As noted in the Sunday morning one-liners, the Patriots made Ted Karras one of their 2016 draft picks. Ted Karras is the great-nephew of former NFL great-turned-actor Alex Karras.
Did the family connection factor in to the decision? Said coach Bill Belichick when asked that question by reporters at a post-draft press conference: “No.” (Hey, at least Belichick uttered an actual word.)
As it turns out, the NFL connection to the Karras family extends well beyond Uncle Alex, who died in 2012.
“My whole family is football players and football coaches,” Ted Karras told reporters after becoming the 221st pick in the draft. “Every male in my family has played college football. I’ll be in the fifth in the NFL in my family and I’m very grateful to join that fraternity. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play in the NFL.”
While the connection may not have attracted the Patriots to Karras, it helped Karras get ready for his chosen profession.
“A lot of them have been giving me advice my whole life,” Karras said. “We’re a tough family. We’ve all played and everyone’s an interior lineman. That’s kind of been our M.O. throughout me growing up. I knew I was going to be a lineman early and they’ve been giving me tips throughout each stage of my career and I’ve been able to deliver so far.”
In addition to Alex Karras, who played for the Lions from 1958 through 1970, Ted’s other great uncle, Lou Karras, played from 1950 through 1952. Ted’s father, also Ted, played one game as a replacement player during the 1987 strike and his grandfather, also Ted, played from 1958 through 1966.
