Like Father Like Son

When it Comes to Pro Athletes, Does the Apple Fall Far From the Tree?

by Jeff Jones

On a day like today (Father's Day), many take moments to reflect on time spent with their father figures – and for decades, dads have used sports as the backdrop for bonding with their children.  Chatting while tossing a football or playing one-on-one in the driveway has become the norm in our society.  So it is no surprise that over the years, a number of sons have followed in the footsteps of their athletic dads and become professional athletes.

In honor of Father’s day, the following list ranks the top five combinations of father-son professional athletes. 

5.) Ken Griffey Sr. & Ken Griffey Jr. (MLB)

This father-son duo lived out a rare dream during the 1990 and 1991 seasons when they were teammates playing for the Seattle Mariners.  Junior aka “The Kid” epitomized a generation of baseball widely believed to be “cleaner” and “purer” than the game played today.  Many believe The Kid to be singlehandedly responsible for saving baseball in Seattle.  Combined, these two have amassed 16 all-star appearances, 3 all-star MVP awards, 10 golden glove awards, and 2 World Series titles.

4.) Calvin Hill & Grant Hill (NFL & NBA)

Both father and son in this duo earned rookie of the year honors in their respective professional leagues – Calvin as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys in 1969 and Grant as a Detroit Pistons small forward in 1994.  Calvin’s career was riddled with “firsts”, being the first Ivy League football player drafted in the opening round of the NFL draft, and the first Dallas Cowboy to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season.

In addition to being named NBA rookie of the year, Grant was a seven time NBA all-star, a gold medalist in 1996, and twice a NCAA champion.

3.) Ken Norton Sr. & Ken Norton Jr. (Boxing & NFL)

The father and son in this duo took very different paths to athletic notoriety.  Norton Sr., a boxing legend, became a household name after breaking Muhammad Ali’s jaw in a 12 round fight in 1973.  He finished his career 42-7-1 and was only the second person to ever defeat Ali. 

Norton Jr., once a highly touted linebacker out of UCLA, reached fame as the leader of the Dallas Cowboys’ defense in the early 90s.  Many also know Norton Jr. as the first person to win three straight Super Bowls –twice with the Cowboys in 1992, and 1993, and once with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994.

2.) Bobby Bonds & Barry Bonds (MLB)

Bobby Bonds, though not as well-known as his son, was a truly special talent –the first player in MLB history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single season, and eventually the second player to hit 300 career home runs and steal 300 bases. 

His son, Barry, is widely considered the most feared hitter of all time – a claim his stats support.  Barry Bonds is a 14 time all-star, with 688 career intentional walks, and 762 career home runs – including a 73 homer season in 2001.  Though some consider the younger Bonds’ career tarnished by steroid allegations, the talent that this father-son duo possessed is unquestionable.

1.) Archie Manning, Eli Manning, & Peyton Manning (NFL)

Archie Manning – a two time pro bowl quarterback – was the number two overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft.  In addition to his own NFL and college football accolades, two of Archie's three sons are Super Bowl winning quarterbacks currently playing in the NFL.  Peyton who was drafted number one overall in 1998 already holds several NFL and Indianapolis Colts passing records and is a member of the NFL's 2000s all-decade team.

Peyton’s younger brother Eli was also drafted number one overall (2004) and holds his own share of NFL records.  In addition to these records, Eli is a two time NFL champion, having led his New York Giants to championship seasons in 2008 and 2011.