This NFL puzzle ran on Aug 13, 2026. The task was to connect Brandon Jacobs to Ben Roethlisberger with a chain of real players. The objective: “Links must alternate between a shared team and a shared college, starting with a shared team.” Par was 3 links.
Brandon Jacobs (RB) played in the NFL from 2005 to 2013. Career stops: the New York Giants (2005 to 2013) and the San Francisco 49ers (2012). College: Southern Illinois, Auburn, and Coffeyville CC. As the Start of the chain, a household name like this gives you a lot of teammates to branch from, which makes it a friendly place to begin.
Ben Roethlisberger (QB) played in the NFL from 2004 to 2021. A one-team career, spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2004 to 2021). College: Miami (Ohio). Honors in the dataset: Offensive Rookie of the Year. As the Finish of the chain, a household name like this gives you a lot of teammates to branch from, which makes it a friendly place to begin.
Brandon Jacobs and Ben Roethlisberger do not share a team or a college, so there is no direct link. You need at least one connector in between, and the objective decides which ones are allowed to count.
This was an alternating-link objective. Links have to take turns between a shared team and a shared college, in the order the objective states.
One shortest chain found by searching the full player pool, preferring the best known names at every step:
Many other chains work. Scoring rewards lower-profile connectors, so the best-known route is rarely the highest scoring one.
Want more? Browse the full NFL puzzle archive, read the strategy guides, or see how scoring works on How to Play.