If you are a fan of the National Football League (NFL), you may have heard of the name Karras. It is not a common surname, but it belongs to a family of football players who have made their mark in the league. Ted Karras, who currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals as a center, is the latest member of the Karras family to join the NFL. But is he related to Alex Karras, the legendary defensive tackle who played for the Detroit Lions in the 1960s and later became an actor? The answer is yes, but not directly.
The Karras Brothers
Alex Karras was one of four brothers who played football at a high level. His older brothers, Lou and Ted, also played in the NFL, while his younger brother, Paul, played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The four brothers were born to Greek immigrants in Gary, Indiana, and grew up playing football in a parking lot near their home
Lou Karras was the first to make it to the NFL, as he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1950. He played as a guard for two seasons before retiring due to injuries. Ted Karras followed his brother’s footsteps and played college football at Purdue University. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1954 and played as a defensive lineman for nine seasons. He won a championship with the Bears in 1963 and later played for the Lions with his brother Alex
Alex Karras was the most famous and successful of the four brothers. He played college football at the University of Iowa, where he won the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in 1957. He was drafted by the Lions in 1958 and became one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, and a member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. He also had a brief career as a professional wrestler and later became an actor, starring in movies like Blazing Saddles and Victor/Victoria, and TV shows like Webster and MAS*H. He died in 2012 at the age of 77 from kidney failure
Paul Karras was the youngest of the four brothers and played college football at Indiana University. He did not make it to the NFL, but he played in the CFL for three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He retired from football in 1965 and became a teacher and coach
The Karras Legacy
Ted Karras, who plays for the Bengals, is not a son or grandson of any of the four brothers. He is actually a nephew of Ted Karras Sr., who played for the Bears and Lions. His father is Ted Karras Jr., who also played college football at Northwestern University and briefly played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins in 1987. He is currently the head football coach at Walsh University in Ohio
Ted Karras III, as he is sometimes called, was born in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. He played college football at the University of Illinois, where he was a four-year starter and a team captain. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2016 and won two Super Bowl rings with them. He also played for the Miami Dolphins in 2020 before signing with the Bengals in 2021. He has been a versatile and reliable lineman who can play both center and guard positions
Ted Karras is not the only member of his generation to play football at a high level. His cousin, Nick Karras, is also a grandson of Ted Karras Sr., and he played college football at Western Michigan University as a defensive back. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2017 but did not make it to their final roster
The Karras family has a rich history and tradition of football excellence that spans over seven decades and four generations. Ted Karras is proud to carry on that legacy and hopes to make his own mark in the NFL.
