Deadspin | Portland Thorns hire Robert Vilahamn as head coach

Deadspin | Portland Thorns hire Robert Vilahamn as head coach

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Sep 30, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A general view of the game ball before the game between Washington Spirit and Kansas City Current at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Portland Thorns announced the hiring of head coach Robert Vilahamn on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old Sweden native most recently coached Tottenham Hotspur in England’s Women’s Super League from 2023-25, leading the team to the Women’s FA Cup final in his first season.

Vilahamn replaces Rob Gale, who was fired after last November’s loss in the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs.

“Robert arrives with managerial experience at the highest levels of the women’s game, possesses a strong track record of helping players grow and will strengthen our team environment by providing new global perspectives and insights,” Thorns general manager Jeff Agoos said. “His proactive, front-foot approach aligns with the identity and expectations of the Thorns and our supporters, and we look forward to welcoming him to Portland.”

Vilahamn coached the BK Hacken women’s team in Sweden from 2021-23, qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League in both seasons and making consecutive Swedish Cup finals.

The Thorns have made the playoffs in all but one season since joining the NWSL as a founding club in 2013. Portland won league championships in 2013, 2017 and 2022.

“I’m very excited and thankful to be the new head coach of the Portland Thorns,” Vilahamn said. “The club has everything I look for, with a clear ambition to win, an incredible fan base and a strong environment for developing talented players. The NWSL is the most competitive league in the world, and coming to the U.S. to be part of it is a major step in my career. I’m really looking forward to starting this next chapter in Portland.”

–Field Level Media



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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce will miss the offseason program after ankle surgery, general manager Chris Ballard confirmed Monday.

Pierce, 25, is on a three-month timetable for a full recovery, putting him on track to return in time for this summer’s training camp.


Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million extension last month with $80 million guaranteed. He is coming off the best season of his career after catching 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.

Ballard revealed during his press conference that Pierce accomplished those numbers despite battling ankle pain throughout the season.

Over four seasons in Indianapolis, Pierce has 2,934 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 157 catches. With Michael Pittman Jr. traded to Pittsburgh in March, Pierce takes over as the No. 1 target for Daniel Jones, who is also recovering this offseason from a torn Achilles that prematurely ended his breakout first season with the Colts.


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Rams coach Sean McVay expressed public interest in potentially bringing back Garoppolo as Matthew Stafford’s backup during this month’s NFL meetings in Phoenix.


Of Garoppolo’s 85 games played and 64 starts, 57 and 55 of those came with the San Francisco 49ers, who acquired him via trade in October of 2017.

He started all 16 regular-season games of San Francisco’s 2019 season, throwing for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading the 49ers to a 13-3 record and a 31-20 Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in February of 2020.

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