Why Seahawks rookie QB Jalen Milroe is channeling his inner Brock Purdy
Jalen Milroe has a new muse.
Growing up in Texas, Milroe looked to Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson as quarterbacks he tried to emulate. But to learn the Seattle Seahawks offense, the rookie QB told FOX Sports he has been watching one of new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's star pupils during his time with the San Francisco 49ers.
Kubiak served as San Francisco's passing game coordinator when Brock Purdy led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second season. The former "Mr. Irrelevant" recently signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension with the Niners.
Milroe sees Purdy as someone he can emulate as he transitions to the NFL.
"What's unique about Brock is he played in the same system that I'm in right now," Milroe told FOX Sports. "So, it's been great to see the tape and see some of our reads and play calls and watching him play.
"He understands his feet are tied into the read and pocket integrity. When he plays on time, that's when he's at his best and he's been most efficient. That's what I've been able to capture as I've studied his game."
Selected in the third round of the 2025 draft, Milroe is just the third quarterback Seahawks GM John Schneider has taken during his 16-year tenure in Seattle. The others were Russell Wilson (third round, 2012) and Alex McGough (seventh round, 2018).
When Schneider selected Wilson, then-coach Pete Carroll immediately placed him in a three-man competition for the starting quarterback job with high-dollar free agent Matt Flynn and incumbent Tarvaris Jackson. In Wilson, Schneider and Carroll saw a gamer who could do everything at a high level but was not rated a top QB prospect because of his 5-foot-11 frame.
In Milroe, Schneider is banking on another prospect with elite athleticism who needs to develop more efficiency as a passer. Before the draft, some NFL evaluators described Milroe as a lottery ticket because of his off-the-chart athleticism.
Now it's up to Seattle to help the former Alabama star reach his full potential.
"He's in a unique category with this group of quarterbacks because he's like that explosive athlete, with the speed," Schneider said after the draft. "I saw him play live at Wisconsin. It's like, great player, but a poor decision, and he just scored from 60 yards or something.
"He just takes off and he's gone. This is a natural runner with the ball, [and that] puts so much pressure on defenses."
For the past two offseasons, Milroe has worked with private quarterbacks coach Jordan Palmer in Southern California to help refine his throwing mechanics.
"For me, it's all about being efficient as a passer as much as possible," Milroe told FOX Sports. "And understanding it works from the ground up. So, understanding how our body functions and understanding what allows us to perform at a high level. That's important when it comes to the biomechanics and how we operate."
Palmer said that even more than Milroe's considerable physical tools, it's who he is as a person and what he brings to a team's culture that makes him special. That's important for Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald as they attempt to recreate the championship culture Carroll developed when he first arrived in Seattle.
"As unique as his physical traits are in terms of his explosiveness, top-end speed, arm talent and just how dynamic he is, I actually think the traits that are most unique are on the personality side of things," Palmer told Seattle Sports Radio. "He's like a magnet. He's incredibly likable, but he comes from this military background where it's not even about discipline. It's so much about finishing what you started, doing what you said you were going to do and accountability.
"And those are the things in today's day and age, when you got young players making money in high school and college, that I don't see as often."
Milroe's father, Quentin Milroe, is a retired Marine, and his mother, Lola Milroe, is a retired medical worker for the Navy. Both attended the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles recently and watched as their son's No. 6 jersey was officially unveiled.
"They emphasized discipline, commitment, effort and pride," Milroe said about his parents. "Being detailed oriented. Having short-term goals and long-term goals. That all impacted me and are built-in traits for how I structure my life, with playing quarterback and also being a great human on and off the field. That is something I emphasize each and every day as I embark on the journey I'm on."
RELATED: Draftees get crash course in being an NFL player at NFLPA Rookie Premiere
On the practice field, Milroe enters offseason work as Seattle's No. 3 quarterback behind starter Sam Darnold and experienced backup Drew Lock. With no pressure to take over as the team's starter as a rookie, Milroe will be given ample time to develop in his first year. The Seahawks could be tempted to get the dynamic Milroe on the field in packaged plays, like some of the ways Kubiak used Taysom Hill in New Orleans.
Milroe's superpower is his ability to make things happen with his feet. He finished his career at Alabama with 1,577 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. He had 12 rushing touchdowns of 10-plus yards in his final season, the most by a quarterback in the past 25 years. At his pro day, Milroe ran a 4.40-second 40-yard time, which would have been the fastest of any quarterback at this year's combine.
"If it's going to help the team, and for us to move the ball, give these defensive coordinators some headaches — which I'm really happy it's not going to be us — that's awesome," Macdonald said about incorporating Milroe into the offense. "But I don't want to put a timetable on it."
For Milroe, the focus this offseason is to improve on his craft as a quarterback and learn the offense as quickly as possible.
