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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is a fun one, especially if you like player nicknames. If you're struggling 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 show up in the NYT Games app but appears 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 tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Footballer.
Green group hint: National pastime info.
Blue group hint: Not small.
Purple group hint: Same last name.
Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: An AFC North player
Green group: Baseball stats, abbreviated.
Blue group: "Big" athlete nicknames.
Purple group: ____ Ward
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 Oct. 21, 2025.
NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's Connections
The theme is an A.F.C. North player. The four answers are Bengal, Brown, Raven and Steeler.
The green words in today's Connections
The theme is baseball stats, abbreviated. The four answers are BB, ERA, SO and WHIP.
The blue words in today's Connections
The theme is "Big" athlete nicknames. The four answers are Aristotle, Dumper, Mac and Papi.
The purple words in today's Connections
The theme is ____ Ward. The four answers are Cam, Charlie, Denzel and Hines.
English (US) ·