A rare and heartwarming moment unfolded during the second round of the NFL Draft when the Atlanta Falcons found themselves in the perfect position to make history. Head coach Kevin Stefanski personally called star cornerback A.J. Terrell to share the exciting news: the team would be selecting his brother, Avieon Terrell. Just two days into the draft, the Terrell brothers became teammates in Atlanta, joining an exclusive club of siblings who have shared the field as NFL teammates.
Brother duos in the NFL are a special breed, and some have even won Super Bowls together. Here are a few of the most notable pairs who have played side by side in the league:
The Griffin Twins
Drafted just a year apart, Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin played together for the Seattle Seahawks from 2018 to 2020. Their bond started at UCF, where they teamed up from 2013 to 2016. According to legend, Shaquill told college programs he would only commit to a school that also offered his brother. Shaquill remains in the league and won a Super Bowl during his 2025 return to Seattle, while Shaquem last played in 2021 and has since been inducted into the UCF Hall of Fame.
The Heyward Brothers
The first of two Pittsburgh Steelers brother duos, Cameron Heyward entered the league as a first-round pick in 2011. Eleven years later, the Steelers drafted his younger brother, Connor Heyward, and the pair played together from 2022 to 2025. Both remain in the NFL—Cameron still in Pittsburgh, Connor now with the Las Vegas Raiders. They followed in the footsteps of their father, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, who also played in the league.
The Watt Brothers
Part of a football dynasty, T.J. Watt and Derek Watt played together from 2020 to 2022. During that stretch, the Steelers reached the postseason in consecutive seasons, and T.J. earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021. In 2020, the brothers faced their oldest sibling, J.J. Watt, and nearly convinced him to join Pittsburgh in 2021 free agency. Had that happened, all three Watt brothers would have shared the same roster.
The Kalil Brothers
Another football family produced Ryan and Matt Kalil, who followed their father into the NFL. Ryan earned All-Pro honors at center, while Matt made the Pro Bowl as an offensive tackle. They played together on the Carolina Panthers from 2017 to 2018 and remain one of the few brother duos to both earn Pro Bowl selections.
The Bailey Brothers
Older brother Champ Bailey set the stage for Boss Bailey, as both became standout players at the University of Georgia before making their mark in the NFL.
For fans of the game, seeing brothers share the field is a reminder of the deep bonds that make football more than just a sport. Whether it's the Terrells in Atlanta or the legendary duos of the past, these connections add a special layer to the NFL story.