NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle #461, for Sunday, December 28, 2025, groups its 16 words around soccer statistics, punt-play roles, people named Sam, and types of coach. Use the hints below to try the categories before opening the full answer list.
Hints for Connections: Sports Edition #461
These clues progress from broad prompts to the category labels. Stop at the level you need to avoid seeing more than you want.
- Yellow: “Fútbol facts.”
- Green: “Time to kick.”
- Blue: “Same first name.”
- Purple: “Directs the team.”
Category labels
- Yellow: SOCCER STATISTIC
- Green: ROLES ON A PUNT PLAY
- Blue: SAMS
- Purple: ____ COACH
Answers for December 28, 2025
Here are all four groups for puzzle #461:
- 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
How to play Connections: Sports Edition
The daily puzzle presents 16 words to sort into four groups of four that share a connection. The game is associated with The Athletic and can be played in a web browser or on a mobile device. The guides identifying this puzzle do not establish that a paid subscription is required.
Quick Recap
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Rank #4
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- Height: 9.75in / 24.5cm, Width: 6.75in / 17cm
- By Barbara Ireland
- Paperback
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- By Reuel Golden
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#1 Best Overall
- Height: 9.5in / 24cm, Width: 6.75in / 17cm
- By Barbara Ireland
- Paperback
- 669 pages
- Imprint: Taschen
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