Sports

For each sport, learn the objective and rules before its competitions, records, teams, and athletes. Establish the Olympic framework, then study related sports together; extensive player and team detail follows the basic game.

Sport and the Olympic Games

Learn the organization of competition before Olympic history and athletes.

Sport and Competition

• sports — Sports are competitive physical activities studied by sociologists such as Norbert Elias, Eric Dunning, and Pierre Bourdieu. Questions about them often mention the civilizing process, deep play, and the social structure of games from cricket to basketball. They also include formalized school and Olympic competitions.

The Olympic Games

Ancient and Modern Origins

• Ancient Olympics — held at Olympia, Greece, traditionally dated to 776 BCE; dedicated to Zeus. Events included foot races, wrestling, chariot racing, and the pentathlon. Abolished by Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 393 CE.

• Pierre de Coubertin — French educator who revived the Olympics as a modern international competition; founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

• First modern Olympics — Athens, 1896; 14 nations, approximately 241 male athletes, 43 events. James Connolly (USA) won the triple jump — first modern Olympic champion.

• IOC — the governing body; awards host city rights; oversees the Olympic Charter. It was founded in Lausanne by Pierre de Coubertin and has faced scandals over bribery, bidding, and athlete eligibility.
  • Avery Brundage — Avery Brundage was an American Olympic official who served as IOC president from 1952 to 1972. He was the first American to hold the office and is remembered as an opponent of commercialization in the Games.

• Summer vs Winter Games — Summer Olympics held every four years; Winter Olympics also every four years, offset by two years from Summer. Both cycles have continued uninterrupted except for World War II cancellations (1916, 1940, 1944).

• Olympic motto — Citius, Altius, Fortius (“Faster, Higher, Stronger”); “Communiter” (Together) added in 2021.

• Olympic rings — five interlocking rings in blue, yellow, black, green, red on a white background; represent the five continents of the world’s participating nations.

• Olympism — Coubertin’s philosophy linking sport to education, culture, and international peace.

• Panhellenic Games — the broader cycle of ancient Greek competitions, including the Olympics, the Pythian Games at Delphi, the Isthmian Games, and the Nemean Games; together they structured the Greek athletic calendar.

• Amateurism rule — the original modern Olympics restricted competition to amateurs; the IOC gradually relaxed this through the 1980s–1990s, and most events now allow professional athletes.

• Olympic torch relay — introduced at the 1936 Berlin Games; the flame is lit at Olympia, Greece, and carried by relay runners to the host city for the opening ceremony.

• Olympic movement

  • Baron Pierre de Coubertin — Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the French aristocrat who founded the modern Olympic Games. He promoted athletic competition as moral education and helped organize the international effort that revived the Games in the 1890s.

  • Jacques Rogge — Jacques Rogge is a Belgian orthopedic surgeon and former yachtsman who became president of the International Olympic Committee. Before that role, he competed in multiple Olympic Games and played rugby for Belgium.

  • Juan Antonio Samaranch — Juan Antonio Samaranch was a long-serving president of the International Olympic Committee. He is associated with major Olympic diplomacy and with controversies over gifts from the Salt Lake City organizing committee.

• Olympic organizers
  • Frank Joklik — Frank Joklik was the president of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. He resigned in the wake of the Salt Lake Olympic scandal.
• Olympic symbols
  • Heart of Pierre de Coubertin — The heart of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, was removed after his death and buried at Olympia. It is treated as a symbolic relic of the Olympic movement.
• Ancient Greek athletic festivals
  • Isthmian Games — The Isthmian Games were the Panhellenic athletic games held near Corinth and dedicated to Poseidon. They were one of the four major Greek festival games, along with the Olympic, Pythian, and Nemean Games.

Notable Modern Olympics

• 1936 Berlin — Jesse Owens (USA) won four gold medals in sprint and long jump events, directly contradicting Nazi racial ideology in front of Hitler.

• 1968 Mexico City — Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists on the medal stand in a Black Power salute; both were expelled from the Olympic Village.

• 1972 Munich — eleven Israeli athletes and coaches taken hostage and killed by Palestinian militant group Black September; the Games continued after a memorial service.

• 1980 Moscow / 1984 Los Angeles — reciprocal boycotts by the USA (1980) and the USSR-led bloc (1984) during the Cold War.

• 1992 Barcelona — the “Dream Team” (USA men’s basketball) debuted, featuring Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

• 1996 Atlanta — the first Summer Olympics held in the United States since 1984; Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony.

• 2008 Beijing — Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in a single Games, breaking Mark Spitz’s single-Games record of seven.

• Doping and the WADA Code — the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was founded in 1999 following widespread EPO doping scandals in cycling; the WADA Code governs Olympic drug testing.

• Ben Johnson — Canadian sprinter who won the 100m at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in a world-record time of 9.79s, then was stripped of the gold and the record after testing positive for stanozolol; Carl Lewis was awarded the gold.

• Winter Olympics — first held separately in Chamonix, France, in 1924; key events include alpine skiing, ski jumping, biathlon, speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey, bobsled, and curling.

  • 1994 Winter Olympics — The 1994 Winter Olympics were held in Lillehammer, Norway, and were the first Winter Games held in a separate year from the Summer Olympics. They are remembered for Nancy Kerrigan, Johann Olav Koss, Dan Jansen, and the Swedish men’s hockey team’s gold medal.

  • 2018 Winter Olympics — The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and were marked by debates over Russian doping and a flashy high-tech presentation. They also featured the Garlic Girls, the Dream Program connection, and extensive use of the Olympics as a diplomatic and media spectacle.

  • Chamonix — The 1924 Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France, and were the first Winter Olympics. They are remembered for Charles Jewtraw’s 500-meter speed skating win, Canada’s dominant hockey run, and the scoring error that denied Anders Haugen a bronze for decades.

• Interval training
  • Fartlek — Fartlek is a form of interval training, especially used in distance running. The Swedish term means “speed play” and alternates jogging with faster bursts such as sprints.
• athlete protest symbols
  • raising a fist — Raising a fist became the most famous symbol of the Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, when Tommie Smith and John Carlos protested on the medal stand. The gesture has since been repeated in later athlete protests, including by Bruce Maxwell.
• Olympic protests
  • Black Power salute — The Black Power salute is the raised-fist gesture Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed on the 1968 Olympic medal podium. It became a lasting symbol of Black protest and militant civil rights politics.
• Olympics
  • boycott
    • Boycotting the Summer Olympics — Boycotting the Summer Olympics means refusing to participate in the Games for political reasons. It is most associated with the 1976, 1980, and 1984 boycotts, including the U.S.-led response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
  • medal table
    • South Korea and Japan — South Korea finished second and Japan finished third in total medals, with the order explicitly asked for in the source.
  • 2008 Summer Olympics — The 2008 Summer Olympics were held in Beijing, China, and were marketed with the slogan “One World, One Dream.” They are also remembered for Michael Phelps’s medal haul, extensive pollution controls, and heavy security preparations.
• Olympic teams
  • Unified Team — The Unified Team was the Olympic team of athletes from the former Soviet republics competing together after the USSR’s collapse. At Barcelona in 1992, it won the women’s gymnastics all-around gold.
• Olympic mascots
  • Izzy — Izzy was the blue mascot of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Also called Izzy the Whatizit or simply Whatizit, the character had an eccentric design with lightning-bolt eyebrows and appeared in several related games and media. It was one of the recurring Olympic mascots that followed Waldi and Cobi.
• Athens 2004 Summer Olympics
  • Organizers
    • Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki — Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki is a Greek organizer and business figure best known for leading the Athens 2004 Olympic preparations. She became chair of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee in 2000 and was credited with helping make the Games succeed.
• 1998 Winter Olympics
  • Snowlets — The Snowlets were the mascots of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. They were four environmentally themed figures created by Landor Associates.
• Action sports
  • skateboarding — Skateboarding is the board sport associated with Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Dogtown, and the 900. Clues often mention Thrasher magazine, skate parks, vert and street styles, or the sport’s addition to the Tokyo Olympics.

    • fakie — Fakie is a skateboarding term for riding backward or with the non-dominant foot forward. It is also used in skating contexts for the same backward-riding stance.

    • Skateboard — A skateboard is a wheeled board used in games and sports, especially for tricks and travel in skateboarding titles and action games. The object is associated with the Tony Hawk series and with several retro video-game appearances, including some side-scrolling and arcade titles.

    • tricks

      • McTwist — The McTwist is a 540-degree aerial skateboarding or inline-skating maneuver performed off a ramp. It is named after Mike McGill, who pioneered the trick in Sweden in 1984.

      • ollie — An ollie is the basic skateboarding trick in which the board and rider jump into the air together without using the hands. It was first developed by Alan Gelfand on vert ramps and later adapted into flatground form by Rodney Mullen. Variations such as switch, fakie, and boned are named from this foundational move, which is performed by snapping the tail and sliding the front foot up the board.

    • vert skater
      • Bob Burnquist — Bob Burnquist is a Brazilian skateboarder known for his record-setting vert runs and long career in the Tony Hawk video games. His signature one-footed Smith grind and Grand Canyon stunt appearances are among his best-known feats.
    • Vert skating
      • Steve Caballero — Steve Caballero is a skateboarder known for vert and street skating, including the Caballerial trick named after him. He was a small rider famous for huge airs on the halfpipe and for winning both street and vert titles at the 1987 World Championships.
• Ancient sports
  • chariot racing — A wildly popular ancient spectator sport in Rome and Byzantium, centered at venues such as the Circus Maximus and the Hippodrome of Constantinople. It was associated with the Blues and Greens, produced famous drivers such as Gaius Appuleius Diocles, who became extraordinarily wealthy through the sport, and its Blue and Green faction rivalries helped spark the Nika Riots.
    • chariot races — Chariot races were a major spectacle of ancient Rome and Byzantium, held in places like the Circus Maximus and the Hippodrome. Drivers raced bigae and quadrigae around the track, and the sport was tied to the famous Blue and Green factions.

• equestrian — Equestrian sport is Olympic horse riding, with its main disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping. The clues point to competitive riding on horseback, including Olympic and Paralympic competition.

• Multi-sport events

  • Goodwill Games — The Goodwill Games were Ted Turner’s international multi-sport competition, created after the Olympic boycotts of the 1980s. They began in Moscow in 1986 and later were held in Seattle, St. Petersburg, and New York City before being cancelled.

  • Pan-American Games — The Pan-American Games are the quadrennial multi-sport competition for countries of the Western Hemisphere, first held in Buenos Aires after World War II delayed the inaugural event. Later host cities mentioned for the event include Santo Domingo, Winnipeg, and Mar del Plata.

• Multisport events

  • Commonwealth Games — The Commonwealth Games are a quadrennial multisport competition for nations connected to the former British Empire. Originally called the British Empire Games, they were first held in 1930 and include sports such as athletics, aquatics, netball, and lawn bowls.

  • triathlon — Triathlon is an endurance sport combining swimming, cycling, and running in sequence. It appears in Olympic and collegiate contexts, and Ironman is the best-known long-distance variant.

    • championships
      • The Ironman Triathlon World Championship — This endurance event combines swimming, long-distance cycling, and a marathon, and its annual final is held in Hawaii. It is regarded as one of the toughest tests of human endurance. Peter Reid won one of its Hawaii finals, while Bill Bell tried to set records in 2002 and missed the cutoff time.
• Olympic Games — The Olympic Games are the quadrennial international athletic contests revived in the modern era by Pierre de Coubertin and first held in Athens in 1896. They descend from the ancient Panhellenic games and are associated with the ancient truce, the stadion and pankration, and the first modern marathon won by Spyridon Louis. The opening ceremony is known for pageantry and torch lighting. Notable Games mentioned in this context include Berlin 1936, where Jesse Owens triumphed, Munich 1972, marked by the Munich massacre carried out by Black September, and later Games such as Mexico City 1968, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Tokyo.

  • 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics — The 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics were held in Berlin, Nazi Germany, under Hitler and were heavily politicized by Nazi propaganda. They featured the first Olympic torch relay and became famous for Jesse Owens’s four gold medals, which undermined Nazi racial propaganda. Avery Brundage rejected a boycott, and Leni Riefenstahl made a propaganda film about the Games.

  • 1968 Summer Olympics — The 1968 Summer Olympics were held in Mexico City, Mexico. They are remembered for the Black Power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the Fosbury Flop, and Vera Čáslavská’s silent protest. The Games took place shortly after the Tlatelolco massacre and are associated with the venue’s high-altitude setting.

  • 1980 Summer Olympics — The 1980 Summer Olympics, held in Moscow, were heavily affected by the American-led boycott. The event is also remembered for the Polish high jumper Władysław Kozakiewicz’s obscene gesture toward the crowd.

  • 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics — The 1984 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles and became famous for the Soviet-led boycott and for turning a profit under organizer Peter Ueberroth. They are also associated with the McDonald’s medal promotion loss and with being the last Olympic Games held on the American West Coast.

  • 1984 Olympics — The Los Angeles Olympics of 1984 are remembered for the Soviet bloc boycott, Mary Lou Retton’s gymnastics triumph, and the Zola Budd and Mary Decker collision. Peter Ueberroth helped make the event profitable, and John Williams composed its fanfare and theme.

  • 1992 Summer Olympics — The 1992 Summer Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain, and are famous for the U.S. Dream Team. They also featured a major urban renewal push and the first Games in which NBA players were allowed to compete.

  • 1996 Summer Olympics — The 1996 Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta and are remembered for the Centennial Park bombing, Kerri Strug’s vault, and the opening ceremony cameo by Muhammad Ali. The event’s mascot Izzy was widely mocked, and the games were tied to major downtown redevelopment around Centennial Park. The Atlanta Games also drew attention for sponsor drama, including the American Express and Visa dispute, and for controversial urban cleanup efforts such as Project Homeward Bound.

  • 2000 Summer Olympics — The 2000 Summer Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia, and are especially remembered for the debut of women’s water polo as an official Olympic sport. The Australian women won the inaugural gold medal in that event, edging the United States in the final.

  • 2004 Summer Olympics — The 2004 Athens Olympics were the Summer Games held in Greece, and they required unusually heavy security because of terrorism concerns. Their opening and promotion were associated with the slogan and imagery of “One World, One Dream,” along with references to the buildup to the Beijing Games in later materials.

  • 2012 Summer Olympics — The 2012 Summer Olympics were held in London and opened with Danny Boyle’s “Isles of Wonder” ceremony. Clues often mention Mandeville, Chariots of Fire, the Queen and James Bond cameo, and venues such as Wembley and the London Aquatics Centre.

  • Ancient Olympic Games — The ancient Olympic Games were the Panhellenic athletic festival held every four years at Olympia in honor of Zeus. Their traditions included the ekecheiria truce, olive wreath prizes, and events such as the stadion, diaulos, dolichos, javelin, discus, and pentathlon.

  • boycotts
    • Boycotting the Olympic Games — Boycotting the Olympic Games is the political act of refusing to send athletes to the quadrennial sporting event. Major examples include the 1956 protests over Hungary, the 1976 African boycott over New Zealand’s rugby tour, and the U.S.-led 1980 boycott answered by the Soviet bloc in 1984.

  • Montreal 1976 — The 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal. Those Games were boycotted by many African nations after New Zealand’s rugby tour of South Africa.

  • organizers
    • Peter Ueberroth — Peter Ueberroth is best known for organizing the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and later serving as Major League Baseball commissioner. He also ran a short-lived political campaign in California and was named Time’s Man of the Year in 1984.

  • Rome, 1960 — The 1960 Summer Olympics were held in Rome. They are remembered for events including Cassius Clay’s gold medal in boxing and for being one of the most celebrated postwar Olympic Games.

  • Torches
    • Olympic torch — The ceremonial fire carried from Olympia to the host city for the Olympic Games; it is lit for the Games and transported in the torch relay. The relay has crossed multiple continents, and the torch has appeared in specially designed forms at different Olympic hosts.
  • Host cities
    • Barcelona and Albertville — Barcelona and Albertville were the selected host cities for the 1992 Summer and Winter Olympics, respectively.
• Olympic water polo matches
  • Blood in the Water” match — The “Blood in the Water” match was the notorious 1956 Olympic water polo game between Hungary and the Soviet Union in Melbourne. Its name comes from the violence of the contest, including the blow that left Ervin Zádor bleeding from the eye.

Legendary Olympians

• Jesse Owens — four gold medals, Berlin 1936 (100m, 200m, 4×100m relay, long jump); also set multiple world records at a single Big Ten meet in 1935. James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens was an African-American track star whose victories were widely seen as a rebuke to Nazi racial ideology. He also had a celebrated long jump rivalry with Luz Long.

• Larisa Latynina — Soviet gymnast; held the record for most Olympic medals (18) for decades.

• Mark Spitz — won seven gold medals at Munich 1972 (all in swimming, all in world-record times). An American swimmer, he set the Olympic record for gold medals in a single Games.

• Nadia Comaneci — Romanian gymnast; first to score a perfect 10 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. She earned the first perfect 10.00 in Olympic gymnastics on the uneven bars, won three individual gold medals at Montreal, and later wrote Letters to a Young Gymnast and married Bart Conner.

• Carl Lewis — nine gold medals across four Olympics (1984–1996) in sprints and long jump. He was named Sports Illustrated’s Olympian of the Century and benefited from Ben Johnson’s disqualification for the 1988 100 meters.

• Michael Phelps — most decorated Olympian in history: 23 gold medals, 28 total medals across 2000–2016 Olympics. He is an American swimmer. He won six gold medals in Athens and eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, including the 4x100 medley relay that gave him his eighth gold there; he also had the 2008 100-meter butterfly finish decided by one-hundredth of a second. He trained with Club Wolverine while at Michigan.

• Usain Bolt — Jamaican sprinter; won 100m, 200m, and 4×100m relay at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, 2016); 100m world record 9.58s and 200m world record 19.19s, both set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. He is also nicknamed “The Lightning Bolt.”

• Simone Biles — American gymnast; most decorated World Championship gymnast; multiple Olympic golds (2016, 2024). She is the most decorated American gymnast, with multiple elements named after her in competition. Her 2016 Rio performance and later world championship success made her one of the dominant figures in the sport.

• Paavo Nurmi — Finnish long-distance runner known as the “Flying Finn”; won nine Olympic gold medals in the 1920s; set 22 world records. At the 1924 Olympics he won five gold medals, including the 1500 meters and several cross-country events, a record haul for a single track-and-field athlete at one Games. He competed in 12 Olympic races and won nine medals overall.

• Emil Zátopek — Czech distance runner; won the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics — the only athlete ever to win all three in a single Games.

• Fanny Blankers-Koen — Dutch sprinter dubbed the “Flying Housewife”; won four gold medals at the 1948 London Olympics.

• Al Oerter — American discus thrower; won four consecutive Olympic gold medals (1956–1968), setting an Olympic record each time.

• athletes — Athletes are people who compete in sports such as running, throwing, and golf, and who may develop performance anxiety or the yips. They are a common subject of classical sculpture, from Myron’s Discobolus to Polykleitos’s Diadumenos and Lysippos’s Apoxyomenos, and they also appear in literature about runners, long-distance competitors, and young men whose talents and deaths inspire elegiac poems. The clues also point to training, focal dystonia, and expert performance research associated with figures like Dan McLaughlin and Yannis Pitsiladis.

  • Cathy Freeman — Cathy Freeman is the Australian Aboriginal athlete who lit the cauldron at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and won gold in the women’s 400 meters. She also received the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award.

  • Gal Fridman — Gal Fridman is an Israeli windsurfer and Israel’s only Olympic gold medalist. He won gold in the Mistral One Design class and later coached other Israeli windsurfers, including Nimrod Mashiah.

  • Magnús Ver Magnússon — This Icelandic strongman won World’s Strongest Man four times and later served as a referee for the competition. He has set major squat and deadlift marks and was featured in a Coors Light commercial.

  • Mildred Ella Didrikson Zaharias — Mildred Ella Didrikson Zaharias, better known as Babe Zaharias, was an American athlete from Port Arthur, Texas who first made her name in track and field. She won two gold medals at the 1932 Olympics and later became a golf champion; her life was later dramatized in a film starring Susan Clark.

  • Nikolai Andrianov — Nikolai Andrianov was a Soviet gymnast who won 15 Olympic medals, placing him among the most decorated Olympians in history. His medal haul included a standout performance at the 1976 Olympics.

  • Peggy Fleming — Peggy Fleming is the American figure skater who won gold at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics. She was also a world champion in the late 1960s and later worked as a commentator.

  • Shawn Johnson — Shawn Johnson is the American gymnast who won silver in the 2008 Olympic individual all-around and gold on balance beam. She later won the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars.

  • Shizuka Arakawa — Shizuka Arakawa is the Japanese figure skater who won the gold medal in women’s singles at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Her victory gave Japan its first Olympic gold in figure skating, and she edged Sasha Cohen for the title.

  • Silken Laumann — Silken Laumann is a Canadian rower who won Olympic bronze medals, including one at Barcelona. She competed after a severe pre-Games leg injury from a collision that left her with shredded muscles and broken bones.

  • Tony Hawk — Tony Hawk is a skateboarder who became famous for landing the first documented 900 at the 1999 X Games. He built a brand around skateboarding companies, endorsements, and video games, and was the namesake of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series and related titles such as Underground and American Wasteland.

  • Vasily Alexeyev — Vasily Alexeyev was a celebrated Soviet weightlifter nicknamed the Russian Bear. He is widely remembered as one of the sport’s most famous figures.

• Olympic high jumpers
  • Alice Coachman — Alice Coachman was an American high jumper who won Olympic gold in 1948. She became the first American woman of African-American descent to win an Olympic gold medal.

• Spyridon Louis — Spyridon Louis won the marathon at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. A Greek shepherd and water carrier, he became a national hero and a symbol of the modern marathon.

• Tommie Smith — American sprinter who won the 200-meter dash at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the first sub-20-second time. He is best known for the Black Power salute on the medal stand with John Carlos during the medal ceremony, after which both athletes were banned from future Olympic competition.

Teams, Athletes, and Further Competition History

• Modern pentathlon — Modern pentathlon is the Olympic event inspired by the skills of a 19th-century soldier, combining fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, and shooting with running. Its format was revised into a one-day competition, and it has occasionally been the site of cheating controversies.

• Olympic sports
  • organizations
    • United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee — The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee is the American body that sends athletes to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was involved in disputes over the use of Olympic branding, including objections to the naming of the Ravellenic Games.
• Paralympic Games — The international athletic competitions for athletes with disabilities, developed from Ludwig Guttmann’s Stoke Mandeville games. They are held in the Olympic cycle, after the Olympics, and include Summer editions with dozens of events for thousands of competitors such as goalball.

Track, Gymnastics, Aquatic, and Strength Sports

Distinguish individual sports by events, rules, and scoring.

Track and Field

• Marathon (modern) — 42.195 km (26.219 miles); the distance is traced to the 1908 London Olympics where the course was extended to end in front of the royal box; the event is named for the legendary Greek messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens.

Key Events and Records

• Sprint distances — 100m, 200m, 400m are the core sprints; 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles are also major events.

• Distance events — 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m, and marathon (42.195 km / 26.2 miles).

• Field events — high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hammer, javelin.

• Decathlon / Heptathlon — multi-event competitions across 10 events (men, two days) and 7 events (women, two days); the winner is informally named “World’s Greatest Athlete.”

• World Athletics (formerly IAAF) — the governing body for track and field.

• Eliud Kipchoge — Kenyan marathon runner; multiple World Marathon Majors titles; broke the two-hour marathon barrier in a controlled time trial (“Ineos 1:59 Challenge,” 2019, not an official world record due to conditions); holds the official marathon world record. He has been coached by Patrick Sang for most of his career and is also noted for his major marathon victories and sub-two-hour time-trial performances, which made him one of the sport’s defining distance runners.

• Roger Bannister — ran the first sub-4-minute mile on May 6, 1954, in Oxford (3:59.4). He was a medical student at Oxford and later a neurologist. He later repeated the feat in the celebrated “Miracle Mile” race against John Landy, and also competed in the 1500 meters at the Helsinki Olympics.

• Flo-Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner) — holds world records in the 100m (10.49s) and 200m (21.34s) set in 1988; records remain unbroken.

• Boston Marathon — the oldest annual marathon in the world (since 1897); part of the World Marathon Majors; the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing killed three spectators and injured hundreds. It is run annually in Massachusetts on Patriots’ Day and finishes in Boston, traditionally on Boylston Street/Copley Square. Its history includes Bobbi Gibb as the first woman to complete it, Kathrine Switzer’s run, Rosie Ruiz’s cheating scandal, and the Newton Hills’ famous Heartbreak Hill.

• Sprinters

  • Donovan Bailey — Donovan Bailey is the Jamaican-born Canadian sprinter who won the 100 meters at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and held the world record at 9.84 seconds. His victory made him one of the best-known men’s sprinters of the 1990s, and he later lost records and major finals to rivals such as Maurice Greene and Usain Bolt.

  • Linford Christie — British sprinter who won Olympic gold in the men’s 100 meters at Barcelona in 1992. He was later entangled in a doping scandal that tarnished his reputation, though he was cleared by a disciplinary committee.

  • Wilma Rudolph — Wilma Rudolph was the American sprinter who overcame childhood polio to become one of the stars of Tennessee State’s Tigerbelles. At the 1960 Rome Olympics she won three gold medals, becoming the first woman to do so in a single Games. Clues often mention her discovery in Tennessee, her high school basketball background, and her refusal to take part in a segregated hometown celebration.

  • Noah Lyles — Noah Lyles is an American sprinter best known for the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints. He won Olympic gold in the 100 meters at Paris and later took bronze in the 200 meters despite dealing with COVID.

• Sprinting
  • Sprinters
    • Armin Hary — Armin Hary was a German sprinter who became the first man to run the 100 meters in 10.0 seconds in 1960.
• track and field

  • Allen Johnson — Allen Johnson was the American hurdler who won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He was also the defending champion in the event and later missed the final in a meet won by Liu Xiang.

  • batons — Batons are the sticks passed between runners in a relay race, and dropping the baton can lead to disqualification under race rules. The same word can also refer to rods used to hold curtains or scenery.

  • discus — The discus is the heavy throwing implement used in ancient Greek athletics and later track and field. Myron’s Discobolus and Polykleitos’s athlete sculpture are famous artistic treatments of the discus throw. Mythology also links the discus to Apollo, who accidentally killed Hyacinthus with one, and to heroic games in the Odyssey and the funeral games of Patroclus. In quizbowl it is usually identified as the frisbee-like object hurled in the discus throw.

  • Javier Sotomayor — Javier Sotomayor is the Cuban high jumper who set the world record and famously cleared 8 feet, a mark that made him one of the sport’s defining figures. He was later banned for cocaine use but returned to competition in 2002.

  • Combined events
    • decathlon — The decathlon is the ten-event track-and-field competition in which the winner is often treated as the world’s greatest athlete. Olympic winners mentioned in clues include Rafer Johnson, Caitlyn Jenner, and Daley Thompson.

      • Ashton Eaton — Ashton Eaton is an American decathlete and Olympic champion who set multiple world records in the event. He won gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics and had previously broken his own record at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

      • Bob Mathias — Bob Mathias was the American decathlete who won Olympic gold in 1948 and again in 1952, becoming the first man to repeat as decathlon champion. He later served in Congress and was also associated with Stanford and the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

      • Rafer Johnson — Rafer Johnson was an American decathlete who won gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics after taking silver in Melbourne in 1956. He won Olympic gold in 1960 in one of the closest finishes in the event’s history, later became the first Black athlete to carry the U.S. flag in an Olympic opening procession, and lit the Olympic flame in Los Angeles in 1984.

      • Robert Zmelik — Robert Zmelik is a Czech decathlete who won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He scored 8611 points in the event and was overshadowed in trivia by the more famous Dan and Dave hype campaign.

    • heptathlon — The heptathlon is the women’s two-day track-and-field combined event made up of seven contests. It is the female counterpart to the decathlon and is associated with athletes such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Nafissatou Thiam.

    • Jackie Joyner-Kersee — Jackie Joyner-Kersee was the dominant American heptathlete and long jumper who won Olympic gold in 1988 and 1992. She is one of the event’s greatest competitors, known for world-class marks in both the heptathlon and the long jump.

  • High jump — The high jump is the track-and-field event in which athletes clear a horizontal bar without aid. The Fosbury flop revolutionized the event and became the modern standard technique.

  • High jumpers
    • Richard Douglas Fosbury — Dick Fosbury won the 1968 Olympic gold medal in the high jump. He revolutionized the event with the back-first “Fosbury flop,” a backward, upside-down technique that made the older straddle method obsolete and became the dominant high-jump style.
  • Hurdles — Hurdles is the track and field event in which runners clear barriers over distances such as 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The event also includes a 400-meter version, which is another standard championship race.
    • 110-meter hurdles — The 110-meter hurdles is the men’s sprint hurdle race with ten barriers. Notable names linked to it include Liu Xiang, Colin Jackson, Allen Johnson, and Terrence Trammell.
  • Jumps
    • long jump — The long jump is the track and field event in which athletes sprint down a runway and leap from a takeoff board into a sand pit. It has produced famous world records from athletes such as Bob Beamon and Mike Powell, and competitors often use the hitch-kick technique in midair. It is also known as the broad jump.
      • Bob Beamon — Bob Beamon was the American long jumper whose 1968 Mexico City leap set an astonishing world record by nearly two feet. The feat is often described as one of the greatest performances in Olympic history and remained unbeaten until Mike Powell broke it in 1991.
  • Long jumpers
    • Mike Powell — Mike Powell is the American long jumper who broke Bob Beamon’s long-standing world record in 1991. His 8.95-meter leap remains one of the greatest marks in the event and came after a celebrated duel with Carl Lewis.
  • marathon runners
    • Abebe Bikila — Abebe Bikila was the Ethiopian marathon runner who won Olympic gold twice, first famously while barefoot in Rome. He later repeated as marathon champion in Tokyo, becoming one of Ethiopia’s most celebrated athletes.
  • Middle-distance runners
    • Mokgadi Caster Semenya — Mokgadi Caster Semenya is a South African middle-distance runner who won the women’s 800 meters at the 2009 World Championships. Her sex testing controversy drew international attention before she was cleared to compete as a woman.
  • Middle-distance running
    • Jim Ryun — Jim Ryun was the Kansas politician and former runner who won Olympic silver in the 1500 meters in 1968. He also set world records in the mile, 1500 meters, and 880 yards. He is a standard answer for athlete-turned-politician clues, especially those mentioning three Olympics and world-record middle-distance marks. Later clues may mention his service in Kansas’s second congressional district.
  • Olympic gold medalists
    • Ray Ewry — Ray Ewry was a dominant American track and field athlete who won eight individual Olympic gold medals. He was especially famous for the standing long jump, an event that later disappeared from the Olympic program.
  • Pole vaulters

    • Sergey Bubka — Sergey Bubka was a Ukrainian pole vaulter who first cleared the 20-foot mark and set a long-standing world record of 6.14 meters. He represented the Soviet Union before becoming a Ukrainian athlete and broke the men’s pole vault record dozens of times.

    • Sergey Nazarovich Bubka — Sergey Nazarovich Bubka was a Ukrainian pole vaulter who dominated the event for years. He won Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988 and became famous for repeatedly breaking the world record.

  • Relay teams
    • Jon Drummond, Mike Marsh, Dennis Mitchell, Tim Harden — The listed relay team members are Jon Drummond, Mike Marsh, Dennis Mitchell, and Tim Harden. They made up the U.S. men’s 4x100 meter final squad in the Summer Olympics relay race referenced in the clues.
  • runners
    • Haile Gebrselassie — Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance runner and former world-record holder. He won Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters and was a major figure in world track and marathon racing, including multiple Berlin Marathon victories.
  • Running events
    • 10,000 meters — The 10,000 meters race is the longest standard track event and the track equivalent of roughly 6.2 miles. Clues often mention Mo Farah, Paavo Nurmi, and the event’s role as the standard NCAA cross-country championship distance.
  • running milestones
    • four-minute mile — The four-minute mile is the athletic barrier for running a mile in under four minutes, famously broken by Roger Bannister in 1954. Bannister’s first verified run came with the help of Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, and John Landy soon lowered the mark further at the same track.
  • sprinter
    • Sha’carri Richardson — Sha’Carri Richardson is an American sprinter who became famous in the 100 meters and relay events. She missed the Tokyo Olympics after a marijuana-related suspension, then returned to win major international races.
  • Sprinters

    • Bob Hayes — Bob Hayes was a sprinter and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver who won Olympic gold in the 100 meters at the 1964 Summer Games. He later became the only athlete to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

    • Dennis Mitchell — Dennis Mitchell was a U.S. sprinter and University of Florida athlete who won the 100 meters at the U.S. trials. He was later banned by the IAAF after tests showed unusually high testosterone levels.

    • Gail Devers — Gail Devers is an American sprinter who won Olympic gold in the 100 meters after overcoming Graves’ disease. At UCLA she excelled in the 100-meter dash and the 100-meter hurdles, and she also won relay gold as part of the 4 x 100 team.

    • Gwen Torrence — Gwen Torrence is the American sprinter from Georgia who won Olympic gold in the 200 meters at Barcelona in 1992. Before that, she had a standout college career at Georgia and was especially noted for her speed in the shorter sprints.

    • Maurice Greene — Maurice Greene was an American sprinter who won Olympic gold in the 100 meters at Sydney and helped dominate the event in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He also set the world record in the 100 meters and became one of the era’s best-known track stars.

    • Michael Johnson — Michael Johnson was a dominant American sprinter, famous for winning the 200 and 400 meters at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He was known for his upright running style and for world-record performances that made him one of the most decorated track athletes in history.

  • sprinting

    • Asafa Powell — Asafa Powell is a Jamaican sprinter best known for the 100 meters. He repeatedly broke the ten-second barrier and held the world record before Usain Bolt surpassed him.

    • Florence Griffith-Joyner — Florence Griffith-Joyner was the flamboyant American sprinter who set still-standing women’s world records in the 100 and 200 meters. She won three gold medals in Seoul and became known for her long fingernails and striking one-legged racing suits.

    • Marion Jones — Marion Jones was an American track-and-field star who won multiple medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also had a basketball background at North Carolina and later became one of the most prominent figures tied to the BALCO doping scandal.

    • Pietro Mennea — Pietro Mennea was an Italian sprinter best known for his 1979 world record in the 200 meters. That mark stood for years before Michael Johnson broke it, making Mennea a standard answer for record-holding track history.

  • sprinting events

    • 100 meters — The standard short sprint in track and field and a classic benchmark event for elite sprinters. Olympic champions associated with it include Jesse Owens, Jim Hines, Linford Christie, Allan Wells, and Usain Bolt, with Bolt’s performance setting a world-record standard. Other notable sprinters tied to the event include Archie Hahn, Carl Lewis, Florence Griffith-Joyner, and Asafa Powell.

    • Men’s 100 Meter Dash — The men’s 100 meter dash is the track event that crowns the world’s fastest sprinter over a single short sprint. This event is often identified in Olympic questions by asking for the most recent gold medalist.

  • Sprints
    • 200 meter dash — The 200 meter dash is a track sprint that covers half a lap around a standard outdoor track. Its major Olympic clues include Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s 1968 protest, Florence Griffith-Joyner’s record-setting runs, and Usain Bolt’s repeated gold medals and world record.

  • Steeplechase — Steeplechase is the track and field event in which runners clear barriers and water pits over 3000 meters. The term also names the old Coney Island amusement park and comes from horse-racing vocabulary.

  • Throwing events

    • discus throw — The discus throw is the track-and-field event in which an athlete spins and releases a discus for distance. It was part of the ancient pentathlon and has been won multiple times by Al Oerter in the modern Olympics.

    • hammer throw — The hammer throw is a track and field throwing event in which athletes hurl a metal ball attached to a wire and handle. In modern competition the implement has fixed weights for men and women, though a traditional version survives in the Scottish Highland Games.

    • shot put — The shot put is a track-and-field throwing event in which athletes push a heavy metal sphere for distance. Men and women use different shot weights, and the event is performed from a circular ring with a toe board.

  • Tim Montgomery — Tim Montgomery was an American sprinter whose 100-meter world record was stripped amid the BALCO scandal. He was banned for steroid use and was the partner of Marion Jones.
• track and field events
  • pole vault — The pole vault is a track-and-field event in which athletes use a pole to clear a bar for height. Its elite tradition includes records set by Sergei Bubka, and the event has a long history of technical innovation.
    • Stacey Dragila — Stacey Dragila is an American pole vaulter who won the first Olympic women’s pole vault gold medal in Sydney in 2000. She also set world records and became one of the best-known figures in the event’s early modern era.
• track and field hurdlers
  • Edwin Moses — Edwin Moses was an American 400-meter hurdler who won two Olympic gold medals and dominated the event with an extraordinary winning streak. He was also a National Merit Scholar and later won bronze at the 1988 Olympics.
• distance runners
  • Marathon runners
    • Frank Shorter — Frank Shorter was the American distance runner who won marathon gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics. His success helped spark the later American running boom, and he also won silver in the marathon at Montreal in 1976.

  • Mo Farah — Mo Farah is the British long-distance runner who won Olympic gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. He is also known for later marathons, including his Chicago Marathon victory, and for the distinctive stumble-and-recover moment that made him a familiar sports figure.

  • Steve Prefontaine — Steve Prefontaine was an American distance runner for the University of Oregon who died in a 1975 car crash. He set American records from 2,000 to 10,000 meters and became the subject of the film Without Limits.
• marathon
  • The Marathon — The marathon is the 26.2-mile road race associated with the legend of Pheidippides and the modern Olympic event. Its lore includes the 1908 London course extension and Eliud Kipchoge’s near-two-hour record attempt.
• middle-distance running

  • Hicham El Guerrouj — Hicham El Guerrouj is a Moroccan middle-distance runner often considered among the greatest of all time. He set the mile world record in 1999 and won Olympic gold in both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters at Athens. He built his reputation by winning nearly every race he entered and by taking silver at the 2000 Sydney final after a fall in Atlanta in 1996.

  • Suzy Favor Hamilton — Suzy Favor Hamilton is an American middle-distance runner from Wisconsin who won multiple conference athlete-of-the-year honors in college. She was also known for a Nike advertisement in which she outruns a chainsaw-wielding attacker.

• Long jumpers
  • Luz Long — Luz Long was the German long jumper who famously befriended Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He won silver in the long jump and publicly congratulated Owens after giving him advice that helped avoid disqualification.
• Pole vaulting
  • Yelena Isinbayeva — Yelena Isinbayeva is the Russian pole vaulter widely regarded as the greatest female athlete in her event. She was the first woman to clear five meters and won Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008.
• Marathon runners
  • Rosie Ruiz — Rosie Ruiz was the runner whose 1980 Boston Marathon victory was disqualified after officials concluded she had not completed the race legitimately. Her case became notorious because Jacqueline Gareau was later named the winner and Ruiz was linked to taking the subway during the race.
• Track and field athletes

  • Caitlyn Jenner — Caitlyn Jenner is the transgender former Olympic decathlete who won gold for the United States in 1976 as Bruce Jenner with a record score. She publicly announced her transition in 2015 and later became widely known through her connection to the Kardashian family. Before and after her athletic fame, she appeared in television and film roles, including CHiPs and Can’t Stop the Music.

  • Eric Liddell — Eric Liddell was a Scottish runner and missionary best known for winning the 400 meters at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He famously skipped the 100 meters because its heats were held on a Sunday, and he was later portrayed in Chariots of Fire.

  • Middle-distance runners

    • Sebastian Coe — Sebastian Coe is the British middle-distance runner who won Olympic gold in the 1500 meters in 1980 and 1984. He also held the world record in the 800 meters and later became a Conservative member of Parliament.
• running — Running appears as both a sport and a literary motif, from Maratons and track events to Haruki Murakami’s memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. N. Scott Momaday and Alan Sillitoe also connect running to ritual, rebellion, and loneliness in their fiction.
  • long-distance running — Long-distance running is the sport at the center of Haruki Murakami’s memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. It also appears in Alan Sillitoe’s “The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner,” in which a boy named Smith takes up the sport in borstal.

    • Joan Benoit Samuelson — Joan Benoit Samuelson is an American distance runner who won the first Olympic women’s marathon in 1984. A celebrated Maine-born athlete, she later received major recognition for her running achievements, including the Sullivan Award.

    • Terry Fox — Terry Fox was the Canadian amputee who began the Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research. His run made him a national icon and inspired the Terry Fox Run, the world’s largest single-day cancer research fundraiser.

  • New York Marathon — The New York Marathon is the major annual race won repeatedly by runners such as Grete Waitz, Bill Rodgers, and others. It is the largest race in the United States and one of New York City’s best-known sporting events.

Gymnastics

• gymnastics coaching
  • Béla Károlyi — Béla Károlyi was a Romanian-born gymnastics coach who helped guide Nadia Comăneci and later coached the 1996 U.S. women’s team. He became one of the best-known and most controversial figures in elite gymnastics coaching.
• Gymnastics disciplines
  • Rhythmic gymnastics — Rhythmic gymnastics is the Olympic sport in which athletes perform routines with apparatus such as rope, hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon. It developed from nineteenth-century movement systems and became an Olympic event in 1984.
    • Apparatus
      • Ribbon, rope, ball, clubs — Rhythmic gymnastics uses four main apparatuses: ribbon, rope, ball, and clubs. These are the standard hand-held implements asked for in introductory questions on the sport.
• gymnastics events
  • floor exercise — The floor exercise is the gymnastics event performed on a springed surface with tumbling passes. Women perform it to music, and major modern examples include Aly Raisman, Katelyn Ohashi, and Jade Carey.
• artistic gymnastics — Artistic gymnastics is the Olympic discipline with events such as the pommel horse, vault, floor exercise, and balance beam. Its top competitors have included Nadia Comăneci, Kohei Uchimura, and Simone Biles, and its scoring once used a “new life” rule that dropped preliminary scores.

  • Alexei Nemov — Alexei Nemov was a Russian gymnast who won multiple medals at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics. He became famous for a shirtless floor-exercise celebration and for his athletic popularity as well as his results.

  • Amanda Borden, Jaycie Phelps — Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps were two members of the 1996 U.S. women’s gymnastics team. They are associated with the Olympic squad that included Kerri Strug and won the team gold medal in Atlanta.

  • Apparatus

    • BALANCE BEAM — The balance beam is the women’s gymnastics apparatus that is a narrow, leather-covered beam used for acrobatic routines and dismounts. Simone Biles and Nastia Liukin have both been associated with standout skills on it.

    • pommel horse — The pommel horse is a men’s gymnastics apparatus with two handles, on which athletes perform circular swings and scissors elements. It is covered in leather and is one of the classic events associated with men’s artistic gymnastics.

    • trampoline — A trampoline is a bouncing apparatus with springs or other elastic support that can be used for recreation or training. It is also the apparatus behind the Olympic trampoline event, and it turns up in jokes and plots across animated sitcoms.

  • Artistic gymnasts

    • Dominique Moceanu — Dominique Moceanu was a Romanian-born American gymnast and a member of the 1996 Olympic gold-medal team. She also won the all-around at the 1998 Goodwill Games and became the youngest U.S. national all-around champion at age thirteen.

    • Shannon Miller — Shannon Miller was one of the top American gymnasts of the 1990s and a centerpiece of the 1996 “Magnificent Seven” team. She won multiple Olympic medals in 1992 and 1996, including gold on balance beam.

  • dismounts
    • Dismount — In gymnastics, a dismount is the final move in a routine when the athlete leaves the apparatus and lands. The uneven bars clue points to a banned Korbut-style move and the Hecht as a traditional form of dismount.
  • Gymnasts

    • Amy Chow — Amy Chow was a member of the United States women’s gymnastics team and became the first Asian-American to medal in gymnastics. After her Olympic success, she studied at Stanford and later graduated from Stanford Medical School.

    • Gabby Douglas — Gabby Douglas is the American gymnast who won the women’s individual all-around at the 2012 Olympics. She became the first African-American woman to win that title and also won team and individual all-around gold at the same Games.

    • Jason Gatson — Jason Gatson is an American gymnast who helped the U.S. win silver in team competition. He was noted for a signature parallel bars move and a high-scoring routine on that event.

    • Kerri Strug — Kerri Strug was the American gymnast whose taped-ankle vault became one of the signature images of the 1996 Olympics. She helped the U.S. women’s team win gold and was carried off after her second vault secured the medal.

    • Kurt Thomas — Kurt Thomas was an American gymnast who won world championship gold in 1978, then took two golds in 1979 in floor exercise and high bar. He missed the 1980 Olympics because of the boycott and later became known for the cult film Gymkata.

    • Nastia Liukin — Nastia Liukin is the American gymnast who won the women’s individual all-around gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She tied the American record for World Championship medals and beat teammate Shawn Johnson for the Olympic all-around title.

  • Male gymnasts
    • Morgan and Paul Hamm — Morgan and Paul Hamm are Wisconsin brothers who competed together on the U.S. men’s gymnastics team. They were especially prominent at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where the men’s team had a disappointing finish.

  • Moceanu — The Moceanu family is associated with Romanian-born American gymnast Dominique Moceanu. The clues refer to disputes involving her parents Dumitru and Camelia and her separation from their gymnastics program.

  • Olympic champions
    • Mary Lou Retton — Mary Lou Retton was the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around gymnastics title. Her breakout came at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she won multiple medals and became the first female athlete on a Wheaties box.
  • Olympic gymnasts
    • Lilia Podkopayeva — Lilia Podkopayeva is the Ukrainian gymnast who won the all-around and floor exercise in 1996. She was noted for winning two gold medals and a silver, and for a high floor score in those Olympics.

  • Paul Hamm — Paul Hamm is the American gymnast who won the men’s all-around gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. His title was surrounded by a scoring controversy involving Yang Tae-Young, and he later competed alongside his twin brother Morgan.

  • Sunisa Lee — Sunisa Lee is the Hmong-American gymnast who won the individual all-around gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics after Simone Biles withdrew. She later appeared with other “Golden Girls” of U.S. gymnastics in a stream and remains closely associated with that team.

  • uneven bars — Uneven bars are the women’s gymnastics apparatus with two bars at different heights, where gymnasts perform skills like the Pak salto and Shaposhnikova transition. Nadia Comăneci’s famous perfect 10 came on this event, and Olga Korbut’s risky flip helped make the apparatus notorious.
    • He Kexin — He Kexin is a Chinese gymnast who won uneven bars gold amid controversy over her reported birthdate. The clue refers to the age-discrepancy reporting that followed her move from Beijing to Hubei.
  • women’s gymnastics — Women’s gymnastics is the sport at the center of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal and related investigations. The sport also includes elite coaching figures such as Bela Karolyi, John Geddert, and athlete advocates like Rachael Denhollander.
• Artistic gymnasts
  • Carly Patterson — Carly Patterson won the women’s all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She was one of the standout American gymnasts of her era and also earned a balance beam silver. Her routines were known for difficult tumbling elements and strong execution.
• cheerleading — Cheerleading is a competitive performance activity involving chants, pom-poms, basket tosses, and pyramids. It appears prominently in Bring It On, Glee, and the documentary series Cheer.

  • cheer — Cheer can mean the shout or spirit of encouragement associated with cheering at a game, and it also appears in formations like cheerocracy and cheertator. In Bring It On, Torrance leads the Toros in cheer routines that include the phrase cheer sex.

  • cheerleaders — Cheerleaders are performers who use pom-poms and coordinated chants to support a sports team. They are a common visual reference in music videos and pop imagery, including Toni Basil’s “Mickey” and other songs about fandom or flirtation.

    • Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders — The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are the famous dance squad that performs at the Dallas Cowboys’ games. They are nicknamed America’s Sweethearts and are known through the long-running series Making the Team.
• Gymnasts

  • Vanessa Atler — Vanessa Atler was an American gymnast who was once seen as a major prospect for the Olympic team. She won the 1997 U.S. national championship but later missed Olympic selection after inconsistency, especially on the uneven bars.

  • Olga Valentinovna Korbut — Olga Korbut was a Soviet gymnast whose performances at the 1972 Munich Olympics made her a sensation. She won three gold medals and one silver and helped popularize a more athletic style of women’s gymnastics.

  • Svetlana Khorkina — Svetlana Khorkina is a Russian gymnast known for her tall build, uneven-bars skill, and success in the all-around competition. She was one of Russia’s most famous gymnasts and won silver in the women’s individual all-around at the Olympics.

  • Vitaly Scherbo — Vitaly Scherbo is a Belarusian gymnast best known for his dominance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where he won six gold medals and topped the all-around competition, including titles in rings, pommel horse, vault, and parallel bars. He later returned to the 1996 Games and took bronze in the men’s all-around.

Aquatic Sports

• America’s Cup sailors
  • Dennis Conner — Dennis Conner is the American yachtsman associated with the America’s Cup, especially the 1983 loss aboard Liberty and the 1987 victory aboard Stars and Stripes. He remains a defining figure in modern cup competition.
• Team sports
  • water polo — Water polo is the aquatic team sport played by treaded swimmers who pass and shoot a ball at a goal. It is remembered for the 1956 ‘Blood in the Water’ match between Hungary and the Soviet Union, and for famous players such as Maggie Steffens and Manuel Estiarte.
• board sports
  • surfing — Surfing is the sport of riding a board on a wave. It has Hawaiian origins and is associated with Duke Kahanamoku, George Freeth, hanging ten, shooting the tube, wiping out, and traditional Hawaiian-style wooden boards. Surf rock drew on surfing’s songs and imagery and helped popularize the sport in twentieth-century popular culture.
    • Duke Kahanamoku — Duke Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian swimmer and surf pioneer who helped popularize modern surfing. He won five Olympic medals, including three golds, and is associated with the namesake Kahanamoku kick.
• diving — Diving is the aquatic sport of springing from a board or platform, performing twists or somersaults, and entering the water with minimal splash. It has featured Olympic champions such as Greg Louganis and Tom Daley.
  • Body positions
    • Pike position — The pike position is a diving or gymnastics body shape in which the hips bend while the legs stay straight. In its open form, the arms are extended outward, often into a T-shape.

  • Cliff diving — Cliff diving is an extreme sport in which competitors leap from high platforms or natural cliffs into water below. The sport includes Red Bull-run events and competitions held at sites such as Acapulco.

  • Divers — Divers are people who descend underwater for sport or work, using diving gear and decompression procedures to avoid the bends.

  • Greg Louganis — Greg Louganis is the American diver who won multiple Olympic gold medals and became famous for his perfect-10 dives. He also drew attention for his autobiography Breaking the Surface, which discussed his homosexuality and HIV-positive status.

  • Men’s Synchro Springboard Diving — Men’s synchronized springboard diving is a paired diving event in which two athletes perform matching dives from the 3-meter board. The event is especially associated with the Olympic upset in which Greece won its first gold after favored teams from China, Russia, and the United States faltered.

  • Synchronized diving — Synchronized diving is an Olympic diving event in which two divers of the same gender perform simultaneously and are judged on both individual and paired execution. It features events from the platform and springboard for men and women, and it was added to the Olympics in 2000.
    • Tom Daley — This British diver won Olympic gold in synchronized 10-meter diving with Matty Lee and bronze earlier with Daniel Goodfellow. He became widely known for knitting at the Tokyo Olympics and for fundraising projects tied to his father’s memory.
• Dragon boat racing
  • dragon boats — Dragon boats are long racing boats associated with the Duanwu Festival, which commemorates Qu Yuan. The festival is marked by boat races and the eating of zongzi, and it is called Dano in Korea.
• fishing — Fishing is the catching of aquatic animals for food, commerce, or sport. Clues may point to commercial trawling and aquaculture, cormorant fishing, noodling, or video games and myths built around the activity.
  • angling methods
    • Fly-fishing — Fly-fishing is the line of angling associated with light lures that resemble aquatic insects and appears in works by Hemingway, Maclean, and others. It is especially linked to A River Runs Through It and The Old Man and the Sea.
• sailing — Sailing is the use of wind-powered boats such as sloops, ketches, and yawls. It includes tactics such as tacking and jibing and is featured in the America’s Cup.
  • America’s Cup — The America’s Cup is the famous international sailing trophy first awarded in 1851. It is the sport’s most prestigious yacht-racing prize and has been won multiple times by crews such as those skippered by Charlie Barr, Howard Vanderbilt, and Russell Coutts. It is often associated with high-profile yacht designs and the New Zealand challenge that captured it in 1995.
    • challengers
      • Sir Thomas Lipton — Sir Thomas Lipton was an Irish tea merchant and baronet remembered for mounting repeated, unsuccessful challenges for the America’s Cup with yachts named Shamrock.

    • Louis Vuitton Cup — The Louis Vuitton Cup was the challenger series used to determine the opponent for the defending America’s Cup team. It was named for the fashion brand and featured a series of round-robin races among challengers.

    • yachts
      • Courageous — Courageous was a sailing yacht that Ted Turner skippered to an America’s Cup victory in 1977. It also appears as the adjective in Rudyard Kipling’s title Captain Courageous.
  • yachting — This Olympic sport features classes such as Soling, Finn, Star, and Tornado. It is the sailing competition in which men and women can sometimes compete on the same team.

• scuba diving — This underwater activity uses self-contained breathing apparatuses and carries risks such as decompression sickness, or “the bends.” Divers may use the Buhlmann algorithm, calculate SAC rate, and follow safety checklists such as PADI-BWRAF. It includes rebreathers and has a standard red flag with a white stripe in North America.

• surfers

  • Bethany Hamilton — Bethany Hamilton is the surfer who lost an arm in a shark attack while surfing off Kauai. She continued competing after the attack and became known for an early comeback in professional surfing.

  • Kelly Slater — Kelly Slater is a champion surfer and occasional actor, known for roles like Jimmy Slade on Baywatch and for appearing in surfing documentaries. He became the youngest world champion ever in 1992 and later the oldest, while also winning a record number of world titles.

• Terms
  • freestyle — Freestyle is an unencumbered style of swimming that also names a class of Olympic skiing and wrestling events. The word also refers to improvised rap performed in real time.
• water sports
  • rafting
    • whitewater rafting — Whitewater rafting is a recreational river activity done on rapids using inflatable craft and paddles or oars. The New River Gorge is a noted location for it, and Bridge Day in West Virginia is another clue associated with the same area.
  • windsurfing — Windsurfing combines surfing and sailing by using a sailboard on the water. Competitive windsurfing includes slalom and freestyle events, and it has been associated in popular culture with John Kerry.
• yacht racing
  • Paul Cayard — Paul Cayard is an American yacht racer and skipper from San Francisco. He skippered Il Moro di Venezia and later AmericaOne in America’s Cup competition.

Strength Sports

• CrossFit — CrossFit is a high-intensity fitness company and community founded by Greg Glassman and Lauren Jenai. It is known for the CrossFit Games, daily WODs, and branded benchmark workouts such as Murph.

• Fitness and exercise
  • Jack LaLanne — Jack LaLanne was the pioneering American fitness guru who opened one of the first modern health studios and later hosted an early televised exercise program. Known as the “Godfather of Fitness,” he became famous for his energetic promotions of exercise, health clubs, and juicers.
• Fitness equipment
  • exercise devices
    • ThighMaster — The Thighmaster is a home exercise device promoted by Suzanne Somers. It uses paired loops and a hinge to provide resistance for the inner thighs.
• Home gyms
  • Bowflex — Bowflex is the infomercial-famous home gym line sold by Nautilus. Its ads often featured celebrity spokespeople and emphasized resistance-based workouts and dramatic before-and-after fitness imagery.
• Scottish Highland Games
  • Highland Games — The Highland Games are Scottish athletic festivals built around traditional feats of strength, piping, and dancing. Common events include the caber toss, tug of war, stone-put, and other trials associated with the tartan revival.
    • Events
      • Caber Toss — The caber toss is a Highland Games event in which competitors flip a long tapered wooden pole, judging the landing by clock-face orientation rather than distance. Its equipment is traditionally made of larch wood and the event is associated with Braemar and other Scottish Highland Games prizes.
• Strength athletics

  • Bill Kazmaier — Bill Kazmaier is an American strength athlete who won the World’s Strongest Man competition three straight times from 1980 to 1982. He was famed for his enormous bench press and later worked as a commentator for the competition.

  • Competitions

    • World’s Strongest Man — An annual strongman competition that tests contestants in events such as Atlas Stones, the farmer’s walk, Keg Toss, loading, truck or vehicle pulling, tire deadlift, and the crucifix. Champions have included Bruce Wilhelm, Bill Kazmaier, Jón Páll Sigmarsson, Magnús Ver Magnússon, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Žydrūnas Savickas, Brian Shaw, Eddie Hall, and Hafþór Björnsson. It also inspired an Activision computer game.

• Arm Wrestling — Arm wrestling is a strength sport in which two competitors lock hands and try to pin an opponent’s forearm to the table. It is associated with techniques such as the hook, top roll, and over-the-top style, and with events like the Petaluma championship.

• Bodybuilding — Bodybuilding is the sport of building and displaying muscle mass through competition posing, tanning, and staged presentation. Its best-known contest is Mr. Olympia, and clues often mention Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, IFBB, and Pumping Iron.

  • Bodybuilders — Bodybuilders are the muscular athletes featured in Pumping Iron, a documentary that made Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno famous.

  • figures

    • Charles Atlas — Charles Atlas was the bodybuilder born Angelo Siciliano who turned his physique into a famous mail-order fitness empire. He is associated with dynamic tension, a Coney Island origin story, and the classic ad promising to turn a 97-pound weakling into a stronger man.
• Strength training
  • Lifts
    • deadlift — The deadlift is a barbell lift in which the weight is raised from the floor to about waist height and then lowered again. Powerlifters use it alongside the squat and bench press, and it has variants such as sumo, deficit, and Romanian deadlifts.
• Strongman

  • Atlas Stones — Atlas Stones are a strongman event in which competitors lift a series of heavy spherical stones onto platforms. The event is often the final challenge in the World’s Strongest Man competition.

  • Competitors

    • Mariusz Pudzianowski — Mariusz Pudzianowski is a Polish strongman who won the World’s Strongest Man title multiple times in the 2000s. He won in 2002, 2003, and 2005, and later remained one of the event’s most decorated competitors.
• Strongman competitions
  • World’s Strongest Man Competition — The World’s Strongest Man competition is an annual strength contest featuring events like car lifts, barrel throws, keg tosses, and airplane pulls. Champions mentioned in the clues include Jouko Ahola, Magnus Samuelsson, Mariusz Pudzianowski, and Phil Pfister.
• Strongman competitors
  • Magnus ver Magnusson — This Icelandic strongman won the World’s Strongest Man competition three times in a row from 1994 to 1996. He later appeared in Coors Light commercials and is known as Magnus Ver Magnusson.
• Weightlifting
  • Olympic weightlifting — Olympic weightlifting is the barbell sport contested in the snatch and clean and jerk. It has produced athletes such as Laurel Hubbard, Hidilyn Diaz, and Naim Süleymanoğlu, and its scoring has used systems like the Sinclair coefficient.

Swimming: Events, Strokes, and Competitors

• Swimming — Swimming is the mode of travel Beowulf uses to reach Grendel’s mother and in his contests with Breca. It is also the sport of Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz, and appears in literature such as John Cheever’s “The Swimmer” and A Separate Peace as a memorable athletic and symbolic action; related stories also use it for lake monsters and other heroic feats.
  • Butterfly stroke
    • Mary T. Meagher — Mary T. Meagher is a three-time Olympic gold medalist known as “Madame Butterfly.” She set the 200-meter butterfly world record of 2:05.93 and was the first woman to break a series of time barriers in that event.

  • Dara Torres — Dara Torres is an American swimmer who competed in five Olympics and collected medals across multiple Games. Her 2008 comeback at age 41 brought her additional silver medals in Beijing.

  • Flip-turn — A flip-turn is the efficient turn used in freestyle and backstroke swimming to reverse direction at the wall. It lets a swimmer maintain speed by somersaulting into the wall rather than making a slower open turn.

  • freestyle swimmers
    • Jason Lezak — American freestyle and relay swimmer best known for anchoring the U.S. 4x100 freestyle relay at the 2008 Olympics, where his late surge past Alain Bernard helped produce a dramatic victory over France and keep Michael Phelps’s run toward eight golds alive. He also won bronze in the 100 meter freestyle at those Games.

  • Gary Hall Jr. — Gary Hall Jr. is an American swimmer best known for sprint freestyle, especially the 50-meter freestyle. He won Olympic gold in relay and individual sprint events and became notable for his brash public image, including patriotic attire and outspoken behavior.

  • Gary Hall, Jr. and Anthony Ervin — Gary Hall Jr. and Anthony Ervin were the co-winners of the men’s 50-meter freestyle at the 2000 Olympics. Their shared gold medal is the clue most directly associated with that event.

  • Katie Ledecky — Katie Ledecky is the American swimmer famous for dominating the 800-meter freestyle and other long-distance events. She won gold as a teenager in London and later became the most decorated female American Olympian.

  • Kornelia Ender — Kornelia Ender was an East German swimmer who won four gold medals at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. She became the first female swimmer to win four Olympic golds at a single Games.

  • long-distance swimmers
    • Florence Chadwick — Florence Chadwick was an American swimmer best known as the first woman to cross the English Channel in both directions. She set a notable crossing time from Cape Gris-Nez to Dover, a feat often cited for her endurance in cold water.

  • Michelle Smith — Michelle Smith was an Irish swimmer whose 1996 Atlanta Olympics haul included three gold medals and a bronze, even as doping allegations surrounded her career. She is also remembered for a disappointing bronze in the 200-meter butterfly in Atlanta, which was blamed on a broken goggle strap, and for later receiving a ban that ended her competitive comeback.

  • Rebecca Adlington — Rebecca Adlington is the British swimmer from Mansfield who won Olympic gold in the 400 and 800 meter freestyle in Beijing. She later won bronze in both events at London and retired after the London Olympics.

  • Ryan Lochte — Ryan Lochte is an American swimmer and multiple Olympic medalist known for rivalry with Michael Phelps. He later became notorious for falsely claiming he had been robbed during the Rio Olympics and for his catchphrase “Jeah!”.

  • Synchronized Swimming — Synchronized swimming is the choreographed water sport in which athletes perform coordinated routines in the pool. It was developed by Katherine Curtis, and its Olympic routines include moves called sculls and eggbeaters.

  • Tom Dolan — Tom Dolan is an American swimmer best known for winning the 400-meter individual medley at the Olympics. He overcame asthma and beat Michigan rival Erik Namesnik to win gold in Atlanta and again in Sydney.
• Olympic swimmers

  • Pablo Morales — Pablo Morales is an American swimmer who won Olympic gold in the 100-meter butterfly at the 1992 Barcelona Games. He was competing while on break from Cornell Law School.

  • Amanda Beard — Amanda Beard is an American swimmer who won multiple Olympic medals, especially in breaststroke events. She became widely known at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for appearing with a teddy bear and later gained further attention as a model and media personality.

  • Janet Evans — Janet Evans is the American swimmer and four-time Olympic medalist who was active around the 1996 Atlanta Games. She was widely seen in television coverage when interviewed during the Centennial Park bombing.

  • Johnny Weissmuller — Johnny Weissmuller was an Olympic swimmer who won three gold medals in the 1920s and became the first person to swim 100 meters in under a minute. He later became a Hollywood actor, most famously as Tarzan, and also appeared as Jungle Jim.

  • Michelle Smith de Bruin — Michelle Smith de Bruin is the Irish swimmer who won three gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, including the 400-meter freestyle and the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys. She was later banned for tampering with a urine sample and suspected doping.

  • Natalie Coughlin — Natalie Coughlin is an American swimmer from California who specialized in backstroke and won multiple Olympic medals. She became the first woman to win six medals in a single Olympics and won gold in the 100-meter backstroke at Athens and Beijing.

• Swimmers

  • Matt Biondi — Matt Biondi is an American swimmer who tied Mark Spitz’s record by winning seven medals at the 1988 Olympics. He won eight career gold medals across three Olympic Games.

