If you are a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals or the NFL in general, you might have heard of Ted Karras, the center who signed a three-year deal with the Bengals in 2022. You might also be familiar with Alex Karras, the legendary defensive tackle who played for the Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1970 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. But are these two Karras related? And if so, how?
The Karras Family Legacy
The answer is yes, Ted and Alex are related, but not very closely. They are actually third cousins, meaning they share a common great-great-grandfather. That ancestor was Theodore John Karras, who was born in Chios, Greece, in 1869 and immigrated to the United States in 1890. He settled in Gary, Indiana, where he married a woman named Sophia and had six sons and two daughters
One of those sons was George Karras, who became a doctor and married Emmeline Wilson, a Canadian nurse. They had four sons and one daughter, and one of those sons was Alex Karras, who was born in 1935. Alex followed his older brothers Lou and Ted into football and became a star at the University of Iowa and then with the Lions. He also had a successful career as an actor, wrestler, and sportscaster. He died in 2012 at the age of 77
Another son of Theodore John Karras was John Theodore Karras, who also became a doctor and married Helen Pappas, a Greek-American woman. They had three sons and one daughter, and one of those sons was Ted Karras Jr., who was born in 1964. Ted Jr. played football at Northwestern University and then briefly with the Washington Redskins in 1987. He later became a high school football coach and married Cynthia Ann Smith, an American woman. They had four sons and one daughter, and one of those sons is Ted Karras III, who was born in 1993. Ted III played football at the University of Illinois and then with the New England Patriots from 2016 to 2019, winning two Super Bowls. He spent the 2020 season with the Miami Dolphins before returning to the Patriots in 2021 and then joining the Bengals in 2022
The Karras Family Pride
Ted III has said that he is proud of his family heritage and his connection to Alex Karras. He has also said that he grew up watching Alex’s movies and TV shows, such as Blazing Saddles (1974), Victor/Victoria (1982), and Webster (1983-1989). He has also visited Alex’s grave in Los Angeles and paid his respects
Ted III has also said that he is inspired by Alex’s toughness and versatility on and off the field. He has also said that he tries to emulate Alex’s work ethic and passion for the game. He has also said that he hopes to honor Alex’s legacy by playing well for the Bengals and helping them win games
The Karras family has produced some remarkable football players and personalities over the years. Ted III is the latest member of this lineage to make his mark in the NFL. He is also one of the few players who can claim to be related to a Hall of Famer. He is indeed Bengals Karras related to Alex Karras, but more importantly, he is his own man with his own goals and dreams.