34 Sets of Brothers Who Have Made it to the NFL Together

Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin

Twin brothers Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin had the unique opportunity to not only both play in the NFL, but on the same team. When Shaquem, who was the first one-handed player drafted into the NFL, joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2018, Shaquill was already a cornerback for the team.

Shaquem went on to join the Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal in 2021 before trying out for various teams ahead of his retirement from the league in 2022. Shaquill stayed with the Seahawks until 2021, going on to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings before landing back with the Seattle Seahawks, where he is currently playing.

“As kids, we had dreamed of playing together in the NFL, but whenever we talked about it, our dad would remind us that if we made it to the league — especially if we got to play together — that would be an added blessing,” Shaquem said of his brother and father in his retirement post shared on The Player’s Tribune. “A bonus.”

Rob, Dan, Chris and Glenn Gronkowski

Though none of the Gronkowski brothers suit up these days, four of the five of them played in the NFL — including three for the Patriots. (That’s Dan and Rob playing together on the Patriots in 2011.)

Best known is Rob, who was famously known as Tom Brady‘s right-hand man, playing nine seasons for the New England Patriots before joining Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his last two.

Dan was drafted in 2011 to play for the Detroit Lions before bouncing to the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. Chris began his NFL career in 2010 with the Dallas Cowboys and later joined the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers, while Glenn overlapped for a short time on the Patriots with Rob. (Their fifth brother, Gordie, pursued baseball instead.)

Travis and Jason Kelce

In 2023, the Kelce brothers became the first pair of brothers to go head to head during the Super Bowl. Ultimately, Travis’ Kansas City Chiefs came out victorious against his big bro’s Philadelphia Eagles. (And yes, mom Donna Kelce wore a split jersey for the occasion.)

The duo, who are two years apart in age, grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and both played together for the University of Cincinnati ahead of their NFL careers.

And while their professional careers took them to different cities, Travis revealed that his number, 87, pays tribute to Jason’s birth year.

“You’re the only reason why I wear 87 anyways,” Travis told Jason on the sidelines during a post-game exchange. “I never told you that, man. You started the legacy.”

Jason retired from the game in March 2024 and continues to host the New Heights podcast with Travis. Travis has been considering retirement but has not committed.

Sterling and Shannon Sharpe

While it’s been decades since the Sharpe brothers played in the league together, their mutual bond to the game was yet again strengthened in 2025 when Sterling was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 14 years after his little brother Shannon.

Sterling spent his whole career playing for the Green Bay Packers from 1988 to 1994. He retired at just 29 due to a neck injury. Though he and Shannon never played on the same team, they did overlap in the league from 1990 to 1994.

From 1990 to 1999, Shannon played for the Denver Broncos before leaving the team to play for the Baltimore Ravens. He finished out his career back on the Broncos, playing for the team from 2002 to 2003.

Shannon sat down with Travis and Jason for their podcast in 2023 and opened up about how his big brother was the only reason he even played football — and why he wishes he could trade places with him.

“I would trade my career, every dime that I’ve ever earned, to switch places with my brother. ‘Cause he deserved to be where I am in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” he said, almost two years before his brother was inducted. “It broke my heart when he told me he was never going to be able to play the game again.”

“Football was my worst sport in high school,” he continued. “And the only reason I played [is] because he played and I wanted to be like him.”

Derek, J.J. and T.J. Watt

For the Watt brothers, J.J., T.J. and Derek, football seems to be in their blood. Though J.J. announced his retirement in December 2022, following the birth of his first child, all three brothers have spent the better part of the last decade playing for the league.

The youngest Watt, T.J., currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers where he played alongside middle brother Derek for two seasons from 2020 to 2022. In 2024, Derek announced his retirement.

Ahead of J.J.’s retirement, he had played for 12 seasons, including 10 for the Houston Texans followed by two more with the Arizona Cardinals.

Peyton and Eli Manning

Eli and Peyton Manning might just be one of the most famous sibling duos to step foot on the field. Peyton, the eldest son of fellow NFL alumnus Archie Manning, started his 18-season career as quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts before he moved over to the Denver Broncos before announcing his retirement in 2018.

