Sports
2026 NFL free agency: Re-signing decisions for all 32 teams
The offseason has arrived for 30 NFL teams while the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are preparing for Super Bowl LX. With that in mind, we’re taking a look at what lies ahead over the next two months, with free agency set to begin on March 11.
We asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick the one free agent from the team they cover whose contract status will shape that franchise’s offseason the most. The list includes a breakout quarterback and receiver, a familiar name at defensive end and one of the league’s best offensive linemen.
Which players could define the offseason? Who could be re-signed? Who might have a new team in 2026? We’ll start in the AFC East:
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
The Bills had the exact same starting offensive line in front of quarterback Josh Allen the past two seasons, but continuing that in 2026 will be difficult with both McGovern and starting left guard David Edwards set to hit free agency. This group has worked well together with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who is retiring, and while there would be real upside for the Bills in that five staying together, there’s a solid amount of work to do to this roster this offseason, especially with a new coach coming in. Finances are going to come into play here, increasing the odds of the group looking different next season. — Alaina Getzenberg
CB Kader Kohou
Kohou missed the entire 2025 season after tearing an ACL early in training camp, but he has been a consistent producer at nickel corner for the past three seasons. The former undrafted free agent is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, as are fellow cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones — all of whom Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley should consider re-signing. Coming off an injury, the amount Kohou asks for shouldn’t be a backbreaking price for a Dolphins team that needs to navigate a tight salary cap this offseason. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
DE/OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Chaisson was a top bargain signing last offseason, having joined the Patriots on a one-year deal with a base value of around $3 million and a maximum value of $5 million. He could expect to double that, and perhaps even exceed that, after totaling 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 18 QB hits in the regular season. He joins safety Jaylinn Hawkins and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga among the team’s top players scheduled for free agency. — Mike Reiss
RB Breece Hall
The Jets could’ve moved Hall at the Nov. 4 trade deadline, but they retained him for a reason: They would like to work out a long-term deal. Hall rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards and, although it wasn’t his best all-around season (his receiving numbers plummeted), he did enough to win over coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets are committed to the run game, so it makes sense to keep their RB1. The question is, how much are the Jets willing to pay? Hall, entering his age-25 season, would be in high demand across the league, which is why the Jets could utilize the franchise or transition tag on him. — Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
The Ravens would love to keep Linderbaum, who has become the anchor of their offensive line. But it won’t be easy because Linderbaum is expected to draw a lot of interest as one of the top free agents available. He is the first Baltimore offensive lineman to go to three consecutive Pro Bowls since guard Marshal Yanda went to six straight (2011 to 2016). Linderbaum could become the NFL’s highest-paid center and surpass Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey‘s $18 million per season. He’s a free agent this offseason because Baltimore declined his fifth-year option at $23.4 million, which would have been $5.4 million more than the NFL’s highest-paid center in terms of average per year. — Jamison Hensley
Once again, the Bengals will have to make a decision on Hendrickson’s contract. But unlike in previous years, this one is much clearer. The odds are very slim that Cincinnati and Hendrickson, who is arguably the best free agent signing in franchise history, will find a path forward. Hendrickson played in just seven games last season because of a core muscle injury that required season-ending surgery. He’s 31 years old and it doesn’t make a ton of financial sense to stay in Cincinnati, either on the franchise tag or on a short-term contract. His time with the Bengals has yielded four Pro Bowls, an All-Pro nod and 61 sacks during his five-year tenure. — Ben Baby
LB Devin Bush
Bush, 27, is coming off the best year of his career. He recorded 125 tackles and three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah missing most of the past two seasons because of a neck injury, Bush has filled in admirably and formed a solid duo with rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Bush is the only unrestricted free agent from a defense that finished the season as one of the NFL’s best, and keeping him would help retain that continuity. But he’s due for a sizable pay raise after playing on a $3.25 million salary in 2025. — Daniel Oyefusi
