The most recent Ted Lasso episode included a grudge duel on the pitch, but off the pitch, the show paused to pay a moving tribute to Grant Wahl, know his cause of death
Since Ted Lasso’s starring series debuted on Apple TV+ in 2020, it has received praise for its benevolent tone, which encourages its viewers to look out for one another and be honest about their challenges. In Ted Lasso’s most recent episode, the show took a moment to remember Grant Wahl, a member of the football community, and it was clear that Grant had a compassionate character.
Who is Grant Wahl and his cause of death as Ted Lasso pays tribute to the journalist in latest episode
An incredibly well done tribute to Grant Wahl, #TedLasso. pic.twitter.com/9SM5ZMCDXN
— Kelsey Price (@KPkelsey) April 5, 2023
Ted Lasso honours Grant Wahl
The most intense episode of Ted Lasso season 3 so far featured a fierce grudge match between Ted’s AFC Richmond and their newly discovered opponents, West Ham United.
Despite the chaos on the pitch, which included numerous red cards, the show remained loyal to its tenet of considering others as the programme closed with a moving homage. Just as the last credits rolled, a title card with the straightforward yet sincere message:
Who was Grant Wahl?
On December 10, 2022, Grant Wahlโan American sports journalistโpassed died unexpectedly at the age of 49 while covering the World Cup in Qatar. Wahl had a dazzling career in sports journalism, covering everything from college basketball to football for publications like CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, and Fox Sports. Wahl was born on December 2, 1973, in Mission, Kansas, the same state that the fictional Ted Lasso is from.
When Wahl made headlines in 2011 by attempting to compete for the presidency of FIFA, the body responsible for world football, he was forced to withdraw from the campaign because he was unable to secure the support of a national football association. The ruptured aortic aneurysm that caused Grant Wahl to pass away happened as he was covering the quarterfinal game between Argentina and the Netherlands.
Wahl received a similar honour during a friendly match between the US Men’s National Team and Serbia on January 25, 2023, when a press box seat was left open and decorated with a framed photo, flowers, and a team jersey bearing his name. Wahl’s seat was left vacant during the quarterfinal game between England and France.
Until the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico, the United States Soccer Association will celebrate Wahl in the same way at every home game involving the US Men’s or Women’s National Teams. Wahl is survived by his brother, Eric Wahl, and his wife, Cรฉline Gounder, a doctor and medical writer whom he married in 2001.
A second tribute was included by Ted Lasso.
In addition to the title card that flashed at the conclusion of episode 4, Ted Lasso also gave the late journalist a second nod. Coach Beard may be seen reading the book The Beckham Experiment, published by Grant Wahl and centred on David Beckham’s high-profile transfer to LA Galaxy in the Major League Soccer, in a scene at the manager’s office of AFC Richmond.
Coach Beard frequently has his nose in a football book, so the inclusion of the book in the scene was initially intended to be a small easter egg for observant viewers. However, by the time the episode aired on April 5, Ted Lasso’s tribute to Wahl had become much more meaningful in light of his untimely passing.