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Ohio State standout safety Caleb Downs will become the third member of his family to enter the NFL, and there’s a good chance he’ll be the first to hear his name called on the first day of the NFL Draft.
Downs’ father, Gary Downs, was a running back the New York Giants drafted in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft out of NC State. He ended up playing six years in the league, two years with New York, three with the Atlanta Falcons and one year with the Denver Broncos, before playing his last game in 2000.
Then, there’s his oldest son, Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs, the 24-year-old who has enjoyed a solid start to his young career after being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of UNC. Additionally, former NFL cornerback Dré Bly, who spent 11 years in the league, is Downs’ uncle.
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Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches before the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Miami Hurricanes at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 31, 2025. (CFP/Getty Images)
So as Caleb Downs prepares to hear his name called in the first round Thursday night, Pak Gazette Digital asked about the impact of his family, especially as he seeks a seamless transition to the pros. But while his father and brother have NFL pedigree, Caleb pointed to the family patriarch, 23-year-old United States Army veteran Gary Downs Sr., as setting the tone since he was a child.
“I feel like everything my grandfather instilled in us — consistency, discipline, hard work and all that — is why we’re here today,” he said, while talking about his partnership with USAA, the NFL’s official “Salute to Service” partner.
“I remember going to my aunt’s house and my dad racing my uncle down the street and stuff like that when I was a kid. We were always very competitive growing up, and those memories are ingrained in me, and I feel like that’s one of the reasons I’m here today.”
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As a child, Caleb didn’t necessarily understand what his grandfather meant when he said he was a “jump master” or a parachutist responsible for air operations safety and training, but he learned more as he grew into the man and football player he is today.
Downs Sr. retired from the military on July 1, 1998, but his mindset never changed with his children and grandchildren, which is what Caleb is grateful for facing this pivotal moment in his career on the playing field.
“I would just say through my dad. The way he led his family,” Caleb said when asked how his grandfather has impacted him on and off the field. “He raised his son to lead my family the way he did. I feel like the way you lead your family in terms of how you operate as a father, that has been passed down to his son, my father, and I hope that one day it will be passed down to me and my family.”
Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes participates in drills during the 2026 Ohio State Pro Day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus, Ohio, on March 25, 2026. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
While Caleb is eager to find out where his NFL journey will begin, he can also turn to his older brother, Josh, for advice on how to acclimate quickly.
“The most important thing he told me was to find your routine, find your habits,” Caleb revealed. “Those are the things that are going to make the biggest difference. Those are the things I’m going to have to put in place pretty quickly, however this week ends.”
And while it’s “exciting” for Caleb to see his brother achieve success, he expects to be a pain for Josh every time they line up on game day in the NFL. Being on opposite sides of the ball can make for a big brotherly battle, and Caleb wants some redemption after the only time they played against each other in high school.
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“Oh, it’s definitely been thought about,” Caleb said when asked if he and Josh had talked about that time when they’ll face each other in the league. “I’ve played against him once before in high school. I’ll have to pick myself up because he beat us pretty bad my freshman year of high school. They beat our team 42-3, so it wasn’t necessarily a really good game. But I made a couple of plays, he made a couple of plays. So we’ll leave it at that.”
Josh Downs of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 22, 2025. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Caleb has had great men in his family to look up to, and they will all have his back in this exciting jump to the NFL, where he will be sure to take with him the advice, character traits, and more he has learned from each of them along the way.
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Caleb’s association with USAA involved a special time when he and his grandfather went to the Disabled American Veterans Chapter in Columbus, Georgia, to hear from some of those who served their country just as Downs Sr. did.
The experience was quite shocking for Caleb.
“Being able to hear those stories when I was at the DAV with all the veterans and being able to learn from the wisdom that they have, it was incredible,” he explained. “I appreciate USAA for allowing me to have this partnership with them. When they told me they were the official ‘Salute to Service’ [partner] from the NFL, I thought, ‘Oh, sure.’ And my grandfather was going to be very excited to be a part of this.
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“Being able to hear about their military background and then try to relate it to what I’m going through right now, it was great to hear the wisdom and be around people who have done great things in their lives. I feel like that’s something you can’t take for granted, just being around good people.”
