Sports

What Is Wordle? A Complete Guide to the Daily Word Game

Published

3 months ago

July 2, 2026

If you’ve opened social media in the last few years, you’ve probably seen those little grids of gray, yellow, and green squares. That’s Wordle, and it has quietly become one of the most shared daily habits on the internet. People post their results without spoiling the answer, compare streaks with friends, and argue over whether their opening word is actually the best one.

But if you’ve never played, the appeal might not be obvious right away. Why does a simple word-guessing game have so many people hooked? And how exactly does it work?

This guide walks through everything you need to know: the rules, the strategy, common mistakes, and the story of how a game one man built for his partner turned into a worldwide phenomenon.

Direct Answer: What Is Wordle?

Wordle is a free online word-guessing game where players have six attempts to guess a hidden five-letter word. After each guess, letter tiles change color to show whether letters are correct and in the right spot (green), correct but in the wrong spot (yellow), or not in the word at all (gray). A new puzzle is released once a day, and everyone worldwide gets the same word. The game is owned and published by the New York Times.

The Story Behind Wordle

Wordle was created by software engineer Josh Wardle, who built the game as a private project for his partner, who loves word puzzles. The name is even a small pun on his own last name. What started as a game shared between two people eventually went public in October 2021.

Growth was slow at first. Then, toward the end of 2021 and into January 2022, the game spread rapidly, largely because of that shareable results grid people started posting on Twitter and other platforms. Within months, millions of people were playing daily.

In early 2022, the New York Times bought Wordle for an undisclosed sum reported to be in the seven figures. The Times folded it into its NYT Games section alongside puzzles like the Crossword, Spelling Bee, and Connections. Despite some early concern from longtime players, the core game has stayed free to play, and both Wardle and the Times said early on that it would remain that way.

How Wordle Works

Every player around the world gets the exact same secret word each day, and a new one unlocks at midnight in each player’s local time zone. This shared-puzzle format is part of why Wordle became such a social phenomenon. Since everyone is solving the same word, people can compare notes, compete over how few guesses it took, and talk about the puzzle without technically giving away the answer.

The Basic Rules

The hidden word is always five letters long.
You get six total guesses.
Every guess must be a real, playable word recognized by the game’s dictionary.
After each guess, each letter tile changes color to give you feedback.

What the Colors Mean

Green: The letter is correct and in the correct position.
Yellow: The letter is in the word but in a different position.
Gray: The letter does not appear in the word at all.

For example, if the answer is CRANE and you guess TRAIN, the R and A would turn green because they’re in the right spots, the N would turn yellow because it’s in the word but in the wrong position, and the T and I would turn gray because neither letter appears in CRANE.

Why It Matters

Wordle works as well as it does because the rules are simple enough to learn in seconds but the puzzle itself still requires real thought. There are no ads interrupting play, no complicated interface, and no pressure to keep playing past one puzzle a day. That restraint is part of the design. Because there’s only one puzzle daily, the game doesn’t reward the kind of endless scrolling or repeat play that many mobile games are built around. Instead, it fits into a routine, like a daily crossword or sudoku.

Step-by-Step: How to Play Wordle

Go to the NYT Games Wordle page. The game is played in a web browser or through the NYT Games app; no download is required to play on desktop or mobile web.
Type your first guess. Use any real five-letter word. Many players start with a word that has common vowels and consonants, such as ADIEU, SLATE, or CRANE.
Read the color feedback. Take note of which letters are green, yellow, or gray.
Adjust your next guess. Use the feedback to rule out letters you know are wrong and to try new positions for yellow letters.
Repeat until you solve it or run out of guesses. You have six total attempts.
Share your results if you want. Wordle generates a colored grid you can copy and paste without revealing the actual word, which is how the game spread so widely in the first place.

Wordle Strategy Tips

Strategy in Wordle comes down to managing information. Every guess should teach you something, especially early on.

