Ohio State standout safety Caleb Downs is set to become the third member of his family to enter the NFL, and he’s very likely to be the first to hear his name called on day one of the NFL Draft.Downs’ father, Gary Downs, was a running back that the New York Giants took in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft out of NC State. He ended up playing six years in the league, two years with New York, three with the Atlanta Falcons and one year with the Denver Broncos, before playing his last game in 2000.Then, there’s his eldest son, Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs, the 24-year-old who has enjoyed a solid start to his young career after being taken in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of UNC. Also, ex-NFL cornerback Dré Bly, who spent 11 years in the league, is Downs’ uncle.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMSo, as Caleb Downs prepares to very likely hear his name called in the first round on Thursday night, Fox News Digital asked about his family’s impact, especially as he looks for a seamless transition into the pros. But while his father and brother have the NFL pedigree, Caleb pointed to the patriarch of the family, 23-year U.S. Army veteran Gary Downs Sr., as the one who set the tone since he was a kid.”I feel like everything my grandfather instilled in us – consistency, discipline, hard work and everything like that – that’s why we’re here today,” he said, while also discussing his partnership with USAA, the official “Salute to Service” partner of the NFL.”I remember times we would go to my aunt’s house, and my dad would race my uncle down the street and stuff like that as a kid. We were just always very competitive as kids, and those memories are instilled in me, and I feel like that’s one of the reasons I’m here today.”NFL RESTRICTS ACCESS TO DRAFT PROSPECTS’ CONTACT INFO AFTER 2025 SHEDEUR SANDERS PRANK CALL: REPORTAs a kid, Caleb didn’t necessarily understand what his grandfather meant when he said he was a “jumpmaster,” or a paratrooper responsible for the safety and training of airborne operations, but he learned more as he grew into the man, and football player, he is today.Downs Sr. retired from the Army on July 1, 1998, but his mentality never changed with his children and grandchildren, which is what Caleb is grateful for heading into this pivotal moment of his career on the gridiron.”I would just say through my dad. The way he led his family,” Caleb said when asked how his grandfather has impacted him on and off the field. “He raised his son to lead my family the way he did. I feel like the way you lead your family in terms of how you operate as a father, that’s been passed down to his son, my dad, and hopefully someday it’ll be passed down to myself and my family.”As Caleb is eager to learn where his NFL journey will begin, he also gets to tap into his older brother, Josh, for advice about how to quickly acclimate.”The biggest thing he told me was find your routine, find your
Caleb Downs credits Army veteran grandfather for helping shape his path to the NFL ahead of draft