Gainwell joined the team as a free agent in 2025 on a $1.79 million, one-year deal. He’s due for a significantly higher salary in 2026 after earning team MVP honors. He led the Steelers with 73 receptions and scored eight touchdowns as he split running back duties with Jaylen Warren. Gainwell was an all-purpose threat in Arthur Smith’s scheme, but these Steelers could look a lot different with Mike McCarthy calling plays. The Steelers haven’t typically given big contracts to running backs, and it seems more likely that the former Eagle will get paid elsewhere. — Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
RG Ed Ingram
The Texans’ trade in the 2025 offseason for the former 2022 second-round pick was met with skepticism, citing his benching during his final season with the Vikings. But he blossomed in Houston, allowing the 12th lowest pressure rate (6.4) among guards with at least 400 pass block snaps. He played a vital offensive line role for a group that allowed quarterback C.J. Stroud to be sacked only 23 times, a steep drop from the 2024 season in which he was sacked 52 times. — DJ Bien-Aime
QB Daniel Jones
To be specific, the decision here has largely been made. The Colts are all-in on re-signing Jones after his one-year experiment with Indy in 2025 got off to a sizzling start before injuries ended it early. But now the Colts have some complicating factors to deal with, primarily their desire to run it back with a quarterback who is rehabbing a torn Achilles. Jones’ injury status will likely impact contract negotiations on some level as the sides try to strike a deal. There is also the matter of Jones’ timeline and whether he’ll be ready for the start of the season, which the Colts are predicting. How does that impact their other quarterback decisions? — Stephen Holder
Linebacker Devin Lloyd (a second-team All-Pro) is also a free agent, but the estimated franchise tag of $27.5 million is too high and he’ll demand a big contact in FA, so the Jaguars are likely out on him. That might not be the case with Etienne. The franchise tag is estimated to be $14.1 million and the Rams’ Kyren Williams signed a contract in August that pays him $11 million annually, so it might take more than $10 million annually to get Etienne to return. The Jaguars must decide if that’s too much for a player who has had three 1,000-yard seasons in the past four years, and someone head coach Liam Coen praised for his fit and versatility in his offense. — Michael DiRocco
TE Chig Okonkwo
Okonkwo finished the final season of his rookie contract with 56 receptions for 560 yards, both career highs. Although he’s not the typical in-line tight end, Okonkwo can be used in a variety of roles including out of the backfield as an H-back. Rookie Gunnar Helm emerged as the starting tight end last season with Okonkwo being used in different packages. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Titans let Okonkwo walk. But that depends on who the next offensive coordinator is. Okonkwo has proven himself to be a threat once he gets the ball in his hands as shown by his 6.2 yards after the catch average. So he will have value in the right scheme. — Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
Certainly, running back J.K. Dobbins or defensive end John Franklin-Myers or linebacker Justin Strnad could have gotten the nod here. But while Singleton just turned 32 and was treated for cancer this season, no pending free agent’s potential departure would require a bigger adjustment for the Broncos this offseason. Singleton led the team in tackles for the third time in four seasons. And despite cancer surgery in November, he was one of just three players on the team’s defense to play at least 1,000 snaps (CB Riley Moss and S Talanoa Hufanga were the others). He could lure a bigger short-term offer from elsewhere, but if the Broncos don’t keep him, that’s a lot of tackles and snaps to replace. — Jeff Legwold
As a three-year starter, Cook was by far the Chiefs’ best safety. In defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s complex scheme, the safety is one of the most critical positions, given the player’s need for versatility. Cook played 83% of the defensive snaps this season and recorded a career-high six pass breakups and 85 tackles, often limiting big plays. If Cook joins another team in free agency, the Chiefs will have just Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks, who Spagnuolo said made more mistakes as a second-year player than he expected. — Nate Taylor
After missing the 2024 season because of a knee injury, Koonce had a quiet return to action for the most part. In 17 games (three starts), Koonce totaled 30 tackles and 4.5 sacks. The Raiders’ starting defense will look a lot different in 2026. If Koonce is willing to come back on another one-year deal, he would be a solid depth piece on the defensive line. — Ryan McFadden
OLB Odafe Oweh
The Chargers traded for Oweh, a first-round pick in 2021 who had struggled for four seasons in Baltimore, and turned him into one of the league’s most productive edge rushers. Oweh had 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers after having zero before they traded for him. His best game came in the postseason, when he had three sacks and two forced fumbles in the Chargers’ 16-3 playoff loss to the Patriots, setting the single-game postseason franchise record for sacks. At 27, Oweh will be one of the most promising edge rushers available, and the Chargers will likely have to spend to keep him in L.A. For what it’s worth, Oweh said after the season that he wants to remain in L.A. — Kris Rhim
NFC EAST