"The best thing you can do is learn from everyone in the room," Milroe said. "What I mean by that is you have a quarterback coach, you have an OC, you have players. You have so much knowledge in the room, and knowledge is power. The more knowledge you have and coaching at the position, the better you play."
Of course, Milroe is also learning from someone not in the Seahawks' building, a quarterback who plays 800 miles down the coast.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams.
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Indianapolis Star
34 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
25 years later, Pacers back in NBA Finals: 'It's almost a replay of the way it felt in 2000'
INDIANAPOLIS – Waiting in the wings of the Staples Center 25 years ago was a 7-1, 345-pound behemoth who could dribble, drain a jump shot and shut down any opponent who came his way underneath the basket. Shaquille O'Neal was dubbed by sportswriters as "a wrecking ball in the paint." Alongside this Los Angeles Lakers giant who wore size 22 shoes, ready to battle the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals, was a 6-7, 215-pound, svelte, smooth-shooting guard who could slice and dice two and three players at a time. Kobe Bryant, media said, was "an artist in high tops." This Lakers team was indisputably one of the most lethal, powerful and successful in the franchise's rich history. That didn't faze the Pacers. They were in the NBA Finals for the first time in their franchise's history. The team was floating on what seemed to be an eternal high after beating their nemesis the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The trash-talking Pacers superstar Reggie Miller was telling anyone who would listen the Lakers would choke just like the Knicks. Coach Larry Bird was ready to re-live his Boston Celtics era and trounce the franchise that had been his nemesis in his playing days. Looking back, Pacers center Rik Smits says it was beautiful oblivion as Game 1 of the Finals was set to begin. "We believed in ourselves," he told IndyStar this week. "That was the mindset back then." Even Pacers president Donnie Walsh, known for his no-nonsense, tell it like it is, realist persona, wasn't counting his team out. "I knew it was going to be difficult, let's put it that way," Walsh said. "Because Shaq, nobody had seen anything like him, unless you were around to see Wilt (Chamberlain). Not only gigantic, well-built, strong men, they were also great athletes. "Still, I thought we had a chance (to beat them)." Jalen Rose didn't think there was a chance. He knew the Pacers could beat the Lakers. His Game 1 attitude was confidence on steroids. He had no doubt his team was ready to take the leap into the glorious hall of NBA champions. "I felt like when we made it to the NBA Finals, not only were we going to win it, but our team and the franchise would continue to make it back," Rose told IndyStar. "I had no idea 25 years would pass." After the Pacers lost to the Lakers 4-2, squashing a basketball state's dreams to finally have an NBA title, a quarter of a century unfolded. And as the years passed, the city the Pacers called home transformed into an NFL city. The Indianapolis Colts, up to then a virtual non-player in the NFL, started winning. Then they won a Super Bowl. The Pacers became background noise in Indy's sports scene. "The Colts started really winning consistently and people really embraced the Colts," said Bart Peterson, who was Indianapolis mayor from 2000 to 2008. "And it's not like they weren't basketball fans anymore. Of course they were. But I think that the love got transferred a bit to the Colts." In those 25 years, the Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals just four times (2004, 2013, 2014, 2024), but they could never get past the opponents. The Pistons in 2004, the LeBron James-led Heat in 2013 and 2014 and then being swept by the Celtics in 2024. Now, as the team heads to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2000 to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are considered by most, including the oddsmakers in Vegas, as heavy underdogs. Just like that roster in 2000 who had no idea they were underdogs — until O'Neal and Bryant emerged from the wings of the Staples Center surrounded by a solid cast of teammates and took the court in Game 1. "Well, you know, look, the joy of making it to the Finals is a big thing," said Walsh. "But you quickly come to the realization, now you've got to go play in the Finals." GOLD RUSH! How the Indiana Pacers claimed their first Eastern Conference title in 25 years As the bright lights shined inside the Staples Center June 7, 2000, in front of nearly 19,000 fans with throes of celebrities sitting courtside, Miller came out and gave an unbelievably unremarkable performance, going 1-of-16 and scoring seven points in Game 1. Miller didn't score a single point until a pair of free throws, four minutes into the third quarter. He hit his first field goal three minutes later and it would be his last. "He offered no excuses, regrets or apologies," IndyStar reported after talking to Miller about his dismal, career playoff low. "I couldn't put the ball in the basket," he said. "But I'll tell you what, if they continue to give me those looks, they're going to be in trouble." The Lakers didn't dispute that one bit. "You would think aliens would come down from outer space before Reggie Miller shoots 1-16 again," said Lakers forward Rick Fox. O'Neal, on the other hand, had no problem draining shots. His Game 1 attack included 43 points, 19 rebounds and three blocked shots, much to the delight of the likes of Jack Nicholson and Chris Rock and every other Lakers fan who