Carlson’s Browns host Sirianni’s Colts on Sunday

When Tom Langworthy sits down to watch the NFL game between Indianapolis (3-1) and Cleveland (3-1) late Sunday afternoon, he’ll find himself in a rather unique position.

“I’ll be rooting for both the Colts’ offense to do well and I’ll be rooting for the Browns’ special teams to do well. There’s my answer,” the Jamestown High School varsity football coach said earlier this week.

Langworthy’s personal tug-of-war is understandable.

On the visitors’ sideline will be his lifelong friend, Nick Sirianni, Indianapolis’ offensive coordinator. On the home sideline will be his former player, Cleveland’s backup tight end, Stephen Carlson.

“What’s the path for somebody to come from Jamestown and make it at that level?” Langworthy asked rhetorically.

More specifically, what’s the path required for TWO people from Jamestown to be involved in the same NFL game?

Well, no one knows, because it’s never happened before.

“It’s just great for our town to have two guys that are from Jamestown that are flourishing — one playing and one coaching,” Langworthy said. “It’s just a tremendous thing for our county, area sports and area football that they are in the pros and doing a great job.”

At some point on Sunday, Carlson — No. 89 on the Browns’ roster and No. 1 in the hearts of his sizable fanbase in these parts — will trot onto the gridiron at FirstEnergy Field on the shores of Lake Erie.

That will prompt Langworthy to call out to his sons, 8-year-old Noah and 6-year-old Grant.

The directive will include all of two words.

“Stephen’s in!”

A stampede will ensue.

“They’ll just come flying into the room,” Langworthy said. “When I say, ‘Stephen’s in,’ you just hear footsteps.”

Because in the eyes of the boys there is no greater NFL player than Carlson, who was a two-time, first-team all-state selection for their dad and a major cog on the Red Raiders’ 2014 Class AA New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship team. And, four games into his second year with the Browns, the undrafted free agent out of Princeton University is making a name for himself beyond Jamestown’s city limits.

“I’ve texted Stephen three or four times since the season started and a couple times during (training) camp,” Langworthy said. “I text him before games sometimes and I did text him (last) Sunday after the game (against Dallas).”

It’s clear Carlson belongs in the league.

“I personally thought it was his best game yet that I’ve seen,” Langworthy said. “I thought his blocking was fantastic and, on special teams, he was all over the place and made a couple tackles. He played really well and I just wanted him to know that.”

According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Carlson was on the field for 16 offensive plays (21% of the Browns’ total) and 28 special teams plays (90% of the team total). He also recovered a blocked extra-point kick in the end zone for a 2-point conversion.

“The (announcers) never said his name on TV,” Langworthy said of that unusual PAT, “but my response is, ‘The coaches know.'”

The Browns went on to win a wild game, 49-38, and are off to their best start since 2001. Additionally, Langworthy can’t help but feel immense pride, especially considering the unique COVID-19 circumstances that Carlson has had to deal with.

“It’s extra special,” Langworthy said. “He was here (in Jamestown) for six months, he was working out at Washington Middle School and Strider Field and lifting weights in his garage (on Jamestown’s northside). … He made the best of it.”

All Langworthy has to do to confirm another example of “making the best of it” on Sunday is adjust his sights to the Colts’ sideline. That’s where he’ll find Sirianni, who will be suggesting plays to head coach Frank Reich. Langworthy and Sirianni were neighbors growing up in West Ellicott, have been the best of friends since they were in first grade and are both 1999 graduates of Southwestern Central School.

“In the most complimentary way, he’s obsessed with being his best and being great,” Langworthy said of Sirianni. “He’s always been like that. He’s obsessed with getting the most out of himself as an athlete and that applies to his coaching as well. He’s in the constant quest to put his team in the best situation, and I think the energy and the desire he has is inspiring to the people around him.”

Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties can boast of a pretty impressive array of pro football talent over the years, dating back a century when Dunkirk native Murray Shelton played for the Buffalo All-Americans.

Since then, the list includes Jim McCusker, Bill and Bruce Bergey, Marv Hubbard, Chuck Crist, Dave Graf, Shane Conlan, Jehuu Caulcrick, Josh Roth, Chad Bartoszek and Jasen Carlson, who have all been connected to an NFL team for various lengths of time. Terry Gray has been in the Canadian Football League, Bob Palcic has coached in both the NFL and CFL, Sirianni and Josh Liddell played indoor football after graduating from Mount Union University and Jake Sisson is currently playing professionally in Sweden.

On Sunday, Stephen Carlson and Sirianni will be separated by a patch of grass 53 yards wide.

The distance between their boyhood homes?

Only 4.2 miles.

What are the odds of that?