Ted Lasso pays tribute to Grant Wahl as latest episode is dedicated to late sportswriter

Hit show ‘Ted Lasso’ paid tribute to late sportswriter Grant Wahl on Tuesday, dedicating its latest episode to him and including his book on camera.

Wahl, quite probably the most well-known American soccer journalist of all-time, was in Qatar covering the World Cup in December when he died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium, his wife Dr. Celine Gounder later revealed.

And after Wahl was honored by MLS clubs nationwide at the start of the league’s new season in February, ‘Lasso’ – which details fictional Premier League team AFC Richmond – has recognized him as well.

Following the fourth episode of the show’s third season, the screen read ‘In Memory of Grant Wahl,’ nearly four months after his death on December 10.

Additionally, during the episode actor Brendan Hunt, who plays ‘Coach Beard’, can be seen with a copy of Wahl’s book ‘The Beckham Experiment.’

Wahl had spent his journalistic career working at outlets like Sports Illustrated, Fox, and CBS

Wahl’s widow Gounder saw the tribute and was touched by it.

‘Thank you, @jasonsudeikis, @brendanhunting, @brettgoldstein,’ she wrote on Twitter, tagging three of the show’s stars.

‘This episode means so much to me and my family.’ 

Before he passed, Wahl already had a connection to the show.

He published a 2022 story on his Substack where he did a walking tour of Richmond, England alongside Hunt, and even visited The Prince’s Head – the real-life bar in the show.

Wahl also had Hunt and the show’s star Jason Sudeikis on his ‘Futbol with Grant Wahl’ podcast in 2020.

Wahl – an accomplished sports journalist of over 25 years – was in Qatar covering his his eighth men’s World Cup and his 12th World Cup overall when tragedy struck.

During the match, Wahl suddenly collapsed in his seat in the press box of the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar. 

Paramedics on the scene treated him for about half an hour before he was transported to Hamad General Hospital in Doha, where he was pronounced dead on December 10.

Before the start of the MLS season, the league announced that Wahl would be honored throughout the league.

The fictional team based in London is the subject of the Emmy award-winning Apple TV+ series

‘In December, the soccer community lost a friend & colleague, Grant Wahl,’ read a message from MLS’s communications department.

‘One of the most recognized & revered voices in soccer, Grant’s impact on the game was immeasurable. As a tribute to Grant, MLS clubs will be reserving a press box seat in his honor at their home opener.’

Additionally, US Soccer previously honored Wahl at two friendly matches played in January with a jersey on an open seat in the press box with ‘Wahl’ on it, ‘along with a framed photo and flowers.

Wahl is set to be honored at the US National Soccer Hall of Fame induction at Frisco, Texas, on May 6.