The 15 Greatest Father-Son Combos in Sports History

By Jacob Kornhauser

Genes have a lot to do with athletes passing on their talents to the next generation. Much can be attributed to life-long training and coaching. These 15 pairs of father-son athletes are the best ever to grace their respective sports.

The 15 Greatest Father-Son Combos in Sports History

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Rick and Brent Barry — Rick was one of the legends of the game in his time and while Brent never lived up to his legacy, he did win two NBA titles of his own. Therefore, both were extremely successful in their career. Brent just happened to be part of great teams while Rick was great individually.

Bob and Bret Boone — Bob Boone wasn't great player, but he lasted 19 seasons in the major leagues, which tells you how valuable he was in his roles. Playing for the Phillies, Angels and Royals, he carved out a nice little niche for himself in the league by reaching base at a high clip most seasons and playing solid defense. As for Bret, a 252-homer, 1,000+ RBI career made him better than his father.

Calvin and Grant Hill — This father-son pair is a rare case of each succeeding in a different sport. Calvin was a running back for the Cowboys, Redskins and Browns over a 12-year career in the NFL. He then had a son who went on to a very successful NBA career. Grant was supposed to be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he came into the league, but injuries kept him from becoming the legend he could've been. Regardless, he carved out a nice career for himself.

Gordie and Mark Howe — Gordie Howe is one of the greatest players in NHL history. When people talk about the history of the NHL, his name has to come up, or the conversation wasn't one worth having. Mark wasn't quite as good as Gordie, but he is still an NHL Hall of Famer. It's pretty crazy that he is in the Hall of Fame and isn't even the best hockey player ever from his own family.

Lee and Richard Petty — Lee and Richard Petty are two of the biggest legends in racing history. Perhaps no other sport had two figures more influential that were related in that way. Combined, the two had 254 race victories and helped shape NASCAR into what it is today. More than all the wins, their influence on the sport will live forever.

Ken and Ken Norton Jr. — Here's another case of a father-son combo excelling in two different sports. Ken Norton Sr. broke Muhammad Ali's jaw and became one of two men to defeat the boxing legend at the time. Meanwhile, his son, by the same name, excelled in the NFL as a linebacker for the 49ers. He certainly came to San Francisco at right time, as they became a dynasty with him on the defensive side of the ball.

Joe and Kobe Bryant — Since Kobe Bryant has had such a legendary career, people tend to forget his dad Joe was a very good player as well. He played from 1975 to 1992 and got to play on some premier 76ers teams that included Julius Erving. Once his son burst into the league, it was clear he was destined to be the second-best Bryant to play in the league. Kobe has won five NBA titles and is one of the best players to ever play the game.

Cecil and Prince Fielder — Legend has it that a young Prince could hit home runs at Tiger Stadium when he was 10 years old at the stadium with his dad Cecil, who as playing for Detroit at the time. If true, that certainly was a sign of things to come. This pair has a ton of power, combining for 630 home runs. Next season, Prince will pass his father, as he only trails him by eight homers right now for his career.

Archie and Eli Manning — Archie Manning was a great quarterback, but his sons have been even better. Eli is the worse of the two, but he has two Super Bowl rings from seasons in which he majorly stepped up. Playing his entire career in New York, Eli has been under harsh scrutiny over the years, but you can't deny the things he has accomplished in the playoffs when the Giants sneak into the postseason.

Dale and Dale Earnhardt Jr. — Dale Earnhardt was one of the best NASCAR drivers of his time and even though his son hasn't been quite as legendary, he's still been one of the top names in the sport for over a decade. An added layer to this pair is that the older Earnhardt's tragic death helped motivate the younger Earnhardt to push forward his legacy behind the wheel.

Archie and Peyton Manning — Archie gets to be on this list twice because he had two incredibly talented sons. The better of those two is Peyton, who is a top-five quarterback in NFL history. It's very rare that someone as legendary as Archie would have a son that could overshadow him, but that's exactly what Peyton has done. If this is, in fact, his last season, it's been a pleasure to watch that man work under center over the years.

Bobby and Brett Hull — There might not be another sport that has a father and son so legendary for their performances in that sport. Bobby and Brett Hull are both top 20 players in NHL history. Brett always seemed overshadowed by his dad, who was a legend during his playing days, but his career numbers are actually better. He is third on the all-time goals scored list with 741 while his dad places 16th on the list.

Dell and Steph Curry — Dell was one of the best pure shooters of the 1980s and 90s. Steph, his son and last season's MVP, has proven to be a bona fide superstar and arguably the best player in the league at this point. Simply, he does things on the court that almost nobody else can. He has also one-upped his father in terms of shooting, as he's nearly shooting 50 percent from three-point range this season.

Ken and Ken Griffey Jr. — Ken Griffey was a very good player, but his son was on a whole other level. One thing that made this pair interesting is that they got to play on the same team and actually got to hit in the same lineup occasionally. As soon as Ken Griffey Jr. took off, though, there was no looking back. He's now in the 600 Home Run Club and could possibly be baseball's all-time home run leader if it weren't for several injuries throughout his career.

Bobby and Barry Bonds — When you hit 332 home runs in your career, you assume you're going to be the home run leader in your family. That wasn't the case with Bobby Bonds, though, as his son more than doubled his career home run total. No matter what you think of Barry, he's one of the league's all-time great hitters and his dad was very good in his day too. Their combined 1,000+ home runs are absolutely ridiculous and that makes them the best father-son combo in sports history.

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