After his offseason trade from the Steelers, Pickens did everything right to earn a massive payday. He set career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) in his first year with the Cowboys. The Cowboys already have CeeDee Lamb on the books for $34 million per season and might have to equal or top that in order to sign Pickens to a long-term extension. That’s why the strong belief is the Cowboys will use the franchise tag on him at a cost of about $28 million. Since 2018, the Cowboys have used the franchise tag six times, and the last time they signed a player to a long-term deal before the July deadline was Dez Bryant in 2015. — Todd Archer
He led the Giants in catches (94) and yards (1,014) with fellow wideout Malik Nabers sidelined. He proved he can play inside and out. Robinson had a great contract year, leading all wide receivers out of the slot with 622 yards and 292 yards after the catch. It will all undoubtedly earn Robinson a significant payday. A return seems likely considering he has always been a favorite of GM Joe Schoen and the Giants need to add playmakers, not let the ones they drafted and developed walk. — Jordan Raanan
OLB Jaelan Phillips
The Eagles acquired Phillips from Miami at the November trade deadline for a 2026 third-round pick, and he proved to be a sound schematic and locker room fit. He had 2 sacks, 7 QB hits, 4 passes defensed and a forced fumble in eight games and excelled at setting the edge against the run — a must in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s system. Phillips’ injury history might hold his value down some, but he’s a young (26), productive edge rusher, which typically equals big money in free agency. Philadelphia has other contributors set to become free agents, including tight end Dallas Goedert, safety Reed Blankenship and linebacker Nakobe Dean. With players such as defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter eligible for paydays and only so much money to go around, the Eagles have some difficult decisions in front of them. — Tim McManus
WR Deebo Samuel
Washington traded a fifth-round pick to obtain Samuel last offseason, and he responded with a team-high 72 catches — the second most in his career — for 727 yards and five touchdowns. He was not a big factor in the run game (only 17 attempts) partly due to the Commanders needing him more at receiver with other starters injured. The Commanders need another true receiver, one with downfield speed, opposite Terry McLaurin, but Samuel could still help as a versatile chess piece. The question is cost: Samuel made $17.5 million last season, but that’s a steep price to pay for someone who just turned 30 and isn’t the primary receiver. — John Keim
NFC NORTH
The 32-year-old safety led the NFL with seven interceptions and logged the fourth-most passes defensed (8) on the Bears’ defense. Chicago’s brass values Byard’s contributions on the field as much as it does his impact in the locker room, where he was a captain in back-to-back seasons after signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the Bears in 2024. Byard is open to returning to Chicago and the Bears have expressed a desire to bring him back. But they also have decisions to make on three other safeties ahead of free agency, most notably Jaquan Brisker. “Kevin’s a special player,” general manager Ryan Poles said. “I have no problem saying that’s a player that we would like to have back. But, again, when you add the other safeties into that mix and all the other decisions we have across the roster, with cap restraints and things like that, it’ll be a challenge.” — Courtney Cronin
Muhammad is coming off a career-best season after making the most of a big opportunity in Detroit. The former sixth-round draft pick exceeded his one-year, $1.42 million contract with a career-high 11 sacks, 25 tackles and 53 pressures this season. However, at 30 years old — and set to turn 31 this offseason — the veteran defensive end will likely command a multiyear deal that could be out of Detroit’s range. He could walk in free agency, forcing the Lions to find another edge rusher to pair with Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson either in the draft or via free agency. — Eric Woodyard
LB Quay Walker
Given that receiver Romeo Doubs and backup quarterback Malik Willis are likely luxuries the Packers can’t afford, Walker becomes the biggest decision. They declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, but GM Brian Gutekunst has claimed all along he wants Walker back on a long-term deal. There had been on-and-off negotiations, but it’s clear Walker won’t come cheap. So the question is how much the Packers value him and whether they think they’re positioned to replace him and make Edgerrin Cooper the centerpiece of the linebacker group. — Rob Demovsky
WR Jalen Nailor
Nailor has spent the past two seasons as the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver, and the assumption has long been that Nailor would depart as a free agent rather than bloat their cap structure at the position. Justin Jefferson is due to earn an average of $35 million in each of the next three seasons, and No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison — a first-round pick in 2023 — is now eligible for a contract extension. But Addison being arrested Jan. 12 and charged with misdemeanor trespassing, although the charges were later dropped, is a reminder that letting Nailor leave is not without risk. In his three-year career, Addison has missed three games because of an NFL suspension, two games because of injury and a quarter of another game as discipline for missing a walk-through practice. — Kevin Seifert
NFC SOUTH
TE Kyle Pitts Sr.
