sized up one offseason move apiece for each NFC North team, and regarding the Vikings, that’s a Willis signing.
He explained, “Sign QB Malik Willis. It might be tough for them to splurge for Love’s backup, perhaps making Willis available at the start of free agency. Coach Kevin O’Connell can’t hand McCarthy the starting job again unless he proves it by beating out real competition in training camp.”
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“Willis, a 2022 third-round pick, showed vast improvement in the games he appeared last season for Green Bay and his determination to make the most of his latest opportunity after how poorly it went for him in Tennessee could bring out the best in McCarthy in a fierce summer battle. It was a small sample size, but Willis completed 85.7% of his passes in four games last year.”
McCarthy and Willis would then have a true summer battle to determine the QB1.
Manzano continued, “For comparison, McCarthy struggled by completing only 57.6% of his passes in 10 starts. Willis could have other options and maybe an easier path to a starting job, but not many teams can offer a wide receiver as good as Justin Jefferson.”
“The Vikings have no reason to commit to McCarthy’s first-round status after the team fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. There’s no more time to waste in Minnesota after the disastrous quarterback results in 2025.”
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The Single Game That Changed It All
In a December home loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Willis fired up 3 total touchdowns, no interceptions, 288 passing yards, and 60 with his legs. The game changed his career, as it alone probably fetched his upcoming free-agent contract. He proved that a reclamation story could be on the way. The man just needs a starting job to prove his mettle.
Despite a small sample size of only 58 dropbacks in 2025, Willis surprisingly led all quarterbacks in EPA+CPOE, demonstrating high efficiency despite low volume. His footwork appeared more refined, his timing sharper, and he threw with greater conviction — improvements that suggest dedicated work behind the scenes and the right setup in Green Bay.
Now, he needs a genuine opportunity: reps throughout July and August and a chance to compete for a starting role. Minnesota is an appealing destination, purely from a competition perspective.
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Financially, the move is sound. An annual salary in the $15–25 million range is reasonable in the current quarterback market. Moreover, acquiring him wouldn’t require surrendering draft picks or future assets, and the contract wouldn’t become a burdensome, multi-year commitment if he doesn’t pan out.
He represents a unique option: a quarterback with legitimate QB1 potential who can be acquired without sacrificing any trade capital.
Difference of Opinion on Price
Willis’s price tag is difficult to gauge. No one can quite figure it out.
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Because of the precedent set by Baker Mayfield in 2023 and Sam Darnold in 2025, Willis should probably earn a new deal with the aforementioned $15–25 million to “prove it.” He’s never succeeded as a long-term starter anywhere, and handing him a fat bag of cash is risky.
Oct 30, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis (7) steps into a fourth-quarter throw against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Oct 30, 2022. The rookie signal-caller gained valuable experience during his first NFL season while filling in under center for Tennessee. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
But some websites, like Spotrac, have tossed $15-25 million all the way out the window. That source claims Willis is worth a whopping $35.5 million per season, meaning his next squad could ink a deal worth $107 million over the next three seasons.
Many quarterback-needy teams don’t have $35.5 million lying around; $20 million for a quarterback prove-it deal is manageable. Tipping the scales at $35 million or $36 million is borderline outrageous.
Vikings Not Alone for Willis Suitors
If Manzano is wrong and Willis does not land in Minnesota, he’ll still have plenty of suitors. A list might look like this:
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Miami Dolphins
Arizona Cardinals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts
Atlanta Falcons
Dolphins Wire‘s Adam Stites recently opined on Willis to Miami, “The Dolphins’ plan at quarterback isn’t clear, but splitting with Tua Tagovailoa appears to be a foregone conclusion.
“That’ll leave the team with Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller, a pair of young passers who have potential but probably aren’t close to being full-time NFL starters. So that leaves the Dolphins on the hunt for at least one more quarterback with neither a top 10 pick nor a ton of salary cap space at their disposal.”
Nov 16, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston College Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley walks the field prior to kickoff against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on Nov 16, 2023. Hafley led the Eagles during an ACC matchup as the program continued its season on the road. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
It’s worth noting that Tagovailoa will have to land somewhere, too, and he’ll have a robust free-agent market if the Dolphins release him.