  • Alexander Popov — Alexander Popov is the Russian swimmer nicknamed the Russian Rocket, famous for winning the 50 and 100 meter freestyle at the 1996 Olympics. He is also associated with a later duel with Gary Hall Jr. and remains one of the great sprint freestylers in swimming.

  • Amy Van Dyken — Amy Van Dyken is an American swimmer who became the first U.S. woman to win four gold medals at a single Olympic Games. She starred at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and later added another relay gold to her total.

  • Gertrude Ederle — Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim the English Channel and became a celebrated American swimmer after her 1926 crossing. She also won Olympic medals in Paris and set numerous world records before that famous feat.

  • Ian Thorpe — Ian Thorpe is the Australian swimmer whose freestyle dominance made him one of the most decorated Olympians of his era. He won three gold medals at Sydney and later added more titles at Athens, becoming famous for his size, world records, and versatility.

  • Jenny Thompson — Jenny Thompson is the American swimmer who won her eighth career Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Games. That total set the American women’s record for career gold medals at the time.

  • Kirsty Coventry — Kirsty Coventry is a Zimbabwean swimmer who won multiple Olympic medals, including gold in the 200-meter backstroke at Beijing in 2008. She is the only individual Olympic medalist in Zimbabwean history and the country’s only swimming medalist. Coventry later entered politics and served in Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cabinet.

  • Missy Franklin — Missy Franklin is the American swimmer who burst into prominence at the 2012 London Olympics. She won gold in both backstroke events in London and finished with four golds and a bronze there.

  • Penny Oleksiak — Penny Oleksiak is a Canadian swimmer and Olympic medalist. She won gold in the 100-meter freestyle at Rio 2016 and became one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians.

Football Codes and Cricket

Learn each code’s rules before players, teams, and championships.

Soccer (Association Football)

Overview and Rules

• Governing body — FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), founded 1904; headquarters in Zurich.

• Basic rules — two 45-minute halves; 11 players per side; goal scored by putting the ball into the net without using hands or arms (except goalkeeper in own box); offside rule penalizes attackers behind the second-to-last defender when receiving a forward pass.

• Formations — common tactical arrangements such as 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2 describe defensive and midfield structure.
  • I Formation — This offensive football set places two running backs directly behind the quarterback, with a fullback ahead of the halfback. Variants include the Maryland and Power forms, which rearrange the backs behind the center.

• Yellow / red card — yellow card is a caution; two yellows or a direct red card means ejection. Ten-man play heavily disadvantages the reduced team.

• Offside rule — an attacking player is in an offside position if any part of the head, body, or feet is closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender at the moment the ball is played to them; does not apply when receiving the ball in their own half.
  • offsides — Offsides is the rule in soccer, hockey, and football that penalizes improper positioning ahead of the defense or line of scrimmage. In soccer it depends on the defender count, in hockey on the blue line, and in football on being beyond the line of scrimmage at the snap.

• Penalty shootout — used to decide knockout-round matches that are tied after 90 minutes (and extra time); five kicks per side, then sudden-death; introduced to the World Cup in 1978.

• VAR (Video Assistant Referee) — technology introduced to the Premier League and World Cup in 2018–2019 to review clear and obvious errors in goals, red cards, penalties, and mistaken identity.

• Rules
  • offside — In soccer, offside is a rule violation committed when an attacking player is nearer the opponents’ goal than both the ball and the second-to-last defender at the moment the pass is made, or is beyond the last defender when the ball is played. Similar offside violations occur in rugby, ice hockey, and football; in hockey it involves being ahead of the puck at the line.

FIFA World Cup

• Format — held every four years; 32 national teams (expanding to 48 from 2026); group stage followed by knockout rounds; final is a single match.

• First World Cup — Uruguay, 1930; Uruguay won on home soil.

• Most titles — Brazil (5): 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002. Germany and Italy each hold 4 titles.

• 1966 World Cup — England won on home soil at Wembley; Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick in the final against West Germany.

• 1986 World Cup — Diego Maradona’s tournament; his “Hand of God” goal and “Goal of the Century” (both against England in the quarterfinal) are two of the most debated and celebrated moments in the sport.

• 2014 World Cup — Germany defeated Argentina 1–0 in the final in Brazil; Germany’s 7–1 semifinal demolition of host Brazil is among the most shocking results in World Cup history.

• Golden Boot — awarded to the top scorer of each World Cup.

• Ballon d’Or — annual award by France Football magazine to the world’s best player; dominated in the 2010s–2020s by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

• UEFA European Championship (Euros) — held every four years between the World Cups; Germany and Spain have each won it three times as of this writing.

• CONCACAF Gold Cup — the championship of the North and Central American and Caribbean Football Confederation.

• Copa América — the South American continental championship; the oldest international football competition, first held in 1916.

• soccer tournaments
  • FIFA World Cups — FIFA World Cups are the quadrennial international soccer tournament organized by FIFA. Recent editions have drawn attention for labor abuses, political controversies, and the official songs associated with the event.
• 1986 FIFA World Cup
  • the Hand of God — The Hand of God is the notorious 1986 World Cup goal Diego Maradona scored against England with his hand. It is remembered alongside Maradona’s later ‘Goal of the Century’ in the same match.

Legendary Players

• Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) — Brazilian forward; widely credited with over 1,000 career goals (official competitive totals are lower and disputed); three-time World Cup winner (1958, 1962, 1970); spent most club career at Santos, later played for New York Cosmos.

• Diego Maradona — Argentine forward; captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup; considered one of the greatest technical players in history; played for Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli. He is remembered for the “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, where he scored both with his hand and on a solo run from midfield. He was later banned from the 1994 World Cup after testing positive for ephedrine.

  • Hand of God — The Hand of God is the nickname for Diego Maradona’s infamous illegal goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. The phrase also appears in other contexts, including art and film, but in sports it refers to Maradona’s handball goal.

  • Hand of God goal — The Hand of God goal was Diego Maradona’s famous illegal handball goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. Peter Shilton was the goalkeeper beaten on the play, and Maradona later defended the goal with a joke about it being partly divine.

• Lionel Messi — Argentine forward; multiple FIFA World Player of the Year/Ballon d’Or awards; led Argentina to 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup titles; career at Barcelona before Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. Lionel Andrés Messi has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and is known for his record goal totals and rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.

• Cristiano Ronaldo — Portuguese forward; prolific scorer; won titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus; five-time Ballon d’Or winner. His full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. He is also known as CR7, was a longtime rival of Lionel Messi, and has been one of the most decorated scorers in modern soccer. He has been associated with the Puskas Award and the “BBC” attacking trio, and he broke major scoring records in both club and international play.

• Johan Cruyff — Dutch forward/manager; epitomized “Total Football” with Ajax and Barcelona; three-time Ballon d’Or winner (1971, 1973, 1974). He was linked to Ajax, Barcelona, and the Dutch national team’s 1974 World Cup run, and as both player and manager he became a central figure in total football and the “Clockwork Orange” era.

• Zinedine Zidane — French midfielder; 1998 World Cup winner; scored two headers in the final; later managed Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles. Also known as Zizou, his full name is Zinedine Yazid Zidane. He starred for France, Juventus, and Real Madrid, won FIFA World Player of the Year three times, and ended his playing career after headbutting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final.

• Ronaldo (R9 / “Il Fenomeno”) — Brazilian striker Ronaldo Luís Nazário; winner of the 1994 and 2002 World Cups; two-time FIFA World Player of the Year while at Barcelona and Inter Milan; distinguished from Cristiano Ronaldo by “R9” or “Il Fenomeno” designations in quizbowl.

• Ronaldinho — Brazilian attacking midfielder; 2002 World Cup winner; considered one of the most technically gifted players ever; won Ballon d’Or in 2005.

• George Best — Northern Irish forward for Manchester United; widely considered the most gifted British player in history; did not win a World Cup due to Northern Ireland’s limited qualification.

• Ferenc Puskás — Hungarian forward; led the “Mighty Magyars” who went unbeaten for four years; scored 84 goals in 85 international appearances; the FIFA Puskás Award for best goal is named after him.

• Association football players
  • Defenders
    • Marco Materazzi — Marco Materazzi is the Italian defender best known for being headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final. He also scored in that match and later became a player-manager in India, adding to his notoriety as a physical center back.

  • Gerd Müller — Gerhard “Gerd” Müller was a legendary West German striker nicknamed Der Bomber and Bayern Munich’s all-time leading scorer. He starred at the 1970 World Cup, won the Golden Boot, and set the World Cup scoring record with 14 goals, a mark long associated with his name. A prolific forward, he powered Bayern Munich’s three straight European Cup titles and dominated both the Bundesliga and European Cup scoring charts. He later played in the NASL with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

  • goalkeepers
    • Iker Casillas Fernandez — Iker Casillas Fernández was Spain’s goalkeeper and captain during its run of major international titles in 2008, 2010, and 2012. Nicknamed Saint Iker, he spent most of his club career at Real Madrid and won the World Cup Golden Glove.

  • Harry Kane — Harry Kane is an English striker who captains the national team and stars for Tottenham Hotspur. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in consecutive seasons and scored in qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

  • Kylian Mbappé — Kylian Mbappé is a French football forward who rose to prominence with Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain. He starred at the 2022 World Cup, where he finished as top scorer and scored a hat trick in the final.

  • Pelé — Pelé was the Brazilian forward widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players ever. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, he rose with Santos, helped Brazil win three World Cups, and later played for the New York Cosmos in the 1970s. He is also associated with the phrase “the Beautiful Game.”

  • Riyad Mahrez — Riyad Mahrez is an Algerian winger and midfielder who starred for Leicester City and later Manchester City. He won the 2016 PFA Players’ Player of the Year award before moving to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.

  • Romario — Romario was the Brazilian striker who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title. He won the Golden Boot and is remembered as one of Brazil’s great goal scorers.
• football players

  • Liam Henderson — Liam Henderson is a Scottish footballer who played for Celtic before building a career in Italy’s Serie A. He reached 100 Serie A appearances with Empoli and also won promotion with Hellas Verona.

  • Michel Platini — Michel Platini is a French football star who won three straight Ballon d’Or awards and led the famous French midfield of the 1980s. He starred for Juventus, helped France win Euro 1984, and later became UEFA president.

• Footballers

  • Ashley Cole — Ashley Cole is an English left back who starred for Arsenal before moving to Chelsea and winning the Champions League with them in 2012. He also played for England, where he was known for his defensive role and for missing a penalty in the Euro 2012 quarterfinal shootout against Italy.

  • Emmanuel Adebayor — Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese striker who played for clubs including Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, and Crystal Palace. He was named African Footballer of the Year in 2008 and became famous for his long run of celebration in front of Arsenal supporters after scoring against them.

• England national football team
  • Gary Lineker — Gary Lineker was an English striker who later became a media figure and podcast host. He is also famously linked to a World Cup bathroom incident and to the TV program Match of the Day.
• soccer goalkeepers
  • Kasey Keller — Kasey Keller is an American goalkeeper best known for serving as a longtime starter for the United States men’s national soccer team. He played for clubs including Millwall, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Rayo Vallecano, Fulham, and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
• Tottenham Hotspur
  • Son Heung-min — Son Heung-min is a South Korean winger for Tottenham Hotspur who also stars for the South Korea national team. He is known for a spectacular solo goal against Burnley and for winning Premier League Player of the Month after scoring braces in September 2016.

Major Club Competitions

• UEFA Champions League — annual competition among Europe’s top club teams; formerly the European Cup; Real Madrid holds the record for most titles. Its television broadcasts use the famous anthem based on Handel’s Zadok the Priest, and its final has featured matches such as Manchester City’s 2023 win over Inter Milan.

• Premier League — top tier of English football; 20 clubs; most followed league globally.

• La Liga — Spanish top division; historic rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona (El Clásico).

• Serie A — Italy’s top division; historically dominated by Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.

• Bundesliga — Germany’s top division; Bayern Munich has won the most titles.

• Ligue 1 — France’s top division; Paris Saint-Germain has dominated since Qatar Sports Investments purchased the club in 2011.

• MLS (Major League Soccer) — the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada; expanded rapidly in the 2010s–2020s; attracted major international stars including David Beckham and, later, Lionel Messi (Inter Miami).

• El Clásico — the fixture between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona; one of the most watched club football matches in the world; a proxy for Spanish regional identities (Madrid vs Catalonia).

• The Miracle of Istanbul — 2005 Champions League Final; Liverpool came back from 3–0 down at half-time against AC Milan to draw 3–3 and win on penalties.

• Major League Soccer teams
  • Columbus Crew — Major League Soccer team based in Columbus, Ohio. The club won the 2008 Supporters’ Shield and has featured players such as Jason Farrell, Brian McBride, Jeff Cunningham, and Thomas Dooley.
• Saudi Pro League
  • Al Nassr Football Club — Al Nassr Football Club is the Saudi side that signed Cristiano Ronaldo in late 2022, sparking a wave of major transfers to Saudi Arabia. Its name means “Victory,” and the club’s profile surged with the announcement.
• School mascots
  • Bulldogs — Bulldogs is a common school mascot shared by schools such as Butler, Gonzaga, Mississippi State, and Yale. It is also a common clue word for teams at institutions including The Citadel and Fresno State.
• Soccer leagues
  • Major League Soccer — The top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It launched in 1996 after the United States won the right to host the 1994 World Cup, and Tab Ramos was its first signed player; later developments included early contraction, later expansion, and a 2023 blackout-free streaming launch.
    • Clubs
      • Toronto FC — Toronto FC is the Major League Soccer club from Toronto, Canada’s largest city. It began play in 2007 and plays home matches at BMO Field. Its early history included Danny Dichio’s first goal, the well-known 24th-minute song, and struggles despite signings such as Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe. The team has also featured Sebastian Giovinco and players such as Benoît Cheyrou; Greg Vanney has been identified as its head coach.

    • FC Dallas — FC Dallas is a Major League Soccer club that was previously known as the Dallas Burn. It plays in Toyota Stadium, won the 2016 Supporters’ Shield, and is associated with the Texas derby against Houston.

    • Landon Timothy Donovan — Landon Timothy Donovan is an American soccer forward who became the leading U.S. scorer in World Cup history. He was named Best Young Player at the 2002 World Cup and later scored against Slovenia and Algeria in the 2010 tournament. He was a Golden Ball winner at the Under-17 World Cup, spent time with Bayer Leverkusen, starred for the San Jose Earthquakes, and later starred for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
• soccer teams
  • Tampa Bay Mutiny — The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a Major League Soccer team based in Florida. It was later contracted in 2002 amid low attendance and ownership problems. The clues also point to players such as Carlos Valderrama and Mamadou Diallo, and to a famous injury-depleted match in which a goalkeeper played forward.
• Soccer clubs

  • FC Bunyodkor — FC Bunyodkor is an Uzbek football club that became famous for high-profile spending and for signing Rivaldo in 2008. Its managers have included Zico and Luiz Felipe Scolari, helping make it one of Asia’s better-known rich clubs.

  • Houston Dynamo — The Houston Dynamo are a Texas Major League Soccer club that won the MLS Cup in 2007 and 2006. The team moved from San Jose and has been associated with players such as Brian Ching and Wade Barrett.

  • Real Madrid Club de Fútbol — Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is the major Spanish soccer club based in Madrid and one of Barcelona’s fiercest rivals in El Clásico. It also has a basketball branch, and Florentino Pérez has long been associated with the club’s leadership.

  • Borussia Dortmund — Borussia Dortmund is the German club associated with Christian Pulisic and the Bundesliga rivalry known as Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich. The club is also notable for its black-and-yellow identity and its 2011–12 league-cup double.

Teams, Athletes, and Further Competition History

• association football — Association football is the sport played with a round ball and goalmouths, also known as soccer or calcio. It is the world’s most popular sport and developed from forms such as calcio fiorentino and later association football. Common clues include the World Cup, the Cambridge Rules, stars such as Pelé and Maradona, the American use of “soccer” to distinguish it from gridiron football, and crowd-safety scandals such as Heysel and Hillsborough. It appears in books and films including Yawar Fiesta, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, Death of a Salesman, Offside, Kes, Looking for Eric, and Zidane: A 21st-Century Portrait.

  • a football — A football is the round ball used in association football and appears as a recurring object in several paintings and children’s references. The clues connect it to works by Lady Butler, Henri Rousseau, and L. S. Lowry.

  • Alex Morgan — Alex Morgan is a U.S. women’s national team striker who became famous for goals in major international tournaments and for co-captaining Team USA with Megan Rapinoe. She scored the late winner against Canada in Olympic play, matched a U.S. single-game scoring record against Thailand, and later played for the San Diego Wave.

  • Alexi Lalas — Alexi Lalas is the U.S. defender instantly recognizable for his red hair and goatee, and clues often point to him as the first American to play in Italy’s Serie A. He starred at Rutgers, won the Hermann Trophy, and later became a soccer broadcaster after helping lead the American game in the 1990s.

  • Andres Iniesta — Andres Iniesta is a Spanish midfielder for Barcelona who became famous for scoring the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. That goal came in extra time, and he celebrated by removing his jersey and taking a yellow card.

  • Associazione Calcio Milan — The Italian football club that shares the San Siro with Internazionale. It won the 2007 Champions League and has featured players such as Dida, Kaká, and Paolo Maldini.

  • Aston Villa — Aston Villa is the Birmingham football club that plays at Villa Park and wears claret and blue. Its history includes an 1982 European Cup triumph and a long record of First Division titles.

  • Brandi Chastain — American former women’s soccer defender and player best known for scoring the decisive penalty kick in the 1999 Women’s World Cup final and celebrating by removing her jersey, one of the defining images of American soccer. She also played every minute of every U.S. game at the 1996 Olympics and helped found the San Jose CyberRays in the WUSA.

  • Bruce Arena — Bruce Arena is the American soccer coach long associated with the University of Virginia, D.C. United, and the U.S. men’s national team. He won multiple NCAA titles at Virginia before moving to the professional ranks and then coaching the national side after the 1998 World Cup.

  • commentators
    • Chris Kamara — Chris Kamara is a former English footballer who later became a Sky Sports pundit and Soccer Saturday reporter. He is widely known for the catchphrase “Unbelievable, Jeff!” and for famously missing Anthony Vanden Borre’s red card while commentating.

  • CONCACAF — CONCACAF is the regional soccer federation for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It oversees national-team and club competition in the Americas below FIFA and is commonly ranked behind UEFA and CONMEBOL in prestige and success.

  • D.C. United — D.C. United is the Major League Soccer club based in Washington, D.C., nicknamed the Black-and-Red. The team is known for its black-and-red colors and early league dominance, including multiple MLS Cup titles, multiple U.S. Open Cup wins, and international titles in the late 1990s. It played at RFK Stadium, had supporters such as La Barra Brava, and Jaime Moreno is its career scoring leader. Its 2000 championship came in the same year it drafted Freddy Adu.

  • Davor Suker — Davor Šuker is a Croatian striker who won the World Cup Golden Boot for leading the tournament in goals. He is identified with Croatia’s run to a major World Cup scoring title.

  • defenders

    • Franz Beckenbauer — Franz Beckenbauer, known as the Kaiser, was a German football great who redefined the sweeper role. He won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as a manager in 1990, and also spent time with Bayern Munich and the New York Cosmos.

    • Heather Mitts — Heather Mitts is a former U.S. women’s soccer defender who played for the Philadelphia Charge and the University of Florida. She won Olympic gold in 2004 and was known for assisting and scoring in early international appearances.

    • John George Terry — John Terry was the Chelsea defender and England captain who retired from international football in 2012. He was also tied to a racially charged incident involving Anton Ferdinand and a famous slipped penalty in the Champions League final.

  • disciplinary sanctions
    • Red card — A red card in soccer is the punishment for serious offenses such as violent conduct, serious foul play, and spitting. It results in the player’s ejection from the match.
  • English footballers

    • Chloe Kelly — Chloe Kelly is an English winger for Manchester City and later Arsenal who became famous for scoring England’s winning goal in the Euro 2022 final. She also scored in the 2023 World Cup and in the 2025 Women’s Euros shootout against Spain.

    • Vinnie Jones — Vinnie Jones is a former British footballer turned actor known for playing hard-man roles. He appeared in Guy Ritchie films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and later X-Men: The Last Stand.

  • French footballers
    • Antoine Griezmann — Antoine Griezmann is a French forward known for his play with Atlético Madrid and the French national team. He missed a penalty in the Euro 2016 final and later scored for France in the 2018 World Cup final.

  • George Weah — George Weah is a Liberian former football star who won the Ballon d’Or in 1995 and later became president of Liberia. The clues emphasize his 2017 election and his concession after the 2023 vote, which marked another peaceful transfer of power.

  • goal celebration — A goal celebration is the jubilant act of celebrating after scoring in a sport like soccer. Controversial examples include elaborate routines, political gestures, and the so-called dentist’s chair celebration.

  • Goalkeepers

    • Andoni Zubizarreta — Andoni Zubizarreta was a Spanish goalkeeper often remembered for Spain’s upset loss to Nigeria at the 1998 World Cup. He is one of the most prominent goalkeepers in Spanish football history.

    • Briana Scurry — Briana Scurry was the U.S. goalkeeper associated with the 1999 Women’s World Cup and the 1996 Olympic gold medal team. She famously stopped a penalty kick in the World Cup semifinal and later lost her national-team starting job before the 2000 Olympics.

    • Fabien Barthez — Fabien Barthez was France’s starting goalkeeper during its World Cup run, and his shaved head made him a media celebrity afterward. He became a pop-culture figure as much as a footballer, with magazine coverage emphasizing his look as well as his play.

    • Gianluigi Buffon — Gianluigi Buffon is an Italian goalkeeper long associated with Juventus and the national team. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his era and won recognition for top tournament play.

    • Hope Solo — Hope Solo is the American goalkeeper associated with the University of Washington, the U.S. women’s national team, and a long run of major tournament appearances. She was known for her clean-sheet record, her 2008 Olympic gold medal, and controversy that contributed to her leaving the national team in 2014.

    • Jorge Campos — Jorge Campos was a Mexican soccer player famous for his colorful goalkeeper style, though he also played as a midfielder and even as a striker. He starred for the Mexican national team and the LA Galaxy, and was notable enough to score in the 1997 MLS All-Star Game.

    • José Luis Chilavert — José Luis Chilavert is a Paraguayan goalkeeper known for his flamboyant style and for leading Paraguay to the Round of 16 at the World Cup. He is also remembered for nearly becoming a scoring goalkeeper before being beaten by Laurent Blanc’s golden goal for France.

    • Oliver Kahn — Oliver Kahn was the longtime Bayern Munich goalkeeper and captain of the German national team. He helped Bayern win major titles and became the first goalkeeper to win the World Cup Golden Ball in 2002.

    • Peter Schmeichel — Peter Schmeichel was a Danish goalkeeper best known for starring at Manchester United and captaining the club in the 1999 Champions League final. He also played for Brøndby and Aston Villa, and was the first Premier League goalkeeper to score a goal.

    • Petr Cech — Petr Čech is a Czech goalkeeper best known for his long career with Chelsea and later Arsenal. He became famous for wearing protective headgear after a serious skull fracture in 2006.

    • Taffarel — Cláudio Taffarel was Brazil’s goalkeeper in the 1994 World Cup. He is remembered for penalty shootout heroics in the semifinal against the Netherlands and the final against Italy.

  • goals
    • Own goal — An own goal is a score in which a player accidentally puts the ball or puck into their own net, giving the point to the opposing team. The term is especially notorious in association football and has been linked to World Cup history, including the incident involving Andrés Escobar, as well as hockey examples such as Steve Smith.
  • Governing bodies
    • FIFA — FIFA is the international governing body of association football (soccer) and the organization that oversees the World Cup. Its leadership and World Cup bidding process came under heavy scrutiny in the 2015 corruption investigations associated with Sepp Blatter; related figures and controversies include Jack Warner, Michael Garcia, Michel Platini, and the selection of Qatar as 2022 host.
  • Italian footballers
    • Giorgio Chinaglia — Giorgio Chinaglia was an Italian striker who starred for Lazio and later the New York Cosmos. He became the NASL’s all-time leading scorer and was also noted for his outspoken personality off the field.

  • Juventus of Turin — Juventus of Turin is the storied Italian soccer club often called the “Old Lady.” It won the 1985 European Cup and later reached multiple Champions League finals in the 1990s.

  • Jürgen Klinsmann — Jürgen Klinsmann is a former German striker who became a manager, most notably leading Germany to the 2006 World Cup semifinals. He later coached the United States men’s national team and had earlier played for clubs including Tottenham Hotspur. He is remembered for goals and controversy alike, including a notorious dive that got Pedro Monzón sent off at the 1990 World Cup and his starring roles for Tottenham and West Germany.

  • Lauren James — Lauren James is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Chelsea and the England national team. She scored three goals and added three assists at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and her first senior international goal came against South Korea in the Arnold Clark Cup.

  • Lev Yashin — Lev Yashin was the legendary Soviet goalkeeper for Dynamo Moscow and the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or. He played from 1950 to 1970 and became known for his penalty saves and commanding style.

  • Luis Suárez — Uruguayan striker known for prolific spells at Ajax, Liverpool, and Barcelona. He became notorious for punching the ball off the goal line against Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, as well as for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup, which led to a ban from football; he was also banned for abusing Patrice Evra.

  • manager
    • Jürgen Klopp — Jürgen Klopp is a German football manager best known for leading Borussia Dortmund and later Liverpool. He also managed Mainz 05, where he began his coaching career after spending his playing days at the same club.
  • match
    • 1999 Women’s World Cup Final — The 1999 Women’s World Cup final at the Rose Bowl ended scoreless after extra time before the United States won the shootout. Brandi Chastain scored the decisive kick, and the match set the attendance record for a women’s sporting event.
  • matches
    • soccer matches — Soccer matches are organized games of association football, from domestic league play to tournaments such as the World Cup. The prompt points to tragedies like Hillsborough and Heysel, as well as politically charged or historic matches such as the 1914 Christmas Truce games.
  • Men’s soccer World Cup — The quadrennial international soccer tournament organized by FIFA for men’s national teams; it is the premier world competition at that level. It began under the influence of Jules Rimet, and its trophy was originally the Jules Rimet Trophy before the modern gold cup. The women’s World Cup began in 1991. Recent hosts mentioned include Brazil, Russia, and Qatar.

    • 1994 FIFA World Cup — The 1994 FIFA World Cup was held in the United States and ended with Brazil defeating Italy on penalties at the Rose Bowl, giving Brazil its fourth title. It was the first World Cup decided by a penalty shootout and is also remembered for Roberto Baggio’s missed penalty, Oleg Salenko’s five-goal match, Bulgaria’s surprise run, Diego Maradona’s expulsion for ephedrine, the aftermath of Andrés Escobar’s own goal, and Diana Ross’s infamous opening-ceremony miss.

    • 1998 World Cup — The 1998 World Cup was the international soccer tournament staged in France. The qualifying field included teams such as Nigeria, England, Germany, Brazil, and the hosts France. It is the edition remembered for the expanded 32-team format and for France’s eventual home victory.

    • 2014 FIFA World Cup — The 2014 FIFA World Cup was held in Brazil amid widespread protests over stadium spending and transport costs. The tournament culminated at Maracanã Stadium and became a focal point for criticism of the country’s preparations.

    • 2022 FIFA World Cup — The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the men’s soccer tournament awarded to Qatar and scheduled for late 2022. Quizbowl clues on it often mention migrant labor abuses, kafala reform, and stadium projects such as Al Janoub.

    • multiple-time champions
      • Italy, Brazil, West Germany — Italy, Brazil, and West Germany are the three nations that have won the men’s FIFA World Cup at least three times. They are the traditional multiple-time champions in World Cup history.
    • The World Cup — The World Cup is the premier international championship of association football. It is the most-watched sporting event in the world and has produced famous top scorers such as Sandor Kocsis, Just Fontaine, Eusebio, and Gerd Müller.

  • Mia Hamm — American soccer striker who starred at North Carolina, led the United States to World Cup success, and was the founding star of the Washington Freedom. She set the standard for women’s international scoring with 158 career goals and later became associated with a charitable foundation for bone marrow disease research after her brother died of aplastic anemia.

  • Michael Owen — Michael Owen was the teenage English striker who became the youngest man to score for England and starred at the 1998 World Cup. He broke into Liverpool’s first team in 1997 and quickly became one of England’s most famous forwards.

  • penalty kicks — Penalty kicks are the shots taken from the spot after a foul in the penalty area. They became especially prominent at the 2018 and 2019 World Cups, where VAR influenced several of them and Megan Rapinoe scored multiple goals from the spot.

  • Playing styles
    • Tiki-taka — Tiki-taka is the short-passing, movement-heavy soccer style associated especially with Spain and Barcelona. It emphasizes possession, sometimes uses a false nine, and became a signature term in modern football commentary.

  • Portugal and Holland — Portugal and the Netherlands were the teams referenced in a World Cup match known for an extremely high number of cards. The round-of-16 game became famous as the “Battle of Nuremberg” for its four red cards and sixteen yellow cards.

  • Queen’s Park — Queen’s Park is the Scottish association football club associated with early short passing and Lesser Hampden. It is one of the oldest clubs in Scotland and was the start of Kenny Dalglish’s senior career.

  • Robin van Persie — Robin van Persie is a Dutch striker who starred for Arsenal and later Manchester United. He was the Dutch captain’s attacker at the 2010 World Cup and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 2011–12.

  • Sam Kerr — Sam Kerr is the Australian striker and all-time leading scorer who has starred for the Matildas. She became a global soccer face through FIFA 23 and was a key figure in Australia’s deep Women’s World Cup run.

  • Sir Alex Ferguson — Sir Alex Ferguson is the Scottish manager who turned Aberdeen into European Cup Winners’ Cup champions and then guided Manchester United to sustained domestic and continental success. His tenure is associated with the “Fergie time” nickname and the 1999 Champions League comeback against Bayern Munich.

  • soccer players — Soccer players are athletes who play association football, including both professional men and women in the sport. The profession is central to clues about the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the USWNT, Megan Rapinoe, and Jenni Hermoso.

    • Alan Shearer — Alan Shearer is the English football striker associated with Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, and Newcastle United. He was once transferred for a record fee and was also known as captain and number nine for the England national team.

    • Andriy Shevchenko — Andriy Shevchenko is a Ukrainian striker who starred for the national team and in European club football. He was especially prominent at the 2006 World Cup and later played for Chelsea.

    • John O’Brien — John O’Brien was a U.S. soccer midfielder who played for Ajax Amsterdam and starred for the United States at the 2002 World Cup. He scored against Portugal and assisted the U.S. goal in the draw with South Korea. The evidence also mentions a novelist of the same name, so the sports identity should be kept separate from the literary one.

    • Neymar — Neymar is a Brazilian striker who has played for Santos, FC Barcelona, and PSG. He is known for flashy dribbling, frequent dives, and a move that set a transfer-record fee.

    • Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior — Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior is a Brazilian striker who starred for Santos and later moved to FC Barcelona. He won the tournament’s Golden Ball and is also known for his tendency to flop and dive.

    • Peter Nowak — Peter Nowak was a Polish midfielder who starred in Major League Soccer and later coached D.C. United. He earned MVP honors in the 1998 MLS Cup while assisting on both Chicago goals.

  • Spanish footballers

    • Andres Iniesta Lujan — Andres Iniesta Lujan is a Spanish midfielder from Fuentealbilla who rose through Barcelona and debuted for Spain in the mid-2000s. He was a standout at Euro 2008 and later scored Spain’s extra-time winner in the 2010 World Cup final.

    • Fernando Torres — Fernando Torres is the Spanish striker nicknamed “El Niño,” famous for starring for Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, and Spain. He scored the winner in the Euro 2008 final and became one of the most recognizable forwards of his generation.

  • strikers

    • Abby Wambach — Abby Wambach was an American soccer striker and former Florida Gator who played for the Washington Freedom and starred for the national team. She was known for prolific international scoring, including heading goals in the 2011 Women’s World Cup, won the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year award, led the U.S. to Olympic gold, and set the all-time international goals record in 2013.

    • Gabriel Batistuta — Gabriel Batistuta is the Argentine striker who starred for Fiorentina and served as a leading scorer in the Italian league. He was also a major figure for Argentina’s national team.

    • Mario Balotelli — Mario Balotelli is an Italian striker known as much for his on-field talent as for headline-making off-field antics. He played for Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan, and Liverpool, and became famous for the nickname Super Mario.

    • Miroslav Klose — Miroslav Klose is the Polish-born German striker who became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. He is also known for fair play and for winning the 2014 World Cup with Germany.

    • Nicolas Anelka — Nicolas Anelka is a French striker who played for clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Bolton, Juventus, Fenerbahçe, and Shanghai Shenhua. He won PFA Player of the Year, was sent home from the 2010 World Cup, and later became associated with the quenelle gesture.

    • Robert Lewandowski — Robert Lewandowski is a Polish striker who became one of the top scorers in Bayern Munich and the Polish national team. Clues about him often reference his five goals in nine minutes against Wolfsburg and his record-setting Bundesliga scoring seasons.

  • Tim Howard — Tim Howard is the American goalkeeper famous for a record 16 saves against Belgium at the 2014 World Cup. He was known for a long spell at Everton after leaving Manchester United, and he also won recognition as a top keeper in international play.

  • Vasco da Gama and Corinthians — Vasco da Gama and Corinthians are two Brazilian football clubs that were invited by FIFA despite not qualifying. They met in a Friday night final.

  • Video Assistant Referee — Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, is a soccer review system used to overturn decisions on goals, offsides, fouls, and penalties. It was introduced prominently at the 2018 World Cup and later used in major league competitions.

  • women’s soccer
    • Megan Rapinoe — American soccer forward and winger known for captaining the U.S. women’s national team, winning the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and scoring the United States’ only goal at the 2012 Olympics. She also became prominent for political activism, including kneeling or otherwise protesting during the national anthem.
• association football administration
  • Jack Warner — Jack Warner is the Trinidadian football official and politician most often tied to the FIFA corruption scandal, having served as a powerful CONCACAF figure and longtime member of FIFA’s leadership. He was implicated in bribery and payment investigations surrounding World Cup bidding and the Blatter-era crisis that engulfed the organization that runs soccer’s World Cup.
• Association football competitions
  • European Super League — The European Super League was the proposed breakaway soccer competition announced in 2021 as a rival to the UEFA Champions League. The plan collapsed quickly after backlash from fans, players, and rival leagues.
• association football defenders
  • Fabio Cannavaro — Fabio Cannavaro is an Italian defender who won FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006. He played for clubs including Napoli, Parma, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Real Madrid, and captained the Italian national team.
• Association football goalkeepers
  • Peter Shilton — Peter Shilton was the long-time English goalkeeper who became famous for being beaten by Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal in the 1986 World Cup. He was one of England’s most-capped players and followed Gordon Banks as the national team’s top goalkeeper.

American Football

• American football — American football is the sport centered on advancing an oval ball in structured downs and is the focus of novels such as End Zone and The Sportswriter. It also appears in works like Fences and A World According to Garp, where it becomes a clue to masculinity, violence, and injury. The sport has inspired poems, essays, and films, and is often linked to themes of ritual, war, and bodily damage. The modern game emerged from the 1869 Rutgers-Princeton match, gradually standardized from larger sides to eleven players per team; after a wave of dangerous injuries, Theodore Roosevelt pushed reforms in 1906 that helped keep the sport alive.

  • 1998 Denver Broncos — The 1998 Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXXIII under Mike Shanahan after a season led by John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Rod Smith. They are one of the defining NFL champions of the late 1990s.

  • 46 defense — The 46 defense is Buddy Ryan’s aggressive Chicago Bears defensive scheme, named for safety Doug Plank’s jersey number rather than its alignment. It is associated with a stacked front and heavy pressure, and became a key part of the Bears’ Super Bowl XX defense.

  • Administrators
    • Paul Tagliabue — Paul Tagliabue served as NFL commissioner from 1989 to 2006. The clues also point to his Georgetown basketball career, including his place among the school’s rebound leaders.

  • Alex Karras — Alex Karras was an Iowa tackle who became an All-Pro defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions. He later became a familiar TV figure, including playing George Papadapolis on Webster alongside Susan Clark.

  • American Professional Football Association — The American Professional Football Association was the NFL’s original name when it was founded in 1920. It later became the National Football League after a brief early era of loosely organized professional football.

  • analysts
    • Mel Kiper Jr. — Mel Kiper Jr. is the ESPN NFL draft analyst known for his year-round scouting and his Mel Kiper Enterprises draft publications. He became famous for his strong draft opinions and for public criticism from Colts GM Bill Tobin in 1994.

  • Andy Katzenmoyer — Andy Katzenmoyer was the Ohio State linebacker and 1997 Butkus Award winner who starred as a freshman and led the Buckeyes in sacks. Clues often mention his early start at linebacker, his number 45, and his role in Ohio State’s Rose Bowl run.

  • Billy Kilmer — Billy Kilmer was an NFL quarterback who spent years behind the 49ers’ starters before becoming a regular with the Saints and later the Redskins. He led Washington to Super Bowl VII and is noted for a rare quarterback rushing record and the famous Jim Marshall wrong-way play connection.

  • Breakers — The Breakers were a USFL franchise that wandered through Boston, New Orleans, and Portland in three consecutive seasons. Their unusual travels make them a classic example of the league’s instability.

  • Brian Billick — Brian Billick is the former NFL coach best known for leading the Baltimore Ravens. He is also a former game-show contestant whose awkward Match Game appearance became a recurring quizbowl clue. Clues often mention his coaching background at the University of Redlands and his later role with the Ravens.

  • Brian Bosworth — Brian Bosworth, nicknamed the Boz, was a highly touted linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks whose NFL career was cut short by injury. He later became known for acting in Stone Cold and other films after leaving football.

  • Brian Piccolo — Brian Piccolo was a Wake Forest football star who won ACC Player of the Year in 1965 before playing five seasons with the Chicago Bears. He is remembered as the Bears running back who retired after the 1969 season because of cancer.

  • brothers
    • Kelce — Kelce is the surname of brothers Jason and Travis Kelce, who played for the Eagles and Chiefs and even faced each other in a Super Bowl. The pair also co-host the podcast New Heights.

  • Bubba Smith — Bubba Smith was a defensive lineman drafted first overall by the Baltimore Colts in 1967. He later became widely known as Moses Hightower in the Police Academy films.

  • C. J. Spiller — C. J. Spiller was a highly touted Clemson running back and all-purpose threat. He was known for combining rushing, receiving, kickoff-return, and punt-return production in a single college career.

  • Cam Newton — Cameron Newton is an Auburn quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy after a rapid rise that included a junior-college championship with Blinn. He later starred as quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, winning NFL MVP in a season that ended with a loss in Super Bowl 50. He became widely associated with the dab celebration, which he later said he would stop using after touchdowns.

  • Celebrations

    • Fun Bunch — The Fun Bunch was the exuberant early-1980s football group that celebrated touchdowns with a leaping high-five in the end zone. The name is especially associated with a team that turned a simple touchdown celebration into a signature ritual.

    • The Ickey Shuffle — The Ickey Shuffle is a touchdown dance associated with Cincinnati Bengals running back Ickey Woods. The routine became famous in 1988 and includes a bouncing sidestep, a ball spike, and a celebratory finger twirl.

  • Charles Haley — Charles Haley was a dominant NFL defensive end best known for his Super Bowl success with the 49ers and Cowboys. He holds the career record for most Super Bowl sacks and won five championship rings.

  • Charlie Joiner — Charlie Joiner was a prolific NFL receiver who played for the Oilers, Bengals, and Chargers. He held the league reception record in the 1980s and was later surpassed after setting marks with 650 and then 750 career catches.

  • Chris Weinke — Chris Weinke is a former Florida State quarterback who won the 2000 Heisman Trophy at age 28, making him the award’s oldest winner. He later played in the NFL, including time with the Carolina Panthers.

  • Clinton Portis — Former NFL running back from Miami who was traded from Denver to Washington in the Champ Bailey deal before the 2004 season. He won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2002, set records at Gainesville High School and at Miami, was known for an eccentric array of alter egos, and had a five-touchdown game against Kansas City.

  • coach
    • Rich Rodriguez — Rich Rodriguez is the football coach who built West Virginia into a Big East power before leaving to replace Don Nehlen and later taking over Michigan. He also served as Tommy Bowden’s offensive coordinator at Tulane and Clemson and was once the youngest head coach in college football at Salem College.
  • coaching

    • Charlie Weis — Charlie Weis is the football coach and former New England Patriots offensive coordinator who took over Notre Dame in 2005. Later clues place him at Kansas and joke about his tenure ending after a mediocre record, with a lifetime-contract rumor following a 3-9 season.

    • Chris Ault — Chris Ault was the longtime Nevada football coach who popularized the Pistol offense. He is identified with Nevada’s 2004 use of the formation and with his College Football Hall of Fame induction.

    • Marv Levy — Marv Levy coached the Buffalo Bills through their Super Bowl years and remains associated with four straight losses in the title game. He also coached the Kansas City Chiefs and the Montreal Alouettes, winning Grey Cups in Canada before his NFL peak.

  • Colin Kaepernick — Colin Kaepernick is the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who became famous for kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. His protest sparked league controversy and later legal action over claims that NFL teams colluded to keep him out of the league.

  • College football — College football is the American gridiron sport of touchdowns, forward passes, and rival bowls that became a major national spectacle in the early twentieth century. Its early history includes the 1869 Rutgers-Princeton game, the dangerous flying wedge, and the 1905 safety reforms pushed by Theodore Roosevelt.

    • Army-Navy Game — The Army-Navy Game is the annual college football rivalry between the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. It is famous for its neutral-site tradition, its Commander-in-Chief Trophy implications, and its long television history.

    • Bluebonnet Bowl — The Bluebonnet Bowl was a now-defunct Houston college football bowl game that ran from 1959 to 1987. It was played at Rice Stadium and later the Astrodome, with its final game featuring Texas and Pittsburgh.

    • Bowl Championship Series — The Bowl Championship Series, or BCS, was the system that ranked college football teams for major bowl selection and the national championship game. Its formula combined polls and computer rankings with strength-of-schedule adjustments, making it a frequent clue for the BCS standings.

    • Bowls

      • Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl — The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl is the NCAA Division III football championship game. It is named for Amos Alonzo Stagg and has been held in places such as Phenix City, Alabama, and Salem, Virginia.

      • Peach Bowl — The Peach Bowl is an NCAA football bowl game sponsored by Chick-fil-A since 1997. It has been played in Atlanta and has featured major programs such as Florida and Miami.

    • Brady Hoke — Brady Hoke is a football coach known for head coaching stops at Michigan, Tennessee, and San Diego State. His clues often mention his 2011 Michigan start, later firing, and return to San Diego State after Rocky Long.

    • College Football National Championship — The College Football National Championship is the title claimed by the teams selected as season champions of major college football. The examples given include Minnesota, Maryland, Nebraska, Colorado or Georgia Tech, and Florida under Steve Spurrier.

    • Heisman Trophy winners

      • Jay Berwanger — Jay Berwanger was the first Heisman Trophy winner and the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, though he never played in the league. He starred at the University of Chicago and later became a salesman and writer rather than a professional football player.

      • Mark Ingram Jr. — Mark Ingram Jr. is the Alabama running back who won the 2009 Heisman Trophy. He later helped Alabama win a national championship and went on to play in the NFL with the Saints.

    • MPC Computers Bowl — The MPC Computers Bowl was a college football bowl game held in Boise on blue turf. It later became associated with the Humanitarian Bowl name.

    • NCAA upsets
      • 2018 Ohio State vs. Purdue — The 2018 Purdue-Ohio State game was the upset in West Lafayette that ended in a 49–20 Boilermaker win. It is remembered for Rondale Moore’s breakout, D.J. Knox’s three touchdowns, and the emotional Tyler Trent connection.
    • rivalries

      • Baylor vs. Oklahoma football matchup — This is the Baylor–Oklahoma football matchup, a recurring Big 12 rivalry noted for several high-stakes games, including conference title meetings and a 2011 finish that helped define the season’s Heisman race.

      • Minnesota vs. Iowa football rivalry — This is the Minnesota–Iowa football rivalry, played between the Golden Gophers and Hawkeyes. The matchup is famous for the bronze pig trophy Floyd of Rosedale.

    • rivalry game
      • Stanford vs. Oregon — Stanford vs. Oregon is a Pac-12 football matchup between Stanford and the University of Oregon. It drew attention for several late-game comebacks and notable finishes in games from 2012, 2013, 2018, and other seasons.
    • Season openings
      • Week Zero Games — Week Zero is the unofficial opening period of college football played before the standard start of the season. It is often associated with early special games such as neutral-site matchups and contests involving Hawaii.
    • trophies
      • Outland Trophy — The Outland Trophy is awarded annually to college football’s best interior lineman. It is named for John H. Outland, a Penn All-American from the late nineteenth century.

  • Craig James — Craig James was a Southern Methodist running back who later became an ESPN analyst after a short NFL career with the Patriots. He was also tied to the controversy that helped lead to Mike Leach’s dismissal at Texas Tech and to the longstanding internet smear about a supposed college murder spree.

  • Craig “Ironhead” Heyward — Craig “Ironhead” Heyward was an NFL running back, best known for his size, athleticism, and the nickname that became more ominous after his death. He is also remembered for commercials for Zest body wash.

  • Cris Carter — Cris Carter was a Minnesota Vikings wide receiver who later spent a short time with the Dolphins. A prolific possession receiver, he starred at Ohio State, began with the Eagles, and formed a major passing duo with Randy Moss in Minnesota.

  • Dan Fouts — Dan Fouts is a Hall of Fame quarterback who starred for the San Diego Chargers and became famous for directing the Air Coryell offense. A product of Oregon, he threw to receivers like Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow, John Jefferson, and Wes Chandler and later worked in broadcasting on Monday Night Football.

  • Daniel Snyder — Daniel Snyder is the former owner of the Washington Redskins and was notorious for controversial management decisions. He was associated with FedExField, a private jet, and disputes over team business practices and hiring choices.

  • Danny White — Danny White was the Dallas Cowboys quarterback who also handled punting duties after Roger Staubach retired. He was drafted out of Arizona State and set rookie records for Dallas.

  • Danny Wuerffel — Danny Wuerffel is the former Florida quarterback who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy. He set much of the SEC passing record book, led Florida to multiple conference titles under Steve Spurrier, and later played for the Saints, Packers, and in NFL Europe.

  • Dante Hall — Dante Hall was the Kansas City Chiefs’ explosive kick return specialist, known for piling up touchdown returns and earning Pro Bowl recognition. He was nicknamed “The Human Joystick” and later played for the Rams after starring at Texas A&M and in the Scottish Claymores system.

  • David Klingler — David Klingler was the sixth overall pick in the 1992 NFL draft out of Houston, taken by the Cincinnati Bengals. His pro career also included stops in Oakland and Green Bay, and he later attended Dallas Theological Seminary.

  • Defenses
    • Doomsday defense — The Doomsday defense was the nickname for the feared Dallas Cowboys defense of the 1970s. Randy White and Cliff Harris are among the players commonly linked with that unit.
  • defensive lines
    • The Purple People Eaters — The Purple People Eaters were the famous Minnesota Vikings defensive line of the late 1960s and early 1970s, especially the dominant early-1970s unit led by Alan Page and Carl Eller and also including Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen. Their nickname came from Sheb Wooley’s novelty song about a one-eyed, one-horned creature. They are remembered as one of the most imposing defensive units in football history, with several members earning Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame honors.
  • defensive schemes
    • zone blitz — A zone blitz is a football defense in which extra rushers attack one side while other would-be pass rushers drop into coverage. It is associated with aggressive defensive play-calling such as the schemes used by Bill Cowher’s teams.
  • defensive units
    • The New York Sack Exchange — The New York Sack Exchange was the dominant New York Jets defensive front in the early 1980s. Its most famous members included Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, and Lance Mehl.
  • Detroit Lions — The Detroit Lions are an NFL team based in Detroit, Michigan, in the NFC North. The franchise moved from Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1934. It is associated with players such as Dutch Clark, Bobby Layne, Billy Sims, Barry Sanders, Herman Moore, Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Terrence Holt, Boss Bailey, and Charles Rogers. Notable franchise lore includes the “curse of Bobby Layne” and the 0-16 2008 season; a 1982 clue points to the strike-shortened season and split quarterbacking between Eric Hipple and Gary Danielson.
    • Daniel John Orlovsky — Daniel John Orlovsky is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Detroit Lions and later became an ESPN analyst. He is best remembered for running out of his own end zone for a safety while playing for the Lions.

  • Don Hutson — Don Hutson was the Green Bay Packers great called the Alabama Antelope. He was one of the first dominant pass receivers in NFL history and a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  • errors
    • running the wrong way — Running the wrong way is the football blunder of advancing toward one’s own end zone, often turning a play into a safety or a disastrous loss of yards. It is most famously associated with Roy Riegels in the 1929 Rose Bowl and Jim Marshall’s 66-yard miscue for the Vikings.
  • fan culture
    • 12th Man — The 12th Man is the term for the collective presence of a team’s fans, especially at Texas A&M and with the Seattle Seahawks. It suggests the crowd acts like an extra player on the field.

  • Frank Reich — Frank Reich is the quarterback remembered for one of the greatest comeback wins in college football, when Maryland rallied past Miami after he came off the bench. He later gained similar fame in the NFL as Buffalo’s backup quarterback in the comeback from a 32-point deficit against Houston.

  • game moments and phrases
    • Wide Right — Wide Right is the name given to Scott Norwood’s missed field goal that decided Super Bowl XXV in favor of the Giants. The phrase also came to label later late-field-goal misses by Florida State against Miami in the early 1990s.

  • Gene Stallings — Gene Stallings coached Alabama to the 1992 national championship after earlier serving as head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. His Alabama tenure is also tied to NCAA infractions involving Antonio Langham’s eligibility.

  • Harold “Red” Grange — Harold “Red” Grange was a star halfback at the University of Illinois whose speed earned him the nickname the Galloping Ghost. He became famous for starring in college football before signing with George Halas and the Chicago Bears, helping legitimize the early NFL. He later served as a celebrated NFL pioneer and endorser.

  • Heisman Trophy winners
    • Paul Hornung — Notre Dame football star who won the Heisman Trophy in 1956 despite playing on a losing team. He was the first overall pick in the 1957 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, later became a scoring machine for Green Bay, set the NFL single-season scoring record in 1960, and was suspended in 1963 over gambling.

  • Herman Moore — Herman Moore was a star Detroit Lions wide receiver and the 1991 first-round pick who set the single-season receptions record. He is often clued by his prolific receiving totals and by references to his wife Angela, a kickboxer. He was one of the league’s most productive receivers in the 1990s.

  • Hunter Renfrow — Hunter Renfrow is the Clemson wide receiver who caught the last-second touchdown to beat Alabama in the 2017 national championship game. He was a former walk-on who won the Burlsworth Trophy and became known for reliable postseason play.

  • Jake Locker — Jake Locker was a quarterback at the University of Washington who later started for the Tennessee Titans. His NFL career was derailed by injuries, and he retired after four seasons.

  • James Earl Johnson — James Earl Johnson was a San Francisco 49ers cornerback who played for the team from 1961 to 1976. He is not the football coach or the assassin of the same name.

  • Jeff Brohm — Jeff Brohm is a former quarterback who also played in the short-lived XFL with the Orlando Rage. He was one of the first passers in that league and had previously played in the NFL for several teams.

  • Jeff Hostetler — Jeff Hostetler was the New York Giants quarterback who replaced Phil Simms and led the team to victory in Super Bowl XXV. He is remembered as a West Virginia quarterback who stepped in after Simms’ injury and guided the Giants through the playoffs.

  • Jerry Jones — Jerry Jones is the longtime owner of the Dallas Cowboys and one of the most controversial figures in modern football ownership. Clues about him often mention the Herschel Walker trade, his past segregation-era school photo, and his later cameo as himself on Landman.

  • Jim Druckenmiller — Jim Druckenmiller was a Virginia Tech quarterback drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round. He later played for the Memphis Maniax and is remembered as a draft bust.

  • Jim Marshall — Jim Marshall was the photographer nicknamed the rock ’n’ roll photographer, famous for images of Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, and many others. He is also known from football for the “Welcome to the club” letter after his memorable 1964 game play.

  • John David Booty — John David Booty was the USC quarterback who passed for three touchdowns in a Rose Bowl win over Illinois. He is also known as a backup quarterback at USC and in the NFL, though he never took an NFL snap.

  • Jonathan Ogden — Jonathan Ogden was an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and one of the team’s most celebrated linemen. A UCLA standout and Outland Trophy winner, he was a multiple-time Pro Bowler and the first Hall of Famer to spend his entire career with the Ravens.

  • Josh Heupel — Josh Heupel is the Oklahoma quarterback who led the Sooners to a national title after a record-setting college career. He transferred from Snow Junior College and later won major college player of the year honors.

  • Khalil Mack — Khalil Mack is an elite outside linebacker and defensive end known for his rare pass-rushing production and forced fumbles. He won the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year award, starred at Buffalo, and famously returned an Ohio State interception for a touchdown.

  • Larry Fitzgerald — Larry Fitzgerald is the longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver who played his college football at Pittsburgh. He is known for his record-setting postseason production and for helping the Cardinals reach a Super Bowl.

  • Len Dawson — Len Dawson was the longtime quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs and the MVP of Super Bowl IV. He was known for his AFL passing success and for completing the famous drive that helped beat the Raiders before the Chiefs defeated the Vikings. He later became a host of HBO’s Inside the NFL.

  • linebackers — Linebackers are defensive football players stationed behind the defensive line and in front of the safeties. Common subtypes in a three-linebacker set are the Will, Sam, and Mike, and famous examples include Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, and Lawrence Taylor.

    • Brian Urlacher — Brian Urlacher was the star middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears and the 2000 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He later won Defensive Player of the Year, became known for his bald head and hard-hitting style, and helped lead Chicago to Super Bowl XLI. He is often clued by his New Mexico career, his tackle record, and the Bears team featuring Rex Grossman and Lance Briggs.

    • Chuck Howley — Chuck Howley was the Dallas Cowboys linebacker who won Super Bowl V MVP despite playing for the losing team. He remains one of the rare defensive players to win the award and was famous for his interceptions in that game.

    • Dat Nguyen — Dat Nguyen was the first NFL player of Vietnamese heritage and the first Vietnamese-American drafted into the league. A standout linebacker at Texas A&M, he won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 1998 and later coached Von Miller there.

    • Derrick Thomas — Derrick Thomas was the Kansas City Chiefs’ star pass rusher, a nine-time Pro Bowler and former Alabama linebacker. He is remembered for his record seven-sack game and for his career cut short after a devastating car accident and later death from complications.

    • Dick Butkus — Dick Butkus was the ferocious Chicago Bears middle linebacker whose name is attached to the Butkus Award for top collegiate linebackers. Later, he also appeared in television and entertainment roles, including Hang Time and the XFL.

    • James Harrison — James Harrison was a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker known for a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII. He also drew attention for refusing to join a team visit to the White House.

    • Joey Porter — Joey Porter was a linebacker for the Steelers and Dolphins and later joined the Cardinals after a stint in Miami. He was also known for a violent reputation off the field, including a casino punching incident.

    • Junior Seau — Junior Seau was a standout linebacker for the Chargers and Dolphins who returned briefly from retirement to join the Patriots. He was born Tiaina and later became one of the most celebrated linebackers of his era, eventually entering the Hall of Fame after his death.

    • Ken Norton Jr. — Ken Norton Jr. was a UCLA linebacker who played for the 49ers and Cowboys and later became a defensive coach. He is also the son of boxer Ken Norton, the heavyweight who famously defeated Muhammad Ali.

    • LaVar Arrington — LaVar Arrington was a standout Penn State linebacker who was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in 2000. He won major college defensive awards before entering the NFL. His name also appears in card-collecting clues because of unauthorized rookie issues tied to his draft year.

    • Luke Kuechly — Luke Kuechly was the Carolina Panthers linebacker who retired in 2020 after a dominant career and multiple first-team All-Pro selections. At Boston College he set the FBS career tackles-per-game record and became known for a memorable concussion incident on the field.

    • Mo Lewis — Mo Lewis was a longtime New York Jets linebacker who starred at Georgia. He is best known for the hit on Drew Bledsoe that opened the door for Tom Brady to take over in New England.

    • Nick Buoniconti — Nick Buoniconti was a Hall of Fame middle linebacker for the Miami Dolphins’ No-Name Defense. A former Notre Dame player, he was undersized for the position but became one of the most famous linebackers of his era. He was later a familiar football commentator and one of the key defenders on the Dolphins’ championship teams.

    • Ray Lewis — Baltimore Ravens linebacker drafted out of Miami in 1996. A dominant tackler and central figure in the Ravens’ Super Bowl-contending defenses, he won Super Bowl XXXV MVP and multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, with many Pro Bowl selections.

    • Shaq Thompson — Shaq Thompson is a Washington football player who played both linebacker and running back. He was known for defensive touchdowns and rushing scores in 2014, including a 100-yard fumble return against Cal and a 57-yard rushing touchdown against Eastern Washington.

    • Shawne Merriman — Shawne Merriman was a linebacker for the Chargers and Bills who won Defensive Rookie of the Year and became famous for his “Lights Out” sack dance. He was also associated with a steroid suspension and the forearm-switch tattoo that made the celebration instantly recognizable.

    • Tom Cousineau — Tom Cousineau was an Ohio State linebacker who was selected first overall by Buffalo in the 1979 NFL draft. Unhappy with playing for the Bills, he spent several years in the CFL before returning to the NFL.

    • Tommy Nobis — Tommy Nobis was a Texas linebacker and guard who won the Maxwell Award and Outland Trophy in 1965. He was the first overall pick in the NFL draft and the first player selected by the Atlanta Falcons, later becoming their first Rookie of the Year.

    • William Thomas Romanowski — American NFL linebacker who played for the 49ers, Eagles, Broncos, and Raiders. He won four Super Bowls with the 49ers and Broncos and became notorious for steroid controversy and violent on-field and off-field behavior, including a punch that ended Marcus Williams’s career.

  • Lingerie Bowl
    • Lingerie Bowl 2004 — The Lingerie Bowl 2004 was a pay-per-view football exhibition staged during the Super Bowl halftime show at the Los Angeles Coliseum. It featured teams coached by Lawrence Taylor and Eric Dickerson, with Angie Everhart and Nikki Ziering at quarterback, and the game ended 6-0.

  • Mark Rypien — Mark Rypien was the Washington Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl XXVI MVP who later played his final NFL seasons with Indianapolis and other teams. His later life included celebrity golf appearances after the death of his young son.

  • Matthews — The Matthews are a notable NFL family that includes Bruce Matthews and Clay Matthews III. Bruce Matthews is the Hall of Fame offensive lineman at the center of the family’s prominence.

  • Mike Alstott — Mike Alstott was a bruising Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback who spent his entire NFL career with the team after starring at Purdue. Nicknamed the A-Train, he was part of the Buccaneers’ Thunder and Lightning backfield with Warrick Dunn and scored Tampa Bay’s first Super Bowl touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVII.

  • Miracle on Techwood Drive — The Miracle on Techwood Drive was Georgia Tech’s blocked-field-goal return touchdown that upset Florida State at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The play is associated with Lance Austin’s return after a block on Roberto Aguayo’s kick.

  • missed field goals
    • University of Alabama Crimson Tide Missed Field Goals — This topic refers to the missed Alabama field goals that became famous in several dramatic football games, including the 2013 Iron Bowl and later championship situations. The clues center on costly kicks by Alabama players such as Cade Foster and Andy Pappanastos, especially the kick returned by Auburn’s Chris Davis for a 109-yard touchdown.

  • O.J. Simpson — He was a Heisman-winning USC running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer who starred for Southern California and the Buffalo Bills, becoming the first NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He later became a celebrity actor and was notorious for the murder trial involving Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, with Johnnie Cochran’s “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit” defense. He was acquitted in the murders, later wrote If I Did It, and was associated with the ESPN series O.J.: Made in America and the book I Did It; he also had a later Las Vegas robbery conviction. Nicknamed “The Juice,” the nickname came from his first and middle names, Orenthal James.

  • Offensive lines
    • The Hogs — The Hogs were the famed Washington Redskins offensive line of the 1980s, built around players such as George Starke, Joe Jacoby, Russ Grimm, and Jeff Bostic. They became a celebrated nickname for the team’s dominant front five. The unit later inspired a cross-dressing fan club known as the Hogettes.
  • offensive schemes
    • Spread option — The spread option is an offensive football scheme built around spread principles and the zone read. It uses misdirection and a quarterback run threat to stress the defense horizontally.

  • Ottis Anderson — Ottis Anderson was the New York Giants running back who won MVP honors in Super Bowl XXV. He was a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos’ franchise in 1990 before starring for the Giants, and he is remembered for helping control the ball for more than 40 minutes in that championship game. His name is also tied to the offbeat postgame line about not saying he was going to Disney World.

  • Pass rushers

    • Neil Smith — Neil Smith was a former Nebraska defensive lineman who became an NFL pass rusher and recorded more than 100 sacks. He played for the Chiefs, Broncos, and Chargers, and the same name also appears in a separate sports-management clue in the archive.

    • Von Miller — Von Miller is an NFL pass rusher best known for his long run with the Denver Broncos. He was Super Bowl 50 MVP after forcing key fumbles and collecting sacks in Denver’s win.

  • Pat Tillman — Pat Tillman was a former Arizona Cardinals safety who left the NFL after 9/11 to join the Army Rangers. He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, and his death was initially covered by a false ambush narrative. His story later became the subject of Jon Krakauer books.

  • Patrick Willis — Patrick Willis was a standout linebacker at Ole Miss and for the San Francisco 49ers. He was a frequent Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection before retiring early because of foot injuries.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers — The Pittsburgh NFL franchise, known for its black-and-gold identity and the circular hypocycloid logo on its helmets, which has been placed on one side only since the team’s 1962 postseason run. The Steelers are associated with the Steel Curtain dynasty, six Super Bowl wins, the Immaculate Reception, and stars including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Joe Greene.
    • The Terrible Towel — The Terrible Towel is the black-and-gold rally towel associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers and created by Myron Cope.
  • Punter — A punter is the football player who specializes in kicking the ball away to the opposing team. The position is associated with coffin-corner kicks and players such as Ray Guy and Shane Lechler.
    • Marquette King — Marquette King is a former NFL punter from Fort Valley State who became known for flamboyant celebrations and unusually visible personality. He won the Raiders’ punting job, led the league in punting yards in 2014, and became notable as a rare Black punter in the league.
  • Receiving trios
    • Posse — The Posse was the nickname for the Washington Redskins receiving trio of Art Monk, Gary Clark, and Ricky Sanders. They were a major part of the team’s high-powered offense in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

  • Reggie Bush — Reggie Bush is an American football star and Heisman Trophy winner who starred at Helix High School and USC. As USC’s explosive running back, he was a major offensive weapon, won the Heisman Trophy, went second overall in the 2006 NFL draft, and appeared on the cover of NCAA Football 2007. He is also noted as the only Heisman winner with the same last name as a sitting U.S. president.

  • return specialists

    • Jermaine Lewis — Jermaine Lewis was a return specialist for the Baltimore Ravens and later the Houston Texans. He is remembered for returning a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV.

    • Trindon Holliday — Trindon Holliday is a diminutive NFL return specialist who played for the Texans, Broncos, and other teams after starring at LSU. He was one of the shortest players in modern NFL history and became known for explosive kick and punt returns, including a postseason score against Baltimore.

    • Vai Sikahema — Vai Sikahema was a return specialist for the Cardinals and Eagles before becoming a broadcaster. He became especially memorable for celebrating touchdowns by boxing the goalposts.

  • Roger Craig — Roger Craig is the 49ers running back best known for becoming the first NFL player to rush and catch for 1,000 yards in the same season. He also scored three touchdowns in Super Bowl XIX, making him part of a football namesake pair with the former pitcher and Giants manager of the same name.

  • Roger Staubach — Roger Staubach was the Navy Heisman winner who became quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys after serving in the military. He led Dallas to multiple Super Bowl appearances and was the MVP of Super Bowl VI.