roared and reveled in the 104-87 victory. The Pacers leading scorer was Mark Jackson with 18, followed by Austin Croshere with 16. Rose, who scored just 12, was called out by Bird, who simply said, "Jalen didn't play tonight." "We're a funny team. We can be a hard-nosed, good, steady, tough team like we were in Games 5 and 6 against New York, or we can be a soft team," Pacers assistant coach Dick Harter said. "Somehow, we have to find our toughness." Part of that toughness for Game 2 included a series of adjustments by the Pacers to try to contain O'Neal inside and take their chances dealing with Bryant's full court game. "If we need to pick our poison, we'd rather it be Kobe," Pacers' backup point guard Travis Best told IndyStar at the time. "You can always get help on Kobe." The strategy failed miserably. The Pacers lost Game 2, 111-104, with O'Neal scoring 40 points and shooting 39 free throws after Bryant left the game early with an ankle injury. The Pacers committed 38 fouls. O'Neal made 18-of-39 free throws. While Miller scored 21 points, he had zero in the fourth quarter. Rose, seemingly ready to prove himself to Bird, scored 30 points. It wasn't enough. As the team prepared for a trip home, 0-2 in the series, to see if the magic inside Conseco Fieldhouse and an absent Bryant in Game 3 would be the answer, Bird was calm but adamant. "We have to find a way to win one," Bird said. "It's up to us to make adjustments and get some scoring inside." Being down 0-2 didn't hamper the electricity permeating Indianapolis. Smits remembers arriving home to an indescribable "excitement in the air," which is still one of his favorite memories of being a Pacer. The love his team felt from the city. It was almost as if the basketball gods had planned this whole NBA Finals just for the Pacers, who were getting to host the next three games in a flashy, glitzy, brand new $183 million arena. Conseco Fieldhouse had just opened the winter before and was getting rave reviews from fans and opposing teams. "And Reggie was, you know, the hero of the city. And everybody in Indianapolis loved him," said Peterson. "And the rest of the team was full of a bunch of really likable players. And so the city was in love with the team exactly like it is today." Fans were on the edge of their seats with this NBA Finals, a culmination of years of playoff runs with the Knicks throughout the 1990s. This time, the Pacers had overcome their big-city nemesis, beating the Knicks in six games in front of a rowdy, New York-heavy crowd of nearly 20,000 people. Rose says it was his No. 1 moment of being a Pacer, sweet revenge for the season before when the the teams were in the exact same arena playing Game 6 and the Knicks beat the Pacers 90-82 taking the series 4-2. "As I look back at the journey and there's an image of us winning against the Knicks, who obviously at that time it was Hicks versus Knicks, there's an image of Reggie Miller and I hugging at half court at the Garden," Rose said. "We did it on the logo. This was our turn for redemption and it was only right that we did it against them." To win the Finals would simply be icing on the cake. And the Pacers had a sixth man on their side for Game 3 — the city of Indianapolis. "We got a lot of guys that feed off this crowd," Rose said, "and we get a lot more energy from that." With Bryant out for Game 3 with a sprained left ankle and O'Neal scoring just one basket in the first 11 minutes (dropping him from his previous two 40+ games to 33 points), Miller racked up his own 33 points, combined with Rose's 21 for a Pacers' 100-91 victory. There was a collective sigh of relief across the city. "If we were down 3-0," Miller said after the game, "you could have pretty much written us off." Instead, the Pacers returned to their home court three days later and proved they could compete with the Lakers in a thrilling overtime ... loss. But still, they were right there. Down two points with 5.9 seconds left in overtime, the Pacers walked back out on the court confident Miller would do what he usually does — be clutch. "The first thought is you just want to run him off the 3-point line," said Bryant, who returned from his ankle sprain for Game 4. "But then I saw Robert Horry with those long arms running toward him. If there was anyone who could get a piece of the ball, it was Robert." Coming out of the Pacers' timeout, Miller came off two double screens, cut the pass and turned to launch the 3-pointer. "It was an image burned into the mind of anyone who has ever watched the slender Pacers guard move to stage center at the end of close games with everything to win and everything to lose," IndyStar wrote. "As he turned, the fieldhouse crowd, already on its feet, seemed frozen in breath and thought as he let it fly." The ball arced toward the hoop, hit the rim and bounced high into the air. But as the final buzzer sounded, that ball didn't fall through the basket as it bounced onto the court. "It felt good," Miller said after the game. "What distracted me was when Robert Horry was running at me. I had to shoot it higher over his hand and when you do that, you've probably got to shoot it a little bit longer, which I didn't, but it was right on target. It was just short." The Pacers lost 120-118, but it didn't feel exactly like a loss. It felt like they had really competed and, if they continued to play the way they did in Game 4, they might be able to call themselves NBA champions. Inside Conseco Fieldhouse for Game 5, trailing 3-1, the Pacers went on a rampage to finish a contest that can best be described as an outright blowout, 120-87. The Pacers seemed virtually unstoppable from tipoff to the final buzzer, hitting six straight 3-pointers early, and