Rising Sports Stars Who Are The Children Of Pro Athletes

Tiger Woods’ 15 year-old son Charlie recently qualified to play his first USGA championship on Wednesday. The youngster could not be more excited to be following in his dad’s footsteps.

“The USGA means a lot to me,” Charlie said. “I want to win USGA championships and hopefully one day the U.S. Open.”

Tiger has said that he and his son “do everything golf related.” Though Tiger gives his son golfing tips, he admits to getting “some pushback” from the teenager.

“He’s 15 years old,” Tiger said. “It’s what happens — it’s what teenagers go through. They’re trying to find their own place in the world.”

Full Story: Tiger Woods’ 15 Year-Old Son Charlie Wins Qualifier To Play His First USGA Event

The son of the former NFL linebacker Joey Porter, Joey Porter Jr. has followed in his dad’s footsteps by playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unlike his linebacker father, however, Joey Jr. is a cornerback for the team.

For Joey Jr., playing for the Steelers just like his dad did is a dream come true.

“You can only dream of situations like what happened. And the fact that I’m in that situation is crazy,” Joey Jr. told WPXI last year. “I have my own Steelers jersey. I used to wear his while I watched his highlights on YouTube.”

Joey Sr. could not be more proud of his son. He said that as a father to his children, “I have tried to make them better than me, no matter what it is.”

LeBron James is one of the most famous names in basketball. His son LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. is hoping to become just as big in the sport.

Bronny currently plays basketball for the USC Trojans. During his freshman year, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

When it comes to the upcoming NBA draft, Bronny has said, “I just want to hear my name called.”

LeBron has reportedly made it clear that he wants to play with his son on the Los Angeles Lakers before he retires. Only time will tell if that will actually happen. As for Bronny, he is hoping to create a name for himself that doesn’t revolve around just being LeBron’s son.

“I just want to, you know, have people know my name is Bronny James and not be identified as just LeBron James’ son,” Bronny recently said.

Elizabeth Mandlik is the daughter of the grand slam winner Hana Mandlikova, who won two Australian Open titles, one Wimbledon title, and one U.S. Open title.

Throughout her young career so far, Elizabeth has won seven singles titles and three doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit. She made her top 100 debut in 2023, and she’s competed in three of the four grand slam events.

Though she is still in the early stages of her career, Elizabeth has big dreams of achieving the success her mother had in her tennis career.

“It’s intimidating to grow up as the child of a champion and then to get into that same endeavor; I felt that when I was little, when I was like ten but now, I don’t feel that anymore at all,” she previously said. “I feel it’s all about me.”

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. While Marvin Sr. was a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, Marvin Jr. is a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.

After becoming a two-time All-American while playing college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Marvin Jr. was selected fourth overall by the Cardinals in the 2024 NFL draft. He’s reportedly already become a leader in training camp, even though he’s still a rookie.

“I didn’t want to come in here with a big head,” he recently told ESPN. “I knew I had to earn everything, so just simple things like that. Let them go in front as they rightfully deserve. And then they kinda allow me to go in front now because they understand what I can bring to the team.”

Marvin Sr. often advises his son on his football career. Unlike some other parents on this list, however, Marvin Sr. takes a tough love approach.

“If I didn’t know him, (shoot), I’d say he was the real deal,” Marvin Sr. previously told USA Today. “But as a dad, my job is to criticize. So the thing that I do, I point out the things that I think he can do better. He and I know what those are. He is the complete package, but I’ve got to find the weaknesses.”

The second son of the legendary soccer star David Beckham, Romeo signed a one-year contract to play with the Premier League club Brentford as a forward.

“Best feeling, so excited, ready to get started and have a good next season,” Romeo told CNN afterwards.

“It’s been such a good experienced and [I have] loved every second of it,” he added. “It’s a good group of boys, good coaches, it’s a nice place to be.”

Brentford B coach Neil MacFarlane said that Romeo has “been fantastic” for the team.

While watching his son’s debut for the team, David expressed how “proud” he is of Romeo.

Only time will tell if Romeo is able to replicate his father’s storied career!

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The wide receiver Eugene Hilton, the son of the former Pro Bowl wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, recently committed to play football for the University of Wisconsin.

According to the ESPN rankings, Eugene is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound pass-catcher who is the 53rd-ranked wide receiver in the 2025 class and the No. 6 prospect in Indiana for this cycle.

“I was already like really high on them. I think this really opened up my eyes a little bit more,” Eugene told 247Sports afterwards. “What I knew already and thought about them already, it all kind of just helped me and see the place and the people, if I do potentially go there, see the people I would be around and all of that.”

His father was a four-time Pro Bowl selection across 10 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. T.Y. also led the NFL in receiving with 1,448 yards in 2016. This definitely gives him the potential genes to achieve great NFL success!

Brandon Holt is the son of the grand slam winner and former number one tennis player Tracy Austin, who won two U.S. Opens during her short career.

Brandon went the college route, becoming a three-time All-American during his four years playing for the University of Southern California. He has since gone pro and qualified for both the U.S. Open and the Australian Open, making it to the second round of each event.

In the years to come, Brandon is hoping to replicate the success of his mother.

“You need a hunger, or a love for playing tennis — or both, probably,” he previously told The Providence Journal. “It doesn’t feel like I have to sacrifice too much, because I am playing tennis as a job. But I’m very happy to be playing.”

Shedeur Sanders, the son of the NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, is the quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Deion is currently the head coach for the Buffaloes. In a recent interview, Shedeur opened up about the advice his father has given him that has made him a better player.

“He taught me how the world works, really,” Shedeur told NBC News. “Being his son, and him being there for me, to be able to ask any question to him.”

“He did everything I want to do,” he added. “But I always play with him like I’m going to do it better. But he did everything I want to do, so it’s a blessing to have a man like him in my corner.”

As for what his own goals are, Shedeur said that he wants to “be the greatest quarterback ever.”

Only time will tell if he achieves that!

Shedeur isn’t the only son that Deion is coaching on the Buffaloes! His son Shilo Sanders, who is two years older than Shedeur, is a safety for the team.

Shilo had a solid last season that saw him record 54 tackles, four forced fumbles, one interception and one pass breakup at safety. He previously played the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Jackson State Tigers. 

With both Shedeur and Shilo on his team, Deion really has made the Buffaloes a family affair. Even when his sons move on from the Buffaloes, however, he plans to still coach the team.

“I’m a leader of men, not a follower of men,” he recently told Sports Illustrated. “I’m a father, not a baby daddy. I lead my sons, I don’t follow my sons.”