Start with a word that has several common letters. Vowels like A and E, along with common consonants like R, S, and T, show up in a large share of five-letter English words.
Avoid repeating letters in your first guess. A word with five different letters tests more of the alphabet in one move than a word with duplicate letters.
Don’t ignore gray letters. Knowing which letters are not in the word narrows your options just as much as knowing which ones are.
Watch for letter position, not just letter presence. A yellow letter means it belongs somewhere else in the word, so try it in a new spot rather than guessing the same position again.
Save harder or unusual words for later guesses. Early guesses are for gathering information; later guesses are for narrowing down the actual answer.

Common Mistakes Players Make

Assuming a yellow letter can go anywhere. A yellow tile only tells you the letter is in the word, not that any position will work. If you already tried that letter in a spot and it turned yellow, don’t put it there again.

Wasting early guesses on repeated letters. Guessing a word like ERROR early on gives you less new information than a word with five unique letters, since you’re testing fewer total letters.

Forgetting that letters can repeat in the answer. Some Wordle answers do contain repeated letters, such as ABBEY or ERASE. Players sometimes rule out a letter too early because they assume it already appeared once.

Thinking the game got harder after the New York Times took over. This is one of the most common myths about Wordle. The Times has removed a small number of obscure or offensive words from the answer list, but the overall difficulty and word-selection process has stayed consistent with the original game.

Believing there’s one “best” starting word. Word game communities and data analysts have debated ideal opening words for years. While some starting words statistically eliminate more letters on average, no single word guarantees a win, and personal strategy varies.

Real-World Examples

Here’s how a full round might play out. Suppose the answer is HOUSE.

Guess 1: STARE → S is gray, T is gray, A is gray, R is gray, E turns yellow.
Guess 2: EARLY → Doesn’t fit what was learned; a better move uses the yellow E in a new spot.
Better Guess 2: MOUSE → M is gray, O turns green, U turns green, S turns green, E turns green.
Guess 3: HOUSE → All five letters turn green, and the puzzle is solved in three guesses.

This example shows why paying attention to feedback matters more than guessing randomly. Each guess should build on what the last one revealed.

Key Facts About Wordle

Wordle was created by Josh Wardle and launched publicly in October 2021.
The New York Times acquired the game in early 2022 for a reported seven-figure sum.
The game remains free to play.
Every player worldwide receives the same word each day.
The answer is always a five-letter word, and only real dictionary words are accepted as guesses.
Players get six total guesses per puzzle.
A shareable, spoiler-free results grid is one of the main reasons the game spread so quickly on social media.
The Times has released related games under the same NYT Games umbrella, including Connections, Strands, and Spelling Bee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is Wordle?

Ans: Wordle is a free daily word-guessing game owned by the New York Times, where players try to guess a hidden five-letter word within six attempts using color-coded letter feedback.

Q2: How does Wordle work?

Ans: Players type in five-letter word guesses. After each guess, tiles turn green for correct letters in the correct spot, yellow for correct letters in the wrong spot, and gray for letters not in the word.

Q3: Why is Wordle so popular?

Ans: Its simplicity, the once-a-day format, and the shareable results grid all contributed to its rapid spread. Because everyone gets the same puzzle, it also became a shared daily talking point, similar to a crossword.

Q4: Is Wordle free?

Ans: Yes. Wordle is free to play. Some other NYT Games content sits behind a subscription, but Wordle itself has remained free since its creator and the Times both said it would stay that way.

Q5: Is Wordle safe to play?

Ans: Yes. It’s a text-based browser game with no downloads required to play, and it doesn’t require creating an account to play a basic daily round, though signing in allows you to track stats and streaks.

Q6: What are some Wordle alternatives?

Ans: Several spinoff and inspired games exist, including Quordle and Octordle (multiple simultaneous puzzles), Connections and Strands (also from the Times), and various themed clones covering topics like geography or math.

Q7: What should I know before playing?

Ans: Only real dictionary words are accepted as guesses, the word is always five letters, and a new puzzle appears daily at midnight in your local time zone. There’s no penalty for taking your time, since there’s only one puzzle per day.

