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NFL free agency 2026 player rankings: Best tight end available

NFL free agency 2026 player rankings: Best tight end available

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The new league year is nearly upon us, and with it comes free agency. Fans of every team except the Seahawks and Patriots are now focused on the offseason and what their favorite team’s roster will look like when the 2026 season starts and which new faces might be on the field in September.

If your team is in the market for a tight end, will be plenty of options on the market for all kind of needs. Want the latest breakout star? Kyle Pitts is ready for a new contract. Need a young player with upside? Isaiah Likely may be the player for you. Looking for a grizzled veteran who still has it? Dallas Goedert may be just want you’re looking for.

With all of that said, here are this year’s best free agent tight ends.

1.) Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

2025 Stats: 17 games played (17 starts), 88 reception for 928 receivingyards (10.5 YPR), five receiving touchdowns

Only still 25 years old, Pitts put together the best overall season of his career in 2025. He caught a career high 88 receptions for 928 yards (second best of career) and five scores, which were also a career high. To top it all off, his catch rate was 74.6 percent. That is 11.1 percent higher than his previous mark set in 2024 (63.5).

After the year he had, it would be shocking if Pitts ended up anywhere else but Atlanta, especially given that Atlanta’s new head coach is Kevin Stefanski who had success using David Njoku and Harold Fannin in the Browns offense this past season.

2.) Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

2025 Stats: 14 games played (7 starts), 27 receptions for 307 receiving yards (11.4 YPR), 1 receiving touchdown, 2 fumbles

The Ravens signed starting tight end Mark Andrews to a three-year contract extension in December and it’s highly unlikely (sort’ve pun intended) they sign Likely to a new deal to continue being his backup. Despite being productive as the team’s TE2, Likely has shown flashes of what he could be as a team’s starter in an offense that values a modern F tight end.

Following John Harbaugh to the Giants is not likely due to New York having a decent duo in Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger. Still, there should be plenty of suitors for the young playmaker who are in need of an offensive mismatch at the first and second levels of the field.

3.) Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

2025 Stats: 15 games played (15 starts), 60 receptions for 591 receiving yards (9.9 YPR), 11 receiving touchdowns

Goedert will be 31 during the 2026 season and he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down in recent years, other than missing seven games in 2024. I’d be shocked if he ends up singing elsewhere over returning to the Eagles, but this veteran still has a ton left in the tank to give to whoever needs it.

Philly quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for a career high 25 touchdowns to go with 3,224 passing yards. A big reason Hurts was able to break his previous high 23 passing scores was Goedert’s propensity for finding the end zone which he did 11 times, blowing past his personal career high of five which he set way back in 2019.

4.) David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

2025 Stats: 12 games played (11 starts), 33 receptions for 293 receiving yards (8.9 YPR), 4 receiving touchdowns

Njoku missed some time in 2025 with an injury that limited him to 111 starts in 12 games played. He finished the year with 293 yards and four scores, the yardage being his lowest output since the 2020 season (213). Some of this was the quarterback situation, but the other was the emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr. (72 receptions, 731 yards).

Prior to the 2025 season, Njoku had put together a two-year stretch from 2023-2024 that included 145 catches, 1387 yards, and 11 touchdowns. While the 2026 campaign will be his age-30 season, Njoku is still deserving of being a contributor for a team, it just more likely may come as the backup for an offense that likes to trot out multiple TEs at a high clip.

5.) Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

2025 Stats: 13 games played (13 starts), 50 receptions for 504 receiving yards (10.1 YPR), 4 receiving touchdowns, 1 fumble

Ertz started 13 games for the Commanders before suffering a season-ending injury for the second time in the past three seasons. He still collected 50 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns which was just about the same pace as his 66-654-7 stat line he put up in 17 games during the 2024 campaign. It remains to be seen how he will return from his injury, but with his style of play, his suitors will be few and I fully expect him to return to Washington on a team-friendly deal if he chooses to continue playing.

6.) Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins

2025 Stats: 12 games played (11 starts), 24 receptions for 283 receiving yards (11.8 YPR), six receiving touchdowns

Waller came out of retirement to play in nine games with three starts for the Dolphins in 2025. He caught just 24 passes for 283 yards, but he found the end zone six times which shows he’s still a mismatch in the red zone. That’s a very good place to show you can still win for a veteran and should get him a job if he doesn’t go right back into retirement this offseason.

