Leaders in the pits (MLS/NFL) crossword clue
11 Down · WSJ Crossword, September 1, 2026 · 10 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Leaders in the pits (MLS/NFL)” is CREWCHIEFS. It appears as 11 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of September 1, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle titled “Double Team” by Joe Rodini, and it fills 10 squares running top to bottom from row 1, column 13 of the 15×15 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with C and ends with S, and contains 3 vowels and 7 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable with light wordplay, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
CREWCHIEFS has not appeared as an answer in any other WSJ puzzle in our index, which runs from May 2026 onward. It will be listed here the next time it turns up.