Stites added, “With a weak draft class at the position, Miami will probably need to find the money to wade into the free agency pool. And it’s hard to find a better, or more logical option than Willis who would be reunited with new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, who both worked in Green Bay before taking over in Miami.”
The return of Gervonta Davis is up in the air but there may be a title fight waiting for him in the welterweight division should he return.
Davis has not won a fight since June 2024, with his solitary outing since being a controversial draw against Lamont Roach Jr last March – a fight which many fans believe should have cost Davis his undefeated record.
‘Tank’ was then scheduled to face Jake Paul, but he was mentioned in a civil lawsuit – which cites violent behaviour, battery and kidnapping – two weeks before the fight, resulting in the cancellation of the event.
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The 31-year-old has since been arrested and stripped of his WBA lightweight world title, with a potential return to the ring seemingly on hold until his situation outside of it has been cleared up.
Yet, in an interview with All The Smoke Fight, trainer and father of Devin Haney, Bill, revealed that Davis still sits atop the hit list for the WBO welterweight ruler.
“It’s about 10 names on the list. Tank is at the top of it, maybe Shakur [Stevenson] is next. Jaron Ennis. I think Conor Benn might be on there, towards the bottom, you know what I mean?
“Ryan Garcia is number 10, Brian Norman was on there. Keyshawn Davis, your man Keyshawn Davis is on there too.”
‘Tank’ has only fought as high as super-lightweight – a win against Mario Barrios back in 2021 – and would be undersized at welterweight.
As for Haney – who won the title from Brian Norman Jr in November last year to become a three-weight champion – he has also expressed interest in fights with Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis and Conor Benn.
Tony Khan and AEW have just received some good news. This is regarding one of their recent shows.
AEW hosted Grand Slam: Australia in Sydney on February 14. This was the second AEW event held in the country since last year’s Grand Slam. Tony Khan prepared a stacked lineup of matches. The show was headlined by MJF and Brody King who competed over the World Title. The show had its own challenge as it went head-to-head with the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The viewership for the show and the ratings have now come to light.
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According to Wrestlenomics and Programming Insider, AEW Grand Slam: Australia 2026 drew in 561K total viewers with a 0.10 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. The viewership increased 45% from previous week’s Collision which drew in only 388K viewers while the 18-49 demographic drew in 0.07 rating. Against the four-week average, the viewership was up 66% from 337K while the ratings in the 18-49 demographic doubled from 0.05. When compared to last year’s Grand Slam: Australia, the show drew in more viewers (561K vs. 502K). However, in the key 18-49 demographic, last year’s show did significantly better with a 0.21 rating.
Tony Khan commented on top AEW stars receiving interest from WWE
AEW has been on top of their game over the past year. Therefore, several of the company’s top talent has been lured away by WWE. Penta, Rey Fenix, Ricky Saints, and Powerhouse Hobbs were all signed by WWE in the past year.
“It makes me feel incredible. I feel really great about what we’re doing at AEW right now, and I think wrestlers around the world want to be here. AEW is where the best wrestle. We’re seeing women and men across pro wrestling show that this is where so many of the greatest stars have chosen to be—and to stay—for a reason.” [H/T: Ringside News]
It looks like the future is looking good for Tony Khan and AEW.
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In golf instruction, absolutes are rare. But when it comes to great iron players, James Hong, a GOLF Teacher to Watch, explains there’s one common thread: just before impact, they get “stacked” on their lead side.
If you study the best ball-strikers on tour, you’ll notice that as the club starts down, when the lead arm and club shaft are parallel to the ground, they load into their lead leg in a unique way.
During this phase of the downswing, Hong explains they are stacking their lead leg by loading into the joints one on top of the other. Look closely and you’ll see the knee stack over — or sometimes slightly outside — the lead ankle.
This stacking move shifts the player’s weight properly onto the lead side and creates a stable post to turn around, helping the player to sequence correctly, leading to better ball-striking.
