Sports star who said “It's not bragging if you can back it up” Crossword Clue

We have the 3-letter answer for Sports star who said “It's not bragging if you can back it up” crossword clue, last seen in the NYT Crossword December 31, 2025 puzzle. This answer will help you finish the puzzle you’re working on.

Sports star who said “It's not bragging if you can back it up” Crossword Answer

↓2.

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Helpful Hints

(noun)
1. United States prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942)
2. the fourth caliph of Islam who is considered to be the first caliph by Shiites; he was a cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; after his assassination Islam was divided into Shiite and Sunnite sects

Hint 2: Clue Definitions

BRAGGING (noun)
1. an instance of boastful talk
BRAGGING (adjective)
1. exhibiting self-importance
STAR (verb)
1. mark with an asterisk
2. be the star in a performance
STAR (adjective)
1. indicating the most important performer or role
STAR (noun)
1. a star-shaped character * used in printing
2. the topology of a network whose components are connected to a hub

Hint 3: Anagram

Unscramble the letters below to solve for today's answer.
AIL

More NYT Crossword (12/31/2025) Answers

Across

1. Big name in pickup trucks

4. Criminal suspects, informally

9. Giant container

12. Map out

14. Love of Italy?

15. Performer who's lost for words?

16. Smaller than small

17. Completely change course, in business jargon

18. Enthusiastic

19. Gathering for this puzzle's attendees

22. Stipulation for some keto dieters

24. Ninja's quality

27. Grant the power

28. Paddle people

29. Hint

30. Marketplace of ancient Greece

34. Knights of ___, dark order in the third "Star Wars" trilogy

35. Gathering for this puzzle's attendees

40. Falco of 'The Sopranos'

41. Article in hip-hop titles

42. Make some changes

43. Gathering for this puzzle's attendees

46. Suffering from memory loss, in a way

49. It's a big hit

53. Name on luxury fashion apparel

54. Marginalia, e.g.

56. John of wrestling fame

57. Bloom that's green

59. Mess around a sty

60. Lead, as a meeting

61. With 63-Across, gathering for this puzzle's attendees

62. Grp. that carries badges

63. See 61-Across

64. 'That makes sense now'

65. Hanker for

66. Things people prefer to type on in secrecy, for short

All Answers

Down

1. Engine stat, in brief

3. Engaged in some grooming

4. Fairy tale character with a hard bed

5. Arab leaders

6. Wander aimlessly

7. Needles, maybe

8. Try to catch someone with guile

9. Cry of loyalty in old France

10. "___ crazy?"

11. Williams in the Baseball Hall of Fame

13. Veil worn by Muslim women

15. Colorful parrot

20. Certain address, for short

21. Lead-in to liberalism

22. Ending for many a 20-Down

23. How drinks may be stored at a summer gathering

25. Site of a historic council

26. Channel similar to QVC

31. Lies down on the couch, say

32. Nueve menos uno

33. Began to withdraw mail from a mailbox, say

36. One-named performer known as "Mr. Showmanship"

37. Most August babies

38. Word fittingly evoked by the phrase "Together everyone achieves more"

39. Small talk

44. Mark, as an option on a questionnaire

45. Apple device letters

46. Not very much

47. Prefix meaning "one-thousandth"

48. Ideas that don't work out

50. Supply with more weaponry

51. Condo building's inventory

52. "Hardly!"

55. Straw, e.g.

58. Squeak (out)

60. Book reviewer, for short?

All Answers