  • Scott Norwood — Scott Norwood was the Buffalo Bills kicker whose missed field goal in Super Bowl XXV became famous as the “wide right” play. The miss helped the Giants win the title and became one of the most notorious moments in NFL history.

  • scouting combine
    • NFL Scouting Combine — The NFL Scouting Combine is the annual evaluation event for prospective NFL players, held in Indianapolis and known for drills like the 40-yard dash and 3-cone drill. Its clues include the Wonderlic test, BLESTO, The National, and widely discussed measurements of top prospects before the NFL Draft.
  • Seasons
    • 2011 Wisconsin Badgers football season — The 2011 Wisconsin Badgers season featured Russell Wilson’s arrival, a Big Ten title game appearance, and a Rose Bowl run. That team is also associated with dramatic wins over Nebraska and a high-scoring style unusual for Wisconsin.

  • Senior Bowl — The Senior Bowl is an annual college football all-star game held after the bowl season ends. It features players who have reached the end of their college eligibility and is divided into North and South teams.

  • Steve Smith Sr. — Steve Smith Sr. was an elite NFL receiver who won the receiving triple crown in 2005. He starred for the Panthers and later the Ravens, and he is remembered for a fiery playing style.

  • Super Bowl — The Super Bowl is the NFL’s championship game, decided each season for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It is one of the biggest U.S. television events and has produced famous moments ranging from David Tyree’s helmet catch to the Patriots’ comeback from a 28-3 deficit.
    • Super Bowl X — Super Bowl X was the Steelers’ 21-17 victory over the Cowboys, with Lynn Swann earning MVP honors. Reggie Harrison’s blocked punt that became a safety and Terry Bradshaw’s long touchdown to Swann were decisive moments.

  • Super Bowl IV — Super Bowl IV was the game in which the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings, with Hank Stram and Len Dawson as major figures. It is remembered for Stram’s mic’d-up coaching and for having featured the longest field goal in Super Bowl history before that record was broken.

  • Tebow-related celebrations
    • Tebowing — Tebowing is the kneeling-in-prayer pose associated with Tim Tebow. It became especially famous when Stephen Tulloch imitated it after recording a sack in 2011.

  • the Cleveland Browns — The Cleveland Browns are an AFC North NFL team based in Cleveland. Their history includes the 1987 AFC Championship loss tied to the Fumble and a 2000s roster built around players like Trent Dilfer and Braylon Edwards.

  • The Drive — The Drive was John Elway’s 98-yard, game-tying march late in the 1986 AFC Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns. It sent the game to overtime, where the Broncos completed the comeback. The series is remembered as one of the signature moments in Elway’s career and a classic NFL comeback. Quizbowl clues usually identify it by the length, the timing, and the fact that it preceded a Broncos victory over Cleveland.

  • the NFL — The NFL, or National Football League, is the major American professional football league featuring teams such as the Bills, Patriots, and Broncos. Its Sunday, Thursday, and Monday night games are among the league’s most watched broadcasts.

  • The Super Bowl — The Super Bowl is the championship game of the NFL, played after the league’s season concludes. It became the target of the famous name “The Big One” before settling on its current title.

  • Thomas Jones — Thomas Jones was an NFL running back who played for the Arizona Cardinals before later rushing for the Chicago Bears. A strange football clue about him says he broke his hand while answering the phone and lost his job to Marcel Shipp.

  • Tony Gonzalez — Tony Gonzalez was the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs before later starring with the Atlanta Falcons. A former Cal basketball player, he set career NFL records for tight ends in receptions and touchdowns.

  • touchback — A touchback is an American football result in which the ball becomes dead on or behind a team’s own goal line and the receiving team starts at its own 20-yard line. It can result from a fumble, interception, punt, or kickoff.

  • Trevor Lawrence — Trevor Lawrence was the Clemson quarterback who won a national championship before being drafted first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. He later became known for his first NFL playoff win after erasing a large deficit against the Chargers.

  • Trophies
    • Lamar Hunt Trophy — The Lamar Hunt Trophy is awarded to the AFC champion in the NFL playoffs. It is also the name shared by the trophy given to the winner of the annual Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri.

  • Two-Minute Warning — The two-minute warning is the football stoppage that occurs near the ends of the second and fourth quarters. In the NFL, it also affects how a fumble may be advanced after that point.

  • two-point conversion — A two-point conversion is the risky post-touchdown play in football worth two points instead of one. It became legal in the NFL in 1994 and is mandatory in college football after the second overtime.

  • Variants
    • Arena Football — Arena football is the indoor version of American football played on a smaller field with nets and walls close to the sidelines. It was invented by Jim Foster and became a patented pro sport with teams such as the Detroit Drive.
      • Colorado Crush — The Colorado Crush were the Arena Football League team in Denver once associated with John Elway. They won the 2005 ArenaBowl under Mike Dailey and later were led by Damian Harrell.
  • West Coast offense — The West Coast offense is a football scheme associated with Bill Walsh that relies on short, high-percentage passes. It de-emphasizes the running game and became especially associated with later coaches such as Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, and Matt LaFleur.

Overview and Rules

• Governing body — NFL (National Football League); 32 teams divided into the NFC and AFC, each with four divisions.

• Objective — advance the ball into the opposing end zone for a touchdown (6 points); extra point (1) or two-point conversion (2) after touchdown; field goal (3 points); safety (2 points) when the offense is tackled in its own end zone.

• Basic play — offense has four downs to advance 10 yards; failure to do so turns the ball over. Teams typically punt on fourth down to avoid giving the opponent good field position.

• Positions — quarterback directs the offense; linemen block; wide receivers and tight ends catch passes; running backs carry the ball; defensive players include linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs (cornerbacks, safeties).

  • coxswain — A coxswain is the person who steers a rowing shell and directs the crew. The role is also used on sailing ships for the helmsman of a smaller boat.

  • first baseman for the New York Yankees — This position for the New York Yankees was held by Lou Gehrig, whose 2,130 consecutive starts became one of baseball’s most famous streaks. Other Yankee first basemen include Don Mattingly, Mark Teixeira, Jason Giambi, Tino Martinez, Joe Pepitone, and Wally Pipp.

  • fullback — A fullback is an American football position that usually serves as a blocker for the halfback, though some players at the spot also carry or catch the ball. Quizbowl clues often point to Mike Alstott, LaRon McClain, Howard Griffith, or Kyle Juszczyk as examples of the position.

  • libero — A libero is the specialized defensive position in volleyball. The player wears a different jersey, cannot block, and is used for back-row defensive play with frequent substitutions.

  • placekickers — Placekickers are the football players who attempt field goals and extra points. The position is notable for its high-pressure, often inconsistent nature, and one placekicker, Mark Moseley, won NFL MVP after the 1982 strike-shortened season.

    • Dan Carpenter — Dan Carpenter is an NFL placekicker who played for the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. He became known for unusual accuracy statistics and for an especially poor game against Buffalo in 2010.

    • Garo Yepremian — Garo Yepremian was a Cypriot-born placekicker for the Miami Dolphins who later became a motivational speaker and spokesman after his NFL career. He is remembered for the botched Super Bowl VII field-goal pass that was picked off by Mike Bass, and for the odd legend that he said he had kicked a touchdown. His blunder helped preserve the only perfect season in NFL history from becoming a Super Bowl shutout. Yepremian also held the Dolphins scoring record for years and was a notable foreign-born NFL scorer who entered the league without a college background.

    • Jan Stenerud — Jan Stenerud, born in Norway, became a pioneering soccer-style placekicker in the NFL after arriving at Montana State as a ski jumper. He starred for the Chiefs, retired as one of the league’s top scorers, and became the first pure kicker elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is often referenced as the Hall of Fame placekicker for Kansas City.

    • Jason Elam — Jason Elam was a Denver Broncos placekicker who tied Tom Dempsey’s NFL record with a 63-yard field goal. He also starred at Hawaii in college, where he finished near the top of Division I career field-goal charts.

    • Lou Groza — Lou Groza was an offensive tackle and later a place-kicking specialist for the Cleveland Browns, earning the nickname “The Toe.” He helped the Browns win the 1950 NFL title with a late field goal and later inspired a college kicking award that bears his name.

    • Morten Andersen — Morten Andersen is a Danish-born NFL kicker famous for his longevity and for kicking into old age. He made a game-winning field goal for the Chiefs in a famous Browns-related situation when he was the league’s oldest player.

    • Rob Bironas — Rob Bironas was the Tennessee Titans kicker known for a 60-yard game-winner and an NFL-record eight field goals in a single game. His name surfaces in questions about clutch special-teams performances.

    • Rolf Benirschke — Rolf Benirschke was a San Diego Chargers placekicker who later hosted the daytime version of Wheel of Fortune. He is also remembered for kicking the winning field goal in the famous 1982 playoff game against Miami.

    • Steve Christie — Steve Christie was a Canadian-born NFL kicker known for a long stint with the Buffalo Bills and later stops in Tampa Bay and San Diego. He is especially remembered for kicking the game-winning field goal in Super Bowl XXVIII, which was listed as the longest field goal in Super Bowl history at the time.

    • Tom Dempsey — Tom Dempsey was the New Orleans Saints kicker who famously made a 63-yard field goal in 1970. He is remembered for holding the NFL record for the longest field goal and for kicking with a shoe that is now illegal.

  • running back — A running back is the football position that takes handoffs and is often abbreviated RB. The position includes labels such as halfback, tailback, and fullback, and stars like Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliott are examples.

    • Curtis Martin — Curtis Martin was the Hall of Fame running back who starred for both the Patriots and the Jets after being drafted out of Pittsburgh in 1995. Clues usually note his rookie success, his long career atop all-time rushing lists, and his record-setting seasons for two franchises.

    • John Riggins — John Riggins was the bruising running back for the Washington Redskins who won Super Bowl XVII MVP honors. He is remembered for a long touchdown run against Miami and for leading the league in rushing touchdowns in the early 1980s.

    • Lawrence Phillips — Lawrence Phillips was a talented but troubled Nebraska running back drafted sixth overall by the Rams in 1996. His career was derailed by suspensions, legal trouble, and brief, unsuccessful stints in multiple leagues.

    • Rod Smart — Rod Smart, nicknamed “He Hate Me,” was a former XFL running back and one of the most memorable figures from the league’s only season. He wore “He Hate Me” on his jersey while playing for the Las Vegas Outlaws. After playing at Western Kentucky, he had brief stints with the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles and later appeared in the NFL playoffs.

    • Ron Dayne — Ron Dayne was the Wisconsin running back who won the 1999 Heisman Trophy and set the NCAA career rushing record. He was later drafted by the Giants, though his NFL career was limited by weight issues and modest production.

    • Tiki Barber — Tiki Barber was a New York Giants running back who later became an announcer. He is also remembered for the outlandish rumor that the Packers’ helmet logo stood for “greatness.”

  • scrum-half — The scrum-half is the rugby back who feeds the ball into the scrum and then retrieves it. This position is also called number nine and handles the ball from rucks and line-outs.

  • third base — Third base is the hot corner, the infield spot first touched on a 5-3 play and played by players such as George Brett and Mike Schmidt. Matt Chapman, Nolan Arenado, Alex Rodriguez, Lave Cross, and Jimmy Collins are among the names tied to this position.

  • tight end — A tight end is an offensive football position that combines blocking with pass catching. Players such as Mike Ditka, Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, and Travis Kelce are famous examples of the position.

  • wide receiver — A wide receiver is the pass-catching football position occupied by players such as Randy Moss, Stefon Diggs, and Cris Collinsworth. The position is associated with deep routes, big plays, and prominent NFL highlight moments.

    • Percy Harvin — Percy Harvin is the Virginia-born speedster wide receiver known for big-play ability and jersey-number changes after joining Seattle. The clues identify the former Vikings receiver who wore number 11 for the Seahawks because number 12 is retired there.

    • Steve Largent — Steve Largent was a Seattle Seahawks wide receiver who set multiple NFL receiving records before entering politics as a Republican congressman from Oklahoma. He is especially noted for becoming the first player to record 100 career touchdown receptions. He later represented Oklahoma’s 1st District in the U.S. House from 1994 to 2002 and ran for governor of Oklahoma in 2002, losing by a very narrow margin.

• Scoring — touchdown (6), PAT/extra point (1), two-point conversion (2), field goal (3), safety (2).

• Season — 17-game regular season (since 2021); 7 teams per conference qualify for playoffs; playoffs conclude with the Super Bowl.

• administration
  • Roger Goodell — Roger Goodell is the NFL commissioner who succeeded Paul Tagliabue and became associated with the league’s personal conduct policy and major labor disputes. His tenure has included controversies such as Spygate, Bountygate, and lockouts.
• NFL awards
  • Lowsman Trophy — The Lowsman Trophy is the parody award given to the NFL’s “Mr. Irrelevant” in Newport Beach’s week of festivities. It mimics the Heisman Trophy, but shows a player fumbling a football.
• NFL coaches
  • Dan Reeves — Dan Reeves was an NFL coach who led the Broncos, Giants, and Falcons and later accumulated the most coaching losses in league history. He won Coach of the Year with the Giants in 1993 and the Falcons in 1998. As a player, he had a Super Bowl appearance with the Cowboys and later coached Denver to three Super Bowls in the 1980s.

• NFL Draft — The NFL Draft is the annual event in which National Football League teams select college players. Its clues include the first modern draft after the AFL-NFL merger and the nickname Mr. Irrelevant for the final pick.

• NFL Europe — NFL Europe was the developmental spring football league organized under the NFL name and originally launched as the World League of American Football. Later versions featured teams such as the London Monarchs, Amsterdam Admirals, Cologne Centurions, Frankfurt, and Barcelona.
  • Teams
    • Barcelona Dragons — The Barcelona Dragons were an NFL Europe franchise based in northern Spain. They played in the first World Bowl and later won the 1997 title by defeating the Rhein Fire.
• NFL owners
  • Robert Irsay — Robert Irsay was the owner of the Baltimore Colts who moved the franchise to Indianapolis in 1984. He is remembered for a series of controversial decisions as an NFL owner and for the midnight relocation that became notorious in Baltimore sports history.
• NFL rivalries
  • Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears — The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are the NFL’s oldest and most-played rivalry. Their matchups are tied to Lambeau Field and Soldier Field, and memorable games include the 2010 NFC Championship and a 1989 instant-replay controversy.
• NFL teams

  • Baltimore Ravens — The NFL team from Maryland that plays at M&T Bank Stadium. It won Super Bowl XXXV in the 2000 season with Ray Lewis, and later Super Bowl XLVII with Joe Flacco. Other players associated with the team include Terrell Suggs, Kyle Boller, Musa Smith, and Jamal Lewis.

  • Los Angeles Chargers — The Los Angeles Chargers are an NFL franchise that began as the San Diego Chargers and moved to Los Angeles after the 2016 season, now playing at SoFi Stadium. In San Diego they were especially associated with Don Coryell’s pass-heavy Air Coryell offense and won three straight AFC West titles beginning in 1979; in the late 2000s the team featured Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates. The franchise is also known for its lightning-bolt logo and long history of dramatic losses and relocations.

  • New England Patriots — The New England Patriots are an NFL team based in New England, coached for years by Bill Belichick and led by Tom Brady. They began as an AFL franchise and later became one of football’s dominant teams, winning five Super Bowls. They are associated with Robert Kraft, Julian Edelman, Dont’a Hightower, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, the Lamar Hunt Trophy, the Spygate and Deflategate scandals, and Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception.
    • Deflategate — Deflategate was the controversy over alleged tampering with footballs used by the New England Patriots. The scandal led to Tom Brady’s suspension, legal disputes, and a famous courtroom sketch from a congressional hearing.
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers — An NFL expansion franchise based in Tampa, Florida, known for pirate imagery and the pirate-ship feature at Raymond James Stadium. Their winless inaugural season produced John McKay’s remark about execution: when asked what he thought of the team’s execution, he replied, “I think it’s a good idea.” The franchise’s history includes early struggles, a later Super Bowl championship, and players such as Doug Williams, Lee Roy Selmon, Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, Mike Evans, and Shaq Barrett. Their uniforms have included the “creamsicle” look, and they won a Super Bowl during the Jon Gruden era in the early 2000s.
    • Warren Sapp — Warren Sapp is a former Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle who became a dominant starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His persona was tied to a website called qbkilla.com, where he posted “hit lists” and announced his retirement with the words “I’M DONE!”

  • Washington Commanders — The NFL franchise in Washington, D.C., now called the Washington Commanders, was long known as the Washington Redskins before briefly taking the temporary name Washington Football Team after retiring the Redskins name and logo. It was associated with owner George Preston Marshall, Joe Gibbs, John Riggins, and the famous 1991 offensive line nickname the Hogs, and it won Super Bowls in the 1980s and 1990s. The team became notorious for its controversial racial name and related disputes over ownership and branding. Vince Lombardi coached the team in 1969 after leaving Green Bay, and his brief return helped end a long losing streak. The Washington Football Team name was adopted amid pressure during the George Floyd protests, and the club won the NFC East in the 2020 season. Recent references include Jayden Daniels, Brian Robinson Jr., and the ownership change that followed Dan Snyder’s departure.

  • Los Angeles Rams — The Los Angeles Rams are the NFL franchise that moved from St. Louis back to California and later won a Super Bowl in their home stadium. The team is associated with Eric Dickerson’s rushing record, Sean McVay, Matt Stafford, and Aaron Donald.

  • Oakland Raiders — The Oakland Raiders are the silver-and-black NFL franchise famous for the motto “Just win, baby” and for the Black Hole at their home games. They were long owned by Al Davis and later planned a move to Las Vegas, while players like Derek Carr and Marshawn Lynch became linked to the team’s late-2010s roster.
    • Howie Long — Howie Long is the former Raiders defensive end who became a longtime Fox NFL Sunday analyst. He later appeared in action films such as Broken Arrow and is also known as the father of NFL players Kyle and Chris Long.
  • San Francisco 49ers — The San Francisco 49ers are an NFL franchise based in the Bay Area of California and a member of the NFC West. They began play in the AAFC in 1946 before joining the NFL after the merger. Under Joe Montana they became a dynasty in the 1980s, winning multiple Super Bowls after Dwight Clark’s famous catch in the NFC Championship Game. Notable players mentioned include quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Brock Purdy, fullbacks Rathman and Juszczyk, and Christian McCaffrey; the team is commonly called the Niners.
    • players
      • Ronnie Lott — Ronnie Lott was a hard-hitting San Francisco 49ers defensive back and safety. He famously chose to have part of his pinky finger amputated rather than miss playing time, and a defensive trophy bears his name.
    • the San Francisco 49ers — The San Francisco 49ers are the NFL team associated with mascot Sourdough Sam and with a Super Bowl XXIII comeback victory. In that game they scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to win a rematch of a previous Super Bowl.
• Notre Dame football coaches
  • Knute Rockne — Knute Rockne was the legendary Notre Dame football coach credited with popularizing the forward pass with Gus Dorais and developing the Notre Dame Box, a box shift. He became a national sports figure before his death in a 1931 plane crash. His name later became attached to a film biography featuring Ronald Reagan as George Gipp.
• Rules and Penalties
  • false start — A false start is a penalty for moving before the snap or reacting too early in a race or other start sequence. It appears in football, track, and other sports that punish premature motion.
• American football tight ends
  • Rob Gronkowski — Rob Gronkowski is a tight end known for his long career with the New England Patriots. He became famous for his celebrations, frequent injuries, and close connection to Tom Brady.
• NFL long snappers
  • Ethan Albright — Ethan Albright is an American football long snapper best known for his extremely low Madden rating. He played for the Dolphins, Bills, and Redskins and became an Internet reference point because of the controversy around Madden 07.
• NFL offensive tackles
  • Orlando Brown — Orlando Brown was an NFL offensive tackle best remembered for being temporarily blinded by an errant penalty flag thrown by Jeff Triplette. He played for the Browns before and after their relocation, and his son, also named Orlando Brown, later became a Pro Bowl player.
• Wide receivers
  • Terry Glenn — Wide receiver from Ohio State who won the Biletnikoff Award and was drafted seventh overall in 1996 by the New England Patriots over Bill Parcells’s objections. He later played for the Packers, Cowboys, and Bears, reuniting with Parcells in Dallas. His career is often associated with injuries and off-field troubles.
• American football scoring
  • safety — A safety is the two-point score in football awarded when the ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone. In professional American football it is signaled with the referee’s arms raised straight overhead, and it can occur only rarely in a game.
• Football

  • Art Monk — Art Monk was a record-setting NFL wide receiver whose career reception mark was later broken by Jerry Rice. Clues about him often mention his long pass-catching streak and his years with the Washington Redskins, Jets, and Eagles.

  • Bruce Arians — Bruce Arians is a football coach who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title and previously coached the Arizona Cardinals. He became known for the aggressive “no risk-it, no biscuit” style and for being one of the NFL’s veteran head coaches.

  • celebrations
    • touchdown celebrations — Touchdown celebrations are the choreographed reactions players perform after scoring a touchdown in football. Famous examples include the Lambeau Leap and banned or fined antics by players such as Terrell Owens and Aaron Rodgers.
  • Centers
    • Mike Webster — Mike Webster was a Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers and one of the first former players publicly associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. After his playing career, he fell into homelessness and other hard times, even living out of a truck for a period.
  • Coaches

    • Bill Walsh — Bill Walsh was the coach who built the San Francisco 49ers into a Super Bowl dynasty and later returned to Stanford as head coach. He is identified with the West Coast offense and with winning Super Bowl XXIII.

    • Fielding H. Yost — Fielding H. Yost was a prominent early college football coach and former player. He starred on Kansas’s undefeated 1899 team and then led Michigan from 1901 to 1905, during which it lost only one game.

    • Jimmy Johnson — Jimmy Johnson was the coach who won national championships at Miami and Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. He first built his reputation at Oklahoma State and later became one of the most famous personnel-minded coaches in NFL history.

    • Kliff Kingsbury — Kliff Kingsbury is a former quarterback who later became head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and previously coached at Texas Tech. He is also associated with Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray from his coaching career.

    • Tom Landry — Tom Landry was the longtime head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, famous for his fedora and his innovative 4-3 defense. He led Dallas to multiple championships and became one of the defining figures in NFL coaching history.

  • Defenses

    • No-Name Defense — The No-Name Defense was the nickname for the early-1970s Miami Dolphins defense, including the undefeated 1972 team. The unit was known for its depth rather than a single superstar and is associated with players like Nick Buoniconti and Jake Scott.

    • The Steel Curtain — The Steel Curtain was the nickname for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dominant defensive line, featuring players such as Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Jack Ham, and others.

  • Defensive ends
    • Reggie White — Reggie White was the dominant NFL defensive end nicknamed the “Minister of Defense” and a longtime sack record holder. He starred for the Eagles and Packers after beginning in the USFL, and he was a key figure in the push for NFL free agency.
  • Defensive schemes
    • Tampa 2 — Tampa 2 is a defensive football scheme derived from Cover 2 principles, with the middle linebacker dropping deep into coverage. It was popularized by Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin and is associated with the Buccaneers’ success in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

  • forward pass — The forward pass is the football play that allows the ball to be thrown downfield by hand, making modern passing offenses possible. It became legal in 1906 and transformed the game into one in which quarterbacks could become stars.

  • Games

    • 2020 Coastal Carolina vs. Brigham Young University — This was the hastily arranged 2020 matchup between Coastal Carolina and BYU, played on teal turf in Conway, South Carolina. It became one of ESPNU’s most-watched games since 2015 and ended with Dax Milne stopped at the goal line after a chaotic finish.

    • Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins — The Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins met in the longest NFL game ever, a Christmas Day 1971 playoff game that ended 27-24 in double overtime. Ed Podolak’s huge all-purpose-yard performance and Garo Yepremian’s winning kick are the standard clues.

  • Germany national team managers
    • Helmut Schön — Helmut Schön was a West German football coach who guided the national team to major success in the 1960s and 1970s. He also coached West Germany to the 1972 European Championship.
  • Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
    • Timmy Chang — Timmy Chang is the former Hawaii quarterback who set major NCAA passing records and later became the Rainbow Warriors’ coach. He is remembered for prolific passing totals, a comeback against Michigan State, and a career that also included play in NFL Europa.
  • Italian clubs
    • Juventus — Juventus is the Italian football club from Turin famous for black-and-white stripes, a strong Agnelli family connection, and major domestic success. It has featured stars such as Alessandro Del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon, and Paulo Dybala, and it is known for rivalries including the Derby d’Italia.
  • kickers
    • Neil Rackers — Neil Rackers was an Arizona Cardinals kicker who set an NFL record by making 40 field goals in a season. He was also noted for an on-field outburst after an overtime loss to the 49ers.
  • kicking plays
    • drop kick — A drop kick is a football play in which the ball is bounced on the ground and then kicked through the uprights, once a viable extra-point and field-goal technique before changes to the modern football made it far harder to execute. It became a novelty by the late twentieth century, but Doug Flutie famously converted one in an NFL game in 2006, and earlier questions also mention examples in the NFL, Arena Football, and Australian rules variants.

  • Las Vegas Raiders — The Las Vegas Raiders are the NFL franchise formerly based in Oakland and Los Angeles before moving to Nevada. Clues point to John Madden, Tom Flores, Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, and the team song adopted by NFL Films.

  • leagues
    • XFL — The XFL is Vince McMahon’s short-lived alternative football league, famous for its opening scramble and nicknames like Rod Smart’s “He Hate Me.” It was revived in later years with new owners and teams such as the Vegas Vipers.
      • Teams
        • Los Angeles Xtreme — The Los Angeles Xtreme were an XFL team noted for players such as Jamal Duff, Ramondo Stallings, and Rashaan Shehee. They won the league’s only Million Dollar Game.
  • Managers
    • Luiz Felipe Scolari — Luiz Felipe Scolari, known as Big Phil, is the Brazilian football manager who led Brazil to World Cup success and later coached Portugal. He also had notable stops at Chelsea, Kuwait, Guangzhou Evergrande, and Bunyodkor.
  • Media Networks
    • NFL Network — NFL Network is the cable channel devoted exclusively to the National Football League. Its programming includes shows such as Total Access, Replay, and coverage of events like Saturday Night Football.
  • Miami Dolphins — The South Florida NFL team is famous for its perfect 1972 season and for appearing in three consecutive Super Bowls, including the 1973 title run. It has also had Super Bowl wins, ended a long winless stretch with a last-minute victory over Baltimore, and is associated with Dan Marino, the Wildcat offense era, the “Miracle in Miami” style of comeback plays, and the Ace Ventura mascot joke. Players such as Oronde Gadsden and Sam Madison are associated with the franchise.
    • 1972 Miami Dolphins — The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only NFL team to finish a season undefeated and untied. Led by Don Shula, Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, Larry Csonka, and Mercury Morris, they capped the year by winning Super Bowl VII.

  • Mike Ditka — Former Bears tight end and longtime Chicago Bears coach best remembered for leading the 1985 team to its only Super Bowl title. He was from Aliquippa, later played for the Bears, became a media personality known for blunt football commentary, appeared in commercials, and had a controversial stint coaching the Saints.

  • Mr. Irrelevant — Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname for the final player selected in the NFL Draft. That distinction comes with the Lowsman Trophy, a parody of the Heisman Trophy showing a fumbling player.

  • New York Giants — The New York Giants are the NFL team based in the New York metropolitan area that play at MetLife Stadium with the Jets. Their modern identity is tied to Eli Manning, Lawrence Taylor, and Super Bowl wins over the Patriots. Quizbowl clues often mention the Helmet Catch, the 1986 title team, and the play at the end of Super Bowl XLVI. The franchise’s long history includes the Miracle at the Meadowlands and the famous designation of wide right in an earlier championship.
    • Lawrence Tynes — Lawrence Tynes was the New York Giants kicker who helped deliver the Super Bowl XLII title. He is remembered for clutch field goals, including the overtime winner in the 2008 NFC Championship Game.
  • NFL cornerbacks
    • Roland “Champ” Bailey — Roland “Champ” Bailey was a star NFL cornerback best known for his years with the Denver Broncos after being traded there from Washington for Clinton Portis in 2004. A Georgia star and 1999 first-round pick, he became known for his interceptions, Pro Bowl selections, and a 100-yard pick-six against Tom Brady.
  • NFL players

    • Jim Haslett — Jim Haslett is a former NFL linebacker who won Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Bills in 1979. He later became head coach of the New Orleans Saints and led them to a playoff win in 2000.

    • Mark Schlereth — Mark Schlereth was an NFL offensive lineman who played for Washington and Denver. He later became a sports media personality and was known for surviving numerous injuries and surgeries during his playing career.

    • Stanley Wilson — Stanley Wilson was a Cincinnati Bengals running back whose career became notorious for his drug addiction and absence around Super Bowl XXIII. The clues point to his personal decline after leaving a Miami crack house.

  • NFL quarterbacks

    • Chad Pennington — Chad Pennington was a quarterback for the New York Jets and later won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award twice. He retired as the league’s all-time leader in completion percentage.

    • Dak Prescott — Dak Prescott is the Mississippi State quarterback who became the Dallas Cowboys’ starter after Tony Romo’s injury. He first drew notice for a record-setting Orange Bowl performance and then for leading Dallas as a rookie alongside Ezekiel Elliott.

    • Matthew Stafford — Matthew Stafford is the quarterback who starred at Georgia before going first overall in the 2009 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He became known for late-game comebacks and for pairing with receivers such as Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate in Detroit.

    • Sage Rosenfels — Sage Rosenfels is a former NFL quarterback who played for Iowa State, Houston, and Minnesota. He is also known for a memorable eBay auction and for later writing about the Vikings, as well as for being Jewish.

  • NFL running backs

    • Jonathan Taylor — Jonathan Taylor is the star running back for the Indianapolis Colts. He is known for elite rushing totals, a game-winning touchdown in the Colts’ Berlin game, and for a contract standoff that caused him to miss part of the 2023 season.

    • Ricky Williams — Ricky Williams is the former Texas running back whose NFL career was marked by major rushing totals and repeated suspensions for cannabis use. He later became known for running into consecutive 200-yard games with the Dolphins.

  • NFL wide receivers
    • Andre Johnson — Andre Johnson was a star wide receiver for the Houston Texans and later played for the Colts, Dolphins, and Titans. He came out of Miami with track success and was a high draft pick who became one of the franchise’s first major offensive stars.
  • Offensive tackles
    • D’Brickashaw Ferguson — D’Brickashaw Ferguson was the University of Virginia offensive tackle drafted fourth overall by the Jets in 2006. He became known for his unusual name, which was inspired by a character in The Thorn Birds, and for his long streak of snaps at left tackle.
  • Officials
    • NFL referees — NFL referees are the officials who officiate professional American football games and enforce the rules on the field. They were the focus of a 2012 labor dispute that led to replacement officials and criticism after controversial calls like the “Fail Mary.”
  • Players

    • Calvin Hill — Calvin Hill is the Yale All-American running back who later played in the NFL for the Cowboys, Redskins, and Browns. He is also remembered in Doonesbury as a Yale classmate of Garry Trudeau.

    • Joe Greene — Joe Greene was a dominant Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle and a key member of the Steel Curtain defense. He is widely remembered for the Coca-Cola commercial in which he gives his jersey to a young fan.

    • Kevin Greene — Kevin Greene was a standout NFL linebacker who starred for the Steelers after earlier playing for the Rams. He later became known for prolific pass rushing, including a season leading the league in sacks with Carolina.

    • Roy Riegels — Roy Riegels was the California football player famous for the 1929 Rose Bowl blunder in which he ran the wrong way after a fumble recovery. His mistake led to a safety and helped Georgia Tech win by one point.

  • Plays
    • Fumblerooski — The fumblerooski is a now-illegal trick play in which the quarterback deliberately leaves the ball on the ground for a teammate, usually a lineman, to pick up and run. It became famous in college football, including the 1984 Orange Bowl and later bans in major leagues.
  • punters
    • Pat McAfee — Pat McAfee is a former Indianapolis Colts punter who spent his entire NFL career with that team. He later became a media personality with an eponymous talk show and is known for his Super Bowl XLIV appearance and special-teams tackle.
  • Quarterbacks

    • Adrian McPherson — Adrian McPherson was a Florida State quarterback whose career was derailed by check-fraud and gambling scandals. He was later drafted by the Saints and became a notable example of a once-promising college athlete whose off-field troubles interrupted his football path.

    • Daunte Culpepper — Daunte Culpepper was a Minnesota Vikings quarterback known for combining passing and rushing production, including a career mark that put him among a tiny group of NCAA players over 10,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. He also set an NCAA single-season completion percentage record before later playing for the Dolphins and Sacramento Mountain Lions.

    • Gus Frerotte — Gus Frerotte was a longtime NFL quarterback who played for the Redskins, Vikings, Dolphins, and other teams. He was known for a memorable touchdown celebration in which he rammed his head into a wall and injured his neck.

    • JaMarcus Russell — JaMarcus Russell was the Oakland Raiders quarterback taken first overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He is remembered as a major draft bust and for his poor passing numbers in the pros.

    • Jay Fiedler — Jay Fiedler is a quarterback from Dartmouth who spent time in the World League before succeeding Dan Marino with the Dolphins. He later served as a backup quarterback with the Jets after his Miami years.

    • Ryan Fitzpatrick — Ryan Fitzpatrick is a Harvard-educated NFL quarterback drafted by the Rams in 2005. He later played for a long list of NFL teams, was known for a high Wonderlic score, and set New York Jets passing records. He became famous for erratic play and a long beard, and was associated with nicknames such as Fitzmagic, Fitztragic, and Fitzception.

    • Sonny Jurgensen — Sonny Jurgensen was a quarterback who played for the Eagles and later the Redskins after a trade for Norm Snead. He won NFL passing titles with Washington and later became a Redskins broadcaster.

    • Steve DeBerg — Steve DeBerg was a veteran NFL quarterback who passed for more than 34,000 career yards. He led Kansas City to the playoffs in 1990 and 1991 and was replaced at various stops by Joe Montana, John Elway, and Steve Young.

    • Steve Young — Hall of Fame quarterback who starred at BYU, then played in the USFL, with Tampa Bay, and later as Joe Montana’s backup before succeeding him with the San Francisco 49ers. He became the first left-handed quarterback elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is especially associated with six touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIX and later work as a football analyst and attorney.

    • Todd Marinovich — Todd Marinovich was a highly touted quarterback from Southern California who was drafted by the Raiders in the first round. His career was derailed by drug problems, and he later attempted comebacks in arena and Canadian football.

  • Return specialists
    • Desmond Howard — Desmond Howard is a former Michigan wide receiver and return specialist who won the Heisman Trophy and later Super Bowl XXXI MVP honors with Green Bay. He also set a single-season punt-return yardage record for the Packers in 1996.

  • Robert Cal Hubbard — Robert Cal Hubbard was a dominant NFL tackle for the Green Bay Packers and later the Giants, and he was voted the league’s greatest tackle for its first half-century. He also became a Major League Baseball umpire in 1936 and is the only person inducted into both the Pro Football and Baseball Halls of Fame.

  • running backs

    • Eugene “Mercury” Morris — Eugene “Mercury” Morris was a running back for the Miami Dolphins in the 1970s. He is remembered as Larry Csonka’s backfield partner and for later legal trouble involving cocaine. He is also known for his outspoken commentary and for a 1,000-yard season as a change-of-pace back.

    • Warrick Dunn — Warrick Dunn was a Florida State running back who later played in the NFL for Tampa Bay and Atlanta. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1997 and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2004 for his charitable work.

  • Special teams
    • holder — A holder is the player who receives the snap and places the ball for the kick on field goals and extra points. The position is linked to punting and placekicking awards such as the Peter Mortell Holder of the Year Award.

  • Super Bowl XXII — Super Bowl XXII was the Redskins’ 42-10 win over the Broncos, highlighted by Doug Williams’s record passing performance. The game opened with a long touchdown to Ricky Nattiel before Washington pulled away with a huge second-half scoring burst.

  • Super Bowls
    • Super Bowl XXIX — Super Bowl XXIX was the 49ers’ 49-26 win over the Chargers, played in Miami and featuring a combined 75 points. Steve Young threw six touchdown passes in the game, which was the Chargers’ first Super Bowl appearance.
  • Teams
    • Dallas Texans — The Dallas Texans were the pre-Chiefs AFL franchise that later moved to Kansas City. Another Dallas Texans team folded after a brief 1952 season and was effectively replaced in Baltimore.

  • Vince Young — Vince Young was the Texas quarterback who led the Longhorns to a national title, including the 2006 Rose Bowl win over USC after the 2005 season’s “Game of the Century.” He won Rose Bowl MVP and later played for the Tennessee Titans, where he was known for his running and improvisational style.

  • Wide receivers
    • Chad Johnson — Born Chad Javon Johnson, he was a Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver known for his flamboyant personality, elaborate celebrations, frequent fines, and headline-grabbing off-field antics. He later became widely known as Chad Ochocinco, and the name change made him a recurring figure in sports trivia.
• American football equipment
  • football helmets — Football helmets are the protective headgear worn by American football players. Modern versions are designed to reduce impacts and are associated with safety features such as padded cap covers and communication equipment.
• American football officiating
  • Ed Hochuli — Ed Hochuli is an NFL referee and trial lawyer known for his oversized biceps and emphatic officiating style. He worked Super Bowls XXXII and XXXVIII and became widely recognized for his gun-show signals during calls.
• American football penalties
  • Intentional grounding — Intentional grounding is an American football penalty for deliberately throwing a pass where there is no realistic chance of completion. It is commonly called when a quarterback is under pressure in the pocket and throws the ball away to avoid a sack.
• American football rules

  • running out of the end zone — Running out of the end zone is the mistake of retreating past the goal line while on offense, which results in a safety. It is associated with Dan Orlovsky’s infamous 2008 play against the Vikings and a later similar mistake by Gardner Minshew.

  • Tuck Rule — The Tuck Rule was an NFL rule saying that a quarterback’s forward arm motion counted as a pass even if he tried to pull the ball back. It became famous after the 2002 Snow Bowl and the playoff reversal in the Raiders-Patriots game.

• American football rules and plays
  • Untimed Down — An untimed down is an extra play awarded when time has expired, usually after a penalty. College football clues often point to controversial examples such as the Oklahoma State–Central Michigan ending and repeated end-of-game opportunities in Western Kentucky–Old Dominion.
• American football positions

  • Quarterback of the Buffalo Bills — This answer refers to the quarterback position for the Buffalo Bills, the role associated with Jim Kelly and later starters such as Joe Ferguson and Drew Bledsoe. The clues trace a sequence of Bills passers including Jack Kemp, Todd Collins, Vince Ferragamo, Alex Van Pelt, Rob Johnson, Doug Flutie, and J. P. Losman.

  • kicker — A kicker, or placekicker, is the NFL special-teams player who attempts field goals and extra points. Clues often mention Justin Tucker, Brandon Aubrey, and dramatic misses or record-long kicks, since the position is judged by accuracy from distance.

    • Gary Anderson — Gary Anderson was the Minnesota Vikings kicker who became the first NFL player to have a perfect regular season, going 35 for 35 on field goals and 59 for 59 on extra points in 1998. He is also remembered for the missed kick that helped send the Falcons to Super Bowl XXXII. The name also appears in clues about a perfect kicking season and a game-deciding miss in the 1998 NFC Championship Game.

    • Jeff Wilkins — Jeff Wilkins was a placekicker for the St. Louis Rams and led the team in scoring. He is noted in NFL stat questions for a perfect kicking season and for scoring volume from field goals and extra points.

    • Mike Vanderjagt — Mike Vanderjagt was the highly accurate Indianapolis Colts kicker who led the AFC in scoring and set field-goal accuracy records. A former quarterback recruit, he also played in the CFL with Toronto before joining the Colts.

  • Nose tackle — A nose tackle is the interior defensive lineman in a 3-4 defense who lines up over the center. The position is valued for occupying blockers and clogging both A gaps rather than collecting sacks.

  • place kicker — A place kicker is the football specialist who handles field goals and extra points, and the Lou Groza Award honors the best college player at that position. Greg Zuerlein is identified as a place kicker, and the position is often abbreviated PK.

  • Tight Ends — Tight ends are football receivers and blockers who line up near the offensive line and often serve as major passing targets. Notable players at the position include Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, and Hall of Famers like Dave Casper and Charlie Sanders.

    • Antonio Gates — Antonio Gates is an NFL tight end for the San Diego Chargers who starred in college basketball at Kent State before switching sports. Clues often reference Kent State’s surprise run to the Elite Eight and his record-setting touchdown totals with Drew Brees.

    • Dallas Clark — Dallas Clark was an Iowa tight end who became a productive NFL starter for the Colts. He is associated with seam-route passing attacks and with an AFC championship game performance after returning from an MCL injury.

    • Daniel Graham — Daniel Graham was a Denver-born tight end who starred at the University of Colorado and won the 2001 John Mackey Award. He later played for the Patriots and the Broncos, where he was known as an elite blocker.

    • Kellen Boswell Winslow II — Kellen Boswell Winslow II is a former NFL tight end and the son of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. He played for the Browns and Buccaneers, won the 2003 Mackey Award, and was involved in a series of controversies including a motorcycle injury and on-field taunting.

    • Kellen Winslow Jr. — Kellen Winslow Jr. is a former NFL tight end and the son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr. He was drafted by the Browns, later played for the Buccaneers, and his career was marked by injuries and off-field controversy.

    • Kevin Everett — Kevin Everett was a Buffalo Bills tight end whose NFL career was cut short by a severe spinal injury. He suffered the injury in a hit against Denver, after which he regained significant movement in his arms and legs.

    • Shannon Sharpe — This Hall of Fame tight end starred for the Broncos and Ravens and finished with more than 10,000 receiving yards. He won three Super Bowls and was known as one of the greatest pass-catching tight ends in NFL history.

    • Todd Heap — Todd Heap was the Baltimore Ravens tight end nicknamed the Stormin’ Mormon after starring at Arizona State and setting school receiving marks for a tight end. He became known for steady production, Pro Bowl appearances, and a record number of two-point conversions in a season.

    • Vernon Davis — Vernon Davis is a former Maryland tight end who signed a large contract with the San Francisco 49ers. The contract made him one of the highest-paid tight ends in the league.

    • Visanthe Shiancoe — Visanthe Shiancoe was a Minnesota Vikings tight end. He became a tabloid and broadcasting punch line after a Fox camera caught him nude in the locker room in 2008.

• football positions
  • quarterback — The quarterback is the football position that takes the snap and directs the offense. Clues often point to famous quarterbacks like David Carr, Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning, and Eli Manning.

    • Blake Bortles — Blake Bortles was the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback who became a well-known name from his UCF days and a popular reference on The Good Place. He led Jacksonville to a memorable 2017 season, including a dominant London win over Baltimore and a long-overdue championship run for UCF.

    • Brad Johnson — Brad Johnson was an NFL quarterback who played for the Vikings, Redskins, and Buccaneers. He was a Florida State product and later led Washington to the 1999 divisional playoffs.

    • Joe Theismann — Joe Theismann was the former Washington quarterback who later became a broadcaster for ESPN. He is best remembered for leading Washington to a Super Bowl title and for suffering the infamous leg fracture that ended his playing career.

    • Norm Van Brocklin — Norm Van Brocklin was an NFL quarterback for the Rams and Eagles and set a single-game passing record with 554 yards in 1951. He later became one of the sport’s notable postwar stars and an MVP-level player.

• American football formations
  • wildcat formation — The wildcat formation is a football offense in which the running back takes the snap instead of the quarterback. It traces its modern popularity to college and NFL experimentation at schools and teams like Arkansas, Ole Miss, the Patriots, and the Dolphins.
• American football plays

  • River City Relay — The River City Relay was the New Orleans Saints’ famous 2003 last-second touchdown sequence with multiple laterals. It ended painfully when John Carney missed the extra point, leaving the Saints short of a playoff berth.

  • The Play — The Play is the famous 1982 Cal-Stanford kickoff return in which California lateraled past the Stanford band for a last-second touchdown. Kevin Moen finished the return, and the moment became one of college football’s most replayed endings.

  • Five Yards Short — “Five Yards Short” names the Georgia pass play in the 2012 SEC Championship game that set up the famous Alabama goal-line stand. Chris Conley caught the deflected ball after pressure from C.J. Mosley and the ensuing confusion around Aaron Murray’s throw.

• American football trick plays
  • Flea Flicker — A flea flicker is a trick play in which the offense laterals or hands off the ball before throwing a forward pass. It was credited to Amos Alonzo Stagg and later became famous through big NFL completions and famous failures.
• NFL plays
  • Holy Roller — Holy Roller is the famous 1978 Oakland Raiders touchdown play against the Chargers in which the ball was batted forward into the end zone on a late fumble. The play became notorious enough to inspire new NFL rules about advancing fumbles and is also called the Immaculate Deception.

Super Bowl

• Super Bowl halftime show — major entertainment spectacle; notable performances by Michael Jackson (1993), Prince (2007), Beyoncé (2013), and others. The Super Bowl halftime show is the musical pageant staged during the championship game, featuring acts ranging from college bands to pop stars. Notable performers mentioned include Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, New Kids on the Block, and the tributes and ensembles of the 1990s.

• Super Bowl games

  • Super Bowl XVI — Super Bowl XVI was the 49ers’ first Super Bowl title, won over the Bengals in 1982 with Joe Montana at quarterback. Its path to the title included the famous Dwight Clark catch in the NFC Championship and key fourth-quarter field goals by Ray Wersching.

  • Super Bowl XXXIV — Super Bowl XXXIV was the game in which the St. Louis Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans on the final play known as “the tackle.” Kurt Warner was the MVP, and the game is also remembered for Isaac Bruce’s long go-ahead touchdown and Mike Jones’s stop of Kevin Dyson.

• Super Bowl trophies
  • Vince Lombardi Trophy — The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the sterling silver award given to the winner of the Super Bowl. It was designed by Tiffany and is named for the legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

• Format — the NFL championship game, played annually in late January or early February at a neutral site; a major cultural event in the United States with high viewership.

• First Super Bowl — Super Bowl I (January 1967): Green Bay Packers defeated Kansas City Chiefs; Vince Lombardi’s Packers dominated the early Super Bowl era.

• Most Super Bowl wins — New England Patriots (6) and San Francisco 49ers (6) share the record as of this writing.

• Tom Brady — quarterback widely considered the greatest in NFL history; won seven Super Bowls (six with New England Patriots, one with Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Drafted 199th overall in 2000, he spent most of his career with the New England Patriots before winning a title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He became associated with the Patriots dynasty and with controversies such as the Tuck Rule Game and Deflategate.

• NFL trophies
  • Lombardi Trophy — The Lombardi Trophy is the Super Bowl trophy awarded to the NFL champion each year. Its design traces to a 1966 cocktail-napkin sketch and it is named for Vince Lombardi.
• Super Bowls

  • Super Bowl III — Super Bowl III was the 1969 championship game in which Joe Namath’s Jets upset the Baltimore Colts. It was the first Super Bowl identified by number and featured the famous guarantee that helped validate the AFL against the NFL.

  • Super Bowl XXIII — Super Bowl XXIII was the 49ers’ narrow victory over the Bengals, capped by Joe Montana’s late touchdown drive to John Taylor. The game is widely remembered for Montana’s last-minute composure and for Jerry Rice’s role in the 49ers’ offense.

Legendary Players

• Jim Brown — Cleveland Browns running back; dominated the late 1950s–1960s; widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs. He set major NFL rushing records and won the league MVP award. After football he acted in films, including The Dirty Dozen, and became active in community and social programs such as the Amer-I-Can project. He was also a Syracuse lacrosse star and won multiple rushing titles.

• Jerry Rice — wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers; holds NFL records for career receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. He wore number 80. A Mississippi Valley State standout, he won Super Bowl XXIII MVP honors and later suffered a major knee injury in 1997 after a hit by Warren Sapp. He was also the Blue-Gray Football Classic MVP and is widely regarded as one of the greatest wideouts in NFL history.

• Lawrence Taylor — New York Giants linebacker; redefined the defensive end/linebacker position in the 1980s; two Super Bowl titles.

• Peyton Manning — quarterback for Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos; two Super Bowl titles; famous for pre-snap reading and audibles. He won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts and Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos, was a five-time NFL MVP, and was the first overall pick in the 1998 draft after starring at Tennessee. He was also known for prolific connections with Marvin Harrison, the disastrous opening snap of Super Bowl XLVII, and his Nationwide commercials parodying songs and catchphrases.

• Joe Montana — San Francisco 49ers quarterback; four Super Bowl wins, never threw an interception in Super Bowl play.

• Vince Lombardi — head coach of the Green Bay Packers; won the first two Super Bowls and five NFL championships in the 1960s; the Super Bowl trophy is named the Lombardi Trophy in his honor. He is also remembered for the maxim that winning is the only thing.

• The “Catch” — Dwight Clark’s leaping touchdown reception from Joe Montana in the 1982 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys; one of the most iconic plays in NFL history.

• Walter Payton — Chicago Bears running back; known as “Sweetness”; held the NFL career rushing yards record before Emmitt Smith; exemplary blocker and receiver as well. He ranked second all time in career rushing yards. The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is named for him and honors players for charitable work off the field.

• Emmitt Smith — Dallas Cowboys running back; the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 career yards; three Super Bowl championships. He later played for the Arizona Cardinals and was known for his durability and record-setting rushing totals.

• Deion Sanders — cornerback and return specialist known as “Prime Time” and “Neon Deion”; the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.

• NCAA football / College Football Playoff — the top level of college football; major bowl games include the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Cotton Bowl; the College Football Playoff replaced the BCS in 2014 to determine a national champion.

• Heisman Trophy — annual award presented to the most outstanding player in college football; voted on by sportswriters and former Heisman winners. Archie Griffin is the only two-time winner, and past winners include Charles Woodson, Barry Sanders, and Lamar Jackson.

• “The Immaculate Reception” — a 1972 playoff play in which Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris caught a deflected pass and ran for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders; one of the most controversial and celebrated plays in NFL history. The play is commonly called Franco Harris’s controversial last-second catch-and-touchdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Oakland Raiders in a 1972 playoff game. It became one of the most famous and disputed moments in NFL history.

• NFL fullbacks
  • Lorenzo Neal — Lorenzo Neal was an NFL fullback for teams including the Titans, Bengals, Ravens, and Chargers, and he famously fielded the kickoff that led to the Titans’ Music City Miracle.
• NFL players

  • Jack Tatum — Jack Tatum was the Oakland Raiders safety nicknamed “The Assassin”. He is infamous for a 1978 hit on Darryl Stingley that left Stingley paralyzed, making Tatum one of football’s most notorious tacklers.

  • LaDainian Tomlinson — NFL running back for the San Diego Chargers, where he became one of the league’s most productive scorers and set the single-season touchdown record in 2007. He starred at TCU, won the Doak Walker Award, entered the NFL as a high draft pick, and is often identified by his initials L.T.; he was especially noted for his rushing touchdowns, fantasy football value, and 2006-2007 production.

• NFL tight ends

  • Kellen Winslow — Kellen Winslow was a Hall of Fame tight end for the Chargers, widely regarded as one of the position’s pioneers. He later became an NFL analyst, and his son Kellen Winslow II also played tight end.

  • Ozzie Newsome — Ozzie Newsome was a Hall of Fame tight end for the Cleveland Browns who later became the Baltimore Ravens’ general manager. He is known for catching passes in 150 consecutive games, finishing with 662 receptions, and wearing number 82, which Cleveland retired.

• American football wide receivers
  • Jabar Gaffney — Jabar Gaffney is a wide receiver who played at the University of Florida and was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2002. He later caught passes for the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos.
• football wide receivers

  • Derrick Mason — Derrick Mason was a productive NFL wide receiver best known for his years with the Titans and Ravens, where he became a reliable high-volume target. He set major combined-yardage marks in 2000 and later topped 1,000 receiving yards repeatedly after moving from special teams to wide receiver.

  • John Stallworth — John Stallworth was a Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, drafted in the fourth round in 1974. He spent his entire career with the team and formed part of its famed receiving corps alongside Lynn Swann.

• NFL wide receivers

  • Brian Brennan — Brian Brennan was a Cleveland Browns wide receiver, remembered for a long touchdown in the 1987 AFC Championship Game that briefly put Cleveland ahead. He played his college football at Boston College.

  • Pierre Garçon — Pierre Garçon is a wide receiver of Haitian heritage who has had a cedilla on his jersey. He played for Indianapolis and Washington, and in 2013 he led the league in receptions.

• NFL linebackers

  • Mike Singletary — Mike Singletary was a linebacker for the 1985 Chicago Bears and later became a head coach in the NFL. He played his college football at Baylor and was nicknamed Samurai Mike.

  • Takeo Spikes — Takeo Spikes is a former NFL linebacker and Auburn alumnus who played for the Bengals, Bills, and Eagles. He was known for his Pro Bowl career and for being traded from Buffalo before the 2007 season. A torn Achilles in 2005 hurt his later form, but he remained a prominent defensive player.

• NFL safeties
  • Troy Aumua Polamalu — Pittsburgh Steelers safety known for his long hair and aggressive, hard-hitting play. He was a USC star, won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh, appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 10 with Larry Fitzgerald, and was associated with Head & Shoulders advertising.
• Pittsburgh Steelers defense
  • Steel Curtain — The Steel Curtain was the nickname for the dominant Pittsburgh Steelers defense of the 1970s, led by players such as Jack Ham and Mean Joe Greene. The phrase refers to the celebrated Pittsburgh defensive unit that anchored multiple Super Bowl championships.
• football

  • Adam “Pacman” Jones — Adam “Pacman” Jones is an American football cornerback who starred at West Virginia before the Tennessee Titans drafted him sixth overall. He became notorious for suspensions and off-field trouble, including a 2005 arrest and a season-long NFL suspension.

  • Andre Ware — Andre Ware was the Houston quarterback who won the 1989 Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award after throwing 46 touchdown passes. He became the first Black quarterback to win the Heisman. The clues also note that he was drafted by the Lions and became a famous pro bust. His college success came in Houston’s run-and-shoot offense.

  • Ben Roethlisberger — Ben Roethlisberger is the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback nicknamed Big Ben and a Miami of Ohio alumnus. He won two Super Bowls and is remembered for strong rookie play, the Santonio Holmes touchdown, and later controversies off the field.

  • Cam Ward — Cam Ward is the name of a quarterback who began at Incarnate Word before becoming a 2024 Miami Heisman finalist. It is also the name of the Carolina Hurricanes goalie who won the Conn Smythe Trophy and became known for the 2009 skate-blade injury to his leg.

  • Daryl Stingley — Daryl Stingley was a New England Patriots receiver whose career was ended by a violent hit from Jack Tatum. He is remembered for the paralysis caused by that tackle.

  • David Kopay — David Kopay was a running back for the Packers and 49ers who became the first professional football player to publicly come out as gay. After retiring in 1972, he became known for speaking out against homophobia in sports.

  • DeMeco Ryans — DeMeco Ryans is a former NFL linebacker who won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 after being drafted by Houston out of Alabama. He played for the Texans and Eagles and was widely praised for his leadership and intelligence on defense.

  • Eugene Robinson — Eugene Robinson was the hard-hitting Atlanta Falcons safety whose arrest for soliciting a prostitute drew attention before Super Bowl XXXIII. He was a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back known as ‘The Prophet’ and a Bart Starr Award winner.

  • Leon Lett — Leon Lett was a Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman remembered for a series of infamous special-teams mistakes. He was famously chased down after celebrating too early in Super Bowl XXVII and later touched a live blocked field goal against Miami. The blocked field goal incident in 1993 helped make his name a byword for a disastrous football blunder.

  • Onterrio Smith — Onterrio Smith is the former Minnesota Vikings running back who became notorious for the Whizzinator, a device used to evade drug tests. He also played at Oregon and later had a brief stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

  • Robert Griffin III — Robert Griffin III, often called RG3 or RGIII, was Baylor’s quarterback and the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner. He starred in Baylor’s bowl wins and was selected second overall in the 2012 NFL draft by Washington, later struggling with injuries and quarterback competition in the NFL.

  • Ron Jaworski — Ron Jaworski was the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Dick Vermeil era and later became a television analyst. He is remembered for having started for the Eagles in their Super Bowl XV run.

• Football players

  • Antonio Freeman — Antonio Freeman was a Green Bay Packers wide receiver and Brett Favre’s deep threat in the 1990s. He starred at Virginia Tech and became known for a long Super Bowl touchdown catch.

  • Brian Leonard — Brian Leonard is a Rutgers fullback who won the Draddy Award, sometimes called the Academic Heisman, in 2006. He later played in the NFL after taking on more of a blocking role for Rutgers alongside Ray Rice.

  • Elvis Grbac — Elvis Grbac was a former Michigan quarterback who played in the NFL for teams including the Chiefs and Ravens. He is often mentioned as a backup under Bill Walsh and as a player criticized after a bad interception. He is a common answer in sports tossups about quarterback depth charts and late-career trades.

  • Golden Tate — Golden Tate is an NFL wide receiver known for dramatic catches and for the disputed touchdown in the Seahawks-Packers ‘Fail Mary’ game. He later played for the Lions and Giants and was often noted for taunting and other on-field controversies.

  • Jonathan Vilma — Jonathan Vilma is a former linebacker from Miami who played for the New York Jets and later became known for his tackling and defensive production. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and helped lead the Jets to the playoffs after replacing Sam Cowart.

  • Lynn Bowden Jr. — Lynn Bowden Jr. became known as a versatile Kentucky football star, playing wide receiver and returner before taking over at quarterback. His clues include a 99-yard high school touchdown on a botched punt snap, a breakout game against Missouri, and a huge rushing performance against Louisville in 2019.

  • Nick Novak — Nick Novak was a long-time NFL kicker who attended Maryland and replaced Nate Kaeding on the Chargers. He later became a journeyman specialist for several teams and was the Chargers’ replacement after Younghoe Koo was waived in 2017.

  • Travis Prentice — Travis Prentice was a Miami of Ohio running back who set the NCAA Division I career touchdowns record with his 73rd score against Buffalo in 1999. He was also a Heisman candidate and moved high on the NCAA list for rushing touchdowns while leading Miami’s offense.

• Football quarterbacks

  • Colt McCoy — Colt McCoy was a University of Texas quarterback who set the NCAA record for career wins by a starting quarterback. He won the 2008 Walter Camp Award and was also a major collegiate award winner and Heisman contender. He later played in the NFL, including for the Browns, after making an early pro debut because of injuries ahead of him on the depth chart.

  • Major Harris — Major Harris was the West Virginia quarterback known for his scrambling style and for leading the Mountaineers to a 1989 national-title game showdown with Notre Dame. He finished third in Heisman voting in 1989 and was later drafted by the Raiders in the 12th round.

• NFL quarterbacks

  • Bubby Brister — An NFL quarterback who starred at Northeast Louisiana and was drafted by the Steelers in the third round in 1986. He spent seven seasons with Pittsburgh as its top quarterback in the late 1980s, later backed up John Elway in Denver, and also played for the Eagles, Jets, Vikings, Broncos, and Chiefs. He is also remembered for refusing to enter a blowout to “mop up” for someone else.

  • C. J. Stroud — C. J. Stroud is the Houston Texans quarterback who became the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He starred at Ohio State before being drafted second overall by Houston, and he helped lead the Texans to a playoff win under DeMeco Ryans.

  • Jim Sorgi — Jim Sorgi was a quarterback from Wisconsin who spent most of his NFL career backing up Peyton Manning with the Colts. He is also associated with the Reynolds-Sorgi incident and with a short stint with the Giants that ended after a shoulder injury.

  • Ken Anderson — Ken Anderson was a longtime Cincinnati Bengals quarterback who led the team to its first Super Bowl appearance in the 1982 season. He also won league passer-rating titles and later coached quarterbacks in the NFL.

  • Otto Graham — Otto Graham was the Hall of Fame quarterback who starred for the Cleveland Browns after a college career at Northwestern. He led Cleveland to repeated championship appearances, winning multiple AAFC and NFL titles, and his number 14 is retired by the Browns.

  • Tim Hasselbeck — Tim Hasselbeck is a former NFL quarterback and television analyst, and he is the less famous of the Hasselbeck brothers who played at Boston College. He is also known as Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s husband.

  • Warren Moon — Warren Moon was a Hall of Fame quarterback who starred for the Houston Oilers, then played in Canada before later NFL stops with Minnesota, Seattle, and Kansas City. The clues also point to his brief late-career stint as a backup with the Chiefs.

• Quarterbacks

  • Matthew Stephen “Matt” Leinart — Matt Leinart was USC’s Heisman-winning quarterback who led the Trojans to the 2005 BCS title game and faced Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl. He was drafted tenth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2006 after a standout college career.

  • Tim Couch — Tim Couch was the first overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft, taken by the Cleveland Browns after the franchise returned to the league. He is also remembered for two game-winning Hail Mary passes, including one that gave the Browns their first victory as an expansion team.

• football running backs
  • Duce Staley — Duce Staley was a running back for the Philadelphia Eagles. He appeared in a United Way commercial and is noted there for stumbling over the word “chrysanthemum.”
• college football players

  • Byron Hanspard — Byron Hanspard was a Texas Tech running back who won the 1996 Doak Walker Award before entering the NFL. He is also known for leaving school after being declared academically ineligible.

  • Heath Shuler — Heath Shuler was a quarterback from Tennessee who finished second in the 1993 Heisman Trophy voting. He was drafted third overall in 1994 and later played in the NFL for teams including Washington and New Orleans.

  • Ty Detmer — Ty Detmer was the BYU quarterback who won the 1990 Heisman Trophy and became known for a record-setting college career. He first gained fame in the 1988 Freedom Bowl comeback against Colorado. He later had a long NFL career as a backup quarterback, including time with the Eagles and Browns, and also started for the Eagles in the 1990s. He is the brother of Koy Detmer.

• Multi-sport athletes

  • Jim Thorpe — Jim Thorpe was a Sac and Fox Native American athlete and one of the greatest all-around American sports figures. He starred at Carlisle under Pop Warner, leading its football team to a famous upset of Harvard, and excelled in football, baseball, track and field, and basketball. In the 1912 Olympics he won gold in the pentathlon and decathlon, but his medals were later stripped over amateurism violations tied to semipro baseball; they were restored posthumously in 1982. He also played pro football for the Canton Bulldogs and became the first president of the American Professional Football Association. Burt Lancaster portrayed him in a later film.

  • Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson — Bo Jackson was a rare two-sport star who played Major League Baseball and NFL football. He won the Heisman Trophy at Auburn, starred for the Oakland Raiders, and played baseball for the Kansas City Royals and later the Chicago White Sox. He became famous for his power and speed, a 91-yard run, a Nike campaign, and his Tecmo Bowl reputation as a pop-culture sports icon. His career was cut short by a hip injury; after hip surgery, a first-at-bat home run with the White Sox helped cement his legend.

• Sports executives

  • Jerry Colangelo — Jerry Colangelo is a sports executive known for his work with the Phoenix Suns and later as owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He won multiple NBA Executive of the Year awards, and his family also became prominent in the same business.

  • Lamar Hunt — Lamar Hunt was a sports entrepreneur who helped found the American Football League and gave the Super Bowl its name. He also backed professional soccer and owned the Kansas City Chiefs, making him a frequent clue in sports history questions.

• Michael Vick — Michael Vick is a former NFL quarterback known for his exceptional running ability and his time with the Atlanta Falcons. He later became notorious for his involvement in a dogfighting scandal and for being the cover athlete of Madden NFL 2004.
  • Ron Mexico — Ron Mexico is an alias associated with Michael Vick in a reported herpes-treatment controversy. The name became notorious enough that custom jerseys bearing it were reportedly blocked by the NFL’s online store.

Teams, Athletes, and Further Competition History

• American football coaching

  • Don Coryell — Don Coryell was a football coach whose pass-heavy offensive system became influential enough to be remembered as the Air Coryell offense. He is strongly associated with San Diego State, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the San Diego Chargers under Dan Fouts.

