Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss may have a future as a linebacker coach if he decides to switch sports.
Weiss showed off his wicked tackling ability during a brawl that broke out Tuesday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. Angels slugger Jorge Soler charged the mound in the 5th inning after taking exception to an errant throw and some words from Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez.
The two ended up throwing some wild haymakers that didn’t land, and Weiss was there to break it up before any of them did. Weiss got through all the blockers around Soler to take him down cleanly with a tackle that would make Bill Belichick smile.
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss TACKLED Jorge Soler in the fight between Soler and Reynaldo Lopez.
— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) April 8, 2026
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a manager tackle a player before 👀 pic.twitter.com/W69Zm5tMos
Fans were absolutely loving it.
Look at Walt Weiss shedding blockers.
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) April 8, 2026
Gets low.
Great vision in the hole.
Perfect wrap up to bring down 6'3'' 235lb Jorge Solar.
Can't teach a form tackle any better. pic.twitter.com/z8CYk4py9e
Incredible takedown by Walt Weiss
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) April 8, 2026
62-year-old manager.
Textbook form tackle.
Football guy. https://t.co/SbhIh22Iuj pic.twitter.com/53yp2XD5kl
follow #22, that's WALT WEISS WITH THE PERFECT TACKLE 💀
— megañ (@3×5) April 8, 2026
what a manager, i am so proud right now pic.twitter.com/xSJ0kPdV82
Soler was a good sport about it. Through an interpreter, he explained that he has “a good relationship” with Weiss, who was his bench coach during Jorge’s stints with the Braves in 2021 and 2024.
“We have a good relationship,” Soler said when asked about getting tackled by Weiss, via Angels reporter Rhett Bollinger. “I don’t think he tried to do anything against me. We’re friends. I think he was just trying to protect me.”
Soler and Lopez are both beefy guys who could’ve done some serious damage to each other had Weiss not gotten involved in time.
The Braves were leading 4-2 when the brawl occurred and held the line defensively for a 7-2 victory. When you see your skipper recording tackles like that, it’s hard not to be motivated to give your all on defense.
