NFL Father-Son Connection

By Arabia Tillery

June 12, 2024 | 3:52 PM ET


(Detroit, MI)  - The record for most players selected in a single NFL draft whose fathers played in the league is 11, set in 2020. Let's see if 2024 broke that record.

Marvin Harrison, Jr with father Marvin Harrison

  1. Marvin Harrison, Jr
  2. Luke McCaffrey
  3. Terique Owens
  4. Brenden Rice
  5. Joe Alt
  6. Frank Gore
  7. Javon Foster
  8. Drake Nugent
  9. Jonah Elliss
  10. Jaylen Harrell
  11. Kris Jenkins
  12. Jeremiah Trotter, Jr.
  13. Kamari Lassiter


Some sources mention Arthur Whittington as Jordan Whittington's father, which is incorrect. His father is Quincey Whittington, Sr.

Jerry Rice, father of Brendon Rice

Of the 13 players mentioned, 3 were UDFAs and 10 were drafted. That’s 1 player shy of tying the record. BUT...a record WAS set here. According to the NFL, the record for sons of ex-Pro Bowlers taken in one draft is 4, which occurred in 2011. This year, there were 10 sons of ex-Pro Bowlers drafted, nearly tripling the previous record. The pro-bowl fathers were:


  1. Frank Gore
  2. Marvin Harrison
  3. Ed McCaffrey
  4. Terrell Owens
  5. Jerry Rice
  6. John Alt
  7. Luther Elliss
  8. Kelvin Jenkins
  9. Jeremiah Trotter
  10. Kwamie Lassiter


49ers general manager John Lynch believes that NFL talent can be found in the genes saying, "I believe in

bloodlines. ... It's interesting to me but it's a fun element to this year's draft that I think is going to be interesting to watch to see how it unfolds. Happy Father’s Day!

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