The Dallas Cowboys traded up to select Caleb Downs at No. 11 in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. After the New York Giants picked Arvell Reese at No. 5 and OT Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, the Cowboys made sure to trade one spot up to be able to draft Downs. By position, Downs is a safety, but he can play other positions too, Caleb Downs.
Following this selection, Cowboys fans want to learn more about Downs and his family.
Caleb Downs Family
Caleb Downs was born to Gary Downs and Tanya Shorter Downs on December 10, 2004, in Hoschton, Georgia. He went to Mill Creek High School to play multiple sports, including football, basketball and baseball.
Downs’ family was an athletic family. His father, Gary, was a former NFL running back who played for teams like the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Falcons. Overall, in his career, he rushed for 149 yards and also received 66 yards on nine receptions. He played for NC State in college and later worked as a coach and recruiter.
Meanwhile, his mother, Tanya, led a private life, but she also attended NC State. She is a strong support system for the family.
Downs’ brother, Josh Downs, is currently the wide receiver of the Indianapolis Colts. He played at North Carolina, where he was twice First-team All-ACC, before being picked in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Colts. The brothers trained together growing up as another one of Downs joined the NFL ranks.
“He worked and worked and worked,” their dad, Gary, said of Josh, via Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch. “And Caleb saw Josh.”
Downs shared that Josh helped him prepare for the NFL draft.
“[Caleb] was the best football player in our family for sure,” Josh said, via Michael Cohen of Fox Sports. “He still is.”
Caleb Downs’ sister, Kameron Downs, is the oldest sibling and she played college soccer at Kennesaw State University. She later pursued academics in medical school. After completing her BS from Kennesaw State in 2021, she joined Marietta Eye Clinic as Ophthalmic Assistant.
Downs previously credited his family for his college career in football.
“(My family is) probably the biggest contributor to that,” Downs said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “My dad was a coach, played, my brother played, my uncle played, my other uncle was a coach. Just being around the game has allowed me to grow a lot with my knowledge of football and how I see the game.”
Moreover, Caleb Downs’ uncle is Dre Bly, a former NFL cornerback who played for the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers.
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