We’ve seen some incredible sibling duos and trios take the NFL by storm over the past few decades. Between Peyton and Eli Manning (and their father Archie before them), J.J., T.J., and Derek Watt, Stefon and Trevon Diggs, Travis and Jason Kelce, and more, NFL siblings routinely create some of the league’s most entertaining and heartwarming storylines.
But there’s one more sibling duo that’s witnessed their own stardom in the league as past 1,000-yard rushers. Who are the Cook brothers, and how did they get where they are now?
How Did the Cook Brothers Get Their Start in Football?
Dalvin and James Cook grew up in Miami and both attended Miami Central High School. Dalvin, born in 1995, is four years older than James, who was born in 1999. As Dalvin committed to Florida State University, James was getting ready to step into his older brother’s role at Miami Central. Dalvin had initially planned to attend the University of Florida but switched his commitment to FSU in January 2014.
After a high school career that saw Dalvin accumulate 4,267 rushing yards, 64 touchdowns, and a 52-5 record, he was seen by many as one of the top prospects in the nation. Rivals.com had him listed as a five-star recruit. Same for 247Sports, which not only gave him the coveted five-star ranking but listed him as the state of Florida’s No. 1 overall running back for the Class of 2014.
Dalvin was a prolific running back at FSU, amassing over 4,400 rushing yards and a whopping 46 rushing touchdowns in just three seasons on top of another 935 receiving yards and two more scores through the air before entering the NFL Draft. The Minnesota Vikings selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
While Dalvin was running over defenders at Florida State, James was following in his brother’s footsteps at Miami Central High School. He didn’t quite dominate like his brother, but James impressed enough to receive offers from several big programs, including Florida State, Florida, Clemson, and Georgia. James earned a four-star rating by 247Sports and was the state’s No. 8-ranked RB for his graduating class.
Though he initially planned on following Dalvin to FSU, James committed to Georgia during his senior year. He officially enrolled at the University of Athens, Georgia, in July 2018.
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Much like in high school, James did not match the elite production his brother posted at the collegiate level. By his senior year, he was a clear NFL prospect, but his numbers still trailed Dalvin’s. Over four seasons, James totaled 1,503 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, along with 730 receiving yards and six receiving scores.
However, despite his seemingly lackluster collegiate production, James showed up in big moments. He amassed 112 receiving yards and a touchdown on just four receptions in Georgia’s College Football Playoff semifinals victory over Michigan in his senior year. His impressive receiving chops and strong Combine performance resulted in James being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
The Cook Brothers in the NFL
Dalvin made an immediate impact upon entering the NFL. He piled up more than 440 total yards and two touchdowns in his first four professional games before suffering a torn ACL in Week 4 of the 2017 season. Injuries also disrupted his 2018 campaign, but even then, he continued to show the explosiveness and all-purpose skill set that made him such a highly regarded prospect coming into the league.
Through the 2019-2021 seasons, Dalvin surpassed 1,300 total yards each season and found the end zone with regularity. His 2022 season saw him continue to roll through opponents as a key component of the Vikings’ offense.
Through his first six years in the league, Dalvin was named to the Pro Bowl four times. Following the 2022 season, the Vikings released Dalvin, who later signed with the New York Jets. The Jets, however, officially released Cook on Jan. 3, 2024.
Cook continued his NFL career in 2024 with the Dallas Cowboys. He became the fifth RB option in a room that features another older past Pro Bowler in Ezekiel Elliott. Unfortunately, he only played two games for the Cowboys during that season and is currently a free agent.
James’ NFL career, meanwhile, started slowly. Over the 2022 season, the younger Cook played second fiddle behind Devin Singletary in Buffalo, N.Y. James had 507 rushing yards on just 89 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He finished 2022 with just three total touchdowns.
However, James experienced his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2023. Cook tallied 1,122 rushing yards in 13 starts for the AFC East champion Bills. He produced three 100-yard outings, including the season-best 179-yard output in the 31-10 romp over the Cowboys on Dec. 17.
Cook had another phenomenal season with the Bills in 2024. He rushed for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns in 16 games, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. This past offseason, the Bills rewarded Cook with a four-year, $46 million contract extension, and he continues to be an integral part of Buffalo’s Josh Allen-led offense.
Buffalo Bills’ Insights for Week 12
Team:Â Week 12 marks the start of a four-game road stretch in five weeks. They play at Houston, Pittsburgh, New England, and Cleveland, with a home game against Cincinnati in the middle.
QB: Josh Allen moved to the top spot for the PFSN Quarterback Impact Rankings (QBi) season leader. Allen has finished in the top three every season since 2020.
Offense:Â Buffalo has committed six turnovers in the last two games after committing six in the first eight games.
Defense:Â The Bills have forced eight turnovers in their last four games. Buffalo forced five turnovers in the first six games.
Fantasy: Over the past month, Josh Allen has had more games with multiple rush TD than multiple pass TD. As good as he’s been, none of his pass catchers are consistent enough to lock in (Khalil Shakir had -3 receiving yards on Sunday, a game in which Buffalo scored 44 points).