  • Jim Harbaugh — American football coach and former NFL quarterback nicknamed Captain Comeback. As a quarterback, he played for the Bears, Colts, Ravens, Chargers, and others, and was known for leading the Colts. As a coach, he achieved major success at Stanford and Michigan, won the College Football Playoff with Michigan, and later became head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

  • Chip Kelly — Chip Kelly is an American football coach known for his fast-paced offensive system and for coaching Oregon, the Philadelphia Eagles, and UCLA. His Oregon teams included Marcus Mariota and Jeremiah Masoli, and he later became head coach of the UCLA Bruins.

  • Houston Nutt — Houston Nutt coached Arkansas and later Ole Miss, after earlier stops at Murray State and Boise State. He is often identified through his family ties, his 1995 Eddie Robinson Award, and his move from Arkansas to Ole Miss after the 2007 season.

• American football defensive lines
  • The Fearsome Foursome — The Fearsome Foursome is the nickname most closely associated with the Los Angeles Rams defensive line of the 1960s. That line featured Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier, and Merlin Olsen, and the nickname has also been applied to other NFL groups.
• American football linebackers

  • Adalius Thomas — Adalius Thomas is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the New England Patriots. He was known as a major free-agent addition and had previously been drafted by Baltimore.

  • Dwayne Rudd — Dwayne Rudd was a linebacker who starred at Alabama before playing in the NFL for Minnesota and later Cleveland. He is best remembered for a costly celebration after thinking he had sacked Trent Green, which drew a penalty and helped Kansas City win.

  • James Laurinaitis — James Laurinaitis was an Ohio State linebacker who won major defensive awards, including the Dick Butkus Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He was also the son of pro wrestler Animal of the Road Warriors.

• American football pioneers
  • Walter Camp — Walter Camp was the Yale player-coach often called the father of American football. He helped reshape the sport by introducing the line of scrimmage, downs, the quarterback, and the All-America team.
• American football return specialists
  • Brian Mitchell — Brian Mitchell was a versatile NFL return specialist and running back known for elite all-purpose yardage. He spent much of his career with Washington and ranked among the league’s all-time leaders in return production.
• Florida Gators football
  • Ron Zook — Ron Zook is a college football coach who served as head coach at Florida and later Illinois. He was known for an intense style and for being fired after disappointing results at Florida.
• Gridiron football
  • Canadian football — Canadian football is the twelve-player version of gridiron football played on a larger field with three downs and a distinct scoring system. It is identified by its longer end zones, the slotback position, and the professional Canadian Football League.
• Iowa Hawkeyes football
  • Nile Kinnick Stadium — Nile Kinnick Stadium is the home of the Iowa Hawkeyes and is named for 1939 Heisman winner Nile Kinnick. The stadium was built in 1929 and later renamed after Kinnick, who died in World War II.
• National Football League — The major American professional football league, which stages the Super Bowl and includes teams such as the Chiefs, Patriots, Dolphins, Jaguars, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and St. Louis Rams. It was advertised with the song “All Kinds of Time.” Recent controversies noted in the records include disputes over COVID-19 vaccination policies, labor lockouts, sponsorship deals, diversity controversies, and a 2025 shooting at the league office.

  • Barry Sanders — Barry Sanders was the electrifying Detroit Lions running back who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State and retired near the top of the NFL rushing record books. Despite a relatively short career, he became one of the league’s greatest runners and an iconic open-field player.

  • Fred Dryer — Fred Dryer is a former NFL defensive end who later became an actor, best known for starring as Detective Rick Hunter on Hunter. He played for the Giants and Rams and remains famous for being the only NFL player to record two safeties in one game.

  • Joey Harrington and Marc Bulger — Joey Harrington and Marc Bulger were the two quarterbacks highlighted for leading the 2002 NFL preseason in passing yards.

  • New York Jets — The New York Jets are the AFC East team whose quarterbacks have included Joe Namath, Mark Sanchez, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, and Aaron Rodgers. Clues range from the butt fumble and “seeing ghosts” to Rex Ryan, a shared stadium with the Giants, and the famous Super Bowl III guarantee. They are the green New York NFL team based in the Meadowlands.

  • Odell Beckham, Jr — Odell Beckham Jr. is the NFL wide receiver famous for an acrobatic one-handed catch with the New York Giants and later a trade to the Cleveland Browns. Clues often reference his speed, social-media fame, and the sideline tantrum after a missed interception.

  • Philadelphia Eagles — The Philadelphia Eagles are an NFL team from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Notable players associated with the franchise include Norm Van Brocklin, Randall Cunningham, Rodney Peete, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, Carson Wentz, Ricky Watters, Sam Bradford, Malcolm Jenkins, Darren Sproles, and kicker David Akers. Their history includes a Super Bowl title, the 4th-and-26 comeback, and home games at Lincoln Financial Field; the team is also associated with Lehigh University. Rod Smart briefly joined the team after the XFL folded.

• Nebraska Cornhuskers football
  • Dave Rimington — Dave Rimington was a Nebraska center who won the Outland Trophy in both 1981 and 1982, making him its only two-time winner. He later played for the Cincinnati Bengals, and an award for the nation’s outstanding center is named after him.
• Ole Miss Rebels football
  • 2015 Ole Miss vs. Alabama — The 2015 Ole Miss-Alabama game was the Rebels’ upset of a future national champion and is remembered for its chaotic special teams plays. Chad Kelly, Quincy Adeboyejo, and key miscues by Alabama’s kick and quarterback play made it one of Ole Miss’s signature wins of the season.

Rugby

• rugby — Rugby is a contact sport in which teams score tries, with union and sevens as major forms. It is especially associated with the All Blacks and with events like the South African World Cup in Invictus and the Commonwealth Games version of the sport.
  • codes
    • Rugby league — Rugby league is the code of rugby that split from rugby union after northern English clubs broke away in 1895. It uses six tackles, with tries worth four points and drop goals worth one.
  • Scrummage — A scrummage is the rugby formation used after a minor infringement, where the forwards pack together and contest the ball. The hooker in the front row is responsible for striking the ball back to his side.

• Rugby Union vs Rugby League — Union (15 players per side) is the more internationally prominent code; League (13 players) is popular in northern England, Australia, and New Zealand.

• Rugby World Cup — held every four years; New Zealand (All Blacks) have won the most titles (three as of this writing).

• rugby union — Rugby union is the 15-player code of football associated with the All Blacks, the Springboks, and the haka tradition in New Zealand. It was the focus of anti-apartheid protests in New Zealand and later became a symbol of post-apartheid unity at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
  • National teams
    • South African national rugby union team — South Africa’s national rugby union team, named for the springbok antelope. It won the 1995 Rugby World Cup under Francois Pienaar and is especially associated with World Cup competition and major test matches. Its history includes controversy over apartheid-era sporting boycotts and the Gleneagles Agreement.
  • rugby sevens — Rugby sevens is the faster, shorter version of rugby union played with seven players per side. It was added to the Olympic program for Rio 2016 after strong international lobbying.
• Rugby union competitions
  • Currie Cup — The Currie Cup is the major rugby union trophy awarded to the South African domestic champion. Its name can sound misleadingly like it belongs to India rather than South Africa.

• Scoring — try (5 points in Union), conversion (2), penalty (3), drop goal (3).

• Six Nations — annual Northern Hemisphere tournament among England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales.

• The Bledisloe Cup — annual competition between New Zealand and Australia.

• Jonah Lomu — New Zealand wing; dominant figure of the 1990s, noted for his size and speed combination.

• Scrum — a method of restarting play in rugby union after a minor infringement; eight forwards from each side bind together and contest for the ball.

• The Haka — traditional Maori war dance performed by the New Zealand All Blacks before matches; the most recognizable pre-match ritual in rugby.

• Dan Carter — New Zealand fly-half; all-time leading points scorer in international rugby union history; two Rugby World Cup titles.

• Martin Johnson — England lock; captained England to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the only Northern Hemisphere team to win the tournament; one of the most dominant forwards in the amateur-to-professional transition era.

• New Zealand national rugby union team
  • All Blacks — The All Blacks are New Zealand’s national rugby union team. They are famous for performing the haka before matches and for their black uniforms and silver fern insignia.

Cricket

• cricket — Cricket is the bat-and-ball sport played in tests, one-day internationals, and Twenty20 matches. Common clues include wickets, LBW, the Ashes, and stars such as Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman.
  • batsmen

    • Don Bradman — Sir Donald George Bradman (Don Bradman) was the great Australian cricketer, widely regarded as the sport’s greatest batsman, famous for his Test batting average of 99.94, which remains unmatched. England devised bodyline against him, and he later captained the Australian Invincibles on their unbeaten 1948 tour of England.

    • Joe Root — Joe Root is an England batsman who became one of the world’s top Test players and later captained the national side. He made his name with Yorkshire, scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand, and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

  • bowler — In cricket, a bowler is the player who delivers the ball to the batsman, typically with an overarm action. Clues often mention attacking the off stump, no-balls, popping creases, and the wicket when identifying this role.

  • Cricketers
    • Ben Stokes — Ben Stokes is an English cricketer who was named Man of the Match in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final. He later became England’s Test captain and was noted for controversies and injury setbacks, including a broken wrist after punching a locker.
  • Fast bowlers
    • Wasim Akram — Wasim Akram was a left-arm fast bowler from Pakistan nicknamed the Sultan of Swing. He was famous for reverse swing, took 500 ODI wickets first, and starred in the 1992 World Cup final.

  • playing cricket — Cricket is the bat-and-ball sport with batsmen, bowlers, googlies, and spinners. It appears in literature and film through references such as Bodyline, Netherland, and other stories involving schoolboy or colonial-era play.

  • Red Stripe Cup — The Red Stripe Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner among West Indian countries. Its name refers to the Red Stripe beer brand rather than to any actual beverage in the prize.

  • tournaments
    • The World Cup of Cricket — The World Cup of Cricket is the major international cricket tournament modeled on soccer’s World Cup. It began in England in 1975, and its trophy features a globe supported by three pillars representing batting, bowling, and fielding.

  • wicket — In cricket, a wicket is the set of three stumps topped by two bails that the fielding side tries to hit. The word also appears in the name of the Wikkit Gate from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

  • Wicket-keepers
    • Mahendra Singh Dhoni — Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an Indian cricketer renowned as a wicketkeeper-batsman and finisher. He captained India to victories in the major ICC limited-overs tournaments and became one of the sport’s most famous finishers and stumpers.

• Cricket governing body — the International Cricket Council administers major international events, playing conditions, rankings, and the elite umpire system, while national boards govern most domestic competitions.

• Cricket World Cup — ODI tournament held every four years by the ICC; Australia has won the most men’s World Cup titles.

• Cricket fielding positions
  • silly — In cricket, the adjective silly labels fielding positions placed very close to the batsman.
• cricket players
  • Learie Constantine — Learie Constantine was a West Indies cricketer and activist who became the first Black person to sit in the British House of Lords. He is also remembered for a landmark hotel discrimination case in London and for supporting the Bristol Bus Boycott, which fed into the Race Relations Act of 1965.
• Cricket leagues
  • Indian Premier League — The Indian Premier League is a franchise Twenty20 cricket league founded in 2007 and known for its Orange and Purple Cap awards. Its teams include the Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and it has been played in South Africa and the UAE for special circumstances.
• cricket grounds
  • Lord’s Cricket Ground — Lord’s Cricket Ground in London is often called the home of cricket and is the site where the Ashes urn is kept. Its modern media centre is a well-known high-tech extension designed by Future Systems and partly suspended above the ground.

• Formats — Test cricket (up to five days, two innings per side); One Day Internationals (ODIs, 50 overs per side); T20 Internationals (20 overs per side).

• Basic play — batting side scores runs; bowling side takes wickets to dismiss batters; innings ends when 10 of 11 batters are dismissed.

• Test cricket — the oldest and longest form; result can be a win, loss, or draw. England vs Australia “The Ashes” is the most storied Test rivalry.

• Sachin Tendulkar — Indian batsman; holds the record for most Test runs and most international centuries.

• Sir Donald Bradman — Australian batsman; career Test batting average of 99.94 is widely considered the greatest statistical achievement in any sport.

• Bodyline series — 1932–33 Ashes tour in which England’s Harold Larwood bowled short-pitched deliveries aimed at the body to counter Bradman; the tactic caused a diplomatic row between England and Australia and led to changes in the Laws of Cricket.

• Batting average (cricket) — runs scored divided by number of dismissals; a Test average above 50 is considered excellent.

• Test match history — the first official Test match was played between England and Australia in Melbourne in 1877; Australia won by 45 runs.

• ICC Cricket World Cup — the ODI World Cup; Australia has the most titles (five as of this writing); India won in 1983 and 2011; the 2019 final (England vs New Zealand) was decided on boundary count after a Super Over tie.

• Twenty20 / T20 — the shortest professional format (20 overs per side, roughly three hours); the IPL (Indian Premier League) is the most commercially powerful T20 competition globally.

• The Ashes — a series of Test matches between England and Australia held roughly every two years (alternating home venues); the “ashes” refer to a mock obituary published after Australia beat England in 1882; the actual trophy is a small urn.

Football Codes

• Arena football championship games
  • ArenaBowl — ArenaBowl is the championship game of the Arena Football League. It has featured repeat winners such as the Arizona Rattlers and Orlando Predators, and Tim Marcum and Jay Gruden are notable figures linked to it.
• Arena football leagues
  • Arena Football League — The Arena Football League began in 1987 and is the indoor football league that encouraged high-scoring play. Teams such as the Orlando Predators, Chicago Rush, Las Vegas Gladiators, and Los Angeles Avengers are associated with it.
    • teams
      • Arizona Rattlers — The Arizona Rattlers are a Phoenix-based Arena Football League team. They won a 1997 championship under coach Danny White after finishing a strong season in the league.
• Arena football teams
  • Orlando Predators — The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team from Florida that won league championships in 1998 and 2000. They were founded in 1991 and became known for a long streak of winning seasons and playoff appearances.

• Australian rules football — Australian rules football, also called Aussie rules or Australian football, is a fast oval-field code played on modified cricket grounds with four goalposts at each end. It is played in four 20-minute quarters and begins with a ball-up. Scoring uses the central goal posts for six points and the outer posts for one point. Notable references include marks, behinds, the Brownlow Medal, the Barassi Line, and clubs such as Essendon, Collingwood, and the Brisbane Lions; the AFL Grand Final is held in Melbourne.

• Australian rules football leagues
  • Australian Football League — The Australian Football League is the top professional Australian rules football competition, formerly known as the Victorian Football League. Its finals system expanded over time and its clubs include teams such as the Carlton Blues, Hawthorn Hawks, Richmond Tigers, and St. Kilda Saints.
• Canadian Football League — The Canadian Football League is Canada’s major professional football league, best known for awarding the Grey Cup. Its distinctive rules include a 110-yard field, three downs, and teams such as the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
  • The Grey Cup — The Grey Cup is the championship trophy of the Canadian Football League. It has been contested since 1909, and quizbowl clues often mention classic matchups, oddities like the 1977 “Staplegate” controversy, and wins by teams such as the Alouettes, Blue Bombers, and Tiger-Cats.
• Canadian Football League quarterbacks
  • Damon Allen — Damon Allen is a Canadian Football League quarterback who won a Grey Cup and earned an Outstanding Player award. He was also known as a multi-sport athlete who attempted a baseball career.
• Canadian Football League teams

  • Las Vegas Posse — The Las Vegas Posse were a short-lived Canadian Football League team based in Las Vegas. They played only the 1994 season and are remembered as one of the league’s less successful American expansion attempts. Their first home game drew extra notoriety after a mangled rendition of the Canadian anthem.

  • Edmonton Elks — The Edmonton Elks are a Canadian Football League team from Edmonton, Alberta. The franchise was formerly known as the Edmonton Eskimos, has played at Commonwealth Stadium, is known as one of the league’s traditional powers, and has green-and-gold colors. It won five straight Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982.

  • Toronto Argonauts — The Toronto Argonauts are a Canadian Football League franchise nicknamed the Double Blue. The team began as a rowing club in 1873 and won the 2004 Grey Cup.

• Canadian football players
  • quarterbacks
    • Anthony Calvillo — Anthony Calvillo was the Montreal Alouettes quarterback who won three CFL Most Outstanding Player awards and retired as the league’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. He also led Utah State to its first bowl victory.
• Canadian football teams

  • Baltimore Stallions — The Baltimore Stallions were a CFL expansion team that played in Baltimore in the mid-1990s. They won the Grey Cup and became the only American team to do so before relocating and becoming part of the Montréal Alouettes lineage.

  • Montreal Alouettes — The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, known for playing at Molson Stadium. They won Grey Cups in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including the 2002 title behind Anthony Calvillo and the 2009 championship on Damon Duval’s kick. A clue about them may mention a U2 concert forcing a home game to be moved to the old Molson Stadium.

• D. J. Dozier — D. J. Dozier was a dual-sport athlete who played football for the Vikings before moving into professional baseball. He was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent and later played minor league baseball after his football career.

• football celebrations
  • The Dirty Bird — The Dirty Bird is the Atlanta Falcons dance made famous by Jamal Anderson and their 1998 season. It features a flapping-arm, hopping motion performed as a fan celebration.
• Football leagues
  • United States Football League — The short-lived spring pro football league that operated from 1983 to 1985 and later moved to a fall schedule before folding before its fourth season. Its teams included the Michigan Panthers, Houston Gamblers, New Jersey Generals, Memphis Showboats, and Tampa Bay Bandits, and it featured players such as Jim Kelly, Herschel Walker, and Steve Young. Footage from the league was used for the Bubble Bowl in SpongeBob SquarePants.
• Gaelic games
  • Gaelic football — Gaelic football is the Irish field sport played by fifteen-a-side teams that score by kicking or punching the ball between posts or into a net. It is closely related to hurling and is often treated as Ireland’s unofficial national sport.

American Football: Rules, Positions, Equipment, and Strategy

• defensive plays
  • interceptions — An interception is a defensive football play in which a player catches a pass intended for the offense, creating a turnover. If the return is taken for a touchdown, it is called a pick-six, and Malcolm Butler’s Super Bowl XLIX play is a famous example.
• Defensive positions
  • linebacker — A linebacker is a defensive football position that lines up behind the defensive line and in front of the secondary. Common variants include middle, outside, strongside, and weakside linebackers.
• Defensive statistics
  • quarterback sack — A quarterback sack is a football play in which a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. The statistic is associated with players such as Deacon Jones, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, and J.J. Watt.
• Famous plays and games
  • The Miracle at the Meadowlands — The Miracle at the Meadowlands is the famous 1978 Giants collapse in which Joe Pisarcik’s botched handoff was returned for a touchdown by the Eagles. The play helped popularize the victory formation and is often called “the Fumble” in New York media.
• notable plays
  • the Butt fumble — The Butt Fumble is the infamous Thanksgiving Day 2012 play in which Mark Sanchez ran into a teammate’s backside and lost the ball. The Jets mishap produced a defensive touchdown and became a long-running SportsCenter punch line.
• Offensive formations
  • shotgun offense — The shotgun offense is an American football formation invented by Red Hickey in which the quarterback lines up several yards behind the line of scrimmage. It was used by the 49ers with mobile quarterbacks and later became a staple of modern passing attacks.
• Offensive plays
  • Spider 2 Y Banana — Spider 2 Y Banana is a play-action football play associated with Jon Gruden’s West Coast offense. The name refers to slide protection and a route tree that makes the fullback the primary target.
• Passing plays

  • Hail Mary pass — A Hail Mary pass is a desperate long throw toward the end zone, often launched with little time left. The phrase became famous in football through plays associated with Doug Flutie and Drew Pearson.

  • Lateral pass — A lateral pass is a football pass thrown sideways or backward rather than toward the opponent’s goal line. It is associated with trick plays and rugby-style improvisation, including famous multi-lateral sequences such as The Play.

• plays
  • kickoffs — Kickoffs are the play that starts or restarts American football, typically after a score. Variants include squib kicks and touchbacks, and the kickoff is also the moment during which the ball travels through or beyond the end zone.
    • onside kickoffs — These plays are kickoff attempts designed to let the kicking team recover the ball and keep possession. They became especially famous in dramatic comeback situations and in controversial late-game uses of misdirection or surprise.

  • onside kick — This football play is a deliberately short kickoff intended to be recovered by the kicking team, usually after scoring and needing to regain possession. It must travel at least ten yards, and NFL rules now require some late-game attempts to be announced in advance.

  • The Fail Mary — The Fail Mary was the disputed 2012 Seahawks-Packers ending in which replacement referees gave Golden Tate a touchdown despite the apparent interception by M. D. Jennings. It became a symbol of the NFL officiating lockout and generated widespread ridicule and reaction online.

  • The Fumble — The Fumble was the play in the 1987 AFC Championship Game when Jeremiah Castille knocked the ball loose from Earnest Byner at the goal line. It sealed Denver’s win over Cleveland and became one of the most infamous moments in Browns history.

  • The Music City Miracle — The Music City Miracle was the last-second kickoff return play that gave Tennessee a playoff win over Buffalo in the 2000 AFC Wild Card game. The famous sequence is also known as “Home Run Throwback” and is remembered for Frank Wycheck’s controversial lateral to Kevin Dyson.

  • threw the ball out of the back of the endzone — This answer refers to Neil O’Donnell’s mistake of throwing the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety. The clue is asking for the specific way he gave up the late-game points.
• Rules
  • The Tuck Rule — The tuck rule was the NFL rule invoked in the 2002 Patriots-Raiders playoff game to turn Tom Brady’s apparent fumble into an incomplete pass. It is NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2, Note 2, which treated a quarterback’s forward motion as part of an incomplete pass if the ball was being tucked.
• scoring

  • Scorigami — Scorigami is Jon Bois’s term for a final score that has never before occurred in a league’s history. The idea is tracked on a score chart, and famous examples include unusual NFL and Super Bowl results such as 43–8 and other one-time-only score lines.

  • rouge — A rouge in Canadian football is a single point awarded when a kicked ball is not returned out of the end zone. The word also means red or pink makeup worn on the cheeks.

• statistics
  • Quarterback sacks — Quarterback sacks are tackles for loss made when a defensive player brings down the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. The stat is associated with record-setting pass rushers such as Deacon Jones, Bruce Smith, and Michael Strahan.
• strategy
  • Blitz — Blitz is a fast, aggressive style or title used in several games and game modes, including NFL Blitz and Tetris Blitz. In football games, it is associated with Midway’s over-the-top arcade series and unpenalized physical play.
• tactics
  • icing the kicker or freezing the kicker — Icing the kicker, or freezing the kicker, is the tactic of calling a timeout just before a field goal attempt to distract the specialist. It has produced famous controversies in the NFL, including incidents involving Joe Gibbs, Pete Carroll, and Andy Reid.
• Trick plays

  • Statue of Liberty play — This trick play features a quarterback pump-faking a pass before handing off to a back in motion. Invented by Amos Alonzo Stagg, it is named for the quarterback’s pose and was famously run by the Patriots in the 2007 NFL playoffs.

  • University of North Texas Fake Fair Catch vs. Arkansas — The Fake Fair Catch is the trick play by North Texas that turned a punt return into a touchdown against Arkansas. It is associated with Marty Biagi, Keegan Brewer, Mason Fine, and the 2018 blowout over the Razorbacks.

• football formations
  • shotgun formation — The shotgun formation is a football alignment in which the quarterback receives the snap several yards behind the center. It is closely associated with spread offenses and was popularized in professional football after earlier use by teams such as the 49ers and Jets.

American Football: Leagues, Clubs, Teams, and Venues

• stadiums

  • Beaver Stadium — Beaver Stadium is Penn State’s football stadium in State College, Pennsylvania, and is famous for its enormous seating capacity. It was named for James A. Beaver, a former governor and school trustee, and has long been one of the largest venues in college football.

  • California Memorial Stadium — California Memorial Stadium is the Berkeley football stadium overlooking Tightwad Hill. It has hosted several notable Cal games, including upsets and controversial finishes, and it is the home field of the Golden Bears.

  • Wallace Wade Stadium — Wallace Wade Stadium is Duke University’s football stadium, formerly known as Duke Stadium and renamed for coach Wallace Wade in 1967. It is associated with the 1942 Rose Bowl and later hosted many notable Duke games, including rivalry and upset victories in the 2010s.

  • Neyland Stadium — Neyland Stadium is the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville football stadium, home to the Volunteers and famous for its sea of orange on Saturdays. It was named for coach and athletic director Robert Neyland and has had major expansions that pushed its capacity above 100,000.

  • FedEx Field — FedEx Field is the Washington football stadium in Landover, Maryland, originally criticized for awkward access and a location outside the District of Columbia. It opened in 1997 and was long associated with the Redskins and later the Commanders.

  • The Rose Bowl — The Rose Bowl is the Pasadena stadium famous for its college football game between the Big Ten and Pac-10 champions. It has also hosted multiple Super Bowls and major World Cup matches. The site is also associated with the annual New Year’s Day bowl game and with early televised sports broadcasts.

  • Raymond James Stadium — A Tampa, Florida stadium that is the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It is known for its pirate ship in the stands, which fires cannons and confetti when the team scores. The venue opened with a game against the Chicago Bears and was selected as a Super Bowl site soon after. It had a reduced seating capacity compared with the earlier stadium.

  • Reliant Stadium — Reliant Stadium is the Houston football stadium built for the Texans. It was also intended for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

• Teams

  • Auburn — Auburn is the SEC school whose football team has appeared in national title game clues involving Tommy Tuberville and Nick Marshall. Questions about Auburn often mention the “Kick Six” era, undefeated regular seasons, and NCAA probation.

  • Boise State — Boise State is the Idaho school famous for its blue football field and Broncos nickname. Its football program won the 2002 WAC title and became a national mid-major power under coaches such as Dirk Koetter and Houston Nutt. It is the only FBS school in Idaho after Idaho dropped to the FCS.

  • Miami of Ohio Redhawks — The Miami of Ohio Redhawks are the Miami University football team from Oxford, Ohio. This team’s strong season described in the clues ended with a GMAC Bowl victory and a top-15 ranking.

  • Tennessee Volunteers — The Tennessee Volunteers are the University of Tennessee’s athletic teams, especially its football program. The football team won the first BCS national championship and has been coached by figures such as Johnny Majors, Derek Dooley, and Lane Kiffin.

  • University of Georgia Bulldogs — The University of Georgia Bulldogs are the Athens-based SEC team associated with Herschel Walker, Vince Dooley, and the ‘Junkyard Dawg’ defense. The clues also point to long-running football traditions such as ringing the Chapel Bell and to the school’s 1980 national title.

  • University of Nebraska — The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers are the Lincoln-based football and athletic teams known for Memorial Stadium and the ‘Sea of Red.’ Clues about this program often mention Tom Osborne, Bob Devaney, Eric Crouch, and Suh.

  • University of Tennessee Volunteers — The University of Tennessee Volunteers are the SEC team from Knoxville, associated with Peyton Manning and Rocky Top. Their football program’s championship run was sealed by Tee Martin’s long touchdown pass to Peerless Price, and the team is known for its ritual walk through the crowd at Neyland Stadium. They play the annual football rivalry game on the Third Saturday in October.

  • Cincinnati Bengals — The Cincinnati Bengals are an NFL team from Cincinnati, Ohio. They won the Freezer Bowl and are associated with quarterbacks Boomer Esiason and Joe Burrow, receiver Ja’Marr Chase, and kicker Evan McPherson. Their history includes repeated Super Bowl heartbreak, including two Super Bowl losses in the 1980s, and a long stretch of playoff frustration. Other notable moments and associations include the Bo Jackson injury game, seasons under owner Mike Brown and coach Bruce Coslet, playing at Nippert Stadium before joining the league in the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, and links to Anthony Muñoz, the Ickey Shuffle, and the West Coast Offense. A later playoff run featured a 500-yard passing game.

  • Houston Oilers — The Houston Oilers were the NFL franchise that later moved to Tennessee and became the Tennessee Titans. They are associated with the 1970s “Luv Ya Blue” fan slogan and quarterback Dan Pastorini, and as the Titans they are remembered for Kevin Dyson’s one-yard-short Super Bowl reach and a run to the 2019 AFC title game.

  • Indianapolis Colts — The Indianapolis Colts are the NFL franchise based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis after earlier incarnations in New York, Boston, and Dallas, and was once owned by Robert Irsay. Its history includes players such as Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, Art Donovan, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, and Trev Alberts, and one player retired after a suspected benign brain tumor. The team’s mascot Blue has been used since 1996, with earlier mascots including Real Mac and the Touchdown Monkey.
    • Bob Sanders — Bob Sanders was a hard-hitting safety for the Indianapolis Colts who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. Despite repeated injuries, he made a decisive playoff impact and is closely associated with the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI run.
  • Tennessee Titans — An NFL team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The franchise was formerly the Houston Oilers and is associated with Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill. Its history includes the Music City Miracle, and one notable game description has the Titans defeating the Rams 24-21.
    • Music City Miracle — The Music City Miracle was the controversial 2000 playoff kickoff return in which the Tennessee Titans beat the Buffalo Bills. Frank Wycheck’s lateral to Kevin Dyson, after the kickoff was fielded and reversed across the field, set up Dyson’s 75-yard touchdown as time expired.

  • the Green Bay Packers — The Green Bay Packers are the NFL team from Wisconsin whose history includes the Curly Lambeau era and the Lombardi Trophy years. They won early league titles in the 1930s and 1940s and later captured the first two Super Bowls.

  • Saskatchewan Roughriders — The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the Canadian Football League team based in Regina, known for a long history that includes Grey Cup wins in 2007 and 2013. Their mascot is Gainer the Gopher, and the team should not be confused with the Ottawa Rough Riders.

  • Winnipeg Blue Bombers — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian Football League team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are one of the league’s historic franchises and have won multiple Grey Cups, including their first in 1935.

  • Canton Bulldogs — The Canton Bulldogs were an early professional football power based in Canton, Ohio. They won back-to-back NFL titles in 1922 and 1923 and were coached in part by Guy Chamberlin, with Jim Thorpe among the figures associated with the team. The franchise later struggled financially, underwent merger and relocation complications, and eventually disappeared after the 1927 season.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars — The Jacksonville Jaguars are the NFL team from North Florida whose home fans shout “DUVAL” and whose stadium is known for its swimming pools. Their modern identity is tied to Blake Bortles, Leonard Fournette, and frequent London games.

  • Pottsville Maroons — This early NFL team from eastern Pennsylvania played in the Anthracite League and was based in the coal town of Pottsville. It was controversially stripped of the 1925 NFL championship after violating league rules by playing an unauthorized game against Notre Dame All-Stars in Philadelphia.

  • Washington Redskins (1983) — The 1983 Washington Redskins set the NFL regular-season scoring record referenced in the clue. That team is remembered as one of the most explosive offenses in league history.
• college football teams
  • University of South Florida Bulls — The University of South Florida Bulls are a Florida football program that briefly surged as high as number two under coach Jim Leavitt and quarterback Matt Grothe. Their rise was fueled by early wins over Pittsburgh and California, and one clue highlights Grothe’s late interception against Rutgers that ended their title hopes.
• franchises
  • Baltimore Colts — American football franchise that began in the AAFC before joining the NFL and later moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984 under Robert Irsay. Associated with Johnny Unitas, the 1958 title game often called the Greatest Game Ever Played, Super Bowl III, and the later Peyton Manning era; also remembered for a Super Bowl loss to the Jets.
    • Johnny Unitas — Johnny Unitas was the Hall of Fame quarterback who starred for the Baltimore Colts and helped make the 1958 NFL Championship Game known as the greatest game ever played. He set a long streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass and later lost Super Bowl III to Joe Namath’s Jets.
  • New Orleans Saints — The NFL team from New Orleans, Louisiana’s largest city, and a longtime franchise that plays in the Superdome. It is associated with Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister, Ricky Williams, and Mike Ditka, and with drafting Ironhead Heyward. The team became especially prominent with Brees’s resurgence, the “Who Dat?” chant, and its 2009 Super Bowl title. Its history also includes the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a temporary move to other stadiums, and the bounty scandal involving Sean Payton and Gregg Williams.
    • Tulane Stadium — Tulane Stadium was the former home stadium of the New Orleans Saints before the team moved to its current venue. The old New Orleans football venue was also connected to NFL stadium-history questions asking for the Saints’ prior home.
  • The Arizona Cardinals — The Arizona Cardinals are the NFL franchise originally founded in 1898 and one of the league’s oldest surviving charter teams. They have been associated with players such as Larry Fitzgerald, Jake Plummer, and David Boston, and with a memorable 2016 playoff loss to Green Bay.
• Leagues

  • All-America Football Conference — The All-America Football Conference was a professional football league that began in 1946 and folded in 1949. Its teams included the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Colts, Los Angeles Dons, and Brooklyn Dodgers.

  • World League of American Football — The World League of American Football was an NFL-backed spring football league that later resumed play in 1995. Its teams included the Frankfurt Galaxy, Barcelona Dragons, London Monarchs, and other transatlantic franchises.

• NFL Europe teams
  • Frankfurt Galaxy — The Frankfurt Galaxy was an NFL Europe team based in Frankfurt, Germany. It won multiple World Bowl titles and was one of the league’s longest-running franchises before the end of NFL Europe.
• NFL teams

  • 2007 New England Patriots — The 2007 New England Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season under Bill Belichick before losing the Super Bowl to the Giants. That team’s season is strongly associated with Spygate, Tom Brady’s record touchdown total, and Randy Moss’s 23 receiving touchdowns.

  • Buffalo Bills — The NFL team from Buffalo, New York, in western New York. They are known for the “Bills Mafia” fan base and for losing four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s. More recent references center on Josh Allen, Sean McDermott, Stefon Diggs, and Von Miller, as well as the team’s first playoff win in 25 years before an AFC Championship loss to Kansas City.

  • Carolina Panthers — The Carolina Panthers are an NFC NFL team that plays at Bank of America Stadium. They lost Super Bowl 38 under coach John Fox with Jake Delhomme at quarterback, and lost Super Bowl 50 after a 15-1 season led by Cam Newton and coached by Ron Rivera. The team is associated with players such as Steve Smith, Jake Delhomme, and Cam Newton, and with mascot Sir Purr. They also reached the playoffs after a 7-8-1 season and later lost a postseason game to Arizona despite a strong defensive effort.
    • Rae Carruth — Rae Carruth is the former Carolina Panthers receiver convicted in connection with the 1999 shooting of his pregnant girlfriend. The case involved charges including conspiracy to commit murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. He became notorious after the criminal case that followed the attack on Cherica Adams. Later references to him usually center on that conviction rather than his brief NFL career.
  • Chicago Bears — The Chicago Bears are an NFL team from Illinois based in Chicago, tied to Soldier Field. They began as the Staleys before adopting the Bears name in 1922, and are associated with George Halas, their early owner and star end. The team is famous for the 1985 defense and the “Monsters of the Midway” nickname, and often comes up with Walter Payton, Mike Ditka, the Super Bowl Shuffle, a double-doink playoff loss by Cody Parkey, Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields, and the rivalry with the Packers.

    • George Halas — George Halas founded the Chicago Bears, owned the team for decades, and coached them for much of that time. He helped define the franchise’s identity and remains one of the central figures in NFL history. He won multiple NFL titles and was a star at the 1919 Rose Bowl before his long Bears career.

    • Jay Cutler — Jay Cutler was a quarterback from Heritage Hills High School in Santa Claus, Indiana, and Vanderbilt who became a first-round NFL draft pick by the Denver Broncos. He later played for Denver and the Chicago Bears, where he was known for a strong arm and drew frequent criticism for erratic play, injuries, sacks, and questions about toughness.

    • Sid Luckman — Sid Luckman was the Columbia quarterback who finished third in the 1938 Heisman voting and later led the Chicago Bears to the 73-0 NFL championship rout of Washington in 1940. He helped the Bears win four NFL titles under George Halas, was named NFL MVP in 1943, and remains the franchise leader in passing yards and touchdown passes.

  • Cleveland Browns — The NFL team from Cleveland, Ohio, that plays in the AFC North. The franchise was moved to Baltimore by Art Modell before later returning as a revived Cleveland team. It famously went 0-16 in 2017. Browns history and clue references often include Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett, Lou Groza, the pre-relocation championships, Brian Sipe, Ozzie Newsome, Antonio Langham, and the John Grisham novel Playing for Pizza. The team was long associated with Cleveland Municipal Stadium, nicknamed the “Mistake by the Lake,” before the stadium was torn down.

  • Dallas Cowboys — The Dallas Cowboys are an NFL franchise owned by Jerry Jones, based in Texas, and commonly nicknamed “America’s Team.” The team has featured stars such as Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs, and DaRon Bland. It is associated with the Doomsday Defense of Harvey Martin, Randy White, and Ed Jones, won Super Bowl XII over the Broncos, and had Super Bowl wins in the 1990s. The Cowboys are also known for their Thanksgiving Day games, their blue and silver colors, and for the 1967 Ice Bowl against Green Bay; Staubach’s play in another game helped give rise to the football “Hail Mary.”
    • Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson — Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson was a Dallas Cowboys linebacker known for his flamboyant personality and drug troubles. He also became famous later for winning a large lottery jackpot.

  • Green Bay Packers — The Green Bay Packers are the Wisconsin NFL franchise based in Green Bay and playing at Lambeau Field. They are associated with Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Tony Canadeo, Don Hutson, Ray Nitschke, Reggie White, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love, who followed Rodgers after years as a backup. The team won Super Bowls I, II, XXXI, and XLV, and is known for events such as the Ice Bowl and Hail Mary wins. Their retired numbers include 3, 14, 15, 66, and 92, and the team has an unusual community-owned structure.

  • Kansas City Chiefs — NFL team from Kansas City, Missouri, that moved from Dallas as the Texans before adopting the Chiefs name. They play at Arrowhead Stadium, are owned by the Hunt family, were long coached by Marty Schottenheimer, and in recent years have been led by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. The team won Super Bowl LIV and is often associated with Travis Kelce and Alex Smith. They are an AFC West rival of Denver and have had Hall of Famers such as Len Dawson, Jan Stenerud, Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell, and Buck Buchanan; other noted facts include a record-low sack total in 2008 and a playoff loss to Green Bay.

  • Minnesota Vikings — The Minnesota Vikings are an NFL franchise based in Minneapolis that joined the league in 1961. Known for their purple uniforms and the “Skol” chant, they have a long history of frustrating near-misses and heartbreaking playoff exits, including Super Bowl losses, the Minneapolis Miracle, and the missed field goal against Seattle. They reached several Super Bowls in the 1970s under Bud Grant and have been associated with players and teams such as Fran Tarkenton, the Purple People Eaters defense, Adrian Peterson, Daunte Culpepper, and Randy Moss.
    • Bud Grant — Bud Grant was the longtime Minnesota Vikings coach who finished 0-4 in Super Bowls. He led the Purple People Eaters and is one of the best-known coaches never to win the championship.
  • Seattle Seahawks — The Seattle Seahawks are the NFL team based in Seattle. They moved to the NFC after previously appearing in the AFC Championship Game in the 1983 season, and under Pete Carroll they reached the postseason with a 7-9 record in 2010. The team is associated with Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and the Legion of Boom, and is known for its loud home crowd and the Super Bowl XLIX interception.
    • Marshawn Lynch — Marshawn Lynch is the hard-running NFL back nicknamed “Beast Mode” who starred for the Seattle Seahawks after beginning his career with the Buffalo Bills. He is especially known for his tackle-breaking playoff run in 2011 and for his famously terse media appearances.

  • The Minnesota Vikings — The Minnesota Vikings are an NFL franchise known for their repeated Super Bowl losses and for iconic players such as Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Jim Marshall, and Paul Krause. Recent clue material points to dramatic playoff defeats and the “Minneapolis Miracle” against New Orleans.

  • 1985 Chicago Bears — The 1985 Chicago Bears were Mike Ditka’s dominant team that went 15-1 before crushing New England in Super Bowl XX. Their defense is remembered for the 46 alignment and for stars like Gary Fencik, Dave Duerson, and Leslie Frazier. On offense they featured Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, and rookie William Perry, and their season included a single regular-season loss to the Dolphins.

  • Denver Broncos — The NFL team from Denver, Colorado. Notable figures and eras associated with the franchise include John Elway, Peyton Manning, Von Miller, and safety Steve Atwater, as well as the Orange Crush defense. Memorable moments include The Drive, the helicopter play, and Super Bowl 50, which they won over the Panthers; the team also won Super Bowls 32 and 33 and appeared in an episode of The Simpsons when Hank sent it to Springfield as a gift.
• XFL teams
  • Las Vegas Outlaws — The Las Vegas Outlaws were an XFL team associated with Rod Smart, also known as ‘He Hate Me.’ Their season featured early wins before the roster and record began to unravel.
• American football teams

  • Berlin Thunder — Berlin Thunder was an NFL Europe team based in Germany that won multiple World Bowls. It played at the Olympiastadion and is associated with players such as Rohan Davey, Chas Gessner, and Eric McCoo.

  • Los Angeles Raiders — The Los Angeles Raiders were the NFL franchise based in Los Angeles during the team’s 1980s Super Bowl years. They won Super Bowl XVIII and are remembered as a renamed continuation of the Raiders after the club left Oakland.

  • the Oakland Raiders — The Oakland Raiders are the NFL franchise known for the slogans “Pride and Poise” and “Just Win, Baby,” and for long being identified by black, silver, and white colors. They began with a jokingly criticized name change from the original Señors and were later associated with players such as Darius Heyward-Bey and Aaron Brooks in these clues.

• National Football League divisions
  • AFC South — The AFC South is an NFL division created in the league realignment that began in 2002. Its teams include the Colts, Texans, Jaguars, and Titans.
• National Football League games
  • The HEIDI game — The Heidi Game was the 1968 AFL game between the Raiders and Jets whose dramatic finish NBC infamously cut away from to air Heidi. The interruption became a television fiasco that helped change sports-broadcast policy so games would be shown through the end.
• National Football League teams

  • Arizona Cardinals — The Arizona Cardinals are the NFL franchise that moved from Chicago to St. Louis to Phoenix and inherited its nickname from the color of its jerseys. The team has been linked to Larry Fitzgerald, Kyler Murray, Kurt Warner, and the 1925 title controversy.

  • Atlanta Falcons — The NFL team from Georgia with a black-and-red bird logo, based at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Notable historical references include the 1977 “Gritz Blitz” defense, Jerry Glanville’s “Red Gun” offense, and the decision to draft Brett Favre. Retired jerseys include Steve Bartkowski, William Andrews, Jeff Van Note, and Tommy Nobis. Players often associated with the team include Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, and it is remembered for the 28–3 Super Bowl collapse against New England.

  • Houston Texans — The NFL expansion team based in Houston, Texas, that plays at Reliant Stadium. It selected Mario Williams first overall in 2006, then went through early seasons of poor records before a 2009 offseason of roster moves and free-agent signings. The team became prominent in the Deshaun Watson era and has been repeatedly discussed for controversy surrounding coaching, ownership, and quarterback decisions. In one game in 2020, it was the opponent in a Steelers matchup in which Derek Watt played against his brothers J.J. and T.J. The team’s logo is a bull head split into red and blue halves with a white star.

  • St. Louis Rams — The St. Louis Rams were the NFL franchise that moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis and later won the Super Bowl with the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Clues often mention players such as Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Sam Bradford, and Jared Goff.

  • the Carolina Panthers — The Carolina Panthers are the NFL franchise from Charlotte whose history includes a Super Bowl XXXVIII loss to the Patriots. Steve Smith Sr. is one of the team’s signature players, and the mascot is Sir Purr.

• USFL teams

  • Los Angeles Express — The Los Angeles Express were a USFL team remembered as the first pro football team for Steve Young. They played their final home game at Pierce College.

  • Tampa Bay Bandits — The Tampa Bay Bandits were a USFL team best known for being coached by Steve Spurrier before his college and NFL head coaching career. Burt Reynolds was a minority owner of the franchise, which reached the playoffs twice.

American Football: Players, Coaches, and Officials

• American football players

  • Ahmad Rashad — Ahmad Rashad, born Bobby Moore, was a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Vikings before becoming a sportscaster. He later hosted NBA Access, Celebrity Mole: Hawaii, and NBC’s NFL pregame show.

  • Baby Gronk — Baby Gronk is the nickname of Madden San Miguel, a young American football player who drew viral attention online. He became famous for a 2023 controversy involving a video with Livvy Dunne, which fueled jokes about him being the new “drip king” or “Rizz King.”

  • Darrell Green — Darrell Green was a long-time Washington cornerback who earned Pro Bowl honors and became famous for his speed and ball-hawking ability. He recorded an interception in 19 consecutive seasons and played his entire career with the franchise that drafted him in 1983.

  • David Terrell — David Terrell was a Michigan wide receiver drafted eighth overall by the Chicago Bears in 2001. He was highly touted as a prospect but struggled to live up to expectations and later attempted an NFL comeback.

  • David Tyree — David Tyree was a New York Giants receiver and special-teams player best remembered for the helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII. That reception was his last NFL catch, and clues may also mention his punt-blocking ability at Syracuse.

  • Don Meredith — Don Meredith was the Dallas Cowboys quarterback nicknamed ‘Dandy’ who later became a Monday Night Football color commentator. He is often associated with the broadcast team alongside Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell.

  • Ed Marinaro — Ed Marinaro is a former Cornell running back and Heisman runner-up who later became an actor. He is best known for playing Officer Joe Coffey on Hill Street Blues.

  • Frank Gifford — Frank Gifford was a former New York Giants running back who later became a sports broadcaster. He is also remembered for Monday Night Football and for being the father of Cody and Cassidy Gifford.

  • Harvey Martin — Harvey Martin was a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys who shared Super Bowl XII co-MVP honors with Randy White. Nicknamed ‘Too Mean,’ he died in 2001.

  • Hugh Green — Hugh Green was a Pittsburgh defensive end remembered as one of the closest challengers to George Rogers in the 1980 Heisman race.

  • Jason Sehorn and Angie Harmon — Jason Sehorn is the NFL cornerback who was burned for the first touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV. He is also known for his marriage to Angie Harmon, an actress and former model who appeared on Baywatch Nights and voiced Barbara Gordon in Batman Beyond.

  • Julius Peppers — Julius Peppers is a former North Carolina two-sport star who became one of the NFL’s premier defensive ends and the Carolina Panthers’ all-time sacks leader. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and later played for the Panthers, Bears, and Packers after an accomplished college career in football and basketball.

  • Kyle Orton — Kyle Orton was a Purdue quarterback drafted by Chicago in the fourth round, later known for an uneven NFL career with the Bears and Broncos. He is often nicknamed “Neckbeard,” and clues highlight his 2005 rookie record, his 2009 Broncos trade, and his Twitter alter ego.

  • Nate Newton — Nate Newton was a dominant Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman nicknamed “The Kitchen,” who made six Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowl rings. He later became notorious for being arrested with 213 pounds of marijuana in his van after his playing career.

  • Sammy Baugh — Sammy Baugh was the Texas quarterback who starred for Washington and also handled punting and defense. Nicknamed “Slingin’ Sammy,” he led the league in passing multiple times and remains one of the great early NFL all-around players.

  • Shaun Alexander — Shaun Alexander was the Seattle Seahawks running back who won the NFL MVP award after a record-setting 2005 season. A former Alabama tailback, he became known for his touchdown production and for leading Seattle’s offense in the mid-2000s.

  • Tebucky Jones — Tebucky Jones was a New England Patriots safety who later played for New Orleans. Questions about him often mention his 2001 Super Bowl play, when a long scoop-and-score was wiped out by a penalty, and his association with Lawyer Milloy and Rodney Harrison.

  • Tim Green — Tim Green is a former Atlanta Falcons lineman who later became a broadcaster and author. He wrote The Dark Side of the Game and appeared in the sports-media role described in the clues.

  • Tom Flores — Tom Flores was one of the first Hispanic quarterbacks in NFL history and later coached the Raiders to Super Bowl victories in XV and XVIII. He later also became the Seahawks coach and general manager.

  • Ahman Green — Ahman Green is a former NFL running back best known for his time with Nebraska and later the Houston Texans. He was a Pro Bowl back for the Packers in the early 2000s and topped 1,800 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns in 2004.

  • Art Shell — Art Shell was a Hall of Fame offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders before becoming a coach. He was the first Black head coach in NFL history.

  • Bennie Blades — Bennie Blades was a hard-hitting Miami safety who later played in the NFL, including for the Lions and Seahawks. He made a Pro Bowl in 1991 and shared a Miami interceptions record with Sean Taylor.

  • Dan Wilkinson — Dan Wilkinson, nicknamed Big Daddy, was a defensive tackle from Ohio State and the first overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

  • Dave Duerson — Dave Duerson was a Chicago Bears safety and four-time Pro Bowler. He died by suicide in 2011 and asked that his brain be studied, later helping draw attention to chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

  • Donald Brown — Donald Brown was a running back for UConn before entering the NFL. He finished his college career with a huge 2008 season, won MVP honors in the International Bowl, and later played for the Colts.

  • Elroy Hirsch — Elroy Hirsch was an American football halfback nicknamed “Crazy Legs.” He is especially associated with a dazzling running style that made him a star in the NFL.

  • Frank Wycheck — Frank Wycheck was a Tennessee Titans tight end best known for throwing the lateral that sparked the Music City Miracle. He also became a broadcaster after his playing career and was one of the few tight ends to reach 500 career receptions.

  • Jamal Lewis — Jamal Lewis was the Baltimore Ravens running back who starred at Tennessee and won NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. He later served a prison term related to a cocaine deal and eventually signed with the Browns. Early clues often center on his 2000 draft status, his 2,000-yard rushing season, and his Super Bowl contribution as a rookie.

  • Jevon Kearse — Jevon Kearse was a pass-rushing NFL defender nicknamed “the Freak” for his speed and athleticism. He starred for the Titans after being drafted out of Florida and set a rookie sack record.

  • Joe Jurevicius — Joe Jurevicius was a Penn State receiver who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay and later played for Seattle and Cleveland. He is remembered for a long touchdown catch in the 2002 NFC Championship Game and for a lawsuit against the Browns over a staph infection.

  • Marion Motley — Marion Motley was a Hall of Fame fullback for the Cleveland Browns and one of the first Black players in modern pro football. He led the NFL in rushing in 1950, played behind Otto Graham, and finished with unusually strong career rushing numbers for a back of his era.

  • Mark Henderson — Mark Henderson is the work-release convict identified with the famous snowplow game of 1982.

  • Napoleon Kaufman — Napoleon Kaufman was a running back for the Oakland Raiders. He was a prominent name in the team’s backfield before Tyrone Wheatley took a larger role.

  • Orlando Pace — Orlando Pace was an elite offensive tackle from Ohio State who won the Outland and Lombardi Awards and finished fourth in Heisman voting in 1996. He spent his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams as a longtime left tackle, won a Super Bowl, and was the first offensive lineman selected first overall in the NFL draft since Ron Yary.

  • Paul Krause — Paul Krause was the Minnesota Vikings safety who set the NFL career record for interceptions with 81. He played sixteen seasons, mostly with the Vikings, and later also appeared with Washington.

  • Russell (Carrington) Wilson — Russell Carrington Wilson is an American quarterback best known for leading Seattle to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory. He was later traded to Denver in 2022 and then continued his career with Pittsburgh.

  • Terrelle Pryor — Terrelle Pryor was the highly recruited Ohio State quarterback who left school for the NFL in 2011 amid an investigation into improper benefits. Before college, he starred at Jeannette High School in Pennsylvania as a rare dual-threat quarterback.

  • Terry Paxton Bradshaw — Terry Paxton Bradshaw was the Louisiana Tech quarterback who became the first overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft and led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles. He later became widely known as a television analyst, especially for Fox, after his Hall of Fame playing career. He is also noted for unusually poor passer-rating games and for being the butt of a famous Thomas Henderson insult.

  • Toby Gerhart — Toby Gerhart is a former Stanford running back who was the all-time California high school rushing leader and finished second in the 2009 Heisman voting. He later played in the NFL for Minnesota and Jacksonville, and his college records were eventually surpassed by Christian McCaffrey.

  • Tommie Frazier — Tommie Frazier was the star quarterback who led Nebraska to back-to-back national championships in 1994 and 1995. He never had a lasting NFL career because blood clots and Crohn’s disease cut it short.

  • Tony Dorsett — Tony Dorsett was the Heisman-winning Pittsburgh running back who starred for the Dallas Cowboys and later briefly played for Denver. He finished among the NFL’s career rushing leaders and became known as one of the great backs of the 1976 draft class.

• backs and kickers
  • Bill Dudley — Bill Dudley was a standout American football back and kicker who became the first overall pick in the 1942 NFL Draft. He starred for Virginia and later played for Pittsburgh and Washington, and Virginia’s top collegiate football player is honored by an award bearing his name.
• centers

  • Jason Kelce — Jason Kelce is the Philadelphia Eagles center closely associated with the Tush Push. He is a multiple-time Pro Bowler and the older brother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

  • Mel Hein — Mel Hein was the New York Giants center and occasional linebacker who became the only offensive lineman to win the NFL MVP award. Nicknamed Old Indestructible, he was an inaugural member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Centers/linebackers
  • Chuck Bednarik — Chuck Bednarik was a Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame center and linebacker remembered as the NFL’s last full-time two-way player. He is especially associated with the hit that sidelined Frank Gifford and with the Bednarik Award for college football’s best defensive player.
• coaches

  • Al Groh — Al Groh coached at Wake Forest before becoming an NFL assistant under Bill Parcells and later taking over at Virginia after George Welsh. He also coached the New York Jets and later drew controversy over comments made after 9/11.

  • Alex Grinch — A football coach, he became known for defensive work at Wyoming, Washington State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. He is associated with a rapid rise through the coaching ranks and with replacing Ruffin McNeill and Mike Stoops at Oklahoma.

  • Bill McCartney — Bill McCartney was a former University of Colorado football coach who founded the Christian men’s movement Promise Keepers. He drew notice for combining championship football credentials with evangelical leadership.

  • Bill O’Brien — Bill O’Brien is an American football coach who served as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. He later became Penn State’s head coach in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

  • Bill Parcells — Duane Charles “Bill” Parcells is an American football coach nicknamed “The Big Tuna.” He coached the Giants, Jets, Patriots, and Cowboys, and won Super Bowl XXI with the Giants. He also drew controversy over remarks about a post-9/11 road trip and the possibility of hijacking.

  • Bo Schembechler — Bo Schembechler was the Michigan football coach associated with the long-running “Ten Year War” against Ohio State. He had earlier played and coached in the Midwest before leading Michigan from 1969 to 1989.

  • Brad Childress — Brad Childress is an American football coach who served as offensive coordinator for the Eagles before becoming head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. His career clues often mention his mustache, his offensive struggles, and his time at Eastern Illinois.

  • Brian VanGorder — Brian VanGorder is a defensive coordinator and coach who worked at Auburn, Notre Dame, Louisville, and Bowling Green State. He won the 2003 Broyles Award and has been tied to coaching staffs with Bobby Petrino and Scot Loeffler.

  • Chan Gailey — Chan Gailey is an American football coach who led Georgia Tech and later coached in the NFL, including Buffalo and Dallas. He also coached at Troy and had earlier assistant roles with Denver, Pittsburgh, and Miami.

  • Chuck Knox — Chuck Knox was an NFL head coach best known for leading the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. His teams repeatedly reached conference title games, and he later returned for a second stint with the Rams.

  • Chuck Noll — Chuck Noll was the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach who won four Super Bowls. Before coaching, he played linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, and his teams became the model of 1970s NFL dominance.

  • Dan Campbell — Dan Campbell is the head coach of the Detroit Lions, famous for his fiery introductory line about biting a kneecap off. He has also become a meme figure for his enthusiastic media appearances and offhand comments about look-alike contests and other viral moments.

  • Dan Devine — Dan Devine was a football coach who led Missouri to an undefeated 1960 season and later coached Notre Dame to a national championship with Joe Montana. He also coached the Green Bay Packers, including their lone postseason appearance in the 1970s before he moved to Notre Dame.

  • Dave Wannstedt — Dave Wannstedt is a football coach who worked as a head coach for the Bears and Dolphins and later at Pitt. He also served as a defensive coordinator for the 1992 Cowboys and was associated with the Ricky Williams era in Miami.

  • David Shula — David Shula was a Cincinnati Bengals coach with one of the lowest winning percentages in modern NFL history. He is the son of Don Shula and was dismissed after a brief and unsuccessful tenure in the 1990s.

  • Dennis Green — Dennis Green, also called Denny Green, was a former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals. He became famous for the postgame remark that the Cardinals and their opponents were “who we thought they were.”

  • Dick Jauron — Dick Jauron coached in both the NFC North and the AFC East, including the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills. He led the Bears to a division title and playoff berth in the early 2000s after a career that also included Yale.

  • Dick LeBeau — Dick LeBeau is a football coach known for his long career in the NFL, including a stint as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. He also played defensive back and later became better known for his coaching and defensive schematics.

  • Dino Babers — Dino Babers is the football coach associated with Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, and Syracuse. His Syracuse teams were known for an up-tempo offense and for a 10-win 2018 season led by Eric Dungey and Andre Cisco.

  • Eric Mangini — Eric Mangini is an NFL coach who first rose under Bill Belichick and later coached the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and San Francisco 49ers. He is also associated with the 2007 Patriots videotaping controversy, which he reported to the league.

  • Gene Chizik — Gene Chizik is an American football coach best known for taking over at Auburn after Tommy Tuberville left. He had previously coached Iowa State, and his Auburn team reached the top of the BCS rankings during the 2010 season.

  • George O’Leary — George O’Leary is a football coach known for successful stints at Georgia Tech and later controversy surrounding a résumé at Notre Dame. He also coached at Central Florida and was forced to resign shortly after being hired by Notre Dame because of false credentials.

  • George Seifert — George Seifert is the NFL coach best known for leading the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl title. He later coached the Carolina Panthers and is remembered for his defensive background under Bill Walsh.

  • Hayden Fry — Hayden Fry was a longtime college football coach best known for leading Iowa from 1979 to 1998. Before Iowa, he also coached at North Texas and SMU, and his career made him a major figure in the sport.

  • Hugh Freeze — Hugh Freeze is an American football coach best known for coaching at Ole Miss and later Liberty University. He also coached Michael Oher at Briarcrest High School and had a successful stint at Arkansas State before the Ole Miss job.

  • Jack del Rio — Jack del Rio is a former NFL linebacker who later became the longest-tenured head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also served as a defensive coordinator, including for Washington, after his playing career with teams such as the Vikings and Cowboys.

  • Jerry Burns — Jerry Burns coached the Minnesota Vikings from 1986 to 1991 after earlier serving as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacking at Michigan. Fran Tarkenton described him as a shrewd, noisy, weather-wrinkled little guy who kept practices buzzing.

  • Jerry Sandusky — Former Penn State football coach and defensive coordinator, and founder of The Second Mile charity. He became notorious after abuse allegations tied to witness testimony from Mike McQueary and was later convicted on child sexual abuse charges, with the scandal triggering a major university crisis.

  • Jim Caldwell — Jim Caldwell coached Wake Forest before moving to the NFL, where he first led the Indianapolis Colts. He opened his NFL head-coaching career with a long winning streak and later took the Colts to Super Bowl XLIV, where they lost to the Saints.

  • Jim Fassel — Jim Fassel coached the New York Giants and later reached Super Bowl XXXV with them. Before that, he worked with John Elway and had earlier coaching and playing experience in the World Football League.

  • Jim Mora — Jim Mora was a longtime New Orleans Saints coach who resigned after a public outburst over the team’s play. He is remembered for the tirade about the Saints and the postgame resignation that followed.

  • Jim Tressel — Jim Tressel coached at Youngstown State before taking over Ohio State, where his teams won a national title and reached multiple BCS championship games. He was known for his sweater vest and for building a reputation as a successful quarterback and wide receivers coach before becoming a major college head coach.

  • Jimbo Fisher — Jimbo Fisher is a football coach who was at Florida State after working as an offensive coordinator at LSU. As a former quarterback at Samford, he later coached under Terry and Bobby Bowden before taking over as Florida State’s head coach.

  • Joe Paterno — Joe Paterno was Penn State’s longtime football coach and one of the sport’s most famous figures. He coached at Brown before building his career at Penn State, where players such as Bobby Engram, Ki-Jana Carter, and Kerry Collins played under him. He became the winningest coach in major college football and was later fired amid the Jerry Sandusky scandal, a dismissal that sharply reevaluated his legacy. His career is associated with bowl victories and Penn State longevity.

  • Jon Cooper — Jon Cooper is the coach identified by the clue about leading Ohio State to an 11-1 record and a Sugar Bowl win. The evidence here is too sparse to identify additional distinguishing details beyond that football season.

  • June Jones — June Jones is an American football coach and former quarterback who coached the University of Hawai’i to a perfect regular season in 2007. He also played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons and later coached at several other programs.

  • Lane Kiffin — Lane Kiffin first rose as a college assistant at USC before becoming head coach of the Oakland Raiders, then later Tennessee and USC again. He became notorious for an early NFL head-coaching stint and for the high-profile college moves that followed, making him a frequent target of criticism and controversy.

  • Larry Coker — Larry Coker coached at Tulsa, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma before arriving at Miami as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 1995. He was promoted to head coach in 2001 and later became the coach of UTSA.

  • Mark Mangino — Mark Mangino is the former Kansas football coach who became notorious for his weight and harsh treatment of players. He was forced out in 2009 amid accusations of verbal and physical abuse.

  • Marty Mornhinweg — Marty Mornhinweg is a football coach who briefly served as head coach of the Detroit Lions before becoming the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. He is also known for the infamous overtime decision to kick the ball and take the wind.

  • Marty Schottenheimer — Marty Schottenheimer was a longtime NFL coach who was hired by the Washington Redskins in 2000. He previously coached the Browns and later the Chargers, building a reputation as one of the league’s most recognizable veteran coaches.

  • Marvin Lewis — Marvin Lewis was the Cincinnati Bengals head coach from 2003 to 2018. He led the team to multiple playoff appearances but never won a postseason game with them.

  • Mike Dubose — Mike Dubose was Alabama’s football coach in the late 1990s and won an SEC championship before being fired after a 3-8 season. He was also associated with a 1999 scandal involving an affair with his secretary.

  • Mike Holmgren — Mike Holmgren coached the Packers to Super Bowl XXXI and later worked with the Seahawks and Browns. He is closely associated with Green Bay’s 1990s run and with quarterback coaching on the West Coast.

  • Mike Leach — Mike Leach was the Texas Tech coach who popularized the Air Raid offense and later became known for his pirate obsession. He also coached at Washington State and Mississippi State before his death in 2022.

  • Mike McQueary — Mike McQueary is the former Penn State assistant coach who became a key witness in the Jerry Sandusky scandal. He later sued Penn State after being fired, reportedly after telling superiors what he saw in the locker room.

  • Mike Shanahan — Mike Shanahan is a football coach best known for leading the Broncos and for his zone-blocking scheme, which helped produce a string of 1,000-yard rushers. He won two Super Bowls in Denver after earlier serving as an offensive coordinator with the 49ers.

  • Mike Sherman — Mike Sherman is the former Green Bay Packers head coach who replaced Ray Rhodes after serving as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. His Packers tenure ended after a 4-12 season and a run of early playoff exits, and he later became the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator after coaching Ryan Tannehill in college.

  • Mike Tice — Mike Tice was the Minnesota Vikings head coach who had previously been the team’s offensive line coach and had played tight end for Seattle after converting from quarterback at Maryland. He took over after Dennis Green resigned late in 2001 and is remembered as the tallest head coach in NFL history.

  • Nick Saban — Nick Saban is a prominent American football coach who led Michigan State, LSU, Alabama, and the Miami Dolphins in the mid-2000s before returning to college football and building a dominant Alabama program. His Alabama team was famously defeated in the 2013 Iron Bowl when Auburn returned a missed field goal for a touchdown. He is associated with national titles at multiple schools, earlier stints under Bill Belichick, benching Jalen Hurts for Tua Tagovailoa, and receiving write-in votes in Alabama’s 2017 Senate race.

