KU’s Darryn Peterson and his brother, Darryl, are headed to NBA, NFL respectively
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Darryn Peterson is expected to be selected No. 1 or 2 in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23.
- Darryl Peterson III signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams after going undrafted.
- They are expected to become the 13th pair of siblings to have played in the NFL and NBA.
Former Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball guard Darryn Peterson and his brother, former Wisconsin outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III, next season are expected to become the 13th pair of siblings to have played in the NFL and NBA.
Darryn Peterson, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound, 19-year-old combo guard who played a one-and-done college season at KU in 2025-26, is expected to be selected No. 1 or 2 in the 2026 NBA Draft, set for June 23 in Brooklyn, New York. If healthy, he’s ticketed to start from day one in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Darryl Peterson III, a 6-foot-1, 260-pound, 22-year-old linebacker out of Wisconsin, recently signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams after being passed by in the 2026 NFL Draft. Spotrac.com reports that Peterson has signed a three-year, $3,100,000 contract, including an average annual salary of $1,033,333. This upcoming season, if as expected he makes the team, Peterson III is slated to earn a base salary of $885,000, while carrying a cap hit of $885,000.
Krysten Peek of NBA.com reported the duo would be the first pair of brothers to enter the NFL and NBA in the same year. The Elias Sports Bureau in response to a request of the Akron Beacon Journal compiled a list of known NFL-NBA brother combinations who played at least one game in the pros.
They are: Rodger Bird (NFL) and Jerry Bird (NBA), Nate Burleson (NFL) and Kevin Burleson (NBA), Cris Carter (NFL) and Butch Carter (NBA), Harry Douglas (NFL) and Toney Douglas (NBA), Myles Garrett (NFL) and Sean Williams (NBA), Lou Groza (NFL) and Alex Groza (NBA), James McDonald (NFL) and Ben McDonald (NBA), Lee Riley (NFL) and Pat Riley (NBA), O’Brien Schofield (NFL) and Admiral Schofield (NBA), Percy Snow (NFL) and Eric Snow (NBA), Bruce Taylor (NFL) and Brian Taylor (NBA), as well as Bruce Walton (NFL) and Bill Walton (NBA).
“A lot of people don’t know this, but my brother played football at Wisconsin,” former KU guard Darryn Peterson told NBA.com’s Peek at last week’s NBA Combine in Chicago. “He’s a really good football player and he just got signed with the L.A. Rams. We grew up working and having the same dream, different sport and it’s just super cool to see him achieve his and me, hopefully next month, achieve mine. Shout out to our parents. We both worked super hard and they sacrificed so much for us to both chase our dreams. Without them it wouldn’t be possible,” Darryn Peterson added.
Darryl Peterson III, who goes by the nickname DP3, was born in Akron, Ohio; Darryn in Canton, Ohio.
“It always comes up, but it’s nothing like, ‘We’re going pro!’” Darryl Peterson III told the Beacon Journal referring to the two discussing making it at the highest level in different sports. “It’s in the back of our minds, but I think we both kind of try to be in the moment.”
Darryn told the Beacon Journal his brother always “encouraged me to not read comments (online) and just listen to my dad and coach and family and tune out everything else.”
In five seasons at Wisconsin (2021 to 2025), Darryl Peterson III totaled 139 tackles with 24.5 going for a loss. A former honorable mention all-Big 10 pick, he had 14 sacks, and seven pass deflections in his career. This past season he led Wisconsin with 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was defensive player of the week after recording three sacks and forcing a fumble in a win over Illinois.
Darryn Peterson earned second-team all-Big 12 honors after averaging 20.2 points a game in his one season at KU. He scored 20 or more points in 12 games. He had a season-best 32-point performance against TCU.
The duo’s dad, Darryl Peterson II, played basketball at University of Akron.
“Even though a lot of people will see a lot of the success that Darryn is having, he’s still a little brother, which is important,” Darryl Peterson II told the Beacon Journal. “Big brother DP3 leads by example with his work ethic, with his character, keeping him grounded. It motivates Darryn to be even better.”
Darryl III said he and Darryn are “trying to make it there for the fam — for grandma now.” Yvette Peterson, their grandmother, died on Jan. 4, 2023.