7.) Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

2025 Stats: 10 games played (8 starts), 25 receptions for 281 receiving yards (11.2 YPR), 3 receiving touchdowns

Higbee had one of his quieter years with the Rams in 2025 and a lot of that had to do with there being a number of other playmakers on the team at receiver and running back. He finished the 2025 season with 25 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns, but was also a very respectable run blocker. He posted a 69.7 run block grade by Pro Football Focus this year, good for 13th among all TEs with 150 or more run block snaps.

The long-time Rams veteran can still be a serviceable tight end as a co-starter or backup who will give any offense a boost in the run game.

2025 Stats: 15 games played (7 starts), 34 receptions for 288 receiving yards (8.5 YPR), 3 receiving touchdowns, 3 fumbles

Fant paired with Mike Gesicki as the Bengals TE duo during the 2025 season. Fant caught more passes (34 to 28) and touchdowns (3 to 2) but Gesicki came away with more yards (288 to 307). Since entering the NFL in 2019 as a first-round pick, Fant hasn’t been as sensational at finding the end zone like he did at Iowa but he’s averaged a respectable 555 receiving yards per season and a little under three touchdowns.

He’ll be 29 years old next season and can still give a team some juice at an important position, but a co-starter/TE2 is seemingly his ceiling at this point.

2025 Stats: 16 games played (6 starts), 21 receptions for 263 receiving yards (12.5 YPR), 2 receiving touchdowns

Hooper played second fiddle in 2025 to Patriots starter Hunter Henry while finishing with 21 catches for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Like a lot of the notable tight ends hitting free agency this offseason, most of them are veterans that are medium-floor, low ceiling players best suited for a specific role in your team’s offense.

If a team needs a starter in a pinch, they could do much worse than Hooper who has been in the league a decade now. He’s solid, but hasn’t had a season with over 500 receiving yards since 2019.

2025 Stats: 17 games played (2 starts), 4 receptions for 25 receiving yards (6.3 YPR)

Smythe makes this list mainly on his ability to be a team’s H-back, filling the role of both a connected tight end or a fullback in the backfield. The 30-year old only caught four passes for 25 yards in 2025 but that wasn’t all he was able to contribute to a Bears team that not only made the playoffs but got to the divisional round. Smythe won’t likely sign anywhere for much above the veteran minimum, but he’ll be coveted by a team who wants an experienced tight end room from top to bottom.

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Deadspin | Struggling Mets look for rare series win against Angels Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) walks off the field after getting taken out of the game in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Hours after David Stearns said there were no plans to fire Carlos Mendoza, the New York Mets went out Friday night and finally authored the kind of victory necessary to ensure the heat is turned down on their manager. The Mets will look to earn a rare series win Saturday night when they visit the Los Angeles Angels in the middle game of a three-game interleague set in Anaheim, Calif. Right-hander Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.55 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (1-2, 4.28 ERA). The Mets mounted their biggest comeback win of the season Friday night, when Ronny Mauricio hit the tie-breaking homer in the seventh inning and five pitchers combined to retire the final the 21 Angels batters in a 4-3 victory. The win was just the fourth in the last 21 games for the Mets, who have the worst record in the major leagues at 11-21. The 32-game start is tied for the second-worst in franchise history behind only the 1981 team that opened 8-23-1. The extended skid has made Mendoza’s job security a regular topic at his news conferences. Mendoza is in the final guaranteed year of his contract and surrounded by a spate of first-year coaches hired by Stearns after the president of baseball operations overhauled the staff and playing roster following last year’s second-half collapse cost the Mets a playoff berth. But the Mets are off to their slow start in large part because many of Stearns’ off-season additions are hurt or ineffective. Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., the Mets’ Opening Day designated hitter and center fielder, are each on the injured list. Relievers Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, expected to man the final two innings after the Mets were outbid for Edwin Diaz by the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a scoreless outing in the same game Friday for just the sixth time this season — and the first time in a win since April 7. “We don’t view this as a manager problem and we don’t intend to make a change,” Stearns told MLB.com Friday. The Mets looked more energized during their rally Friday, when Angels starter Walbert Urena limited them to one hit through the first five innings. He left after Bo Bichette lined a single off his right knee leading off the sixth. New York tied the game later in the inning by scoring three runs off relievers Brent Suter and Chase Silseth before Mauricio went deep off Jose Fermin with one out in the seventh. “They fought back and they found a way,” Mendoza said. “That’s a good sign.” Good signs have been hard to find for the Angels, who are tied for last in the AL West with the Houston Astros. Los Angeles suffered its seventh straight loss Friday to fall to 1-11 since an 11-10 start. The Angels, whose 113 runs through Apr 17 were the second-most in baseball, have scored just 40 runs during their skid, the third-fewest in the majors ahead of only the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers. The bullpen has been an even bigger problem for Los Angeles. Angels relievers haven’t combined on a scoreless effort since April 19, when Sam Bachman and Suter teamed up to throw three innings behind Urena in a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres. “What we can’t do is fold the tent,” Suter said. “Can’t do it. This is too hard of a league to fold the tent. We’ve got to stay the course, keep fighting, keep wanting the ball and then it’ll turn around. But it’s heavy right now, for sure.” McLean took the defeat in his most recent start last Sunday, when he allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings as the Mets fell to the Colorado Rockies, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader. Detmers didn’t factor into the decision Sunday after giving up three runs over five innings in the Angels’ 11-9, 10-inning loss to the Kansas City Royals. McLean has never opposed the Angels. Detmers gave up one run in one inning of relief in his lone appearance against the Mets last July 21, when Los Angeles suffered a 7-5 loss. -Field Level Media #Deadspin #Struggling #Mets #rare #series #win #AngelsApr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) walks off the field after getting taken out of the game in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Hours after David Stearns said there were no plans to fire Carlos Mendoza, the New York Mets went out Friday night and finally authored the kind of victory necessary to ensure the heat is turned down on their manager.