  • Philip Fullmer — Phillip Fulmer coached the Tennessee Volunteers to a national championship. He was a candidate for 1998 College Football Coach of the Year.

  • Sam Wyche — Sam Wyche was the Cincinnati Bengals coach associated with the no-huddle offense and a Super Bowl run in the late 1980s. He later coached Tampa Bay and was known for memorable sideline remarks, including a warning to Bengals fans about snowballs.

  • Scott Frost — Scott Frost is a former Nebraska quarterback who later became a college football coach. He coached UCF to a major breakthrough season before later returning to coach his alma mater, Nebraska.

  • Sean Payton — Sean Payton is the coach who led the New Orleans Saints to a breakout 2006 season and won AP NFL Coach of the Year. He later guided the Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV title and was known for his earlier work as a quarterback coach and assistant with several teams.

  • Tom Osborne — Tom Osborne was the longtime Nebraska Cornhuskers coach who won multiple national titles, including back-to-back championships in the 1990s. He later served in Congress from Nebraska’s 3rd district, making him a rare example of a major college coach who became a politician.

  • Urban Meyer — Urban Meyer coached Utah, Florida, and Ohio State, winning national championships with Florida and Ohio State and compiling a dominant record in the Big Ten. He later stepped away for health reasons and was replaced by Ryan Day at Ohio State.

  • Weeb Ewbank — Weeb Ewbank coached the Baltimore Colts before leading the New York Jets to the upset win in Super Bowl III. He won championships in both the NFL and AFL, making him the only pro football coach to do so.

  • Woody Hayes — Woody Hayes was the longtime Ohio State football coach, famous for winning national championships and for his fierce rivalry with Bo Schembechler in the “Ten Year War.” He is also remembered for the 1978 Gator Bowl punch that ended his career in controversy.

  • Ara Parseghian — Ara Parseghian was the Notre Dame football coach who guided the school to national championships in the 1960s and 1973. He is also remembered from Rudy, where he is repeatedly mentioned as Notre Dame’s coach.

  • Gary Barnett — Gary Barnett is the college football coach who led Northwestern to its 1995 Rose Bowl appearance and later coached Colorado. His tenure there ended amid scandal involving allegations made by Katie Hnida.

  • Lee Corso — Lee Corso is the former college football coach turned ESPN broadcaster known for his College GameDay catchphrases. He coached Louisville, Indiana, Northern Illinois, and the USFL’s Orlando Renegades, and once roomed at Florida State with Burt Reynolds.

  • Mike Gundy — Mike Gundy is the head football coach at Oklahoma State and a former quarterback for the school. He became nationally famous for his 2007 rant in defense of one of his players, declaring, ‘I’m a man! I’m 40!’

  • Bill Callahan — Bill Callahan coached the Oakland Raiders, leading them to Super Bowl XXXVII before being fired after the 2003 season. He later became head coach at Nebraska.

  • Ray Rhodes — Ray Rhodes was a former NFL player and defensive coach who became head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and later the Green Bay Packers. He was the 1995 NFC Coach of the Year, and earlier had caught the first pass in Giants Stadium history as a player.

• Coaches and quarterbacks
  • Rick Neuheisel — Rick Neuheisel is a football coach and former quarterback who played at UCLA and later coached at Colorado and Washington. As a player, he was the 1984 Rose Bowl MVP and also ran for a rare one-point conversion in the NFL.
• coaching families
  • Harbaugh — The Harbaugh family is an American football coaching family centered on brothers John and Jim, both of whom became major college or NFL head coaches. Jim Harbaugh starred as a quarterback at Michigan before coaching San Diego, Stanford, the 49ers, and later Michigan, while John Harbaugh built his résumé as a longtime assistant before taking over the Baltimore Ravens.
• quarterbacks

  • Charlie Frye — Charlie Frye was an Akron quarterback who set records in high school and college before drawing NFL attention. He later entered the 2005 draft era as a promising passer from the MAC.

  • Steve Spurrier — Steve Spurrier won the 1966 Heisman Trophy as a Florida quarterback and later built a successful college coaching career, especially at Florida. He also had an NFL stint with the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later became known for his ‘Fun ‘n’ Gun’ offense and his work at Duke and Washington.

  • Todd Blackledge — Todd Blackledge is a former Penn State quarterback who later became a college football broadcaster for ESPN. He led Penn State to a big rivalry win in 1981 and was drafted by Kansas City before serving as a backup in the NFL.

  • Akili Smith — Akili Smith was the Oregon quarterback taken third overall in the 1999 NFL Draft, behind Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb. His professional career never matched the expectations of his draft position, and he was out of the league within a few seasons.

  • Alex Smith — Alex Smith is a former NFL quarterback who was the first overall pick in the 2005 draft after starring at Utah. He became widely known for injuries and comeback seasons, including his 2020 return for Washington and a serious leg injury that followed his time in Kansas City.

  • Baker (Reagan) Mayfield — Baker Mayfield is the quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and later became the first overall pick in the NFL draft. He also won the Burlsworth Trophy twice, a rare feat for a former walk-on.

  • Bernie Kosar — Bernie Kosar was the University of Miami quarterback who became a longtime starter for the Cleveland Browns. He later backed up Troy Aikman in Dallas and spent part of his career with Miami after leaving Cleveland.

  • Bobby Layne — Bobby Layne was a Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Detroit Lions to multiple NFL championships in the 1950s. He was also notable for an injury that opened the door for Tobin Rote to replace him late in the season.

  • Boomer Esiason — Boomer Esiason is a former left-handed NFL quarterback, best known for leading the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII. A Maryland alum, he won the NFL’s 1988 MVP award, later played for the Jets and Cardinals, and became a football color commentator and broadcaster on radio coverage of Monday Night Football and other New York-area sports media. His nickname came from kicking in the womb, and he later founded a charity tied to cystic fibrosis research.

  • Brad Smith — Brad Smith was a Missouri quarterback who became the first FBS player to pass for 8,000 yards and rush for 4,000 yards in a career. He later played in the NFL as a kick returner, wide receiver, and Wildcat option player for the Jets and Eagles.

  • Brady Quinn — Brady Quinn is the Notre Dame quarterback who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was later mentioned as being behind Kyle Orton on the Broncos depth chart at the start of the 2011 season.

  • Brett Favre — Former NFL quarterback best known for his long tenure with the Green Bay Packers, his iron-man streak, and repeated unretirements. He won three straight NFL MVP awards in the 1990s, won a Super Bowl with Green Bay, and later played for the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings after first making his name with the Atlanta Falcons and Packers. He set records for career interceptions and consecutive starts and was long associated with passing-yardage and passing-touchdown records.

  • Brian Griese — Brian Griese is a former NFL quarterback and the son of Hall of Famer Bob Griese. He played college football at Michigan before spending time with the Broncos, Dolphins, and Buccaneers.

  • Byron Leftwich — Byron Leftwich is the Marshall quarterback who led a comeback in the GMAC Bowl and later started for the Jacksonville Jaguars after Mark Brunell was injured. He also spent time with the Falcons and was highly touted as an NFL prospect.

  • Carson Palmer — Carson Palmer was the Southern California quarterback and 2002 Heisman winner who became a top NFL draft pick. He is commonly clued as the Bengals quarterback whose early career was marked by frustration and by the Jon Kitna depth-chart context.

  • Chris Chandler — Chris Chandler was an NFL quarterback best known for leading the Falcons to the 1998 NFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl trip. He also played for several teams and was noted for throwing touchdown passes for seven different franchises.

  • Chris Leak — Chris Leak was a Florida Gators quarterback who became the school’s all-time passing leader. His career included a rough upset loss to Alabama and later a brief high school coaching stint.

  • Chris Simms — Chris Simms was a University of Texas quarterback and son of Phil Simms, later known as a Tampa Bay quarterback. His college career was marked by a long competition with Major Applewhite and a reputation for inconsistency.

  • Colt Brennan — Colt Brennan was a record-setting quarterback for the University of Hawaiʻi. He put up huge passing totals, finished high in Heisman voting, and was drafted by Washington in the sixth round.

  • Dan Marino — Hall of Fame quarterback from the University of Pittsburgh who led the Miami Dolphins for 17 seasons. He became the first NFL passer to throw for 5,000 yards in a season and took Miami to Super Bowl XIX. He later became a pop-culture reference through Ace Ventura and the Ray Finkle storyline.

  • Dan Pastorini — Dan Pastorini was the longtime Houston Oilers quarterback who was drafted third overall in 1971. He is remembered for his rugged play and for breaking his leg during the 1980 season.

  • Dave Krieg — Dave Krieg was a long-time NFL quarterback best known for his years with the Seahawks and for an unusually long list of late-career stops. He is remembered for his toughness, high fumble totals, and a memorable 1990 game against Derrick Thomas in which he was sacked seven times but still won.

  • David Carr — David Carr was the first overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft and a quarterback from Fresno State. He began his career with the Houston Texans, where he was sacked frequently before later becoming a backup for the Giants.

  • Denard Robinson — Denard Robinson, nicknamed “Shoelaces,” was a Michigan quarterback known for his rushing ability and improvised playmaking. He later entered the NFL as a running back with the Jaguars and became a familiar face on college football covers.

  • Don Majkowski — Don Majkowski was a Green Bay Packers quarterback nicknamed ‘The Magic Man.’ His ankle injury in 1992 opened the door for Brett Favre, and he had his best statistical season in 1989.

  • Donovan (Jamal) McNabb — Donovan McNabb was the longtime Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who later became a television analyst and was once a Madden cover athlete. At Syracuse he also played basketball, and his career included the famous 4th-and-26 completion and a Super Bowl drive to Greg Lewis.

  • Donovan McNabb — Donovan McNabb was the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback drafted second overall in 1999 out of Syracuse. He led the team to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2004 season and spent most of his career as the Eagles’ starter.

  • Doug Williams — Doug Williams was the quarterback of Washington who was named MVP of Super Bowl XXII. He was the first Black quarterback to start a Super Bowl, leading Washington to victory in that game. He had earlier starred for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before returning to the NFL and taking over for Joe Gibbs’s Redskins.

  • Drew Bledsoe — Drew Bledsoe was the New England Patriots quarterback who led the team to a Super Bowl after Bill Parcells arrived. His injury in 2001 helped open the door for Tom Brady’s rise with the Patriots.

  • Drew Brees — Drew Brees is the retired NFL quarterback best known for his record-setting career with the New Orleans Saints. He also played for Purdue, and he was known for prolific passing and record-setting accuracy. He held major NFL marks for completions, consecutive games with a passing touchdown, and single-season completion percentage, and he was a cover athlete and fantasy-football target of many questions.

  • Drew Henson — Drew Henson was a highly touted two-sport athlete at Michigan who also played baseball in the Yankees organization. He was once expected to be Michigan’s quarterback of the future before his pro baseball and football career paths diverged.

  • Eli Manning — New York Giants quarterback and younger brother of Peyton Manning. He won Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, was the Super Bowl XLII MVP, and is associated with the Giants’ upset of New England and the Tyree/Burress play, as well as the Beckham one-handed catch game. He is also linked to the 2004 draft trade from San Diego.

  • Geno Smith — Geno Smith is a former West Virginia quarterback who entered the NFL with the New York Jets. He is especially associated with leading the Jets to an 8-8 record in 2013 as a rookie.

  • Gino Torretta — University of Miami quarterback who won the 1992 Heisman Trophy. He held school passing records, lost the 1992 Sugar Bowl to Alabama, later played briefly in the NFL, and worked as a commentator.

  • Jack Kemp — Jack French Kemp was a former NFL quarterback, notably for the Buffalo Bills, who later became a Republican politician and cabinet official. He served in Congress and as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under George H. W. Bush, coauthored the Kemp-Roth tax cut proposal, ran for vice president on Bob Dole’s 1996 ticket, and was remembered for his colorful political humor.

  • Jake Delhomme — Jake Delhomme was the Carolina Panthers quarterback who had a career surge after playing in NFL Europe and backing up Kurt Warner. He led Carolina to its first Super Bowl appearance and became known for a 2004 postseason run and later turnover troubles. Quizbowl clues also mention his stint with the Amsterdam Admirals and his late-career extension after a high-profile playoff collapse.

  • Jake Plummer — Jake Plummer was a former quarterback nicknamed “Jake the Snake” for his scrambling style. He starred at Arizona State, including the 1996 Sun Devils run and a role in the 1997 Rose Bowl, then played for the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. He was a second-round NFL draft pick.

  • Jason Campbell — Jason Campbell was the Auburn quarterback drafted one spot after Aaron Rodgers. He later played for Washington and Oakland, where he was part of a 2010 quarterback shuffle with Bruce Gradkowski.

  • Jason White — Jason White was Oklahoma’s quarterback and the 2003 Heisman Trophy winner, noted for a career damaged by multiple ACL injuries. He put up huge passing numbers in his senior season and was later tried by the Titans as an undrafted free agent.

  • Jay Gruden — Jay Gruden is a former Arena Football League quarterback for the Orlando Predators who later became a coach. He is the brother of NFL coach Jon Gruden and also served as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

  • Jeff Garcia — Jeff Garcia was an NFL quarterback who broke in as Steve Young’s successor with the San Francisco 49ers. He later became known as a journeyman quarterback and once posted a zero passer rating on 27 attempts.

  • Jeff Smoker — Jeff Smoker was a quarterback at Michigan State who set school records and led the team to the Alamo Bowl in 2003. His career was marred by substance-abuse suspensions and off-field trouble.

  • Jim Everett — Jim Everett was a quarterback for the Rams, Saints, and Chargers who had a strong late-1980s run in the NFL. He is also remembered for his confrontation with Jim Rome on television.

  • Jim McMahon — Jim McMahon was the BYU quarterback who set a flood of NCAA passing records and later led the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX. He became known for his headband, his outspoken punkish image, and for scoring rushing touchdowns in the Super Bowl before finishing his career as a backup in Green Bay.

  • Jim Plunkett — Jim Plunkett was a Stanford quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy before playing for the Patriots, 49ers, and Raiders. He led Oakland to a Super Bowl XV title and was named the game’s MVP.

  • Jim Zorn — Jim Zorn was the original quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks and later guided the expansion franchise in its early seasons. He later became known as a quarterbacks coach and coach, while his playing career included strong rushing totals for a quarterback.

  • Jimmy Garoppolo — Jimmy Garoppolo is the quarterback nicknamed Jimmy G who backed up Tom Brady with the Patriots before becoming a starter for the 49ers. He helped lead San Francisco to Super Bowl LIV and later signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

  • Joe Burrow — Joe Burrow is the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback who transferred from Ohio State to LSU and then led the Tigers to a national championship in 2019. After an injury-hit rookie season, he broke out as the first overall pick in 2020, helped by his connection with Ja’Marr Chase and highlighted by a massive passing game against Baltimore.

  • Joe Flacco — Joe Flacco is a quarterback from Audubon High School and the University of Delaware who became a starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. He led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title and won Super Bowl MVP honors, and he was also the Delaware starter on the 2007 team that lost the FCS title game to Appalachian State. Later he had a stint with the New York Jets and a surprising 2023 comeback with Cleveland.

  • Joe Namath — Joe Namath was the flamboyant New York Jets quarterback who led the team to victory in Super Bowl III, making his guarantee of success famous. He also became known for his mustache, a game-losing interception in the first Monday Night Football game, and a later ESPN broadcast moment with Suzy Kolber.

  • Joey Harrington — Joey Harrington was an Oregon quarterback who was selected third overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2002 NFL Draft. He was a Heisman finalist whose college career included leading Oregon to major wins and a high-profile national campaign.

  • Johnny Manziel — Johnny Manziel is the former Texas A&M quarterback nicknamed Johnny Football, famous for winning the Heisman as a freshman. His career became a cautionary tale of controversy, including autograph scandals, off-field behavior, and a brief stint with the Montreal Alouettes after his NFL exit. The Browns drafted him in 2014 after his college stardom.

  • Jon Steven Young — Steve Young, often given as Jon Steven Young in older clues, was a left-handed quarterback who starred at BYU before playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers. He later won Super Bowl XXIX MVP honors after throwing six touchdown passes and set the standard for quarterback efficiency in San Francisco.

  • Jordan Lynch — Jordan Lynch was the record-setting Northern Illinois quarterback who starred as a runner and passer under coach Rod Carey. He finished as a 2013 Heisman finalist and later continued his career in professional football, including a stint in Canada.

  • Joshua Tyler Freeman — Josh Freeman is a former NFL quarterback best known for playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later the Minnesota Vikings. A Kansas State alum, he was once noted for a 95-yard touchdown pass and for missing a team photo before being left out of a captaincy vote.

  • Justin (Patrick) Herbert — Justin Herbert is the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback who began starting in 2020. He made his first NFL start after Tyrod Taylor suffered a punctured lung.

  • Kelly Holcomb — Kelly Holcomb was an NFL quarterback best known for leading the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs, their last postseason appearance for a long stretch. He later played for teams including the Vikings and once had a notable playoff performance against Pittsburgh.

  • Ken Dorsey — Ken Dorsey was the Miami Hurricanes quarterback who led the team to a national title and set school passing records. He later played in the NFL and became a coach, including a stint as offensive coordinator for the Bills.

  • Kordell Stewart — Kordell Stewart was a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback nicknamed “Slash” because of his ability to play multiple positions. He is remembered for the “Miracle at Michigan” in college and for later becoming a major NFL figure at Colorado and Pittsburgh.

  • Kyle Boller — Kyle Boller was a first-round quarterback from Cal who became the Baltimore Ravens’ starter after being drafted third overall. He is one of the notable Jeff Tedford quarterbacks to go in the first round.

  • Lamar Jackson — Lamar Jackson is a quarterback from Louisville who won the 2016 Heisman Trophy and later the 2019 NFL MVP with the Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted 32nd overall in 2018 as Joe Flacco’s backup and became famous for record-setting rushing production and a dramatic playoff debut.

  • Matt Flynn — Matt Flynn is a former NFL quarterback best known for a huge 2012 Packers performance that set franchise passing records. He also spent time with the Seahawks and LSU, where he threw four touchdown passes in the national title game.

  • Matt Hasselbeck — Matt Hasselbeck is a former NFL quarterback and Boston College alum who became the Seattle Seahawks’ starter after backing up Brett Favre and competing with Trent Dilfer. He was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1998 and later became Seattle’s long-term starter.

  • Matt Leinart — Matt Leinart was USC’s star quarterback and the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner. He later became a high first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, where he was expected to take over as starter after Kurt Warner.

  • Matt Ryan — Matt Ryan is the quarterback most closely associated with the Atlanta Falcons, whose recent identity is shaped by Super Bowl collapses and Julio Jones’s receiving production. In quizbowl, he is often clued through the Falcons’ 28–3 Super Bowl LI collapse and their earlier Super Bowl loss to Denver.

  • Michael Dwayne Vick — Michael Dwayne Vick is the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback from Newport News, Virginia Tech, who became known for his electric running style. After serving time in prison for dogfighting, he returned to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2010 and later played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

  • Neil O’Donnell — Neil O’Donnell was the quarterback who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the 1994 AFC Championship Game. He is best remembered for throwing the interceptions that helped decide Super Bowl XXX in Dallas’s favor.

  • Nick Starkel — Nick Starkel is the quarterback who played for Texas A&M, Arkansas, and later San Jose State. His career included a huge Belk Bowl passing day, a 2020 win over Boise State, and a Mountain West title with San Jose State.

  • Pat White — Pat White was the West Virginia quarterback who starred in the option-heavy offense and posted rare dual passing-and-rushing totals. He later played briefly for the Dolphins and became known for his 2008 Senior Bowl MVP performance and major bowl wins at West Virginia.

  • Quincy Carter — Quincy Carter was a Georgia quarterback who later played for the Dallas Cowboys. The clues emphasize his college struggles, including an interception-heavy game against South Carolina, and his later baseball detour in the minors.

  • Randall Cunningham — Randall Cunningham was a mobile NFL quarterback best known for his years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He later played for the Vikings, Cowboys, and Ravens after a comeback late in his career. He was a prolific punter and runner, famously using his athleticism to extend plays and field punts.

  • Rex Grossman — Rex Grossman is the former Florida quarterback who won Mr. Football Indiana, starred in the SEC, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears. He is remembered for leading the Bears to Super Bowl XLI and for an up-and-down passing style that drew a memorable internet nickname.

  • Rick Mirer — Rick Mirer is the quarterback the Bears signed after selecting him from Seattle, where he was expected to replace Jim Krieg. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1993 draft and became a famous NFL draft bust, especially remembered for his struggles in Seattle.

  • Rob Johnson — Rob Johnson was a Buffalo Bills quarterback whose tenure is often remembered for injuries and controversy over being preferred to Doug Flutie. He became the starter after Flutie had led Buffalo to a strong season.

  • Rodney Peete — Rodney Peete was a quarterback who played at Southern California, where he also had a notable baseball career. He played in the NFL for teams including the Panthers, and he was a Heisman runner-up before being drafted by the Athletics in baseball.

  • Russell Wilson — Russell Wilson is the Seattle Seahawks quarterback who starred at Wisconsin and briefly played minor league baseball for the Rockies. He is remembered for the Fail Mary pass to Golden Tate and for a Super Bowl XLVIII win before a late interception cost Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX.

  • Ryan Leaf — Ryan Leaf was the former Washington State quarterback drafted second overall by the Chargers in the 1998 NFL draft behind Peyton Manning. He played for San Diego and later Dallas, and his short NFL career became a byword for draft disappointment and one of the sport’s biggest quarterback busts.

  • Sam Bradford — Sam Bradford is an American football quarterback who starred at Oklahoma before being selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams. He won the Heisman Trophy and later earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors despite injuries early in his professional career.

  • Sean Salisbury — Sean Salisbury was a former football quarterback who later became an ESPN analyst and media personality. His clues mention USC, the Seattle Seahawks, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and a 386-yard game for Minnesota against Denver.

  • Seneca Wallace — Seneca Wallace is the former Iowa State quarterback who was drafted by the Seahawks and spent years as Matt Hasselbeck’s backup. He is also remembered for his mobility, occasional trick-play catches, and for becoming the first African-American quarterback to start for the Green Bay Packers.

  • Slingin’ Sammy Baugh — Sammy Baugh was an early great NFL quarterback for Washington and a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in the inaugural 1963 class. Known for his unusually strong passing and punting, he led the league in passing six times and won championships in 1937 and 1942.

  • Stan Humphries — Stan Humphries is a former NFL quarterback who began with Washington before reviving his career with San Diego. He led the Chargers to a 1995 Super Bowl appearance after a long run of injuries and limited early playing time.

  • Timothy Richard Tebow — Former Florida quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who became famous for his unconventional style, dramatic comebacks with the Denver Broncos, and outspoken Christianity. He later pursued professional baseball in the Mets organization, and Jon Bois later used him in alternate-history football projects.

  • Tony Banks — Tony Banks was an NFL quarterback who began his career with the St. Louis Rams before later playing for the Ravens and Redskins. He became known as a turnover-prone passer and for briefly leading Washington during a memorable winning streak.

  • Tony Romo — Tony Romo was the Dallas Cowboys quarterback who replaced Drew Bledsoe in 2006 after going undrafted out of Eastern Illinois. He became notorious for playoff miscues, including a botched field-goal hold, before later reinventing himself as a broadcaster.

  • Trent Dilfer — Trent Dilfer is a former NFL quarterback who won the Super Bowl with the Ravens and later worked in broadcasting. He is remembered for taking over as Baltimore’s starter in its championship season and for throwing the game’s lone touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley.

  • Trent Green — Trent Green was the Indiana quarterback who played in the NFL, spent time in Washington and St. Louis, and later became the starter for Kansas City. His career arc included a preseason knee injury that opened the way for Kurt Warner in St. Louis.

  • Troy Smith — Troy Smith was the Ohio State quarterback who won the 2006 Heisman Trophy. He led the Buckeyes to big wins over Michigan and later played in the NFL after being drafted in the fifth round.

  • Turner Gill — This former Nebraska quarterback later became the head coach at Buffalo after a successful playing career that included a 28-2 record as a starter. He is also known for the 1984 Orange Bowl loss and for the controversy after Auburn chose Gene Chizik over him.

  • Vinny Testaverde — Vinny Testaverde was a quarterback and the 1986 Heisman Trophy winner from Miami. He was the first overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft and later starred for the Jets, with additional stints for the Buccaneers, Browns, and Ravens. He is also remembered for his 1998 resurgence with the Jets, a helmet-related rushing touchdown against Seattle, and a 35-interception season with Tampa Bay.

  • Jared Goff — Jared Goff is an NFL quarterback who began his career with the Los Angeles Rams and later joined the Detroit Lions. He is associated with the Rams’ Super Bowl LIII run and the trade package involving Matthew Stafford and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

  • Larry Craig Morton — Craig Morton was an NFL quarterback whose Super Bowl performances are remembered for extreme struggles. He threw multiple interceptions in Super Bowl V and later posted a 0.0 passer rating in a Super Bowl appearance for Denver against Dallas.

  • Mark Brunell — Mark Brunell was a quarterback best known for leading the Jacksonville Jaguars and later playing for Washington and New Orleans. He earned three Pro Bowl nods and eventually won a Super Bowl ring as a backup with the Saints.

  • Scott Milanovich — Scott Milanovich is a quarterback who was selected first overall in the XFL draft by the Los Angeles Xtreme. He had previously been an undrafted free agent after a gambling suspension at Maryland.

  • Shaun King — Shaun King is a former college quarterback who starred at Tulane before a short NFL career with the Buccaneers. He later went into coaching, including stops at USF and IMG Academy.

  • Mitch Trubisky — Mitch Trubisky is an American football quarterback who played at North Carolina before entering the NFL. He was selected second overall in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Bears, a pick widely criticized in hindsight.

  • Steve Beuerlein — Steve Beuerlein was an NFL quarterback who played for the Raiders, Cowboys, and Panthers, and he became the first player selected in an NFL expansion draft. He was also a standout at Notre Dame, where he set many passing marks before turning pro.

  • Steve Bono — Steve Bono is a former NFL quarterback who played at UCLA and later became known with the 49ers and Chiefs after being drafted by the Vikings in 1985. He was a third-string quarterback in San Francisco before later serving as Kansas City’s quarterback.

• Running backs

  • Rashaan Salaam — Rashaan Salaam was the 1994 Heisman Trophy winner from Colorado and a running back drafted by the Chicago Bears. His professional career was shortened by injuries and substance problems, and he later played in the XFL. He is remembered as one of the major college football stars whose NFL career never matched his college success. His Colorado season remains one of the landmark rushing performances in Heisman history.

  • Adrian Lewis Peterson — Adrian Peterson is an NFL running back and former Oklahoma Sooner who won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007. He set a single-game rushing record of 296 yards against the Chargers and later starred for the Minnesota Vikings.

  • Brian Shay — Brian Shay was an Emporia State running back whose NCAA all-division rushing and all-purpose marks were cited as record totals. He also set a long list of collegiate scoring and touchdown records and finished second for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 1997.

  • Brian Westbrook — Brian Westbrook was the Philadelphia Eagles running back and passing-game weapon drafted out of Villanova in 2002. He emerged as Donovan McNabb’s target from the backfield and became the team’s starting tailback.

  • Carnell Williams — Carnell Williams, nicknamed Cadillac, starred at Auburn alongside Ronnie Brown before becoming a Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back. He was drafted fifth overall in 2005 and won Offensive Rookie of the Year after nearly 1,200 rushing yards.

  • Charles White — Charles White was a USC running back who won the 1979 Heisman Trophy and later played professionally for the Browns and Rams. He is especially associated with Southern Cal’s tailback tradition and its school rushing record.

  • Chris Johnson — Chris Johnson, nicknamed CJ2K, was the Tennessee Titans running back who rushed for 2,000 yards in the 2009 season. He set the single-season scrimmage yardage record and also added receiving production as an East Carolina alumnus.

  • Christian Okoye — Christian Okoye was a Kansas City Chiefs running back nicknamed the Nigerian Nightmare. He led the NFL in rushing in 1989 and was known for his powerful running style.

  • Corey Dillon — Corey Dillon was the Cincinnati Bengals running back who set the NFL single-game rushing record. He came into a starting role after the Bengals moved on from Ki-Jana Carter. Questions on Dillon often mention his Washington college career and his eventual prominence as a top rusher. His record-setting performance makes him a standard football clue.

  • Curtis Enis — Curtis Enis was a Penn State running back selected fifth overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1998 NFL Draft. A torn ACL limited much of his rookie season.

  • Darren McFadden — Darren McFadden was an Arkansas running back who twice finished second in Heisman voting and won the Doak Walker Award. He starred for Houston Nutt’s Razorbacks, led the SEC in rushing in 2007, and was known for his explosive all-purpose production.

  • DeMarco Murray — DeMarco Murray was a running back who starred for the Cowboys, Eagles, and Titans and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2014. He is remembered for a 99-yard run, for sharing rushing duties early with a teammate, and for finishing near the top of the league in rushing after Tennessee traded for him.

  • Derrick Henry — Derrick Henry is a Tennessee Titans running back nicknamed King Henry and known for his power running and long runs. He led the NFL in rushing in 2019 and 2020, and he was the 45th overall pick in the 2016 draft after starring at Yulee High School.

  • Doak Walker — Doak Walker was the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner from SMU and a former Highland Park High School star who played alongside Bobby Layne. His name also belongs to the award given annually to college football’s top running back.

  • Earl Campbell — Earl Campbell was a dominant Texas running back who won the Heisman Trophy after starring for the Longhorns. In the NFL, he became a Houston Oilers star, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year and an MVP award while bulldozing defenses with his power running.

  • Eddie George — Eddie George was the Ohio State running back who won the Heisman Trophy and later starred for the Tennessee Titans. He was known for remarkable durability and for surpassing 10,000 career rushing yards without missing a start. He also became a media personality after his playing career.

  • Ezekiel Elliott — Ezekiel Elliott is a Dallas Cowboys running back nicknamed Zeke who starred at Ohio State before entering the NFL. He led the league in rushing in 2016 and 2018, rushed for 246 yards in the first College Football Playoff national championship, and became known for a Salvation Army kettle celebration.

  • Franco Harris — Franco Harris was the Pittsburgh Steelers running back who caught the Immaculate Reception and turned it into a touchdown. He became a major NFL star and was later remembered as the player who scored after the ball bounced off his shoe.

  • Frank Gore — Frank Gore is the longtime NFL running back who starred for the San Francisco 49ers and later played for the Colts. He is known for a long streak of starts and for becoming one of the league’s active career rushing leaders.

  • Gale Sayers — Gale Sayers was a Chicago Bears running back nicknamed the Kansas Comet and celebrated for his brilliant, injury-shortened career. He set rookie records, became the youngest Hall of Fame inductee, and was remembered through Brian’s Song and his autobiography I Am Third.

  • Herschel Walker — Herschel Walker is a former football star who became a Republican politician and lost a Georgia Senate runoff to Raphael Warnock. He won the Heisman Trophy at Georgia, later played in the USFL and NFL, and even competed as a member of the U.S. Olympic bobsled team.

  • Jerome Bettis — Jerome Bettis, nicknamed The Bus, was a bruising NFL running back for the Steelers and Rams. He is especially remembered for the controversial overtime coin toss against Detroit and for finishing his career with a Super Bowl win in his hometown of Detroit.

  • Kevin Faulk — Kevin Faulk was a long-time New England Patriots running back known for his versatility and large reception total. He made his first NFL reception on a pass from Tom Brady, and he is the cousin of Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

  • LenDale White — LenDale White is the USC running back who paired with Reggie Bush in a famous ‘thunder and lightning’ backfield. He later entered the NFL after a college career highlighted by rushing touchdowns and a title-game upset sequence against USC.

  • Marcus Allen — USC Heisman winner who became a star running back for the Raiders and later the Chiefs. He is especially remembered for his Super Bowl XVIII touchdown run and for being the first NFL player with both 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards. He is also one of the classic NFL running backs associated with the 100-touchdown milestone, listed alongside Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, and another all-time great among early members of that scoring club.

  • Maurice Jones-Drew — Maurice Jones-Drew was a star running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, famous for leading the NFL in rushing in 2011. He was drafted by Jacksonville in 2006 and finished his career as the franchise leader in several return and scoring categories.

  • Mike Anderson — Mike Anderson is a former Denver Broncos running back who won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2000. He played at Utah after time in the Marines and junior college, and he also later had two 1,000-yard seasons while playing in the NFL.

  • Mike Rozier — Mike Rozier was the 1983 Heisman Trophy winner and a Nebraska running back who later joined the USFL. He signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers, but his professional career never matched his college success.

  • Najeh Davenport — Najeh Davenport is a former NFL running back best remembered for an off-field scandal involving a college dorm room. He played for the Packers and later bounced around the league after additional misconduct accusations.

  • Ollie Matson — Ollie Matson was a Hall of Fame running back for the Chicago Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. He won a 1952 Olympic bronze? medal clue is actually a 4x400 relay gold medalist and returned many kickoffs for touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl MVP honors.

  • Peyton Hillis — Peyton Hillis is a former NFL running back best known for his breakout season with Cleveland and for appearing on the cover of Madden NFL 12. He also played at Arkansas, where he shared a backfield with Felix Jones and Darren McFadden.

  • Pierre Thomas — Pierre Thomas was an undrafted running back out of Illinois who became a key contributor for the New Orleans Saints. He was a rushing and receiving threat from 2007 to 2014 and was born and raised in Chicago.

  • Rashard Mendenhall — Rashard Mendenhall was a running back from Illinois who starred for the Steelers and later briefly played for the Cardinals. He drew attention for comments on the killing of Osama bin Laden and for helping write episodes of Ballers.

  • Ray Rice — Ray Rice was the small Rutgers running back drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 who became one of their top rushers. He was later suspended by Roger Goodell after a domestic-violence incident involving his fiancee in an Atlantic City hotel.

  • Steve Slaton — Steve Slaton is a West Virginia running back who became a Heisman contender as a sophomore. He later topped 1,200 rushing yards as an NFL rookie with the Texans before being overtaken by Arian Foster.

  • Terrell Davis — Terrell Davis was the Denver Broncos running back who starred in the late 1990s, won Super Bowl XXXII MVP, and later became the league’s MVP in 1998. He is also remembered for rushing success after transferring from Long Beach State to Georgia.

  • Thurman Thomas — Thurman Thomas was the Buffalo Bills running back who starred in the 1990s, won multiple rushing titles, and played in four straight Super Bowls. He is also remembered for the famous helmet incident before Super Bowl XXVI and for his versatility as a receiver out of the backfield. He became one of the era’s defining offensive players, including a standout playoff game against Cleveland and a near-MVP performance in Super Bowl XXV.

  • Travis Henry — Travis Henry is a running back who played for Tennessee, Buffalo, and Denver. He was a productive college runner at Tennessee before entering the NFL as a second-round draft pick.

  • Troy Davis — This running back starred for Iowa State before leading the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He also had a major 300-yard game against Missouri and was a national rushing leader.

  • Laurence Maroney — Laurence Maroney is a former Minnesota running back who was selected by New England in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was known for a 1,000-yard college career at Minnesota and for splitting carries with Marion Barber before joining the Patriots backfield.

  • Matt Forte — Matt Forte was a running back from Tulane who starred for the Chicago Bears. He broke in as one of the league’s productive backs and became the first Bear to top 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie since Anthony Thomas.

  • San Diego State University Running Backs — San Diego State University running backs include players such as Ronnie Hillman and Donnel Pumphrey. The clues emphasize the program’s tailbacks, including later NFL draft picks and Pumphrey’s FBS rushing record.

  • Saquon Barkley — Saquon Barkley is the Philadelphia Eagles running back who left the New York Giants after the 2024 offseason. He is known for explosive runs, including a backward hurdle against Jacksonville, and for a 2,000-yard rushing season in 2024.

  • Edgerrin James — Edgerrin James was the Miami running back drafted by the Indianapolis Colts after the departure of Marshall Faulk. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year and posted huge rushing totals at both Miami and in the NFL. He is also remembered for his distinctive hairstyle and for finishing his career with over 12,000 rushing yards.

  • Priest Anthony Holmes — Priest Holmes was a Kansas City Chiefs running back who became one of the NFL’s top rushers in the early 2000s and set major team rushing and touchdown marks. He had earlier starred at Texas, won a Super Bowl ring as a backup with the Baltimore Ravens, and later suffered a career-ending neck injury.

• College football coaches

  • Ralph Friedgen — Ralph Friedgen is a college football coach best known for his turnaround of Maryland and for being named National Coach of the Year after the 2001 season. Before that he worked under Bobby Ross at Georgia Tech and with the Chargers. He is often associated with Maryland and the ACC, where his teams were known for strong offenses and occasional big upsets. His nickname is “the Fridge.”

  • John Mackovic — John Mackovic was a college and professional football coach who led Illinois, Texas, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He also coached the U.S. team in a question set that references his conference titles and tournament runs.

  • Lou Holtz — Lou Holtz is the football coach who led Notre Dame to a national title and later coached at schools including Arkansas, Minnesota, and South Carolina. He is also known for an unusual career path that briefly included the New York Jets and for being one of the few coaches to take multiple schools to bowl games.

• College football players
  • Wyatt Sexton — Wyatt Sexton was the Florida State quarterback whose plans were derailed after a bizarre episode in which he was found lying in the street partly dressed and claiming to be God.
• college quarterbacks
  • Marcus Vick — Marcus Vick was a Virginia Tech quarterback whose college career ended amid repeated disciplinary problems. The clues mention marijuana possession, underage drinking, a suspension, and the infamous stomp that led to his dismissal from the team.
• Cornerbacks

  • Adam “Pac-Man” Jones — Adam “Pac-Man” Jones is a former West Virginia cornerback who became a first-round NFL draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2005. His nickname and reputation came from his quick, receiver-smothering style of play and from off-field trouble early in his career.

  • Fred Smoot — Fred Smoot was a Minnesota Vikings cornerback known for forming a strong pairing with Champ Bailey early in his career. He is especially remembered for the Lake Minnetonka ‘Love Boat’ scandal.

  • Jason Sehorn — Jason Sehorn is a former NFL cornerback best known for his years with the New York Giants and for his interception return touchdowns. He was married to actress Angie Harmon and helped the Giants during their 2000 playoff run, including a standout game against Minnesota in the NFC Championship.

  • Lester Hayes — Lester Hayes was a Raiders cornerback who helped lead the team to a Super Bowl title and became famous for his tight coverage. His use of Stickum led to a rule banning adhesives, and he was nicknamed the Molester.

  • Malcolm Butler — Malcolm Butler is the New England cornerback who made the decisive interception against Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX. The play helped the Patriots beat the Seahawks, and Butler later retired in 2021.

  • Nate Clements — Nate Clements was a cornerback from Ohio State who played for the Buffalo Bills. He was known for a long career marked by interceptions and for receiving the franchise tag in 2006.

  • Deion Sanders — Deion Sanders is a flashy cornerback and return specialist who is the only athlete to appear in both a World Series and a Super Bowl. He won a Defensive Player of the Year award with the 49ers, later played for the Cowboys and Falcons, played Major League Baseball, and has since moved into coaching.

• Defensive backs

  • Brian Dawkins — Brian Dawkins was a hard-hitting free safety for the Philadelphia Eagles and later the Denver Broncos. A Clemson product and multiple-time Pro Bowler, he became known for a rare game in which he recorded a sack, a turnover, and a touchdown catch.

  • Dick “Night Train” Lane — Dick “Night Train” Lane was a Hall of Fame defensive back famous for his interceptions, including the single-season record of 14. He starred for the Rams, Cardinals, and Lions and got his nickname from a popular song.

  • Dick Lane — Dick Lane, better known as Night Train Lane, was an NFL defensive back famous for his 14 interceptions in the 1952 season. He played for Los Angeles, the Chicago Cardinals, and Detroit over a 15-year career.

  • John Lynch — John Lynch was a Stanford athlete who switched from quarterback to safety and became a long-time NFL defensive back. He played for Tampa Bay and later Denver, earning Pro Bowl recognition and serving as a spokesman for Campbell’s Chunky Soup.

  • Legion of Boom — The Legion of Boom was the nickname for the Seattle Seahawks’ dominant defensive backfield in the early 2010s. Its best-known members included Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, and Brandon Browner.

• Defensive ends

  • Aldon Smith — Aldon Smith is a former Missouri pass rusher who set rookie sack records for the 49ers before off-field troubles derailed his career. He later returned briefly to the NFL, including a 2020 season with Dallas, after years away from the league.

  • Cameron Wake — Cameron Wake was a dominant pass rusher for the Miami Dolphins after first starring in the CFL with the BC Lions. He became known for elite sack totals, multiple Pro Bowl selections, and a career that bridged Canadian and American football.

  • Chris Long — Chris Long is a former Virginia defensive end and the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. He won major college defensive honors before being drafted second overall by the Rams in 2008.

  • David “Deacon” Jones — David “Deacon” Jones was a Hall of Fame defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams and one of the stars of their Fearsome Foursome with Merlin Olsen. He is often credited with popularizing the term “sack,” invented the head slap, and had an unofficial career sack total of 173.5.

  • Elvis Dumervil — Elvis Dumervil is a Haitian-American pass-rushing defensive end who starred at Louisville and was drafted by the Denver Broncos. He led the NFL in sacks in 2009 and drew attention earlier for tying the NCAA single-season sack record and for the Gator Bowl incident with Marcus Vick.

  • Jason Taylor — Jason Taylor was a Miami Dolphins defensive end and linebacker who starred at Akron, led the NFL in sacks in 2002, and won the 2006 AP Defensive Player of the Year award. He also won the 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year award and was known outside football for a Neutrogena spokesperson role and a run on Dancing with the Stars.

  • Mario Williams — Mario Williams was the NC State defensive end taken first overall by the Houston Texans in the 2006 NFL draft after the team passed on Reggie Bush and Vince Young. He led the ACC in sacks as a senior and became the first ACC player selected with the top pick, later earning a reputation as an elite pass rusher.

  • Michael Sam — Michael Sam was a Missouri defensive end/defensive lineman who became the first openly gay professional football player. He won SEC Defensive Player of the Year, received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2014 ESPYs, and was the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. He later had brief stints with the Rams, Cowboys, and Montreal Alouettes, becoming the first openly gay player in the CFL after failing to make the Rams roster.

  • Simeon Rice — Simeon Rice was an NFL defensive end who starred for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and earlier played for the Arizona Cardinals. He was a prolific pass rusher at Illinois and won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1996.

  • Bruce Smith — Bruce Smith was the dominant Buffalo Bills defensive end who amassed 200 career sacks and broke the NFL record for career sacks. The former Virginia Tech star made the Pro Bowl repeatedly, won the Outland Trophy, and later signed with Washington after leaving Buffalo.

  • Dexter Manley — Dexter Manley was a Washington Redskins defensive end whose career was derailed by repeated drug problems and illiteracy. He was later banned from the NFL after failing multiple drug tests.

  • Richard Dent — Richard Dent was the Chicago Bears defensive end who won MVP of Super Bowl XX and led the NFL in sacks in 1985. He is also identified with the Bears’ sack-themed fan song and with dominant play in the Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.

• defensive linemen

  • Alan Page — Alan Page was a Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle in the Purple People Eaters era and later became a judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court. He was the first defensive player to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award and was long credited with being one of the league’s great sack artists.

  • Mike Lodish — Mike Lodish was a defensive lineman who spent much of his career as a reserve before winning multiple Super Bowls with Denver and Buffalo. He became the first player to appear in six Super Bowls and narrowly avoided becoming the second player to lose five of them.

  • Ndamukong Suh — Ndamukong Suh is a former Detroit Lions defensive tackle known for violent play and dirty-player accusations. He signed a record-setting defensive contract with the Dolphins and became widely associated with kicking Matt Schaub in the groin.

  • Roosevelt ‘Rosey’ Grier — Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier was a defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams and one of the members of their Fearsome Foursome. He later became a public figure through books, television appearances, and a highly varied post-football career.

• defensive tackles

  • The Refrigerator — The Refrigerator was the nickname of William Perry, the massive Chicago Bears defensive tackle who also scored as a goal-line back. The nickname inspired later football monikers such as Gerald McNeil’s The Ice Cube.

  • William Perry — William Perry was the massive Chicago Bears defensive tackle nicknamed “Refrigerator Perry.” He became famous for his size, his Super Bowl touchdown, and later for serving in the U.S. Department of Defense under Bill Clinton.

• ends
  • Leon Hart — Leon Hart was a Notre Dame end who won the Heisman Trophy in 1949, still the only player at that position to do so. He went on to star for the Detroit Lions and helped them win four NFL championships.
• Executives
  • Pete Rozelle — Pete Rozelle was the NFL commissioner from the 1960s through the 1980s, overseeing the league during a period of major growth and publicity. He is remembered for decisions ranging from playing games after the JFK assassination to intervening in the Mr. Irrelevant draft controversy.
• Families

  • Hasselbeck — The Hasselbecks are an NFL family associated with quarterbacks Matt and Tim Hasselbeck. The family also includes their father Don Hasselbeck and other football-playing relatives.

  • Manning — Manning is an American football surname most famously associated with Archie and his sons Peyton and Eli. The name also appears across multiple generations of quarterbacks and related NFL players.

• players

  • Tracy Porter — Tracy Porter is a New Orleans Saints cornerback best known for his interception return touchdown against Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLIV. He also intercepted Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game that sent the Saints to the Super Bowl.

  • Terry “Tank” Johnson — Terry “Tank” Johnson is an American football defensive tackle who played for the Chicago Bears and later the Dallas Cowboys. He was suspended after gun and other off-field legal troubles, including a jail sentence and a 2007 league suspension.

  • Patrick Mahomes — The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL team led by Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, with Travis Kelce as another prominent star. Their recent identity is tied to a Super Bowl title, Mahomes’s MVP season, and the team’s Missouri home in Kansas City.

  • Mel Blount — Mel Blount was a hard-hitting Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback and Hall of Famer who helped anchor the Steel Curtain defense. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, the first NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and finished with 57 career interceptions.

  • Adrian Peterson — Adrian Peterson is the powerful NFL running back best known for his record-setting rushing performances with the Minnesota Vikings. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards in 2012, won league MVP, and later drew controversy over child discipline and abuse allegations.

  • Archie Manning — Archie Manning was the Ole Miss quarterback and long-time New Orleans Saints passer whose sons Peyton and Eli later became star NFL quarterbacks. He is often clued by his 1969 game against Alabama and by the famous Manning football family.

  • Asante Samuel — Asante Samuel was a New England Patriots cornerback known for a costly dropped interception in the Super Bowl and for later playing in the NFL as a four-time Pro Bowler.

  • Bart Starr — Bart Starr was the Green Bay Packers quarterback who led the team to victory in the first two Super Bowls. He was the MVP of Super Bowl I and is also remembered for the winning touchdown in the Ice Bowl against the Cowboys.

  • Blaine Gabbert — Blaine Gabbert is a Missouri quarterback who was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2011 NFL Draft. His pro career was widely criticized after a difficult rookie season, following a college run in which he replaced Chase Daniel at Missouri.

  • Bronko Nagurski — Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski was a Canadian-born University of Minnesota star who became a legendary Chicago Bears fullback and defensive lineman. He won multiple NFL titles, was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and later had a pro wrestling career. He was also associated with the jump pass, extraordinary strength, and helped the Bears win the 1943 championship after returning to play in the 1940s. An annual award for the best defensive college player is named for him.

  • Case Keenum — Case Keenum is a former Houston quarterback who set major NCAA passing records before reaching the NFL. He later led the Los Angeles Rams and is remembered for the Vikings’ Minneapolis Miracle playoff win.

  • Charles Rogers — Charles Rogers was a Michigan State wide receiver and the second overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. He won the Biletnikoff Award and set a school receiving record, but his professional career was repeatedly derailed by collarbone injuries.

  • Charles Woodson — Charles Woodson was the Michigan defensive back and cornerback who won the 1997 Heisman Trophy as a primarily defensive player. He later starred for the Raiders and Packers and is also noted for his many interceptions and for winning the Nagurski Trophy.

  • Chris Cooley — Chris Cooley was a Washington Redskins tight end known for his receiving ability and for the nickname Captain Chaos. He became a Pro Bowl player and drew attention for an infamous accidental playbook photo that exposed part of his body.

  • Derrick Brooks — Derrick Brooks was a Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker and a leading tackler in team history. He won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award and the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

  • Devin Hester — Devin Hester is the record-setting NFL return specialist best known for opening Super Bowl XLI with a kickoff return touchdown. The former Chicago Bear has more return touchdowns than any other player and ranks among the all-time leaders in both punt and kickoff return scores.

  • Dexter Jackson — Dexter Jackson was a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back and free safety who won Super Bowl MVP after intercepting two passes in Super Bowl XXXVII. He also played for the Florida Tuskers and was noted for his postseason interceptions without returning either one for a touchdown.

  • Donte Stallworth — Donte Stallworth is an NFL wide receiver who played for the Saints, Browns, and other teams. He is also known for the drunk-driving crash in 2009 that killed a pedestrian and led to a season-long suspension.

  • Doug Flutie — Doug Flutie was a Boston College quarterback famous for the Hail Mary touchdown pass against Miami. He later played in the CFL and NFL, winning Comeback Player of the Year and even converting a drop-kick extra point in 2006.

  • Drew Lock — Drew Lock is an American football quarterback who played for Denver and later served as Seattle’s backup. He drew attention in 2020 for a rough stretch that included a game in which Denver had to play without a quarterback after COVID-related absences around the team.

  • Ed “Too Tall” Jones — Ed “Too Tall” Jones was a towering Dallas Cowboys defensive end and the overall number-one NFL draft pick. He was known for his 6-foot-9 frame and for briefly leaving football in 1979 to try professional boxing.

  • Eric Crouch — Eric Crouch was Nebraska’s quarterback and the 2001 Heisman Trophy winner. He was later drafted by the Rams and also spent time in the CFL and NFL Europe.

  • Ernie Davis — Ernie Davis was the first Black Heisman Trophy winner, taking the award as a Syracuse running back in 1961. He later signed with the Cleveland Browns, but leukemia prevented him from playing in the NFL.

  • Freddie Mitchell — Freddie Mitchell is a former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver nicknamed FredEx. He is remembered for the 4th-and-26 catch against the Packers and for an offbeat personality that led to memorable celebrations and headlines.

  • Harlon Hill — Harlon Hill was a wide receiver from Florence State Teacher’s College who became a rookie star for the Chicago Bears in 1954. The NCAA Division II football award named for him recalls his later NFL Rookie of the Year and MVP seasons.

  • Herm Edwards — Former NFL defensive back and cornerback who made the Miracle at the Meadowlands play as a Philadelphia Eagles player. He later became an NFL head coach and ESPN analyst, coached the Jets, Chiefs, and Arizona State, and is known for the line, “You play to win the game.”

  • J.J. Watt — J.J. Watt became a symbol of relief efforts after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and much of southeast Texas in 2017. The storm caused catastrophic flooding, major industrial damage, and large-scale rescue operations by groups such as the Cajun Navy.

  • Jake Scott — Jake Scott was the Miami Dolphins safety who won Super Bowl VII MVP honors after interceptions in the title game. The clues emphasize his play in that game and the later oddity that he was absent from the ceremony, prompting premature rumors of his death.

  • Jameis Winston — Jameis Winston is the former Florida State quarterback and Heisman winner who later played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. He was also drafted by the Texas Rangers and became notorious for a 30-touchdown, 30-interception season. His college career included major attention after a 2012 sexual assault allegation.

  • Jeff George — Jeff George was the first overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft and a famously strong-armed but erratic quarterback. His career included stops with the Colts, Falcons, Raiders, Vikings, Redskins, Seahawks, and Bears.

  • Jerome Harrison — Jerome Harrison was a Cleveland Browns running back who broke Jim Brown’s single-game franchise rushing record with 286 yards against the Chiefs. That performance made him one of the top single-game rushers in NFL history.

  • Jim Kelly — Jim Kelly was the Buffalo Bills quarterback who led the team to four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s. Before that, he starred in the USFL with the Houston Gamblers and later ran Buffalo’s K-gun offense, throwing to receivers like Andre Reed. He remains the only Bills quarterback with his number retired by the team.

  • Jimmy Graham — Jimmy Graham is a tight end who played basketball in college at Miami before switching fully to football. He starred for the Saints and set the single-season receiving yards record for a tight end in 2011.

  • John Elway — John Elway was a Stanford quarterback who also played baseball before starring for the Denver Broncos as one of the most famous NFL passers of the 1980s and 1990s. He is especially associated with “The Drive,” the 98-yard AFC Championship march that ended with his touchdown pass to Mark Jackson, the Stanford “band is on the field” game, the “Helicopter” play in Super Bowl XXXII, Super Bowl rushing touchdowns, and two Super Bowl wins with Denver. He later became a Broncos executive and was elected to the Hall of Fame.

  • Jon Kitna — Jon Kitna is a quarterback who began his pro career with the Barcelona Dragons before playing in the NFL for Seattle, Cincinnati, Detroit, and other teams. He was known for helping lead the Seahawks to the playoffs and for later losing playing time to Carson Palmer.

  • Jon Runyan — Jon Runyan was the hulking Philadelphia Eagles right tackle who later served as a Republican congressman from New Jersey. He is also remembered for a record 213 consecutive starts and for his post-playing work in NFL policy administration.

  • Justin Tucker — Justin Tucker is the Baltimore Ravens kicker known for elite accuracy, long-range kicks, and clutch field goals. He held the NFL record for the longest field goal before it was surpassed, and he was later suspended and released amid misconduct allegations.

  • Keenan McCardell — Keenan McCardell was an NFL wide receiver who starred for the Jaguars and later the Chargers. He was selected from UNLV and became one of the first Jaguars named to the Pro Bowl.

  • Kerry Collins — Kerry Collins was a Penn State quarterback who became the first draft pick in Carolina Panthers history and later started for the Titans. His career clues include a Super Bowl loss to Baltimore and early controversy over drinking and racial slurs.

  • Keyshawn Johnson — Keyshawn Johnson is a former USC wide receiver who was the first overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. He later played for the Buccaneers and Cowboys and became a television analyst.
    • Just Give Me the Damn Ball — Just Give Me the Damn Ball is a memoir-style basketball book associated with outspoken wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. It focuses on his rookie season and his conflicts with teammates and the Jets organization.

  • Ki-Jana Carter — Ki-Jana Carter was the Penn State running back selected first overall by the Bengals in 1995. He is a classic cautionary clue because injuries, including an ACL tear and later wrist problems, derailed his NFL career.

  • Kurtis Eugene “Kurt” Warner — Kurtis Eugene “Kurt” Warner was the undrafted quarterback from Northern Iowa who starred for the Iowa Barnstormers before leading the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf.” He became a Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback with the Rams and later played for the Arizona Cardinals. His biography is often associated with his faith and his first wife Brenda, and he also worked in a grocery store before his NFL success.

  • Larry Darnell Fitzgerald Jr. — Larry Darnell Fitzgerald Jr. is the former Pittsburgh wide receiver who became one of the NFL’s great pass catchers with the Arizona Cardinals. He won the Biletnikoff Award in 2003 and was the 2003 Heisman Trophy runner-up.

  • Laveranues Coles — Laveranues Coles is a former NFL wide receiver who spent much of his career with the New York Jets. He was involved in the Florida State Dillard’s scandal, later made the Pro Bowl with Washington, and returned to the Jets in a trade for Santana Moss.

  • Lofa Tatupu — Lofa Tatupu was a Samoan-descended linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks and a three-time Pro Bowler. A USC product and son of former NFL fullback Mosi Tatupu, he is especially associated with big plays in the mid-2000s defense.

  • Manti Te’o — Manti Te’o is a linebacker from Hawaii who starred at Notre Dame and finished second in the 2012 Heisman race. He became famous for the hoax involving a fabricated girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, which drew intense media attention and online ridicule.

  • Marc-Andre Fleury — Marc-Andre Fleury is a Canadian goaltender who was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003. He became one of the franchise’s key playoff goalies.

  • Marcus Ardel Taulauniu Mariota — Marcus Mariota is a Hawaiian-born quarterback best known for starring at Oregon and later playing for the Tennessee Titans. He won the 2014 Heisman Trophy and became the first quarterback to win a College Football Playoff game.

  • Marquise Hill — Marquise Hill was a New England Patriots defensive end who died in 2007 after a jet ski accident on Lake Pontchartrain. The Patriots honored him by wearing his number 91 on their helmets.

  • Marshall Faulk — Marshall Faulk was the versatile running back for the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams who became one of the key players in the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf.” He won the 2000 NFL MVP award and set the single-season receiving-yardage record for a running back in 1999.

  • Matt Schaub — Matt Schaub is a quarterback who starred at the University of Virginia before playing in the NFL. He became the Texans’ starting quarterback after backing up Michael Vick, and later played for the Ravens and Raiders.

  • Max McGee — Max McGee was a Green Bay Packers receiver remembered for a huge performance in Super Bowl I after barely playing during the regular season. He famously caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in that game after Boyd Dowler was injured.

  • Michael Crabtree — Michael Crabtree was the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver who drew attention after a public feud with Richard Sherman. He was also projected as a top receiver in the NFL draft and had a foot injury noted at the combine.

  • Michael Irvin — Michael Irvin is the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver who wore number 88 and later became a football commentator for ESPN. He was notably mentioned in connection with a career-ending neck injury in 1999.

  • Michael Strahan — Michael Strahan is the former New York Giants defensive end who set the NFL single-season sack record with 22.5. After football he became a television personality, appearing on Good Morning America and hosting The $100,000 Pyramid.

  • Mike Adamle — Mike Adamle is a former football player turned broadcaster who hosted American Gladiators and later Battle of the Network Reality Stars. A running back at Northwestern and a draft pick of the Chiefs, he also played for the Jets and Bears before moving into television.

  • Nnamdi Asomugha — Nnamdi Asomugha is a former Oakland Raiders cornerback drafted out of Cal in the 2003 NFL Draft. He was widely known as a shutdown defender because opposing quarterbacks rarely threw to his side, and he was also noted for his charitable work.

  • O.J. Santiago — O.J. Santiago was a Canadian-born tight end who played for the Atlanta Falcons after starring at Kent State. He is especially remembered for helping popularize the Falcons’ “Dirty Bird” touchdown dance, and he also had stops in Cleveland, Dallas, and with the Vikings.

  • Peter Warrick — Peter Warrick was a star Florida State receiver who helped win the Sugar Bowl and the national title. He later became a first-round NFL draft pick and also drew attention for a Dillard’s clothing incident that hurt his Heisman campaign.

  • Ray Guy — Ray Guy was the legendary Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders punter, often cited as the prototypical NFL punter and the first player at his position many think belongs in Canton. At Southern Mississippi, he also played defensive back and quarterback, and he won Super Bowls with the Raiders while pioneering the idea of hang time.

  • Rudi Johnson; Derrius Thompson — Rudi Johnson was a Bengals running back out of Auburn who had only 67 rushing yards in 2002 before later becoming a featured back. Derrius Thompson was a Redskins receiver who ranked second on the team in regular-season catches.

  • Timmy Smith — Timmy Smith was a Washington Redskins running back who unexpectedly rushed for 204 yards in Super Bowl XXII. The performance set a long-standing Super Bowl rushing record.

  • Tony Boselli — Tony Boselli was a dominant offensive tackle from USC and the first draft pick in Jacksonville Jaguars history. He anchored the Jaguars’ line in the team’s early years and was selected to multiple Pro Bowls.

  • transfers from the UAB football program in 2014 — These were the football players who left UAB after the program was shut down in 2014, including later stars such as Jordan Howard and Gerald Everett. The set also included notable transfers like Jeremiah Briscoe, TJ McCollum, Jamari Staples, Victor Salako, and Jake Ganus.

  • Travis Kelce — Travis Kelce is the Kansas City Chiefs tight end who became famous for his connection with Patrick Mahomes and for setting postseason receiving records. He also drew wider attention through his 2023 relationship with Taylor Swift.

  • Ty Law — Ty Law is a cornerback remembered for New England’s first touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVI on a 47-yard interception return. A Michigan alum, he later intercepted Peyton Manning three times in the 2003 AFC Championship Game and wore number 24 with several NFL teams.

  • Wayne Chrebet — Wayne Chrebet was a New York Jets wide receiver and Hofstra graduate. He became known as a small, undrafted third-down receiver before concussions ended his career.

  • Wesley Carter “Wes” Welker — NFL wide receiver and return specialist who starred at Texas Tech, where he tied an NCAA record with eight punt return touchdowns. Originally with the Miami Dolphins, he was traded rather than have an offer sheet matched, and then became a top target for the New England Patriots, where his prolific slot receiving included a Super Bowl XLII record-tying performance.

  • William “The Refrigerator” Perry — William “The Refrigerator” Perry was a Chicago Bears defensive lineman and fullback who became famous as a larger-than-life football personality. He starred at Clemson, scored memorable touchdowns, and later appeared in novelty contests and celebrity fights.

  • Kevin Dyson — Kevin Dyson is the Titans receiver remembered for the “one yard short” tackle at the end of Super Bowl XXXIV. He also caught the lateral that became the Music City Miracle touchdown and later returned in the Panthers’ Super Bowl XXXVIII run.

  • J. P. Losman — J. P. Losman was a Tulane quarterback drafted by the Bills in 2004 and later played in the NFL and UFL. He is remembered as a first-round quarterback whose Bills career was brief and uneven.

  • Josh Allen — Josh Allen is the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, the western New York NFL team whose fans are famous for tailgating with folding tables. Clues often mention Stefon Diggs, Sean McDermott, and the franchise’s long history of Super Bowl heartbreak.

  • Sean Taylor — Sean Taylor was a hard-hitting University of Miami defensive back who starred for the Washington Redskins after being drafted fifth overall in 2004. He was nicknamed “Meast” and was killed in a home invasion in 2007.

  • Maurice Clarett — Maurice Clarett is the former Ohio State running back whose legal troubles included armed robbery and filing a false police report. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos but quickly became better known for his criminal record than for his brief football career.
• Front office executives
  • Matt Millen — Matt Millen is the former Detroit Lions general manager whose tenure is remembered for disastrous drafting and the winless 2008 season. He also served as team president and CEO, and his career included a notorious on-field punch of Patriots executive Patrick Sullivan.
• fullbacks

  • Alan Ameche — Alan Ameche was a fullback for the Baltimore Colts who won the 1955 NFL Rookie of the Year award and the Heisman Trophy at Wisconsin. He is most famous for scoring the winning touchdown in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, the game often called “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”

  • Larry Csonka — Larry Csonka was the bruising Miami Dolphins fullback and Super Bowl VIII MVP who helped anchor the team’s early-1970s dynasty. He rushed for 1,000 yards in each of Miami’s three Super Bowl seasons and is remembered as one of the toughest runners of his era.

  • Mike Tolbert — Mike Tolbert was a bruising NFL fullback known as a touchdown vulture, especially during his time with the Panthers and Chargers. He became the first Coastal Carolina Chanticleer to appear in an NFL game and was nicknamed the Toldozer.

• guards
  • Gerald Louis “Jerry” Kramer — Jerry Kramer was the Green Bay Packers guard who threw the key block on Bart Starr’s winning touchdown in the 1966 NFL Championship Game. He also wrote books including Instant Replay and Distant Replay.
• Kicker-quarterbacks
  • George Blanda — George Blanda was the longtime AFL and NFL kicker-quarterback who played into his forties and was once the oldest player in NFL history. He starred for the Raiders and held major career scoring records, including extra points made and attempted.
• Kickers

  • Adam Vinatieri — An NFL kicker best known for his long careers with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. He was remembered for the “Tuck Rule” game, made winning field goals in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII, won multiple Super Bowls, and became the league’s all-time scoring leader. He played college football at South Dakota State and became known as one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history.

  • José Cortez — José Cortez is a football kicker from El Salvador who played in NFL Europe, the XFL, and later the NFL. He is noted for his stint with the Amsterdam Admirals and for kicking for the Los Angeles Xtreme before joining San Francisco.

