Sometimes genetics gives certain families a break and allows them to produce some of the greatest athletes of their generation.
Over the weekend, the Cleary’s took a gigantic step towards becoming rugby league royalty with dad Ivan and son Nathan leading the Penrith Panthers to the 2021 NRL premiership.
Ivan enjoyed a successful career playing for four clubs and has enjoyed plenty of success as a coach while Nathan is on his way to becoming one of the NRL’s premiere playmakers.
All over the world certain families have become iconic names within their sport thanks to the combined efforts of that group.
Here’s our rundown of some of sport’s greatest families.
The Johns Family – NRL
Andrew Johns (1993-2007), Matthew Johns (1992-2002)
Two brothers whose career peaks have happened in different areas of the NRL with Andrew “Joey” Johns one of the best players of the modern era guiding Newcastle to an ARL Premiership and NRL Premiership in 2001.
Brother Matthew Johns was a decent player in his own right but not quite at his brother’s level and has gone on to become one of the faces of the Fox Sports NRL coverage.
Apparently Jack and Cooper Johns are quite handy players themselves too.
The Burgess Family – NRL
Luke Burgess (2007-2018), Sam Burgess (2006-2019), Tom Burgess (2011-Present), George Burgess (2012-Present)
It’s fair to say growing up in this house would have been fairly competitive and probably quite bruising with these four rugby league progenies.
Sam was the first one to make his professional debut starting for Bradford in 2006 before joining Souths in 2010 and leading them to the 2014 Grand Final.
After a brief stint in rugby union, Burgess returned to Souths before retiring at the end of the 2019 season.
Older brother Luke started his career in England playing for three clubs before joining Sam at Souths in 2011, spending four seasons there and two more with Manly before finishing his career back in England.
Tom spent two years with Bradford before moving to Souths in 2013, joining his two older brothers and youngest brother George who went straight to Redfern in 2012 and was there until 2019.
All four brothers played together in August 2013, becoming the first quartet to play together since 1910.
While Tom is still at Souths, George returned to England in 2020 but after recovering from a major hip injury, he has returned to Australia, signing with the Dragons through to the end of the 2023 season.
The Manning Family – NFL
Archie Manning (1971-1984), Peyton Manning (1999-2015), Eli Manning (2004-2019)
Patriarch Archie Manning was a decent NFL quarterback in his own right, putting together a solid career with a New Orleans Saints team that was never really that good.
His sons however, they took the whole family to another level with eldest Cooper a high school star receiver that was forced into a very early retirement due to spinal stenosis.
Peyton, the top pick in the 1999 draft, went on to have one of the best careers for an NFL player winning multiple MVPs and Super Bowls in his time with Indianapolis and Denver.
Eli Manning was the top draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2004… and demanded to be traded immediately, getting shipped to the New York Giants where he had an up and down career headlined by two Super Bowls including one of the biggest upsets in history in 2007 over the then undefeated Patriots.
Mum Olivia never had an NFL career and was described by Peyton on Saturday Night Live as “a real disappointment to all of us”.
Not wanting to exit the spotlight for too long, Peyton and Eli have reinserted themselves back into the public consciousness with the MNF Manningcast this NFL season.
Described by Peyton as being “just like sitting in a bar having a discussion with your friends” (so basically 95% of all podcast pitches), he and Eli watch the game from their homes and chat with guests.
You can tell Peyton still has that competitive fire though, he loses his mind when someone makes a bad decision.
Peyton and Eli’s nephew Arch is already drawing plenty of attention from colleges and will surely add a third generation to the Manning NFL legacy by the end of this decade.
The Ablett Family – AFL
Michael Tuck (1971-1991), Geoff Ablett (1973-1985), Gary Ablett Sr (1982-1997), Gary Ablett Jr (2002-2020), Luke Ablett (2002-2009), Shane Tuck (2004-2013)
Realistically, if you were born into the Ablett/Tuck family and don’t forge some sort of Aussie Rules career then you’d better be doing something REALLY important.
Alf Williamson and Len Ablett were both VFL listed players in the 1940’s but it was brother Alfred who produced the modern dynasty of Ablett’s.
Geoff and Gary Sr along with Michael Tuck who married Fay Ablett were three big players in the 1970’s before the current crop, led by Garry Jr have featured in the current century.
The family has also produced fringe AFL/VFL players Kevin Ablett (1977-1980 & 1984-1985), Nathan Ablett (2005-2007 & 2011) and Travis Tuck (2006-2009)
The Neville Family – Football
Gary Neville (1992-2011), Phil Neville (1994-2013)
Members of the famous United club of “Fergie’s Fledglings” in 1992, the Neville Brothers have become synonymous with English football.
Older brother Gary played in 400 senior matches for United between 1992 and 2011 while earning 85 caps for England before his international retirement in 2007.
While his coaching career wasn’t great, working as an assistant for England before taking the Valencia job in December 2015, only to be sacked after three and a half months.
Meanwhile Phil played for both United and Everton, and has been a much more successful manager, guiding the England women’s team to a World Cup Semi Final in 2019.
If that wasn’t impressive enough for that gene pool, their sister Tracy Neville had a 12 year netball career and also coached the national team from 2015-2019
The Maldini Family – Football
Cesare Maldini (1952-1967), Paolo Maldini (1984-2009), Daniel Maldini (2020-Present)
Cesare Maldini was an icon of Italian football, making over 400 Serie A appearances, the bulk of which came for AC Milan.