Eli, on the other hand, played his entire 16-season career for the New York Giants as quarterback, retiring from the league in 2020.

While neither brother plays today, they bring their exceptional knowledge of the sport to fans through ManningCast, where they discuss Monday Night Football.

Bo Nix and Tez Johnson

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix comes from a big football family. His dad Patrick played quarterback for Alabama, then went on to coach Bo and his brother, Caleb, for their championship-winning high school team.

Their teammate Tez Johnson was close with the boys, and after he began getting in trouble outside of school at age 15, the Nix family invited him to stay with them; he became a part of their family and integral to the Nix brothers’ football domination.

Bo and Tez both went on to play in college, including a season at the University of Oregon together. Bo was drafted by the Broncos in 2024, and Tez joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025.

“What motivates me most is family. And when I say family, it’s biological and adopted,” Tez told The Times in October 2025.

Devin and Jason McCourty

Devin and Jason McCourty are yet another pair of NFL twins! After graduating from Rutgers in 2010, Devin was drafted by the New England Patriots, where he played for 13 seasons until his retirement in 2023.

Jason, who graduated from the school in 2009, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans and played on the team for eight seasons. He then played one season for the Cleveland Browns before joining his brother in New England for three seasons. Jason ended his tenure in the league with the Miami Dolphins when he retired in 2022.

Ryan and Matt Kalil

Both Ryan and Matt Kalil made the Carolina Panthers their home team for a period of their respective NFL careers. For Ryan, his 12-season tenure with the team ended with a retirement that he quickly went back on to join the New York Jets in 2019 for a one-year-contract.

For Matt, the Panthers was the last jersey he wore professionally after five seasons on the Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers announced in August 2019, that though Matt had signed a five-year contract with the organization just two years prior, they would be releasing him after he spent a year on injured reserve.

Nick and Joey Bosa

During Super Bowl LIV media day in 2020, Nick Bosa was asked who the best brothers in the NFL were and he answered with just one word: “Bosas.”

After both he and his brother, Joey, played college football at Ohio State University, they were both drafted to the NFL as top picks and play defense for their respective teams.

Joey was drafted to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016 and spent his first nine seasons there before joining the Buffalo Bills in 2025 while Nick has stuck with the San Francisco 49ers since he was drafted in 2019.

Nick and Joey’s father, John Bosa, was also a professional football player, drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1987.

Mychal and Eric Kendricks

Eric Kendricks spent the first eight of his seasons in the NFL playing for the Minnesota Vikings and had stops on the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys before ending up on the San Francisco 49ers, where he currently plays.

His older brother, Mychal, was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012 where he played for six seasons. From there, he played two seasons for the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Washington Football Team (now Commanders) in 2020. He was signed for a season with the 49ers but was released in 2021.

Mychal was sentenced in 2021 to one day in jail, three years of probation and 300 hours of community service after pleading guilty to insider trading charges in 2018, according to ESPN.

Chris and Kyle Long

After 11 seasons, one half of the Long brothers, Chris, announced his retirement from the league in 2019. He spent his first eight years playing for the St. Louis Rams, who drafted him in 2008. He then played one season for the New England Patriots and two seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles — and won back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

Kyle also stepped away from the game in 2019 after playing seven seasons on the Chicago Bears, though returned to the league to join the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 for one season.

The Long brothers were not the first in their family to suit up for the NFL. Their father is Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long, who played his entire 13-season pro career for the Los Angeles Raiders.

Dalvin and James Cook

Meet the Cook brothers! James Cook played his first season in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills in 2022 while his big brother Dalvin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017 and played with the team for six seasons before stints on the New York Jets, the Baltimore Ravens and, most recently, the Dallas Cowboys.

Dalvin was accused of assault, battery and false imprisonment by a former girlfriend in 2021, with ESPN reporting at the time that the footballer denied the claims. According to ABC News, the case was settled out of court in 2024.