After three straight uneven seasons, Pitts emerged again in 2025 as one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He was second in receiving yards (928) and receptions (88) — trailing only Trey McBride — and had a career-high five touchdowns. Going into this season, it seemed like Pitts and the Falcons would split. Now, Atlanta and its new leadership, led by president of football Matt Ryan and coach Kevin Stefanski, have a decision to make. Perhaps Pitts gets franchise tagged, which would bring him back for around $16 million. One more thing to note: Pitts’ quarterback for his record-breaking rookie season in 2021 was none other than Ryan himself. — Marc Raimondi
WR Jalen Coker
You might think it’s running back Rico Dowdle, who led the Panthers in rushing with 1,076 yards. But with Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks under contract and Dowdle’s salary demand likely high, re-signing the former South Carolina star seems unlikely. That makes exclusive rights free agent Coker a priority to get signed to a long-term deal. Carolina can simply retain him with a one-year league-minimum tender, but since coach Dave Canales has already said Coker, a 2024 undrafted player out of Holy Cross, will enter the offseason as the No. 2 receiver behind Tetairoa McMillan, the time to lock him down is now. — David Newton
While the Saints have several older veterans with voiding contracts, what they do with the 27-year-old Taylor will be the biggest storyline to watch in the 2026 free agency period. The Saints have parted ways with some of their starting defensive backs in recent memory (trading Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders in 2024 and letting Paulson Adebo leave in free agency last year), so it’s not a given that they re-sign him this year. Taylor has played in all 17 games for the past three seasons for the Saints. He can play both inside and outside and had two interceptions in 2025. — Katherine Terrell
DB Jamel Dean
The decision to return for wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David will be entirely up to Tampa Bay. Dean is interesting given his health issues (he has missed 21 regular-season games in seven seasons), but he was willing to take a significant pay cut last season, going from $12.5 million per year to $4.5 million. Still, the only starting cornerback who made it through all 17 games last season was rookie nickelback Jacob Parrish. The Bucs have to prioritize health at this position, but it’s one of the more expensive positions in free agency. — Jenna Laine
NFC WEST
Thompson has gone from being a supplemental draft pick into a bedrock of the Cardinals’ defense, not just the secondary. He has been the Robin to Budda Baker‘s Batman and, at times, has been Batman himself. Thompson has played all over the secondary and flourished in different roles, but whether he comes back will be more a result of the new coaching staff, whenever it gets in place, than anything else. But breaking up the Thompson-Baker tandem might have unintended consequences for a defense that needs a bit of guidance and direction to reach its full potential. — Josh Weinfuss
The Rams didn’t have a long list of free agents entering the preseason, and that list got even shorter after they re-signed running back Kyren Williams, inside linebacker Nate Landman and safety Quentin Lake during training camp or the season. Curl, who signed a two-year deal with the Rams in 2024, is now Los Angeles’ biggest free agent decision. Curl had the biggest interception of the season for the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Chicago Bears, picking off quarterback Caleb Williams‘ pass in overtime. — Sarah Barshop
After a training camp injury and a contract stalemate that resulted in some added 2025 incentives but not a lucrative extension, Jennings will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time. He’s coming off an up-and-down season that was marred by multiple injuries, but he set a career high with nine touchdowns. The Niners will move on from Brandon Aiyuk while Ricky Pearsall has struggled to stay healthy, which makes receiver a significant need this offseason. A Jennings return will depend largely on where his market goes as San Francisco wouldn’t mind keeping him if the price is right. — Nick Wagoner
Heading into 2025, the chances of the Seahawks re-signing Walker after his contract year did not look strong thanks largely to concerns over his availability. He was also slated to share duties with Zach Charbonnet. But circumstances have changed. Walker has played in all 19 games and topped 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season despite averaging only 13 carries. He has excelled as the clear-cut RB1 since Charbonnet tore an ACL in the divisional round, which probably will sideline him well past the start of the 2026 season. It’s far from a sure thing, but Seattle re-signing Walker is easier to envision now than it was six months ago. — Brady Henderson
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — At an on-campus dining hall in September, a fork and knife looked like a toddler’s toy utensils in the massive hands of Olivier Rioux. Everything about Florida‘s 7-foot-9, 305-pound center, is supersized — just check the book of Guinness World Records, where he holds the official title for tallest teenager.