Key Takeaways

Wordle is a free, daily, five-letter word-guessing game with six total attempts per puzzle.
Green, yellow, and gray tiles tell you whether letters are correct, misplaced, or absent.
The game was created by Josh Wardle and is now owned by the New York Times.
Everyone worldwide gets the same word each day, which fuels its social, shareable appeal.
Good strategy relies on using early guesses to gather letter information, then narrowing down the answer with later guesses.
Common mistakes include misreading yellow tiles, repeating letters too early, and assuming the game changed difficulty under new ownership.

Conclusion

Wordle succeeds by keeping things simple. One word, six guesses, and a few minutes a day is all it asks of players, yet the puzzle still rewards careful thinking and a bit of vocabulary knowledge. Understanding how the color feedback works and applying a bit of strategy can turn a frustrating guess into a satisfying win streak, whether you’re brand new to the game or have been solving it since the early days.

Sports

Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL Timeline: Every Meeting So Far

Published

2 months ago

August 4, 2026

Bryce Cotton

Two clubs, two different footballing worlds, and two matches that have already produced enough drama to make this one of the more closely watched fixtures in North American soccer. Inter Miami and Tigres UANL have only met twice, but both games ended 2-1, both were decided late, and both carried real stakes in the Leagues Cup. Here’s the full timeline of what’s happened so far.

Direct Answer: What Is the Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL Timeline?

The Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL timeline covers two competitive matches, both played in the Leagues Cup, the annual tournament pitting MLS clubs against Liga MX clubs. Tigres won the first meeting 2-1 in the 2024 group stage, while Inter Miami won the rematch 2-1 in the 2025 quarterfinal. The overall head-to-head record stands at one win apiece, with no draws, making it one of the most evenly balanced young rivalries in the sport.

Background: Why This Matchup Draws Attention

Inter Miami and Tigres UANL come from very different footballing traditions, and that contrast is part of what makes their meetings compelling. Inter Miami, an MLS club owned by an ownership group led by David Beckham, had limited international profile before Lionel Messi’s arrival in July 2023 fundamentally changed the club’s visibility overnight.

Tigres UANL, based in the Monterrey metropolitan area and playing home matches at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, carries a very different kind of weight. With eight Liga MX championships and a 2020 CONCACAF Champions League title, Tigres entered this rivalry as an established continental heavyweight, not a club still building its reputation.

The Leagues Cup, which brings every MLS and Liga MX club into a shared mid-season tournament, has become the primary stage for this dynamic to play out, turning a fixture between two clubs with no traditional rivalry into a genuine measuring stick for MLS ambition against Liga MX’s tactical depth.

Match One: 2024 Leagues Cup Group Stage

The first official meeting between the two clubs took place on August 3, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, during the Leagues Cup group stage.

Tigres controlled much of the early tempo, and that patience paid off in the 18th minute, when Juan Brunetta opened the scoring with a composed finish. Inter Miami responded in the 74th minute, with Leonardo Campana converting from the penalty spot to level the match at 1-1. The equalizer didn’t hold. In the 84th minute, Juan Pablo Vigón restored Tigres’ lead, and the match finished 2-1 in Tigres’ favor.

Notably, Lionel Messi did not feature in this match due to an ankle injury, and Luis Suárez remained on the bench throughout. The absence of Inter Miami’s biggest attacking names shaped how the match unfolded, with Tigres able to control large stretches of the game against a Miami side missing key attacking options.

Match Two: 2025 Leagues Cup Quarterfinal

The rematch came roughly a year later, in the 2025 Leagues Cup quarterfinal, played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami’s home ground.

This match swung several times. Inter Miami took an early lead in the 23rd minute, when Luis Suárez converted a penalty to make it 1-0. Tigres answered in the 67th minute, with Ángel Correa beating goalkeeper Óscar Ustari to level the score at 1-1, continuing a strong individual tournament for Correa, who had scored four goals across the earlier phase of the 2025 Leagues Cup.

The decisive moment came in the 89th minute. Tigres pushed for a late equalizer, and a header from Edgar López in stoppage time struck both posts without going in, allowing Miami to hold on for the win.

As in the first meeting, Lionel Messi didn’t play, this time due to a muscle injury rather than the ankle issue from 2024. The victory sent Inter Miami through to the Leagues Cup 2025 semifinals and ended Tigres’ run in that year’s tournament.