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Think “stack” for better sequencing
Many amateurs have a tendency to hang back in their swing. If your pressure stays on the trail side, the club bottoms out too early. That’s when you produce those frustrating fat or thin shots.
By learning to stack over your lead leg, you’ll improve your weight shift and move your low point just ahead of the ball, encouraging ball-first contact — which is key to better ball-striking.
A great way to rehearse this move is to make a few slow, half-speed swings. As you transition into the downswing and the club reaches a level parallel to the ground, feel your lead knee move over your lead ankle. Everything should feel stacked on that lead side.
It may feel exaggerated, or awkward. However, with repetition, the movement will start to feel natural and easier to repeat.
Once you’re comfortable stacking on your lead leg, Hong says to incorporate a ball into your practice. Again, start with slow, controlled swings, then gradually build up to full speed.
If you’re looking to improve your sequencing and contact, remember this: get stacked to get forward, and the rest will take care of itself.
Toulon has added a couple of new models in the Monaco and the Boston, plus well as refinements across the board. They’ve also brought back their crowd favorite Deep Diamond Mill pattern, this time with a groove similar to the pattern that Xander Schauffele won two majors with in 2024. This is now the third collection release from this “third life” of Toulon Golf following on growth and success in 2024 and 2025. Let’s take a look at what makes the 2026 collection different, and give some insight into the company itself and its family members Sean, Kathy, Preston, Tony, and honorary family member Toru.
Two new models this year with Monaco and Boston
Jake Morrow / GOLF
The first thing you’ll notice about Toulon’s 2026 collection is the Midnight Blue finish. This is a finish that has been used in their Toulon Smallbatch program with putters like Smallbatch Sea Island, Smallbatch Pinehurst and Smallbatch Palo Alto. It’s been quite the crowd pleaser so they decided to bring it to their 2026 collection along with accents and paintfill in white and cool grey. The putters are milled once again from 304 stainless steel which is a bit of a softer material compared to some other milled putters on the market, and they take their time in the milling machine. You can see very soft milling details everywhere you look on the new 2026 collection putters and they’ve included their Saulsalito fine milling patter on some of the 6061 aluminum sole plates as well.
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Small but beautiful details throughout the entire 2026 collection lineup including this hidden logo bug on the Monaco
Jake Morrow / GOLF
While Toulon has always been known for their beauty — and, with the new finish and a softer overall shaping approach, that’s still a focus — this year’s line focused in on performance.
Xander wins the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla with the Toulon Deep Diamond Mill pattern
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
This led to the development of the latest iteration of the Deep Diamond Mill face pattern, a crowd favorite. The new mill pattern is a touch shallower than players may remember from older iterations of Toulon Design, but more closely resembles the milling pattern that starred in Schauffele’s two 2024 major wins. They have also added a groove to the pattern this year, which helps get the ball into its initial roll faster and with more efficiency. From a feel perspective it gives the putter a bit more volume, but not at the sacrifice of pitch.
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New 2026 Deep Diamond Milling face pattern with an added groove for better roll performance
Jake Morrow / GOLF
You get a nice confident impact sound without any ringing or “shatter” to the sound. There’s also an intentional approach to hand feedback. Each putter has been built with the maximum MOI they can pull out of that given shape, so you’ll get a bit more feedback from the blades than you will the mallets, but it’s nice “player’s desired” feedback. Not harsh enough to make you jump, but just enough to make sure you know you missed the middle of the face.
Closeup on the new 2026 Deep Diamond Mill face pattern
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Toulon’s new line doesn’t make revolutionary changes; in some ways that’s the point. They’re sticking to their guns and making thoughtful and directed tweaks in their efforts to improve and refine. There’s a lot of purpose in the changes they make not only to the putters but to the lineup itself.
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What’s also important is the putters that aren’t in the line. Toulon has only added two new models this year, but you’ll also notice that lots of models have been removed from the line. Carlsbad, Charleston, Atlanta, Miami, and New York City were all put on the chopping block. One of Toulon’s superpowers is its loyal consumers, and the company is geared towards making sure that they are doing right by them. Curating the lineup into the right combination of shapes and necks takes some serious thought. Making sure that they are covering everything that their base wants to buy from them is on the short list of priorities.
