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Well, well, well. It seems like being Pep Guardiola’s daughter comes with its own set of perks – including the ability to break the internet with a simple Instagram post. Maria Guardiola, the 24-year-old content creator and daughter of Manchester City’s tactical mastermind, recently blessed her 907,000 followers with a summer recap that had fans practically worshipping at their phone screens. Guardiola’s Daughter Serves Summer Looks That Put Influencers to Shame Let’s be honest here – while Pep Guardiola is busy orchestrating beautiful football on the pitch, his daughter Maria is orchestrating something entirely different on social media. Her recent Instagram post, captioned with the surprisingly modest “Summer wrapping up,” was anything but modest in terms of impact. The photo dump (because that’s what we’re calling these strategic social media moves now) featured Maria living her best life in ways that would make any 24-year-old jealous. Bikini shots by the pool? Check. Dreamy restaurant visits that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salary? Double check. The kind of effortless glamour that makes you question your own life choices? Triple check. What’s particularly amusing is how Maria has managed to carve out her own empire while her father is out there making grown men cry over football tactics. She’s not just riding on daddy’s coattails – she’s built a legitimate following that hangs onto her every post like it’s the latest transfer news from the Etihad. The Internet Goes Full Meltdown Mode Over Bikini Shots The comment section on Maria’s post read like a love letter convention gone wild. Fans were throwing around words like “angel,” “gorgeous,” and “stunning” with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for last-minute Champions League goals. One particularly creative fan simply commented “Angel,” which, let’s face it, probably took them a solid five minutes to come up with. But here’s what’s genuinely fascinating – Maria has somehow managed to accumulate nearly a million followers without relying on the typical influencer playbook of manufactured drama and controversial takes. Instead, she’s built her brand on lifestyle content, fashion moments, and the occasional glimpse into the Guardiola family dynamics that most football fans would kill to witness. Guardiola’s Family Life Gets the Social Media Treatment What makes Maria’s content particularly interesting is how she occasionally offers glimpses into life with one of football’s most intense managers. Earlier this summer, she and Pep were caught on camera absolutely belting out Oasis classics at a concert in Manchester’s Heaton Park. Watching Guardiola, the man who probably analyzes his breakfast cereal arrangement, letting loose to “Wonderwall” was the kind of humanizing moment that reminds us these football icons are actual people. The fact that Maria conveniently left out any reference to the Oasis concert in her summer recap is almost too perfect. Because nothing says “curated content” like strategically omitting the moment your tactical genius father transforms into a middle-aged man singing along to Britpop anthems. The Content Creator Empire Built on Authentic Glamour Born on December 28, 2000, in Spain, Maria now calls London home – which explains the effortlessly chic European aesthetic that permeates her content. She’s the eldest of Guardiola’s three children with businesswoman Cristina Serra, and watching her navigate the intersection of football royalty and social media stardom has been genuinely entertaining. Unlike many celebrity offspring who seem to stumble through their public personas, Maria appears to have found her groove in the content creation world. Her posts strike that perfect balance between aspirational lifestyle content and relatable moments that keep her audience engaged without feeling completely disconnected from reality. Why Maria’s Success Makes Perfect Sense Here’s the thing about Maria Guardiola’s social media success – it’s not accidental. While her father revolutionized football tactics, she’s quietly revolutionizing how celebrity children can build their own brands without constantly referencing their famous parents. Sure, being Pep’s daughter opened doors, but keeping 907,000 people interested enough to call you an “angel” over bikini photos requires its own set of skills. The irony isn’t lost on anyone that while Pep Guardiola spends his days obsessing over every tactical detail, his daughter has mastered the art of making everything look effortlessly perfect. Those summer photos didn’t just happen – they were curated with the same attention to detail that Guardiola brings to his team formations. In a world where social media success often feels manufactured and desperate, Maria’s approach feels refreshingly authentic. She’s not trying to be controversial or edgy; she’s simply sharing moments from a life that happens to be significantly more glamorous than most people’s reality. So while football fans continue to debate Guardiola’s latest tactical innovations, his daughter continues building her own empire, one perfectly curated Instagram post at a time. And honestly? Good for her.
