Dalvin Cook got a chance to play his brother James Cook once during the latter’s rookie season in 2022. The two are set to play twice as much during the 2023 season as both are now in the AFC East.
Dalvin, 28, signed with the Jets during training camp to team up with Aaron Rodgers. He is expected to play a big role in that backfield, as his presence will allow New York to ease Breece Hall into action after his ACL tear last season.
Meanwhile, James is expected to work as the Bills’ starter to open his second season. The 23-year-old worked in tandem with Devin Singletary last year but now finds himself atop the Buffalo depth chart after averaging 5.7 yards per carry in a limited role last season.
So, the Cook brothers are both set to have an impact on their respective offenses; and each will be seeking glory as they square off against each other in Weeks 1 and 11 of the season.
How strong of a relationship do the Cook brothers have? They come from a big and seemingly tight-knit family, so they will share a warmhearted sibling rivalry in each of their meetings.
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Here’s what to know about the Cook family as Dalvin and James look to establish themselves as one of the best brother tandems in the NFL.
Dalvin Cook & James Cook family tree
Dalvin Cook & James Cook’s parents
Varondria Burnett and James Cook Sr. are the parents of Dalvin and James Cook. Dalvin had a particularly close relationship with his father, who died in 2020 due to complications from diabetes.
“Everywhere my daddy went, I wanted to go,” Dalvin told ESPN in 2021. “I was always up under him, and it was like that when I got older, too. I just always wanted to stay with my dad.”
After his father’s death, Dalvin explained that he felt like he had to step up to become the patriarch of the family.
“I was trying to be so strong for my brothers and sisters, because they were already so torn apart,” he said, before adding. “Now I’ve got a bigger role. Just looking out for my brothers and sisters and my grandma, too. I just feel like that’s my role now in his absence.”
Dalvin Cook & James Cook’s siblings
There are seven Cook siblings in total. They are as follows:
- Dalvin Cook
- James Cook
- DeAndre Burnett
- Daneisha Cook
- Demarcus Cook
- Jameisha Cook
- Jamiya Cook
Dalvin and James are the best-known of the bunch, but they aren’t the only professional athletes in their family. Their half-brother DeAndre Burnett went on to play basketball overseas from 2018-20 after a productive collegiate career at Miami and Ole Miss. He averaged 12.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.7 steals per game in his three seasons of action for the Hurricanes and Rebels.
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Dalvin Cook and James Cook relationship
The Cook brothers have spoken about their relationship quite a bit during their time together in the NFL. Before he came into the NFL, James credited his older brother with preparing him for the transition to the pro level.
“Having him as an older brother is a plus for me. Being in the NFL, he tells me all the tricks and trades to the game,” James Cook said on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “Him being a vet, just looking up to him as an older brother — it’s special.”
And naturally, James is looking forward to playing Dalvin on “Monday Night Football.” He also cited it as a revenge game against his brother after Dalvin’s Vikings beat James’ Bills last season.
“I mean, it’s a great feeling playing against my older brother,” James told reporters ahead of the game. “Get back for me, but it’s just a good experience just trying to beat my brother.”
James also acknowledged that there would be plenty of good-natured trash talk between the two. He also was pleased with the way that the schedule fell so that the Cook family would be able to catch both of the brothers in action with ease.
“Week 1, they don’t gotta go anywhere,” James Cook said. “They’ll be right there watching us. Both of us.”
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But what has the elder Cook brother said about squaring off against his younger counterpart? He hasn’t spoken much about it ahead of their 2023 meeting. But when he was on the Vikings in 2022, he indicated that he would be happy if his brother scored — even if he didn’t show it — so long as Minnesota could pull out the win.
“If he scores, I’m going to be happy in my head, but you ain’t going to see no emotion from me. I’m trying to win,” Dalvin said of facing James in an interview on Vikings Circle. “When it all comes back to it, once we get home, once we get offseason or whatever it’s going to happen, we gotta answer the bell to each other and we gotta have them bragging rights when we get back home in the household. And, you know, Big Cook trying to have them bragging rights.”
The Vikings did win and Dalvin Cook had a huge day, running for 119 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Comparatively, James Cook had just five carries for 22 yards.
That explains why the younger Cook is eager for a chance to play his brother again. And he should have more opportunities to tote the rock as the clear-cut leader of the Buffalo backfield.