New shape offerings for 2026
The two new models in Boston and Monaco tell the story of where Toulon is innovating. Boston is their first long-neck offering in a collection series, and it takes cues from the traditional Austin shape that Toulon has had around since inception. It wasn’t a straight swap of a head to a different hosel, though. By moving the hosel up into the long-neck configuration they had to make subtle changes to the geometry of the head to ensure that the acoustics and the feel of the putter was still up to their standards. A hosel essentially acts like a tuner between the head and the hands, so shifting to a different hosel will typically mean some geometry changes. Boston is finished off with a sight dot, which is one of my personal favorite details, and has two adjustable sole weights.
Toulon’s new long-neck blade offering: Boston
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Boston’s sight dot. A favorite of the author.
Jake Morrow / GOLF
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2026 Collection Boston
For the first time ever in a collection line, we’re proud to introduce our new, elongated longneck H3 hosel. This feature creates about 30 degrees of toe hang, substantially less than a blade with a conventional H1 hosel. This makes Boston ideal for those looking to reduce face rotation and a better fit for those with a straighter stroke path. Our front loaded milled round weights improve ball speed consistency across the face and combine with our new Deep Diamond Mill face pattern to create a soft, yet satisfying sound and feel.
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Monaco, on the other hand, is a completely new shape they have developed. It can be seen as sort of a cousin to Las Vegas, which is how it was given its name. If you look at Monaco as sort of a Las Vegas with a crown, you can see the design inspiration. The 304 stainless face and crown marry up with a 6061 aluminum sole plate to create a very stable multi-material shape. Monaco, like Las Vegas, is also a very good transition putter for players looking to switch from a blade to a mallet. With it’s adjustable weighting on the sole moved towards the face a bit and a large hollow cavity in the center of the putter head, you get the benefits of a more forward C.G. position like a blade, with the footprint and the M.O.I. benefits of a mallet putter. It also comes in two different neck configurations with an H1 plumber’s neck style hosel that’s becoming more and more popular for mallet users (which is also available in left-handed) and their H4.5 slant neck which gives a player more toe hang and a tighter feeling to the putting surface during the putting stroke.
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Toulon Monaco
Meet Monaco. Brand new from the ground up, this progressive, mid-size, multi-material mallet combines stunning looks with breakthrough performance.
Toulon Golf’s new mallet for 2026: Monaco
Jake Morrow / GOLF
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How the new collection really shines
In summing up the entire collection, the word I would use is “care”. That’s what they’ve used to massage the returning shapes to create a new look and feel while also introducing two killer shapes in Boston and Monaco. It’s really hard to describe the detail that went into this lineup until you can get a putter in your hands to see with your own eyes and feel the work yourself. There isn’t an edge, a point, a sharp spot or a flaw anywhere to be seen. Bumpers roll smoothly, the slow milled shaping lines are purposeful and soft, and new finish is brilliant in the light, and that Deep Diamond Mill? It gets me every time. Toulon has changed internal structures in a few of the putters to help adjust sound and feel. Changes you can’t see, but you will certainly hear and feel. That sums up their approach.
The crew over at Toulon Golf cares about the work and the detail that goes into every putter that leaves their shop. Fun fact: if you order a Toulon Collection putter, it’s actually being built by a member of the Toulon family every day in Vista, California. More than anything, they care about and listen to their customer. The entire new lineup is driven by feedback from the people who purchase and use their equipment on a day to day basis. In the third iteration of their third life, it seems Toulon is thriving more than ever before.
What’s available in 2026
In total there are 7 new shapes to choose from: 3 blades and 4 mallet offerings. Each blade comes in a plumber’s neck configuration with the Hollywood (tri-sole) and Austin (Anser style) using their H1 standard length neck with Austin also being available left-handed and their Boston (Anser style) using their new H3 long-neck. For mallets you get to choose between two necks for each model including the return of Alcatraz Mini in double bend and H1 plumber’s neck, Alcatraz in double bend (available left-handed) and H1 plumber’s neck, Las Vegas in Double Bend and H7 Flow Neck, and the brand new Monaco available in H1 plumber’s neck (available left-handed) and a H4.5 slant neck. Each model can be purchased with a chrome or black shaft and choice of new 2026 match collection grip or any other Toulon grip color. Plumber’s neck options can also be custom ordered with a Mitsubishi Diamana P105 putter shaft and all putters can be built with their heavy spec options that use heavier adjustable sole weights, longer length, and a longer 15″ grip. You can purchase Toulon Golf’s 2026 Collection from their website starting at $600.00 USD.