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on both official meetings to date, the record between the two clubs is closely balanced:

Total meetings: 2
Inter Miami wins: 1 (2025 Leagues Cup quarterfinal, 2-1)
Tigres UANL wins: 1 (2024 Leagues Cup group stage, 2-1)
Draws: 0
Competition: Both matches played in the Leagues Cup

Key Players in the Rivalry So Far

A few individual performances have defined both matches played to date.

Luis Suárez (Inter Miami)

Suárez has been the decisive figure in the head-to-head so far, scoring both of Inter Miami’s goals in the 2025 quarterfinal, both converted from the penalty spot under pressure in a knockout-stage match.

Ángel Correa (Tigres UANL)

Correa has established himself as one of Tigres’ most dangerous attacking threats in these meetings, scoring the equalizer in the 2025 match as part of a broader strong run of form in that tournament.

Juan Pablo Vigón and Juan Brunetta (Tigres UANL)

Both players were directly involved in Tigres’ 2024 win, with Brunetta opening the scoring and Vigón netting the eventual match-winner.

Leonardo Campana (Inter Miami)

Campana scored Miami’s lone goal in the 2024 meeting, converting from the penalty spot to briefly level the match before Tigres retook the lead.

One recurring storyline worth noting: Lionel Messi has missed both matches between these two clubs, first due to an ankle injury in 2024, then due to a muscle issue in 2025, meaning a Messi appearance against Tigres remains something fans of both clubs haven’t yet seen.

What’s Next for This Matchup

As of the most recent Leagues Cup cycle, no future match between Inter Miami and Tigres UANL has been formally scheduled. Because the Leagues Cup runs annually and both clubs have consistently qualified for the tournament, another meeting between the two is a realistic possibility in a future edition, though the specific timing depends on tournament seeding and results in earlier rounds.

Good to Know

Both matches have been decided by narrow, late margins. Neither game has been a comfortable result for either side, both finished 2-1, and both featured a decisive goal in the final 15 minutes or stoppage time.

Penalties have played an outsized role. Three of the four total goals scored across both matches have come from the penalty spot, a detail that’s shaped how each match’s turning points unfolded.

The rivalry predates a long shared history. Unlike longstanding regional rivalries, this matchup has only existed since 2024, meaning the “timeline” is still in its early chapters, with plenty of room for the head-to-head record to develop further.

Key Facts

Inter Miami and Tigres UANL have met twice, both times in the Leagues Cup.
The 2024 group stage match, played August 3, 2024, in Houston, ended 2-1 to Tigres.
The 2025 quarterfinal, played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, ended 2-1 to Inter Miami.
The head-to-head record stands at one win each, with no draws.
Lionel Messi has missed both matches due to injury.
Luis Suárez has scored both of Inter Miami’s goals in the head-to-head so far, both penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who has won more matches between Inter Miami and Tigres UANL?

Ans: The record is even, with one win for each club across two total meetings, both decided by a 2-1 scoreline.

Q2: Has Lionel Messi ever played against Tigres UANL?

Ans: No. Messi missed both meetings due to injury, an ankle issue in 2024 and a muscle injury in 2025.

Q3: What competition have Inter Miami and Tigres UANL played each other in?

Ans: Both matches have taken place in the Leagues Cup, the annual tournament featuring clubs from MLS and Liga MX.

Q4: Who scored the winning goal in each match?

Ans: Juan Pablo Vigón scored the decisive goal for Tigres in the 2024 meeting, while Luis Suárez scored the winning penalty for Inter Miami in the 2025 quarterfinal.

Q5: Is there a traditional rivalry between these two clubs?

Ans: No long-standing rivalry existed before 2024. The current dynamic has developed specifically through their Leagues Cup meetings since then.

Q6: Will Inter Miami and Tigres UANL play again?

Ans: No future match is currently scheduled, but since both clubs regularly qualify for the Leagues Cup, another meeting is considered likely in a future edition of the tournament.

