Sports Connections Hints: Jan 22, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jan 22, 2026 (2026-01-22). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #694

Puzzle #694 · 2026-01-22 · 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 #694 for 2026-01-22, 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: AN ENERGETIC PERSON, HEAD COACHES WHO WON A SUPER BOWL, FORMER ESPN SHOWS 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.

AN ENERGETIC PERSON
HEAD COACHES WHO WON A SUPER BOWL
FORMER ESPN SHOWS
ENDS IN AN NBA TEAM, IN SINGULAR FORM

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.

AN ENERGETIC PERSON

DYNAMO

SPARK PLUG

FIREBALL

GO-GETTER

HEAD COACHES WHO WON A SUPER BOWL

JOHN MADDEN

SEAN PAYTON

DON SHULA

MIKE TOMLIN

FORMER ESPN SHOWS

AROUND THE HORN

STUMP THE SCHWAB

DREAM JOB

PLAYMAKERS

ENDS IN AN NBA TEAM, IN SINGULAR FORM

TONY HAWK

EMPTY NET

THE YANKEE CLIPPER

JOE BUCK

Reveal full answer

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