“I wear size 20 shoes,” Rioux told ESPN. “I eat 5,000 to 6,000 calories every day.”
It’s fuel for a body with proportions college basketball has never seen.
When he made his much-anticipated debut for the Gators in early November, Rioux (pronounced Ree-YOO) became the tallest player in college basketball history to check into a game. Two weeks after that, he became the tallest player to score a point after making a free throw. And in mid-December, he became the tallest player to record a field goal with a late-game dunk in a blowout win over Saint Francis.
Before he even entered that game — his third of five appearances so far this season — the crowd in Gainesville began to chant, “We want Ollie! We want Ollie!” The loudest cheers of the night erupted when he rose from his seat on the bench and walked to the scorer’s table to check in. Minutes later, that slam sent the fans into a frenzy. His teammates hopped on one another’s shoulders, his coaches high-fived and fans pointed to the ceiling and screamed.
“I knew it would be big, but I didn’t know it would be like that,” said Jean-Francois Rioux, Oliver’s father.
0:18
7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux scores first bucket
Olivier Rioux, the world’s tallest teenager, scores his first bucket for Florida vs. Saint Francis.
Oliver has created a buzz on and off the court since he was a young player in Montreal. As a child, he towered over his peers, then his teachers and, well, eventually most of the globe. He was nearly 7 feet tall in elementary school. With his unique size and stature, he’s a walking selfie opportunity for passersby.
The redshirt freshman’s main focus is to eventually earn more playing time and enjoy the typical life of a college student. Florida considers him a promising project, though at this stage, he’s a long way from filling up the stat sheet in the SEC. Still, he’s the most popular player on the roster, as evidenced by the incessant requests for photos and autographs when he’s out with the team. But while Rioux sometimes basks in the fame and attention of a rock star, he yearns to be acknowledged for his other attributes.
“Whenever I’m out with the guys or the team, I’m like, ‘I don’t want any pictures,'” he said. “When I’m walking to class, I’ll do selfies while I’m walking. I’ve learned that technique. It works a lot because you don’t get stopped by anybody. And then anything that involves kids asking for pictures, I’ll do it because I don’t want to feel bad.”
Long before he caused a stir everywhere he went, Rioux was just a tall kid in Canada.
As a child, he was just the growing young man who would walk into a local restaurant with his 6-8 father, 6-2 mother Anne Gariepy (6-2) and 6-9 older brother, Emile, to order a half-dozen pizzas for the family.
That started to change in 2016.
Joel Anthony, a 6-10 former NBA forward who won two NBA titles with LeBron James and the Miami Heat, returned to Montreal to attend a kids basketball camp in town. Having faced some of the biggest athletes in the world, he wasn’t easily impressed. Then, a friend of his introduced him to a 9-year-old Rioux.
“I was like, ‘Where is the kid?'” Anthony said. “And he’s like, ‘This is the kid I was talking about.'”
Anthony had assumed Rioux was a camp counselor. They were the same height.
2 years ago #Olivierrioux with Joel Anthony ! Times fly ! pic.twitter.com/zmWV1tS4HE
— Jean-Francois Rioux (@TWJFRIOUX) September 12, 2018
When a photo of Rioux and Anthony was posted on social media, it drew attention — including from Canada Basketball officials, who contacted Rioux’s family. Joining his country’s official basketball development system helped him gain the training resources to facilitate his growth. Free clothes and shoes, too. And the games against top opposition on the grassroots circuit taught him to play with an edge.
