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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Israel Daramola


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

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


Dan McQuade

Corporate office, maybe mid-2010s style. Two women are walking in the background, and in front of them is a digital display about Charlie Duncan, case number 1016897, and how she's rude, deceptive, and a general menace.

Arts And Culture

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘She’s Making A List’

A Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals fan are seen prior to a game at Paycor Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. There is snow all around them.

The Bengals Left It To Their Fans To Clean Up The Snow

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 13: Navy Midshipmen celebrate during a game between the Navy Midshipmen and Army West Point Black Knights at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

College Football

Aaaaaaauuuuuggghhhhh!!!

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 13: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines handles the ball in the second half against David Coit #8 of the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 13, 2025 in College Park, Maryland.

College Basketball

Michigan Is Routing Everyone

The Bills’ Hallmark Christmas Movie Is An Infomercial For A Health Insurer

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 30: Charlie Smyth #39 of the New Orleans Saints attempts an onside kick against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Charlie Successfully Kicks Football

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) sacks Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on November 23, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Eagles’ Struggles Are Simply Offensive

Only The Raiders Could Run A Play This Poorly

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 16: Jameson Williams #1 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Williams is hugging the goal post after scoring a touchdown. He's in his white and silver and blue Lions jersey and he's pretty high up on the goalpost, above the NFL "Salute to Service" logo and he's clearly very excited.

The NFL Needs To Cool It With The Celebration Penalties

Hawaii Pacific celebrates in a game screenshot

Boise State Lost Its Gimme Game

CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 02: Chase Brown #30 of the Cincinnati Bengals leaps over Kevin Byard III #31 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter in the game at Paycor Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brown is completely upside down, back to the camera, legs in the air, looking like his flip will continue to land him on his back. Both Bears players are looking at him. One is on the ground, behind him, looking up. The other is reaching toward Brown. In the background is a full stadium of people, and from the orange it's clear it's the Bengals stadium.

Move Over World Series, The Bears And Bengals Are Playing

Rick Mathews holding a sign that says "ALL" on a children's coaster to say he has all of them.

Life's Rich Pageant

The Journey Of All 1,091 U.S. Roller Coasters Ends With A Toot Around The Track

Tom Brady wearing white-on-white tie and shirt combo in the broadcast booth and sort of looking like a caterer.

Congratulations To Tom Brady On Making His First Holy Communion

Modell’s Sporting Goods, logo in Queens borough.

Capital

SEC: This Ponzi Scheme Involved Buying Modell’s Out Of Bankruptcy

Edmundo Sosa stands at the top of the dugout steps, making a heart with his hands above his head, as Phillies fans cheer. He's in his white pinstripe Phillies jersey.

I Saw The Phillies Hit Eight Homers

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

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

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on after being ejected from the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on September 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He's walking with his hands behind his back, in a midnight green uniform with white pants, his helmet off and a white bandana around his head. He's on the left side of the photo, and to the rest of him is green grass.

Journalismism

Washington Post Editorial Board: Football

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is sacked by Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Kansas City Chiefs

Dan McQuade sits in a blue chair, which is big and fake leather-ish, and has big arms on it. He has his head resting on his left arm, which is on the left arm of the chair. He has long light brown hair, a beard cropped to his face, and I dunno I'd say he's pretty handsome, but I am biased as I am the subject of the photo. Dan is wearing a red shirt with a grey and white tabby cat's face on it, with a rose under (and patially covering) the cat. Under that it says DEFECTOR with the 4 degrees slant logo. He has on blue shorts or pants (they're shorts, I know they're shorts), they're not jeans but they're not sweats, like a sort of inbetween situation. There's a hospital admit bracelet on his left arm. His right arm is on the other arm of the couch.

Stories

My Life With An Uncommon Cancer

A brown leather couch covered, almost completely on the seats and up the seatbacks, with Greg Briley Topps baseball cards

Here’s How A Man Accidentally Bought 10,400 Greg Briley Rookie Cards

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 01: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears fumbles the ball as he is sacked by DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter at Cowboys Stadium on October 1, 2012 in Arlington, Texas.

Bears Fan Who Spent $12,107 On A Jay Cutler Card: “I Don’t Want To Spend $12,107 On A Jay Cutler Card”

Larry King and his wife, Shawn Southwick, dressed in Ed Hardy clothes

This Is So Stupid

13 Things I Learned From The Larry King Estate Sale

A general view of Bristol Motor Speedway during the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic presented by BulidSubmarines.com between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, August 3, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee.

MLB’s Speedway Classic Featured Only A Mild Amount Of Mayhem! Mayhem! Mayhem!

Three images, stills from a baby race on a basketball court at a Las Vegas Aces WNBA game. The first one is the baby, clad in pink, crawling. The second is the baby taking her first steps! The third is the baby hugging her mom as she reaches the finish line walking. The crowd is going wild the whole time.