Purplelink

How are NFL stars connected?

Two players are linked if they were teammates in the same season. These are the shortest chains between NFL legends from different eras, worked out over 27,253 football players from 1946 to 2025.

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The numbers

Among the 45 biggest stars in our NFL data, any two are on average 2.7 links apart, and no pair is more than 6 apart. The average hides a lot: stars who played for several teams and stayed long are the bridges, so the longest chains run between players from the very start of the league and the newest stars.

Chains between stars from different eras

  • Otto Graham to Patrick Mahomes: 6 links, 71 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Otto Grahamteammates: Browns, 1953-54
    2. Doug Atkinsteammates: Saints, 1968-69
    3. Tony Bakerteammates: Eagles, 1972
    4. John Reavesteammates: Buccaneers, 1987
    5. Vinny Testaverdeteammates: Panthers, 2007
    6. Matt Mooreteammates: Chiefs, 2019-20
    7. Patrick Mahomes

  • Aaron Donald to Otto Graham: 6 links, 68 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Aaron Donaldteammates: Rams, 2015
    2. Wes Welkerteammates: Dolphins, 2005-06
    3. Kevin Carterteammates: Rams, 1995
    4. Jackie Slaterteammates: Rams, 1977
    5. Winston Hillteammates: Jets, 1963
    6. Walt Michaelsteammates: Browns, 1952-55
    7. Otto Graham

  • Chuck Bednarik to Patrick Mahomes: 6 links, 68 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Chuck Bednarikteammates: Eagles, 1957-62
    2. Tommy McDonaldteammates: Rams, 1965-66
    3. Merlin Olsenteammates: Rams, 1976
    4. Jackie Slaterteammates: Rams, 1994-95
    5. Isaac Bruceteammates: 49ers, 2008-09
    6. Alex Smith (1984)teammates: Chiefs, 2017
    7. Patrick Mahomes

  • Aaron Donald to Chuck Bednarik: 5 links, 65 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Aaron Donaldteammates: Rams, 2015
    2. Wes Welkerteammates: Chargers, 2004
    3. Doug Flutieteammates: Patriots, 1987
    4. Harold Jacksonteammates: Rams, 1968
    5. Maxie Baughanteammates: Eagles, 1960-62
    6. Chuck Bednarik

  • Gino Marchetti to J. J. Watt: 5 links, 59 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Gino Marchettiteammates: Colts, 1956-64
    2. Johnny Unitasteammates: Chargers, 1973
    3. Dan Foutsteammates: Chargers, 1987
    4. Randy Kirkteammates: 49ers, 1999
    5. Jeff Garciateammates: Texans, 2011
    6. J. J. Watt

  • J. J. Watt to Jim Brown: 5 links, 54 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. J. J. Wattteammates: Texans, 2015-16
    2. Vince Wilforkteammates: Patriots, 2006
    3. Vinny Testaverdeteammates: Buccaneers, 1987
    4. John Reavesteammates: Bengals, 1977
    5. Walter Johnsonteammates: Browns, 1965
    6. Jim Brown

  • Aaron Rodgers to Jim Brown: 5 links, 48 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Aaron Rodgersteammates: Packers, 2005-07
    2. Brett Favreteammates: Packers, 1993
    3. Tunch Ilkinteammates: Steelers, 1980-81
    4. Joe Greeneteammates: Steelers, 1969
    5. Sid Williamsteammates: Browns, 1964-65
    6. Jim Brown

  • Aaron Rodgers to Gino Marchetti: 5 links, 53 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Aaron Rodgersteammates: Packers, 2005-07
    2. Brett Favreteammates: Packers, 1993-98
    3. Reggie Whiteteammates: Eagles, 1985-88
    4. Ron Bakerteammates: Colts, 1978
    5. David Leeteammates: Colts, 1966
    6. Gino Marchetti

  • Ed Reed to Night Train Lane: 5 links, 50 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Ed Reedteammates: Ravens, 2002-12
    2. Ray Lewisteammates: Ravens, 1996-97
    3. Vinny Testaverdeteammates: Buccaneers, 1987
    4. John Reavesteammates: Vikings, 1979
    5. Wally Hilgenbergteammates: Lions, 1964-65
    6. Night Train Lane

  • Johnny Unitas to Tom Brady: 4 links, 44 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Johnny Unitasteammates: Chargers, 1973
    2. Deacon Jonesteammates: Rams, 1968
    3. Harold Jacksonteammates: Patriots, 1987
    4. Doug Flutieteammates: Patriots, 2005
    5. Tom Brady

  • Ed Reed to Johnny Unitas: 4 links, 46 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Ed Reedteammates: Ravens, 2004-05
    2. Deion Sandersteammates: 49ers, 1994
    3. Jerry Riceteammates: 49ers, 1985-87
    4. Ray Werschingteammates: Chargers, 1973
    5. Johnny Unitas