“A 6-foot-10 kid tried to dunk on him and he missed, and he was chirping at Rioux,” said Joey McKitterick, director of Brookwood Elite basketball program in Canada. “And then Rioux comes down and dunks on him, and then he pats the kid on the top of his head. And I was like, ‘He just patted a kid who is 6-foot-10 on his head like he was his child.'”
As the legendary stories about the tallest kid anyone had ever seen — he was 7 feet tall by age 12 — circulated throughout Canada and beyond, Rioux’s coaches had to call event organizers at youth basketball events to verify his age when they threatened to demand his birth certificate. The crowds at his games quickly grew. People wanted to see the boy who seemed like a myth. That attention wasn’t always easy to handle for Rioux, according to those who were around him then.
“It is a little difficult when you’re young and people don’t know how to stare,” Anthony said. “You have this growth spurt and now everyone’s just staring at you and it’s just constantly, everyone is staring at you.”
Rioux’s AAU coaches had to turn his teammates into “bodyguards” on road trips to keep those seeking autographs and pictures at bay. They would still snap selfies from afar and post them. A simple stroll through a mall, an airport or any place with throngs of people would present the possibility of hysteria for Rioux.
But in basketball, Rioux found a home and an identity. At Florida, he’s just one of the guys, another player on a roster chasing a dream.
“The fans at Florida are crazy,” he said. “The feeling of being supported by people, it just helps you a lot mentally and I feel like that’s what I needed and that’s what I’ve been provided with.”
Whenever he gets to his hotel room on the road with the Gators, Rioux goes through his routine.
First, he backs his body into the room like a semi-truck backs into a loading dock because it’s more efficient than trying to dip beneath a standard door frame (6-8) while facing forward. Then if the room has two beds — preferably doubles or queens — he’ll pull one toward the other to make a T-shape, then sleep diagonally.
When a room has only one bed, well, then he really has to get creative.
“I just have a technique where I just pull the mattress back, put some pillows and cushions near the top of the bedframe so that the bed is long enough,” he said. “I don’t need the extra space in the room.”
Just preparing his body for the wear and tear of a basketball season is a feat in and of itself. His training program involves a lot of work on his lower body to create and sustain the base he’ll need to play long stretches if he’s called upon.
“I can lose five pounds in a single day,” Rioux said of his daily workout regimen. “I have to regain it with water and it’s you can’t just hold water. You’ve got to drink progressively and be worried about when you drink, how you drink and when you pee and all of that. There is a whole process.”
At 7-9, the human body works harder. Much harder. But the energy Rioux expends at Florida to stay in shape — he added 10 pounds of muscle over the offseason — is not only in service of his basketball future, but his overall quality of life.
For now, Rioux hasn’t had much of an opportunity to showcase the work he has done to prepare his body for play.
Florida’s pecking order is set with a frontcourt of Alex Condon, NBA prospect Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu — all of whom starred in last season’s national title run. Rioux’s efforts now are really about fighting for a role next season. His height is an X factor no opponents can match at this level. But he’ll have to become quicker and more agile to play substantial minutes, according to those who have helped him develop over the years.
“It’s a guard’s game, so in order for a big guy like [Rioux] to really, really thrive, you’d have to slow the game down, walk the ball up the court, let him get in position and then throw it into him,” said Michael Meeks, an assistant with the Canadian national team who has known Rioux for more than a decade. “There are not a lot of teams that walk the ball up in the SEC, so his head is under the water and he’s going to have to really, really work to get it above it to impact the game.”
Florida head coach Todd Golden said he won’t make any definitive projections about Rioux’s future at Florida, but he is impressed by his determination and work ethic.
“I know he’s sitting over there probably like, ‘Damn man, I didn’t know all these guys were coming back,'” Golden said. “So it’s going to be a tough one this year to play. It really will be. But … I do think he has some really good basketball ahead of him, whether it’s here at Florida or somewhere else.”