The Mets will look to earn a rare series win Saturday night when they visit the Los Angeles Angels in the middle game of a three-game interleague set in Anaheim, Calif.

Right-hander Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.55 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (1-2, 4.28 ERA).

The Mets mounted their biggest comeback win of the season Friday night, when Ronny Mauricio hit the tie-breaking homer in the seventh inning and five pitchers combined to retire the final the 21 Angels batters in a 4-3 victory.

The win was just the fourth in the last 21 games for the Mets, who have the worst record in the major leagues at 11-21. The 32-game start is tied for the second-worst in franchise history behind only the 1981 team that opened 8-23-1.

The extended skid has made Mendoza’s job security a regular topic at his news conferences. Mendoza is in the final guaranteed year of his contract and surrounded by a spate of first-year coaches hired by Stearns after the president of baseball operations overhauled the staff and playing roster following last year’s second-half collapse cost the Mets a playoff berth.

But the Mets are off to their slow start in large part because many of Stearns’ off-season additions are hurt or ineffective. Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., the Mets’ Opening Day designated hitter and center fielder, are each on the injured list.

Relievers Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, expected to man the final two innings after the Mets were outbid for Edwin Diaz by the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a scoreless outing in the same game Friday for just the sixth time this season — and the first time in a win since April 7.

“We don’t view this as a manager problem and we don’t intend to make a change,” Stearns told MLB.com Friday.


The Mets looked more energized during their rally Friday, when Angels starter Walbert Urena limited them to one hit through the first five innings. He left after Bo Bichette lined a single off his right knee leading off the sixth. New York tied the game later in the inning by scoring three runs off relievers Brent Suter and Chase Silseth before Mauricio went deep off Jose Fermin with one out in the seventh.

“They fought back and they found a way,” Mendoza said. “That’s a good sign.”

Good signs have been hard to find for the Angels, who are tied for last in the AL West with the Houston Astros.

Los Angeles suffered its seventh straight loss Friday to fall to 1-11 since an 11-10 start. The Angels, whose 113 runs through Apr 17 were the second-most in baseball, have scored just 40 runs during their skid, the third-fewest in the majors ahead of only the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers.

The bullpen has been an even bigger problem for Los Angeles. Angels relievers haven’t combined on a scoreless effort since April 19, when Sam Bachman and Suter teamed up to throw three innings behind Urena in a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres.

“What we can’t do is fold the tent,” Suter said. “Can’t do it. This is too hard of a league to fold the tent. We’ve got to stay the course, keep fighting, keep wanting the ball and then it’ll turn around. But it’s heavy right now, for sure.”

