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 attended Miami Central High School. Dalvin, born in 1995, is four years older than his younger brother James (born in 1999) and committed to Florida State University as James was preparing to take over for his brother at Miami Central. Dalvin had originally planned on attending the University of Florida but flipped to FSU in Jan. 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, who 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. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings 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. 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 Athens, Ga., university in July 2018.
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Much like in high school, James didn’t quite live up to his brother’s elite play at the collegiate level. He was a sure-fire NFL prospect by his senior year, but he lagged behind Dalvin statistically, racking up 1,503 rushing yards and 14 scores on the ground to go along with 730 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in four seasons.
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 immediately made his presence known in the NFL. He racked up over 440 total yards and two scores across his first four professional games but suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 of the 2017 season. His 2018 season was likewise marred by injury, but the ball carrier still flashed the explosiveness and all-purpose ability that had him highly sought after 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.
Ahead of the ’24 season, Cook is continuing his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, signing on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Cook becomes the fifth RB option in a room that features another older past Pro Bowler in Ezekiel Elliott.
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 a carry. He finished 2022 with just three total touchdowns.
However, James experienced his first 1,000-yard campaign last season. 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.
Will the Cook Brothers Face Off in the NFL This Season?
Now that Dalvin is fully settled with the Cowboys, the answer is no — Dallas will face the entire AFC North plus the reigning AFC South champion Houston Texans as its interconference slate this season.
But a subsequent question: Have both Cook brothers been on the same NFL field before on a game day? It’s happened multiple times for the sibling running backs.
In Week 10 of the 2022 season, Dalvin and James took the field together for the first time, though on opposing teams. In one of the most heart-stopping contests of that year, Dalvin’s Vikings took down James’ Bills in a thrilling overtime showdown that saw both fan bases wear holes in their floors from too much pacing.
Dalvin, as his team’s full-time starter, put up the more impressive numbers, gobbling up 112 rushing yards on 15 carries, with a long 81-yard rushing touchdown while hauling in an additional 27 yards on three receptions.
James, playing behind Singletary and sharing backup duties with veterans Duke Johnson and Nyheim Hines, toted the rock five times for 22 yards.
Then in Week 1 of the 2023 season, the two squared off when Dalvin’s Jets opened up against the Bills in the first Monday night game of the year. Dalvin’s team had to overcome Aaron Rodgers’ sudden Achilles tear, who left with his ailment during the first offensive series.
Dalvin finished with 13 carries for 33 yards, while James had 12 carries but produced the better yardage total at 46. In the end, though, the older brother’s team won in thrilling fashion in overtime, 22-16.
James’ team, however, exacted revenge in Week 10 — with Dalvin getting bottled to two carries for 13 yards in the Bills’ 32-6 rout. The younger Cook scored on a five-yard pass from Josh Allen and ended the afternoon with 102 total offensive yards — including 79 off the ground attack.
Depending upon how long Dalvin remains with the Cowboys, or if James remains with his team after 2026 when his rookie contract expires, the next time the brothers will play in the same game will be 2027 when Dallas faces Buffalo.