Two Mercer University student-athletes who are the children of former NFL stars are following in their father’s footsteps with a high level of achievement on the field. 

Chandler Lewis-Jenkins (Women’s Soccer) and Antonio Brown (Baseball) both grew up in the unique position of being the child of a professional athlete. Lewis-Jenkins is the daughter of Michael Jenkins, a former Wide Receiver for the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. Brown is the son of Alex Brown, a former Defensive End for the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. 

After a three year career at Ohio State University which saw the Buckeye’s capture a BCS National Championship, Michael Jenkins was selected 29th overall in the 2004 draft. Over the course of his eight year career, Jenkins hauled in 4,427 yards, scored 25 touchdowns, and appeared in 130 games. 

Alex Brown was a standout at the University of Florida. While a Gator, Brown was a two-time First-Team All-American selection, a three-time First-Team All-SEC selection, and was eventually inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Brown was selected in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. Brown spent eight years in Chicago where he was a one-time Sports Illustrated All-Pro selection, a two-time Pro Bowl first-alternate, and a one-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Brown finished his career in New Orleans, playing one season as a Saint. 

Brown and Jenkins are now fathers of Division One athletes. Chandler Lewis-Jenkins plays for the Mercer University Women’s Soccer team. Lewis-Jenkins, a sophomore, has already made an impact at Mercer. Lewis-Jenkins enjoyed a successful freshman season, which not only saw her become a starter and score her first career goal, but also landed her a spot on the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. Lewis-Jenkins did not slow down during her second year as a Bear. The midfielder started in 19 of her teams 20 games, scored in the SOCON tournament, recorded 12 shots on target, and recorded the third-highest number of minutes for the team. 

Antonio Brown is a junior on the Mercer Baseball team. Brown appeared in 30 games as a freshman and compiled a batting average of .273. As a sophomore, Brown took on the role of a starter, starting in 47 games and picking up 45 hits, 37 runs, 29 walks, and 12 stolen bases. Brown has reached new heights as of late, not only recording his first collegiate home run on April 6th of this current season, but then hitting three more homers in the month of April. 

To better understand the impact having a father who played in the NFL has had on the lives and athletic career’s of Lewis-Jenkins and Brown, I sat down for an interview with both of the talented athletes. 

Q: Have you felt any pressure to perform athletically as a result of your father’s career?

BROWN: “No I have not. The reason is because my parents, especially my dad, told me they did not care whether I played football, baseball, basketball, or chess club. Whatever I did, they told me to do it 100%, give everything I have, and they were going to support me”.

LEWIS-JENKINS: “No. My dad has given me and all my siblings the opportunity to chose whatever we wanted to do, so I’ve never been pressured to play a Division One college sport. He has been supportive of anything that I want to do”.

Q: Have you been perceived differently by coaches, teammates, or peers as a result of your father’s career?

BROWN: “Yes. There have been many times through life that people felt as though I got everything because my dad played in the NFL, but that could not be further from the truth. Sure, I got much of my athletic ability from him, but the stuff everyone sees on the field is because I have worked harder than anyone could imagine or fathom”.

LEWIS-JENKINS: “I think that in high school travel ball, there has been speculations that because my dad did play football, the coaches had a favoritism towards me. So I would say from a peers perspective, yes, there have been people who have judged me for that. From a coaches standpoint however, I’ve never had anyone really say anything about that”.

Q: When your dad was actively playing in the NFL, you were a very young kid. Do you think your upbringing was different from the average kid as a result?

BROWN: “Yes, no doubt. Not many kids can say that they went to every Chicago Bears home game when they were growing up. My dad getting asked for autographs was the norm, and you just learn that is what comes with being a professional athlete. I strive to do the same”. 

LEWIS -JENKINS: “For sure. It has caused me to move a couple of times. I lived in Atlanta for six months, and then in Minnesota when he played for the Vikings for a little bit. So I didn’t have that stability of friends or a social circle. I think that when you’re raised as an athlete’s kid, you’re dad really is not there a lot, so it is really just you and your mom, or you and your grandma, or you and whoever. I would have liked to have him around a little bit more, but knowing the nature of his job, I understood… For me, it was a lot of traveling, or my mom being gone to away games, or just him not being there physically. My dad was always very supportive, and always checked up with us about everything”. 

Q: Have you ever felt overshadowed by your father’s achievements?

BROWN: “No I have not, but his achievements push me everyday to be the best that I can be because I am competitive and would like to have an even more successful career in my sport than my dad did in his”.  

LEWIS-JENKINS: “No, I would not say I have personally felt overshadowed by his achievements. Honestly, I looked at it as the amount of work it took for me to become a Division One athlete, I just admired the amount of work he had to put in to become a professional athlete. I like to look up to him when it comes to getting through workouts and getting through school because he has been through some of the same stuff I have been through”. 

Q: In high level athletics, low moments are inevitable. Has your father’s background been a helpful tool when these low moments occur?

BROWN: “Yes 100%. Anytime I get in those low moments, I look at all of the lessons I’ve learned over the years from stories and talks with my dad about the hardships of being a professional athlete. Also, it doesn’t hurt that he’s one call away, so being at a really low moment can change for the better with a ten minute conversation because whatever I may be going through, he has surely experienced before as well”.

LEWIS-JENKINS: “From high school to his career in the NFL, my dad was very successful. Now low moments that he might have had, I am not aware of. Through the recruiting process, I always asked him stuff like ‘Hey, is this what I should do’ because everyone has dreams of going to big time programs, but he told me ‘As long as your education comes first and you feel comfortable in this situation, that is what matters. Everyone does not have the same path towards success, so however you need to get there is how you should get there’”. 

Q: Is there anything else people might get wrong or not understand about having an NFL dad?

BROWN: “The one thing I would say is that not everything came easy. People not only think that everything has been given to me, but the road to getting to where I am today and beyond has been easy. Anyone that knows me knows that I am the hardest worker in the room, and it is not even close. I will never be outworked… Having an NFL dad is not something I think about daily because that’s just how normal life was. It was my normal, and it was amazing, but having an NFL dad did not give me skills and the ability to play the game I love or the work ethic to want to be the best player to ever play baseball. That’s god given, that comes from deep within, and you can’t teach that. I have earned everything in my life and will continue to do so. So anyone who thinks that having an NFL dad means life was easy for me could not be further from the truth”.  

LEWIS-JENKINS: “Oh yes. The money is for sure one thing. Not to say that he didn’t do well, but it has been a while since he has been in the league. Seeing him transition from football to a real job (medical sales) has shown that you have to keep working hard after the NFL to earn money. Life does not just stop after football”.

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