McLean took the defeat in his most recent start last Sunday, when he allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings as the Mets fell to the Colorado Rockies, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Detmers didn’t factor into the decision Sunday after giving up three runs over five innings in the Angels’ 11-9, 10-inning loss to the Kansas City Royals.

McLean has never opposed the Angels. Detmers gave up one run in one inning of relief in his lone appearance against the Mets last July 21, when Los Angeles suffered a 7-5 loss.

-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Struggling #Mets #rare #series #win #Angels">Deadspin | Struggling Mets look for rare series win against Angels Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) walks off the field after getting taken out of the game in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Hours after David Stearns said there were no plans to fire Carlos Mendoza, the New York Mets went out Friday night and finally authored the kind of victory necessary to ensure the heat is turned down on their manager. The Mets will look to earn a rare series win Saturday night when they visit the Los Angeles Angels in the middle game of a three-game interleague set in Anaheim, Calif. Right-hander Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.55 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (1-2, 4.28 ERA). The Mets mounted their biggest comeback win of the season Friday night, when Ronny Mauricio hit the tie-breaking homer in the seventh inning and five pitchers combined to retire the final the 21 Angels batters in a 4-3 victory. The win was just the fourth in the last 21 games for the Mets, who have the worst record in the major leagues at 11-21. The 32-game start is tied for the second-worst in franchise history behind only the 1981 team that opened 8-23-1. The extended skid has made Mendoza’s job security a regular topic at his news conferences. Mendoza is in the final guaranteed year of his contract and surrounded by a spate of first-year coaches hired by Stearns after the president of baseball operations overhauled the staff and playing roster following last year’s second-half collapse cost the Mets a playoff berth. But the Mets are off to their slow start in large part because many of Stearns’ off-season additions are hurt or ineffective. Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., the Mets’ Opening Day designated hitter and center fielder, are each on the injured list. Relievers Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, expected to man the final two innings after the Mets were outbid for Edwin Diaz by the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a scoreless outing in the same game Friday for just the sixth time this season — and the first time in a win since April 7. “We don’t view this as a manager problem and we don’t intend to make a change,” Stearns told MLB.com Friday. The Mets looked more energized during their rally Friday, when Angels starter Walbert Urena limited them to one hit through the first five innings. He left after Bo Bichette lined a single off his right knee leading off the sixth. New York tied the game later in the inning by scoring three runs off relievers Brent Suter and Chase Silseth before Mauricio went deep off Jose Fermin with one out in the seventh. “They fought back and they found a way,” Mendoza said. “That’s a good sign.” Good signs have been hard to find for the Angels, who are tied for last in the AL West with the Houston Astros. Los Angeles suffered its seventh straight loss Friday to fall to 1-11 since an 11-10 start. The Angels, whose 113 runs through Apr 17 were the second-most in baseball, have scored just 40 runs during their skid, the third-fewest in the majors ahead of only the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers. The bullpen has been an even bigger problem for Los Angeles. Angels relievers haven’t combined on a scoreless effort since April 19, when Sam Bachman and Suter teamed up to throw three innings behind Urena in a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres. “What we can’t do is fold the tent,” Suter said. “Can’t do it. This is too hard of a league to fold the tent. We’ve got to stay the course, keep fighting, keep wanting the ball and then it’ll turn around. But it’s heavy right now, for sure.” McLean took the defeat in his most recent start last Sunday, when he allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings as the Mets fell to the Colorado Rockies, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader. Detmers didn’t factor into the decision Sunday after giving up three runs over five innings in the Angels’ 11-9, 10-inning loss to the Kansas City Royals. McLean has never opposed the Angels. Detmers gave up one run in one inning of relief in his lone appearance against the Mets last July 21, when Los Angeles suffered a 7-5 loss. -Field Level Media #Deadspin #Struggling #Mets #rare #series #win #Angels

Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich scored through Michael Olise with the last ​kick of the game to snatch a 3-3 draw against ‌bottom club Heidenheim in the league on ​Saturday, after battling back from two goals ⁠down.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany rotated his side heavily after Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Paris St Germain in its Champions ‌League semi-final first leg and ahead of next week’s return match in Munich.

Treble-chasing Bayern, which ‌has already secured the league title, quickly found ‌itself ⁠two goals down with Budu Zivzivadze and ⁠Eren Dinkci finding far too much space to beat keeper Jonas Urbig.

