Arena Football

CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Australian Football

Better Hate An Owner

Bowling

Chess

Climbing

Cricket

Curling

Cycling

Darts

Death To The NCAA

Disc Sports

Gaelic Football

Gambling

Golf

High School Sports

Horse Racing

Hurling

Infinite Replay

Jamboroo

Lacrosse

Olympics

Parasports

Pro Softball

Pro Wrestling

Racing

Rugby

Running

Skateboarding

Soccer

Sports Highlight Of The Day

Tennis

The Fights

The Great Outdoors

Volleyball

Why Your Team Sucks

Wings Week

Sports

Ray Ratto

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

<p style="font-weight: 400">Antoine E. Davis is an incarcerated journalist in Washington State. He is a licensed pastor for Freedom Church of Seattle, and Inside Director of Organizing for Look2Justice, an organization that provides civic education to system-impacted communities and works to pass sentence and policy-reform legislation. His writing has been published by Christianity Today, The Guardian, Plough Magazine, The Appeal, and more. Follow him on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/antoineedavis">@antoineedavis</a>.</p>


Antoine E. Davis

“I Dare Not Talk About Nico Collins”: Incarcerated Fantasy Football Managers Reflect On The Season

Dave McKenna

The Doink Heard ’Round The Beltway

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts after being sacked in the second half during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

The Texans Told Justin Herbert To Take A Seat

Tom Ley

Consultant Mike Vrabel of the Cleveland Browns smiles on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mike Vrabel Finds His Landing Spot

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens stiff arms Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football wild card playoff game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Ravens Ran ‘Em Over

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?

David Roth

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks out of the tunnel before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 15, 2024 in Philadelphia

Podcasts

Los Angeles Is A Football Town, With Diana Moskovitz

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after beating the Denver Broncos 30-24 in overtime at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

We Must Free Joe Burrow

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

Patrick Redford

A black-and-white image of some nerds doing computing and codebreaking at an IBM 7090 Data Processing System in the early 1960s.

Journalismism

One Weird And Unusual Trick To Deciphering And Decoding A Josina Anderson Report Or News Item

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Mike Evans (13) makes a catch on the last play of the game to get his 11th 1000 yard receiving season during the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 05, 2025 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Bucs Risked It All For Mike Evans

Barry Petchesky

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 08: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets looks on prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Everything Aaron Rodgers Has Blamed This Year

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

10 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: American Football, NFL, Carolina Panthers - New York Giants, Matchday 10, Main Round at the Allianz Arena: Coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants takes part in a press conference after the game. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)

History

New York Giants: Season In Review

CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 25: A general view of Paul Brown Stadium at sunrise prior to the game between the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Broncos 23-10.

Morning Football Is The Way To Enlightenment

Samer Kalaf

Aaron Rodgers is sacked in the end zone by a Bills defensive player

Aaron Rodgers Incapable Of Throwing Even One Touchdown Pass

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


Dan McQuade

During an interview with sportscaster Greg Gumbel (right), American disc jockey (from WLUP radio, 'The Loop') Steve Dahl breaks a disco record over his head prior to hosting an anti-disco promotion at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 1979. The event, held between games of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers, allowed fans to attend the games for 98 cents along with an unwanted record and, following the detonation of those records, eventually resulted in the White Sox forfeiture of the second game due to unsafe playing conditions when fans stormed the field causing serious damage to the venue and playing surface.

Greg Gumbel Kept It All In Perspective

NFL Christmas Gameday signage advertising the NFL's two Christmas Day marquee games.

NFL Schedule Creep Is Getting Out Of Control

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 01: NFL Christmas Gameday signage on a blimp advertising the NFL's two Christmas Day marquee games streaming live on Netflix on December 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Netflix NFL Viewership Claims Threaten Several International Incidents

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


Victoria Zeller

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 22: Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal (93) recovers a fumble and celebrates with teammates in action during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on December 22, 2024 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.

Go For It

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

Woody Johnson (center) and his sons attend the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Report: New York Jets Plagued By Woody Johnson’s Meddlesome Teen Sons

Automobile in a winter landscape with a man coming from Christmas shopping trip with packages, Christmas Tree, etc. Undated photograph circa 1911.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

NFL