  • Nate Kaeding — Nate Kaeding was the San Diego Chargers kicker known for exceptional field-goal accuracy and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2006. He became notorious for missing three field goals in a playoff loss to the Jets and later suffered a torn ACL on a season-opening kickoff.

  • Paul Edinger — Paul Edinger is a former NFL kicker who played for the Bears and Vikings after starring at Michigan State. He was known for an unusual corkscrew-style kicking motion.

  • Sarah Fuller — Sarah Fuller is the Vanderbilt goalkeeper and former placekicker who became the first woman to play and score in a Power Five football game. She later appeared in the post-inaugural special Celebrating America and went on to play soccer for Minnesota Aurora FC.

  • Sebastian Janikowski — Sebastian Janikowski was the longtime Oakland Raiders kicker, a first-round draft pick out of Florida State. Clues about his record-setting field goals, DUI arrest, and Polish background recur often in questions about him.

• Multi-Position Players
  • Owen Marecic — Owen Marecic was a Stanford football player who started at both linebacker and fullback. He won the inaugural Paul Hornung Award and became known for scoring on both offense and defense in the same game.
• NFL coaches

  • Dick Vermeil — Dick Vermeil coached the Philadelphia Eagles and later led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title. He was also noted for popularizing the idea of NFL burnout after leaving coaching in the 1980s.

  • Doug Pederson — Doug Pederson is a former NFL quarterback who briefly revived his playing career with Cleveland before later becoming a head coach. As a coach under Andy Reid, he became known for aggressive fourth-down decisions and for calling the timeout before the missed kick in the Eagles’ Double Doink game.

  • Gregg Williams — Gregg Williams is an NFL defensive coach associated with the Saints’ Bountygate scandal and later roles with the Rams and Titans. He was also discussed in connection with the Redskins’ coaching search before that controversy.

• NFL owners
  • Art Modell — Art Modell was the owner of the Cleveland Browns who moved the franchise to Baltimore in the 1990s. His decision made him one of the most reviled figures in Cleveland sports history.
• NFL players

  • Albert Haynesworth — Albert Haynesworth was an NFL defensive tackle whose signing by Washington became infamous as one of the worst free-agent deals in league history. He is best remembered for stomping on Andre Gurode’s head and for a turbulent stint with the Titans and Redskins.

  • Cris Collinsworth — Cris Collinsworth is a former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver who played eight NFL seasons, made two Super Bowl appearances, and finished with 417 receptions for more than 6,400 yards. After retiring in 1989, he became a prominent sportscaster for NBC and Fox Sports.

  • Fred Taylor — Fred Taylor was a running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars before later joining the Patriots. He held many Jaguars rushing records and set a team single-game rushing mark of 234 yards. He starred at Florida and was a first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2008.

  • Mark Gastineau — Mark Gastineau was the flashy New York Jets defensive end who set the team’s sack records and later tried boxing. He was also known for his relationship with Brigitte Nielsen and for the well-known referee call about ‘giving him the business.’

  • Mike Vander Jagt — Mike Vander Jagt was the Indianapolis Colts kicker remembered for a highly accurate leg and a notorious missed field goal against Pittsburgh. That miss helped make him famous as the Colts replaced him with Adam Vinatieri.

  • Reggie Brown — Reggie Brown is the Detroit Lions linebacker identified in the account of a severe on-field injury that initially led people to fear paralysis. He later made a dramatic recovery and appeared publicly after the incident.

  • Rodney Harrison — Rodney Harrison was a hard-hitting NFL safety for the Chargers, then the Patriots, and he built a reputation as one of the league’s dirtiest players. He helped New England win Super Bowl XXXIX by intercepting Donovan McNabb late in the game.

• NFL quarterbacks

  • Brian Hoyer — Brian Hoyer is an NFL quarterback known for stints with teams including Houston, Arizona, and New England. He is noted in the clues for an early career comeback and for a playoff performance with four interceptions.

  • Philip Rivers — Philip Rivers is the longtime NFL quarterback from North Carolina State who was drafted by the Giants and traded for Eli Manning. He became a franchise quarterback for the Chargers before later moving to the Colts.

  • Troy Aikman — Troy Aikman was the Dallas Cowboys quarterback who became the number-one pick in the 1989 NFL Draft after starring at UCLA. He led Dallas to three Super Bowl wins and is often clued by his long career with Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith.

• NFL safeties
  • Deron Cherry — Deron Cherry was a Kansas City Chiefs free safety who made six straight Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1988. He later became one of the original owners of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• NFL tight ends

  • Jason Witten — Jason Witten is a longtime Dallas Cowboys tight end known for his durability and reception totals. He was sidelined by a lacerated spleen during the 2012 preseason but later reached 700 career catches.

  • Kellen Winslow Sr. — Kellen Winslow Sr. was a Hall of Fame tight end for the Chargers and a major receiving threat in the 1970s and 1980s. His career included a famous playoff performance against Miami, and his son Kellen Winslow Jr. also played tight end.

  • Marv Fleming — Marv Fleming was a tight end who won four Super Bowl rings with Green Bay and Miami. He was the first player to reach that mark, ahead of the early Steelers dynasty players named in the question.

• NFL wide receivers

  • DeSean William Jackson — DeSean Jackson was a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and return specialist known for explosive punt returns. His career also drew attention for anti-Semitic comments that later prompted public backlash and outreach to the Holocaust Museum.

  • Irving Fryar — Irving Fryar was a Nebraska wide receiver selected first overall by the New England Patriots in 1984. He played for the Patriots, Dolphins, Eagles, and Redskins, and is remembered for catching New England’s only touchdown in Super Bowl XX.

  • Roddy White — Roddy White is a former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver who starred at UAB. He became one of the Falcons’ top pass-catchers and earned multiple Pro Bowl selections.

• Offensive linemen

  • Anthony Muñoz — Anthony Muñoz was a Hall of Fame offensive tackle who spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was drafted third overall in 1980 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever at his position.

  • Dan Dierdorf — Dan Dierdorf is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman who spent his entire NFL career with the St. Louis Cardinals. A Michigan standout and six-time Pro Bowler, he later became known as a football broadcaster after retirement.

  • Jackie Slater — Jackie Slater was a longtime Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle who played 20 seasons with one team and later coached in the NFL and college ranks. He is also known as the father of Matthew Slater.

  • Kevin Mawae — Kevin Mawae was an NFL center who spent much of his career with the Jets and later played for the Titans. He was elected president of the NFL Players Association and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  • Leonard Davis — Leonard Davis was an offensive lineman from Texas whom the Arizona Cardinals drafted in 2001. He later became known as a highly effective NFL guard and tackle.

  • Mark May — Mark May was an offensive lineman at Pittsburgh who won the 1980 Outland Trophy. He went on to play for Washington and later became a football analyst for ESPN.

  • Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller — Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller were Chicago Bears offensive linemen involved in a drunken fight at an FBI shooting gallery. The incident ended with a broken jaw and fines rather than suspensions.

  • tackle — A tackle is an offensive line position in football, located between an end and a guard. The left tackle in particular protects the quarterback’s blind side and includes Hall of Famers such as Walter Jones, Orlando Pace, and Joe Thomas.

• offensive tackles

  • Kyle Turley — Kyle Turley was an NFL offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints and later became known for ripping off Damien Robinson’s helmet in a famous game. He also pursued music and other ventures after football.

  • Michael Oher — Michael Oher is the former NFL offensive tackle whose rise to prominence was chronicled in The Blind Side. He played at Ole Miss and spent his early pro career with the Ravens before later signing with the Panthers.

  • Tony Mandarich — Tony Mandarich was the Michigan State tackle taken second overall by the Packers in the famous 1989 draft class. Though billed as a generational lineman, he did not live up to the hype in the NFL.

  • Joe Thomas — Joe Thomas was a highly durable Cleveland Browns offensive tackle and one of the NFL’s most reliable pass blockers. A Wisconsin product, he made the Pro Bowl repeatedly and famously had his streak of consecutive snaps ended by a triceps injury in 2017.

  • Korey Stringer — Korey Stringer was a Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings and an Ohio State alumnus. He died in 2001 from heat-related complications during training camp, and the Vikings later retired his number 77.

• Officials

  • side judge — A side judge is an American football official positioned deep in the defensive backfield, with duties similar to those of the back judge. This official watches for pass interference, clipping on kick returns, and illegal numbers of defensive players, and is marked by an SJ jersey near the goalposts on kicks.

  • Walt Coleman — Walt Coleman is an American football referee. He became notable for the controversial playoff replay ruling in which a Patriots-Raiders fumble was overturned as an incomplete forward pass.

• Players and Coaches
  • Forrest Gregg — Forrest Gregg was an NFL offensive lineman and later coach best known for playing for Green Bay under Vince Lombardi. He later coached the Bengals, Browns, and Packers, and returned to SMU after its death penalty season.
• Punters

  • Jeff Feagles — Jeff Feagles was an NFL punter who spent time with Seattle, Arizona, and the New York Giants. He ranked among the league leaders in career punts and was known for long durability.

  • Sean Landeta — Sean Landeta is a long-time NFL punter best known for his career with the Giants and later work with several other teams. He is one of the league’s career punting leaders and also had a stint as an emergency punter after playing in the USFL.

  • Shane Lechler — Shane Lechler is an NFL punter best known for his long stint with the Oakland Raiders after being drafted from Texas A&M. He has been regarded as one of the league’s top punters.

  • Chris Hanson — Chris Hanson was an NFL punter best known for his long stint with the Jaguars and later the Patriots. He became infamous for bizarre injuries, including burning himself on a fondue pot and cutting his leg with an axe placed in a locker room.

• referees
  • Phil Luckett — Phil Luckett is an NFL referee known for a notorious Jets game in which he mistook Vinny Testaverde’s helmet for the ball. He also became infamous for controversial coin-flip and touchdown calls during other high-profile games.
• Safeties

  • Adam Archuleta — Adam Archuleta is a former Arizona State linebacker who became an NFL safety with the St. Louis Rams before later joining Washington and New England. He was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl run and later became known as a high-profile free-agent signing.

  • Bernard Pollard — Bernard Pollard was an NFL safety known for hard hits that injured several Patriots players. His reputation as a violent tackler earned him the nickname “Patriot Killer.”

  • Ed Reed — Ed Reed was a Baltimore Ravens safety who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. He became famous for his interception returns, including two of the longest in league history.

• wide receivers

  • Antonio Brown — Antonio Brown is a wide receiver who led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2018 with the Steelers. He later became notorious for off-field disputes, including a Raiders training-camp incident and a brief stint with the Patriots. He is also known for his nickname “Mr. Big Chest” and for arriving at preseason camp in a hot-air balloon.

  • Brandon Marshall — Brandon Marshall was a prolific NFL wide receiver for the Broncos and Dolphins, known for his size, production, and frequent Pro Bowl appearances. He set a single-game receptions record with 21 catches and was also noted earlier in his career for moving from defense back to offense after starting at safety in college.

  • Chris Henry — Chris Henry was the troubled West Virginia wide receiver who played for the Cincinnati Bengals. His clues center on arrests, league suspensions, and the 2009 death that later drew attention to chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

  • David Patten — David Patten was an NFL wide receiver best known for playing with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and New England Patriots. He was notable for becoming one of the few players to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown in the same game.

  • Deion Branch — Deion Branch was a New England Patriots receiver who starred in a Super Bowl victory and was named Super Bowl MVP the following year. He caught ten passes and a touchdown in the Patriots’ win over the Panthers.

  • Don Beebe — Don Beebe was a speedy NFL wide receiver known for his play with the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers. He is especially remembered for stripping Leon Lett to prevent a touchdown in Super Bowl XXVII.

  • Don Maynard — Don Maynard was a Hall of Fame wide receiver for the New York Jets and a key target in the team’s Super Bowl 3 era. He starred at UTEP, where he set career receiving marks that stood as records when he retired.

  • Dwight Clark — Dwight Clark was the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver who made “The Catch” in the 1982 NFC Championship Game. Wearing number 87, he later worked in team front offices and became an iconic figure in 49ers history.

  • Ed McCaffrey — Ed McCaffrey was a Broncos wide receiver who formed a prolific pairing with Rod Smith and later became known as the father of NFL running back Christian McCaffrey. After his playing career, he also moved into coaching and business ventures.

  • Eric Moulds — Eric Moulds was a Buffalo Bills wide receiver who starred at Mississippi State and led the NFL in receiving yards in one season. He is also remembered for a playoff game in Miami where he set a receiving-yardage record despite a costly fumble.

  • Flipper Anderson — Flipper Anderson was a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams who once set the NFL record for receiving yards in a single game. He also scored the overtime touchdown that sent the Rams to the 1990 NFC Championship Game.

  • Fred Biletnikoff — Fred Biletnikoff was a longtime Oakland Raiders receiver and Super Bowl XI MVP whose name now heads the award for the nation’s top collegiate wide receiver. He is also remembered for his stickum habit and for finishing his career after a stint with the Montreal Alouettes.

  • Gerard Phelan — Gerard Phelan is the Boston College wide receiver who caught Doug Flutie’s famous Hail Mary touchdown against Miami in 1984. The play became one of the most famous endings in college football history.

  • Hines Ward — This Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver was born in South Korea, played college football at Georgia, and became known for his blocks as well as his receiving records. He won Super Bowl XL MVP honors after a big game against Seattle.

  • Isaac Bruce — Isaac Bruce was a star wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams and a key member of the “Greatest Show on Turf.” He set major Rams receiving marks, made the Pro Bowl, and caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV.

  • J.J. Stokes — J.J. Stokes was a wide receiver who played for the San Francisco 49ers. He was part of the 1998 receiving trio with Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens and was involved in a notorious on-field incident with Bill Romanowski.

  • Joe Horn — Joe Horn was a Pro Bowl wide receiver best remembered for his flamboyant cellphone touchdown celebration with the Saints. He began his path to the NFL from Itawamba Community College and later became one of New Orleans’ top receivers.

  • Joey Galloway — Joey Galloway was a wide receiver who starred at Ohio State before becoming an NFL first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks. He earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1995 and later played for the Cowboys.

  • Lance Alworth — Lance Alworth was an AFL and NFL wide receiver from Arkansas, nicknamed Bambi for his graceful style. He starred for the San Diego Chargers, later finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys, and was the first AFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  • Lynn Swann — Lynn Swann was a Pittsburgh Steelers receiver who became the first wideout named Super Bowl MVP. After football, he briefly hosted To Tell the Truth and later ran unsuccessfully for governor of Pennsylvania as a Republican.

  • Marques Colston — Marques Colston was a wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints and a Hofstra alum nicknamed the Quiet Storm. He entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick, became a starter quickly, and was a major part of the Saints’ first-round bye season.

  • Marvin Harrison — Marvin Harrison was a star wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts and one of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets. He played at Syracuse and set the NFL single-season receptions record with 143 catches in 2002.

  • Matt Jones — Matt Jones is a former Arkansas quarterback who was converted to wide receiver by the Jacksonville Jaguars. His career was also marked by legal trouble, suspensions, and a parole violation.

  • Muhsin Muhammad — Muhsin Muhammad was a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers and later the Bears, nicknamed ‘Moose.’ He is especially remembered for Super Bowl touchdown catches and for setting the Super Bowl record for the longest touchdown reception.

  • Paul Warfield — Paul Warfield was a Hall of Fame wide receiver who starred for the Browns and Dolphins. He led the league in receiving touchdowns and was a major target in Miami’s championship-era offenses.

  • Peerless Price — Peerless Price is a former Tennessee wide receiver who starred in the 1998 Fiesta Bowl and later played for the Bills and Falcons in the NFL. His first name is famous for sounding like a praise of unmatched quality, which made him a common clue for name-based sports questions.

  • Plaxico Burress — Plaxico Burress is the former New York Giants wide receiver famous for catching the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII. He was also a Michigan State alumnus and later became notorious for accidentally shooting himself in the leg in 2008.

  • Randy Moss — Randy Moss was a star NFL wide receiver who played for the Vikings, Raiders, and Patriots. He starred at Marshall in college before entering the league in 1998, where he became one of football’s most explosive deep threats and later set the single-season touchdown catch record with New England. He was also known for the “moon” celebration and other flashy on-field antics.

  • Raymond Berry — Raymond Berry was a Hall of Fame receiver for the Baltimore Colts and one of the NFL’s great pass catchers. He later coached the New England Patriots to Super Bowl XX.

  • Reggie Wayne — Reggie Wayne was a standout Indianapolis Colts wide receiver and former Miami player known for a long streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He was often cited as Peyton Manning’s top receiving target after Marvin Harrison’s departure or injury.

  • Santonio Holmes — Santonio Holmes was a Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver who won Super Bowl XLIII MVP after catching the game-winning touchdown against Arizona. He was a first-round pick out of Ohio State and became famous for the sideline grab that preserved the Steelers’ championship drive.

  • Ted Ginn Jr. — Ted Ginn Jr. is an Ohio State wide receiver known for elite return skills and big-play all-purpose production. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2007 after starring in the national title game and drawing surprise at the pick.

  • Tim Brown — Tim Brown is a Hall of Fame wide receiver who won the 1987 Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame and later became the Oakland Raiders’ all-time leader in career catches. He remained a premier pass-catcher for nearly two decades, piling up over 15,000 receiving yards and over 100 touchdowns, and was long associated with the Raiders franchise.

  • TJ Houshmandzadeh — TJ Houshmandzadeh is a former NFL wide receiver best known for his long run with the Cincinnati Bengals. He led the league in receptions in the mid-2000s and later played for the Seahawks before moving into sports media.

  • Tyrone Prothro — Tyrone Prothro was an Alabama wide receiver and return specialist best remembered for his spectacular 2005 catch against Southern Mississippi. His career ended after a severe leg injury that broke both his tibia and fibula.

  • Antwaan Randle El — Antwaan Randle El is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Steelers and Redskins after starring as a quarterback at Indiana. He is especially remembered for throwing a touchdown pass to Hines Ward in Super Bowl XL.

  • Calvin Johnson Jr. — Calvin Johnson Jr. was a star wide receiver for the Detroit Lions and the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He won the Biletnikoff Award at Georgia Tech, set numerous receiving records, and was widely known for a controversial 2010 catch against the Bears that was later used to illustrate the catch rule; he is also frequently associated with Matt Stafford.

  • Hank Baskett — Hank Baskett is an American football wide receiver who played for the Eagles after coming out of New Mexico as an undrafted free agent. He is also known through his marriage to Kendra Wilkinson and a notorious Super Bowl onside-kick miss.

  • Terrell Owens — Terrell Owens, also called T.O., is the star NFL wide receiver from Tennessee–Chattanooga who was drafted in 1996 and wore number 81. He played for the 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys, made the Pro Bowl in 2001, and finished with more than 100 career touchdown catches. He was famous for his touchdown celebrations, outspoken clashes with teammates, spitting incidents, and other fine-worthy behavior. His memoir about the 2005 Philadelphia Eagles dispute gave the answer line its title, and in 2007 he had a four-touchdown game against Washington. He was also associated with children’s books.

  • Sterling Sharpe — Sterling Sharpe was a Green Bay Packers wide receiver and one of the NFL’s most productive pass catchers before an injury ended his career. He set single-season reception records, made five Pro Bowls, and is Shannon Sharpe’s older brother.

• American football coaches

  • Bobby Bowden — Bobby Bowden was the longtime Florida State football coach and one of the winningest coaches in major college football history. He also coached at West Virginia and Samford, and his sons became coaches as well.

  • Glen ‘Pop’ Warner — Glen ‘Pop’ Warner was a pioneering American football coach who worked at Carlisle, Pittsburgh, and Stanford. He developed the single-wing and double-wing offenses and won 304 games.

  • head coach of the Indianapolis Colts — The head coach of the Indianapolis Colts is the NFL job associated with leaders such as Tony Dungy, Jim Mora, and Frank Reich. The position has also been held by Chuck Pagano, Jim Caldwell, and other coaches in the franchise’s history.

  • Jon Gruden — American football coach and television analyst who replaced Tony Dungy as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, with Dexter Jackson winning MVP honors. He later became a Monday Night Football color commentator, and his coaching career included work as an offensive assistant, coordinator, and head coach.

  • Mike Riley — Mike Riley is an American football coach best known for running Oregon State before being hired by the San Diego Chargers.

  • Sylvester Croom — Sylvester Croom became the first African American head football coach in SEC history when he took over at Mississippi State. Before that, he worked as an assistant under Bear Bryant and Ray Perkins and later in the NFL, including as a running backs coach.

  • Tony Dungy — Tony Dungy was a football coach known for bringing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to prominence with a calm, positive style that contrasted with earlier Bucs coaching stereotypes. He later became head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and won acclaim there; he was also a former Minnesota quarterback and NFL defensive back.

  • Bill Cowher — Bill Cowher was the long-time Pittsburgh Steelers head coach who became a studio analyst for NFL Today and was nicknamed “The Chin.” A former NC State linebacker, he played for the Eagles and Browns before moving into coaching, where he later won a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh.

  • Bill Curry — Bill Curry was a football coach at Alabama and Kentucky, and also coached at Georgia Tech. He later became known as a color commentator for ESPN.

  • Don Shula — Don Shula was the longtime Miami Dolphins head coach and the NFL’s all-time leader in coaching wins. He also coached the Baltimore Colts and earlier worked for the Browns and Lions before becoming most famous for the Dolphins’ success.

  • football coaches — Football coaches are the figures who direct gridiron teams from the sideline and in recruiting or training contexts. The clue set also alludes to the AP-versus-coaches system for naming college football champions.

    • Barry Switzer — Barry Switzer was the longtime Oklahoma football coach who later won Super Bowl XXX with the Dallas Cowboys. He is notable for being one of the few people to win both a Division I national championship and a Super Bowl.

    • Bobby Ross — Bobby Ross is a football coach who led Georgia Tech to a share of the 1990 national championship and later coached the San Diego Chargers. He also took the Chargers to the Super Bowl after a successful run in the NFL.

    • Dennis Erickson — Dennis Erickson is an American football coach best known for winning national championships at Miami and later coaching in the NFL and at Arizona State. He was the 49ers head coach for the 2004 season, when San Francisco went 2–14.

    • Gruden — The Gruden family name is shared by Jon Gruden, the Super Bowl-winning former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his brother Jay, a former Arena League quarterback and coach. The clues also point to their father Jim Gruden and the family’s football coaching background.

    • Joe Gibbs — Joe Gibbs was the Washington Redskins coach who won three Super Bowls and later returned from NASCAR team ownership to coach again. He is one of the most successful coaches in NFL history and is also associated with the Joe Gibbs Racing organization.

    • Lovie Smith — Lovie Smith is a football coach best known for leading the Chicago Bears and reaching the Super Bowl with a defense-first reputation. He later became notable as the first African-American head coach to lose a Super Bowl.

    • Pat Fitzgerald — Pat Fitzgerald is a former Northwestern linebacker who became head coach at his alma mater after Randy Walker’s death. He is also known as the only two-time winner of the Nagurski Trophy and for leading Northwestern to the Rose Bowl in the 1990s.

    • Steve Sarkisian — Steve Sarkisian is an Armenian-American football coach who has led programs such as Washington, USC, and Texas. He worked under Pete Carroll at USC and later returned to prominence after a stint as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.

    • Steve Spagnuolo — Steve Spagnuolo is a football coach who took over the St. Louis Rams in 2009. He previously served as defensive coordinator for the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII team that stopped New England’s offense.

  • Frank Beamer — Frank Beamer was the long-tenured head coach of Virginia Tech football and is known for an emphasis on special teams and defense. He built a successful program after earlier coaching stops at Murray State and The Citadel.

  • Gary Kubiak — Gary Kubiak is the former Denver Broncos assistant and head coach later hired as offensive coordinator by the Baltimore Ravens. As a player and coach, he was closely associated with the Broncos and John Elway.

  • George Welsh — George Welsh was the head football coach at the University of Virginia from 1982 to 2000. He previously starred as a quarterback at Navy and became one of the winningest head coaches at two Division I schools.

  • John Cooper — John C. Cooper was the Ohio State football coach who had previously led Arizona State to a Rose Bowl win over Michigan. The clues point to him through repeated losses to Michigan despite highly ranked teams.

  • John Heisman — John Heisman was a football coach and athletic administrator who led Georgia Tech, helped popularize the forward pass, and is associated with the cadence word “hike” or “hut.” He coached Georgia Tech to a famous 222-0 win over Cumberland College in 1916, an outcome reportedly influenced by a baseball score he wanted to avenge. He is best known as the namesake of the Heisman Trophy, awarded each year to the most outstanding college football player.

  • Josh McDaniels — Josh McDaniels is an American football coach who became head coach of the Denver Broncos after serving as an offensive assistant in New England. He later returned to the Patriots and also spent time as an offensive coordinator elsewhere in the NFL.

  • Mike Tomlin — Mike Tomlin is the Pittsburgh Steelers coach who won Super Bowl XLIII as one of the youngest head coaches ever to do so. Before becoming an NFL head coach, he served as a defensive backs coach and later as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.

  • Monte Kiffin — Monte Kiffin is an American football coach best known for developing the Tampa-2 defense and serving as a long-time defensive coordinator in the NFL. He coached at North Carolina State and later worked with Tampa Bay, where his units became famous for disciplined zone coverage and gang tackling.

  • Norv Turner — Norv Turner is an American football coach known for working as an offensive coordinator and head coach in the NFL. He coached under John Robinson and Jimmy Johnson before later leading teams such as the Raiders and Redskins.

  • Pete Carroll — Pete Carroll is the energetic former head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, famous for chewing gum on the sideline and for building the Legion of Boom defense. He also coached USC to a 2005 Orange Bowl title and became notorious for the late pass call that cost Seattle Super Bowl XLIX.

  • Rex Ryan — Rex Ryan is the outspoken football coach best known for leading the New York Jets, where he coached the Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith era teams. His Jets are remembered for a mid-2010s collapse, a Wild Card win over Indianapolis, and Ryan’s own swaggering, defense-first style.

  • Tyrone Willingham — Tyrone Willingham is the football coach who became the first African-American head coach of any sport at Notre Dame. He later coached Washington to a winless 2008 season after earlier stops at Stanford and Notre Dame.

  • Wade Phillips — Wade Phillips is an NFL coach long known for running defenses and for head-coaching stops in Buffalo, Denver, and Dallas. He is also associated with the Music City Miracle-era Bills and with teams that later promoted him from defensive coordinator to head coach.

  • William Stephen Bill Belichick — Longtime NFL coach best known for leading the New England Patriots under Tom Brady. He won six Super Bowls with New England, coached an undefeated regular season, and previously served as defensive coordinator for the Giants. He took over the Patriots after coaching the 1995 Cleveland Browns, and his Patriots were involved in the Spygate controversy, which led to a major fine and suspension-related fallout.
• College coaches
  • Bill “Brother” Oliver — Bill “Brother” Oliver was an Auburn football coach who served as defensive coordinator and interim head coach. He is associated with a settlement over his claim that he had been promised the head coaching job.
• Defensive coaches
  • Buddy Ryan — Buddy Ryan was a brash NFL defensive coach best known for coordinating the 1985 Bears and later coaching the Eagles and Cardinals. His reputation was cemented by the 46 defense, the Eagles’ “Bounty Bowls” era, and a long feud-filled career that made him a frequent source of sideline controversy.
• Head coaches
  • Mike McCarthy — Mike McCarthy coached the Dallas Cowboys and previously won a Super Bowl as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. His Dallas tenure included a notorious final-play quarterback draw in a 2022 playoff loss to the 49ers.
• NFL head coaches
  • Andy Reid — Andy Reid is the American football coach best known for his long tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He earlier served as a quarterbacks coach and assistant before becoming a head coach.
• American football coaches and executives
  • Paul Eugene Brown — Hall of Fame football coach and executive who pioneered early NFL coaching success. He coached Ohio State and later the Cleveland Browns to championship success, helped found the Cincinnati Bengals, and is associated with the middle linebacker position and a long feud with Browns owner Art Modell. The Bengals’ stadium and the Browns franchise are associated with his name.
• American football defensive ends
  • Lyle Alzado — Lyle Alzado was a former NFL defensive end for the Broncos, Browns, and Raiders. He became widely known for attributing his brain cancer and death to long-term steroid use.
• American football defensive tackles
  • Randy White — Randy White was a dominant Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle who starred at Maryland and won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. He was a Super Bowl XII co-MVP and made nine Pro Bowls in a Hall of Fame career.
• American football executives

  • Al Davis — Al Davis was the longtime owner and chief executive of the Oakland Raiders and also served as commissioner of the AFL. He was known as the “Prince of Darkness” and for his trademark sideline jogging suit.

  • Bill Polian — Bill Polian is an NFL executive who served as general manager of the Bills and later president and GM of the Colts. He helped build teams around picks such as Peyton Manning, and is a Hall of Fame front-office figure.

• American football kickers

  • Cody Parkey — Cody Parkey is an American football kicker best known for the Chicago Bears’ infamous Double Doink miss in the 2019 Wild Card game against the Eagles. He also had earlier kicking problems in a game against the Lions when multiple attempts struck the uprights.

  • John Carney — John Carney was a longtime New Orleans Saints kicker, hired later as a kicking consultant for Garrett Hartley. He is especially remembered for missing the extra point after the River City Relay, a play that cost the Saints a playoff chance.

  • Mark Moseley — Mark Moseley was the Washington Redskins kicker who won the 1982 NFL MVP award. He is remembered as the only kicker ever to win that award and as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

• American football owners

  • Jerry Richardson — Jerry Richardson was the former Baltimore Colts star who later founded a restaurant empire and won the Carolina Panthers franchise. He is also associated with the creation of personal seat licenses to help finance the team’s stadium.

  • Robert Kraft — Robert Kraft is the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and a major figure in American sports business. His name is tied to the Patriots’ long run of success, his earlier paper and packaging ventures, and later controversies involving massage parlor allegations.

• Special teams players
  • Steve Tasker — Steve Tasker was a Buffalo Bills special teams standout and later a CBS football analyst. He is often cited as a likely first Hall of Fame inductee based chiefly on non-kicking special teams play.
• American football quarterbacks

  • Aaron Brooks and Michael Vick — Aaron Brooks and Michael Vick were second cousins who both became prominent football quarterbacks from Virginia. Brooks starred at Virginia and later for the New Orleans Saints, while Vick led Virginia Tech and became the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft.

  • David Garrard — David Garrard was a longtime Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback who played at East Carolina. He overcame Crohn’s disease, succeeded Byron Leftwich as starter, and is remembered for a Hail Mary touchdown pass to Mike Thomas and a postseason win over Pittsburgh.

  • Earl Morrall — Earl Morrall was the backup quarterback who helped lead the 1972 Miami Dolphins during Bob Griese’s injury. He was also the veteran passer who had earlier stepped in for Johnny Unitas with the Colts and won NFL awards in both roles.

  • Jeff Blake — Jeff Blake was an NFL quarterback best known for his years with the Cincinnati Bengals after being drafted by the Jets out of East Carolina. He made a Pro Bowl and was known for a deep passing arm and a long touchdown pass to Yancy Thigpen.

  • Koy Detmer — Koy Detmer is a former Colorado Buffalo quarterback and the brother of Ty Detmer. He got a chance to start for the Philadelphia Eagles when Donovan McNabb was injured.

  • Rich Gannon — American quarterback who won the 2002 NFL MVP award and had his greatest success with the Oakland Raiders, whom he led to Super Bowl XXXVII. After stints with Minnesota, Washington, and Kansas City, he became the Raiders’ starter and took them to the title game, where they lost to Tampa Bay in a disastrous performance.

  • Steve McNair — Steve McNair was a star quarterback from Alcorn State who finished third in Heisman voting in 1994. He was the Tennessee Titans’ third overall pick and became known for his running and passing brilliance, including a record rushing performance by a quarterback in the Super Bowl. He amassed 14,496 career passing yards in Division I-AA.

  • Aaron Rodgers — Longtime quarterback associated with the Green Bay Packers and later the New York Jets. He won Super Bowl XLV, was known for a low interception rate, and appeared in State Farm commercials tied to the “discount double check.” He also became known for his touchdown “championship belt” celebration, drew attention for saying he was “immunized” in a 2021 interview, and later departed from the Jets.

  • Andrew Luck — Andrew Luck is the former Stanford and Indianapolis Colts quarterback who was drafted first overall in 2012 and retired in 2019.

  • Bob Griese — Bob Griese was the quarterback who led the Miami Dolphins to Super Bowl VIII and the only perfect NFL season. He later became a football commentator and is also known as the father of Brian Griese.

  • Bobby Reid — Bobby Reid is a quarterback who transferred to Texas Southern after a controversial benching. The evidence links him to a widely shared rant about his demotion before his later professional career.

  • Cade McNown — Cade McNown was a UCLA quarterback and Heisman candidate who became the Bruins’ all-time leading passer. He is often remembered as a collegiate success whose professional promise was much less celebrated.

  • Charlie Batch — Charlie Batch is a former Eastern Michigan quarterback who entered the NFL with the Detroit Lions. He compiled the school’s passing records before being drafted ahead of Brian Griese.

  • Chase Daniel — Chase Daniel is an American football quarterback from the Fort Worth area who played at Missouri. He was a Heisman finalist in 2007 and helped lead Missouri to its high-water mark in the AP poll that season.

  • Fran Tarkenton — Fran Tarkenton was the scrambling quarterback who starred for the Minnesota Vikings after beginning his career with the New York Giants. He became one of the defining mobile quarterbacks of his era and is remembered as the first quarterback to lose four Super Bowls. He was an NFL MVP and ranks among the all-time leaders in rushing yards by a quarterback. Clues often mention Bud Grant, the Purple People Eaters, and his long career passing records.

  • John Beck — John Beck is a former BYU quarterback who returned from a mission in Portugal before reaching the NFL. He played for the Miami Dolphins and later served as a special assistant with the New York Jets.

  • Josh McCown — Josh McCown is a journeyman quarterback from Sam Houston State who was drafted by the Cardinals in 2002. He played for several NFL teams, had a notable Bears season in 2013, and was known for his long career into his forties.

  • Ken Dorsey and Craig Krenzel — Ken Dorsey and Craig Krenzel were the starting quarterbacks in a 2004 matchup between the 49ers and Bears, each stepping in because of injuries to the usual starters. The pair are tied to an otherwise unremarkable late-season NFL game.

  • Ken Stabler — Ken Stabler, nicknamed the Snake, was a longtime Oakland Raiders quarterback who was named NFL MVP in 1974. He is a standard football clue because of his career passing totals and the controversial 1976 playoff win over the Patriots.

  • Mark Sanchez — Mark Sanchez was the quarterback who led the New York Jets to postseason appearances in his early seasons. He later became notorious for the ‘butt fumble’ and eventually signed with Philadelphia after leaving New York.

  • Tommy Maddox — Tommy Maddox was a quarterback whose career revived in the XFL before he later returned to the NFL with Pittsburgh. He had previously been a high draft pick from UCLA and was once named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

• American football running backs

  • Garrison Hearst — Garrison Hearst was a running back for the 49ers whose career was marked by major injuries and a dramatic comeback. He earned comeback-player recognition after returning from avascular necrosis and once held a San Francisco rushing record later broken by Frank Gore.

  • Greg Hill — Greg Hill is identified here as a Detroit Lions running back who became the first Lion since Barry Sanders to rush for 100 yards in a game against Tampa Bay.

  • Jamal Anderson — Jamal Anderson was a Pro Bowl running back for the Atlanta Falcons who popularized the Dirty Bird dance. He set an NFL single-season carries record with 410 in 1998.

• American football safeties
  • Darren Sharper — Darren Sharper is a former NFL safety who played for the Packers, Vikings, and Saints. After retiring, he became an analyst, though he was also widely known for a famous Saints-related highlight clip.
• Owners
  • Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. — Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. owned the San Francisco 49ers and became entangled in corruption cases tied to Louisiana politics and casino expansion in New Orleans. The clues point to the businessman whose sports ownership made him nationally famous.
• Quarterbacks and punters
  • Tom Tupa — Tom Tupa was an NFL quarterback and punter who began with the Cardinals and later played for several teams, including the Jets, Browns, Colts, Patriots, and Buccaneers. He is especially remembered for scoring the first two-point conversion in NFL history and for emergency quarterback duty when Vinny Testaverde was injured.
• National Football League coaches

  • Jeff Fisher — Jeff Fisher is an American football coach best known as the only head coach in Tennessee Titans history. He previously worked on the Bears and Eagles staffs before taking over the Oilers franchise and guiding it through its move to Tennessee.

  • Tom Coughlin — Tom Coughlin is an NFL coach known for strict discipline, including his “five minutes early is late” rule and references to a “green zone.” He coached the Jacksonville Jaguars and later the New York Giants, winning multiple Super Bowls with the Giants after a long career in football.

• National Football League commissioners
  • Bert Bell — Bert Bell was the second commissioner of the NFL and founded both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. His tenure included the NFL-AAFC merger and the early recognition of the players’ union, and he died of a heart attack at an Eagles game in 1959.

American Football: Competitions, Records, and Historical Episodes

• Awards

  • Heisman Memorial Trophy — The Heisman Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. It was first awarded in 1935 by the Downtown Athletic Club, and Archie Griffin remains the only two-time winner.

  • Rimington Trophy — The Rimington Trophy is given to the nation’s top college center in American football. It honors Dave Rimington, the former Nebraska Cornhuskers center for whom the award is named.

• Games

  • 2010 Boise State vs. Nevada — This was the 2010 Boise State-Nevada game, a stunning Broncos loss in Reno that damaged Boise State’s BCS hopes. It is remembered for Kyle Brotzman’s missed late field goals and for featuring Kellen Moore against Colin Kaepernick.

  • Ice Bowl — The Ice Bowl was the brutally cold 1967 NFL Championship Game played in Green Bay between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. Bart Starr’s late quarterback sneak gave Green Bay the winning touchdown; the game is remembered for its frozen-field conditions, the game-winning wedge play, and the Packers’ victory that sent them on to win the NFL title and reach Super Bowl II.

• Overtime games
  • 7 Overtime games — Seven-overtime games are NCAA football games that reached a record seven extra periods, including the 2018 LSU-Texas A&M game.
• NFL games
  • Tuck Rule Game — The Tuck Rule Game was the snowy Patriots-Raiders playoff game in which a Tom Brady fumble was overturned by the Tuck Rule. It is remembered for the controversial overtime finish and was later associated with the rule’s repeal in 2013.
• NFL playoff games
  • The Fog Bowl — The Fog Bowl is the nickname for the 1988 NFL playoff game between the Bears and Eagles, when heavy lake fog rolled in during Chicago’s 20-12 win. The name has also been used for earlier football games played in similar weather conditions.
• Super Bowl games
  • Super Bowl I — Super Bowl I was the first AFL-NFL championship game, played in 1967 between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Bart Starr led Green Bay to a 35-10 win, with Willie Wood’s interception return and Max McGee’s touchdowns among the defining plays.
• Superstitions and curses
  • The Madden Curse — The alleged jinx in which football players suffer injuries or bad luck after appearing on the cover of an EA Sports Madden NFL game. Commonly cited victims include Garrison Hearst, Barry Sanders, Eddie George, Ray Lewis, Donovan McNabb, Shaun Alexander, and Michael Vick.
• trophies and awards
  • Super Bowl ring — A Super Bowl ring is the championship jewelry given to the winning NFL team after the title game. It is a recurring trophy clue in stories about teams, players, and even Robert Kraft’s reported gift to Vladimir Putin.
• American football games
  • The Greatest Game Ever Played — The Greatest Game Ever Played is the nickname attached to the 1958 NFL Championship between the Colts and Giants, famous for its overtime finish and its place in football lore. The title is also shared by a 2005 film about Francis Ouimet’s upset victory at the 1913 U.S. Open.
• American football postseason games
  • The Playoff Bowl — The Playoff Bowl, later called the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl, was a defunct NFL postseason game. It functioned as a third-place game for conference runners-up and was played in the 1960s before being discontinued after 1969.
• all-star games
  • Pro Bowl — The Pro Bowl is the NFL’s all-star exhibition game, long played in Hawaii before recent changes. It is a low-stakes showcase rather than a competitive championship game.
• championship games
  • Super Bowl XXV — Super Bowl XXV was the Giants’ 20-19 win over the Bills, the only Super Bowl decided by one point. It is famous for Whitney Houston’s national anthem and for Scott Norwood’s missed 47-yard field goal, remembered as the “wide right” game.

Association Football: Rules, Positions, Equipment, and Strategy

• Rules
  • Golden Goal — The Golden Goal was a soccer rule under which the first team to score in extra time immediately won the match. It was used in major FIFA tournaments such as the 1998 World Cup and became associated with sudden-death overtime before being replaced by other methods.

Association Football: Leagues, Clubs, Teams, and Venues

• Bundesliga clubs
  • VfL Wolfsburg — VfL Wolfsburg is a German Bundesliga football club from Wolfsburg. It is identified by players such as Edin Džeko and by its 2014–15 DFB-Pokal title.
• club teams
  • Paris Saint-Germain F.C. — Paris Saint-Germain is the French football club that plays at the Parc des Princes. Its squads have included Zlatan Ibrahimović and Gianluigi Buffon, and it won domestic titles in the 2013-14 era.
• Clubs
  • Arsenal F.C. — Arsenal F.C., nicknamed the Gunners, is the North London club that plays at Emirates Stadium. Its clues often mention Arsène Wenger, Thierry Henry, and the 2004 Invincibles season. It also acquired Declan Rice in a major transfer from West Ham.
    • Emirates Stadium — Emirates Stadium is Arsenal’s home ground, where the club moved from Highbury in 2006. The stadium’s naming rights are linked to Emirates Airlines and sparked controversy when it opened on Ashburton Grove.

  • AS Monaco — AS Monaco is the French football club based in the principality of Monaco. Under Leonardo Jardim, it won Ligue 1 in 2017 and reached the Champions League semifinals behind players such as Radamel Falcao and Fabinho.

  • Blackburn Rovers — Blackburn Rovers are the Lancashire football club that won the Premier League in 1995 behind Alan Shearer. The club, known for blue-and-white home kits, is one of England’s historic sides and has also competed in European competition.

  • Chelsea F.C. — Chelsea F.C. is a West London Premier League club known as the Blues, based at Stamford Bridge. Its modern history includes major success under José Mourinho and a first Champions League title led by Didier Drogba.

  • Coventry City — Coventry City is the English football club nicknamed the Sky Blues. It won the 1987 FA Cup and was long associated with the English top flight before later relegation.

  • Eintracht Frankfurt — Eintracht Frankfurt is a German Bundesliga club whose name has been borrowed by other teams in esports. The football club is associated with a famous 7–3 loss to Real Madrid in the 1960 European Cup final.

  • FC Anzhi Makhachkala — FC Anzhi Makhachkala is a Russian football club from Dagestan that drew attention for its billionaire-backed spending spree. It signed stars such as Samuel Eto’o, Roberto Carlos, and Yuri Zhirkov, and was linked to a large contract offer for José Mourinho.

  • FC Bayern Munich — FC Bayern Munich is the Munich-based German football club that plays at the Allianz Arena and is the winningest team in Bundesliga history. It is Germany’s most successful soccer club and has won multiple European Cups and Champions League titles, including the 2013 final over Borussia Dortmund. The club is also associated with figures such as Franz Beckenbauer, Oliver Kahn, Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski, and Harry Kane.

  • Football Club Internazionale Milano — The blue-and-black football club from Milan, known as the Nerazzurri, and one of the two clubs that share San Siro with AC Milan. Its history includes the Herrera-era league titles, the 2010s domestic dominance, the Calciopoli title award, major Serie A and Champions League honors, and a 2024-25 Champions League run capped by a loss in the 2025 final.

  • Galatasaray — Galatasaray is a Turkish sports club from Istanbul best known internationally for its football team. Its clues include a rivalry with Fenerbahçe, Wesley Sneijder’s later stint there, Fernando Muslera as a goalkeeper, and a 2000 European Super Cup title.

  • Glasgow Rangers Football Club — Glasgow Rangers Football Club is a major Scottish football club based at Ibrox in Glasgow. It is one of the two Old Firm sides and has a fierce rivalry with Celtic. The club has a long record of domestic success and is associated with managers such as Bill Struth. Notable controversies and incidents linked to it include the Ibrox Disaster and the 2008 UEFA Cup final riot.

  • Liverpool FC — Liverpool FC, nicknamed the Reds, is the Premier League club based at Anfield in the city of Liverpool. The team’s recent honors and rivalries prominently include Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.

  • Los Angeles Galaxy — An MLS club associated with Landon Donovan and David Beckham. It was an early league power in the 1990s and 2000s, won multiple MLS Cups, and lost MLS Cup ’96 after leading 2-0 against D.C. United. The club also won the 2001 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup and qualified for the Club World Championship. Early stars included Kevin Hartman, Cobi Jones, and Luis Hernandez.
    • Cobi Jones — Cobi Jones was a longtime LA Galaxy midfielder and charter member of the team. He became the Galaxy’s all-time leader in games, goals, and assists.

  • Manchester City — Manchester City is the English Manchester football club nicknamed the Sky Blues. Founded as St. Mark’s in 1880, it rose to prominence after being bought by Abu Dhabi ownership led by Sheikh Mansour. The club has been managed by Pep Guardiola and featured players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Erling Haaland, Edin Dzeko, and Sergio Agüero. It plays at the Etihad Stadium, has a rivalry with Manchester United, and under Guardiola became the first English team to reach 100 Premier League points in a season. It won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in 2022-23.

  • New York Cosmos — The New York Cosmos were the famous North American Soccer League club best known for signing Pelé and later stars such as Franz Beckenbauer. Their rise, ownership by Warner Communications, and later folding made them a defining name in American soccer history.

  • Newcastle United — Newcastle United is an English football club nicknamed the Magpies. It is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, the city where the referenced player was born and grew up.

  • Preston North End — Preston North End is the Lancashire football club that plays at Deepdale. The club is famous for Tom Finney and for having one of the undefeated seasons in English league history.

  • Real Madrid Club de Futbol — The Spanish soccer club based in Madrid, playing at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. It is one of Europe’s most decorated teams, famous for its many La Liga and Champions League successes, its long rivalry with Barcelona in El Clásico, and its Galácticos era under Florentino Pérez. Notable signings and players mentioned include Zidane, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Sergio Ramos; it also won three straight Champions League titles in the modern era and was the European club for which Luka Dončić played as a teenager.
    • Luka Modric — Luka Modrić is a Croatian midfielder who starred for Tottenham Hotspur before joining Real Madrid in 2012. He captained Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and won the tournament’s Golden Ball.

  • Real Salt Lake — Real Salt Lake is the MLS club created as Utah’s new franchise and named to echo Spain’s Real Madrid. The team won MLS Cup in 2009 and once clinched a playoff berth with a late goal from Yura Movsiyan after an Andy Williams shot.

  • Sporting Kansas City — Sporting Kansas City is a Major League Soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas. Under Peter Vermes, it has played at Children’s Mercy Park and won multiple Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups.

  • Tottenham Hotspur Football Club — Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is a north London football club nicknamed Spurs. It is known for its rivalry with Arsenal in the North London derby, its former home at White Hart Lane, and its modern stadium with a retractable pitch. Its honors include the 1961 English double and a later league-and-cup double under Bill Nicholson. Notable players associated with the club include Harry Kane, Gary Lineker, and Son Heung-Min.

  • TSG 1899 Hoffenheim — TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is a German football club from a small village team that rose rapidly through the leagues. Backed by SAP owner Dietmar Hopp, it reached the Bundesliga and moved into the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in nearby Sinsheim.
• Football clubs

  • Chelsea FC — Chelsea FC is a London football club associated with Premier League success under José Mourinho. Its players and matches have featured in controversies ranging from Luis Suárez’s bite of Branislav Ivanović to the club careers of Thibaut Courtois and Kurt Zouma.

  • Werder Bremen — Werder Bremen is a German football club from Bremen whose name comes from a word meaning river island. The club is known for playing in the Bundesliga, facing Hamburg in the Nordderby, and featuring players such as Claudio Pizarro, Aaron Hunt, Aron Jóhannsson, Josh Sargent, and Tim Wiese. Its history includes near misses in the 1980s under Otto Rehhagel and a 2009 UEFA Cup final loss to Shakhtar Donetsk.

  • FC Barcelona — The Catalan football club based in Barcelona at Camp Nou, famous for the motto “més que un club” (“More than a club”). It is known for El Clásico matches against Real Madrid and for winning major Spanish and European titles. Its history and modern era are associated with players and figures such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola, Robert Lewandowski, and the long pursuit of Alfredo di Stefano.

  • FC Porto — FC Porto is one of Portugal’s “Big Three” clubs and has won domestic and European honors, including the Champions League. Its modern squads have featured players such as Héctor Herrera, Tecatito Corona, and Iker Casillas after his move from Real Madrid.

  • Manchester United — Manchester United is the English football club based at Old Trafford, nicknamed the Red Devils. Long associated with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the club won the 1998–99 treble and is also linked with players such as George Best, Matt Busby, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, and Eric ten Hag. Its history includes the 1958 Munich air disaster, and it is noted for global popularity, Premier League success, and transfer/ownership discussions involving Malcolm Glazer and George Soros.

• Major League Soccer teams
  • Miami Fusion — The Miami Fusion were a short-lived Major League Soccer franchise added in the league’s 1998 expansion. They were contracted in 2002 after winning the best record in the 2001 season, and they are remembered as one of the league’s defunct teams.
• MLS teams

  • San Jose Earthquakes — The San Jose Earthquakes are an MLS team based in San Jose, California, formerly known as the Clash. Clues often mention their 2003 playoff comeback over the Galaxy and their long home winning streak in 2001-2002.

  • Seattle Sounders — The Seattle Sounders are the Seattle soccer club with roots in both the NASL and USL, later becoming an MLS team. The club has been associated with players such as Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg, and Clint Dempsey.

• National teams

  • United States men’s national soccer team — The United States men’s national soccer team is the U.S. national side in men’s soccer. It reached third place at the 1930 World Cup and became famous for its upset of England at the 1950 World Cup. Other modern highlights include a run to the 2009 Confederations Cup final, a controversial 2010 match against Slovenia, and a stoppage-time win over Algeria at the 2010 World Cup. Notable players have included Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic, and Mauricio Pochettino coached the team in 2024.

  • United States women’s national soccer team — The United States women’s national soccer team is the U.S. senior women’s side in international football, led in the 2019 World Cup by stars such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. It won the 2019 Women’s World Cup, opening with a 13–0 rout of Thailand, and it was also the subject of a high-profile equal-pay lawsuit filed against its governing body in 2019.

  • England and Argentina — England and Argentina are two national teams whose World Cup meetings are remembered for the 1966 “Theft of the Century” and the 1986 “Hand of God” match. Their 1998 meeting was also notorious for a red card to David Beckham after a foul by Diego Simeone.

• Scottish football clubs
  • Motherwell F.C. — Motherwell F.C. is a North Lanarkshire football club based at Fir Park. It has appeared in European competition and been linked in trivia questions to the so-called viking clap chant.
• Stadium disasters
  • Hillsborough disaster — The Hillsborough disaster was the 1989 stadium crush at an FA Cup semifinal in Sheffield that killed 96 Liverpool supporters. It later became infamous for press coverage that falsely blamed the victims for the tragedy.
• stadiums
  • soccer stadiums — Soccer stadiums are large sports venues used for football matches, such as Anfield, Old Trafford, Hillsborough, Liverpool and Manchester United’s home grounds, and other famous grounds like Wembley and Ibrox. They also include politically controversial or overbuilt facilities such as the Arena da Amazonia and various World Cup stadiums, including under-construction sites in Qatar and Brazil. The term may also be used more generally for football stadiums or arenas.
• Teams

  • New York Red Bulls — The New York Red Bulls are the MLS club formerly known as the MetroStars. The team was renamed after being bought by an Austrian group and is associated with players such as Danny O’Rourke, Taylor Graham, and Marvel Wynne.

  • Seattle Sounders FC — Seattle Sounders FC is the MLS club from the Pacific Northwest, identifiable by the Space Needle in its crest and rivalry with Portland and Vancouver. The team has featured players such as Raúl Ruidíaz, Obafemi Martins, and Clint Dempsey.

• women’s professional leagues
  • Women’s United Soccer Association — The Women’s United Soccer Association was the short-lived U.S. professional women’s soccer league that began play in 2001. Its teams included the Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, and Washington Freedom.
    • Sponsors
      • Hyundai and Johnson & Johnson — Hyundai and Johnson & Johnson were the corporate sponsors named in connection with the short-lived Women’s United Soccer Association. The league’s failure to secure its expected sponsorships was a major factor in its bankruptcy.
• Association football clubs

  • Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Bayer 04 Leverkusen is the German football club that endured repeated near-misses before winning the Bundesliga unbeaten in 2024 under Xabi Alonso. Earlier low points included the 2002 treble of runner-up finishes and the late loss of the 2000 league title.

  • FC Schalke 04 — FC Schalke 04 is the Gelsenkirchen club famous for its Ruhr derby rivalry with Borussia Dortmund and for the nickname the Royal Blues. The team has roots in the mining culture of the Ruhr and produced players such as Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sané, and Julian Draxler.

  • FC Valencia — FC Valencia is the Spanish football club based in Valencia and usually called Valencia CF in English. It is one of the traditional major teams mentioned alongside clubs such as Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruña.

  • Juventus Football Club — Turin-based Italian football club nicknamed the Bianconeri and the Old Lady, known for its black-and-white stripes and as one of Italy’s most successful sides. It has won many Serie A titles; the 2006 match-fixing scandal (calciopoli) sent it to Serie B and stripped it of the 2005–06 championship. Notable players associated with the club include Alessandro Del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

  • Leicester City F.C. — Leicester City F.C. is an English football club founded in the nineteenth century and elected to the Football League in 1894. Its greatest triumph was the 2015–16 Premier League title, won against enormous odds under Claudio Ranieri after it began the season as a huge underdog. The club plays at the King Power Stadium and was led by Jamie Vardy during its title run; it had also become known for cup success before that championship season.

  • Liverpool F.C. — Liverpool F.C. is the northwest English football club based at Anfield, founded in 1892 after a dispute involving John Houlding. Its history includes eras under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, long-running rivalry in the Merseyside derby with Everton, European Cup success in 2005, and under Jürgen Klopp Champions League victory in 2019 followed by a long-awaited Premier League title in 2020.

  • PSV Eindhoven — PSV Eindhoven is the Dutch soccer club from Eindhoven whose great rival is Ajax. It signed Park and Lee Young-Pyo after Guus Hiddink became manager.

  • West Ham United — West Ham United is the East London football club that moved to London Stadium in 2016 after decades at Upton Park, also known as Boleyn Ground. The club is tied to the anthem “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” and to England World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.

• English clubs
  • Everton Football Club — Everton Football Club is a Liverpool-area soccer club that plays at Goodison Park and wears blue. The Toffees share the Merseyside derby with Liverpool and were originally linked to the city’s early football history.
    • Everton — Everton is the Liverpool football club that plays at Goodison Park. It has been a long-established Premier League side and a destination for players such as Peter Beagrie and Landon Donovan.
  • West Ham United F.C. — West Ham United F.C. is the Stratford-based London club nicknamed the Hammers or the Irons. Its modern highlights include the 2022–23 Europa Conference League title and the famous involvement of players such as Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Mark Noble, and Declan Rice.
• English football clubs

  • Nottingham Forest F.C. — Nottingham Forest F.C. is an English football club from West Bridgford, long associated with Brian Clough and the red kit. The club has strong East Midlands rivalries, especially with Derby County and Leicester City, and has played in the Championship.

  • Fulham Football Club — Fulham Football Club is a London football club and English Premier League side that plays at Craven Cottage. It has long been associated with the West London Derby against Chelsea, and is remembered for a 1975 FA Cup final loss to West Ham, a 2002 UEFA Cup run, a late-season comeback to avoid relegation, and its period under Mohamed Fayed. Its rosters have included American players such as Brian McBride, Eddie Johnson, and Clint Dempsey.

• German clubs
  • FC St. Pauli — FC St. Pauli is the Hamburg football club famous for its punk, left-wing identity and skull-and-crossbones imagery. Its merchandise and fan culture are as well known as the team itself.
• Italian clubs
  • Fiorentina — Fiorentina is the Florence-based Italian soccer club. The team’s identity is tied to Serie A and to players such as Gabriel Batistuta, as well as to European competition controversies.
• Scottish clubs
  • Rangers — Rangers can refer to clubs or teams identified by that nickname, including the Glasgow football club famous for its Old Firm rivalry with Celtic. The same word also names military or game classes that use projectile weapons, as suggested by the fantasy and role-playing clues.
• Association football stadiums

  • Hillsborough Stadium — Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield is remembered for the 1989 disaster in which 96 people died after overcrowding in standing pens. The tragedy became infamous for the false and offensive reporting that followed in The Sun.

  • Old Trafford — Old Trafford is the football stadium in Manchester that serves as the home ground of Manchester United. It is also nicknamed the Theatre of Dreams and has undergone expansions that made it one of the largest stadiums in England.

• Women’s soccer leagues
  • Women’s Professional Soccer — Women’s Professional Soccer was a top-tier American women’s soccer league that began play in 2009 as a successor to the WUSA. Its early teams included the Los Angeles Sol, Washington Freedom, Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, and Sky Blue FC.

Association Football: Players, Coaches, and Officials

• American soccer players
  • Brian McBride — Brian McBride is a lanky forward who starred for the Columbus Crew and later played for Everton. He was the first American player to score at the 1998 World Cup.
• Coaches
  • Steve Sampson — Steve Sampson coached the United States men’s soccer team after replacing Bora Milutinovic in 1994. His best-known result was leading the U.S. to a win over Argentina and a semifinal berth at Copa América 1995.
• Forwards

  • Christian Vieri — Christian Vieri is an Italian striker known for prolific scoring in international football. He starred for Italy at the 2002 World Cup and scored most of his team’s goals in the tournament.

  • Cole Palmer — This Chelsea forward broke into prominence after leaving Manchester City and scored England’s only goal against Spain in the Euro 2024 final. He was named player of the match in the final after scoring twice.

  • David Villa — David Villa is a Spanish striker who became his country’s all-time leading World Cup scorer. He starred for Valencia, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, and he helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup.

  • Geoff Hurst — Geoff Hurst was an English striker for West Ham United and the only player to score a hat trick in a FIFA Men’s World Cup final. He did so for England in the 1966 World Cup final, a tournament in which he also scored the winner against Argentina in the quarterfinals.

  • Roberto Baggio — Roberto Baggio was the Italian forward nicknamed the Divine Ponytail, famous for winning the 1993 World Footballer of the Year award and for missing a decisive penalty in the 1994 World Cup final. He starred for Juventus, AC Milan, and later Inter, and was known for his iconic ponytail early in his career.

  • Robinho — Robinho is the Brazilian forward whose full name is Robson de Souza. He moved from Real Madrid to Manchester City and was later loaned back to Santos.

  • Roger Milla — Roger Milla was the Cameroonian forward who became a World Cup icon at Italia ‘90 and again at USA ‘94. He scored four goals at the 1990 tournament and became the oldest World Cup scorer, finding the net at age 42.

  • Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima — Brazilian striker usually known simply as Ronaldo, a two-time World Cup champion and one of soccer’s most feared finishers. He starred for PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Corinthians, and helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup. He won the 2002 World Cup Golden Boot, held the World Cup finals scoring record for a time, and was widely celebrated for his pace, skill, and attacking brilliance. His early career at Cruzeiro and PSV Eindhoven, the 1998 World Cup final illness, and his Nike sponsorship are also commonly noted.

  • Thierry (Daniel) Henry — Thierry Henry was the French striker and prolific scorer for Arsenal and France. He is remembered for goals such as the one that eliminated Brazil from the 2006 World Cup and for his later role as an assistant manager with Belgium.

• Managers

  • Gareth Southgate — Gareth Southgate is the English football manager associated with the national team’s modern revival. He is best known to many for missing the decisive penalty against Germany at Euro 1996 and later coaching England at major tournaments.

  • Graham Taylor — Graham Taylor was an English football manager associated with Watford, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the England national team. He is remembered for the “do I not like that” line, the notorious San Marino qualifying match, and the image of him as a turnip.

  • Herbert Chapman — Herbert Chapman was an English football manager who pioneered the WM formation. He won league titles with Huddersfield Town and Arsenal and is remembered as one of the game’s major tactical innovators.

  • Jose Mourinho — José Mourinho is the Portuguese soccer manager nicknamed “The Special One” who won major trophies with Porto, Chelsea, and Internazionale. He led Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles and later guided Inter to a historic treble.

  • Marcelo Bielsa — Marcelo Bielsa is an Argentine football manager known for the 3-3-1-3 formation and the nickname El Loco. He coached teams including Argentina, Chile, Marseille, and later a newly promoted Premier League side.

• Midfielders

  • Carlos Valderrama — Carlos Valderrama was the Colombian midfielder famous for his enormous blond hair and playmaking ability. He captained Colombia, starred for the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion, and won multiple South American Player of the Year awards.

  • Dele Alli — Dele Alli is an English midfielder who joined Tottenham Hotspur from MK Dons and broke into the side as a teenager. He won PFA Young Player of the Year and became known for his instinctive attacking play and memorable volley against Crystal Palace.

  • Earnie Stewart — Earnie Stewart is a Dutch-American soccer midfielder who played much of his club career in the Netherlands and starred for the United States. He scored the winning goal for Team USA against Colombia at the 1994 World Cup.

  • Gennaro Gattuso — Gennaro Gattuso was an Italian midfielder known for playing alongside Andrea Pirlo for club and country. He had a stint at Rangers before returning to Italy and winning two Champions League titles.

  • Juan Mata — Juan Mata is a Spanish attacking midfielder who came through Real Madrid and later played for Valencia, Chelsea, and Manchester United. He was a key creator for Chelsea, then moved to Manchester United after being overlooked by José Mourinho.

  • Kristine Lilly — Kristine Lilly was a longtime U.S. women’s soccer midfielder known for extraordinary longevity and a record number of international appearances. She won major honors at North Carolina, scored for the United States in the Olympics, and became one of the most capped players in the sport’s history.

  • Kristine Marie Lilly — Kristine Marie Lilly is the U.S. midfielder and captain celebrated for her record-setting international career. She helped the United States win Olympic gold and played collegiately at North Carolina before starring for club teams in the United States and Sweden.

  • Marco Etcheverry — Bolivian midfielder and playmaker who starred for D.C. United in the early Major League Soccer era. Nicknamed El Diablo, he helped lead United to the inaugural MLS championship in overtime and was the first MVP of the MLS Cup, the championship game MVP.

  • Preki — Belgrade-born soccer player and coach who became a U.S. citizen and starred in Major League Soccer. He won the MLS Golden Boot twice with the Kansas City Wizards, played both indoor and outdoor soccer, scored a game-winning goal against Brazil in the 1998 Gold Cup, later coached Chivas USA, and earned a place on the U.S. national team.

  • Roy Keane — Roy Keane was the hard-tackling Irish midfielder and long-time captain of Manchester United. He became notorious for clashes with teammates and managers, and for the tackle that injured Alf-Inge Håland.

  • Toni Kroos — Toni Kroos is a German midfielder best known for his play with Real Madrid and the German national team. He became Germany’s most decorated Champions League winner and starred in the 7–1 World Cup semifinal over Brazil by scoring two goals in rapid succession.

  • Clint Dempsey — Clint Dempsey is an American midfielder from Texas who starred for Fulham and the U.S. national team. He scored for the United States at the 2006 World Cup and was a key figure in the run to the Confederations Cup final.

• Players

  • Aaron Ramsey — Aaron Ramsey is the Welsh midfielder who helped lead Wales to its first European Championship appearance in 2016 alongside Gareth Bale. He is also remembered for a long-running feud with Piers Morgan after Morgan called him a liability and later offered a handshake of peace.