  • Night Train Lane to Tom Brady: 4 links, 48 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Night Train Laneteammates: Lions, 1960-64
    2. Earl Morrallteammates: Dolphins, 1974-76
    3. Don Strockteammates: Browns, 1988
    4. Lee Johnson (1961)teammates: Patriots, 2000-01
    5. Tom Brady

  • Bart Starr to Peyton Manning: 4 links, 42 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bart Starrteammates: Packers, 1971
    2. Scott Hunterteammates: Falcons, 1977-78
    3. R.C. Thielemannteammates: Commanders, 1987-88
    4. Mark Rypienteammates: Colts, 2001
    5. Peyton Manning

  • Bart Starr to LaDainian Tomlinson: 4 links, 45 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bart Starrteammates: Packers, 1971
    2. Scott Hunterteammates: Falcons, 1978
    3. Mike Kennteammates: Falcons, 1992-94
    4. Roman Fortinteammates: Chargers, 2001
    5. LaDainian Tomlinson

  • Deacon Jones to Peyton Manning: 4 links, 37 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Deacon Jonesteammates: Rams, 1962-71
    2. Merlin Olsenteammates: Rams, 1976
    3. Jackie Slaterteammates: Rams, 1995
    4. Mark Rypienteammates: Colts, 2001
    5. Peyton Manning

  • Bob Lilly to LaDainian Tomlinson: 4 links, 40 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bob Lillyteammates: Cowboys, 1973-74
    2. Drew Pearsonteammates: Cowboys, 1983
    3. Mark Tuineiteammates: Cowboys, 1996-97
    4. Randall Godfreyteammates: Chargers, 2004-06
    5. LaDainian Tomlinson

  • Bob Lilly to Drew Brees: 4 links, 40 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bob Lillyteammates: Cowboys, 1973-74
    2. Drew Pearsonteammates: Cowboys, 1983
    3. Mark Tuineiteammates: Cowboys, 1996-97
    4. Randall Godfreyteammates: Chargers, 2004-05
    5. Drew Brees

  • Dick Butkus to Drew Brees: 4 links, 36 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Dick Butkusteammates: Bears, 1968-70
    2. Wayne Massteammates: Patriots, 1972
    3. Julius Adamsteammates: Patriots, 1987
    4. Doug Flutieteammates: Chargers, 2001-04
    5. Drew Brees

  • Dick Butkus to Ray Lewis: 4 links, 31 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Dick Butkusteammates: Bears, 1968-70
    2. Wayne Massteammates: Eagles, 1972
    3. John Reavesteammates: Buccaneers, 1987
    4. Vinny Testaverdeteammates: Ravens, 1996-97
    5. Ray Lewis

  • Deacon Jones to Ray Lewis: 3 links, 35 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Deacon Jonesteammates: Commanders, 1974
    2. Mark Moseleyteammates: Browns, 1986
    3. Earnest Bynerteammates: Ravens, 1996-97
    4. Ray Lewis

  • Charles Woodson to Joe Greene: 3 links, 29 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Charles Woodsonteammates: Packers, 2006-07
    2. Brett Favreteammates: Packers, 1993
    3. Tunch Ilkinteammates: Steelers, 1980-81
    4. Joe Greene

  • Joe Greene to Randy Moss: 3 links, 29 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Joe Greeneteammates: Steelers, 1974-81
    2. Jack Lambertteammates: Steelers, 1982-84
    3. Gary Anderson (1959)teammates: Vikings, 1998-02
    4. Randy Moss

  • Alan Page to Charles Woodson: 3 links, 31 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Alan Pageteammates: Bears, 1981
    2. Mike Singletaryteammates: Bears, 1989-92
    3. Trace Armstrongteammates: Raiders, 2001-03
    4. Charles Woodson

  • Alan Page to Randy Moss: 3 links, 31 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Alan Pageteammates: Bears, 1978-81
    2. Vince Evansteammates: Raiders, 1994-95
    3. Rob Holmbergteammates: Vikings, 1999
    4. Randy Moss

Questions

How many degrees of separation are there between NFL stars?

Among the 45 biggest NFL stars in our database, two players are on average 2.7 links apart through chains of teammates, and the longest shortest chain is 6 links. Counting every pair: 34 pairs are 1 links apart, 474 pairs are 2 links apart, 289 pairs are 3 links apart, 142 pairs are 4 links apart, 46 pairs are 5 links apart, 5 pairs are 6 links apart.

What counts as a link?

Two players are linked if they played for the same franchise in the same season. A team that moved or changed its name is one franchise.

Is there always a shorter chain?

These are the shortest chains in our database of 27,253 NFL players from 1946 to 2025. The database is not complete: some defunct clubs and some players are missing, so a shorter real chain can exist.

Can I try one myself?

Yes. Lockerlink gives you two players every day and asks you to build the shortest chain. It rotates through the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, and practice mode lets you pick the sport and the difficulty.

Rosters and seasons come from public sources, mostly Wikipedia, nflverse and the Lahman Baseball Database, matched and merged by us; the credits are on the Lockerlink page.