This NFL puzzle ran on Aug 22, 2026. The task was to connect Travis Etienne to Vincent Jackson 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. A search of the full player pool found a shortest chain of 2 links.
Travis Etienne (RB) played in the NFL from 2022 to 2026. Career stops: the Jacksonville Jaguars (2022 to 2025) and the New Orleans Saints (2026). College: Clemson. 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.
Vincent Jackson (WR) played in the NFL from 2005 to 2016. Career stops: the Los Angeles Chargers (2005 to 2011) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012 to 2016). College: Northern Colorado. 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.
Travis Etienne and Vincent Jackson 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.