  • Andres Escobar — Andres Escobar was a Colombian soccer defender remembered for his own goal against the United States at the 1994 World Cup. He was murdered shortly afterward in Medellin, becoming one of the most famous tragedies in international football.

  • Andrew Shue — Andrew Shue is an actor and former soccer player best known for playing Billy Campbell on Melrose Place. He also appeared in sports-media crossovers and is the brother of actress Elisabeth Shue.

  • Bebeto — Bebeto is the Brazilian forward best known for scoring Brazil’s only goal in the 1994 World Cup final against Italy. He is one of the country’s famous attacking players from the 1990s.

  • Birgit Prinz — Birgit Prinz is the German striker widely regarded as one of women’s soccer’s greatest forwards. She starred for the national team, played in the United States with the Carolina Courage, and was a leading scorer at the Women’s World Cup.

  • Brad Friedel — Brad Friedel is an American goalkeeper whose Premier League career included Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur. He set a Premier League record for consecutive appearances and earned notice for his performances in the 2002 World Cup.

  • Carli Lloyd — Carli Lloyd is an American soccer midfielder and captain who starred for the United States women’s national team. She is famous for her hat trick in the 2015 World Cup final against Japan, a performance that earned her top tournament honors and made her one of the sport’s most recognizable players.

  • Christine Sinclair — Christine Sinclair is the Canadian women’s national team captain and a longtime Portland Thorns striker. She is one of the most prolific scorers in women’s international soccer, with a record of scoring six goals in a single Olympic women’s tournament and surpassing Abby Wambach’s international total.

  • Claudio Reyna — Claudio Reyna was a U.S. men’s national team midfielder known as “Captain America” and one of the first Americans to captain a major European club. He played for Virginia, Rangers, Sunderland, and Manchester City before later returning to Major League Soccer.

  • David Robert Joseph Beckham — English footballer who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and the LA Galaxy, and later became president of Inter Miami. He was the first player signed under Major League Soccer’s Designated Player Rule, became widely associated with set-piece skill and celebrity fame, and his public profile was amplified by his marriage to Victoria Adams and by serving as captain of the England national team.
    • Beckham — Beckham is the surname of English footballer David Beckham and his family, including Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham, and Nicola Peltz Beckham. Clues about the name also point to a chef with that surname and a memoir titled What I See.

  • Dennis BERGKAMP — Dennis Bergkamp was a Dutch striker famous for his fear of flying and his long career with Arsenal. He is also remembered for the decisive goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, a finish often cited among the tournament’s best.

  • Didier Drogba — Didier Drogba is an Ivorian striker best known for his long Chelsea career, where he became one of the club’s top scorers. He won major finals for Chelsea, starred for Ivory Coast, and was famous for his powerful all-around forward play.

  • Eric Cantona — Eric Cantona was the charismatic French striker who starred for Manchester United and became infamous for kicking a Crystal Palace fan in 1995. He later appeared in films and advertising, but is still remembered for his Premier League titles and volatile temperament.

  • Freddy Adu — Freddy Adu is the Ghana-born American soccer prodigy who moved to the United States as a child and signed an unusually early professional contract. He became the youngest MLS player and goal scorer in league history and was a highly touted youth international for the United States.

  • Hristo Stoichkov — Hristo Stoichkov was a Bulgarian striker known for his scoring and for helping Bulgaria eliminate Germany in a major tournament match. He was also notorious for a violent tackle that broke a college player’s leg and led to a suspension and fine.

  • Jose- Maria CHILAVERT — José María Chilavert is a Paraguayan goalkeeper celebrated for taking penalty kicks and for his charismatic public persona. He has also been linked with a possible run for political office in Paraguay.

  • Kaká — Kaká is the Brazilian attacking midfielder Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite. He starred for AC Milan, winning the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award along with the European and World Footballer of the Year awards, before a record transfer to Real Madrid and a later spell with Orlando City in MLS.

  • Lionel (Andrés) Messi — Lionel Andrés Messi is the Argentine star who spent most of his career at Barcelona before moving to Paris Saint-Germain. He is one of the game’s most decorated forwards and is known for leading Argentina to a World Cup title.

  • Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo — Luis Figo is the Portuguese soccer star from Lisbon who wore number 10 and was named European Footballer of the Year in 2000 and FIFA World Player in 2001. He began at Barcelona, later moved to Real Madrid in a controversial transfer, and was long regarded as Portugal’s best player since Eusébio.

  • Luis Suarez — Luis Suárez is a Uruguayan striker known for prolific goal-scoring spells with Ajax, Liverpool, and Barcelona. His career has also been marked by major suspensions for racial abuse and for biting opponents, including Patrice Evra and Giorgio Chiellini.

  • Michelle Akers — Michelle Akers was the United States women’s national team’s all-time leading scorer and a major star of the 1991 Women’s World Cup. She also won the 1996 U.S. Women’s Cup MVP and became known for her prolific international scoring record.

  • Paolo di Canio — Paolo di Canio is an Italian footballer remembered for his provocative politics and for a celebrated season with Celtic that earned him SPFA Player of the Year. He is especially associated with his Rangers-hating, Mussolini-loving, Roman-saluting image.

  • Ruud van Nistelrooy — Ruud van Nistelrooy was a Dutch striker who starred for PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. He became one of the top scorers in Champions League history and scored 150 goals for Manchester United before moving to Spain.

  • Ryan Giggs — Ryan Giggs was a Welsh winger who spent his entire senior club career with Manchester United. He later served as caretaker manager after David Moyes was sacked, and he also played for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.

  • Sir Geoff Hurst — Geoff Hurst was the England striker who scored a hat trick in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany. He remains the only player to score three goals in a World Cup final.

  • soccer player — A soccer player is a professional athlete who plays association football. The clue set points to labor and transfer rules affecting the profession, including the Bosman ruling, and to George Weah’s career before he became president of Liberia.

  • Stanley Matthews — Stanley Matthews was an English football winger famous for his dribbling, longevity, and status as the first professional footballer to be knighted. He is closely associated with Blackpool’s 1953 FA Cup win, the so-called Matthews Final, and with winning the inaugural Ballon d’Or.

  • Steven Gerrard — Steven Gerrard was the long-time Liverpool captain and an English midfielder who also played for LA Galaxy late in his career. He helped Liverpool win the 2005 Champions League and later became a manager, including a stint at Aston Villa.

  • Thierry Henry — Thierry Henry is the French forward associated with Arsenal and Barcelona, and he later joined the New York Red Bulls. He is also infamous for the handball in the buildup to France’s goal against Ireland in World Cup qualifying.

  • Wayne Rooney — Wayne Rooney is an English footballer who became Manchester United’s record goalscorer and later played for Everton and D.C. United. He is also known for the overhead-kick goal against Manchester City and for his role as England captain at Euro 2016.

  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic — Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Swedish striker known for his huge personality, acrobatic goals, and a career spanning Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, and Manchester United. He is also famous for the 2013 bicycle kick against England and for off-field quotes that helped make him a global football celebrity.

  • Kenny Dalglish — Kenny Dalglish was the Scottish striker nicknamed “King Kenny” who starred for Liverpool and later managed the club twice. He also captained Scotland and won major honors including three European Cups and six First Division titles with Liverpool.
• Russian association football players
  • Oleg Salenko — Oleg Salenko is the Russian striker who set the World Cup single-game scoring record by scoring five goals against Cameroon in 1994.
• U.S. women’s national team players
  • Julie Foudy — Julie Foudy was a midfielder and captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team. She played at Stanford, earned FIFA’s Fair Play award, and later became an ESPN soccer analyst.
• Wingers

  • Arjen Robben — Arjen Robben is a Dutch winger known for cutting inside from the right and finishing with his left foot. He scored in multiple World Cups, including a famous goal against Spain in 2014 and the winner against Serbia and Montenegro in his 2006 debut.

  • Gareth Bale — Gareth Bale is the Welsh left-footed winger who starred for Tottenham and Real Madrid. He won Premier League Player of the Season in 2013 and became famous for a bicycle-kick goal in the 2018 Champions League final.

  • Luis Figo — Luis Figo was a Portuguese winger from the famous golden generation, long regarded as one of his country’s greatest players. He starred for Barcelona before his controversial 2000 transfer to Real Madrid, and won the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award.

• American coaches
  • Bob Bradley — Bob Bradley is the American soccer coach who managed the Chicago Fire, the MetroStars, and later the U.S. men’s national team. He later had a brief stint at Swansea City and is remembered in part for tactics used against tiki-taka Spain.
• association football midfielders
  • Michael Ballack — Michael Ballack is a German midfielder who starred for clubs such as Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen, and Bayern Munich. He was one of Germany’s leading players in the 2002 World Cup, but yellow cards kept him out of the final.
• Association football wingers
  • Mohamed Salah — Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian right winger and one of Liverpool’s modern stars, noted here for major individual honors and match-deciding performances. He has also been a Premier League assist leader, which is one of the recurring clues associated with him.

Association Football: Competitions, Records, and Historical Episodes

• club tournaments
  • Copa Libertadores — The Copa Libertadores is South America’s premier annual club football tournament, roughly equivalent to the UEFA Champions League. Its name honors the liberators of South America, and teams such as Colo-Colo and Chapecoense have appeared in related clues.
• Finals
  • UEFA Champions League Final — The UEFA Champions League Final is the deciding match of UEFA’s top club tournament. It has produced memorable finals such as Liverpool’s 2019 win, Chelsea’s shootout triumph in 2008, and Real Madrid’s 2014 comeback over Atlético Madrid.
• International tournaments
  • World Cup — This quadrennial soccer tournament is the most-watched sporting event in the world and is organized by FIFA. Recent clues include Argentina defeating France in the 2022 final, Qatar hosting, and the field expanding from 32 to 48 teams in 2026.
• Tournaments

  • 1988 UEFA European Football Championship — The 1988 UEFA European Football Championship was held in West Germany and remains the only major international tournament won by the Netherlands. The final is remembered for Marco van Basten’s volley past Rinat Dasayev.

  • 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup — The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup was hosted by the United States and culminated in a Rose Bowl final against China. Brandi Chastain’s penalty and celebration became the tournament’s defining image, while Sun Wen and Sissi shared the scoring honors.

    • 1999 Women’s World Cup penalty shootout — In the 1999 Women’s World Cup final shootout against China, the U.S. had five players score on penalty kicks. The scorers were Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Carla Overbeck, and Brandi Chastain.

Baseball and Basketball

Understand play and scoring before baseball and basketball history.

Baseball

• baseball — The sport whose modern rules took shape in the mid-19th century in New York and which was organized professionally by 1869. Its rise is often linked to the Cincinnati Red Stockings, an early professional team and forerunner of the Reds; it is also associated with the World Series, the major league antitrust exemption, and the Black Sox scandal. Literary works often used to identify it include The Natural, The Art of Fielding, and “Casey at the Bat.”

  • 1918 Boston Red Sox — The 1918 Boston Red Sox won the World Series behind a staff led by Waite Hoyt, Sam Jones, Joe Bush, and Carl Mays. Babe Ruth was still a two-way star for the club, and the lineup also featured Harry Hooper and a young infield around Tony Lazzeri and Mark Koenig.

  • achievements

    • No-hitter — A no-hitter is a baseball game in which no hits are allowed, even though batters may still reach base by walks, errors, or other means. It is distinct from a perfect game, and pitchers like Nolan Ryan and Johnny Vander Meer became famous for compiling multiple ones.

    • Triple Crown — In baseball, this achievement means winning the batting title, home run title, and RBI lead in the same season. The term is also used more broadly for dominant sweep-style accomplishments, but these clues point to the baseball version.

  • Adam Wainwright — Adam Wainwright is a longtime St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher known for pairing with Yadier Molina, tossing a big curveball, and being one of the game’s most durable starters. He also became notable for his hitting, including a 2016 season with 18 RBI and a reputation for complete games late in his career.

  • Adrián Beltré — Adrián Beltré was a Dominican third baseman best known for his career with the Dodgers, Mariners, and Rangers. He is noted for power, multiple cycles, and the eccentric reactions of teammates and opponents to his head-touching superstition.

  • Agents
    • Scott Boras — Scott Boras is a baseball agent known for negotiating huge contracts, including Alex Rodriguez’s record-setting deal. His clients have also included players such as Kevin Brown, Jered Weaver, Stephen Drew, and Rick Ankiel.

  • Albert B. “Happy” Chandler — Albert B. Chandler, nicknamed Happy, was a Kentucky governor and U.S. senator who later became the second commissioner of Major League Baseball. As commissioner, he supported Jackie Robinson’s entry into the majors and disciplined players for joining the Mexican League.

  • Alex Rodriguez — Alex Rodriguez is a former Yankees star who later played third base and became a prominent baseball broadcaster and investor figure. He is known for the first instant replay in Major League Baseball and for the nickname A-Rod.

  • National League Rookie of the Year Award — The National League Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to the best first-year player in the National League. Recent winners mentioned in clues include Kris Bryant, Ronald Acuña Jr., Pete Alonso, and previous stars like Jackie Robinson, Pete Rose, and Hideo Nomo.

  • Ballpark features
    • Tal’s Hill — Tal’s Hill was the sloped center-field feature in Houston’s Minute Maid Park, once notorious for its awkward outfield geometry and the flagpole embedded in play. It was removed in 2016 and was inspired by a similar hill at Crosley Field.
  • Baltimore Orioles — The Major League Baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland, at Camden Yards. The franchise moved from St. Louis after 1953, when the Browns became the Orioles. Its classic identifying clues include Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Earl Weaver, the 1983 World Series title, the home-game tradition of singing “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” the Jeff Maier ALCS play, and the 2016 playoff loss after Zach Britton was left unused. It was also mentioned in connection with pitcher Steve Bechler’s death and concerns about ephedra use.
    • Peter Angelos — Peter Angelos was the Baltimore Orioles owner, a lawyer who made his fortune in asbestos litigation. He became notorious for contentious management decisions and for presiding over the team’s long decline after the Ripken era.

  • Bartolo Colon — Bartolo Colón is the durable, heavyset pitcher known for a long major league career with many teams and a 2005 Cy Young Award with the Angels. He later became a Mets cult figure after hitting his first career home run at age 43.

  • bats
    • Louisville Slugger — Louisville Slugger is a baseball bat brand made by Hillerich and Bradsby and long associated with Louisville, Kentucky. The brand was originally called Falls City, later became famous through Honus Wagner’s endorsement, and is marketed as the official bat of Major League Baseball. Its various finishes include two-toned and flame-tempered styles.

  • batting — Batting is the act of hitting a pitched baseball with a bat, aiming for solid contact and, ideally, extra-base power. Modern hitting analysis often focuses on launch angle, exit velocity, and the mechanics that produce home runs.

  • Ben Sheets — Ben Sheets was a right-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers who paired strong strikeout totals with poor run support early in his career. He won the gold-medal game at the 2000 Olympics, later throwing 200 innings in consecutive seasons and fanning 18 Braves in a 2004 outing.

  • Ben Zobrist — Ben Zobrist is a versatile baseball player known for his breakout 2009 season with the Tampa Bay Rays and for winning the 2016 World Series MVP with the Chicago Cubs. Nicknamed Zorilla, he became a model utility infielder and outfielder with strong on-base skills.

  • Bill Veeck — Bill Veeck was a flamboyant Major League Baseball owner and executive known for publicity stunts and innovative promotions. He is especially associated with the White Sox, the integration of the American League, and oddities such as Eddie Gaedel’s walk.

  • Bobby Abreu — Bobby Abreu is the Venezuelan outfielder who starred for the Phillies before later moving on to the Yankees. He is noted for a strong 1999 batting average and for winning the 2005 Home Run Derby.

  • Brian McCann — Brian McCann is the Atlanta Braves catcher known for making the All-Star Game in each of his first five full seasons. He won the 2010 All-Star Game MVP award and hit a memorable three-run homer against Roger Clemens in the 2005 NLDS.

  • Brooks Robinson — Brooks Calbert Robinson was a longtime Baltimore Orioles third baseman who spent his entire major-league career with Baltimore. Nicknamed the Human Vacuum Cleaner, he was renowned for his fielding, won a record 16 consecutive Gold Gloves, and was a Hall of Famer. He was the 1964 American League MVP, won the 1970 World Series MVP award, and helped Baltimore beat Pittsburgh in the 1970 Series; the next year he drove in a key run with a sacrifice fly in the decisive Series game. He also set records with his Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances, and his number 5 was retired by the Orioles.

  • bullpen — A bullpen is the area where baseball relief pitchers warm up, a term that also developed from earlier uses for crowded standing areas and other enclosed spaces.

  • Buster Posey — Buster Posey was the longtime catcher for the San Francisco Giants and later retired after a decorated career. He won an NL MVP award in 2012, caught Matt Cain’s perfect game, and was associated with the baserunning safety rule nicknamed for him.

  • Cap Anson — Nineteenth-century Chicago Cubs first baseman and manager who became the first major leaguer credited with 3,000 hits. He hit over .300 many times and won multiple batting and RBI titles during his long Chicago career. He is also remembered for helping enforce baseball’s color line by refusing to face teams with Black players.

  • Carl Pavano — Carl Pavano was the often-injured right-hander who pitched for the Marlins, Yankees, Indians, and Twins. He is a quizbowl favorite for injury-heavy clues, including the McGwire 70th homer, his long Yankees stint on the disabled list, and a 2013 snow-shoveling spleen injury.

  • Carlos Beltran — Carlos Beltrán is a Puerto Rican outfielder known for his postseason success and the nickname Señor Octubre. He won the 1999 American League Rookie of the Year award with the Royals and was later traded to the Giants for Zack Wheeler.

  • Carolina League — The Carolina League is a High-A minor league baseball circuit traditionally centered in the Carolinas and Virginia. Its championship trophy is the Mills Cup, and it became known to many listeners through Bull Durham.

  • catcher’s interference — Catcher’s interference is the baseball penalty that occurs when the catcher interferes with a batter’s swing. It does not count as an at-bat for the batter and is charged to the catcher as an error.

  • catchers — Catchers are the baseball players who handle pitches behind the plate, and the position has historically had relatively few black stars. The clue set highlights players such as Charles Johnson, Carlton Fisk, Joe Mauer, and the Molina brothers.

    • Benito Santiago — Benito Santiago was a star catcher who won National League Rookie of the Year in 1987 after a 34-game hitting streak. He played for the Padres and later for teams such as the Marlins, Phillies, Giants, and Blue Jays.

    • Brad Ausmus — Brad Ausmus is a former major league catcher known for his glove, his long career, and later work as a manager. He played for several teams including the Tigers and Astros and was noted as one of the best Jewish players of his era.

    • Carlton Fisk — Carlton Fisk was the Boston Red Sox catcher who hit the famous Game 6 home run in the 1975 World Series. He later played for the White Sox, set the record for games caught, and became an iconic figure in baseball history.

    • Gary Carter — Gary Carter was the Hall of Fame catcher who starred for the Montreal Expos and later helped the 1986 New York Mets win the World Series. He was known for power hitting, All-Star honors, and clutch production in the postseason. He also became the original broadcaster of the Florida Marlins.

    • Geovany Soto — Geovany Soto is a catcher best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs. He won the 2008 National League Rookie of the Year award and had a breakout season after progressing through the Cubs’ system.

    • Iván Rodríguez — Iván Rodríguez, nicknamed Pudge, is a power-hitting catcher best known for his long career with the Texas Rangers. He also won a World Series with the 2003 Florida Marlins and later played for teams including Detroit and Washington.

    • Joe Girardi — Joe Girardi was a major league catcher who later became manager of the Yankees and won a World Series as New York’s starting catcher. He also managed the Marlins, earning Manager of the Year in a season that ended with his dismissal.

    • Joe Mauer — Joe Mauer was the Minnesota Twins catcher known for his sideburns and rare hitting achievements. He won three batting titles and became the first catcher ever to do so, after earlier winning two batting titles as well.

    • Johnny Bench — Johnny Bench was the great Cincinnati Reds catcher who became famous for his power, defense, and durability. He won multiple MVP awards, ten Gold Gloves, and the 1976 World Series MVP award.

    • Mickey Cochrane — Mickey Cochrane was a Hall of Fame catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers. A fierce competitor, he won the American League MVP twice and led Detroit to its first World Series title in 1935.

    • Wilson Ramos — Wilson Ramos is a Venezuelan catcher who was acquired by the Washington Nationals from the Twins in the Matt Capps trade. He later became known in quizbowl-style clues for being briefly abducted while playing in Venezuela.

    • Yadier Molina — Yadier Molina is the St. Louis Cardinals catcher and younger brother of Bengie and José Molina. He is known for All-Star and Gold Glove honors and for a game-seven home run that helped decide a World Series.

    • Yogi Berra — The New York Yankees catcher and manager who won three AL MVP awards and ten World Series championships as a player. He caught Don Larsen’s perfect game, later managed the Yankees and the Mets, and became famous for his malapropisms and humorous, often self-contradictory sayings. He also inspired the name of Yogi Bear.

  • Chris Coghlan — Chris Coghlan is a baseball outfielder who was named the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year with the Marlins. He later played for the Cubs and Blue Jays and is remembered for an acrobatic run-scoring dive over Yadier Molina.

  • Chris Shelton — Chris Shelton is a former Tigers first baseman who rose to prominence with a sudden power surge in 2006. He had been a Rule 5 pick and earlier starred at Utah before reaching the majors with Pittsburgh and Detroit.

  • Chuck Finley — Chuck Finley is a left-handed Major League pitcher best known for long stints with the Angels and later the Indians. Quiz clues often point to his marriage to Tawny Kitaen, his divorce scandal, and his use as an alias by Bruce Campbell’s character on Burn Notice.

  • Cliff Lee — Cliff Lee was a left-handed pitcher who won the 2008 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland. He later pitched for the Phillies and was involved in several notable trades, including deals that sent him from Seattle and earlier from Cleveland’s system.

  • closer
    • Trevor Hoffman — Trevor Hoffman was the longtime San Diego Padres closer who became Major League Baseball’s career saves leader. He is known for his durability and for breaking Dennis Eckersley’s record with one club after years as one of baseball’s premier relievers.
  • Closers

    • Bobby Thigpen — Bobby Thigpen is a former Chicago White Sox closer who set the major league single-season saves record with 57 in 1990. That mark was later broken by Francisco Rodríguez.

    • Joe Nathan — Joe Nathan was a dominant relief pitcher who became the Minnesota Twins’ closer and later moved on from Minnesota to Texas. He was known for piling up saves and for his entrance music, “Stand Up and Shout.”

    • Trevor William Hoffman — Trevor Hoffman was a longtime San Diego Padres closer and the major league saves leader for much of his career. He became famous for entering to “Hells Bells” and later set a new saves record with the Brewers.

  • committees and panels
    • Major League Baseball Blue Ribbon panel — This Blue Ribbon panel on Major League Baseball’s economic imbalance included Yale president Richard Levin, Paul Volcker, George Mitchell, and George F. Will. It was appointed by Bud Selig in 1998 and reported in 2000 on the gap between high-payroll and low-payroll teams.
  • contest
    • Home Run Derby — Home Run Derby is the televised home-run hitting contest held around MLB’s All-Star Game, in which sluggers compete to blast balls into the seats. The classic version was hosted by Mark Scott and featured matchups between power hitters such as Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Harmon Killebrew.
  • contracts and labor
    • reserve clause — The reserve clause was the baseball contract provision that bound a player to a team and blocked free agency. Its power was weakened by the Seitz decision and later became a key target of player activism.

  • Craig Counsell — Craig Counsell is a baseball infielder associated with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers. He is especially remembered for clutch postseason moments in the 1997 and 2001 World Series.

  • Curt Schilling — An American right-handed major league pitcher remembered for the bloody sock from the Boston Red Sox’s 2004 World Series run. He won 216 games, was traded repeatedly during his career, and came close to no-hitters twice: against Tampa Bay in 2001, when he allowed a hit in the ninth inning, and again in 2007 on a two-out pitch.

  • Curtis Granderson — Curtis Granderson was a Chicago native who became a Detroit Tigers outfielder before later playing for the Yankees and Mets. He was known for his triples power and for joining the Yankees in a three-team trade involving Max Scherzer.

  • Daniel Murphy — Daniel Murphy is an infielder who became a New York Mets fan favorite for his 2015 playoff power surge. He later starred for the Nationals and finished high in National League MVP voting after leading the league in slugging and OPS in 2016.

  • Dave Henderson — Dave Henderson was a Boston Red Sox outfielder whose home run in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series briefly put Boston ahead. He is also remembered for a late-game ALCS home run and a sacrifice that helped force extra innings.

  • Dave Roberts — Dave Roberts is the speedy outfielder and pinch runner best known for stealing second base off Mariano Rivera in the 2004 ALCS. His timely baserunning also produced game-tying runs in playoff contests.

  • Dave Stieb — Dave Stieb was a Toronto Blue Jays ace famous for repeated near no-hitters before finally throwing the franchise’s first no-hitter in 1990. His hard-luck bids and strong pitching made him a symbol of Toronto’s early baseball history.

  • Delmon Young — Delmon Young is an American baseball outfielder known for being selected high in the draft and for an early major league debut with Tampa Bay. He later drew attention for disciplinary issues in the minors before continuing his career with several major league teams.

  • Dennis Eckersley — Dennis Eckersley is the Hall of Fame reliever most famously remembered for giving up Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run in the 1988 World Series. He also spent time as a starter before becoming the Oakland Athletics’ all-time save leader and reaching 2,000 career strikeouts.

  • Don Drysdale — Don Drysdale was a hard-throwing Dodgers ace, known for his brushback pitches and his 1968 streak of 58 consecutive scoreless innings. He won the Cy Young Award in 1962 and formed one of baseball’s great pitching duos with Sandy Koufax.

  • Earl Weaver — Earl Weaver was the long-time Baltimore Orioles manager famous for his fiery temperament and constant arguments with umpires. He won a World Series title, took his teams to multiple pennants, and became known for emphasizing the base on balls and for his shrewd use of platoons.

  • Ed Delahanty — Ed Delahanty was a Hall of Fame outfielder and one of baseball’s greatest dead-ball-era hitters. He led both leagues in batting average in different years and died in 1903 in a famous mystery involving Niagara Falls.

  • Eddie Cicotte — Eddie Cicotte was one of the Chicago White Sox players implicated in the 1919 Black Sox scandal. He was the pitcher who signaled that the fix was on by hitting the first batter of the World Series. He is remembered as a key ringleader in the plot to throw the series.

  • Eli Marrero — Eli Marrero was a Cuban-American catcher best known for his years with the Cardinals before later moves to the Mets and Braves. His career highlight was a game-winning homer in Game 3 of the 2002 NLCS, and he also caught Bud Smith’s no-hitter.

  • Elston Howard — Elston Howard was the first African-American to play for the New York Yankees and later became the first Black American League MVP. A catcher who replaced Yogi Berra, he also shared the record for playing on six World Series losers.

  • Eras
    • dead-ball era — The dead-ball era was the early twentieth-century period of baseball marked by low scoring and very few home runs. It stretched roughly from 1900 to 1919 and is associated with high rates of triples and small-ball play.

  • Eric Show — Eric Show was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is remembered because Pete Rose collected his record 4,192nd hit off a pitch he threw.

  • Erik Bedard — Erik Bedard is a Canadian left-handed pitcher who broke out with the Orioles before later pitching for the Mariners. He was known for a high strikeout rate and was once cited as one of MLB’s most dominant strikeout pitchers.

  • Famous home runs
    • Shot Heard ‘Round the World — “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” is the nickname for Bobby Thomson’s pennant-winning home run for the New York Giants in 1951. The phrase comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Concord Hymn” and is referenced by Don DeLillo in Underworld.
  • Fans
    • Zack Hample — Zack Hample is an American baseball ballhawk known for collecting huge numbers of Major League Baseballs and for cultivating a public persona around stadium-catching exploits. He has been associated with the Fort Bragg baseball game, appears in The Booksellers as an expert for Argosy Book Store, and is the son of the creator of Inside Woody Allen.

  • Fernando Viña — Fernando Viña was a Major League second baseman/infielder who played for the Brewers, Cardinals, and Tigers. He joined the Detroit Tigers after playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, later worked as an ESPN analyst, and acknowledged using HGH while rehabbing.

  • forfeits
    • forfeit — A forfeit is a baseball game ended by rule when one team cannot continue or is disqualified, resulting in a 9-0 score. Clues mention unusual forfeits in baseball history such as Disco Demolition Night and Ten-Cent Beer Night.

  • Francisco Cordero — Francisco Cordero was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher best known as a closer. He saved 49 games for the Rangers and also pitched for the Brewers, where he was remembered for allowing a home run to Crawford in the 2007 All-Star Game.

  • Frank Robinson — Frank Robinson was the power-hitting outfielder and first baseman who finished with 586 career home runs and won the Triple Crown with Baltimore. He later became a major league manager, including a stint with Montreal and Washington, and he was also the 1971 All-Star Game MVP for the American League.

  • Fred Snodgrass — Fred Snodgrass was the New York Giants outfielder remembered for the dropped fly ball in the 1912 World Series that helped Boston win the title. The infamous error was in the bottom of the tenth inning of the final game, making his name a byword for a costly muff.

  • Freddie Freeman — Freddie Freeman is a longtime first baseman best known for his years with the Atlanta Braves before signing with the Dodgers in 2022. He won the 2020 National League MVP and later missed the 2022 batting title by a single point.

  • George Brett and Frank White — George Brett and Frank White were longtime Kansas City Royals infielders who once held a major league record for combined games as a duo. The clue refers to their 1,914 games played together before another Tigers pair surpassed them.

  • Hal McRae — Hal McRae played for the Kansas City Royals from 1973 to 1987 and later managed the team in the early 1990s. He also managed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2001 and was dismissed after back-to-back 100-loss seasons.

  • Hank Blalock — Hank Blalock was the Texas Rangers third baseman featured in the clues, known as a power-hitting infielder. His breakout came after strong minor league play and he later made an All-Star Game splash with a pinch-hit home run off Eric Gagne.

  • Harvey Haddix — Harvey Haddix was the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher remembered for throwing 12 perfect innings against the Braves in 1959 before losing in the 13th. His near-perfect game remains one of baseball’s classic hard-luck stories.

  • Hidden Ball Trick — The hidden ball trick is a baseball deception in which a fielder disguises possession of the ball to tag out a baserunner. It is a rare play associated with names like Matt Williams, Mike Lowell, and early World Series examples.

  • Hit by pitch
    • Don Baylor — Don Baylor was a slugging major-league hitter who won the 1979 AL MVP and later managed the Rockies and Cubs. He was also famous for getting hit by pitches often, which helped make him a longtime record holder in that category.
  • Hits

    • Ground-rule double — A ground-rule double is a baseball hit that lands fair, then bounces over the outfield fence and awards the batter two bases. Examples include balls that strike unusual field features such as Fenway Park’s scoreboard or the Metrodome roof.

    • triples — A triple is a baseball hit that reaches third base safely. Major League Baseball records for triples include Chief Wilson’s 36 in a season and Sam Crawford’s career total of 307.

  • Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters — The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Hokkaido. They are associated with Shohei Ohtani’s early career and with sponsorship from the Nippon-Ham food company.

  • Huston Street — Huston Street is a right-handed relief pitcher who won the 2005 American League Rookie of the Year award with the Oakland Athletics. He starred as a closer at Texas, then later moved on from Oakland after injuries and bullpen changes affected his role.

  • Ian Kinsler — Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Texas Rangers and later became known for power from the leadoff spot. He was an All-Star in 2008, an unusual member of the 30–30 club in 2009, and hit for the cycle against Baltimore that year; he was the last Ranger before Molina to hit for the cycle.

  • Ichiro Suzuki — Ichiro Suzuki was the Japanese outfielder who starred for Seattle and later the Yankees after beginning with the Orix BlueWave. He broke MLB’s single-season hits record with 262 in 2004 and set the mark for consecutive 200-hit seasons.

  • Infield Fly Rule — The infield fly rule is baseball’s fairness rule for a routine pop-up with runners on first and second and fewer than two outs. When it applies, the batter is out whether or not the ball is caught, preventing defenders from tricking runners into an easy double play. It was adopted in the 1890s and depends on the umpire’s judgment that the ball can be readily handled by an infielder.

  • Inside the Park Home Run — An inside-the-park home run is a baseball hit that stays in play while the batter circles the bases without the ball leaving the field of play. It often depends on a bad bounce or an outfielder’s misplay rather than a formal error, and it has been recorded in unusually memorable games such as the 2007 All-Star Game.

  • Jack McDowell — Jack McDowell was a Stanford-educated pitcher who won the 1993 American League Cy Young Award with the White Sox. He later spent time with the Angels and was widely known for both his pitching success and a New Orleans bar altercation involving Eddie Vedder.

  • Jack Wilson — Jack Wilson was a defense-minded Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop who won the 2004 Silver Slugger and later played for Seattle. He was known for a strong 2004 season with 201 hits and for being a steady, light-hitting shortstop.

  • Jason Daniel Kendall — Jason Kendall was a catcher for the Pirates and Athletics and was known for unusual speed for the position. He suffered a severe ankle injury running to first base in 1999 and remained one of the better base-stealing catchers in major league history.

  • Jason Grimsley — Jason Grimsley is the former pitcher linked to the 1995 Cleveland Indians corked-bat scandal. He later drew attention again for a 2006 affidavit and for a failed HGH-related investigation while with Arizona.

  • Jason Varitek — Jason Varitek is the longtime Boston Red Sox catcher who spent his entire MLB career with Boston. He was the team captain from 2005 to 2011, wore the hockey-style captain’s C, and is closely associated with no-hitters caught and the 1997 trade involving Derek Lowe and Heathcliff Slocumb.

  • Jeff Maier / Tony Tarasco / Rich Garcia — Jeff Maier was the young fan who interfered with the famous disputed home run in Yankee Stadium. Tony Tarasco was the Baltimore outfielder involved in the play, and Rich Garcia was the umpire who signaled it a home run.

  • Jeff Torborg — Jeff Torborg was a Major League Baseball manager and catcher who led several teams, including the White Sox and Marlins. His career later tied indirectly to the Florida Marlins’ 2003 championship run.

  • Joba Chamberlain — Joba Chamberlain is a former New York Yankees pitcher who became famous for the playoff appearance in which midges unsettled him during an ALDS game against Cleveland. He had earlier starred at Nebraska and later became known for a short but highly publicized major-league career.

  • Joey Cora — Joey Cora is a former infielder who played for several MLB teams and later became a coach. He was a second baseman for the Mariners and is the brother of Alex Cora.

  • John Andrew Smoltz — John Smoltz is a former Atlanta Braves pitcher who moved from starter to closer, won the 1996 NL Cy Young Award, and set the National League saves record. He was acquired from Detroit for Doyle Alexander. After his playing career, he became a prominent baseball announcer and color analyst, including on World Series broadcasts. He is also known for his interest in golf and the infamous shirt-ironing burn anecdote.

  • Johnny David Damon — Johnny Damon was a speedy outfielder known for his time with the Red Sox and Yankees, where he became a key leadoff hitter and center fielder. He helped Boston’s 2004 championship run before later joining New York.

  • Johnny Evers — Johnny Evers was the Cubs second baseman in the famous “Tinker to Evers to Chance” double-play trio. He is remembered for Merkle’s Boner, for being immortalized in baseball poems, and for a later Hall of Fame career. Clues also mention brief managerial stints and his 1914 National League MVP award.

  • Jon Lester — Jon Lester is a left-handed major league pitcher who overcame cancer and later became a World Series hero for the Boston Red Sox. He also threw a no-hitter and later signed a large free-agent contract with the Chicago Cubs.

  • Juan Marichal — Hall of Fame San Francisco Giants pitcher nicknamed the Dominican Dandy, known for his high leg kick and dominant years with the Giants. He won 20 games multiple times, led the National League in wins, was famous for a 16-inning duel with Warren Spahn, and is remembered for striking catcher Johnny Roseboro with a bat in 1965.

  • Justin Morneau — Justin Morneau is a Canadian first baseman best known for winning the 2006 American League MVP with the Minnesota Twins. He later made his first All-Star team and competed in the Home Run Derby in 2007.

  • Kazuo Matsui — Kazuo Matsui is the Japanese infielder who joined the Mets after starring for Seibu and later played in the majors for teams including the Rockies and Astros. He was known for speed, power, and a long hitting streak in Japan before moving to the United States.

  • Ken Brett — Ken Brett was a left-handed pitcher who played for ten major league teams and was known as an excellent hitting pitcher. He was also the younger brother of George Brett and appeared in a World Series as a teenager.

  • Kevin Mench and Bruce Bochy — Kevin Mench was a major league outfielder and Bruce Bochy is a baseball manager who began managing the Padres in 1995. The pair are linked here because both wore the largest cap size New Era produced, a recurring trivia detail used to distinguish them.

  • Kirby Puckett — Kirby Puckett was a Hall of Fame center fielder for the Minnesota Twins, famous for his dramatic postseason hits and Gold Glove defense. He retired after developing glaucoma and is especially remembered for the walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.

  • Kirk Gibson — Kirk Gibson was the injured Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder who hit the dramatic walk-off home run off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

  • Labor relations

    • Curtis Charles Flood — Curt Flood was a St. Louis Cardinals center fielder and seven-time Gold Glove winner. After refusing to report to Philadelphia following a 1969 trade, he challenged baseball’s reserve clause in a landmark labor case, becoming a symbol of free agency and helping set the stage for later decisions such as the Seitz ruling.

    • Donald Fehr — Donald Fehr was the longtime head and chief negotiator of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Before that, he was a lawyer involved in the Messersmith-McNally case.

    • Marvin Miller — Marvin Miller was the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association who transformed player labor relations. He negotiated baseball’s first collective bargaining agreement and helped challenge the reserve clause, making him a major figure in labor history.

  • Lenny Dykstra — Lenny Dykstra was a star outfielder for the Phillies and Mets who gained a reputation for hustle, plate discipline, and later off-field financial troubles. He led the majors in runs in 1993, set a single-season plate appearances record for a time, and was later celebrated as an investing guru before declaring bankruptcy.

  • Leon Durham — Leon Durham was a first baseman who played for the Cardinals, Reds, and Cubs after replacing Bill Buckner at first base in Chicago. He became the first Cub to post a 20-20 season since 1911, but his career was also marked by repeated drug suspensions.

  • Los Angeles Angels — The Los Angeles Angels are the MLB team based in Anaheim, California. The franchise has also been known as the California Angels and Anaheim Angels, and it won the 2002 World Series. Associated players and figures include Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Nolan Ryan; the team is nicknamed the Halos and is also linked to the Rally Monkey and the movie Angels in the Outfield.
    • Tyler Skaggs — Tyler Skaggs was a Los Angeles Angels and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher drafted out of Santa Monica High School in 2009. He was traded between the Angels and Diamondbacks, posted 78 strikeouts in his final season, and died in a hotel room in 2019.

  • Luke Appling — Longtime Chicago White Sox shortstop known for contact hitting; he batted .388 in 1936, the best single-season average by any shortstop in the twentieth century. He finished with 2,749 hits, a .310 career average, won two batting titles, hit over .300 in every season from 1933 to 1949, and held a major league record for consecutive foul balls.

  • Lyman Bostock — Lyman Bostock was a talented outfielder for the Twins and Angels whose career was cut short by his murder in Gary, Indiana in 1978. He is often remembered as a rising star who had just joined California after several seasons in Minnesota.

  • Magglio Ordóñez — Magglio Ordóñez was a Venezuelan Major League Baseball outfielder, best known for starring with the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers. He won batting honors, reached the 2001 milestone of 300 batting average with power and speed numbers, and retired after a strong career.

  • Major League Baseball — Major League Baseball is the professional league that benefited from baseball’s historic antitrust exemption. The exemption grew out of Supreme Court rulings that treated baseball as outside interstate commerce and later survived challenges such as Flood v. Kuhn.

    • Bobby Witt Jr. — Bobby Witt Jr. is a Kansas City Royals shortstop and one of the most prominent young players in Major League Baseball. He has combined speed, power, and defense, and in 2024 he finished near the top of AL MVP voting.

    • Carl Everett — Carl Everett was a major-league outfielder nicknamed “Superman” for his clutch hitting. He played for nine teams in a 14-year career and was known for his anti-evolution views, including a claim that dinosaur fossils were planted.

    • Edward “Rube” Waddell — Edward “Rube” Waddell was a dominant early-twentieth-century baseball pitcher, especially for the Athletics. He set strikeout records and became famous as much for eccentric antics, including wrestling alligators, as for his pitching.

    • Endy Chávez — Endy Chávez is a Major League Baseball outfielder best remembered for a spectacular leaping catch in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS that robbed Scott Rolen of a home run. He later played for the Mariners, where injuries shortened the end of his career.

    • Gary Gaetti — Gary Gaetti was a longtime Major League third baseman, best known for his early years with the Minnesota Twins and their 1987 championship run. He later played for several teams, won multiple Gold Gloves, and was known for home-run power.

    • Houston Astros — Texas Major League Baseball team based in Houston. They played at Minute Maid Park, once had Tal’s Hill there, and moved from the National League to the American League. Notable players and figures associated with them include Craig Biggio, José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander, and the 2005 rotation of Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt, and Andy Pettitte. They are also known for their rainbow uniforms and for a controversial sign-stealing scandal.

    • Jack Morris — Jack Morris was the hard-throwing right-hander and winningest pitcher of the 1980s who won World Series titles with Detroit, Minnesota, and Toronto. He is especially remembered for his 10-inning shutout in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, one of the classic postseason pitching performances.

    • Jamie Moyer — Jamie Moyer was the veteran left-handed pitcher who remained effective into his forties and played for the Phillies and Mariners. He became the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout and later the oldest pitcher to win a game.

    • Jay Buhner — Jay Buhner was the powerful Seattle Mariners outfielder remembered for his cannon arm, bald head, and big home run totals. His name became a running joke in Seinfeld after George Costanza complained about the Yankees trading him away for Ken Phelps.

    • John Mayberry Jr. — John Mayberry Jr. was a Major League outfielder and first baseman, the son of former slugger John Mayberry Sr. He played for the Phillies and was later shipped to the Blue Jays after serving as a reserve outfielder in Philadelphia.

    • Justin Brooks Verlander — Justin Verlander is a Major League Baseball pitcher who broke through with the Detroit Tigers before later starring for the Houston Astros. His career includes a Cy Young Award run, multiple no-hitters, and a 3,000-strikeout milestone.

    • Matt Williams — Matt Williams was a power-hitting third baseman for the Giants who nearly challenged Roger Maris’s home run record in the strike-shortened 1994 season. He later played in the World Series with the Giants, Indians, and Diamondbacks, and won a title with Arizona in 2001.

    • Montreal Expos — The Montreal Expos were Major League Baseball’s original Montreal franchise, later relocated to become the Washington Nationals. Their best-known players included Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Larry Walker, and Pedro Martinez, and the team’s 1994 season was cut short by the strike.

    • National League — The National League is one of the two major leagues in Major League Baseball and is often called the senior circuit. Its history includes the MVP years of players such as Jackie Robinson, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa.

    • Pablo Sandoval — Pablo Sandoval is a Venezuelan baseball player nicknamed Kung Fu Panda who has played third base and catcher. He won World Series MVP honors with the Giants in 2012 and was part of their championship run again in 2014.

    • Paul Goldschmidt — Paul Goldschmidt is a baseball first baseman who starred for the Arizona Diamondbacks before later joining the St. Louis Cardinals. He won Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers and became known as “America’s First Baseman.”

    • Rod Carew — Rod Carew was a Hall of Fame second baseman for the Twins and Angels whose career was built on extraordinary contact hitting. He won the 1967 AL Rookie of the Year and the 1977 AL MVP, collected his 3,000th hit with the Angels, and famously inspired a Chanukah Song lyric despite not being Jewish.

    • Takashi Saito — Takashi Saito is a Japanese relief pitcher who became the Dodgers’ closer in 2006 after Eric Gagne was injured. He saved 24 games that season and was selected to the All-Star Game as part of Los Angeles’s bullpen.

    • Tim Drew — Tim Drew was a right-handed pitcher from Georgia drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1997, with strong high school strikeout numbers and a mid-90s fastball. He was the younger brother of J. D. Drew, another first-round baseball draftee.

    • Tim Teufel — Tim Teufel was a second baseman for the Mets whose career batting average was .264 and who is associated with a fight after being hit by a pitch. He is also remembered for setting an American League record for fewest double plays by a second baseman in 150 games.

    • Tim Wakefield — Tim Wakefield was the durable Boston Red Sox knuckleball pitcher who worked both as a starter and as a reliever. He is remembered for his long career, his pairing with catcher Doug Mirabelli, and his 200-win milestone before his death in 2023.

  • Manny being Manny — “Manny being Manny” is a phrase used to describe Manny Ramirez’s eccentric, often funny behavior on and off the field. It is associated with odd incidents like taking bathroom breaks during games and playful publicity stunts built around his name.

  • Manny Ramirez — Manny Ramirez was a power-hitting outfielder for Cleveland and Boston who became the 2004 World Series MVP and reached seven All-Star Games. He was also known for major on-field and off-field controversies, including multiple PED suspensions and highly publicized lapses in hustle and discipline.

  • Mark Fidrych — Mark Fidrych, nicknamed “The Bird,” was the Detroit Tigers rookie pitcher whose energetic and eccentric mound antics, along with his frizzy red hair, made him a 1970s sensation and cult baseball figure. He won 19 games as a rookie, won the 1976 AL Rookie of the Year award, and started the All-Star Game before his career was derailed by a knee injury.

  • mascots
    • Billy the Marlin — Billy the Marlin is the Florida Marlins’ mascot. He is remembered for accidentally firing a T-shirt from a pressurized cannon into an elderly spectator’s eye, knocking the man unconscious.

  • Matt Franco — Matt Franco was a Mets player noted for setting a major league record for pinch walks. The clues also mention one of his rare pitching appearances, which is unusual for an everyday position player.

  • Maury Wills — Maury Wills was a Los Angeles Dodger shortstop and the 1962 National League MVP. He became the first player to steal 100 bases in a season, breaking Ty Cobb’s long-standing single-season stolen-base record.

  • Mike Matheny — Mike Matheny was a St. Louis Cardinals catcher who won a Gold Glove and later signed with the Giants. An injury to his right ring finger kept him from catching in the 2000 postseason.

  • Mike Piazza — Mike Piazza was the Hall of Fame catcher for the Dodgers and Mets who became the all-time home run leader among catchers. His career also produced memorable Subway Series drama, a famous 1990s Pert Plus ad, and a 1993 first-round-adjacent draft oddity as a 62nd-round pick.

  • Mike Scott — Mike Scott was a hard-throwing Houston Astros pitcher in the 1980s. He won the 1986 Cy Young Award after a dominant season that also included a no-hitter and a National League championship series MVP award.

  • Mike Trout — Mike Trout is the star center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels, nicknamed the Millville Meteor after his New Jersey hometown. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 2012, has been an MVP favorite multiple times, and is associated with five-tool excellence.

  • Milwaukee Brewers — A Major League Baseball team based in Wisconsin, formerly the Seattle Pilots. Their history includes Bob Uecker, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers, and the sausage race at their ballpark. They are also the parent club of the Nashville Sounds, a Triple-A affiliate.
    • 1982 Milwaukee Brewers — The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, nicknamed Harvey’s Wallbangers, won the American League pennant behind Robin Yount, Pete Vuckovich, and a powerful lineup. They reached the World Series before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals, with late-season pitching help from Don Sutton and key home run production from Ben Oglivie and others.

  • Mo’ne Davis — Mo’ne Davis became a national sensation as a young pitcher in the 2014 Little League World Series. She was the first girl to win a Little League World Series game and threw a shutout for Pennsylvania.

  • Moses Fleetwood Walker — Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first openly Black player in the major leagues, catching for Toledo in 1884. After baseball, he wrote Our Home Colony and worked on inventions, including improvements to film reels.

  • MVPs
    • Mo Vaughn and Barry Larkin — Mo Vaughn and Barry Larkin were the controversial 1995 American League and National League MVPs, respectively. The pair is often remembered together because both awards were viewed as surprising choices.

  • Newark Eagles — The Newark Eagles were a Negro league baseball team owned by Effa and Abe Manley. They won the 1946 Negro League World Series over the Kansas City Monarchs, with players including Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Ray Dandridge, and Leon Day.

  • Operation Shutdown — Operation Shutdown was Derek Bell’s mock protest plan while with the Pittsburgh Pirates, announced after he lost playing time in spring training. The stunt became a widely mocked baseball anecdote after he was injured soon after announcing it.

  • outfielder

    • Austin Kearns — Austin Kearns is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 2002. A first-round pick out of Lexington’s Lafayette High School, he later played for Washington and Cleveland.

    • Jermaine Dye — Jermaine Dye was an outfielder who spent much of his career with the Royals and also played for the Braves, Athletics, and White Sox. He won a Gold Glove in 2000 and was the 2005 World Series MVP after helping Chicago win the title.

    • Tim Raines — Tim Raines was a speedy Montreal Expos outfielder nicknamed Rock and one of the best leadoff hitters of his era. He stole bases in the 1980s at a rate surpassed only by Rickey Henderson, later played with his son, and reached seven straight All-Star Games.

  • outs
    • strikeout — A strikeout is baseball’s three-swing-and-miss out, scored with a K. Four strikeouts in a game is called a golden sombrero.

  • Paul and Lloyd Waner — Paul and Lloyd Waner were Hall of Fame brothers who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Paul was known as Big Poison, while Lloyd was Little Poison.

  • pennant — A pennant is a long, tapering flag, often triangular in shape. The word also names a league championship banner displayed by a winning team.

  • Pete Rose Jr. — Pete Rose Jr. is the son of Pete Rose, and he briefly reached the majors with the Reds in 1997 after a long minor league career. He is also associated with off-field trouble, including a later guilty plea tied to illegal steroid alternatives.

  • Pitching achievements
    • Perfect game — A perfect game is a baseball pitching feat in which no batter reaches base safely for the entire game. It is rarer than a no-hitter and is famously associated with Don Larsen’s 1956 World Series game.
  • pitching terms
    • Southpaw — Southpaw is the baseball-derived nickname for a left-handed pitcher or left-handed person. The term is often linked to the traditional east-facing layout of baseball diamonds.

  • playing baseball — Playing baseball is the sport central to The Natural, Casey at the Bat, and A Prayer for Owen Meany. Clues often involve Roy Hobbs, Wonderboy, and stories in which a player or bystander is killed or transformed by the game.

  • playing field features
    • Pitcher’s mound — The pitcher’s mound is the raised area in baseball from which the pitcher throws and where a rosin bag is often kept. Its modern form developed after changes to the old pitcher’s box, and the mound sits 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.
  • Preseason
    • spring training — Spring training is the preseason period before Major League Baseball begins, when pitchers and catchers report early and teams practice in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues. Historic spring-training sites include Hot Springs, Arkansas, and facilities such as George M. Steinbrenner Field.

  • Pud Galvin — Pud Galvin was a nineteenth-century Hall of Fame pitcher whose nickname alluded to how hard he was to hit. He was an early Pirates star, became the first pitcher to reach 300 wins, and was noted for promoting Brown-Sequard elixir.

  • Ralph Terry — Ralph Terry was the Yankees pitcher most remembered for giving up Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. He later redeemed himself by winning the final game of the 1962 World Series.

  • Randall Simon — Randall Simon is a baseball player remembered for hitting one of the Milwaukee Brewers’ sausage racers with a bat during a 2003 game. He also played for the Pirates and was a Curaçao native.

  • Ray Durham — Ray Durham was a speedy second baseman who left the White Sox and later joined the Giants after a stint with Oakland. His game was defined by speed and middle-infield defense, and he was known for stealing bases in Chicago.

  • relief pitcher
    • Octavio Dotel — Octavio Dotel was a Dominican relief pitcher known for a long journeyman career across many MLB teams. He was part of the Astros no-hitter and later became a key reliever for the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals after a midseason trade.
  • relievers
    • Dennis Lee Eckersley — Dennis Lee Eckersley was an Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox reliever who became one of baseball’s best-known closers. He is remembered for allowing Kirk Gibson’s 1988 World Series home run and for winning both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 1992.

  • Rick Sutcliffe — Rick Sutcliffe is the pitcher who won the National League Cy Young Award after being traded from Cleveland to Chicago in 1984. He is a tall right-hander who also pitched for the Dodgers, Orioles, and Cardinals, and is especially remembered for his dominant Cubs stint.

  • Ripken family
    • Ripken — Ripken is the surname shared by Cal Ripken Jr. and Billy Ripken, the Baltimore Orioles brothers most often associated with it. Cal Ripken Jr. is famed for his record consecutive-games streak and his MVP seasons, while Billy Ripken is remembered for an infamous baseball card.

  • Roberto Alomar — Roberto Alomar was a star second baseman best known for his years with the Blue Jays, Orioles, and other major league teams. In 1996 he became notorious for spitting on umpire John Hirschbeck after being called out on strikes.

  • Ron Guidry — Ron Guidry, nicknamed Louisiana Lightning, starred for the Yankees and posted a 27-3 season in 1978 with a league-leading ERA. The left-hander won the 1978 AL Cy Young Award and became known for his shutouts, strikeouts, and long Yankee career.

  • Roy Halladay — Harry Leroy “Roy” Halladay III, known as Doc Halladay, was a right-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. His arsenal featured a sinker, cutter, and knuckle curve. After early control problems, he developed into a dominant starter, won Cy Young Awards in both leagues, and captured the 2003 Cy Young Award with Toronto. With Philadelphia he threw a perfect game in 2010 and later added a postseason no-hitter against the Reds, one of baseball’s rarest feats. He made a final postseason appearance in a 2011 loss to Chris Carpenter. He died in a 2017 plane crash over the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Scott Hatteberg — Scott Hatteberg is a former Major League Baseball player who became famous as a converted catcher, later playing first base for the Oakland Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds. He is remembered for an unusual 2001 feat in which he hit a grand slam immediately after grounding into a triple play.

  • second base — Second base is the baseball infield position between first and third base. It is the spot associated with middle infielders and with rare feats like the unassisted triple plays turned there by players such as Bill Wambsganss, Rod Carew, Randy Velarde, and Mickey Morandini.

  • Shawon Dunston — Shawon Dunston was a Chicago Cubs shortstop drafted first overall in 1982. He later played for the Giants and was known for his long defensive partnership with Ryne Sandberg.

  • Sluggers
    • Hack Wilson — Hack Wilson was a Chicago Cubs slugger best known for hitting 56 home runs in 1930, a National League record for decades. He also set the major-league RBI record with 190 runs batted in that same season.

  • St. Louis Browns — The St. Louis Browns were a major league baseball team that played at Sportsman’s Park before moving to Baltimore in 1953 or 1954 and becoming the Orioles. Rube Waddell finished his career with the Browns, one of the franchise’s best-known historical connections.

  • Stanley Frank Musial — Stan Musial was a Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals outfielder and first baseman who spent his entire major league career with one team. Originally developed as a pitcher, he became a left-handed hitter and finished with a .331 batting average and 3,630 hits. He won three National League MVP awards, was a seven-time batting champion, and made 24 All-Star teams; he was widely known as “The Man.”

  • Steroids
    • Juiced — Juiced is a 2005 book by Jose Canseco about steroids in baseball and his own experiences in the sport. Its subtitle is “Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big.”
  • Superstitions
    • Curse of Rocky Colavito — The Curse of Rocky Colavito is the baseball superstition blamed for the Cleveland Indians’ long championship drought after they traded Rocky Colavito in 1960. It was popularized by journalist Terry Pluto and is tied to Cleveland’s later near-misses and World Series losses.
  • surnames
    • Rodriguez — Rodriguez is a surname shared by several major baseball figures, including Ivan Rodriguez and Alex Rodriguez. The clues point to players nicknamed Pudge and A-Rod, as well as other athletes with the same surname.
  • team nicknames
    • The Gas House Gang — The Gas House Gang was the nickname for the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals. The name became one of baseball’s famous team epithets, evoking the club’s hard-edged, rough-and-tumble image.
  • Third baseman — A third baseman fields the hot corner on the infield in baseball. Famous players at the position include Pie Traynor, George Brett, Mike Schmidt, Brooks Robinson, and Alex Rodriguez.
    • George “Buck” Weaver — George “Buck” Weaver was a Chicago White Sox third baseman known as the “Ginger Kid” and as the player Ty Cobb said he would never bunt against. He received a lifetime ban after the 1919 World Series gambling scandal / Black Sox fix, not for taking gamblers’ money or being accused of taking part in the fix, but for failing to report what he knew. He was later portrayed by John Cusack in Eight Men Out.

  • Todd Hundley — Todd Hundley was a catcher best known for his years with the New York Mets. He set the Mets’ single-season home run record in 1996 before later being surpassed, and he was the first visiting player to hit a splash hit into McCovey Cove.

  • Tony Perez — Tony Perez was the hard-hitting first baseman of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, remembered for his long run of RBI production. He later returned to the Reds as the first Latin-American manager in franchise history and was repeatedly considered for the Hall of Fame.

  • Torii Hunter — Torii Hunter is a Gold Glove center fielder best known for his long run with the Minnesota Twins and later play for the Angels. He became famous for robbing Barry Bonds of a home run in the 2002 All-Star Game, a play that earned him the nickname Spider-Man. He was a first-round draft pick from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and later won the Branch Rickey Award.

  • Triple-A affiliates
    • Richmond Braves — The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, playing in Richmond’s The Diamond before moving to Georgia. The franchise was formerly known as the Crackers and later relocated to Gwinnett County, Georgia.

  • Troy Percival — Troy Percival was a Major League Baseball closer who pitched for the Angels and later the Rays and Cardinals. He was known as a hard-throwing late-inning reliever and for returning from retirement rumors late in his career.

  • Brian Jordan — Brian Jordan was a two-sport athlete who played football as a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons before choosing baseball. He is known for stints with the Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers, and Rangers, and for a famous home run in the 1996 NLDS.

  • Umpires

    • Don Denkinger — Don Denkinger was the baseball umpire whose blown first-base call in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series became infamous. He also worked several no-hitters and perfect games, including those by Len Barker, Kenny Rogers, and Nolan Ryan.

    • Jim Joyce — Jim Joyce is a Major League Baseball umpire known both for major career assignments and for a famous blown call at first base in Armando Galarraga’s near-perfect game. He was also on the crew for Dallas Braden’s perfect game and for milestones such as Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th strikeout and Robin Yount’s 3,000th hit.

    • John Hirschbeck — John Hirschbeck is the umpire associated here with the Alomar suspension controversy. Gene Budig appears as the baseball official who imposed the suspension, and Donald Fehr was the Players’ Association chief who urged umpires to honor their contract.

  • Vic Wertz — Vic Wertz was a four-time All-Star left-handed power hitter best known for the long drive Willie Mays caught in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. He played for Cleveland when that famous catch robbed him of extra bases.

  • Vin Scully — Vin Scully was the legendary broadcaster long associated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is frequently identified by his record-setting tenure and by World Series calls for the Dodgers and earlier Brooklyn teams.

  • Walter “Buck” Leonard — Walter “Buck” Leonard was the great first baseman of the Homestead Grays and one of the best hitters in Negro League baseball. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and is often mentioned alongside Josh Gibson as part of the Grays’ legendary core.

  • Will Clark — Will Clark was a San Francisco Giants first baseman who homered off Nolan Ryan in his first major league at bat. He led the National League in RBIs in 1988 and was the 1989 National League Championship Series MVP.

  • Willie Lee McCovey — Willie McCovey was the Giants’ powerful first baseman nicknamed Stretch. San Francisco’s McCovey Cove, just beyond the right-field wall at Oracle Park, is named for him.

  • Willie Wilson — Willie Wilson was a speedy Kansas City outfielder who set a major league record for at-bats in a season and later became entangled in the cocaine scandals of the early 1980s.

Overview and Rules

• Governing body — MLB (Major League Baseball); 30 teams in the American League (AL) and National League (NL), each with three divisions.

• Objective — score more runs than the opponent over nine innings; a run is scored when a baserunner advances around all four bases (first, second, third, home plate).

• Basic play — pitcher throws to batter; three strikes = out; four balls = walk (base on balls); three outs end a half-inning. Batter attempts to hit the ball and reach base safely.

• Key terms — home run (ball hit out of play over the outfield fence, scoring all baserunners and the batter); strikeout; RBI (runs batted in); ERA (earned run average, measure of pitcher effectiveness); batting average (hits divided by at-bats).

• Designated hitter (DH) — a player who bats in place of the pitcher; used universally in MLB since 2022.

• World Series — the MLB championship; a best-of-seven series between the AL and NL champions, played each October. Its history includes the 1919 Black Sox scandal and later controversies over sign stealing and other forms of cheating.

  • 1911 World Series teams — The 1911 World Series was played between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Athletics. Those teams met in one of the classic early twentieth-century championship matchups tied to the number eleven.

  • 1919 World Series — The 1919 World Series was the infamous championship series later associated with the Black Sox scandal. The series was fixed by members of the Chicago White Sox, including Buck Weaver and Shoeless Joe Jackson, and is alluded to in The Great Gatsby.

  • 1989 World Series — The 1989 World Series was an all-Bay Area matchup between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. It is remembered for the Loma Prieta earthquake delay and for Oakland’s sweep behind Dave Stewart.

  • 1991 World Series — The 1991 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins against the Atlanta Braves and became an epic seven-game classic. It is best known for Jack Morris’s ten-inning shutout in Game 7 and Gene Larkin’s walk-off hit.

  • 1993 World Series — The 1993 World Series was the Toronto Blue Jays’ championship over the Philadelphia Phillies, remembered for Joe Carter’s walk-off home run. It also featured Paul Molitor as the series MVP and a record-setting 15-14 Game 4.

  • 2000 World Series — The 2000 World Series was the Yankees-Mets Subway Series, the first World Series telecast exclusively on Fox. The Yankees won the series, with Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Paul O’Neill among the notable offensive performers in the clincher.

  • Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves — The 1991 World Series featured the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves, two teams that went from worst to first. It went seven games and became famous for its many one-run contests and extra-inning endings.

• officiating
  • Baseball umpire — Baseball umpires are the officials who call balls and strikes and enforce the rules during a game. Professional crews usually work in groups of four and are led by a chief; umpires may also enforce the infield fly rule. Noted examples include Angel Hernandez, Jim Joyce, Joe West, and Tom Connolly, one of the first inductees into the Hall of Fame for this profession. Emmett Ashford became the first Black major league umpire in 1966.
    • John McSherry — John McSherry was a National League umpire who died of a heart attack during the 1996 Cincinnati Reds home opener. His collapse caused the Reds-Expos game to be called off after only a few pitches.
• Baseball batting
  • hitting a home run — This action automatically scores a run in Mario Superstar Baseball and is the goal of many baseball hitters. One clue ties it to the 62nd such hit in 2022 and a prized baseball artifact.
• Baseball pitches

  • slider — A slider is a baseball pitch thrown with a wrist snap so that it breaks between a fastball and a curveball. The pitch has also been called a nickel curve and is associated in one clue set with the Cleveland Indians mascot name.

  • spitball — A spitball is a now-banned baseball pitch altered with saliva or another foreign substance to change its movement. The term also refers to a small paper projectile, but in baseball it is associated with early dead-ball-era pitchers such as Burleigh Grimes and Gaylord Perry.

• Baseball rules

  • Intentional walk — An intentional walk, or intentional base on balls, is the baseball action in which a batter is deliberately given first base. Modern Major League Baseball can issue it by simple declaration rather than by throwing four pitches, and it is often contrasted with an ordinary walk.

  • the infield fly rule — The infield fly rule is baseball’s provision for fair pop-ups with runners on first and second or the bases loaded and fewer than two outs. It lets the umpire declare the batter out when an ordinary-effort catch is available, preventing a deceptive drop-and-double-play situation.