Money burned through NFL front offices this offseason, with billions spent on extensions and free agents. Most of the big-money signings — including extensions given to edge-rushers Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt — are easy to justify even with the exorbitant price tags attached. However, others appear to offer exceptional value relative to their costs. Below are signings from five defensive positions (tackle, edge, linebacker, cornerback and safety) this offseason that already look good and have a decent chance of becoming more attractive in the coming years. Here's our list of the five best offensive value signings. Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa Contract: Four years, $80 million ($52M guaranteed) Odighizuwa started all 17 games for the Cowboys last season for the third consecutive season. He had a career-best year, ending 2024 with 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble, and ranked No. 12 among defensive tackles in ESPN's pass-rush win rate rankings, his second consecutive season ranking in the top 20 in the metric. In 2023, he finished fourth. Odighizuwa's extension pays the 2021 third-round pick $20M annually (AAV), which ranks No. 12 among interior defensive linemen. While the Cowboys have botched negotiations with outside linebacker Micah Parsons, who requested a trade earlier this month, Odighizuwa's extension serves as the crown jewel of their offseason. And with uncertainty surrounding the two-time first-team All-Pro edge, Odighizuwa could be even more important to the Cowboys defense this season. Kansas City Chiefs edge-rusher George Karlaftis Contract: Four years, $93M ($62M guaranteed) The edge market exploded this offseason, with Crosby, Garrett and Watt all at one point signing record-breaking contracts, the latter two becoming the first $40M per year defensive players. Sliding further down the scale was Karlaftis, whose rookie extension places him 11th among edge-defenders. Last season, Karlaftis, the No. 30 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, ranked fifth among edge-rushers in total pressures, per Pro Football Focus data, finishing the regular season and playoffs with 76. San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner Contract: Three years, $63M ($56.7M guaranteed) The 49ers have benefited from a league-wide devaluation of linebackers, extending four-time All-Pro Warner to a contract that will pay him $21M annually through 2027. He's the highest-paid linebacker on a per-year basis and well worth it based on his production. Warner ranks fourth in tackles since entering the league in 2018 and is the only active player currently on an NFL roster with at least 10 career sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles apiece. New York Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo Contract: Three years, $54M ($38.5M guaranteed) Adebo's signing largely flew under the radar this March. But during an offseason when corners Ahmad Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jaycee Horn signed extensions with an average $82.1 million guaranteed, the Giants got excellent value. From 2023-24, Adebo tied for sixth among defensive backs in passes defended (28). Since entering the league as a 2021 third-round pick, he's one of 11 corners with at least 10 interceptions, a category New York finished 31st in last season with five. Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre Contract: Three years, $39M ($29.156M guaranteed) The 2022 second-rounder was fitting nicely into his role as a nickel corner last year before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 12. He hasn't reached the heights of his great rookie season (when he had five interceptions and 147 total tackles) in the years since, but at $13M per year (tied for the 12th-highest among safeties), that's a reasonable price to pay for a player who might just be coming into his own.
The quarterback battle for Notre Dame is set to come to an end shortly, and it might be a surprise considering how the national media predicted the race to finish. Per Eric Hansen of On3, head coach Marcus Freeman is set to name the starting quarterback by Sunday when he meets the media. The Irish are still letting the quarterback battle play out until then, but it appears sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey is the favorite to start at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Minchey has shown improvement in numerous areas throughout camp, and he has the edge on freshman quarterback CJ Carr in what is believed to be the final week of the competition. "As of Wednesday, the line between 1 and 2 remained blurred," Hansen wrote. "The tiebreaker may eventually go to Minchey, per the source, because of his ability to be a true running threat and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s preference to have that element to put pressure on opposing defenses. "But he also has a preference for QBs who can transcend adversity, and the training camp phase was choreographed to test precisely that. While both contenders responded persistently in a manner that defies their inexperience, Minchey has been exceptional in that regard." Throughout the summer, ESPN writers such as Bill Connelly and Mark Schlabach have written as though it were a forgone conclusion that Carr would win the battle in training camp. However, Minchey appears to be a natural fit for how offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock likes to scheme against a defense. He helped dual-threat Jayden Daniels earn a Heisman Trophy in 2023 and took Notre Dame to a national championship appearance with Riley Leonard. The battle isn't over, but the edge appears to be running Minchey's way.
The Steelers made it through one of the most demanding camps in all of the league relatively unscathed. But there was one player, who had built a lot of hype and anticipation heading into the preseason, who has yet to play: QB Will Howard. The player getting his reps in his absence is one of our winners from training camp... Winner(s) No.1: UDFA WRs For all of camp, the UDFA WR that was kicking you know what and taking names was Roc Taylor. He developed a rapport with Will Howard, and while he didn't have the biggest Week 1 preseason game, his fellow rookie UDFA WRs did. Max Hurleman stole the show in the first half, and he was a major factor in various team periods throughout camp. Ke'Shawn Williams wasn't as consistent in Latrobe, but when the team went south to Jacksonville for an in-stadium venture, he shone where it mattered most. As Calvin Austin III continues to miss time, one of these three helps their chances to make the final 53 with each passing day. Winner No.2: Jalen Ramsey Jalen Ramsey joined the Steelers in a trade that some saw coming, but few believed would include Minkah Fitzpatrick. Tasked with managing a lot of new and moving parts in the secondary, Ramsey has lived up to the hype, while simultaneously setting expectations. He's played slot corner, or nickel, outside corner, and safety, and he's done remarkably well at all three positions in camp. While I don't see him being a big part of the preseason, he will likely be out there on Thursday, when the Steelers welcome the Bucs to town for a joint practice ahead of Saturday's game. I'm sure Ramsey will be excited for Thursday's scrimmage. QB Skylar Thompson The quarterback who received the majority of the reps in Week 1 of the preseason, Thompson, was absolutely lights out. Throwing for over 230 yards and three touchdowns while completing nearly 72 percent of his passes is undeniable, even if it's preseason. Thompson still has his work cut out for him, as Howard was tearing up camp before his hand injury, but if he's going to throw the ball like that, it's going to be hard for the Steelers not to consider carrying four quarterbacks onto their roster come September. Want more Steelers news? Answer our poll question and sign up for our weekly newsletter!