giving the Lakers their worst Finals loss since 1985. O'Neal led his team again with 35 points and 11 rebounds but got little help from his supporting cast. Bryant shot 4-of-20 and the Pacers dominated the boards 46-34. Miller and Rose combined for 57 points — 32 of those belonging to Rose. "He was sensational against the Lakers," Walsh said this week. Those two players were exactly who his team had planned to tame going into the game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. Instead, they went wild. After the game, Jackson was asked if Indiana's performance may have pumped new life into the Pacers going into Game 6. "I guess that's an obvious," Jackson said. "Yes." As they headed back to L.A. for Game 6, the Pacers were smiling, now down a respectable and doable 3-2 in the series. "We have nothing to lose and everything to gain," Miller said at the time. "Everybody had written us off, so let's go out there and have some fun." There was just one thing that might put a glitch in that fun for the Pacers — they would have to win two games playing in the Lakers' kingdom. "I felt really good about our team," Walsh said. "Now, I also understood we were playing a powerhouse. I knew we were in for a tough thing and they had the homecourt advantage. So right there, that was the difference." The Pacers led much of Game 6, 26-24 after the first quarter, 56-53 at the half and 84-79 after three periods. They controlled the pace of the game, coming out aggressively from the outset and pushing back at the Lakers each time it seemed they were inching closer. The Pacers had three players with at least 20 points, led by Rose with 29, Miller with 25 and Dale Davis with 20 points and 14 rebounds. But a victory wasn't meant to be. "Monday night, reality dawned upon the Indiana Pacers that it would not be their championship, that their journey had gone as far as it would go, that they were one game short," the IndyStar wrote after the 116-111 loss. "A game in which they won the first three quarters only to have it all slip away in the last 12 minutes." O'Neal sealed the series with 41 points and 12 rebounds, but the Lakers' surge in the fourth quarter came with the help of Derek Fisher and Horry. As Walsh walked out of the Staples Center that night, he said he wasn't thinking about how long it would be until the Pacers made it back to the NBA Finals again. But then 25 long years passed and, when they clinched the spot last week, Walsh went back and watched some of those 2000 games. "We were competitive. I mean, we weren't just, you know, getting swept. But they were really good. They really had a powerful team," he said. "They just had one player after another so, you know, we got beat by a better team. That's the way I look at it now." The way he looks at it now is that his 2000 Pacers should have felt joy in just making it to the Finals, win or lose. "But once you get to the Finals and you lose, you don't feel good, you know, wanting to win," he said. "But when you really look back on it, yes we made the Finals. We're pretty damn good." Fast forward 25 years and there is only one person, one human common denominator, who was on both the Pacers teams that made it to the NBA Finals — coach Rick Carlisle, who was an assistant for the team in 2000. "He was just a good guy that everybody respected at the time. Everybody valued his opinion," Smits said. "And yeah, I'm assuming he's still that same way. The guys seem to like him and I know we did back then, too." Carlisle is a man of few words, getting right to the point, said Walsh. "The thing he does is he tells the players exactly what to do and continues that communication in every area in their game the whole time he's with them," he said. "So they understand everything he's saying. And he doesn't give long speeches and all that, he just gets out there and tells you." If there is anyone who can lead the Pacers to their first NBA title in history, its Carlisle, Walsh said, along with his players who seem to have that same chemistry the 2000 Pacers had. "These guys, you can tell they don't care who scores how many points," Smits said. "It's all about the win." Peterson said it feels like "a throwback," to 25 years ago, in many aspects. "Today, it's Tyrese Halliburton playing the part of Reggie Miller. If Halliburton played a game where he gave out 22 assists and scored no points, he might come away saying that was the greatest game of his life," Peterson said. "The team being unified and a bunch of good guys and likable, it's almost a replay of the way it felt in 2000." Except one thing. There is no wrecking ball in the paint or artist in high tops the Pacers have to overcome. The mountain to climb this time around isn't insurmountable, and this Pacers team of so-called underdogs aren't really underdogs at all, Walsh said. "I think they've got all the qualities of a champion," he said. "So, no matter what happens, they have that." Get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
What's next for the Lions after Frank Ragnow's retirement
