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Today's Connections: Sports Edition features a mix of difficulties. I actually thought the blue category was the easiest today. If you're struggling with today's puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn't appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic's own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the toughest (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Fútbol facts.

Green group hint: Time to kick.

Blue group hint: Same first name.

Purple group hint: Directs the team.

Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Soccer statistic.

Green group: Roles on a punt play.

Blue group: Sams.

Purple group: ____ coach.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Dec. 28, 2025.

NYT/Screenshot by CNET

The yellow words in today's Connections

The theme is soccer statistic. The four answers are assist, goal, save and shot.

The green words in today's Connections

The theme is roles on a punt play. The four answers are gunner, long snapper, punter and returner.

The blue words in today's Connections

The theme is Sams. The four answers are Coffey, Darnold, Kerr and Presti.

The purple words in today's Connections