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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

Ray Ratto

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during pregame warmups prior to facing the Atlanta Falcons.

Liam Coen Couldn’t Have Set The Bar Any Higher

Alex Sujong Laughlin

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Kathryn Xu

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Spectators in a color television studio on an exhibition of the USA in Moscow.

Defector Reads A Book

‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 2: Roadblocks And Revelations

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Jason Kelce with his past and future selves in a bit from the first episode of his late night show. This skit was pretty good!

Jason Kelce, Who Was Already Everywhere, Is Now In Late Night

Former Seattle Mariners player Ichiro Suzuki reacts as he is elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, after receiving the results of the 2025 BBWAA voting.

The Case Of The Cooperstown Vote Withholder Will Never Be Closed

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 20: The Utah Hockey Club salutes the crowd after a win against the Winnipeg Jets on January 20, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Hunter Dyke/NHLI via Getty Images)

Utah Yeti? Not Yeti

Manchester United's Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Manchester. He looks pretty sad.

Soccer

No One Thinks Less Of Manchester United Than Its Manager

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens drops a pass on a two-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.

The Ravens Will Just Have To Stew In Their Failure

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket around Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

What Could Possibly Be The Problem With More Cavaliers-Thunder?

Bob Uecker walks onto the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Bob Uecker Was Just The Best

Day'Ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Bones Hyland #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Intuit Dome on January 15, 2025.

It Doesn’t Get Any Less Essential Than Nets-Clippers

Arts And Culture

‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 1: Our Hands Hurt

Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024.

Mike McCarthy, Who Couldn’t Escape The Cowboys, Escapes The Cowboys

during the NFL week 10 match between the Jackson Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys at Wembley Stadium on November 9, 2014 in London, England.

Why Does The NFL Hate London So Much?

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 09: Notre Dame Fighting Irish players celebrate following the Penn State Nittany Lions versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

College Football

Notre Dame Derangement Syndrome Is Real

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is seen on the bench during the second half of his NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in San Francisco, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The Heat defeated the Wariors 114-98.

There’s No Magic To Be Found In Golden State

Head coach Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers during a home game in Week 17 of the 2024 season.

Antonio Pierce Got What Every Raiders Coach Gets

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 05: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 05, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Lions Are For Everyone

Safety Xavier Watts #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Defensive Lineman Howard Cross III #56 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Linebacker Jack Kiser #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Quarterback Riley Leonard #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hoist the Allstate Sugar Bowl trophy after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus Georgia Bulldogs College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2025.

Upsets Aside, The College Football Playoff Is Going According To Plan

A collection of straw hats and fedoras for sale at a market

Year In Review

Beware The Vacation Fedora

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a foul call against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Chase Center on December 25, 2024 in San Francisco

Draymond Green Is Still Innovating

A video message displayed in the stadium after Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Indiana Hoosiers on December 20, 2024, during the CFP First Round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

The College Football Playoff’s Shitty First Weekend Did Its Job

Multiple exposure of Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson (24) in action, stealing base vs San Francisco Giants. Game 1. Oakland, CA 10/14/1989

Rickey Henderson Believed In Rickey Henderson

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 19, 2024: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts after Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) scored on a 34 yard touchdown to ice the win over the Denver Broncos at So-Fi Stadium on December 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Nothing Gets Jim Harbaugh’s Motor Running Like An Obscure Rule

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook #4 runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

We’ll Take As Much Bills-Lions As You’ve Got

Matthew Stafford hands the ball to Kyren Williams against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. It is a low-angle shot and raining as hell.