Key Takeaways

Inter Miami and Tigres UANL have played twice, both in the Leagues Cup, with each side winning once by a 2-1 scoreline.
Tigres won the first meeting in 2024; Inter Miami won the rematch in the 2025 quarterfinal.
Luis Suárez has been the decisive figure for Inter Miami, scoring both of the club’s goals in the head-to-head via penalties.
Lionel Messi has missed both matches to date due to injury.

In Short

Two matches, two 2-1 results, and one win apiece, the Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL series has managed to pack plenty of drama into a short history. With Messi yet to feature in either match and both clubs likely to keep crossing paths in future Leagues Cup editions, this remains a rivalry very much in its opening chapters.

Sports

Missouri vs Howard: Inside the 2025-26 Season Opener

Published

2 months ago

July 20, 2026

Bryce Cotton

When people search “Missouri vs Howard,” they’re usually looking for the men’s college basketball matchup between the Missouri Tigers and the Howard Bison, played on November 3, 2025, at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C. It was the season opener for both programs, and it turned into a historically strong road win for Missouri.

This article walks through what happened in the game, why the result mattered, and how each team performed individually.

Direct Answer

Missouri defeated Howard 88-67 on November 3, 2025, at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C., to open the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season for both teams. Shawn Phillips Jr. led Missouri with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Howard’s Bryce Harris scored a game-high 27 points. The win marked Missouri’s largest road victory in a season opener in 84 years.

Background: A Notable Road Trip for Missouri

Missouri came into the game fresh off a 22-12 season under head coach Dennis Gates, a campaign that included a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the program’s best seeding since 2012. Rather than opening at home, as most programs do, Missouri chose to open on the road at Howard, marking the second straight year the Tigers started their season away from Columbia.

The trip carried some extra weight. Missouri had not won a season-opening road game since 2003, and the program hadn’t posted this large of a road win to open a season in 84 years, dating back to a 52-29 victory over Saint Louis in the 1941-42 season. It also marked the first time in the two programs’ history that Missouri played a true road game against Howard; 20 of the previous 21 meetings between the schools had been played in Columbia, with one additional neutral-site game at an NCAA Tournament.

Missouri also had to manage some early-season injury concerns. Forwards Trent Pierce, Annor Boateng, and Trent Burns were all ruled out with lower-body injuries, meaning the Tigers opened the year without three players who had been expected to contribute.

How the Game Unfolded

Missouri Takes Control Early

Missouri won the opening tip and got on the board quickly, with Sebastian Mack finding Shawn Phillips Jr. inside for an early basket. Howard answered on its first possession, but Missouri responded with a burst of scoring, including a dunk from Mark Mitchell and a three-pointer from Jevon Porter, to push the lead to 11-5 early in the first half.

From there, Missouri kept building. A 16-5 scoring run stretched the Tigers’ lead further, and by the halfway point of the first half, Missouri had extended its advantage into double digits and kept adding to it through good ball movement and efficient shooting.

Howard Mounts a Second-Half Push

Missouri carried its lead into the break and came out of halftime looking to extend it, stretching the margin to 20 points early in the second half at 46-26. Howard wasn’t finished, though. The Bison put together a 20-9 run, shooting an efficient 7 of 9 from the field, including all six of their three-point attempts during that stretch, to cut Missouri’s lead down to nine points at 55-46.

That was as close as Howard would get. Missouri answered immediately with a 14-3 run of its own, shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range, to push the lead back out to 21 points at 72-51. From that point forward, Missouri controlled the pace and cruised to the finish, closing out an 88-67 win.

Key Individual Performances

Shawn Phillips Jr., playing his first game in a Missouri uniform after transferring in, led the Tigers with a double-double: 16 points and 11 rebounds. He was remarkably efficient, making 8 of 9 field-goal attempts.

Jayden Stone added 13 points for Missouri, connecting on 3 of 4 attempts from three-point range, while Jacob Crews chipped in 10 points off the bench. T.O. Barrett paced the Tigers with four assists, and Anthony Robinson II led the team defensively with three steals.

As a team, Missouri shot an efficient 55.7 percent from the field, including 52.6 percent (10 of 19) from three-point range. The Tigers also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Howard 47-28, and controlled the interior with a 46-16 advantage in points in the paint.

