This study examined 2 competing developmental models for social mechanisms linking father-son deviance in 2-parent families. Assessment of family management, father antisocial behavior, and sons’ antisocial behavior at age 9 used multiple measurement methods. At age 13-14, boys were observed interacting with friends on videotape; at age 23-24, they were followed and assessed, looking at arrest records, self-reported delinquency, and substance use. SEM was used to test competing models of the influence of fathers on sons’ antisocial behavior in young adulthood. Analyses supported a model linking fathers’ childhood antisocial behavior directly to sons’ observed early-adolescent deviant friendship interactions, and indirectly to young-adult problem behavior. Although early parenting practices correlated with fathers’ antisocial behavior and boys’ antisocial behavior in childhood, they were not predictive of late association with deviant peers, once controlling for fathers’ antisocial behavior. Findings are discussed relative to possible biological and social mechanisms of cross-generation transmission of antisocial behavior, as well as to prevention theory.