NFL Six Degrees of Separation

[Exe Gesis]

You've heard about this parlor game before. Done thru the world of movies. Namely, the entire history of cinema at most six degrees separated from Kevin Bacon.

Thought this might be something do-able in the world of the NFL. Not sure who the "Kevin Bacon" is.

This is a game to play to pass time. See how it goes, but will suggest if you're going to try an old-time player/coach at one end, and a modern player/coach at the other end, you have six degrees to work with. But from say 2005 onwards, between very modern ones only, maybe you only have three degrees to work with.

So to play, you'd just say something like, "Tom Coughlin and Rich Gannon", and people have to try to find the shortest path between them.

 

[Dirty Bird]

I'm close, need to connect Buddy Ryan (Eagles 1986 head coach) to Tom Coughlin (Eagles 1985 wide receiver coach) now.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Or I can just cut out Buddy Ryan

Tom Coughlin - 1984-85 Eagles Wide receiver coach
Norman Braman - 1985-94 Eagles owner
Al Harris - 1989-90 Eagles Defensive Lineman, 2009-10 49ers "Pass Rush specialist"
Jimmy Raye II - 2009-10 "partial" Offensive Co-ordinator, 1992-2000 Cheifs RB, TE or Offensive Co-Ordinator
Rich Gannon - 1995-98 Chiefs QB

 

[Exe Gesis]

No owners. Just Coaches and Players.
Maybe it should be just players and players....and coaches and coaches.
Or just coaches who directly coached a player (like Gannon's QB coach, OC, or HC).
There's probably an even shorter path between Coughlin and Gannon, but I've got...

Gannon-Gruden-Waufle-Coughlin

Or just Gannon-Waufle-Coughlin

 

[Dirty Bird]

Lets go Kellen Moore to Peyton Manning...... But can only go coaches in the steps

 

[Dirty Bird]

Just cut it down from 4 steps to 2

 

[Exe Gesis]

Go on reveal

 

[Dirty Bird]

Go through Boise State's coaching department, then go through Denver's coaching department. There's a common link in there from Jacksonville

 

[Exe Gesis]

NFL only.

But I got...

Moore-Schwartz-Fisher-Steckel-Dungy-Manning

 

[Dirty Bird]

NFL only.

But I got...

Moore-Schwartz-Fisher-Steckel-Dungy-Manning

Well, I was going
Kellen Moore (Boise State 2007-2011)
Robert Prince (Boise State 2001-03, 2011-present - Jacksonville Jaguars 2007-08)
Jack Del Rio (Jacksonville Jaguars 2003-11, Denver Broncos 2012-present)
Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos 2012-present)

 

[Dirty Bird]

And you probably should've told me that earlier.
I spent time trying to find connections between Tom Coughlin (Syracuse) and one of Gruden's assistant coaches (Pittsburgh)
Was even checking out Gannon's college coach at Delaware.
But unless there was someone at Michigan in the 50s with him who was with Coughlin at some stage, that wasn't going to go anywhere.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Otherwise...

Moore-Linehan-Tice-DelRio-Fox-Manning

 

[Exe Gesis]

Well, make it NFL only.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Try this then...

Paul Brown (HC Bengals) to Lane Kiffin (HC Raiders)

only players in between, only NFL.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Paul Brown - Cincinnati 1968-75
Pat McInally - Cincinnati 1975-85
Eddie Brown - Cincinnati 1985-91
Eric Ball - Cincinnati 1989-94, Oakland Raiders 1995
Napoleon Kaufman - Oakland Raiders 1995-2000
Sebastian Janikowski - Oakland Raiders 2000-present
Lane Kiffin - 2007-08

 

[Dirty Bird]

I don't even know this one, but I am curious, so lets see who can get a path (maybe longer than 6 steps....)

Bet lets go Vince Lombardi to Bill Belichick

 

[Exe Gesis]

Is it players only in between?

 

[Dirty Bird]

I got 2 steps....

 

[Dirty Bird]

Is it players only in between?

Nah, both players and coaches

 

[Exe Gesis]

Better to try something bizarre like a great HC (brown) and a total numbskull (kiffin)

 

[Exe Gesis]

Bart Starr to Blaine Gabbert only players inbetween

 

[Dirty Bird]

Better to try something bizarre like a great HC (brown) and a total numbskull (kiffin)

I thought a gap of Lombardi (60s) to Belichick (00s) was large enough for a few steps and some research.

But When I find
Lombardi - Redskins 69
Jurgenson - Redskins 64-74
Marchibroda - Redskins 72-74, Colts 75-79
Belicheck - Colts 75
I was shocked.

 

[Exe Gesis]

You should've known belichick has a very long history in the NFL and has worked at multiple organizations. So it wouldn't be hard connecting him.

 

[Dirty Bird]

5 steps for me

Bart Starr - Packers 1956-71

Ken Ellis - Packers 1970-75, Rams 1979
Jeff Rutlege - Rams 1979-81, Giants 1983-92
Keith Hamilton - Giants 1992-2003
Osi Umenyiora - Giants 2003-12
Aaron Ross - Giants 2007-11, Jaguars 2012

Blaine Gabbert - Jaguars 2011-12

Is there better?

 

[Exe Gesis]

Try a more modern one in no more than 2 steps between (if possible)

Andre Johnson to Jamaal Charles (only players in between).