ALSO READ: Germany delays its FIFA World Cup 2026 squad reveal by nine days to give injured players more time

The Bavarians, who last week came from 3-0 down to beat ​Mainz 05 4-3 in ‌the Bundesliga and cut the deficit against PSG from 5-2 to 5-4 on Tuesday, pulled back a goal with Leon Goretzka’s superb freekick just before ‌the break.

The midfielder, who will be leaving Bayern ​at the end of the season, volleyed in from close range in the 57th to ⁠level but Heidenheim, desperate for points to have a shot at reaching the relegation playoff spot in the ‌last two remaining matchdays, hit back once more.

Zivzivadze curled a shot into the top far corner after shaking off Olise in the 76th to put his team 3-2 up and set a club record for scoring for a fourth successive league match. Substitute ‌Olise then grabbed a point for the hosts with a long-range ​effort that went in off the back of Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj 10 minutes into ⁠stoppage time.

Bayern is on 83 points with second-placed Borussia ⁠Dortmund, on 67, in action at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

Heidenheim is in last place on 23, ‌two behind VfL Wolfsburg, and three off St Pauli in the relegation playoff spot. Both the ​Wolves and St Pauli play on Sunday.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Bundesliga #Olises #late #goal #snatches #draw #Bayern #Heidenheim">Bundesliga 2025-26: Olise’s late goal snatches draw for Bayern against Heidenheim Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich scored through Michael Olise with the last ​kick of the game to snatch a 3-3 draw against ‌bottom club Heidenheim in the league on ​Saturday, after battling back from two goals ⁠down.Bayern coach Vincent Kompany rotated his side heavily after Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Paris St Germain in its Champions ‌League semi-final first leg and ahead of next week’s return match in Munich.Treble-chasing Bayern, which ‌has already secured the league title, quickly found ‌itself ⁠two goals down with Budu Zivzivadze and ⁠Eren Dinkci finding far too much space to beat keeper Jonas Urbig.ALSO READ: Germany delays its FIFA World Cup 2026 squad reveal by nine days to give injured players more timeThe Bavarians, who last week came from 3-0 down to beat ​Mainz 05 4-3 in ‌the Bundesliga and cut the deficit against PSG from 5-2 to 5-4 on Tuesday, pulled back a goal with Leon Goretzka’s superb freekick just before ‌the break.The midfielder, who will be leaving Bayern ​at the end of the season, volleyed in from close range in the 57th to ⁠level but Heidenheim, desperate for points to have a shot at reaching the relegation playoff spot in the ‌last two remaining matchdays, hit back once more.Zivzivadze curled a shot into the top far corner after shaking off Olise in the 76th to put his team 3-2 up and set a club record for scoring for a fourth successive league match. Substitute ‌Olise then grabbed a point for the hosts with a long-range ​effort that went in off the back of Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj 10 minutes into ⁠stoppage time.Bayern is on 83 points with second-placed Borussia ⁠Dortmund, on 67, in action at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.Heidenheim is in last place on 23, ‌two behind VfL Wolfsburg, and three off St Pauli in the relegation playoff spot. Both the ​Wolves and St Pauli play on Sunday.Published on May 02, 2026 #Bundesliga #Olises #late #goal #snatches #draw #Bayern #Heidenheim

Germany delays its FIFA World Cup 2026 squad reveal by nine days to give injured players more time

The Bavarians, who last week came from 3-0 down to beat ​Mainz 05 4-3 in ‌the Bundesliga and cut the deficit against PSG from 5-2 to 5-4 on Tuesday, pulled back a goal with Leon Goretzka’s superb freekick just before ‌the break.

The midfielder, who will be leaving Bayern ​at the end of the season, volleyed in from close range in the 57th to ⁠level but Heidenheim, desperate for points to have a shot at reaching the relegation playoff spot in the ‌last two remaining matchdays, hit back once more.

Zivzivadze curled a shot into the top far corner after shaking off Olise in the 76th to put his team 3-2 up and set a club record for scoring for a fourth successive league match. Substitute ‌Olise then grabbed a point for the hosts with a long-range ​effort that went in off the back of Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj 10 minutes into ⁠stoppage time.

