Anthony Wilson
With the No. 4 pick in 2024 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected…a familiar name. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. joined his famous father of the same name as a first-round pick and was actually selected 15 spots higher than his legendary Indianapolis Colts father.
The bloodlines didn’t stop there. Jerry Rice’s son, Brendan Rice, went to the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round. He joins tackle Joe Alt, son of Pro Bowler John Alt. Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey is the son of Ed and brother of Christian; he was selected in the third round by the Washington Commanders. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. went to the fifth round.
Utah’s All-American defensive end Jonah Elliss takes it a step further. Not only is his father, Luther, a two-time Pro Bowl player, but his three brothers—Kaden, Christian and Noah—also play for the NFL. Clearly, the children of former NFL players are having a moment.
“I mean, there’s no better role model, coach, mentor that you can have than someone who played the game,” Harrison Jr. told reporters at his introductory press conference. “And then, you know, he’s also your father, so he means a lot to me.”
While high-profile NFL players get most of the attention, there are connections everywhere. Among the quarterbacks, Texas’ Arch Manning is the biggest name because of his famous uncles Peyton and Eli. Temple’s EJ Warner (Kurt Warner) and Marshall’s Cole Pennington (Chad Pennington) are also making names. Shedeur Sanders (Deion Sanders) has the chance to compete in the first round next year.
Notre Dame has emerged as a key player on the front line. In addition to the first-round Alt, Kennedy Urlacher (son of Brian) joins the program this fall. is committed in the class of 2025. Meanwhile, former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr didn’t play in the NFL, but his grandson is Fighting Irish quarterback C.J. Carr.
The Class of 2026 brings even more interesting names, which gained prominence in the initial Top247 ranking. Chris Henry Jr., son of the late Chris Henry, is a top three five-star. Linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. shares names with his famous Carolina Panthers linebacker father. Quarterback Dia Bell is the son of former Phoenix Suns guard Raja Ball. Wide receiver Jett Washington is the nephew of the late Kobe Bryant. Bloodlines are not just limited to the football field.
Despite all the famous names emerging, many players still manage to emerge from relative obscurity. Four of the top five players on CBS Sports’ Top 100 Players of 2024 do not have NFL parents, with Sanders being the only exception.
Still, there is no doubt, college football It’s becoming a family affair.