For Howard, Bryce Harris put together the best individual performance of the night, scoring a game-high 27 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three-point range, while adding four rebounds and four assists. Alex Cotton also had a strong offensive night, scoring 20 points on 6-of-12 three-point shooting. Despite those individual performances, Howard shot just 35.5 percent from the field as a team, which made it difficult to sustain any long stretch of offensive success against Missouri’s defense and rebounding advantage.

Why the Game Turned Out the Way It Did

A few factors explain the final margin:

Missouri’s three-point shooting was extremely efficient. Making 10 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc gave Howard’s defense little room to key in on any single area of the floor.

Rebounding and interior scoring created a wide gap. Missouri’s 47-28 rebounding advantage, paired with a 46-16 edge in points in the paint, meant Howard had to work far harder for each possession while Missouri generated easier looks close to the basket.

Missouri answered every Howard run. When Howard cut the deficit to nine points in the second half, Missouri immediately responded with its own scoring run rather than letting the game stay close, which shut down any real chance of a comeback.

Depth mattered for Missouri. With four different players in double figures and contributions spread across the roster, Howard couldn’t focus its defensive game plan on stopping just one or two scorers.

Common Misconceptions About This Matchup

Misconception: This was a typical, low-stakes season opener. While season openers are often unremarkable, this particular result set records. It was Missouri’s largest road win in a season opener in 84 years and the program’s first road win in a season opener since 2003.

Misconception: Howard didn’t compete in the game. Howard actually mounted a real second-half push, cutting a 20-point deficit down to nine points with an efficient shooting run. The game only pulled away again after Missouri answered that run directly.

Misconception: This was a “normal” road game for Missouri against Howard. Historically, the two programs had met almost exclusively in Columbia. This was the first true road game between the schools, making the size of Missouri’s win even more notable given the unfamiliar environment.

Key Facts

Final score: Missouri 88, Howard 67
Date: November 3, 2025
Location: Burr Gymnasium, Washington, D.C.
Occasion: Season opener for both teams
Missouri’s record after the game: 1-0
Howard’s record after the game: 0-1
Leading scorer: Bryce Harris, Howard, 27 points
Missouri’s double-double: Shawn Phillips Jr., 16 points and 11 rebounds
Missouri shooting: 55.7% from the field, 52.6% from three-point range
Rebounding margin: Missouri 47, Howard 28
Points in the paint: Missouri 46, Howard 16
Historical note: Missouri’s largest road win in a season opener in 84 years

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What was the final score of Missouri vs Howard?

Ans: Missouri won 88-67 in their November 3, 2025 season opener at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C.

Q2: Who led all scorers in the game?

Ans: Howard’s Bryce Harris led all scorers with 27 points, while Missouri’s Shawn Phillips Jr. recorded a team-high double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Q3: Where was the game played?

Ans: The game was played at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C., Howard’s home arena, marking Missouri’s first true road game in the series.

Q4: Why was this considered a historic win for Missouri?

Ans: It was Missouri’s largest road win in a season opener in 84 years, dating back to a 1941-42 victory over Saint Louis, and the program’s first road win in a season opener since 2003.

Q5: Did Howard have any chance in the game?

Ans: Yes. Howard cut a 20-point deficit down to nine points in the second half with an efficient shooting run before Missouri answered with a run of its own to close out the win.

Q6: Was Missouri at full strength for this game?

Ans: No. Forwards Trent Pierce, Annor Boateng, and Trent Burns were all ruled out with lower-body injuries heading into the season opener.

Q7: What came next for each team?

Ans: Missouri returned home to Columbia for its home opener, while Howard continued its home slate at Burr Gymnasium against UDC.

Key Takeaways

Missouri defeated Howard 88-67 on November 3, 2025, in the season opener for both teams.
The game was played at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C., marking Missouri’s first true road game in the series history.
Shawn Phillips Jr. recorded a double-double for Missouri with 16 points and 11 rebounds in his Tigers debut.
Howard’s Bryce Harris led all scorers with 27 points, but the Bison shot just 35.5% from the field as a team.
Missouri shot 55.7% from the field and out-rebounded Howard 47-28.
The win marked Missouri’s largest road victory in a season opener in 84 years.

