Manti Te'o Predictions: Record, Accuracy, Every Take | MissedTakes

Manti Te'o

Manti Te'o played linebacker in the NFL from 2013 to 2021, selected in the second round by the San Diego Chargers after earning unanimous All-American honors at Notre Dame. Since 2024, he's worked as an on-air commentator and analyst for NFL Network, where we've tracked his predictions on the Move the Sticks podcast. His commentary spans the league broadly — AFC and NFC playoff races, award picks, Super Bowl predictions — with particular attention to players like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Carter, and Jihaad Campbell.

Writes at Move the Sticks (podcast)

Every take from Manti Te'o, including the ones still waiting →

Is Manti Te'o accurate? Across 65 graded calls in 21 articles, Manti Te'o scores 35.09% accuracy and a MissedTakes Score of 5.22, which means their calls were better than a naive guess on the same claims. That is a limited sample, under thirty graded articles, so treat it with caution.

35.09%

Accuracy

How often they were right.

5.22

MissedTakes Score

Versus a naive guess. 0 means no better.

Graded calls

across 21 articles. 1 more not yet settled.

A limited sample — under 30 graded articles.

100% of their claims were specific enough to check. Most of what they said committed to something.

Every number here is computed from the published methodology, and every call below shows its own arithmetic.

What they call, and how it goes

The record split by kind of claim — five graded calls minimum before a kind shows here. A pundit can be sharp on drafts and ordinary on game picks, and averaging that away is how a number stops meaning anything.

Playoff Picks17 graded60.42 accuracy
Division Winners15 graded48.33 accuracy
Award Picks10 graded0 accuracy

Form

Rolling accuracy over their last fifteen graded calls, in the order the claims were made. The dashed line is their career average — the question this answers is whether the number above is who they are or who they were.

earliest callscareer avg 38 ┄latest form: 66

Graded calls · 65

11 of 21 graded articles on this page, newest first — page 1 of 2.

Discussing the 49ers-Seahawks divisional game, he pointed to San Francisco's undefeated record in Seattle with Brock Purdy and suggested the Niners could win or at least keep it close.Jan 14, 2026
- San Francisco 49ers to beat Seattle Seahawks
  “maybe even the scales might tip another way because the San Francisco fort Niners Michi played pretty dang good at Seattle.”
  Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-100 skill
  How this was scored
  won:
  SEA
  score:
  6-41
  skill:
  -100
  they picked:
  SF
  season:
  2025
  accuracy:
  0
  baseline:
  100
  the naive pick:
  SEA
  difficulty:

Praises Seattle's surprising offense and defense, and reviews his preseason picks: proud of the Broncos as AFC West champs and having three AFC West teams in the playoffs, regrets not picking the Lions to win the NFC North, wishes he could change his Vikings pick, and doubles down on the Ravens winning the AFC North. Also picks the Panthers to win the NFC South.7 graded calls · Nov 1, 2025

Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“I have three a AFC West teams in the playoffs ... the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
team:
DEN
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this grade is wrong?
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
“I do like the Niners that I brought him into that playoff category at the wild card spot.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skill
How this was scored
team:
SF
skill:
156
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive guess said:
no
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this grade is wrong?
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“I have three a AFC West teams in the playoffs because they're looking as far as the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs, they are looking like all three will be in the playoff picture.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
team:
LAC
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this grade is wrong?
Denver Broncos to win the division
“I am most proud of my Broncos pick as the AFC West champions.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skill
How this was scored
skill:
156
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
DEN
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
KC
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
won the division:
yes
Think this grade is wrong?
Carolina Panthers to win the division
“So i'd have to give the to the pants come on over.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skill
How this was scored
skill:
156
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
CAR
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
TB
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
won the division:
yes
Think this grade is wrong?
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“But that the pick that I will double down on the Ravens when winning the AFC North.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
BAL
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
BAL
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
won the division:
no
Think this grade is wrong?
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“I have three a AFC West teams in the playoffs ... the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
team:
KC
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
no
weeks left when called:
10
Think this grade is wrong?

Te'o stands by the Broncos as AFC West champions and all three of the Chargers, Broncos and Chiefs making the playoffs, and doubles down on the Ravens winning the AFC North with Lamar Jackson returning.5 graded calls · Oct 30, 2025

Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“the pick that I will double down on the Ravens winning winning the AFC North... So I'm doubling down that the Ravens will win the AFC North.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
BAL
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
BAL
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
won the division:
no
Think this grade is wrong?
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“as far as the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs, they are looking like all three will be in the playoff picture”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
team:
DEN
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this grade is wrong?
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“as far as the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs, they are looking like all three will be in the playoff picture”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
team:
KC
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
no
weeks left when called:
10
Think this grade is wrong?
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“as far as the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs, they are looking like all three will be in the playoff picture”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
team:
LAC
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this grade is wrong?
Denver Broncos to win the division
“I am most proud of my Broncos pick as the AFC West champions.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skill
How this was scored
skill:
156
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
DEN
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
KC
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
won the division:
yes
Think this grade is wrong?

Picked a Rams–Ravens Super Bowl with Baltimore winning, and Lamar Jackson taking both season MVP and Super Bowl MVP. He also picked Jalen Carter as Defensive Player of the Year.5 graded calls · Sep 4, 2025

Lamar Jackson to win MVP
“I had not only the MVP of the season, but the Super Bowl MVP, Lamar Jackson”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
award:
mvp
naive:
the naive pick was Josh Allen, who won it the year before
skill:
0
player:
Lamar Jackson
season:
2025
winner:
Matthew Stafford
correct:
no
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this grade is wrong?
Jalen Carter to win Defensive Player of the Year
“I know you talked about Zach Bond being your prediction for defensive player of the Year, but I actually picked a teammate of yours, Jalen Carter.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
award:
defensive_player_of_the_year
naive:
the naive pick was Pat Surtain II, who won it the year before
skill:
0
player:
Jalen Carter
season:
2025
winner:
Myles Garrett
correct:
no
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this grade is wrong?
Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl
“a matchup was the Rams versus the Ravens... Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, after twelve long years, get another super Bowl.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
they picked:
BAL
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
champion:
SEA
runner up:
NE
the naive pick:
PHI
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this grade is wrong?
Lamar Jackson to win Super Bowl MVP
“not only the MVP of the season, but the Super Bowl MVP, Lamar Jackson”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
award:
mvp
naive:
the naive pick was Josh Allen, who won it the year before
skill:
0
player:
Lamar Jackson
season:
2025
winner:
Matthew Stafford
correct:
no
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this grade is wrong?
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“first of a matchup was the Rams versus the Ravens”
Close · 50Scored 50a naive guess scored 0+100 skill
How this was scored
skill:
100
they picked:
LAR
season:
2025
accuracy:
50
baseline:
0
champions:
NE,SEA
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
last season's conference champions
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
reached the Super Bowl:
no
lost the conference final:
yes
Think this grade is wrong?