After a few months of clarity and consideration, Frank Ragnow — the All-Pro center who anchored one of the league's best offensive lines — is calling it quits. In the end, Ragnow, 29, is prioritizing his long-term health. His seven-year career saw him play through injury after injury in an effort to help a losing franchise become a winner. Advertisement He'll be remembered fondly for it. 'These past couple of months have been very trying as I've come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I'm officially retiring from the NFL,' Ragnow announced on Instagram on Monday. 'I've tried to convince myself that I'm feeling good but I'm not and it's time to prioritize my health and my family's future. I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't. I have to listen to my body, and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all.' Ragnow's decision to retire was surprising to many, but not to the Lions. They've been in communication with Ragnow about his future for years, and have tried to prepare for this moment as much as they reasonably could. They've drafted several young interior offensive linemen. They've cross-trained players, and moved quickly to add depth after Ragnow's retirement. Don't think this wasn't on their radar. 'We're not going to pressure him to do anything or make any moves,' Lions general manager Brad Holmes said when asked about Ragnow's future after the 2023 season. 'But the communication will be diligent. It'll be thorough, it'll be respectful.' Ragnow, after years of speculation, is finally ready for the next chapter of life. In turn, the Lions must now navigate life without him. Here's how they can do it. Ragnow will go down as one of the best to wear the Detroit uniform and one of the best centers of his era, earning four Pro Bowl nods and three second-team All-Pro honors in just seven seasons. What he gave the Lions in the run game and in pass protection was special, and his elite preparation and football IQ helped him maximize his talents. He was responsible for alerting potential blitzes to the rest of the offensive line, while acting as a sounding board for his quarterbacks — Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff. He was one of the league's best and brightest and could be left alone on an island because of his rare combination of physical talent and mental preparation. He was a special player. Advertisement Off the field, Ragnow was a beloved and respected figure in the locker room, and a Walter Payton Man of the Year finalist. He helped oversee the transition from Matt Patricia to Dan Campbell and helped the Lions turn things around. Ragnow's contract was extended during this regime's first offseason together, in 2021 — amid a complete roster teardown. That the new guys deemed Ragnow as one of the guys to build around should tell you everything you need to know about him. There is no replacing a player like Ragnow. But the Lions will try. Detroit is positioned as well as a team reasonably could be to overcome his departure. Let's take a look at some of the players who could be asked to handle center responsibilities — either in games or in practice. Graham Glasgow: As things stand, Glasgow feels like the front-runner to replace Ragnow. He's the only player with any meaningful experience at center. Players and coaches applaud him for his knowledge of the game, and at this point it might be his most valuable trait. That would be highlighted more at center than guard, and his ability to play the position was something Campbell himself acknowledged as a strength of Glasgow's back in April. 'Graham's somebody that we still value because he's got versatility,' Campbell said. '…He can also play center. I think people forget that some. Man, he can do an excellent job at center. … So, yeah, we have confidence in him.' Glasgow has been Ragnow's primary backup since his return to the Lions in 2023, and those skills were needed. Glasgow's 2024 season was bumpy, as he allowed the sixth-most pressures among guards in the regular season, and nine more in the playoff loss to the Commanders. Glasgow wasn't fully healthy, but he is getting up there in age and doesn't move as well as he once did. Kicking inside to center could allow him to maximize his football IQ, while providing the Lions with a veteran to help Goff and anchor the offensive line, rather than a rookie. It could also allow the next name on this list to develop at his own pace. Advertisement Tate Ratledge: The only real in-house challenger to Glasgow is Ratledge, a second-round pick out of Georgia. Ratledge primarily played right guard in college and only sparingly played center in practices at Georgia. But he has the goods to handle it, as well as the right mentality. 'Yeah, it's different from guard, of course,' Ratledge said of taking center reps at rookie minicamp, 'But I'm glad I've had prior experience playing center, so it's nothing brand new to me. Coming back out here, getting the feel of it. But as far as center goes, you're taking control of the offensive line, so I kinda like that aspect of it.' Ratledge was a team captain at Georgia, winning two national titles in college. He tested as one of the most athletic interior linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft, with a 9.99 relative athletic score when evaluated at center. His closest athletic comps? Creed Humphrey and Frank Ragnow. Well then — Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) June 4, 2025 In addition to his athleticism playing up at center, Ratledge played through injuries for his teammates, took it personally when his quarterback was touched and is viewed as a cerebral lineman. Sound familiar? If the idea was that the Lions could cross-train Ratledge to get him up to speed quickly enough to play center as a rookie, then Detroit's draft — already strong on paper — looks even better. Now, that's a steep learning curve for a rookie offensive lineman, so the fact that Ratledge has been taking first-team reps in OTAs could be more about the future than the present. But it certainly sounds like he could be the long-term answer. He'll have one of the league's best offensive line coaches — a former NFL center himself, Hank Fraley — showing him the ropes. 