Conclusion

The 2025-26 season opener between Missouri vs Howard delivered a historically strong result for the Tigers, who overcame a late Howard push to secure an 88-67 road win. Efficient shooting, rebounding dominance, and a balanced scoring effort defined Missouri’s performance, while Howard’s Bryce Harris and Alex Cotton provided bright spots in an otherwise difficult night for the Bison. For Missouri, the result set an early tone for a season that began on the road with one of the program’s most impressive opening-night performances in decades.

Sports

Maxx Crosby Contract: Terms, Value, and What’s Next

Published

2 months ago

July 20, 2026

Bryce Cotton

Introduction

Maxx Crosby has spent his entire career with the Las Vegas Raiders, and his contract has become one of the more closely watched deals in the NFL, partly because of its size and partly because of how much drama has surrounded it since it was signed. Readers searching for details on the Maxx Crosby contract usually want to know the numbers, how it compares to other pass rushers, and whether recent injury and trade rumors put his future with the Raiders in question.

This article breaks down the terms of his current deal, the history behind it, and where things stand heading into the 2026 season.

Direct Answer: What Is Maxx Crosby Contract?

Maxx Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2025, including $91.5 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $35.5 million. The deal made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league at signing. His base salaries for 2025 and 2026 were fully guaranteed at $32.5 million and $30 million, while his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed only if he’s on the roster early in the 2026 league year.

Background: How Crosby Got Here

The Raiders drafted Crosby in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan, a relatively low-profile pick who developed into one of the league’s most productive edge rushers. His first extension came in March 2022, a four-year deal worth just under $99 million. That contract still had two years remaining when the Raiders decided to renegotiate again in 2025, largely because Crosby’s production had outpaced his existing salary.

Before the 2025 extension, Crosby had two years left on his 2022 deal, with base salaries of $22.2 million in 2025 and $18.8 million in 2026, but none of that remaining money was guaranteed. The new deal changed that significantly.

Contract Terms Explained

Total Value and Guarantees

The March 2025 extension is a three-year deal worth $106.5 million, with $91.5 million fully guaranteed. That guarantee level was notable at the time because it gave Crosby long-term security rather than year-to-year risk, which is unusual for a player already several years into his career.

Average Annual Salary

Crosby’s contract carries an average annual value of $35.5 million, which briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. That distinction didn’t last long, since other top pass rushers around the league, including Myles Garrett, signed even larger deals within days of Crosby’s extension.

Year-by-Year Breakdown

In 2026, Crosby is set to earn a base salary of $30 million, fully guaranteed, with a salary cap hit of roughly $35.8 million. That cap number represents close to 12 percent of the Raiders’ total salary cap for the season. His 2027 salary of $29 million is currently guaranteed only for injury, but it becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on the Raiders’ roster on the third day of the 2026 league year.

Why This Contract Matters

Crosby’s deal matters for a few reasons beyond the raw dollar figures. First, it reflects how the market for elite pass rushers has shifted, with teams increasingly willing to offer near-full guarantees to keep top defensive talent rather than let them approach free agency. Second, it ties directly into the Raiders’ broader roster planning, since a cap hit this large limits flexibility elsewhere on the roster.

There’s also a performance angle. Some analysts have pointed out that Crosby’s sack totals dipped in the two seasons before signing the extension compared to his 2022 and 2023 peak, which has led to debate over whether the deal will age well. Others argue that sacks alone don’t capture his value, noting his consistently high tackles-for-loss numbers as a better measure of his overall impact.

Recent Developments: Injury and Trade Speculation

Crosby’s contract situation became more complicated during the 2025 season. He played through a left knee injury starting in October, and the Raiders placed him on injured reserve in late December to end his season early, a decision Crosby reportedly disagreed with at the time. He underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in early January 2026.

