This NFL puzzle ran on Aug 20, 2026. The task was to connect Jake Ferguson to Jared Allen 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.
Jake Ferguson (TE) played in the NFL from 2022 to 2026. A one-team career, spent with the Dallas Cowboys (2022 to 2026). College: Wisconsin. 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.
Jared Allen (DE) played in the NFL from 2004 to 2015. Career stops: the Kansas City Chiefs (2004 to 2007), the Minnesota Vikings (2008 to 2013), the Chicago Bears (2014 to 2015), and the Carolina Panthers (2015). College: Idaho State. 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.
Jake Ferguson and Jared Allen 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.