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Defector

Ray Ratto

Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, September 22, 2025. He's yelling, his teammates are yelling, and the Ravens are standing around looking sad.

The Lions Made The Ravens Look Old And Dull


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 21: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field on September 21, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Underestimate The Joe Flacco Two-Minute Offense At Your Own Peril

<p><a href="https://tomwhyman.com/">Tom Whyman</a> is a British philosopher.</p>


Tom Whyman

MP Zarah Sultana speaks at a Your Party rally in South London

Politics

Surely The British Left Is Taking Full And Strategic Advantage Of This Moment

Patrick Redford

PARADISE, NEVADA - JULY 24: An aerial view of the construction site of New Las Vegas Stadium, the future home of the Athletics baseball team, on the site of the former Tropicana Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, on July 24, 2025 in Paradise, Nevada. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)

Podcasts

This Building Is A Bucket, With Ben Schneider

Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers at the media day before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game on April 3, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

College Basketball

Bruce Pearl Always Knew What He Could Get Away With

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Cheryl Reeve head coach of the Minnesota Lynx calls to her team against Phoenix Mercury in the first quarter during Game One of the second round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

WNBA

The Lynx Are Stone-Cold Killers

Kelsey McKinney

Detail from a large fresco titled 'The Last Judgement' painted by Michelangelo

Life's Rich Pageant

Why Is Everyone Talking About The Damn Rapture Again?

Israel Daramola

College Football

Is God Punishing His Son Dabo Swinney?

Lauren Theisen

Jacob Young Kicked The Mets While They’re Down

Luis Paez-Pumar

Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams, Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams, Williams Team Principal James Vowles, and the Williams crew cheer for a group photo after the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 21, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Racing

Carlos Sainz Dragged Williams Back To The Podium

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Ceara (Almost) Learns To Cartwheel

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - CIRCA 1975: Goalie Bernie Parent #1 of the Philadelphia Flyers guards the net during a game against the New York Rangers circa 1975 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Parent helped the Flyers to two Stanley Cup Championships in 1974 and 1975.

You Couldn’t Drag Bernie Parent Out Of Philadelphia

Tom Brady greets Kavontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys prior to a game against the Chicago Bears on September 21, 2025 at Soldier Field in Chicago ,Illinois.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 22: Going Places

Andre Szmyt #25 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates with teammates and fans after kicking a game-winning field goal against the Green Bay Packers.

Chaos, Brought To You By Kickers


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins runs across the field during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.

Why Defector Is Intervening To Make Public A Confidential Document In The Tyreek Hill Case

<div>Nate Jackson is a former NFL tight end and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/slow-getting-up-a-story-of-nfl-survival-from-the-bottom-of-the-pile-nate-jackson/6430451?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote9JzWMngZDpSjF2eoL1_JlyPm2QhDfkNgOzqvaB4n9ic0qqUNQ4iCwaAsasEALw_wcB"><em>Slow Getting Up</em></a>. He lives in Denver.</div>
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Nate Jackson

Denver Broncos Training Camp at their training facility on July 29, 2008 in Englewood, Colorado.

I Played In The NFL. Should I Care If My Son Doesn’t Like Football?

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Victor Robles #10 of the Seattle Mariners makes a diving catch to end the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

Victor Robles To The Rescue!

The rusted hulk of RFK Stadium, which is being demolished.

The Commanders’ D.C. Stadium Deal Is An Abomination

Barry Petchesky

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 20: George Valera #35 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning of game one of a doubleheader at Target Field on September 20, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

What In The Hell Is Going On In The AL Central?

Dave McKenna

PROVO, UT - JANUARY 28: Boxer Conor McGregor sports a Brigham Young hat during the second half of the Brigham Young Cougars game agaisnt the Baylor Bears at the Marriott Center on January 28, 2025 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Conor McGregor’s Irish Presidential Campaign Was Brief And Humiliating

Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever speaks with ESPN reporter after the game three of the first round of WNBA Playoffs between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena on September 18, 2025 in College Park, Georgia.

Kelsey Mitchell Is Making Up For Lost Time In The Playoffs

David Roth

Holland Roden, Joe Pantoliano, and Matthew Daddario sitting on a very Hallmark movie coach, all admiring a little Buffalo Bills ornament that Pantoliano (in a Bills hat and goatee) has received from an anonymous benefactor. It's from the trailer of Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.

The Hallmark Channel And The Buffalo Bills Encourage You To “Go For Four”

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on September 16, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

A’ja Wilson Is The Smoothest Operator

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Sarah Puntigam #17 of Houston Dash shoots during the NWSL match between San Diego Wave and Houston Dash at Snapdragon Stadium on September 07, 2025 in San Diego, California.

Soccer

In A Typically Chaotic NWSL Season, The Only Safe Place Is The Very Top

Sean Kuhn

An Immaculate Grid filled in with the most-remembered people from the Defector/Immaculate Grid collaboration week.