Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle assumes you’re pretty familiar with sports TV shows. Also, a category involving last names of players could trip you up, since they all have regular meanings. If you’re struggling with the puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group hint: They work for the team.

Green group hint: They carry the ball.

Blue group hint: Teams on TV.

Purple group hint: Don’t do that!

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Members of a staff.

Green group: NFL running backs.

Blue group: Sports TV shows.

Purple group: Illegal ____ penalties in football.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is members of a staff.

The four answers are coach, scout, trainer and video coordinator.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is NFL running backs.

The four answers are Cook, Hall, Swift and Walker.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is sports TV shows.

The four answers are Cobra Kai, Friday Night Lights, Heated Rivalry and Running Point.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is illegal ____ penalties in football.

The four answers are blindside block, formation, forward pass and shift.

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

See full bio