The College Football Playoff National Championship has a way of turning players into household names overnight. This year, one of those names is CharMar “Marty” Brown, the Miami Hurricanes running back who has quietly become the heartbeat of their offense.
But while fans are getting to know Brown’s bruising running style and clutch scoring ability, many have also been asking another question: Is he related to Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown?
A Look at Whether CharMar “Marty” Brown Is Related to Chase Brown
Let’s clear it up right away: CharMar and Chase Brown are not brothers, cousins, or part of the same immediate football family. The overlap is simply in the last name and the fact that both are incredible running backs.
CharMar’s roots are in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was raised by his parents, Charmar and Latasha Brown. He grew up alongside his sister Kennedy and his brother Ahmar, building his game the old-fashioned way, through hard work, long practices, and the kind of plays that show up in short-yardage situations and goal-line stands.
Chase’s journey began much farther north, in London, Ontario, Canada. He and his identical twin brother, Sydney Brown, now a safety for the Philadelphia Eagles, were raised primarily by their mother, Raechel Brown, according to ESPN. Chase is currently ranked 13th on the PFSN NFL RB Impact Rankings.
The twins moved to Florida for high school, chasing bigger opportunities and warmer weather, and eventually made their way to the NFL. Their biological father is Darren Isaac.
Different childhoods, different paths, same last name. That’s where the connection ends.
Meanwhile, if CharMar’s name sounds like it appeared out of nowhere this season, that’s only because his climb has been so steady that it did not need theatrics. In 2024, he rushed for 1,181 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, leading all FCS freshmen and earning the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the subdivision.
When he transferred to Miami for the 2025 season, he elevated the Hurricanes’ backfield. Working alongside starter Mark Fletcher, Brown showed he can do more than just run between the tackles; he’s found the end zone as a receiver as well.
Brown’s recent surge, 42 touches and four touchdowns over the last five games, has been impossible to ignore, especially as Miami prepares to face an Indiana defense that prides itself on discipline and patience. He has accumulated 469 rushing yards on 119 carries and seven touchdowns, along with 127 receiving yards on 19 receptions for two scores.