That’s a challenge Rioux has embraced because he wants to play. That’s his ultimate goal; it’s how he wants to be remembered with the Gators and the world. Whether an opportunity to make that a reality comes will depend on what happens this offseason. Although Rioux has played limited minutes this season (2.2 per game), Florida could lose its entire frontcourt to the NBA or graduation. That could open a lane for him — and he’s determined to stay until it does.
“I think a lot of people don’t really know what I’m committed to doing,” he said. “Obviously, you see a highlight here and there, but you don’t see what the person is capable of doing. I want to push myself to be able to do that.”
Added his father: “We are confident that [Rioux] will have his place at Florida and that he will be able to play.”
0:22
Gators fans go wild for tallest player in CBB history checking into game
Florida fans are on their feet as 7-9 Olivier Rioux checks into the game against North Florida.
Rather than stuff himself into a car, Rioux prefers to ride around Florida’s campus on a bike. But it’s not an ordinary bike. The DirtySixer AllRoad Mark II retails at $5,000. When standing upright on its back wheel, the bike is almost as tall as Rioux. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is next on the company’s list to get one of the limited edition bikes. Shaquille O’Neal already has one.
“I haven’t figured out my driver’s license,” Rioux said. “I don’t fit into cars. I don’t fit into the driver’s seat. I would have to customize it and learn how to drive it. And that’s a lot. That’s a lot of money.”
Blending into a world made for the masses — the average Canadian man is 5-10 — but not a 7-9 man has always been the norm for Rioux. He has to “duckwalk” through the jet bridge at the airport and can sit only in exit rows unless he purchases extra seats for the legroom. And with his in-person classes in Gainesville, it’s rare that he ever finds a suitable seat.
“The auditoriums are not made for tall people, so I have to sit in the back where there is a seat,” he said. “You don’t really hear the teacher.”
The Florida athletic complex is one of the few places where he can relax without thinking about the next person to come up to him and ask him about his height or if he plays basketball or how tall he is. In the locker room, Rioux can be himself.
“He’s a great kid,” his teammate Boogie Fland said. “He’s just a cool dude to be around and he is always caring about us.”
Added Haugh: “People love him here. He loves it here, too. And he’s been grinding. He has been lifting a lot and getting better. I see him working out, working on ballhandling. And I think if he gets things rolling, gets a little quicker, he’s going to be good.”
Florida is where Rioux is attempting to mold himself into the player he wants to be — one with a future that will depend on how rapidly his skills develop and the way he conditions himself for the rigors of a season. In the meantime, the NIL and revenue sharing have helped him attain the 3XL gear — and the king-plus mattress — he needs. It also helps that clothing companies send him their stuff for free, hoping he can become their human billboard.
When he wants to turn it all off, though — the buzz, the selfie requests, the gawking, the questions — he connects with those who know him as “Ollie.”
Back home in Montreal, he challenges his dad to PC games, mostly “Civilization” and “Minecraft.” He enjoys reading manga and watching anime. He’s even an artist himself; his sketches are scattered around his family home.
When he wasn’t doodling as a kid, he was always close to a chessboard.
“He’s very good at chess,” his father said. “When he was young, he won the tournament at his school, but at some point, if you want to really be good at chess, you have to train, but basketball was taking too much of his time to do chess.”
He has a friend group that doesn’t care that he plays basketball or has a record-setting height. On a summer trip to New York City, they socialized at a food festival before they stopped at a club.
“We went downtown, we chilled. One of our friends is a DJ, so we went to support him,” Rioux said. “It was really nice. He was doing EDM. I am into that.”
He chooses to keep the names of those friends and their busy group chat private. For Rioux, cultivating a life outside basketball — and constant chatter about his height — has been a positive.
“It’s the freedom of not talking about basketball,” he said. “I feel like that helps me to just be more focused on basketball somehow. I don’t know the mentality behind it, but I have 100% in basketball and 100% with the liberty of recovery. I think that’s the balance.”
MELBOURNE, Australia — Elena Rybakina was crowned Australian Open champion after storming from behind in the deciding set of Saturday’s final to overcome top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
After splitting the first two sets at Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka appeared to have made a decisive move in the third set when she broke Rybakina for just the second time in the match and raced to a 3-0 lead.
