Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle features a diverse range of categories. The purple category is tricky, as always. 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: Person who directs the team does this.

Green group hint: Often costumed.

Blue group hint: Former QB.

Purple group hint: The same word, separated by a two-letter preposition.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Coach.

Green group: NFL mascots.

Blue group:  Associated with Matt Ryan.

Purple group: ____ -to- ____.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is coach.

The four answers are drill, instruct, school and teach.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is NFL mascots.

The four answers are Blue, Jaxson De Ville, Sourdough Sam and Swoop.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with Matt Ryan.

The four answers are 2, BC, Falcons and Matty Ice.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ -to- ____.

The four answers are back, day, man and toe.

Toughest Connections puzzles

We’ve made a note of some of the toughest Connections puzzles​ so far. Maybe they’ll help you see patterns in future puzzles.

#5: Included “things you can set,” such as mood, record, table and volleyball.

#4: Included “one in a dozen,” such as egg, juror, month and rose.

#3: Included “streets on screen,” such as Elm, Fear, Jump and Sesame.

#2: Included “power ___” such as nap, plant, Ranger and trip.

#1: Included “things that can run,” such as candidate, faucet, mascara and nose.

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.

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