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NFL Puzzle #33 recap: Amani Toomer to Denico Autry

This NFL puzzle ran on Sep 4, 2026. The task was to connect Amani Toomer to Denico Autry with a chain of real players. The objective: “Your chain must include a Maryland alum.” Par was 3 links.

The Start: Amani Toomer

Amani Toomer (WR) played in the NFL from 1996 to 2008. A one-team career, spent with the New York Giants (1996 to 2008). College: Michigan. 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.

The Finish: Denico Autry

Denico Autry (DE) played in the NFL from 2014 to 2025. Career stops: the Las Vegas Raiders (2014 to 2017), the Indianapolis Colts (2018 to 2020), the Tennessee Titans (2021 to 2023), and the Houston Texans (2024 to 2025). College: Mississippi State and East Mississippi JC. 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.

Amani Toomer and Denico Autry 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.

How the objective shapes the route

This was a college objective. The chain has to pass through a player from the named school at some point, not necessarily as a link to the Start or Finish. Of the 17,973 players in the pool, 168 satisfy it. The best known are Shawne Merriman (OLB, 2005 to 2012), Stefon Diggs (WR, 2015 to 2026), Vernon Davis (TE, 2006 to 2019), Boomer Esiason (QB, 1990 to 1997), DJ Moore (WR, 2018 to 2026), and Yannick Ngakoue (DL, 2016 to 2024).

6 of those players share a team or college with Amani Toomer, and 43 share one with Denico Autry. The Start is the tighter side, so working forward from Amani Toomer narrows the options fastest.

Show a 3-link solution (spoiler)

One shortest chain found by searching the full player pool, preferring the best known names at every step:

  1. Amani Toomer (WR), the Start
  2. Kurt Warner (QB), linked to the previous player through New York Giants
  3. Zach Kerr (DT), linked to the previous player through Arizona Cardinals
  4. Denico Autry (DE), linked to the previous player through Indianapolis Colts

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.