Like Father, Like Son

As football pedigrees go, even Peyton Manning gets outclassed in comparison with Brian Griese’s combination of nature and nurture. A scant two years after leading the legendary 1972 Miami Dolphins to the Super Bowl victory that capped their historic perfect season, quarterback Bob Griese was blessed with a son, a bouncing baby boy they named Brian.

Fast forward to the here and now, and baby Brian is all grown up, leading a spirited Denver Broncos offense, and living up to the family name. His recent Monday night heroics against Denver’s archrivals, the Oakland Raiders, proved that he inherited more than just his arm and his accuracy from his famous dad. He’s also got the heart of a champion.

Early in the first quarter, after leading the Broncos to a touchdown on their first drive, Griese was slammed into the ground by two tacklers. He suffered a separation in his right shoulder, the same one that had sidelined him earlier in the season. Most quarterbacks would have spent the rest of the game on the bench as a spectator, but after a quick trip to the locker room for some tape and a shot, Griese insisted on staying in.

Playing on sheer guts and the will to win, with his throwing arm popping in and out of its socket, he passed his way to a 27-24 victory. His performance even drew respectful kudos from his opponents, the notoriously tough Raiders, and silenced any lingering doubts. No more of that Griese kid stuff. Young Brian has come into his own.

Let’s take a closer astrological look at the two quarterbacks, father and son. Hall-of-Famer Bob Griese is a cool, calm and collected Aquarius, born on February 3, 1945 in Evansville, Indiana. Always the gentleman and a true team player, in his prime he was surrounded by perhaps the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on one team; an Aquarian star among stars. Fortunate son Brian, a Pisces, was born both blessed and burdened, on March 18, 1975 in Miami. Receiving a legacy is all well and good, but living up to it is quite another thing. Their paths to the NFL have been very different, but they are linked together through powerful bonds of family, football and astrology.

The Mentorship Bond: Jupiter and Chiron

The most obvious connection between the charts of father and son lies across the cusps of Pisces-Aries and Virgo-Libra. Son Brian’s fortunate Sun-Jupiter conjunction is very close to his father’s natal Venus in Aries, while opposing both his father’s natal Jupiter in Virgo and Chiron in Libra. This combination of oppositions and conjunctions between the two charts serves as a sort of conduit between them. Bob Griese’s considerable skill and knowledge pass easily on to Brian, who is willing and eager to absorb all that he can. The elder Griese is not only a father to his son, but also serves as a teacher, mentor and coach.

Jupiter is the big benefic of astrology, the most expansive and lucky planet. Some of Jupiter’s more obvious benefits in this case are shared athletic ability, higher education, travel, publicity and wealth. However, the Indian name for Jupiter is “Guru,” signifying a teacher or mentor. Jupiter’s greatest gift is wisdom and the cultivation of the higher mind, and that often manifests in the form of someone who teaches us what we need to know.

In that sense, Jupiter shares a common bond with the strange little planetoid, Chiron. In his mythological origins, Chiron was the wisest of the Centaurs, and a teacher of heroes. We often see powerful links to Chiron between coaches and the players that develop under their leadership.

Focus on the Family

Brian and Bob Griese also share their Saturn placement in the sign Cancer. Saturn is a bit out of place in Cancer, the sign of its detriment. Saturn rules the opposite sign, Capricorn, a worldly earth sign that seeks achievement and status. Cancer is the sign of the home and the family, and is ruled by the impressionable Moon. Saturn in Cancer can put the family business right on the kitchen table, often blurring the distinction between the security of home and the cutthroat competition of the marketplace.

In some cases, Saturn in Cancer manifests as a lack of nurturing within the family, or where the individual must become self-reliant at an early age. In the Griese family, the loss of Brian’s mother to illness brought father and son closer together. The Grieses shared Saturn placement has united them in their chosen field, furthering a family tradition and raising the family’s public profile. Quarterback Peyton Manning, the son of Archie Manning, also has natal Saturn in Cancer.

Brian is eager to return to the Broncos lineup, but early estimates indicate he could be out for at least a month while his shoulder heals. He may get some help from transiting Jupiter between December 15 and 23. Jupiter will be moving retrograde (backward) in Gemini, making a 90 degree square to Brian's natal Mercury in Pisces, while conjoining his natal South Node in Gemini. These aren't the most promising aspects, but at least they are exact. He could be overly optimistic and try to do too much too soon, but at the end of the season, the competition for the AFC Wild Card spots will be too intense to miss.

It isn’t easy following in the footsteps of a legend. Brian Griese may never have a perfect season like his dad, but no one will ever doubt his courage and competitive spirit. After the Raiders’ game, Brian’s right arm hung limp at his side, so weak he couldn’t even shake hands. So how did he do it? I’m not sure, but maybe it’s something he learned at home.