'Center is not as natural for him yet, so you definitely tend to give him more reps at that, snapping the ball, making it more comfortable,' Fraley said of Ratledge last month. '… I know the young man, getting to know him more after rookie minicamp and prior to that, he's going to do whatever I ask. …He definitely needs some time (at center), training. It's going to become natural for him. …In time, he's going to get it down and become a pretty good center here.' Advertisement Trystan Colon: On the heels of Ragnow's retirement, it was reported Wednesday that the Lions are signing former Arizona Cardinals G/C Trystan Colon. A UDFA out of Missouri in 2020, Colon has started games for the Ravens and Cardinals in his career, including a career-high seven last season, all coming at right guard. Colon has four career starts at center and that experience makes him an asset on a roster without much besides Glasgow. Colby Sorsdal: A fifth-round pick out of William & Mary in 2023, Sorsdal's future in Detroit has been harder to visualize than other young linemen the team has drafted. They gave him a shot as a rookie, starting three games with mixed results. As a sophomore last season, Sorsdal appeared in just one game and didn't log a single offensive snap — a healthy scratch for much of the season. Sorsdal was a tackle in college and was drafted to play guard, but he was spotted at center during OTAs last week. It could simply be cross-training, or it could help Sorsdal increase his value in a suddenly crowded interior offensive line room. Michael Niese: Niese, in a bit of a surprise move, earned a spot on the 53-man roster out of training camp. When the Lions had a big lead and it was time to empty the bench, Niese replaced Ragnow at times, playing 34 offensive snaps. For Niese to be active most game days and trusted enough to step in speaks to how the Lions feel about him. However, he could be on the outside looking in with some of the new additions to the roster. Kingsley Eguakun: A UDFA out of Florida last year, Eguakun spent the 2024 season developing on Detroit's practice squad. It's an investment that could eventually pay dividends. Eguakun was given a fifth-round grade by The Athletic's Dane Brugler coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft, ranked as the eighth-best pure center prospect. Eguakun is intriguing because the Lions can allow him to grow at his own pace while stashing him on the practice squad. But he has plenty of competition ahead of him. Ragnow's retirement has not been officially announced by the team or filed on the transaction wire, but because it's taking place post-June 1, the Lions have options for how they'd like to handle his cap hit. Ragnow is due a guaranteed option bonus of $3.6 million in both 2025 and 2026, but since he's retiring after June 1, the Lions could split that over two seasons. If the Lions decide to eat those bonuses in 2025, they'd free up $5.6 million in cap space from Ragnow's retirement for the 2025 season, with no cap hit for the 2026 season. Advertisement If the Lions use the post-June 1 retirement to pay out those bonuses over two seasons instead of one, they would free up roughly $9.2 million in 2025 from Ragnow's retirement, while being on the books for a $3.6 million cap hit in 2026. It remains to be seen which direction the Lions ultimately take, but they take a holistic view of the cap over multiple seasons, which is more important than year-to-year figures. In other words, what they do — and don't do — in 2025 affects their plans for 2026, 2027, 2028 and so on. Just because there's more money to use doesn't mean it will be used.
Business of Fashion
an hour ago
- Business of Fashion
Is Nike Finally Winning With Women?
Twenty years ago, The New York Times published a story headlined 'Nike Changes Strategy on Women's Apparel,' detailing the company's latest effort to win over that market 'after years of failures.' The strategy in May 2005: Mailing catalogs for its Nikewomen line to 600,000 homes, revamping and opening a new women's store in a New York suburb. Both the website and the store shut down long ago. For years after, Nike would repeatedly roll out new products, marketing and retail concepts aimed at female athletes. While it's built a sizeable business – $8.6 billion in wholesale sales alone in its last fiscal year – women's apparel and footwear never became the catalyst for growth or cultural clout that successive generations of Nike executives hoped. Meanwhile, the brand sometimes found itself on the defensive over its treatment of women. Customers complained of uninspired products and superficial marketing. Female employees at Nike's Beaverton, Oregon headquarters spoke to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times of a boy's club culture where women were sidelined and passed over for advancement. The final lawsuit stemming from those investigations was settled in April of this year. In one two-year stretch, Nike lost two of its highest-profile female athletes, track star Allyson Felix and gymnastics gold medalist Simone Biles, to Gap-owned Athleta. ADVERTISEMENT Now, Nike is once again in the middle of a major push to win over women. This time, it seems to be working. For the first time in years, the storytelling and cultural cachet around Nike Women rivals – some would say, exceeds – what the brand is doing with men's sports or athletes. In February, Nike aired its first Super Bowl ad in nearly three decades — 'So Win,' a 60-second spot celebrating women athletes, starring WNBA superstars Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson, sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson and others. Months later, Nike's main Instagram account, with 300 million followers, is dominated by images of female athletes and Nike Women's gear. Nike's "So Win' Super Bowl campaign featured track and field star Sha'Carri Richardson. (Courtesy/Courtesy) It followed up in May with a campaign for Wilson to promote the release of her signature shoe, the 'A'One Pink Aura,' which sold out within minutes of hitting Nike's SNKRS app and the brand's website. 