Jeff Teat’s Championship MVP effort defines servant leadership for Atlas

Four minutes into the third quarter of the U.S. Bank Championship, the New York Atlas and Denver Outlaws were in a 10-10 stalemate. With 10 seconds left on the shot clock, Jeff Teat initiated a dodge from the top of the left wing and was quickly double-teamed by Denver’s defense.

As Teat was sandwiched by two defenders and thrown onto the ground, he managed to throw a no-look, behind-the-back pass to midfielder Reid Bowering, who then scored right in front of the cage.

That was just one of the six points that Teat scored in New York’s title-clinching 14-13 victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Teat has dominated the professional lacrosse landscape since being drafted first overall back in 2021. He’s been Rookie of the Year, Eamon McEneaney Attackman of the Year, Jim Brown MVP and the owner of the PLL’s single-season scoring record.

With the win Sunday, Teat collected two more honors for his trophy case: a PLL Championship and a Championship MVP award for his remarkable performance.

For Connor Shellenberger, seeing Teat make a play like his highlight-reel assist to Bowering at that point in the season was jaw-dropping, but expected for the veteran lefty.

“It’s just another play by Jeff,” Shellenberger joked. “We’ve seen that in practice a million times, so we all have to remind ourselves what we are witnessing, but plays like that are ridiculous.”

Last offseason, New York head coach Mike Pressler named Teat the third captain of the Atlas after signing him to a three-year extension. Pressler praised Teat before the season for the presence he brings to the Atlas locker room and how it contributes to the team’s success.

“To win on gameday, you need to win the locker room,” Pressler said back in March. “We have a great locker room going right now, and Jeff Teat is a huge part of that.”

After dominating the league in 2024 and taking home MVP honors, Teat was tasked with playing a secondary role this season following Shellenberger’s emergence as the true initiator of the Atlas offense.

While Shellenberger was the top priority for most teams, the attention he drew created opportunities for Teat, who ranked third in the league with 40 points during the regular season. Teat was right behind Philadelphia Waterdogs attackman Michael Sowers, who finished with 41, and his linemate Shellenberger, who led the league with 46 en route to earning this season’s Jim Brown MVP Award.

Teat’s leadership was put on display during the title game after attackman Xander Dickson suffered a devastating leg injury late in the first half.

Shellenberger credited Teat and fellow captains Trevor Baptiste and Danny Logan for helping refocus the group and win the game for their injured teammate.

“Our leadership did a great job just regrouping the guys,” Shellenberger said. “I think it’s a credit to our leadership with the job they did regrouping and getting guys to lock back in. It speaks to what they have been doing all year, and just bringing our team together.”

Teat is just one of four players who have been with the Atlas since 2021 (along with Baptiste, Logan and Michael Rexrode), and he’s seen heavy turnover within the team in his five seasons.

He credits his personal success to how resilient his teammates were throughout the season, regardless of the previous game’s outcome. They were always hungry for more.

“In any professional sport, along your journey, you’re gonna lose a lot more than you’re going to win,” Teat said. “It can be tough at times, but I think at the same time, when you have a resilient group and a group that you want to be around makes it super easy. … I think when you give your 100% every single time, it makes it full circle.”