Bayern is on 83 points with second-placed Borussia ⁠Dortmund, on 67, in action at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

Heidenheim is in last place on 23, ‌two behind VfL Wolfsburg, and three off St Pauli in the relegation playoff spot. Both the ​Wolves and St Pauli play on Sunday.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Bundesliga #Olises #late #goal #snatches #draw #Bayern #Heidenheim">Bundesliga 2025-26: Olise’s late goal snatches draw for Bayern against Heidenheim

Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich scored through Michael Olise with the last ​kick of the game to snatch a 3-3 draw against ‌bottom club Heidenheim in the league on ​Saturday, after battling back from two goals ⁠down.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany rotated his side heavily after Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Paris St Germain in its Champions ‌League semi-final first leg and ahead of next week’s return match in Munich.

Treble-chasing Bayern, which ‌has already secured the league title, quickly found ‌itself ⁠two goals down with Budu Zivzivadze and ⁠Eren Dinkci finding far too much space to beat keeper Jonas Urbig.

ALSO READ: Germany delays its FIFA World Cup 2026 squad reveal by nine days to give injured players more time

The Bavarians, who last week came from 3-0 down to beat ​Mainz 05 4-3 in ‌the Bundesliga and cut the deficit against PSG from 5-2 to 5-4 on Tuesday, pulled back a goal with Leon Goretzka’s superb freekick just before ‌the break.

The midfielder, who will be leaving Bayern ​at the end of the season, volleyed in from close range in the 57th to ⁠level but Heidenheim, desperate for points to have a shot at reaching the relegation playoff spot in the ‌last two remaining matchdays, hit back once more.

Zivzivadze curled a shot into the top far corner after shaking off Olise in the 76th to put his team 3-2 up and set a club record for scoring for a fourth successive league match. Substitute ‌Olise then grabbed a point for the hosts with a long-range ​effort that went in off the back of Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj 10 minutes into ⁠stoppage time.

Bayern is on 83 points with second-placed Borussia ⁠Dortmund, on 67, in action at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

Heidenheim is in last place on 23, ‌two behind VfL Wolfsburg, and three off St Pauli in the relegation playoff spot. Both the ​Wolves and St Pauli play on Sunday.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Bundesliga #Olises #late #goal #snatches #draw #Bayern #Heidenheim

When Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both ruled out ahead of Round 1’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets playoff matchup, many had written off the purple and gold.

But LeBron James pulled off another unthinkable playoff victory, defeating the Rockets in six games.

Of course, the Rockets only had superstar Kevin Durant for one game this series. But James only had Reaves for one game, and new reports indicate that Doncic isn’t anywhere near a return for the Lakers.

“I’m kicking (Father Time’s) ass,” James told the Prime Video studio crew following Game 6.

He’s not wrong.

James averaged 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against the Rockets in the first round. Without Doncic and Reaves, James proved that he’s still capable of winning in the NBA Playoffs almost singlehandedly. The 41-year-old averaged 38.7 minutes per game in this series.

We’ve never seen longevity like this in the history of the NBA.

Until the end of time, basketball fans will debate if James was better than Michael Jordan, who won six championships and was undefeated in the NBA Finals. But one thing that’s not up for debate is that Jordan was not doing this. At 41, Jordan was retired. He took on a management position with the Washington Wizards and only served a few seasons as President of Basketball Operations.

At 41, James isn’t playing a Udonis Haslam role for the Lakers. This isn’t an old man at the end of his career holding onto the glory days. Sure, it might be an old man at the end of his career. But even though James isn’t the same player that dragged teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals, he’s playing some damn good basketball and looks to have a lot more in the tank.

His actual son is playing meaningful minutes in this series, as Bronny James has gotten some run due to Doncic’s absence. Around the NBA, “great” teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are struggling against lower-seeded opponents. At 41, James is dragging an undermanned Lakers team through the first round somewhat easily.

After a reverse dunk earlier in the series, James said he “needed to sit down somewhere.” After handling business against the Rockets in six games, James thanked the Toronto Raptors for forcing a Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, buying the Lakers an extra day of rest.

There’s no denying that James is probably physically dealing with the taxes of playing elite basketball into his 40s. But hopefully he understands how much this greatness is being appreciated from basketball fans everywhere.

What’s next for LeBron?

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the NBA, await James and the Lakers.

It’s a good thing Reaves is back, because the Thunder will pose more of a challenge than the Durant-less Rockets did.

Even if the Thunder take down the Lakers, LeBron’s future in the NBA will be under a microscope. Recent reports have indicated that he doesn’t want to deal with the pressure of a farewell tour. However, he just displayed that he’s capable of playing at a very high level. He has nothing left to prove, but walking away from the game now would somehow feel premature, even at age 41.