But Rybakina, the world No. 5, responded by winning five consecutive games to wrestle back control. She calmly served out the match with an ace to clinch her second Grand Slam title, avenging her losses to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open and 2021 Wimbledon finals.
Following championship point, the pair shared an embrace at the net. Rybakina then clapped her left hand on the strings of her racket and held her arm up triumphantly to the packed grandstands roaring in delight.
“It’s amazing to hold this trophy,” said Rybakina, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan. “I knew that today if I get a chance to lead that I will need to try some risky shots and just go for it … not wait for any mistakes or even get to the long rallies.
“It was tough to come back in the third. I’m happy that being down, I was able to calm myself down, not being frustrated anymore, and just focus on each point and stay close. I’m super happy.”
Saturday’s 2-hour, 18-minute final was a tale of razor-thin margins — as evidenced by both players finishing the night having won exactly 92 points — but in the key moments it was Rybakina who stepped up.
Rybakina won 64% of points with the score locked at either 30-30 or 40-40 and 75% when facing a break point. She made 72% of her third-set service returns land in play, a contrast to Sabalenka, who managed only 59%.
Another key to victory for Rybakina was her ability to successfully combat the four-time Grand Slam champion’s combination of power and aggression with her own brand of heavy ballstriking and fearless tennis.
She signaled that intent early on, breaking the first Sabalenka service game with high-risk, high-reward tennis, despite the world No. 1 landing seven of eight first serves.
It was an approach that carried her throughout the back-and-forth contest and to the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, which was presented by 2001 and 2002 Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriati.
“I played great until [a] certain point, and then I couldn’t resist that aggression that she had on court today,” a defeated Sabalenka said. “I don’t know if I have any regrets. Maybe I should have tried to be more aggressive on my serve, knowing that I have a break, and put pressure on her, but she played incredible. Today she was a better player.”
The Australian Open title caps a monumental return to the top for Rybakina, who will be elevated to world No. 3 when the WTA’s latest rankings land Monday.
Rybakina, 26, ended last year with semifinal appearances in both the Toronto and Cincinnati WTA 1000 events before being crowned champion at the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Since Wimbledon last year, Rybakina has achieved a tour-best 37-6 record, while her latest triumph over Sabalenka extends her consecutive win streak over top-10 opponents to a career-best 10 matches.
“I always believed that I [could] come back to the level I was,” Rybakina said. “Of course, we all have ups and downs. I think everyone thought maybe I will never be again in the final or even get a trophy, but it’s all about the work.
“When you get some wins, big wins against top players, then you start to believe more. You get more confident. That was the kind of way.”
The loss is the second in succession for Sabalenka in an Australian Open final. Last year, she was upset by American Madison Keys, also in three sets. Each of the two years prior, she was crowned champion at Melbourne Park.
Sabalenka had entered the 2026 final against Rybakina having won 12 consecutive matches and 22 consecutive sets to begin the year.
“It’s tennis, you know. Today you’re a loser; tomorrow you’re a winner,” Sabalenka said. “Hopefully I’ll be more of a winner this season than a loser.”
Star paceman Pat Cummins was ruled out of Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign on Saturday, while batsman Matthew Renshaw has come into the squad at the expense of Matt Short.
Test skipper Cummins only played one of the five Ashes Tests against England over the Australian summer as he slowly recovers from a lower back injury.
He was hoping to be fit for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka beginning on February 7, but has run out of time and been replaced by Ben Dwarshuis.
“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting,” selector Tony Dodemaide said.
“We believe his ability to swing the ball at good pace, along with clever variations, will be well-suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad.”
The only other change to the provisional squad named this month sees Renshaw come in for Short, who has paid the price for his ordinary performances in the Big Bash League.
“Matt (Renshaw) has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white ball formats for Australia, the Queensland Bulls and the Brisbane Heat,” Dodemaide said.
“With the top order settled and spin-heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return to play programme in the early phase of the tournament.”
Big-hitter David is on the comeback trail from a hamstring injury.
The squad is spin-heavy in preparation for the sub-continent conditions, with left-armer Matt Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly complementing chief tweaker Adam Zampa and part-timer Glenn Maxwell.
Australia’s group-stage matches are all being played in Sri Lanka. They open their account against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
Squad: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
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