Sports Connections Hints: Dec 31, 2024

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Dec 31, 2024 (2024-12-31). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #280

Puzzle #280 · 2024-12-31 · sports

Step through today’s Connections hints

Start with broad themes, then reveal more detail about the groups and tiles only when you need it. The final button shows today's full group breakdown.

Puzzle reference: Connections #280 for 2024-12-31, edition sports, with a standard four-group board. Spoiler categories and tiles stay collapsed until you open the hint layers below.

Hint 1 – overall theme

There are 4 groups in today’s puzzle.

Themes include: INCREASE A LEAD, HOCKEY MOVIES, HALL OF FAME QBS and 1 more.

Hint 2 – group titles

Here are the category names for each group. Try matching the tiles in the official game to these themes before you reveal any tiles.

INCREASE A LEAD
HOCKEY MOVIES
HALL OF FAME QBS
FIRST 4 LETTERS OF SEC NICKNAMES

Hint 3 – group tiles

Reveal the tiles for each group. If you only want a partial nudge, stop after reading one or two groups and go back to the official puzzle.

INCREASE A LEAD

BALLOON

EXTEND

GROW

SWELL

HOCKEY MOVIES

GOON

MIRACLE

SLAP SHOT

THE MIGHTY DUCKS

HALL OF FAME QBS

MANNING

MOON

TITTLE

UNITAS

FIRST 4 LETTERS OF SEC NICKNAMES

BULL

GAME

LONG

SOON

Reveal full answer

This is the full breakdown of today's Connections puzzle: group titles and all tiles, grouped together.