Identical Twins Play Each Other in NFL Game This Weekend (But It’s Actually Not the First Time That’s Happened!)

Fans could see double this football Sunday.

Identical twins Sydney Brown, safety of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown face off on the field on Sunday, October 27th. The Canadians, 24-year-old brothers, were born just two minutes apart, writes CBS Sports.

“I’m excited about it because it’s something we’ve been looking forward to since we were little kids,” Sydney said a week before playing Chase’s team in an NFL Week 8 game. “It’s surreal, but we expected it. We worked for it, and it will be cool to experience that moment with him on the field.”

Although the twins are very close, CBS Sports reported that they stopped talking Tuesday before the game, ending communication. After the game it will be business as usual.

Chase Brown (left) and Sydney Brown 2022.

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Their mom, Raechel Brown, is hoping for a tie. “That would be the best case scenario. That would make me happy. I didn’t know much about the NFL. I thought the only time they would play each other would be in the Super Bowl, and those odds are so slim,” she said.

“But every four years, this is going to be the biggest rivalry in our family,” Raechel added. “Whoever wins will brag for four years.”

Tiki Barber (left) and Ronde Barber in 2006.

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This is not the first time that identical twins have appeared together on the football field.

In 2006, Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronda Barber went head-to-head with his twin, New York Giants running back Tiki Barber – even taking on his sibling. After the game, Ronde, 49, said he was relieved their spat was over.

“I’m glad it’s over,” he said in October 2006 Tampa Bay Times. “I actually didn’t like it. It’s a nice note, a warning to have, but I was ready for it to be over at the beginning of the game. For whatever reason, it just doesn’t feel the same – I’m playing against him, so thank God that this is over.”

He also mentioned how well-behaved his twin was on the field. “Tiki doesn’t lose his mouth,” Ronde said then. “Tiki kills you with kindness. He talks sweetly to you and runs around you.”

Jason McCourty (left) and Devin McCourty in 2019.

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Devin and Jason McCourty, 36, were both on the same team — the New England Patriots — for the 2018 Super Bowl, becoming the first set of twins to play in the championship game. Both played college football for Rutgers University.

“It’s very unique to have someone close to you with the same experiences. That you can turn to in good times and bad,” Devin said USA Today 2023, ahead of brothers Travis and Jason Kelce who will face each other in that year’s Super Bowl. “Especially when you can share in each other’s success.”

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Both cornerbacks, Devin spent his entire football career with the Patriots, while Jason played with the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Patriots (with his brother from 2018 to 2020), before finishing his career with the Miami Dolphins.

The siblings faced off in 2012 when Jason was on the Titans, according to NJ.com, and during the 2021 season opener as captains of the Patriots and Dolphins, ESPN reported.

Other sets of twins in the NFL include Daniel and Josh Bullocks; Keith and Kerry Cash; Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin; Devon and Ricardo McDonald; Maurkice and Mike Pouncey; Rex and Rob Ryan and Rich and Ron Saul, according to ESPN.

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Source: HIS Education