In March 2026, the Raiders and Baltimore Ravens reportedly agreed to a trade sending Crosby to Baltimore, but the Ravens pulled out of the deal after Crosby did not pass their physical, with reports citing durability concerns tied to his knee. Following the collapsed trade, Crosby returned to the Raiders organization, and both sides have since described the situation as resolved, with Crosby stating he wants to remain in Las Vegas. By mid-2026, Crosby reported that his recovery was ahead of schedule, with an expected return to full participation in time for training camp.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Assuming the entire contract is guaranteed. Only $91.5 million of the $106.5 million total is guaranteed. The 2027 salary is currently guaranteed for injury only, and full guarantee depends on roster status early in the 2026 league year.

Confusing his 2022 extension with his 2025 extension. Crosby has signed two separate extensions with the Raiders. The 2022 deal was worth roughly $99 million over four years; the 2025 deal replaced the remaining years of that contract with new, larger terms.

Assuming the failed Ravens trade voided his contract. The trade falling through didn’t change the terms of Crosby’s existing deal with the Raiders. He remains under contract with Las Vegas under the same 2025 extension terms.

Believing cap hit and salary are the same number. Crosby’s 2026 base salary is $30 million, but his cap hit is higher, around $35.8 million, because cap accounting spreads signing bonus money and other contract elements across multiple seasons.

Real-World Example: How the Deal Affects Roster Building

When the Raiders signed offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum and other free agents during the 2026 offseason, Crosby’s $35.8 million cap hit was already factored into how much room the team had left to spend. Because his number represents such a large share of the total cap, decisions about extending or trading other players often get discussed in relation to Crosby’s contract, since it’s the single largest commitment on the roster.

Key Facts About the Maxx Crosby Contract

Three-year extension signed March 5, 2025, worth $106.5 million total.
$91.5 million of the deal is fully guaranteed.
Average annual salary of $35.5 million, briefly the highest among non-quarterbacks in NFL history.
2025 and 2026 base salaries were fully guaranteed at $32.5 million and $30 million.
2027 salary of $29 million is currently guaranteed for injury only.
Crosby’s 2026 cap hit is approximately $35.8 million, close to 12 percent of the Raiders’ total cap space.
A March 2026 trade to the Baltimore Ravens fell through after Crosby did not pass a physical related to his knee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How much is Maxx Crosby contract worth?

Ans: His current deal with the Raiders is a three-year extension worth $106.5 million, including $91.5 million guaranteed.

Q2: Is Maxx Crosby the highest-paid defensive player in the league?

Ans: He was briefly the highest-paid non-quarterback by average annual value when he signed in March 2025, but several other pass rushers have since signed larger deals, moving Crosby down the rankings.

Q3: Why did the Ravens trade for Maxx Crosby fall through?

Ans: Reports indicate the Ravens backed out after Crosby did not pass their physical, with concerns tied to durability issues connected to his knee injury and subsequent surgery.

Q4: Is Maxx Crosby still with the Raiders?

Ans: Yes. Following the collapsed trade, Crosby returned to the Raiders organization and has stated he intends to remain with the team.

Q5: What happens to his contract if he gets traded in the future?

Ans: If traded, Crosby’s existing contract terms would generally transfer to the new team, though trade agreements can sometimes include restructured terms depending on what both teams negotiate.

Q6: Is his 2027 salary guaranteed?

Ans: Only for injury at this time. It becomes fully guaranteed if Crosby is on the Raiders’ roster on the third day of the 2026 league year.

Key Takeaways

Crosby’s current deal is a three-year, $106.5 million extension signed in March 2025, with $91.5 million guaranteed.
The contract made him briefly the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
His 2026 cap hit of about $35.8 million represents a significant share of the Raiders’ total cap space.
A trade to the Ravens in March 2026 fell through due to physical concerns related to his knee.
Crosby has since returned to the Raiders and expects to be ready for the 2026 season.

Conclusion

Maxx Crosby’s contract reflects both his standing as one of the league’s top pass rushers and the financial risk teams take on when committing significant guaranteed money to a player in his late twenties. Between the size of the deal, the injury history, and the trade speculation that followed, his situation offers a clear look at how modern NFL contracts are structured and how quickly circumstances around them can shift.