Caleb Downs credits Army veteran grandfather for helping shape his path to the NFL ahead of draft

Ohio State standout information Caleb Downs is acceptable to go the 3rd subordinate of his household to participate the NFL, and he’s precise apt to beryllium the archetypal to perceive their sanction called connected time 1 of the NFL Draft.

Downs’ father, Gary Downs, was a moving backmost that the New York Giants took successful the 3rd circular of the 1994 NFL Draft retired of NC State. He ended up playing six years successful the league, 2 years with New York, 3 with the Atlanta Falcons and 1 twelvemonth with the Denver Broncos, earlier playing his past crippled successful 2000.

Then, there’s his eldest son, Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs, the 24-year-old who has enjoyed a coagulated commencement to his young vocation aft being taken successful the 3rd circular of the 2023 NFL Draft retired of UNC. Also, ex-NFL cornerback Dré Bly, who spent 11 years successful the league, is Downs' uncle.

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Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks connected earlier the College Football Playoff quarterfinal crippled against the Miami Hurricanes astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, connected Dec. 31, 2025. (CFP/Getty Images)

So, arsenic Caleb Downs prepares to precise apt perceive his sanction called successful the archetypal circular connected Thursday night, Fox News Digital asked astir his family’s impact, particularly arsenic helium looks for a seamless modulation into the pros. But portion his begetter and member person the NFL pedigree, Caleb pointed to the patriarch of the family, 23-year United States Army seasoned Gary Downs Sr., arsenic the 1 who acceptable the code since helium was a kid.

"I consciousness similar everything my gramps instilled successful america -- consistency, discipline, hard work, and everything similar that – that’s wherefore we’re present today," helium said, portion besides discussing his concern with USAA, the authoritative "Salute to Service" spouse of the NFL.

"I retrieve times we would spell to my aunt’s house, and my dada would contention my uncle down the thoroughfare and worldly similar that arsenic a kid. We were conscionable ever precise competitory arsenic kids, and those memories are instilled successful me, and I consciousness similar that’s 1 of the reasons I’m present today."

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As a kid, Caleb didn’t needfully recognize what his gramps meant erstwhile helium said helium was a "jumpmaster," oregon a paratrooper liable for the information and grooming of airborne operations, but helium learned much arsenic helium grew into the man, and shot player, helium is today.

Downs Sr. retired from the Army connected July 1, 1998, but his mentality ne'er changed with his children and grandchildren, which is what Caleb is grateful for heading into this pivotal infinitesimal of his vocation connected the gridiron.

"I would conscionable accidental done my dad. The mode helium led his family," Caleb said erstwhile asked however his gramps has impacted him connected and disconnected the field. "He raised his lad to pb my household the mode helium did. I consciousness similar the mode you pb your household successful presumption of however you run arsenic a father, that’s been passed down to his son, my dad, and hopefully someday it’ll beryllium passed down to myself and my family."

Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes participates successful drills during the 2026 Ohio State Pro Day astatine Woody Hayes Athletic Center successful Columbus, Ohio, connected March 25, 2026. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

As Caleb is anxious to larn wherever his NFL travel volition begin, helium besides gets to pat into his older brother, Josh, for proposal astir however to rapidly acclimate.

"The biggest happening helium told maine was find your routine, find your habits," Caleb revealed. "Those are the things that are going to marque the biggest difference. Those are the things I’ll person to get going beauteous speedy nevertheless this week ends up."

And portion it’s "exciting" for Caleb to ticker his member find success, he’s hoping to beryllium a nuisance to Josh whenever they enactment up yet connected gameday successful the NFL. Being connected other sides of the shot tin marque for a large brotherly battle, and Caleb wants immoderate redemption aft the 1 clip they played against each different successful precocious school.

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"Oh, it’s decidedly been thought about," Caleb said erstwhile asked if helium and Josh person talked astir that infinitesimal erstwhile they’ll conscionable successful the league. "I’ve played against him 1 clip earlier successful precocious school. I’ll person to get my get-back due to the fact that helium bushed america beauteous atrocious my freshman twelvemonth of precocious school. They bushed our squad 42-3, truthful it wasn’t needfully a truly bully game. But I made a mates plays, helium made a mates plays. So, we’ll permission it astatine that."

Josh Downs of the Indianapolis Colts warms up earlier an NFL crippled against the San Francisco 49ers astatine Lucas Oil Stadium successful Indianapolis connected Dec. 22, 2025. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Caleb has had large men successful his household to look up to, and they’ll each beryllium down him connected this breathtaking leap to the NFL, wherever he’ll beryllium definite to transportation the advice, quality traits and much that he’s taken from each of them with him on the way.

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Caleb’s concern with USAA progressive a peculiar infinitesimal wherever helium and his gramps went to the Disabled American Veterans section successful Columbus, Georgia to perceive from immoderate of those who served their state conscionable arsenic Downs Sr. did.

The acquisition was rather impactful for Caleb.

"Being capable to perceive those stories erstwhile I was astatine the DAV with each the veterans, being capable to larn from the contented they have, it was awesome," helium explained. "I admit USAA for allowing maine to person this concern with them. When they told maine they were the authoritative "Salute to Service" [partner] of the NFL, I was like, ‘Oh, for sure.’ And my grandpa was going to beryllium truthful excited to beryllium a portion of it.

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"Being capable to perceive astir their subject background, and past effort to subordinate it to what I’m going done close now, it was large to perceive the contented and beryllium astir radical who person done large things successful their life. I consciousness similar that’s thing that you can’t instrumentality for granted, conscionable being astir bully people."

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