Over the last month, the Bosa brothers – Joey Bosa and Nick – or the "Brosas" as Good Morning Football's Kyle Brandt calls them, have been dominating NFL headlines. Each earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for their respective conferences on Wednesday for their performances in Week 8.
But there's another family member of theirs also making his mark in the NFL.
Their cousin, Jake Kumerow, plays wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers.
See, we know about the "Bosa bloodlines," but Joey and Nick also have NFL lineage on their mom, Cheryl's, side as well.
Family Tree
Take a look at some of the best shots from Joey Bosa's dominate performance against the Chicago Bears that earned him Week 8 AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
When Joey and Nick's father, John, was drafted 16th overall by the Miami Dolphins in 1987, their eventual uncle, Eric Kumerow, was taken at the same position by the same team the following year.
Eric is Cheryl's brother, and also, Jake's father. The two draft picks bonded, John married Cheryl, and a full football family was forged.
So this Sunday, two members of that family, Kumerow and Bosa, will take to ROKiT Field at Dignity Health Sports Park to face off for the first time.
"Every week for them is a proud moment, so I don't think things have changed much (this week)," Bosa said of his family regarding the game this Sunday. "I don't know if Eric's coming out or who's coming to the game, but hopefully some of his family comes out. I'm sure they're all pumped out there in Illinois."
The Odd Couple
Ask Bosa about Kumerow, and he'll tell you they're close. So close they're even roommates during the offseason, with the latter joining Bosa to train with him. They've bonded – albeit – even if Bosa wasn't totally sold on the idea at first given how the two have opposite tendencies.
"(During the) first year, I was a little iffy, like 'Do I really want someone living with me?'" he said. "He's a great roommate. He's always keeping me company (and) gets me to go out more often, (because) he's always fishing and he's always outdoors doing something, so he gets me out of the house. At first, I (was hesitant because I) love my space. That's why I have my own house and all that, but, yeah, he's a good roommate, clean."
Bosa vs. Kumerow
Unlike his cousins, Kumerow's path to the NFL has been a bit more challenging – from going undrafted in 2015 to stints on practice squads before sticking with the Packers in late 2017 and being activated to the 53-man roster last December.
But despite the path he's taken, his recent success and ability to find a home in Green Bay hasn't surprised his cousin.
"We've always known Jake's a good player," Bosa reflected. "(He) went to Illinois to start off and ended up at Wisconsin-Whitewater and absolutely dominated there. And then he got picked up by Cincinnati, had a couple good years there on practice squad, and (then he) gets picked up by Green Bay. And we're like, 'That's a perfect spot for Jake.'… It's awesome to see him get playing time this year."
In the last two games, Kumerow has put up 102 receiving yards and a score, providing a reliable target for Aaron Rodgers and someone the Chargers defense has their eye on.
But the same goes for Green Bay and Bosa. Afterall, over his last two games, Bosa has notched four sacks, 13 total tackles and five tackles for loss. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur called the tandem of Bosa and Melvin Ingram "as good as there is in the NFL" and knows what No. 97 is capable of doing in a game.
"He is relentless," LaFleur said of Bosa. "The guy's got a non-stop motor. He's long, and he is a handful. He's going to be somebody we have accounted for at all times."
So as for this week, what's it been like for Bosa and his cousin? Pretty much the same as any other – except when it comes to the film room.
"I just texted him earlier (and) said it's funny breaking him down in meetings and seeing his face up there," Bosa mentioned. "He said the same thing. He said, 'I was about to send you your profile.' Definitely no trash talk though!"
