I wanted to catch up a bit with the Mustangs in the NFL this week. But those horses are chasing the playoffs.
The fact there is more than one Mount Vernon kid in the NFL never fails to amaze me. And the fact both have a Super Bowl ring is just another level of amazing.
Tristan Wirfs, an offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, continues to be one of the top offensive tackles in the league.
Coming into the season, he was ranked among the Top 100 players in the NFL.
My favorite Wirfs bit from 2023.
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Swell asked to trade jerseys with Wirfs following their game on Oct. 15.
But the Bucs were wearing the “creamsicle” throwbacks that day, and Wirfs said no thanks.
Of course, Sewell, then with Oregon, beat Wirfs out for the Outland Trophy in 2019, so there may have been some hard feelings, too. Maybe?
Or maybe not. According to their on-field conversation, Wirfs said he’d send Swell a “regular” Bucs jersey.
Wirfs is finally going to start making big NFL money next year when his fifth-year option kicks in. Then he’ll get his life-changing contract sometime in the next year when he signs.
I suspect the Bucs will try really hard to wrap him up before he becomes a free agent following the 2024 season, but maybe Wirfs wants to explore his options. He’s definitely getting a deal with a lot of zeroes following it, and he deserves it.
Wirfs was a first-round draft pick. At the other end of the NFL ladder is Jack Cochrane. The linebacker was an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota.
He spent time on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad before earning regular reps, mostly on special teams, in 2022 and now this year.
Injuries forced him to play defense for almost a full game against Green Bay in Week 13. His Coach, future Hall of Famer Andy Reid, had this to say.
“He’s very smart and I thought he did a decent job in there,” Reid said. “He made a couple of nice plays for us. I know everybody’s got confidence in Jack.”
He finished second on the team that game with seven tackles, including three solo.
According to the internet, Cochrane may be most famous for a video of Taylor Swift’s boyfriend throwing a punch at him during training camp. (That’s Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce for those who try to ignore such things.)
I’ve followed Iowans in the NFL for many years. Life can be hard for players who are on the edge of the roster. Those undrafted guys. Those practice squad guys. But to get an NFL pension, you only have to play three seasons. So one more is all Cochrane needs. And I suspect he’ll play longer even if he never becomes a starter.
Both players are on track for the playoffs. It is always fun to watch them. Mount Vernon should be proud.