'Look who's back!' former Nike marketing executive Adrienne Lofton wrote under an Instagram post of the campaign, captioned: 'From the playground to the playoffs, real ones know there's only one A'ja.' Aja Wilson's "A'One" signature basketball shoe for Nike sold out within minutes of its release in May. (Courtesy/Courtesy) On the product innovation front, Nike is backing Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon in her quest to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes, which she'll attempt on June 26 at Stade Charléty in Paris. NikeSkims, its upcoming partnership with Kim Kardashian's shapewear label, is being set up as the next Jordan Brand, with a line of training apparel, footwear and accessories set to drop any day now, and a global expansion planned for 2026. Nike is backing Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon in her quest to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes. (Courtesy/Courtesy) In the ultimate vote of confidence, Nike named Amy Montagne — who has overseen these initiatives as general manager of its women's division — as brand president in May. Nike has also elevated other women to key leadership roles, including Ann Miller as EVP of global sports marketing and Nicole Graham as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. 'What I've really heard from everyone is — especially having experiences with so many women around the company — seeing me do this makes them see that they can as well,' Montagne told The Business of Fashion. ADVERTISEMENT At a time when Nike is trying to find its way out of its worst slump in decades, its ability to authentically connect with the female consumer could prove critical to turning things around. It's too soon to know whether these moves will translate into sales. In the last fiscal year, ending in May 2024, women's wholesale revenue overall was flat, and had grown at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent over the last decade, slightly slower than the overall business. Its share of the wholesale business, 21 percent last year, was virtually unchanged. However, the company said in December that growth in women's basketball and running exceeded men's late last year (new annual figures will be released in June with the company's annual results). Nike Women's has momentum, but the brand has taken its swing before. This time, it's the follow-through that counts. 'It's clear that to become a $50 billion-revenue business, Nike has had to focus on selling to [men and women],' said Simeon Siegel, managing director and senior analyst at BMO Capital Markets. 'But at the same time, they've clearly had their favourites.' Courting Women By sheer volume, Nike is already a powerhouse in women's athletic apparel. Its closest competitor, Lululemon, generated about $6.7 billion in women's sales last year. Where Nike has stumbled, said Siegel, is in 'voice' and 'perception' — the emotional connection that fosters lasting loyalty, particularly among women. This disconnect isn't unique to Nike. Brands have historically underinvested in the women's sports market, said Portia Blunt, who has held senior roles at Reebok and New Balance. 'As a whole, in the athletic industry, the women's space is always ripe,' Blunt said. 'It's always on the 'idea board' as white space. That tells us brands still aren't fully hitting the mark when it comes to capturing a potential audience.' ADVERTISEMENT This gap created an opening for Lululemon, and later, Alo Yoga and Skims. With sharp messaging and expansive offerings that went beyond the old 'shrink it and pink it' playbook, they captured territory Nike hadn't fully claimed, said Matt Powell, senior advisor at BCE Consulting. It's not that Nike ignored women's sports — the brand has put female athletes front and centre in its marketing practically from the start. In interviews, both Montagne and Nike vice president of global sports marketing Tanya Hvizdak noted Nike's backing of Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first women's Olympic marathon champion, in 1984. It's been a marketing partner of the WNBA since 1997, and made an equity investment in the league in 2022. Serena Williams wore Nike for most of her three-decade tennis career; her name graces a building on the Beaverton campus. The Serena Williams Building at Nike's Beaverton headquarters. (Courtesy/Courtesy) But Nike traded away some of the goodwill those partnerships brought with a very 'male-centric' go-to-market strategy, Powell said. 'They're saying, 'Oh, we got a new sports bra, it's the only sports bra she'll ever need,' he said. 'If she's doing yoga, she needs one kind of bra. If she's a runner, she needs another type of sportswear. And to say there's only she only needs one completely ignores her needs. That's how a guy would think.' Turning the Corner Nike's latest women's campaign has roots in a pivotal period for the brand. In 2018, it faced internal turmoil after the WSJ investigation, prompting a public apology from then-chief executive Mark Parker. By spring 2019, Olympic champion Allyson Felix had parted ways with Nike, citing inadequate maternity protections and a proposed pay cut — a flashpoint in broader criticism of how the brand treated women athletes. 