Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition (Puzzle #491) for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, requires a mix of gym knowledge, football career trivia, and a keen eye for hockey design. The Purple category is particularly visual today, testing your memory of NHL team logos rather than just stats or player names.
Whether you are stuck on the weightlifting terms or trying to recall every team Aaron Rodgers has been linked to, we have the full breakdown below.
Difficulty Level
Today’s puzzle is Moderate to Hard.
- Yellow & Green: Fairly standard vocabulary and gym terms.
- Blue: Requires specific knowledge of a single NFL player’s career history.
- Purple: A visual trivia category that asks you to mentally picture logos.
Hints for Today’s Groups
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here are the themes for each color-coded group:
- Yellow Group Hint: What happens to an athlete in the 4th quarter or late rounds. (Synonyms for getting tired).
- Green Group Hint: Exercises you would do on “leg day” or “chest day.”
- Blue Group Hint: Teams (college and pro) that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has played for or is associated with.
- Purple Group Hint: Specific objects or shapes found inside famous hockey team crests.
Spoilers Below!
Warning: The sections below contain the direct answers for today’s puzzle.
Yellow Group Answer
Theme: Grow Exhausted
- FADE
- FATIGUE
- TIRE
- WEAKEN
Green Group Answer
Theme: Weight Exercises
- BENCH
- CURL
- DEADLIFT
- SQUAT
Blue Group Answer
Theme: Aaron Rodgers Teams
- CALIFORNIA (Golden Bears – College)
- GREEN BAY (Packers)
- NEW YORK (Jets)
- PITTSBURGH (Wait… did he play there? Or is there another connection? Editor’s Note: This might be a tricky one involving locations or perhaps a specific “Pittsburgh” connection fans know well.)
Purple Group Answer
Theme: Found in NHL Team Logos
- LONG ISLAND (Islanders)
- MUSICAL NOTE (St. Louis Blues)
- OIL DROP (Edmonton Oilers)
- WHEEL (Detroit Red Wings)
Puzzle Analysis
The Green group (“Weight Exercises”) is a great starting point for gym-goers, with “Bench,” “Squat,” and “Deadlift” being the “Big 3” of powerlifting.
The Purple group is the real challenge. You have to visualize the St. Louis Blues logo (the Blue Note), the Edmonton Oilers logo (the oil drop), the Detroit Red Wings logo (the winged wheel), and the NY Islanders (Long Island map). That is a tough visual quiz!
How to Play Connections: Sports Edition
If you are new to the daily challenge, here is the breakdown:
- Grid: You start with 16 sports-related terms.
- Goal: Group them into four sets of four words that share a common theme.
- Mistakes: You have four lives.
- Colors:
- Yellow: Easiest
- Green: Medium
- Blue: Hard
- Purple: Tricky/Abstract
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the answer to the Purple group in Sports Connections today?
The Purple group answers are LONG ISLAND, MUSICAL NOTE, OIL DROP, and WHEEL. The theme is “Found in NHL Team Logos.”
Where can I play the Sports Edition?
You can play it on The Athletic app or website.
When does the puzzle reset?
The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.
