Sam Fortier

I am part of the mass layoffs at the Washington Post.

I am sad and angry. We all want to keep doing the work.

But for now I want to document a reality of being in journalism today.

FBI is investigating the death of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay Irsay, who struggled with addiction, was receiving opioids and ketamine from a California recovery doctor, The Post reported over the summer.

News: The FBI is investigating the death of former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, as well as the doctor who provided him with pills and ketamine in the final months of his life.

Reporting w/ Will Hobson and @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

An injured NFL team, a power substation and a theory that won’t fade A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.

NFL players are lighting up their agents about the viral electromagnetic field theory for all the San Francisco 49ers injury woes.

@samaha.bsky.social and I decided to investigate:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

An injured NFL team, a power substation and a theory that won’t fade A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.

This is such a good, fun, informative read from @sam4tr.bsky.social and @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

An injured NFL team, an electronic substation and a theory that won’t fade A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.

“An injured NFL team, an electronic substation and a theory that won’t fade”

@sam4tr.bsky.social & I dug into the science & the fears surrounding the 49ers now-infamous training facility:

wapo.st/49r1FZq

Good question. You’re right, taxpayers don’t typically pay buyouts.

But according to Landry, the state may have been on the hook if Brian Kelly won his since-resolved lawsuit against LSU.

So, he demanded the school legally obligate someone other than the state for the buyout, no questions asked.

An excerpt of a Washington Post story about Louisiana governor Jeff Landry, who was very involved with LSU football this fall, even with people across the state unhappy about that involvement.

It was The Year of the Massive Coaching Buyout.

But in only one state, and with only one major school, did the governor make himself the main character.

Inside Jeff Landry's clash with LSU and the school's pursuit of Lane Kiffin (w/ @sam4tr.bsky.social): www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

LSU, a governor and a $91 million lesson in college football’s power Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has long used sports as a political cudgel, but nothing riles up his state like Tigers football.

News: As LSU pursued Lane Kiffin, Gov. Jeff Landry backchanneled w/ school officials to request — in writing — a contractual provision that put someone other than the school on the hook for any potential buyout.

Inside LSU's plan w @jessedougherty.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The Cincinnati Bengals broke Joe Burrow’s spirit

The most famous middle-school QB in America just scored his first NFL TD — 15 years later:

Azzi Fudd was a can’t-miss basketball star. Then she had to prove it again. Injuries and self-doubt nearly derailed a prodigy. Now in her final college season, she has rediscovered just how good she can be.

I profiled Azzi Fudd.

After all the injuries and doubt, and dealing with that as her life became more and more public, here's a story of getting back to once was — mentally, physically — then becoming even better: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Read the story, linked below, from @sam4tr.bsky.social, @jorgeribas.bsky.social and me.

These ads tell a story about 2025 and how universities leverage the precious ad space during college football games.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

You know those university ads?

The ones with shots of the leafy quad + students looking into a microscope?

A lot of them look different this football season, focusing more on specific research initiatives.

And one reason why is the reason for a lot of things in this country.

An example:

College ads, a staple of sports TV, are changing in response to Trump's attacks on higher ed.

Unis are replacing rah-rah spots w/ specific stories about how research improves life in their communities.

W/ @jessedougherty.bsky.social & @jorgeribas.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.

Kawhi Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson has left a trail of conflict through the NBA. 

@sam4tr.bsky.social & I spoke w dozens of ppl & got biz filings, property records, texts, voicemails & court docs, including a Steve Ballmer deposition.

Our story in @postsports.bsky.social: wapo.st/4oNuTXM

The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.

In early 2017, Kawhi Leonard’s agency asked him to reach out to a promising college prospect named OG Anunoby.

Uncle Dennis refused on his behalf bc the agency refused to give them equity stakes in the company.

Read the full story:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.

New: How Kawhi’s "Uncle Dennis" helped spark the sports scandal of the year.

▶️ Steve Ballmer, Jerry West depositions
▶️ Private texts, Magic voicemails
▶️ An equity fight involving a Knicks star
▶️ Kawhi's private airport

Investigation w/ @samaha.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

That was the worst NFL Sunday in decades.

I did the math to prove it:

I mean come on lol

This basketball prospect is making millions – backed by a sports dad like no other Want a piece of AJ Dybantsa, basketball’s next big thing? ‘You have to go through’ his dad.

One of the best pieces of sports writing of the year.

Great work by @jessedougherty.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Utah leaders pleading for peace ahead of tensest ‘Holy War’ game in years The rivalry between BYU and Utah has been amped up by an influx of NIL money, public bickering and even a threat of violence.

I wrote about the Holy War.

▶️ Inflection point for the BYU-Utah rivalry
▶️ Seismic shifts roiling the state and sport
▶️ Man arrested for threatening to shoot Utah fans at the game
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

I’m not even sure that’s Scott’s most famous moment! ISIS, anyone?

I ranked famous sports press conference moments with my boy (and former TA) @dereklikessports.bsky.social.

🥉 I’m just here so I won’t get fined
🥈 They are who we thought they were!
🥇??

Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/16G1...

Marcus Mariota confronted his anxiety, then found peace in Washington No longer a perfectionist, the Commanders’ veteran quarterback is offering true life experience as Jayden Daniels’s backup.

And lastly: If you missed it last winter, be sure to check out this @sam4tr.bsky.social story on today's starter Marcus Mariota.

The QB went deep on injury anxiety, perfectionism and his time here in ATL: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/...

How much are WNBA players worth? The league’s future lies in the answer. Players want half of league revenue. The WNBA is preaching “sustainability.” With the current deal set to expire next month, who will blink?

When the WNBA playoffs tip off today, the future of women’s hoops will shine bright.

But off the court, tension between the players and team owners threatens to derail their progress.

I dug into the league’s labor negotiations w/ @kareemcopeland.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

‘There’s plenty to clean up’ for a Commanders team with big expectations What worked in Sunday’s season-opening win against the Giants won’t necessarily work again Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.

The Washington Commanders started sloppily. For the first time in years, ‘that’s exciting.’

A dispatch from the locker room.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Everything went well for Commanders newcomers in Week 1 — including @tomschad.bsky.social:

Will Hobson, @samaha.bsky.social and I spent three months on this story.

We interviewed dozens of people and obtained docs few people have ever seen.

Lots of unanswered Qs about Irsay’s condition at the end and how the authorities investigated his death.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

In his final months, Irsay got ketamine injections as often as 10-14x per day.

Experts consider that a very high number.

The actor Matthew Perry was at the time of his death receiving 6-8x per day.

More context on Irsay’s doctor:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

NFL owner secretly relapsed, got ketamine from private doctor before death As a recovery doctor provided ketamine and opioids, Colts owner Jim Irsay spent his final years suffering through a relapse that he and executives hid from the public.

Breaking: NFL owner Jim Irsay secretly relapsed, got ketamine from 'luxury' doctor before death.

➡️ Irsay and Colts execs misled the public
➡️ Irsay overdosed three times between 2020 and May death
➡️ Serious concerns raised about his doctor’s care
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...