Romeo and Julian Okwara

Romeo and Julian Okwara were teammates on the Detroit Lions for four seasons starting in 2020. Romeo started his career in 2016 when he signed to the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent before joining the Lions two years later; he currently plays for the Cleveland Browns. Julian joined the team that year when he was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In 2024, Romeo announced his retirement.

The siblings moved to the U.S. in 2005 from Nigeria and started playing football; both later joined the teams at Ardrey Kell High School and the University of Notre Dame.

Jaylen and Sammy Watkins

“It’s crazy lining up across from him [in practice],” Jaylen said in 2015 when he was added to the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad and joined his younger brother’s team, per the Bills. “In our 15 years of playing football, we never got to play with each other. Then at our last stop of football, which is the NFL, we get to play together. That’s a blessing.”

Sammy started his NFL career on the Bills and stayed for three seasons before joining the Los Angeles Rams and has since played on the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and The Green Bay Packers.

Jaylen was drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014 and despite the brief stint with his brother on the Bills, he returned to the Eagles, where he stayed until 2018. He most recently played for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Trevon and Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs joined the NFL in 2015 when he was drafted to the Minnesota Vikings. From there, he went on to suit up for the Buffalo Bills in 2020, playing there for four seasons before joining the Houston Texans in 2024 and the New England Patriots since 2025.

Trevon was drafted in 2020 by the Dallas Cowboys, but has since been picked up by the Green Bay Packers.

Clay and Casey Matthews

Clay Matthews played in the league for 11 seasons before officially retiring in 2022. Per the NFL, Clay was regarded as one of the best pass rushers of the game. His last game was in 2019, though he waited to officially throw in his helmet until 2022. He played 10 seasons for the Green Bay Packers and his last for the Los Angeles Rams — his hometown team.

Casey Mathews played for four seasons on the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 to 2015. He signed to the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 but was placed on injury reserve after a hip injury before seeing his first game with the team, CBS News Minnesota said.

Vernon and Vontae Davis

In 2018, one of the Buffalo Bills’ starting cornerbacks decided to hand in his retirement to the league in a rather unconventional manner. After 10 seasons, Vontae Davis abruptly retired during halftime in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Sports Illustrated reported at the time that Vontae put on his street clothes, walked out of the stadium and decided to retire.

Vontae tweeted a statement confirming his decision, writing that his surprising move was not how he “pictured retiring from the NFL.” Vontae played across three teams during his tenure in the NFL, starting on the Miami Dolphins before joining the Indianapolis Colts and then finishing on the Bills.

Vontae’s brother, Vernon, retired from the league just two years later in 2020 and also chose a unique way of revealing the news to his fans, NBC Sports explained. Vernon did so with a skit which aired ahead of the 2020 Super Bowl and starred him alongside Rob Gronkowski and James Harrison. Vernon also played across three teams: after being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2006, he later played for the Denver Broncos and the team now referred to as the Washington Commanders.

Vontae was found dead in 2024 at the age of 35; the cause of death was ruled undetermined.

Matt and Tim Hasselbeck

While both Hasselbeck brothers now work as football analysts, they both used to play in the NFL. Tim spent six seasons with the league from 2002 to 2007 and at one point served as Eli Manning’s backup on the New York Giants, per his ESPN bio. Matt spent a bit more time on the field, playing for 18 seasons across several teams until 2016, when he retired and joined his brother at ESPN as an analyst.

Nick and Zack Martin

Zack Martin spent the duration of his career on the Dallas Cowboys since being drafted by the team in 2014 until his retirement in 2025. Nick Martin’s career has taken him to three different organizations since joining the league with the Houston Texans. He has since played for for the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Washington Commanders.

Luke and Josh McCown

Josh McCown has had a storied career in the NFL, dating back to 2002 when he was drafted to the Arizona Cardinals. He has played for numerous franchises over his many seasons, having most recently playing for the Houston Texans for the 2020 season. He now works as a quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings.

Josh’s younger brother, Luke, retired from the league in 2018 after beginning his career on the Cleveland Browns in 2004. During his tenure, he found himself on the roster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys — though Dallas released him before that season began, per the NFL.

