Sports Connections Hints: Jan 18, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jan 18, 2026 (2026-01-18). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #690

Puzzle #690 · 2026-01-18 · 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 #690 for 2026-01-18, 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: BIG TEN TEAMS, LAST FOUR SUPER BOWL-LOSING QBS, HOME CITIES OF NFL TEAMS 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.

BIG TEN TEAMS
LAST FOUR SUPER BOWL-LOSING QBS
HOME CITIES OF NFL TEAMS
ATHLETES WITH MUSICAL SURNAMES

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.

BIG TEN TEAMS

WISCONSIN

PURDUE

PENN STATE

WASHINGTON

LAST FOUR SUPER BOWL-LOSING QBS

PURDY

HURTS

MAHOMES

BURROW

HOME CITIES OF NFL TEAMS

SANTA CLARA

ORCHARD PARK

ARLINGTON

FOXBORO

ATHLETES WITH MUSICAL SURNAMES

JARED VERSE

MADISON KEYS

STEVE SAX

JAYCEE HORN

Reveal full answer

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