![Chris Simms [L] and Bobby Carpenter [R] (Image Credit Getty Images)](https://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Chris-Simms-L-and-Bobby-Carpenter-R-1024x563.jpg)
When NFL players’ sons take up football in high school and college, they often attract significant attention due to their famous last names. However, a big name doesn’t guarantee a successful career. Many young athletes struggle to meet their father’s high expectations and have average careers. Even with the hype, their performances frequently fall short. Lineage alone isn’t enough to guarantee success in the competitive football world.
Let’s Look Into Five Players Who Couldn’t Match Their Fathers’ Achievements In The NFL
5) Kellen Winslow II, Son Of Hall Of Famer Kellen Winslow
Kellen Winslow is recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, earning five Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors. He led the league in receptions twice and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His son, Kellen Winslow II, shined as a college football star with the Miami Hurricanes, generating significant hype.
The Cleveland Browns drafted Winslow II with the sixth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Although he had a solid career and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2007, he never became the generational talent many anticipated. Injuries and off-field issues hindered his progress.
After being drafted by the Browns, Winslow II played four seasons with them before moving on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and New York Jets. His last NFL appearance was in 2013, but he attempted comebacks in 2017 and 2018.
Winslow II set franchise records with the Buccaneers in his first season, catching 77 passes for 884 yards, the most by a tight end in a single season in team history. Despite these achievements, his career took a dark turn when authorities convicted him of rape and sexual harassment in 2019.
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4) Bobby Carpenter, Son Of NFL FB Rob Carpenter
Rob Carpenter played ten years in the NFL as a fullback, notably with the Houston Oilers alongside Earl Campbell. His son, Bobby Carpenter, shined as a linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes. This performance led to his selection by the Dallas Cowboys as the 18th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Despite his promise, Bobby Carpenter became one of the most disappointing second-generation players and a significant draft bust. He started only ten games over seven unproductive seasons.
The Cowboys drafted Carpenter largely due to head coach Bill Parcells, who had previously coached Bobby’s father. Carpenter’s best game for Dallas was a 2006 playoff loss to the Seahawks, where he had five tackles and three deflected passes. Despite this, he struggled to secure a starting role and mainly played on special teams. He ended his Cowboys tenure with 96 tackles and 29 special teams tackles. He was cut before the season began after being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2010.
Bobby later had brief stints with the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and New England Patriots. Carpenter’s NFL career highlights include a game-winning interception return for a touchdown against the Cowboys in 2011, but his overall impact remained minimal.
3) Cody Grimm, Son Of Hall Of Fame Guard Russ Grimm
Cody Grimm is the son of Hall of Fame guard Russ Grim. Russ was a key figure in Washington’s dynasty during the Joe Gibbs era, contributing to three Super Bowl championships from 1982 to 1991. Russ earned four Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro honors, and a spot on the 1980s NFL All-Decade team. He also won a Super Bowl XL ring as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cody, a standout defensive back at Virginia Tech, won the 2009 Dudley Award and was named first-team All-ACC that same year. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in the seventh round in 2010. However, Cody struggled to make a significant impact during his three seasons with the Bucs.
He recorded two interceptions, three passes defended, 73 combined tackles, and no sacks. A knee injury sidelined him for much of the 2011 season, further hampering his career. The Bucs did not re-sign him for the final year of his rookie contract in 2013, effectively ending his professional playing career.
In 2019, the Buccaneers hired Cody as a defensive and special teams assistant coach, and he was part of their Super Bowl-winning team. So, there’s still time for Cody to surpass his father’s legacy in the coaching realm potentially.
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2) Chris Simms, Son Of Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms
Many recognize Phil Simms as a CBS NFL commentator and analyst, but years ago, he was the starting quarterback for the New York Giants. Phil spent his entire career with the Giants, from 1979 to 1993, mainly as their starter. He earned Pro Bowl selections in 1985 and 1993 and led the team to two Super Bowl championships. Although he was injured during the second title run, Phil finished his career with a 95-64 record as a starter, throwing for 33,462 yards, 199 touchdowns, and 157 interceptions.
Phil’s son, Chris Simms, followed a similar path, transitioning from NFL quarterback to NFL analyst. He works for NBC, co-hosting Pro Football Talk Live with Mike Florio. Before his broadcasting career, Chris was in the league for five seasons, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and Denver Broncos.
He went 7-9 as a starter, with 12 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, never matching his father’s success. Despite the hype from his college years at Texas, Simms struggled in the NFL after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He completed only 58.1% of his passes and made just 16 career starts.
1) Jarrett Payton, Son Of Chicago Bears RB Walter Payton
Jarrett Payton is the son of the legendary Walter Payton, one of NFL history’s most beloved and respected players. Walter Payton, a nine-time Pro Bowler, and seven-time first-team All-Pro won the 1977 NFL MVP and helped lead the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX. He’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On the other hand, Jarrett had a brief NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. A star running back from Miami, Florida, Jarrett went undrafted but joined the Titans in 2005. He played in 13 games that season, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries. Unable to match his father’s legendary career, Jarrett would be the first to acknowledge the difference.
He later moved to the CFL, spending a year with the Montreal Alouettes and another with the Toronto Argonauts, before retiring from professional football in 2009. Jarrett then dedicated his time to the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation in Chicago.