He came back to manage Milan on two separate occasions and spent nearly 20 years in a variety of roles with the national team setup including managing the senior team at the 1998 World Cup.
In spite of all of those achievements, he actually wound up having his legacy surpassed by his ironman son, Paolo who was a true one club man making over 600 appearances for Milan and captaining Italy for 74 of his 126 appearances.
Paolo Maldini was one of the most iconic defenders over the course of his astonishing 25 year career.
The Maldini family’s influence at Milan has reached a third generation now, with Daniel Maldini coming through the academy system and making his debut in February 2020.
Playing as an attacking midfielder, Daniel scored his first goal for the club in September 2021 while making his first start.
The Klitschko Family – Boxing
Vladimir Klitschko (1996-2017), Vitaly Klitschko (1996-2012)
Ask any boxing fan and the one bout that they would have loved to see in the modern era is the two Klitschko brothers facing off, just once.
They were so dominant and from July 2011 to December 2013, they held every heavyweight title between the two of them, but they never faced off.
Vladimir won gold at the 1996 Olympics before both brothers made their professional debuts later that year.
Vitaly retired in 2013 for the third and final time and took up a career in politics while Vladimir fought until 2017 when he lost his final two bouts to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Even dressed like Santa, they are two guys who you don’t want to get on the wrong side of.
The Williams Family – Tennis
Venus Williams (1994-Present), Serena Williams (1995-Present)
Generally, winning 10 Grand Slam singles titles, 49 WTA singles titles, four Olympic Gold Medals, holding the World Number 1 ranking and several other records is good enough to be the most successful athlete in your family.
Unless your sister is Serena Williams, without a doubt the most dominant tennis player of the modern era.
The younger sibling (cue the inferiority complex references) has amassed 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 73 WTA singles titles, four Olympic golds and a much longer streak as the World Number 1.
It really does make you wonder how those family dinners went growing up in that household.
The Gasol Family – NBA
Pau Gasol (2001-2019), Marc Gasol (2008-Present)
While neither brother is on the level of a Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, these two deserve a mention solely because of their trailblazing efforts for Europeans.
Pau was a key figure in the Lakers 2009 and 2010 titles after beginning his NBA career as the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2001, not that he ever played a game for them, spending his first eight seasons with Memphis where he became the first European player to win Rookie of the Year.
Younger brother Marc began his NBA career in 2008 with Memphis after being drafted by the Lakers, although he was traded to the Grizzlies as a part of a package that included his brother going the other way.
After multiple all star seasons, Marc followed his brothers lead and was traded to a title contender, becoming a part of the 2019 Raptors championship as a midseason acquisition.
The Staal Family – NHL
Eric Staal (2003-Present), Marc Staal (2005-Present), Jordan Staal (2006-Present), Jared Staal (2009-2017)
Eric, Marc and Jordan are NHL mainstays with Eric one of the most iconic players in the short history of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Eric left the Canes and briefly played with Marc on the New York Rangers in 2016, with his brother drafted by that franchise in 2005 and still a member of that team.
After his half-season stint with the Rangers, Eric was with the New York Rangers from 2016-2020 and split the 2020/2021 season between Buffalo and Montreal.
Youngest brother Jordan’s career never quite reached the level of his siblings but still managed to carve out an eight year career hopping between the NHL and minor leagues.
When Jared did finally break into the Hurricanes lineup in 2013, he made his debut starting on the same line with his brothers Eric and Jordan.
The Ripken Family – MLB
Cal Ripken Sr (Coach/Manager: 1976-1992), Billy Ripken (1987-1998), Cal Ripken Jr (1981-2001)
The senior member of the Ripken family had a solid yet unspectacular career as a player and instead made his name as a baseball coach and occasional manager in the minor leagues.
He joined up with the Baltimore Orioles as a bullpen coach and saw both of his sons make their major league debuts with the club.
Billy Ripken had a playing career similar to his father, playing for over 10 years across six different teams.
Cal Jr though, was something else entirely over his 20 year career with the Orioles, nicknamed baseball’s iron man.
After debuting in 1981, he made 19 All-Star appearances, won two MVP awards, two Gold Gloves and set the MLB record for most consecutive games played at 2632, a number that is unlikely to ever be matched again.
The Griffey Family – MLB
Ken Griffey Sr (1973-1991), Ken Griffey Jr (1989-2010)
Two more entries into the MLB Ironman Stakes, Ken Griffey Sr and Jr both had memorable careers in the majors.
Sr played for 18 seasons across five different teams, earning three All Star appearances in 1976, 1977 and 1980 with the Cincinnati Reds, during which time he won two World Series titles as well.
His final move came when he signed for the Seattle Mariners during the 1990 season after being released from his second stint with the Cincinnati Reds (who would go on to win the 1990 World Series and gave Sr his third ring).
Upon signing with the Mariners, he had a chance to play with his son for a season and a half before retiring at the end of the 1991 season.
Jr put together a phenomenal Hall of Fame resume with 13 All-Star appearances, the 1997 AL MVP award & 10 Gold Gloves.
To top it all off, a third generation Griffey tried his hand at professional sports with Trey bouncing around NFL practice squads from 2017-2019, he was a free agent heading into the 2021 season.