'If you were to go back to that period, our female athletes were saying that they wanted more from us; there were opportunities for us to lean in in a greater capacity,' Hvizdak said. That summer, the 2019 Women's World Cup in France became a breakout moment for women's sports, drawing record viewership and cultural momentum. Nike had poured significant resources into the tournament, and its 'Dream With Us' ad featuring the US team drew widespread acclaim. Nike's national strips for the Women's World Cup | Source: Nike News Nike's national strips for the Women's World Cup | Source: Nike News 'All of us were saying, 'Women's sport is going to take off,'' said Montagne, who oversaw the campaign. In 2021, Nike launched its Athlete Think Tank — a collective of female athletes, including A'ja Wilson, brought together to share ideas, collaborate, and help Nike improve the athlete experience both on and off the field. Out of the cohort, now in its fifth iteration, came innovations like a new maternity line in 2022 and leak-protection shorts in 2023, designed to minimize the risk of leaks during menstruation and physical activity. 'The premise of the [Think Tank] was, 'how do we bring [women's] voices throughout the entirety of our organisation?'' said Hvizdak. Nike's campaign with Wilson embodies the brand's evolution. Splashed across both its main Instagram grid and the Nike Women's account, the campaign leans into Wilson's trademark humility while unapologetically centering her Black identity. There's an image of diamond grills between pink-glossed lips — and in the campaign video, little Black girls with braids clapping to a rhyme about Wilson, and an actress portraying a young Wilson being shushed by her grandmother in church. 'A'ja helped co-create everything about that launch from a product perspective — her voice was singular,' Hvizdak said. 'Those insights came through all the details within that product, in regards to the fit and feel of it … And then when you're talking about the community aspect and the storytelling, she wanted to make sure that it was tied to her community.' The "A'One" for A'ja Wilson. (Courtesy/Courtesy) Beyond the high-profile campaign and signature shoe launch, Nike has put real backing behind Wilson — supporting her 'Dear Black Girls' book tour, bringing her to Paris Men's Fashion Week, and naming her the first signature athlete for its partnership with Lego, which includes apparel and footwear co-designed with the toy company. 'Our job is to fuel the voice of the athletes, and I think that's really what's coming through on the campaigns,' Montagne said. Overall, women's basketball has long been a challenging category — sales of performance basketball shoes have been sluggish generally, and women's footwear represent a tiny portion of that market. But brands also haven't stuck around long enough to unlock the sport's potential, said Blunt. '[They] invest for a season or two... and walk away because it's not turning fast enough in terms of the results you want to see,' she said. While Nike has long supported the WNBA, its track record of developing shoes for individual women athletes has been less consistent. After debuting several signature sneakers with WNBA stars in the league's early years, Nike went more than a decade without launching a new one for mass distribution. That changed in 2022 with the Air Deldon, designed for Washington Mystics star Elena Delle Donne. The following year, Nike introduced the Sabrina 1, a performance shoe for New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, which saw strong sales in both North America and China, according to the brand. Caitlin Clark stars in Nike's 'So Win' Super Bowl campaign. (Courtesy/Courtesy) Nike's investment in stars like Wilson — and 'ultimately Caitlin Clark,' a Nike athlete who many expect to receive her own shoe — could help shift that narrative and 'legitimize the women's basketball shoe business,' Powell said. NikeSims presents another opportunity. The collaboration aims to create a new brand and reinforce Nike's commitment to inclusivity through Skims' focus on body-sculpting apparel, Montagne said. 'The idea behind this new brand is to bring some disruption, to really disrupt the global fitness and activewear industry,' she said. 'We have a tremendous opportunity to invite more women into sport and movement.' NikeSKIMS will debut its first collection in the United States at select retail locations and online this spring. (Nike) Women at the Top Nike's representation of women has steadily increased in recent years. As of fiscal year 2023, women made up 51 percent of the company's global corporate workforce and 44 percent of its vice presidents and senior leaders. In 2020, those figures were 50 percent and 39 percent, respectively. 'If they continue down the path they are on, and it [remains] a long-term endeavor, then we'll see those numbers continue to increase,' said Blunt. 'I fundamentally believe that Nike does look at representation and having a diverse thought leadership as important — and you're starting to see proof in the pudding.' One of the clearest signs of Nike's leap forward is the rise of women leaders like Montagne — a 20-year Swoosh veteran who's twice led the women's category, and one of the architects behind the Skims deal. Amy Montagne is president of the Nike brand. (Courtesy/Courtesy) For the Nike brand, Montagne now leads across all product, storytelling, and what she describes as 'delivering the most amazing experiences for consumers, both physical and digital.' Having joined the company in 2005 as a senior director for kids apparel, Montagne says her tenure leading the women's business positioned her to take on a broader mandate — one that still hinges on the women's category as a key growth engine. 'Working in women's, you have to have the belief of what the future can be … and see a different future than how it is today,' she said. 'I take that spirit with me into this role.'
