Ndamukong Suh Talks Hard Conversation With Tristan Wirfs
August 18th, 2026
Former Bucs great Ndamukong Suh, aka Vita Vea’s mouthpiece, once had to set All-World Bucs offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs straight, Suh explained recently.
What exactly irked Suh in 2020, Wirfs’ rookie year, is unclear. But it sounds like it’s tied to when Suh ripped Wirfs’ helmet off in practice.
Suh hopped on his No Free Lunch podcast and recalled how Wirfs needed to learn his rookie place.
“Tristan was a young, hot offensive lineman that came out of Iowa. Very, very talented,” Suh said. “You could see the product of his success even to this day. Like I had to let Tristan know. ‘Like, bro, I’m still big dog on campus. Like this is how it’s going to work and we’re competing against each other, but I want to have quality work. I don’t want to hurt you, and you don’t dare try and hurt me.’
“And I think where Tristan and I eventually had to have a conversation; it was like, ‘Bro, I’m here to make you the best player that you could be. And you can clearly help me become better.’ [Wirfs was] a very unique talent from that perspective. But there’s a line where we stop; we’re still on the same team. And it stays in house; it says here on the field and doesn’t go past that.’ … And I think that’s something that he didn’t really understand early on in our interaction. But obviously that’s water under the bridge, and I think we’ve got a great relationship to this day.”
In 2020, Suh famously was heard mic’d up telling teammates Wirfs needed to get meaner to be great. Meanwhile, Wirfs remained Mr. Nice Guy and became the only man to be named All-Pro at right and left tackle. (See, Vita, Suh’s advice isn’t always golden.)
Joe wonders what Wirfs would say today about the “conversation” Suh referenced.
Suh has a uniquely large ego. That’s understandable, and it makes Jamel Dean embarrassing him in a locker room scuffle more humorous.
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August 18th, 2026 at 12:42 am
“It makes Jamel Dean embarrassing him in a locker room scuffle more humorous.”
Please tell us more about this scuffle.
August 18th, 2026 at 12:46 am
Suh is a self serving turd. Always has been.
August 18th, 2026 at 12:52 am
Am I misreading that quote? It sounds like he’s saying him and Wirfs were going at it so intensely that one of them was going to get hurt – and Suh was actually trying to get him to back off a bit. Did I miss the point or some context?
August 18th, 2026 at 1:22 am
I think you are interpreting accurately, Rod. I read same way. It seems like the quote and the mic’d up moments are conflicting with each other a bit. But we’re all human and can have different emotions and reactions on any given day, right? 🙂
August 18th, 2026 at 1:34 am
Likely guess Wirfs has changed his demeanor a bit from when he first entered the league. He’s not a nasty player, but he’s showing more fire on the field than he did initially as a rookie. Would think that’s a natural progression to an extent.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:08 am
For once, I’d love to hear a player like Suh not act like he’s better. You want to tell Wirfs to tone it down? Fine. Explain to him whether you learned this lesson before or after you stomped Evan (pre-Deitrich) Smith. Seriously, don’t stifle the young man’s aggressiveness without explaining how you too—the best talent at your position in your draft (sorry, Gerald) had to make mistakes to learn how to control your on-field temper.
Otherwise, it pairs very well with the Dean story; bro will get his feelings hurt quickly if you show him up—especially if he doesn’t have an answer for it.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:12 am
Sorry, forgot to circle back to this point: If Baker told a young hothead he needed to find that balance, I’d hope the hothead listened; Baker hasn’t tried to hide from his immature past (omg that video of him getting tackled by the po-po just doesn’t leave you!), but makes it an essential part of his journey.
Suh wants to tell you what to do from on-high and act like we haven’t seen *his* damning video.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:15 am
Whatever Suh is saying in this post sure is contradictory. First, you’re quoting how he needed to explain to Wirfs that he needs to settle down so nobody gets hurt. Then, he wants “quality work” (so intensify?). And finally, in his sage infinite wisdom, Wirfs needs to get mean to be great. That there is a fine example of ‘talking out both sides of your mouth. Kinda of like Vea’s negotiating ta tactic…pay me, trade me, i want stay but I’m dressed to leave.
I love Suh’s game, but the narcissist meter is 9ff the chart. I mean, who has a podcast to talk about themselves and tell everyone how wise and great they are? Suh, that’s who.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:16 am
Such was a great player but Wirfs is working on being all-time legendary. So I guess Sue didn’t teach him a thing.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:26 am
I’d be interested to hear that too. I don’t think he’d throw Suh under the bus and go off script though. You (Joes/Ira) are the only ones in here capable to flesh this out, so put on your paddy cap and channel your inner Red Smith
August 18th, 2026 at 6:35 am
Sounds like Wirfs was handling Suh and he got his ego hurt
August 18th, 2026 at 6:36 am
I took this whole episode of Suh speaking all about Suh and nothing really interesting on Wirfs.
When Joe said this: “Suh has a uniquely large ego.”
I am glad — because that is all I was thinking reading this.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Time to make that business decision.
August 18th, 2026 at 7:16 am
Suh sure doesn’t seem to be the kind of player who’d let another player get into his head. Haha! He let a rookie get in there, though. Tristan Wirfs is one very bad man lined up at Offensive Tackle. Great story, Joe! Eff Nebraska!
August 18th, 2026 at 7:48 am
It’s a physical and violent GAME, and that’s why it resonates with so many of us. Yes, its the perfect team sport, made up of individual one on one match ups. I believe that regardless of your personal traits that make you up; when you strap that helmet on and the ball is snapped, you better be ready to impose, intimidate and beat your opponent. Do it often enough you make a long career, you don’t; you become a spectator like the rest of us.
Go BUCS!
August 18th, 2026 at 7:58 am
Meh, I see this trying to be spun as some type of negative thing, but a veteran showing a rookie the ropes and procedure in how to practice/carry ones’ self like a pro is something that has and will continue to go on in this league.
Also the big ego thing, kind of contradicts Suh being the voice of reason w/Fournette in 2020 when he was pouting about sharing the ball/backfield with Ronald Jones and the rest of the talent we had on that squad. Been hearing how smart(and mean) Suh was since he was in college, and what he was saying to Wirfs was kind of on point. We use our time against one another to make eachother better, while also being mindful enough to protect one another.
August 18th, 2026 at 8:04 am
@Rod,
Maybe I went a little deeper. This MIGHT have been an attempt to show listening to Suh isn’t always the right thing and MAYBE a reference to a certain contract negotiation. Only Joe knows for sure. I liked the stories included in hyperlinks.
August 18th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Suh seems like a terrible teammate and a problem in the locker room.