Looking at the current roster of the Los Angeles Chargers, the team is building a solid stable of players who come from fantastic NFL bloodlines. The fathers of each of these players found tremendous success in the league and one of them is considered by some to be the greatest football player of all time.
This Chargers team, led by John Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz, could have easily emphasized this in their scouting of players. That, or it is a big coincidence. Nonetheless, it is a fun fact when looking at this roster in its entirety.
The Chargers currently have 90 players on the roster which will need to be trimmed way down before the season begins but all three of these guys should have a key spot on the team for years to come.
| Player | Son | Years Active | Pro Bowls | All-Pro Selections | Key Note |
| Jerry Rice | Brenden Rice | 20 | 13 | 12 | NFL's all-time leading receiver |
| Asante Samuel | Asante Samuel Jr. | 11 | 4 | 2 | Two-time Super Bowl champion |
| John Alt | Joe Alt | 13 | 2 | 1 | Member of Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame |
Los Angeles Chargers with NFL greats for fathers
Brenden Rice
The Chargers selected Brenden Rice in the seventh round of the most recent NFL draft after he fell down the board. While it will be nearly impossible for him to ever be as good as his father was, the fact that he has Jerry Rice helping him transition to the professional level will never hurt.
Chargers WR and former USC star, Brenden Rice. #BoltUp
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) May 10, 2024
Rice is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.
More tonight at 10:45pm on @SportsCentralLA pic.twitter.com/y4K27AzNHm
Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver to ever play in the league and he holds almost all of the major receiving records to prove it. If Brenden can be even one-quarter of what he was, the Chargers have a star. For a seventh-round pick, it's well worth the shot.
Asante Samuel Jr.
Asante Samuel Jr. has ascended the ranks in L.A. and is now the team's No. 1 cornerback. The former second-round pick has completed three years in the league and has six interceptions thus far. Like Brenden Rice, Asante has a long way to go to ever become the shutdown corner that his father, Asante Samuel was, but he has plenty of time to get there.
Just 24 years old, the younger Samuel likely hasn't scratched the surface of his ceiling as a player. Unlike the other two players on this list, the Samuel's don't seem to be as close to each other.
Joe Alt
This year's first-round pick, Joe Alt, is the son of former Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle John Alt. Joe spent his entire 13-year career in Kansas City and is one of the best offensive linemen the team ever had. As good as he was, many feel his son can be even better.
Who's Joe Alt's NFL comp??
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 25, 2024
The son of the @Chiefs HOF'er, John Alt, didn't have to think too hard here 😅🤝 🔊@heykayadams @NDFootball | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/4QtwNXJSa3
All three of these players not only followed their father's footsteps into pro football, but all three are playing the same position.
It should also be noted the defensive end Joey Bosa's father also played in the NFL, he just didn't reach the level of success that Rice, Samuel and Alt found.
John Bosa was a first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 1987 and he was named to that year's PFWA All-Rookie Team. Sadly, his career lasted just three seasons. Like Joey (and his other son Nick Bosa), John played defensive end. He finished his career with seven sacks.