• baseball designated hitters
  • Edgar Martinez — Edgar Martinez was the longtime Seattle Mariners designated hitter whose 1995 double scored Ken Griffey Jr. and eliminated the Yankees in the ALDS. He became the only DH to win a batting title, and Dave Niehaus’s call of the hit is one of baseball’s most famous broadcasts. He also won Silver Sluggers as both a designated hitter and a third baseman.
• Major League Baseball franchises
  • Miami Marlins — The Miami Marlins are a Major League Baseball franchise in South Florida formerly known as the Florida Marlins. They won the World Series in 1997 and 2003, and the franchise’s history includes a dramatic post-championship roster purge, a fish-tank-backed stadium, and players such as Jeff Conine, Josh Beckett, Hanley Ramirez/Hanley Ramírez, Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Josh Johnson, Giancarlo Stanton, Ichiro Suzuki, and José Fernández.
• Designated hitter — The designated hitter is the baseball roster spot that bats in place of the pitcher without playing the field. It is used in the American League and is the basis for the Edgar Martinez Award.

World Series and Records

• Most World Series titles — New York Yankees (27), far ahead of any other franchise.

• 1919 Black Sox Scandal — eight Chicago White Sox players accused of intentionally losing the World Series in exchange for payment from gamblers; all eight were banned from baseball for life, including Shoeless Joe Jackson.

• Jackie Robinson — broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers; his number (42) was retired league-wide in 1997. He was also a UCLA star before turning pro, won the first Rookie of the Year award, and later wrote I Never Had It Made about the racism and abuse he faced; he became an enduring symbol of integration in sports and civil rights.

• Roger Maris — hit 61 home runs in 1961 (AL season); broke Babe Ruth’s single-season record of 60 (set 1927). He was the Yankees outfielder and one of the original M&M Boys with Mickey Mantle. His achievement became famous for the asterisk controversy, and he had earlier played for the Indians and Athletics before becoming central to one of baseball’s most famous home-run chases.

• Barry Bonds — holds the single-season home run record (73, set 2001) and career home run record (762); both are surrounded by PED controversy. Barry Lamar Bonds was the San Francisco Giants outfielder who became MLB’s all-time home run leader with 762 career homers. He also won a record seven National League MVP awards and set a huge 2004 on-base percentage, and his career was defined by BALCO and steroid controversy.

• Hank Aaron — held the career home run record (755) for decades before Bonds; career with the Braves and Brewers. He began professionally with the Indianapolis Clowns, won 25 All-Star selections, and also holds baseball’s career RBI record and career total bases record.

• Cal Ripken Jr. — played in 2,632 consecutive games, surpassing Lou Gehrig’s previous record of 2,130.

• Detroit Tigers — The Detroit Tigers are the American League baseball team from Detroit. Associated with Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Miguel Cabrera, they won the 1935 World Series by defeating the Chicago Cubs, as well as the 1968 and 1984 World Series titles. Their history also includes Armando Galarraga’s near-perfect game, the 2012 postseason run that ended in the World Series, and the 2003 season when Alan Trammell managed them to 119 losses. Their spring training site is Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida.

• Major League Baseball teams

  • Chicago White Sox — The Chicago White Sox are the American League team from Chicago’s South Side, home to Guaranteed Rate Field and remembered for the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Their clues often include the 2005 World Series title, Disco Demolition Night, and players such as Mark Buehrle, Paul Konerko, José Abreu, and Lucas Giolito.

  • San Francisco Giants — The Bay Area Major League Baseball team won the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series. Its history includes its earlier identity as the New York Giants before moving west, and it has been associated with stars such as Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Buster Posey, and Madison Bumgarner, as well as prospects Brandon Belt and Zack Wheeler.

  • Seattle Pilots — The Seattle Pilots were the short-lived 1969 American League expansion team that played at Sick’s Stadium. After one bankrupt season, the franchise was sold to Bud Selig and became the Milwaukee Brewers.

• MLB teams
  • Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pittsburgh Pirates are a National League baseball franchise that plays at PNC Park. They have won multiple World Series, including the famous 1960 walk-off over the Yankees, the 1971 title led by Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, and the 1979 championship behind Willie Stargell. Their history also includes old nicknames such as the Alleghenies and the Innocents, and they are remembered for blowing the 1992 NLCS after Sid Bream scored on the famous “Slide.” Notable players associated with the team include Andrew McCutchen, Roberto Clemente, Barry Bonds, Aramis Ramirez, and Kenny Lofton, and their history includes the Million Dollar Arm signings Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel and the trade that sent Bobby Hill, Matt Bruback, and José Hernández to Chicago.
    • players
      • Dave Parker — Dave Parker was a powerful right fielder for the Pirates, winning the 1978 NL MVP and batting title. He also won three Gold Gloves, later revived his career with Cincinnati, and was a prominent figure in controversy around Marge Schott.
    • Willie Stargell — Willie Stargell, nicknamed Pops, was a longtime Pittsburgh Pirate first baseman and one of the most feared sluggers of his era. He hit 475 home runs, won the 1979 National League MVP award, and was a central figure in the Pirates’ championship run that year.
  • 1985 Kansas City Royals — The 1985 Kansas City Royals won the World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in an all-Missouri matchup. Their title run featured Bret Saberhagen’s dominant pitching, a strong season from Charlie Leibrandt, and useful postseason work from Joe Beckwith and Danny Jackson.
• Baseball championships
  • 1986 World Series — The 1986 World Series matched the Boston Red Sox against the New York Mets and is best known for Bill Buckner’s error on Mookie Wilson’s ground ball. It also featured late-game miscues and a rain-delayed Game 7 that ended Boston’s hopes.
• Baseball scandals
  • Black Sox Scandal — The Black Sox Scandal was the 1919 World Series fixing case in which several Chicago White Sox players were banned for deliberately losing games. It led to the appointment of Kenesaw Mountain Landis as baseball’s first powerful commissioner.
    • the Chicago Black Sox — The Chicago Black Sox were the group of White Sox players banned for life after the 1919 World Series scandal. The nickname originally referred to their dirty uniforms and later became shorthand for the conspiracy around the thrown series.
• Major League Baseball awards
  • Silver Slugger — The Silver Slugger Award is a Major League Baseball honor created in 1980 by Hillerich & Bradsby. It is given to the best hitters at each position in each league and is the offensive counterpart to the Gold Glove.

Hall of Fame Legends

• Babe Ruth — New York Yankees outfielder/pitcher; 714 career home runs; dominated the 1920s–1930s; sold by the Red Sox to the Yankees in a transaction sometimes called the “Curse of the Bambino.” He was born George Herman Ruth and began as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox before becoming the Yankees’ legendary power hitter. In 1927 he became the first major league player to hit 60 home runs in a season. He was also famous for the pointing gesture he made before homering off Charlie Root in the 1932 World Series.

• Willie Mays — outfielder; known for his exceptional defensive play, speed, and power; his over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series (the “Catch”) is among the most famous defensive plays in history. He was nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid,” played center field for the New York and San Francisco Giants, began his career with the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro leagues, won two MVP awards, and finished with 660 career home runs.

• Ted Williams — last player to bat .400 in a single MLB season (.406 in 1941); served in both World War II and Korea; career with the Boston Red Sox. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966 and finished with a .344 lifetime batting average and 521 home runs despite losing prime seasons to military service in World War II and Korea. He was a two-time Triple Crown winner.

• Cy Young — pitcher whose name is given to the annual award for best pitcher in each league; won more games than any pitcher in baseball history. He was an early baseball pitcher whose 511 career wins became legendary. He also threw the first pitch in World Series history for the Boston Americans and pitched the first modern perfect game.

• Sandy Koufax — Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher; dominant in the 1960s; four no-hitters including a perfect game. He was a Hall of Fame Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and the 1963 National League MVP. He is often identified by his dominant left-handed pitching, his 25-5 season, and the late-career retirement caused by arthritis.

• Joe DiMaggio — New York Yankees center fielder; married Marilyn Monroe; set the record for hitting safely in 56 consecutive games in 1941, a record that stands. He was also known as Giuseppe “Joe” DiMaggio and was a major American sports icon, later the subject of Gay Talese’s essay on fading celebrity.

• Ty Cobb — held the career batting average record (.366) and career hits record (4,189) until Pete Rose surpassed the hits total; played for Detroit Tigers; admitted to being aggressive and combative on the field. Known as the Georgia Peach, his full name was Tyrus Raymond Cobb. He won many batting titles, captured the 1909 Triple Crown, and later played for the Philadelphia Athletics.

• Pete Rose — all-time MLB hits leader (4,256); banned from baseball for life in 1989 for betting on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds; ineligible for the Hall of Fame due to the ban. He was nicknamed Charlie Hustle, won Rookie of the Year in 1963 and the 1973 NL MVP award, and was known for his aggressive style of play. Notable moments included his collision with Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star Game and his 44-game hitting streak.
  • My Prison Without Bars — My Prison Without Bars is Pete Rose’s autobiography in which he admits to betting on baseball. The book discusses his ban from baseball and his request for reinstatement.

• Lou Gehrig — New York Yankees first baseman; the “Iron Horse”; consecutive games record holder (2,130) until Cal Ripken Jr.; diagnosed with ALS in 1939; his “luckiest man” speech at Yankee Stadium is one of the most celebrated in sports history; ALS is colloquially known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.” His July 4, 1939 farewell address at Yankee Stadium included the line “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” He was born Henry Louis Gehrig and is portrayed by Gary Cooper in The Pride of the Yankees.

• Roberto Clemente — Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder; 3,000 career hits; died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while delivering humanitarian aid to Nicaragua earthquake victims; the Roberto Clemente Award is MLB’s annual humanitarian award. He won multiple batting titles and Gold Gloves, was widely regarded as one of baseball’s great all-around players, and the Roberto Clemente Award is MLB’s annual humanitarian award.

• The perfect game — a game in which a pitcher retires all 27 batters faced without allowing any baserunner; one of the rarest achievements in baseball; Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history (1956).

• The cycle — when a batter hits a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game; a rare individual accomplishment.

• The Negro Leagues — professional baseball leagues for African-American players during the segregation era; produced legends such as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Cool Papa Bell.

• Satchel Paige — iconic Negro Leagues pitcher; became the oldest rookie in MLB history when he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948 at approximately age 42; celebrated for showmanship and longevity. He was later credited with helping the Cleveland Indians win the 1948 World Series, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and appeared in the majors again with the Kansas City Athletics at age 59. He was also known for strikeout exhibitions against stars such as Dizzy Dean and Rogers Hornsby, along with memorable sayings about staying young.

• Stolen base record — Rickey Henderson holds the MLB career stolen base record (1,406); also holds the single-season record (130, set 1982).

• Cy Young Award — presented annually to the best pitcher in each league (one AL, one NL); named for Cy Young who won 511 games, the all-time record.

• World Series “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” — Bobby Thomson’s three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning of the 1951 NL playoff game between the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers; sent the Giants to the World Series.

• Major League Baseball players

  • Albert Pujols — Dominican-born first baseman and designated hitter known as “the Machine,” he starred with the St. Louis Cardinals and later played for the Angels and Dodgers. He won the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year award, became a three-time National League MVP with the Cardinals, hit three home runs in a World Series game, and eventually reached 700 career home runs. He was noted for exceptional power, including a long early run of 30-home-run seasons, and for his charity work through the Pujols Family Foundation; a major contract with the Angels is also associated with him.

  • Andruw Jones — Andruw Jones was a Curaçaoan center fielder for the Atlanta Braves, known for elite defense and deep outfield positioning. He became prominent as a teenager in the 1996 World Series, was remembered for surpassing Mickey Mantle as the youngest player to hit a World Series home run, led the majors in home runs in 2005, won ten Gold Gloves, hit 434 career home runs, and was the first National League Final Vote winner.

  • Julio Cesar Robles Franco — Julio Cesar Robles Franco was the Dominican infielder and designated hitter who lasted into his late forties in Major League Baseball. He won an American League batting title with Texas, made multiple All-Star teams, and finished with over 2,500 hits.

• MLB players
  • Carlos Delgado — Carlos Delgado was the powerful Toronto Blue Jays first baseman who finished fourth in American League MVP voting in 2000. He later left Toronto for Florida, where clues often mention his unlikely surname for a 240-pound slugger.
• Major League Baseball pitchers

  • Bret Saberhagen — Bret Saberhagen is a former MLB pitcher who won two Cy Young Awards with the Royals. He later set a strikeout-to-walk mark with the Mets and also won a Comeback Player of the Year award with Boston.

  • Don Sutton — Don Sutton was a Hall of Fame pitcher best known for his long career with the Dodgers. A 300-game winner with exceptional career totals in wins and strikeouts, he finished as one of the most durable starters of his era.

  • Doug Drabek — Doug Drabek is a former major league pitcher identified here by the 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates. He is best remembered as a Cy Young Award-winning right-hander from that era.

• Baseball hitters

  • Rogers Hornsby — Rogers Hornsby was a St. Louis Cardinals second baseman and one of baseball’s greatest hitters, famous for a .358 career average and a record-setting .424 season in 1924. He won the Triple Crown twice, led the National League in batting for six straight seasons, and was known as ‘the Rajah’.

  • Willie Keeler — Willie Keeler was the dead-ball-era hitter whose motto was “hit it where they ain’t.” He piled up 200-hit seasons, won batting titles, and once set a long hitting streak that made him one of baseball’s classic contact hitters.

• Baseball first basemen

  • Gil Hodges — Gil Hodges was the first baseman who later managed the 1969 New York Mets to the World Series title. As a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he won the first Gold Glove at first base and helped define the franchise’s power hitting.

  • Sean Casey — Sean Casey was a Major League Baseball first baseman nicknamed the Mayor. He played for the Reds, Red Sox, and Tigers and won the 1999 Roberto Clemente Award, with clues often praising him as one of baseball’s nicest players.

• baseball pitching feats
  • Perfect game — A complete game in which the pitcher retires every batter without allowing anyone to reach base. It is commonly described as twenty-seven up and twenty-seven down, and it is the rarest standard pitching achievement in baseball. Famous examples include Don Larsen in the World Series and Félix Hernández in 2012; other associated names include Cy Young and Len Barker.
• baseball feats

  • Hitting 3 HR in a game — This baseball feat is the act of hitting three home runs in a single game. Jeff Bagwell was the first player to do it twice in one season in the cited context.

  • hitting for the cycle — Hitting for the cycle is a baseball feat in which a player records a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. Clues often mention natural cycles done in order or reverse cycles done out of order. It is a rare but celebrated achievement in Major League Baseball.

• Negro leagues
  • Negro leagues players — These baseball Hall of Famers all played in the Negro leagues. Ray Dandridge, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard, and Satchel Paige are among the examples named.

Teams, Athletes, and Further Competition History

• Baseball analytics

  • Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game — Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game is Michael Lewis’s book about Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics’ use of undervalued statistics. It helped popularize the sabermetric approach to building a baseball roster and was later adapted into a film.

  • Statcast — Statcast is Major League Baseball’s tracking system for measuring advanced game data such as exit velocity and launch angle. It also records feats like home run trot times and other player movement metrics.

  • Ultimate Zone Rating — Ultimate Zone Rating is a baseball defensive metric developed by Mitchel Lichtman. It estimates runs saved or allowed by a fielder relative to the average at that position using play-by-play defensive data.

• baseball cards
  • Bowman — Bowman is a baseball card brand now associated with Topps and prized for rookie and prospect cards. It began in the 1940s, was later bought out, and was revived with a reputation as the home of the rookie card.
• Baseball catchers

  • Doug Mirabelli — Doug Mirabelli was a Red Sox catcher famous for handling Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball and for the dramatic 2006 trade that briefly sent him to San Diego before Boston reacquired him. He is also remembered for arriving at the park in police escort style, changing into his uniform in the back of a car, and backing up Jason Varitek at catcher.

  • Jim Leyritz — Jim Leyritz is a former major league catcher and postseason homer specialist for the Yankees and Padres. He is remembered for a game-changing home run off Mark Wohlers in the 1996 World Series and another late World Series homer in 1999.

  • Terry Steinbach — Terry Steinbach was a longtime catcher for the Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins. He was the 1988 All-Star Game MVP and a three-time All-Star.

• Baseball organizations
  • Little League — Little League is the youth baseball organization that runs the annual World Series tournament in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It serves children through the teenage years, with divisions that change as players get older.
• baseball players — Baseball players are the profession behind characters like Roy Hobbs and the title figure of “Casey at the Bat.” The clue set also points to literary baseball figures in Don DeLillo, W. P. Kinsella, and Bernard Malamud.

  • Andre Dawson — Andre Dawson, nicknamed “the Hawk,” was a major league outfielder for the Expos and Cubs who won the 1987 NL MVP award. He is also remembered as a Hall of Famer whose career later included the Red Sox and Marlins.

  • Arnold “Chick” Gandil — Arnold “Chick” Gandil was a first baseman and the ringleader of the 1919 White Sox gambling fix, coordinating with gamblers and recruiting other players involved in the scandal. He was later banned from baseball and fined by the commissioner for his role in the fix, and he later worked as a plumber in Berkeley, California. He was fictionalized in Field of Dreams.

  • Bartolo Colón — Bartolo Colón was a Dominican pitcher known as “Big Sexy,” who won a Cy Young Award with the Angels and later hit his first career home run as a Met. He was also linked to a long at-bat with Ricky Gutiérrez and a 2012 suspension for testing positive for testosterone.

  • Bob Hamelin — Bob Hamelin was the Kansas City Royals first baseman and designated hitter who won the 1994 American League Rookie of the Year award. His career is also remembered as a brief high point followed by a quick decline, including a demotion to Omaha.

  • Brad Radke — Brad Radke was a Minnesota Twins pitcher known for a strong 1997 season and a long run of double-digit-win campaigns. He was a reliable starter in the late 1990s and early 2000s, though he also piled up losses on struggling Twins teams.

  • Brandon Phillips — Brandon Phillips was a second baseman for the Reds who was acquired from the Indians in a lopsided 2006 trade. He later became a multiple-time Gold Glove winner and All-Star, and is also remembered for stealing two bases on one pitch in 2007.

  • Brett Myers — Brett Myers is a former MLB pitcher who spent most of his career with the Phillies and later also pitched for the Astros. He was a hard-throwing right-hander known for a domestic-violence incident and for briefly closing before returning to the rotation.

  • Brett Tomko and Mike Cameron — Brett Tomko and Mike Cameron were the two principal players Cincinnati sent away in the trade involving Ken Griffey Jr. Tomko was a left-handed pitcher, while Cameron was an outfielder.

  • Brian Roberts — Brian Roberts is the longtime Baltimore Orioles second baseman and leadoff hitter. He was an All-Star who later admitted to a single steroid use incident in 2003.

  • Brien Taylor — Brien Taylor was the New York Yankees’ first overall pick in the 1991 draft. His career never reached the majors after a shoulder injury in a bar fight derailed him.

  • Cal Ripken Jr. — Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third baseman nicknamed the Iron Man for his record 2,632 consecutive games played, surpassing Lou Gehrig’s streak in 1995. He won Rookie of the Year and two MVP awards.

  • Carl Erskine — Carl Erskine was the Brooklyn Dodgers reliever who stayed in the bullpen in the famous Branca game and later became one of the club’s key right-handed pitchers. He went on to lead Brooklyn righties in wins and strikeouts over the next several seasons.

  • Carney Lansford — Carney Lansford was the Oakland Athletics third baseman who won the 1981 American League batting title. He was a strong hitter despite poor fielding metrics that often appear in stat-heavy baseball clues.

  • Christy Mathewson — Christy Mathewson was a dominant early-20th-century pitcher for the New York Giants and later wrote Pitching in a Pinch. He starred in the 1905 World Series and was tied to famous Giants mishaps such as Merkle’s Boner and Snodgrass’s Muff.

  • Clyde Livingston — Clyde Livingston is the baseball player whose donated shoes are stolen in Holes, sending Stanley to Camp Green Lake. He is nicknamed Sweet Feet, and the stolen shoes connect him to the novel’s backstory about Kate Barlow and Zero.

  • Craig Biggio — Craig Biggio was a Houston Astros star who spent his entire major-league career with Houston, playing catcher, second base, center field, and the outfield. He was a longtime second baseman before moving to center field, became known for his All-Star play and hit-by-pitch totals, reached 3,000 hits in 2007, and later fell just short of Hall of Fame induction by a narrow margin. He is one of the most prominent players in Astros franchise history.

  • Dale Murphy — Dale Murphy was a power-hitting outfielder for the Atlanta Braves who later played for the Phillies and Rockies. He won two National League MVP awards, five straight Gold Gloves, and finished with 398 career home runs. He was also remembered as a devout Mormon.

  • Darryl Andrew Kile — Darryl Andrew Kile was a Major League pitcher for the Astros, Rockies, and Cardinals. He threw a no-hitter in 1993 and died of a heart attack in a Chicago hotel room in 2002, and an award honoring him is associated with the Astros and Cardinals.

  • Dave Kingman — Dave Kingman, nicknamed Kong, was a power-hitting outfielder whose 442 career home runs did not earn him election to the Hall of Fame. He was notorious for a low on-base percentage, colorful behavior, and one of the longest home runs ever hit at Wrigley Field.

  • David Jonathan Drew — David Jonathan Drew, known as J.D. Drew, is a left-handed outfielder in Major League Baseball and a member of the athletic Drew family. A highly touted Florida State University product, he refused to sign with Philadelphia after being drafted twice, then debuted for St. Louis and later played for the Braves and Red Sox; he also signed a large contract with the Cardinals.

  • David Wright — Longtime New York Mets third baseman and one of the franchise’s signature modern players; he broke into the majors in 2004 after being a first-round draft selection. He made All-Star teams, won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, reached the 30-30 plateau in 2007, and later became associated with a major ad campaign and a partial ownership stake in the company behind it.

  • Douglas Andrew Mientkiewicz — Doug Mientkiewicz was a slick-fielding first baseman for the Twins and Red Sox who won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2000. He is especially remembered for the controversy over the 2004 World Series-clinching ball, which he claimed to have possessed after Keith Foulke’s final out.

  • Elijah Dukes — Elijah Dukes was a talented but troubled Major League outfielder whose career with the Rays and Nationals was marred by injuries and arrests. He was traded to Washington in 2007 and became notorious for repeated off-field incidents.

  • Francisco Cabrera — Francisco Cabrera was an Atlanta Braves pinch hitter whose ninth-inning single won Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS. That hit capped an unlikely postseason moment for a reserve infielder who had barely appeared during the regular season.

  • Fred McGriff — Fred McGriff, nicknamed the Crime Dog, was a powerful first baseman who starred for Toronto, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and later the Cubs. He hit 30 or more home runs several times without often clearing the 100-RBI mark, won a title with the 1995 Braves, and briefly returned to the Rays in an attempt to reach 500 homers.

  • Fred Merkle — Fred Merkle was the New York Giants first baseman whose failure to touch second base in 1908 became one of baseball’s most infamous baserunning mistakes. The play helped cost the Giants the pennant and earned him the enduring nickname Bonehead.

  • Glenn Burke — Glenn Burke was an outfielder remembered as the first openly gay Major League Baseball player. He is also linked to the first recognized baseball high five with Dusty Baker and died of AIDS-related causes in 1995.

  • Greg Maddux — This pitcher won four straight Cy Young Awards beginning in 1992 and built his reputation as an extraordinarily efficient starter for the Cubs and Braves. Nicknamed Mad Dog, he reached the 3,000-strikeout and 300-win clubs and became famous for elite control and fielding.

  • Greg Vaughn — Greg Vaughn was a San Diego Padres outfielder who hit 50 home runs in 1998. He had earlier played for Milwaukee and later homered twice in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series against the Yankees.

  • Hank and Tommy Aaron — Hank Aaron and Tommy Aaron are the brother pair with the most combined major league home runs. The record is driven largely by Hank Aaron’s 755 career homers.

  • Harold Baines — Harold Baines was a longtime Chicago White Sox designated hitter and one of the team’s most durable power hitters. His number 3 was retired and later unretired when he returned to the club, and he was later inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Today’s Game Era Committee. He was also known for the trade history that included the White Flag trade and for driving in runs over a very long career.

  • Jeff Bagwell — Jeff Bagwell was the Houston Astros first baseman who won the 1994 NL MVP and joined the 30-30 club as a rare full-time first baseman. He was known for his low crouch at the plate and for being part of the Astros’ “Killer B’s” with Craig Biggio and Derek Bell.

  • Jerome Williams — Jerome Williams is a right-handed pitcher who began his major league career with the San Francisco Giants before later pitching for the Chicago Cubs. His rookie season featured a winning record and an earned run average a little above 3.00.

  • Joe Charboneau — Joe Charboneau was the Cleveland Indians rookie who won the 1980 American League Rookie of the Year award. He hit for power early in his career, but injuries quickly shortened his time in the majors.

  • Jose Reyes — José Reyes is a Dominican shortstop known for his speed on the basepaths and for leading the National League in stolen bases. He was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Florida Marlins during the 2012 offseason.

  • Josh Gibson — Joshua Gibson was a legendary Negro leagues catcher, especially associated with the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords. He was renowned for prodigious power and a high batting average, and is often called the black Babe Ruth. He is also credited with extraordinary home run totals, with claims that some of his home runs cleared old Yankee Stadium.

  • José Canseco — José Canseco was a power hitter for the Oakland Athletics, where he formed half of the Bash Brothers with Mark McGwire. He became a key steroid-era figure as the first 40-40 player and later wrote Juiced, helping ignite baseball’s performance-enhancing-drug scandal.

  • José Mesa — José Mesa was a Cleveland Indians closer who blew a late lead in the 1997 World Series. He later became a legal case figure after facing serious criminal charges.

  • Lawrence “Crash” Davis — Crash Davis is the grizzled baseball player portrayed by Kevin Costner in Bull Durham. The real Lawrence Davis was a Duke alumnus and minor league second baseman whose name inspired the character.

  • Lonnie Smith — Lonnie Smith was a major league outfielder who won Rookie of the Year with the Phillies and later played for the Cardinals, Royals, and Braves. He was part of the Braves’ 1991 World Series team and is remembered for a costly baserunning mistake in Game 7 against Minnesota.

  • Lou Brock — Lou Brock was the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder famous for breaking Ty Cobb’s all-time stolen-base record. He is also remembered for collecting 3,000 hits over an 18-year career.

  • Lyman Wesley Bostock, Jr. — Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr. was a promising outfielder for the Twins and Angels who was murdered in Gary, Indiana in 1978. He finished second in the 1977 batting race to Rod Carew.

  • Mark McGwire — Mark McGwire was an Oakland A’s rookie slugger and later St. Louis Cardinals first baseman who broke Roger Maris’s single-season home run record with 70 in 1998, a mark later surpassed by Barry Bonds. He later admitted to steroid use and became the Dodgers’ hitting coach.

  • Mark Mulder — Mark Mulder was a left-handed starting pitcher best known for his seasons with the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. He won the 2004 All-Star Game and later posted a strong 2005 season before injuries derailed his career.

  • Mark Whiten — Mark Whiten was a St. Louis Cardinals outfielder remembered for hitting four home runs in a single game in 1993. That game included 12 runs batted in, tying the major league single-game RBI record.

  • Matt Stairs — Matt Stairs was a journeyman Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter known for power hitting and many teams. He is especially remembered for his pinch-hit home run in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS for the Phillies.

  • Matt Wieters — Matt Wieters is a former Georgia Tech catcher who rose to star prospect status in the Baltimore Orioles system. He won Minor League Player of the Year honors and was touted as one of baseball’s top prospects before reaching the majors.

  • Miguel Cabrera — Venezuelan baseball slugger who starred for the Florida Marlins before becoming a Detroit Tiger. He debuted with the Marlins, won the 2012 Triple Crown with Detroit, and later collected multiple MVP awards. He was one of the most feared hitters of his era.

  • Mike Cameron and Shawn Green — Mike Cameron and Shawn Green are the two major league baseball players noted here for each hitting four home runs in a single game in May 2002. The pair is remembered for sharing that rare four-homer feat in the same month.

  • Oscar McKinley Charleston — Oscar McKinley Charleston was a star center fielder in the Negro leagues and is often ranked among the greatest all-around players in baseball history. He was praised for his power hitting and acrobatic defense, played a long career with many teams, later managed teams including the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and was linked to players such as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson.

  • Pat Burrell — Pat Burrell was a slugging outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, known for a breakout 2002 season and later for key moments in the 2008 World Series. He was the first overall pick in the 1998 MLB draft and earned the nickname “the Bat.”

  • Pete Alonso — Pete Alonso is the slugging first baseman for the Mets who debuted in 2019 and quickly set the franchise’s single-season home run record. He won the Home Run Derby as a rookie and repeated that feat in 2021.

  • Placido Polanco — Placido Polanco was a Venezuelan infielder traded in the Scott Rolen deal and later accepted arbitration to remain with his team. He later became Chase Utley’s predecessor at second base for the Phillies before being dealt to Detroit for Ugueth Urbina.

  • Ray Chapman — Ray Chapman was the Cleveland Indians shortstop who died after being struck by a pitch from Carl Mays in 1920. His death remains the only one recorded in a major league game and is often linked to later changes such as the decline of the spitball.

  • Reginald “Reggie” Jackson — Hall of Fame power hitter who starred for the Athletics and New York Yankees. Nicknamed Mr. October, he is remembered for dramatic postseason home runs, especially his three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, and for the remark that he was the “straw that stirs the drink.”

  • Robin Roberts — Robin Roberts was a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, famous for six straight 20-win seasons and for a major league stadium that bears his name. Robin Roberts is also the ESPN and Good Morning America anchor who became known for SportsCenter, WNBA play-by-play, and hosting women’s NCAA tournament coverage.

  • Roger Connor — Roger Connor was a 19th-century slugger credited with the first grand slam in major league history. His 138 career home runs stood as the all-time record until Babe Ruth surpassed it, making him a classic clue for early baseball power hitting.

  • Ron LeFlore — Ron LeFlore was a Detroit Tigers outfielder whose speed made him a major stolen-base threat in the 1970s. His rise from prison to the major leagues is one of the most famous comeback stories in baseball.

  • Russell Branyan — Russell Branyan was a power-hitting corner infielder nicknamed “Russell the Muscle” who spent time in the Cleveland organization and later played for several major-league teams. He became known for extreme home-run power alongside a high strikeout rate and for his stint with the Buffalo Bisons.

  • Ryan Freel — Ryan Freel was a speedy, low-power MLB outfielder best known for playing for the Reds, where he often led off and stole bases despite weak hitting. He is also remembered as the only MLB player diagnosed with CTE and for describing a voice in his head called Farney.

  • Ryan Klesko — Ryan Klesko was a left fielder and first baseman for the Braves and Padres who supplied left-handed power in the 1990s. He hit home runs in Games 3, 4, and 5 of the 1995 World Series and later reached a career-high 31 homers with San Diego in 2001.

  • Sadaharu Oh — Sadaharu Oh is the Japanese baseball legend who set the all-time home run record with 868 career homers for the Yomiuri Giants. He is often identified by his one-legged swing and by references to Nippon Professional Baseball and Tokyo Giants.

  • Scott Rolen — Scott Rolen was an elite defensive third baseman who won the NL Rookie of the Year award with the Phillies and later played for the Cardinals and Reds. His career is strongly associated with Gold Glove defense and a 2006 World Series title with St. Louis.

  • Shawn Green — Shawn Green was a standout outfielder whose 2002 season included a record-tying four-homer game and a run of nine home runs in five games. He later played for the Dodgers, where his 2002 power burst made him one of the franchise’s most memorable sluggers.

  • Steve Sax — Steve Sax was a longtime Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman and 1982 National League Rookie of the Year. He is remembered for the fielding yips that later became a shorthand example of throwing problems under his name.

  • Thurman Munson — Thurman Munson was the New York Yankees catcher and 1976 AL MVP who died in a 1979 plane crash. He was the first official Yankees captain after Lou Gehrig and won Rookie of the Year in 1970.

  • Todd Worrell — Todd Worrell was a St. Louis Cardinals reliever who saved 30 games as a rookie and accumulated 256 career saves. He is also remembered for being at first base during Don Denkinger’s famous blown call in the 1985 World Series.

  • Todd Zeile — Todd Zeile was a versatile major league player who began as a catcher with the Cardinals before moving around the infield for many teams. He became notable for homering for ten different teams and for later making emergency appearances on the mound and even behind the plate again.

  • Tommy Henrich — Tommy Henrich was the Yankees right fielder involved in the infamous ninth-inning play in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series. His overaggressive attempt on Cookie Lavagetto’s deep fly ball helped the Dodgers score the winning runs.

  • Troy Glaus — Troy Glaus was the UCLA third baseman and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist who later starred for the Angels. He led the American League in home runs in 2000 and was the 2002 World Series MVP after a key Game 6 hit.

  • Willie McCovey — Willie McCovey was a Hall of Fame San Francisco Giants first baseman and left-handed power hitter who won Rookie of the Year and later the 1969 NL MVP. He finished with 521 home runs and was famous for his grand slams and long Giants tenure.

  • Yu Darvish — Yu Darvish is a pitcher of Japanese and Iranian descent who has starred for teams including the Cubs, Padres, and Rangers. He earned acclaim in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and led the American League in strikeouts in 2013.

• Cincinnati Reds — The Cincinnati Reds are the Major League Baseball team from southwest Ohio, long associated with players like Johnny Bench, Tony Pérez, Joey Votto, and Billy Hamilton. They play at Great American Ball Park and have been a recurring answer in clues about the Big Red Machine and their 1975 and 1976 World Series titles.

• college baseball
  • College World Series — The College World Series is the NCAA Division I baseball championship tournament, held in Omaha, Nebraska. Its modern format uses Super Regionals and a pair of double-elimination brackets before a final series.
• MLB umpires
  • Joe West — Joe West, nicknamed Cowboy Joe, is the longtime Major League Baseball umpire known for his outsized personality and many ejections and suspensions. He was also a college quarterback at Elon and has recorded country music, including an album titled Diamond Dreams.
• New York Yankees catchers
  • Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Thurman Munson — Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Thurman Munson were New York Yankees catchers who won American League MVP awards in different decades. They are grouped together as the last three catchers to win the league’s MVP award before the modern era.

Basketball

• basketball — Basketball is the sport tied to Rabbit Angstrom, Jim Carroll, and the title school coach in That Championship Season. The clues also point to famous fictional and autobiographical players, as well as Dr. James Naismith’s invention of the game at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts.

  • 3x3 basketball — 3x3 basketball is the half-court, three-on-three variant of basketball that became an Olympic event at Tokyo 2020. It is also played in professional circuits and World Cup competition, including leagues and events associated with names like Unrivaled and the FIBA world stage.

  • Adam Silver — Adam Silver is the commissioner of the NBA, succeeding David Stern in 2014. He handled controversies ranging from the Donald Sterling scandal to NBA tensions with China, and the league later named its All-Star MVP trophy for Kobe Bryant.

  • Agents
    • David Falk — David Falk is a basketball agent best known for representing Michael Jordan. He also represented players such as Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and Elton Brand, and headed SFX Sports Group.

  • Alex English — Alex English was a prolific NBA scorer, especially with the Denver Nuggets, where he became the team’s all-time leading scorer and one of the league’s top scorers of the 1980s. He also appeared in the film Amazing Grace and Chuck and later worked in NBA coaching and player development.

  • Andrew Bogut — Andrew Bogut is an Australian center who was the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He later played for Golden State after starring at Utah and becoming a decorated college player.

  • Andris Biedriņš — Andris Biedriņš is a Latvian center who spent his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors before a brief final stint with Utah. He was a lottery pick in 2004 and was once known for strong rebounding and very poor free-throw shooting.

  • Ann Meyers — Ann Meyers was the first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship to UCLA and later signed with the Indiana Pacers. She also played on the first U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team.

  • Arvydas Sabonis — Arvydas Sabonis was the towering Lithuanian center drafted by Portland in 1986 and later regarded as one of the best European big men ever. He won international titles for the USSR before finally joining the NBA in his thirties.

  • NBA Coach of the Year — NBA Coach of the Year is the annual award for the league’s top coach, now associated with the Red Auerbach Trophy. Notable winners include Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Larry Bird.

  • basketball reasons — “Basketball reasons” was the vague explanation David Stern gave for vetoing the 2011 trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers. The phrase became a shorthand for an opaque league decision that was never publicly justified in any more specific way.

  • BIG3 — BIG3 is the three-on-three basketball league founded by Ice Cube and Michael Rapaport. It features former NBA players in an eight-team format with six players on the court at once.

  • Bill Cartwright — Bill Cartwright was a University of San Francisco center, later a key member of the Chicago Bulls’ first three championship teams and eventually their head coach. He is also remembered as the player the Bulls received in the Charles Oakley trade.

  • Bo Kimble — Bo Kimble was a Loyola Marymount guard known for left-handed free throws in honor of his teammate Hank Gathers. He later played in the NBA after starring in LMU’s run to the Elite Eight.

  • Brad Daugherty — Brad Daugherty was the first overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, out of North Carolina, and spent his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He later became an ESPN analyst and is remembered for strong rebounding and scoring numbers despite injuries limiting his peak.

  • Brad Lohaus — Brad Lohaus was a journeyman NBA center from Iowa who later played in Italy, including for Scavolini Pesaro. He is also remembered as a recognizable player from the early-1990s Milwaukee Bucks in the original NBA Jam.

  • Breaking a backboard — Breaking a backboard is the basketball feat in which a powerful dunk shatters the glass and sends it across the court. It became rare after breakaway rims and other equipment upgrades were introduced.

  • Breaking the backboard — A basketball play in which a dunk is so forceful that the backboard or rim breaks, sometimes shattering the glass and halting the game. It became especially famous through players such as Darryl Dawkins and Shaquille O’Neal, and it helped lead to the adoption of the breakaway rim.

  • Breanna Stewart — Breanna Stewart is a star WNBA forward who was drafted first overall by the Seattle Storm in 2016 and later joined the New York Liberty. She won the 2020 WNBA Finals MVP award and was the NCAA Final Four’s MVP four straight years from 2013 through 2016.

  • Brian Cook — Brian Cook is a former NBA big man who played for Illinois before joining the Lakers. He later had a long NBA career that included stops with the Wizards and Clippers.

  • Bronny James — Bronny James is the son of LeBron James and played at Sierra Canyon High School, where he was associated with teammates such as Zaire Wade and Bryce James. He drew attention as a highly touted guard before being drafted by the Lakers in 2024 after a health scare at USC practice.

  • Bryce Drew — Bryce Drew is the former Valparaiso guard famous for hitting the game-winning shot against Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA tournament. He later became a college coach and was briefly an NBA first-round pick.

  • Cazzie Russell — Cazzie Russell was a standout Michigan basketball player who helped turn the school into a national power in the 1960s. He was the first player selected in the 1966 NBA draft and later helped the New York Knicks win the 1970 title.

  • Centralia High School — Centralia High School is an Illinois high school often noted for holding the national record for boys’ basketball wins. It is the longtime standard-bearer in a rivalry with Tennessee’s Dobyns-Bennett High School for the top spot.

  • Cheryl Miller — Cheryl Miller was the USC star who won two NCAA titles and became one of the most celebrated figures in women’s basketball. Her postplaying career included coaching the Phoenix Mercury and working as a sideline reporter for TNT.

  • Chris Andersen — Chris Andersen, nicknamed the Birdman, was an NBA forward-center known for his wild hair, shot-blocking, and dunk-contest antics. He is especially remembered for his disastrous 2005 Slam Dunk Contest performance with the Hornets.

  • Chris Washburn — Chris Washburn was the North Carolina State center taken third overall by the Warriors in the 1986 NBA draft. His NBA career collapsed amid drug problems, and he was later banned from the league after failing multiple drug tests.

  • Coaching

    • Alvin Gentry — Alvin Gentry is an American basketball coach who worked as an assistant before becoming a head coach in the NBA. He coached the Suns and later the New Orleans Pelicans, and he was associated with the fast-paced style often linked to the Phoenix teams of the late 2000s.

    • Pete Carril — Pete Carril was the longtime Princeton basketball coach famous for his motion offense and for guiding the Tigers for decades. His teams were known for upsetting stronger programs, and he is associated with a 1975 NIT title and a long run without athletic scholarships.

  • college player groups
    • The Fab Five — The Fab Five were the University of Michigan men’s basketball freshmen group from the early 1990s, best known for Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. They reached the NCAA championship game and became controversial symbols of college basketball’s recruiting and scandal culture.
  • Competitions
    • NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest — The NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest is the annual exhibition in which players compete to perform the best dunks. Winners have included Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and others.

  • Corey Maggette — Corey Maggette is an NBA forward best known for his long stint with the Los Angeles Clippers after leaving Duke after one season. He was nicknamed ‘Bad Porn’ and also ran youth outreach programs, while his college career was clouded by payments from AAU coach Myron Piggie.

  • Curry family
    • Curry — Curry is the surname shared by NBA sharpshooters Stephen and Seth, with Stephen Curry known for unanimous MVP honors and historic three-point shooting. The word curry also names the spiced South Asian dish and, in computer science, the process of currying.

  • Dahntay Jones — Dahntay Jones was a Rutgers guard who later transferred to Duke under Coach Krzyzewski. He was required to sit out the 2000-2001 season after transferring.

  • Danny Ainge — Danny Ainge was a two-sport athlete who played for the Toronto Blue Jays before becoming an NBA guard and later a Celtics executive. He spent most of his basketball career with the Celtics and also had stints with several other NBA teams.

  • Daryl Morey — Daryl Morey is an NBA executive best known for leading the Houston Rockets and for his role in the analytics movement. He co-founded the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and is often associated with statistically driven roster moves.

  • defenses
    • Full court press — A full court press is a basketball defense that applies pressure over the entire length of the court, usually beginning before the inbound pass. It can be run as a man-to-man or zone defense, and Shaka Smart’s aggressive style has been compared to it.

  • DeMar DeRozan — DeMar DeRozan is an NBA guard from Compton who starred at USC before becoming a major scorer for the Raptors, Spurs, and Bulls. He was traded to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard and later helped lead Chicago’s offense after joining on a sign-and-trade.

  • Derrick Coleman — Derrick Coleman was the top overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets and won Rookie of the Year the next season. A power forward-center from Syracuse, he was known for strong scoring and rebounding as well as a checkered college and pro reputation.

  • Devin Booker — Devin Booker is an NBA shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns who became the youngest and most recent player to score 70 points in a game. A former Kentucky guard, he was Phoenix’s leading scorer in the 2021 NBA Finals and later joined Team USA in Tokyo.

  • Dream Team — The Dream Team was the famous 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team led by stars such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Christian Laettner. It became a benchmark for later professional-laden Olympic squads. Later Olympic U.S. basketball lineups were often compared to it, including the 1996 professional team sometimes called the third Dream Team.

  • Dribbling — Dribbling is the basketball action of bouncing the ball while moving, a core technique for advancing possession. Illegal forms include carrying or double dribbling, and crossover moves are a famous variation of the basic skill.

  • Eric Gordon — Eric Gordon is an American shooting guard who played at Indiana before entering the NBA. He was drafted by the Clippers and later became known for his scoring and for helping the United States win FIBA World Championship gold.

  • Eric Snow — Eric Snow was a guard from Michigan State who became a steady NBA point guard. He played for the 2000-01 Philadelphia 76ers team that reached the Finals and later joined the Cleveland Cavaliers.

  • Evan Turner — Evan Turner is an NBA wing who starred at Ohio State before being drafted second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2010. He later played for several teams, including Boston and Portland, and won Big Ten Player of the Year in 2010.

  • free throws — Free throws are one-point basketball shots awarded after certain fouls and taken from the charity stripe. They can also decide an and-one play, and unusual shooting styles like Rick Barry’s underhand motion have been used to take them.

  • Gasol family
    • Gasol — Gasol is the surname of the Spanish basketball brothers Pau and Marc Gasol. Both became prominent NBA players, with Pau and Marc each playing in the league and being traded for one another.

  • George “Iceman” Gervin — George “Iceman” Gervin was a Hall of Fame basketball scorer who starred for San Antonio after beginning in the ABA with the Virginia Squires. He was famous for his finger roll and for winning a tight scoring title race over David Thompson.

  • Grant Hill — Grant Hill is a Duke basketball star who was profiled as a top college player and noted for his NBA success. Quizbowl clues often mention his Sprite “Obey Your Thirst” commercials and the injuries that sidelined him after a big Orlando contract.

  • Gregg Charles Popovich — Gregg Charles Popovich is the longtime head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. He took over in 1996 and became known for a blunt sideline style and for leading the team to multiple championships.

  • guard
    • Delonte West — Delonte West was an NBA guard who starred at St. Joseph’s before playing for the Celtics, SuperSonics, Cavaliers, and Mavericks. He later became notorious for off-court struggles and persistent internet jokes involving LeBron James’s mother and a shotgun incident.

  • Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon — Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, also known as Akeem, was a Nigerian-born center for the Houston Rockets and later the Toronto Raptors. He is remembered for his Dream Shake move, his shot blocking, and championship runs with Houston.

  • inventors
    • Dr. James Naismith — Canadian-born inventor of basketball, credited with creating the game in 1891 at Springfield College by hanging peach baskets and using a soccer ball. He is also credited with work on the football helmet and was a theology student and physician. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is named for him, and his invention was the one for which the United States won the first Olympic basketball gold medals in 1936.

  • Isaiah Thomas — Isaiah Thomas is the undersized NBA guard known for his scoring burst, clutch play, and status as one of the league’s shortest players. He played for the Kings, Suns, Celtics, and later the Nuggets, and his first name was famously chosen after a bet connected to the 1989 NBA Finals.

  • J. R. Smith — J. R. Smith, born Earl Joseph Smith III, is the NBA guard remembered for dribbling out the clock after securing an offensive rebound in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals. He played for Cleveland during that Finals loss, and his career became a source of sports memes after the confused end-of-game play.

  • Jamal Mashburn — Jamal Mashburn was a high-scoring NBA forward who starred for the Mavericks, Heat, and Hornets. A former Kentucky star, he led rookies in scoring, made an All-Star team, and later worked as an ESPN analyst.

  • Jamal Murray — Jamal Murray is a Canadian guard for the Denver Nuggets known for his sharpshooting and the nickname Blue Arrow. He became especially famous for big performances in the NBA bubble and for pairing with Nikola Jokić in Denver.

  • Jason Williams — Flashy NBA point guard who played for the Sacramento Kings and later the Miami Heat. Known for his creative passing and improvisational style, he was already a notable high school player in West Virginia before reaching the NBA.

  • Jeff Bzdelik — Jeff Bzdelik is a basketball coach who led Air Force to the NCAA tournament and later coached Wake Forest. He also served as an assistant coach in the NBA, including with the Rockets.

  • Jennifer Azzi — Jennifer Azzi is a former Stanford basketball star who won national player of the year honors in 1990. She led Stanford to its first NCAA women’s basketball title and later played professionally after being passed over by Tennessee’s Lady Vols.

  • Jerome James — Jerome James was a center who signed a large free-agent contract with the New York Knicks after playing for Seattle. He had earlier played abroad and with the Harlem Globetrotters before reaching the NBA.

  • Joe Dumars — Joe Dumars was a McNeese State guard who starred as a shooting guard for the Detroit Pistons. He won two NBA championships with Detroit and was the inaugural winner of the league’s sportsmanship award, which was later named for him. Later in his career, he moved into the Pistons front office and became known for controversial personnel moves. Quiz clues also point to his hard-nosed defense and reliable outside shooting.

  • John Amaechi — John Amaechi was a British center who played for the Cavaliers, Magic, and Jazz before retiring in 2003. He became the first former NBA player to come out publicly as gay in his memoir Man in the Middle.

  • John Paxson — John Paxson was the Chicago Bulls point guard who hit the decisive three-pointer in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals. He later worked as the Bulls’ general manager and is associated with Notre Dame’s three-point shooting award.

  • Johnny Most — Johnny Most was the longtime radio announcer for the Boston Celtics, famous for his loud, partisan style. He coined nicknames like “McFilthy and McNasty” and is associated with the call of Havlicek’s famous steal in the 1965 playoffs.

  • Kentucky Wildcats — The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, based in Lexington, is one of the sport’s most prominent college programs. It was coached by John Calipari in the cited context and is known for its storied history, including Adolph Rupp’s era and a rare season in which it won both the NIT and NCAA tournaments.
    • Adolph Rupp — Adolph Rupp, nicknamed the Baron, was the longtime Kentucky basketball coach who held the Division I wins record until Dean Smith surpassed him. He coached the Wildcats for over four decades and is one of the central figures in Kentucky basketball lore.

  • Keon Clark — Keon Clark is a former NBA big man and ex-Raptor who later drew attention for off-court legal trouble. He played at UNLV and eventually signed with Sacramento after Toronto rescinded his qualifying offer.

  • Kyle Korver — Kyle Korver is an NBA sharpshooter known for elite three-point shooting. He set a league record for three-point percentage in a season while playing for the Utah Jazz.

  • Jason Collins — Jason Collins is an NBA center who came out as gay in 2013. In 2014 he signed with Brooklyn and became the first openly gay athlete to appear in a game in one of the four major North American sports leagues.

  • Lloyd Daniels — Lloyd Daniels was a New York playground basketball star whose drug problems cost him his scholarship at UNLV. He later played briefly for the San Antonio Spurs.

  • Lonzo Ball — Lonzo Ball is an NBA point guard known for his time with UCLA, the Los Angeles Lakers, and later New Orleans. He is also one of LaVar Ball’s sons and was part of the highly publicized Ball family basketball story.

  • Manu Ginóbili — Argentine basketball guard for the San Antonio Spurs, known for his sixth-man role and sharp left-handed play. Before the NBA, he played in Italy and helped Virtus win the 2001 Euroleague title. He won Olympic gold with Argentina in 2004 and later became an NBA champion, one of the few players to combine an NBA title, a Euroleague title, and Olympic gold.

  • Manute Bol — Manute Bol was the 7-foot-7 Sudanese center famous for shot blocking and an unusually long NBA career. He played for Washington, Philadelphia, Golden State, Miami, and other teams, and became known for highlight blocks and an accurate three-point shot.

  • Marshall William Faulk — Marshall Faulk was the St. Louis Rams running back famous for elite receiving as well as rushing production. He starred at San Diego State, was drafted by the Colts, and later won a Super Bowl with the Rams.

  • Matt Bonner — Matt Bonner was a long-range-shooting NBA forward-center known for his red hair and time with the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs. He drew attention for a sandwich-review blog and for a fan-led campaign that got him into the Three-Point Shootout.

  • Michael Ruffin — Michael Ruffin was an NBA big man drafted out of Tulsa in 1999. He is remembered for a bizarre late-game play against Toronto when he tipped the ball into the air and Morris Peterson tied the game with a three-pointer.

  • Mickael Pietrus — Mickael Pietrus is a French shooting guard who was once touted as the ‘Michael Jordan of Europe.’ He was drafted 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors.

  • Mike Conley — Mike Conley is a point guard who played for the Memphis Grizzlies and later the Utah Jazz. He starred at Ohio State alongside Greg Oden and became one of the NBA’s steadier veteran guards.

  • Mookie Blaylock — Mookie Blaylock was a standout NBA guard for the Nets, Hawks, and Warriors, known for elite steals, assists, and defense. Pearl Jam briefly took his name as a band title before using it for an early album instead.

  • NBA All-Star Game
    • World All-Stars and North America All-Stars — The World All-Stars and North America All-Stars were opposing all-star teams in a conference-versus-conference matchup.
  • NBA Drafts
    • 1996 NBA Draft — The 1996 NBA Draft is remembered for Allen Iverson going first overall and Kobe Bryant being selected 13th. It also produced several future stars including Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, Steve Nash, and Jermaine O’Neal.
  • NBA team
    • Atlanta Hawks — This NBA franchise was formerly known as the Buffalo Bisons, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Milwaukee Hawks, and St. Louis Hawks. It won the 1958 championship led by Bob Pettit, later featured players such as Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and Trae Young, and was long associated with Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Larry Brown coached the team early in his NBA career.

  • New Orleans Hornets — The New Orleans Hornets were the NBA franchise that moved from Charlotte and later featured Chris Paul, David West, and Tyson Chandler. Earlier Charlotte stars like Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Muggsy Bogues also anchor its history.

  • nicknames
    • Big Shot — Big Shot is a nickname used for clutch NBA players, especially Robert Horry, who earned fame for key playoff game-winners. The phrase also appears as a title in music and television, including a Billy Joel song and a show watched by characters in Cowboy Bebop.

  • Norris Cole — Norris Cole is a basketball guard who starred at Cleveland State, where he helped engineer a 2009 NCAA upset of Wake Forest and later won Horizon League player of the year honors. He went on to win NBA championships with Miami before joining New Orleans.

  • Olden Polynice — Olden Polynice was a Haitian-born NBA center who played for several teams after starring at Virginia. He later became known for an off-court incident in which he impersonated a police officer.

  • Olympic basketball
    • 1972 Olympic Gold Medal Game — The 1972 Olympic Gold Medal Game was the controversial men’s basketball final in Munich that ended the United States’ Olympic winning streak. A disputed ending involving timeout confusion and a restarted clock preceded Aleksandr Belov’s last-second basket in a 51-50 Soviet victory.

  • Pat Riley — Pat Riley is an NBA coach and executive who won titles with the Showtime Lakers and later coached the Knicks and Heat. He also played briefly in the league after entering through the San Diego Rockets and later became president of the Miami Heat. As a coach, he is associated with the term ‘three-peat’ and multiple Coach of the Year awards.

  • Patrick Ewing — Hall of Fame center best known for his career with the New York Knicks after starring at Georgetown. Drafted first overall in 1985, he became the Knicks’ centerpiece and was also known for his NBA longevity, his coaching ties to Georgetown, and later pop-culture cameos and dream-sequence appearances.

  • personalities
    • LaVar Ball — LaVar Ball is the outspoken father of Lonzo Ball, known for promoting the Big Baller Brand. Quizbowl clues often mention his boast that he could beat Michael Jordan one-on-one and his media feud-filled public persona.
  • Phrases and sayings
    • Ball Don’t Lie! — “Ball Don’t Lie!” is a basketball exclamation associated with Rasheed Wallace and shouted after a missed free throw following a questionable foul call. The phrase also titles a Matt de la Peña novel and film about a streetballer, as well as a Yahoo Sports blog and a psychology article on inequity.

  • playing basketball — Playing basketball is a common athletic activity, from casual pickup games to organized sport. The clues point to the activity itself rather than a specific player or team.

  • point guard
    • Sebastian Telfair — Sebastian Telfair is the former high-school star point guard from Coney Island and Abraham Lincoln High School. He was a highly touted recruit, appeared on a Slam cover with LeBron James, and was featured in Through the Fire before an uneven NBA career.

  • Rafer Alston — Rafer Alston, nicknamed Skip to My Lou, is a former streetball standout who played college basketball at Fresno State. He later played in the NBA, including stops with Toronto, Orlando, and Miami, and became known for flashy crossover-heavy ballhandling.

  • Robert Parrish — Robert Parrish, nicknamed “the Chief,” was a center for the Boston Celtics after arriving from Golden State in the trade for Larry Bird’s rights. He wore number 00 and was known for shot-blocking and a long NBA career.

  • Rudy Gobert — French NBA center for the Utah Jazz, known for elite rim protection and rebounding. He was the NBA’s first confirmed COVID-19 case, and the resulting league shutdown made him a widely discussed figure in early pandemic sports coverage. He later became the first scorer in the NBA’s bubble restart.

  • Sam Perkins — Sam Perkins was a North Carolina forward who was drafted fourth overall by Dallas in 1984, just after Michael Jordan. He later played for the Lakers, SuperSonics, and Pacers, and was known for his improved outside shooting and the nickname “Sleepy Sam.”

  • Shots

    • free throw — A free throw is an unopposed one-point shot in basketball awarded after a foul. Players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Dennis Rodman, and Magic Johnson have all been cited in connection with the awkwardness or difficulty of the shot.

    • hook shot — The hook shot is a one-handed basketball shot released in a sweeping arc over the shooter’s head. It is especially associated with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook.

  • slam dunk — A slam dunk is a basketball shot in which the player forcefully stuffs the ball through the hoop. The move is especially associated with highlight-reel variations such as the windmill, tomahawk, and 360.

  • slam dunk contest
    • Kenny Walker — Kenny Walker was a high-flying forward from Kentucky who became a lottery pick for the New York Knicks. He is especially remembered for winning the NBA slam dunk contest, which helped make his nickname “Sky” memorable.
  • Statistical leaders
    • Leading scorer in the NBA — The NBA’s leading scorer is the player who finishes a season with the highest points per game average. Neil Johnston, Bernard King, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, and Shaquille O’Neal are among the stars identified with the honor.

  • Stephen Jackson — Stephen Jackson was an NBA guard for the Pacers and later Golden State, where he became known for scoring alongside Al Harrington. He was also involved in the Malice at the Palace and was later arrested after an altercation at a strip club.

  • streetball courts
    • Rucker Park — Rucker Park, also called Holcombe Rucker Park, is a famous Harlem streetball court. It is remembered as a proving ground for players such as Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
  • Swingmen
    • Tony Allen — Tony Allen was a defensive NBA swingman best known for his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics. He was the Big 12 Player of the Year at Oklahoma State and was nicknamed the Grindfather.

  • Tayshaun Prince — Tayshaun Prince is a former Kentucky forward who starred for the Detroit Pistons and became famous for his long block on Reggie Miller in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals. He later played for the Grizzlies and was known as a defensive specialist and lanky small forward.

  • Thabo Patrick Sefolosha — Thabo Patrick Sefolosha is the Swiss-born NBA defensive specialist who played at Oklahoma City and was drafted in 2006. His career is also remembered for the 2015 incident in which New York police officers broke his leg during an arrest.

  • The Philadelphia 76ers — The Philadelphia 76ers are the NBA franchise for which Julius Erving won his only NBA championship in 1983. They swept the Lakers in the 1983 Finals and are a long-running Atlantic Division team later associated with Allen Iverson.

  • Three-point contest
    • Craig Hodges — Craig Hodges was a Chicago Bulls guard best known for winning three straight NBA 3-point contests from 1990 to 1992. He was also noted for his league-leading 3-point accuracy and for wearing a dashiki while delivering a handwritten letter to the president during a White House visit.
  • Three-point shooters
    • Jason Kapono — Jason Kapono is a sharpshooting NBA guard-forward best known for his time with the Raptors and Heat. He won the 2007 Three-Point Contest and was among the league leaders in three-point shooting percentage.

  • Timothy Theodore “Tim” Duncan — Timothy Theodore “Tim” Duncan was a Wake Forest center who became a power forward for the San Antonio Spurs. Nicknamed “the Big Fundamental,” he won Rookie of the Year, became a dominant rebounder, and won five NBA titles under Gregg Popovich as a central star alongside David Robinson, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili. He was also a central star of the 2004 United States Olympic team.

  • Toni Kukoč — Toni Kukoč is a Croatian basketball player who starred for Benetton in Italy before joining the NBA in 1993. He became a key sixth man for the Bulls during their second championship run and later played for several other NBA teams.

  • Tony Parker — Tony Parker is a French-born NBA point guard best known for his long run with the San Antonio Spurs. He won NBA Finals MVP honors and was also known for his marriage to actress Eva Longoria.

  • Tyson Chandler — Tyson Chandler is an NBA center who was drafted second overall in 2001 straight out of high school and later won a title with Dallas. He also won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2012 and became known as a premier rebounder and shot-blocker.

  • Vic Rouse — Vic Rouse was the Louisville player who scored the buzzer-beating basket that gave his team the 1963 national title. He is remembered for grabbing the rebound after Cincinnati’s late tie in overtime and putting it back in at the horn.

  • Victor Oladipo — Victor Oladipo is a guard who starred for Indiana and later played for the Pacers after being traded in a deal involving Paul George. He won NBA Most Improved Player and was a notable participant in the 2015 Slam Dunk Contest.

  • Victor Wembanyama — Victor Wembanyama is a French center for the San Antonio Spurs who was drafted first overall in 2023. He won 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year unanimously and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

  • Women’s basketball — Women’s basketball is the women’s version of the sport governed at the NCAA level, with prominent programs including Tennessee, Stanford, Louisiana Tech, and Connecticut. Before the NCAA tournament began in 1982, AIAW powers like Immaculata and Delta State dominated the game.
    • The American Basketball League — This women’s basketball league employed players such as Venus Lacy and Jennifer Azzi before folding and leaving the WNBA as the sole major league. Its low attendance and tiny marketing budget are part of its remembered downfall.
  • Women’s college basketball
    • Angel Reese — Angel Reese is the LSU star who was Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 women’s NCAA tournament after leading the Tigers to the championship. She became a prominent figure in the Caitlin Clark rivalry and later entered the WNBA.
  • Yi Jianlian — Yi Jianlian is a Chinese basketball forward who was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and later played in the NBA and China’s CBA. He became known for the joke about a pre-draft workout against a chair and for being nicknamed “the Chairman.”

Overview and Rules

• Governing body — NBA (National Basketball Association); 30 teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

• Objective — score more points than the opponent; points awarded for field goals (2 points), three-point shots (behind the arc, 3 points), and free throws (1 point each).

• Basic play — five players per side; game consists of four 12-minute quarters (NBA); dribbling required to move with the ball; no double-dribble or traveling.

• Violations — shot clock (24 seconds in NBA) limits offense; key violations include goaltending, charging, and flagrant fouls.
  • traveling — This is the act of going from place to place, including pilgrimage and other journeys such as safar in Islamic usage. It titles works ranging from a fiqh manual on wudu during travel to Japanese and American literary travelogues. In sports, it names the basketball violation for taking too many steps without dribbling.

• NBA Finals — annual best-of-seven championship series between the Eastern and Western Conference champions.

• Draft — annual entry draft; worst-record teams receive highest odds in the lottery for top picks.

• Triple-double — when a player records double digits in three of the five main statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) in a single game; the assist-based version is most common.

• Goaltending — illegal interference with a ball or shot on its downward arc toward the basket, or while it is in the “cylinder” above the rim; results in awarding the basket to the offense.

• Donald Sterling — Donald Sterling is the former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers who was banned from the NBA after recordings of racist remarks became public. He also drew attention for housing discrimination complaints and for conflicts involving his then-girlfriend and Magic Johnson.

• NBA draft busts
  • Anthony Bennett — Anthony Bennett is a Canadian basketball forward who was selected first overall in the 2013 NBA draft. Widely remembered as a major draft bust, he spent time with Cleveland, Minnesota, Toronto, the Nets, and Fenerbahçe before leaving the NBA within a few years.
• Basketball rules and equipment
  • Three-point line — The basketball marking awards three points for shots made from beyond the arc. The NBA version extends 23 feet 9 inches from the basket and is set three feet from the sidelines. It was introduced in college basketball before spreading to professional leagues; the ABA adopted it and the NBA later followed. It is associated with George Mikan’s tenure as commissioner of the ABA.
• Basketball terms
  • Jump ball — A jump ball is the basketball restart used to begin play by tossing the ball between two opposing players. It was formerly used to start the second half as well, but that practice has been eliminated.
• Basketball moves
  • skyhook — The skyhook is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s famous one-handed basketball shot, named by Bucks announcer Eddie Doucette and often described as a sweeping airborne hook. The term also names a speculative machine in philosophy-of-technology discussions, where it contrasts with more ordinary devices like a crane.
• Basketball shots

  • Half-court shot — A half-court shot is a long basketball attempt taken from near midcourt, often used as a gimmick shot in contests or at the end of games. It has produced famous buzzer-beaters and half-time challenges, including memorable NBA and WNBA examples.

  • three-point shot — The three-point shot is a basketball basket made from beyond the arc, worth more than a shot inside it. It was first adopted in college in the 1980s and in the NBA in 1979. In NBA history, Chris Ford made the first one, and long-range specialists such as Craig Hodges and Dale Ellis helped popularize it; Reggie Miller’s total is among the league records.

• Basketball strategies
  • triangle offense — The triangle offense is a basketball system associated with Tex Winter and later popularized by Phil Jackson. It spaces the floor with a center, wing, and corner player forming the title shape.
• basketball defenses
  • zone defense — A zone defense is a basketball defense in which each player guards a specific area of the court rather than a particular opponent. Syracuse is especially associated with the 2-3 zone.