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The Atlanta Falcons discovered a new linebacker prospect Tuesday night after seeing Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss’ tackle during the team’s brawl.
In the bottom of the fifth inning of the Braves’ 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium, Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler charged the mound after taking offense with a pitch near his head.
Weiss came out of the dugout and intended to stop Soler, who continued to pursue his starting pitcher, Reynaldo López. The 62-year-old manager shifted to linebacker, dropping his shoulder and taking the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Soler to the ground with a well-shaped tackle.
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Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jorge Soler spoke with the coaching staff after a fight broke out with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on April 7, 2026. (William Navarro/Imagn Images)
The Falcons took note, posting a screenshot of Weiss’ tackle at X, with the caption: “Come put the pads on, Skip.”
Weiss said his goal was to get Soler off his feet before he hurt anyone.
“I love Soler. We were teammates here,” Weiss said. “But he’s a big man, and so I just felt like I had to make him move because he was going to hurt somebody. And so that was my instinct, just to get in there and make Jorge move, yeah, because he was on the warpath.”
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Jorge Soler of the Los Angeles Angels is tackled to the ground by Atlanta Braves players as a fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, California, April 7, 2026. (Ethan Swope/AP)
Weiss knew Soler before he shoulder-bumped him, as the two were teammates on the Braves’ World Series-winning team in 2021. Weiss was an assistant coach on that team while Soler was named World Series MVP.
Even if Weiss doesn’t end up donning the pads for the Falcons, the team can use Weiss’ tackle as a good teaching tape.
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A fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves in Anaheim, California, April 7, 2026. (Ethan Swope/AP)
The Braves (7-5) and Angels (6-6) will look to avoid any further chaos when they play the final game of their three-game series on Thursday at 4:07 p.m. ET.