Toulon has also hinted that there might be quite a bit coming from their camp in 2026 as they ramp up their low torque Formula series as well as their brand new exploratory/experimental Project 59 series. I for one am looking to see what they come up with, but for now, we all get to enjoy their new 2026 collection and hey; Let’s Make Toe Hang Great Again.
The Chicago Bears have played at Soldier Field for over 50 years, but have been looking for a location to build a new domed stadium and a site in Indiana is becoming a real possibility. The Indiana House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee passed a crucial bill Thursday in an effort to move forward in getting the stadium built.
The bill is for establishing a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance, construct and lease a stadium and was passed with a 24-0 vote.
“The passage of [the bill] would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date,” the Bears said in a statement, via the Associated Press. “We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana.”
The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee was set to hold a hearing Thursday for a bill allowing the Bears to negotiate long-term property tax rates with local governing bodies, but it was canceled.
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“Illinois was ready to move this bill forward. After a productive three-hour meeting yesterday, the Bears leaders requested the [Illinois General Assembly] pause the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill,” Matt Hill, a spokesperson for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said. “This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois.”
The Bears first looked into building a stadium in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a northwest Chicago suburb, with the team purchasing the land in 2023. In December, Bears president Kevin Warren said state leaders informed him that the project was not a priority for 2026.
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Meanwhile, Indiana Governor Mike Braun has been lobbying for the team to controversially move across state lines. Playing in a different state than a team name suggests is nothing new for NFL teams as the New York Jets and New York Giants both play in New Jersey. Soldier Field is about 15 minutes from the Indiana-Illinois state line.
The journey to get a new stadium has gone on for years and the team has hit numerous road blocks. In September 2022, the Bears revealed a plan for Arlington Heights including restaurants, shops and more, costing almost $5 billion. Warren’s goal was to have the Arlington Heights construction plans in September so they could put in a bid for the Super Bowl by 2031.
The team is looking for $855 million in public funding for infrastructure to build in Arlington Heights, according to a team consultant report from last September. The Bears also sought for the Illinois legislature to pass a bill freezing property taxes for large-scale construction projects, which would’ve allowed them to begin building in 2025, but none of their requests were granted.
The team announced in December that they were expanding their search to outside Illinois, saying the new stadium is not just for the fans, but would bring jobs and revenue for the state.
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“Consequently, in addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana,” a letter to fans from Warren read. “This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights. Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day. With that in mind, our organization must keep every credible pathway open to deliver that future.”
Since making the move to Chicago in 1921, the Bears have played at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field and the team has never owned the stadium they call home. They’re hoping to change that and looking in multiple states to do so.
Those plans changed when Joshua was involved in a car accident which tragically took the lives of his two close friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
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Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has now told Boxing Scene that the current plan is for AJ to return in July, though nothing will be cemented until the two-time unified world heavyweight champion gets into training camp and sees how he feels.
“Originally, the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August. That’s not happening. He’s not fighting Tyson Fury next. He’s going to come back I believe late summer, but physically he’s not yet in a position to return to camp. I’m planning, but he’s just resting and preparing.
“So for me I’m looking at options to get him back in the ring in July time, but we’ll only know if that’s a real possibility when he returns to camp, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks or a month.”
Hearn then revealed when he feels a Fury fight could realistically happen.
“I think every fight is dangerous coming off what he’s come off. We’re open to the Tyson Fury fight but probably more likely end of the year, maybe early 2027.”
Following the circumstances Joshua went through late last year, seeing him back in the ring in any capacity would certainly be a bonus for boxing fans.
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