NYT Connections Sports Edition #461: Hints and Answers for Dec 28, 2025

Are you a sports trivia master? Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition might put that title to the test. The latest daily puzzle, powered by The Athletic, is here to challenge your knowledge across the pitch, the gridiron, and the front office.

How the Game Works

Each puzzle features 16 words grouped into four secret categories. Players have four chances to make mistakes before it's game over. Like its predecessor, the difficulty scales from yellow (easiest) to green, blue, and the notoriously tricky purple. It's not just about what you know; it's about seeing the patterns others miss.

Clues for Today’s Puzzle

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If you're stuck on Edition #461, here are some nudges. Think about basic soccer metrics for the yellow group. For green, shift your focus to special teams in American football. The blue group requires identifying famous figures who share a first name, and purple looks for prefixes to the word 'Coach'.

The Final Solution

• Soccer Statistic: ASSIST, GOAL, SAVE, SHOT
• Roles on a Punt Play: GUNNER, LONG SNAPPER, PUNTER, RETURNER
• Sams: COFFEY, DARNOLD, KERR, PRESTI
• ____Coach: ASSISTANT, BENCH, HEAD, PITCHING