Carson and Jordan Palmer

Aside from Jordan Palmer’s several years in the NFL, he has become a well-known quarterback coach, having mentored the likes of Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Jarrett Stidham, Drew Lock, Deshaun Watson, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence, ESPN reports. For three years of his professional football career, he served as the quarterback backup for his brother, Carson, on the Cincinnati Bengals.

Carson retired from the NFL in 2018 after 15 seasons playing on various teams including the Bengals, Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.

Mike and Maurkice Pouncey

While having the opportunity to play at football’s highest level against your brother is rare, what’s even rarer is retiring alongside them as well.

In 2021, the Pouncey twins decided they would walk away from the league at the same time, the NFL explained. Maurkice was drafted in 2010 to the Pittsburgh Steelers where he stayed for the duration of his career while Mike entered a year later, drafted by the Miami Dolphins. He spent his final three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.

“As I write this farewell speech I cry and laugh that twin boys from Lakeland, FL, that grew up in poverty made it this far in life both living out NFL dreams…,” Maurkice wrote in part in his retirement announcement, which was shared by teammate Ramon Foster at the time.

Marcus, Isaiah and Desmond Trufant

The oldest Trufant brother, Marcus, was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2003, becoming the first of three to join the league. He retired in 2014. Isaiah, the trio’s middle brother, played three seasons for the New York Jets from 2011 to 2013, though at the time of Marcus’ retirement in 2014 he was signed to the Cleveland Browns.

Desmond joined the league in 2013, playing for the Atlanta Falcons before suiting up for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders — where, per the ESPN, he played his most recent game.

Terron and T.J. Ward

Though T.J. Ward played his last game in the NFL in 2017 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he did not officially announce his retirement from the NFL until 2021. His younger brother, Terron, followed his footsteps into the NFL and, per ESPN, spent three seasons on the Atlanta Falcons.

Tremaine, Trey and Terrell Edmunds

After being drafted by the the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, Terrell Edmunds played five seasons for the team before bouncing around before landing on the Las Vegas Raiders, where he currently plays.

Older brother Trey spent his first year on the New Orleans Saints in 2017 before moving over to his big brother’s stomping grounds on the Steelers — though, per ESPN reporting, the team released Trey in July 2022.

The youngest Edmunds, Tremaine, joined the league in 2018 and has been in the league five years, first playing for the Buffalo Bills before moving to his current team, the Chicago Bears.

Equanimeous and Amon-Ra St. Brown

Equanimeous St. Brown joined the league in 2018 when he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, where he played for three seasons before moving over to the Chicago Bears. He joined the New Orleans Saints organization in 2024 and the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. In 2021, his younger brother Amon-Ra joined him in the NFL when he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers, where he still plays.

Cameron and Connor Heyward

Cameron Heyward joined the league back in 2011 to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and has been suiting up in the black and yellow uniform ever since. In 2022, the team became even more special when his little brother, Connor, was added to the roster.

Carlos and Khalil Davis

In another story of NFL twins, let us introduce you to Carlos and Khalil. Carlos was drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers from the get-go in 2020, where he stayed for three seasons. He was last signed to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, but was waived.

Khalil began his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and has played for various teams over the years, most recently suiting up for the San Francisco 49ers in 2024.

Ronde and Tiki Barber

These twins are loyal to their teams and their brotherly bond. Ronde Barber played his entire 16-season NFL career from 1997 to 2012 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning the 2003 Super Bowl. His brother Tiki, on the other hand, spent 10 years on the New York Giants, playing from 1997 to 2006.

Jim and John Harbaugh

The sibling rivalries don’t stop on the field! There are also a a group of brothers who have taken the NFL coaching route. For the Harbaugh brothers, their competition went to the highest level when they faced off in the 2013 Super Bowl, where Jim was coaching the San Francisco 49ers and John led the Baltimore Ravens.

Rex and Rob Ryan

Rex and Rob Ryan both helped a slew of NFL players from the sidelines — Rex as a head coach and Rob primarily on the defense side.

After serving as the senior defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022 to 2024, Rob was recently named USC’s assistant head coach for defense/linebackers coach. In 2016, he assisted his brother Rex who was head coach of the Buffalo Bills at the time.