Prediction markets like Kalshi are giving the Thunder a 91% chance of winning this series. A contract on Los Angeles to upset this series would payout 10.4x the initial stake.

But if James has one more miracle in him, this could be a series for the ages. Literally.

#LeBron #James #Hes #Kicking #Father #Times #Ass #Hes #Deadspin.com">LeBron James Says He’s Kicking Father Time’s Ass – And He’s Right | Deadspin.com When Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both ruled out ahead of Round 1’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets playoff matchup, many had written off the purple and gold.But LeBron James pulled off another unthinkable playoff victory, defeating the Rockets in six games.Of course, the Rockets only had superstar Kevin Durant for one game this series. But James only had Reaves for one game, and new reports indicate that Doncic isn’t anywhere near a return for the Lakers.“I’m kicking (Father Time’s) ass,” James told the Prime Video studio crew following Game 6.He’s not wrong.James averaged 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against the Rockets in the first round. Without Doncic and Reaves, James proved that he’s still capable of winning in the NBA Playoffs almost singlehandedly. The 41-year-old averaged 38.7 minutes per game in this series.We’ve never seen longevity like this in the history of the NBA.Until the end of time, basketball fans will debate if James was better than Michael Jordan, who won six championships and was undefeated in the NBA Finals. But one thing that’s not up for debate is that Jordan was not doing this. At 41, Jordan was retired. He took on a management position with the Washington Wizards and only served a few seasons as President of Basketball Operations.At 41, James isn’t playing a Udonis Haslam role for the Lakers. This isn’t an old man at the end of his career holding onto the glory days. Sure, it might be an old man at the end of his career. But even though James isn’t the same player that dragged teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals, he’s playing some damn good basketball and looks to have a lot more in the tank.His actual son is playing meaningful minutes in this series, as Bronny James has gotten some run due to Doncic’s absence. Around the NBA, “great” teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are struggling against lower-seeded opponents. At 41, James is dragging an undermanned Lakers team through the first round somewhat easily.After a reverse dunk earlier in the series, James said he “needed to sit down somewhere.” After handling business against the Rockets in six games, James thanked the Toronto Raptors for forcing a Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, buying the Lakers an extra day of rest.There’s no denying that James is probably physically dealing with the taxes of playing elite basketball into his 40s. But hopefully he understands how much this greatness is being appreciated from basketball fans everywhere.What’s next for LeBron?The Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the NBA, await James and the Lakers.It’s a good thing Reaves is back, because the Thunder will pose more of a challenge than the Durant-less Rockets did.Even if the Thunder take down the Lakers, LeBron’s future in the NBA will be under a microscope. Recent reports have indicated that he doesn’t want to deal with the pressure of a farewell tour. However, he just displayed that he’s capable of playing at a very high level. He has nothing left to prove, but walking away from the game now would somehow feel premature, even at age 41.Prediction markets like Kalshi are giving the Thunder a 91% chance of winning this series. A contract on Los Angeles to upset this series would payout 10.4x the initial stake.But if James has one more miracle in him, this could be a series for the ages. Literally. #LeBron #James #Hes #Kicking #Father #Times #Ass #Hes #Deadspin.com

only had superstar Kevin Durant for one game this series. But James only had Reaves for one game, and new reports indicate that Doncic isn’t anywhere near a return for the Lakers.

“I’m kicking (Father Time’s) ass,” James told the Prime Video studio crew following Game 6.

He’s not wrong.

James averaged 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against the Rockets in the first round. Without Doncic and Reaves, James proved that he’s still capable of winning in the NBA Playoffs almost singlehandedly. The 41-year-old averaged 38.7 minutes per game in this series.

We’ve never seen longevity like this in the history of the NBA.

Until the end of time, basketball fans will debate if James was better than Michael Jordan, who won six championships and was undefeated in the NBA Finals. But one thing that’s not up for debate is that Jordan was not doing this. At 41, Jordan was retired. He took on a management position with the Washington Wizards and only served a few seasons as President of Basketball Operations.

At 41, James isn’t playing a Udonis Haslam role for the Lakers. This isn’t an old man at the end of his career holding onto the glory days. Sure, it might be an old man at the end of his career. But even though James isn’t the same player that dragged teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals, he’s playing some damn good basketball and looks to have a lot more in the tank.

