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During the holiday season, reminiscing about the past year’s memories often evokes sentimental feelings. Similar to a beloved movie quote, reflecting on sports brings out a sense of nostalgia too.
Here are 12 photos — one for each month — along with brief narratives to commemorate some of the standout athletes and highlights of 2025.
January: Philly special
Saquon Barkley’s remarkable performance saw him rush for 205 yards and two impressive touchdowns, including a 78-yard run in the final quarter, propelling the Philadelphia Eagles to victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the NFL playoffs. Barkley, one of only nine players to reach 2,000 rushing yards in the regular season, played a pivotal role in Philly’s triumph over Kansas City in the Super Bowl with a score of 40-22.
February: Elbows up
Amid Canada’s frustration over Trump’s trade tariffs, Brandon Hagel ignited his team by engaging in a brawl with U.S. star Matthew Tkachuk during a heated 4 Nations Face-Off game in Montreal. Although the Americans won the preliminary round, Canada sought redemption in Boston five days later when Connor McDavid’s overtime goal secured the victory in the final.
March: Alexander the great
Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrated a goal against Philadelphia, edging closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record. Ovechkin surpassed Gretzky with his 895th regular-season goal in early April, eventually reaching the monumental milestone of 900 goals in the same season.
April: Masterstroke
Rory McIlroy clinched victory at Augusta by birdying the 18th hole in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose, securing his first green jacket and completing a rare career Grand Slam. The Northern Irishman continued his winning streak by helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup in September, triumphing over the United States at Bethpage in New York City.
May: The Cats came back