It’s all in the family for Fuller brothers
MIAMI — What are the odds? Four brothers playing in the NFL? Really? One making it is virtually impossible. Four is almost incalculable.
Yet here is Chiefs defensive back Kendall Fuller, a key cog to the Kansas City defense that will try to stop the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, the fourth of four brothers who have played in the NFL.
His oldest brother, Vincent, now 37 and retired and working at a law f irm in D.C., was the trailblazer, playing cornerback for the Titans, Lions and Patriots.
Then came Corey, a 29-yearold f r e e - a ge n t re c e ive r who played for the Lions and Saints.
Then Kyle, a 27-year-old cornerback who has played for the Bears since 2014.
Among t he four, they have played 239 games in the NFL — 80 for Kyle, 76 for Vincent, 55 for Kendall and 28 for Corey.
“I know their mama don’t have to worry about nothing, that’s all I know,’’ Chiefs rookie receiver Mecole Hardman said.
“You can see that the genes really carried out,’’ Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland said.
Kendall Fuller, who was playing nickel for the Chiefs until he got hurt and was replaced by safety Tyrann Matheiu, is the youngest of the four brothers, but he’s the first to advance to a Super Bowl.
His three brothers will be at Hard Rock Stadium Sunday to watch. Kendall insisted there isn’t a hint of sibling jealousy among them. Instead, he praised them for helping pave the way to his dream.
He called Vincent “a big mentor’’ to him and his two brothers, saying, “He always did things the right way, always was a leader for us. And it was always by action. He just knew we were watching. He would give us his input and opinion. But he mainly showed us how to be competitor, showed us how to be a man through example.”
Because Vincent is 13 years older than him, Kendall said he had a difficult time envisioning himself following his footsteps to the NFL.
“It wasn’t realistic for me to make it until I saw Corey and Kyle make it,’’ Kendall said. “Vinny was born a different breed, as a big brother. But once I saw Corey and Kyle make it, it started getting closer to that level. That’s when I started to think, ‘I can get there.’ ’’