His actual son is playing meaningful minutes in this series, as Bronny James has gotten some run due to Doncic’s absence. Around the NBA, “great” teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are struggling against lower-seeded opponents. At 41, James is dragging an undermanned Lakers team through the first round somewhat easily.

After a reverse dunk earlier in the series, James said he “needed to sit down somewhere.” After handling business against the Rockets in six games, James thanked the Toronto Raptors for forcing a Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, buying the Lakers an extra day of rest.

There’s no denying that James is probably physically dealing with the taxes of playing elite basketball into his 40s. But hopefully he understands how much this greatness is being appreciated from basketball fans everywhere.

What’s next for LeBron?

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the NBA, await James and the Lakers.

It’s a good thing Reaves is back, because the Thunder will pose more of a challenge than the Durant-less Rockets did.

Even if the Thunder take down the Lakers, LeBron’s future in the NBA will be under a microscope. Recent reports have indicated that he doesn’t want to deal with the pressure of a farewell tour. However, he just displayed that he’s capable of playing at a very high level. He has nothing left to prove, but walking away from the game now would somehow feel premature, even at age 41.

Prediction markets like Kalshi are giving the Thunder a 91% chance of winning this series. A contract on Los Angeles to upset this series would payout 10.4x the initial stake.

But if James has one more miracle in him, this could be a series for the ages. Literally.

#LeBron #James #Hes #Kicking #Father #Times #Ass #Hes #Deadspin.com">LeBron James Says He’s Kicking Father Time’s Ass – And He’s Right | Deadspin.com

When Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both ruled out ahead of Round 1’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets playoff matchup, many had written off the purple and gold.

But LeBron James pulled off another unthinkable playoff victory, defeating the Rockets in six games.

Of course, the Rockets only had superstar Kevin Durant for one game this series. But James only had Reaves for one game, and new reports indicate that Doncic isn’t anywhere near a return for the Lakers.

“I’m kicking (Father Time’s) ass,” James told the Prime Video studio crew following Game 6.

He’s not wrong.

James averaged 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against the Rockets in the first round. Without Doncic and Reaves, James proved that he’s still capable of winning in the NBA Playoffs almost singlehandedly. The 41-year-old averaged 38.7 minutes per game in this series.

We’ve never seen longevity like this in the history of the NBA.

Until the end of time, basketball fans will debate if James was better than Michael Jordan, who won six championships and was undefeated in the NBA Finals. But one thing that’s not up for debate is that Jordan was not doing this. At 41, Jordan was retired. He took on a management position with the Washington Wizards and only served a few seasons as President of Basketball Operations.

At 41, James isn’t playing a Udonis Haslam role for the Lakers. This isn’t an old man at the end of his career holding onto the glory days. Sure, it might be an old man at the end of his career. But even though James isn’t the same player that dragged teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals, he’s playing some damn good basketball and looks to have a lot more in the tank.

His actual son is playing meaningful minutes in this series, as Bronny James has gotten some run due to Doncic’s absence. Around the NBA, “great” teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are struggling against lower-seeded opponents. At 41, James is dragging an undermanned Lakers team through the first round somewhat easily.

After a reverse dunk earlier in the series, James said he “needed to sit down somewhere.” After handling business against the Rockets in six games, James thanked the Toronto Raptors for forcing a Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, buying the Lakers an extra day of rest.

There’s no denying that James is probably physically dealing with the taxes of playing elite basketball into his 40s. But hopefully he understands how much this greatness is being appreciated from basketball fans everywhere.

What’s next for LeBron?

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the NBA, await James and the Lakers.

It’s a good thing Reaves is back, because the Thunder will pose more of a challenge than the Durant-less Rockets did.

Even if the Thunder take down the Lakers, LeBron’s future in the NBA will be under a microscope. Recent reports have indicated that he doesn’t want to deal with the pressure of a farewell tour. However, he just displayed that he’s capable of playing at a very high level. He has nothing left to prove, but walking away from the game now would somehow feel premature, even at age 41.

Prediction markets like Kalshi are giving the Thunder a 91% chance of winning this series. A contract on Los Angeles to upset this series would payout 10.4x the initial stake.

But if James has one more miracle in him, this could be a series for the ages. Literally.

#LeBron #James #Hes #Kicking #Father #Times #Ass #Hes #Deadspin.com

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