The Cincinnati Bengals selected linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. with the No. 49 overall pick in the second round. The selection should help further bolster an improving Bengals defense, which features a talented linebacking corps in Germaine Pratt, Logan Wilson, and Akeem Davis-Gaither.
But Bengals fans may not know that their latest draft pick has family connections to some big-time superstars. Knight Jr. is actually related to R&B legends Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin. If that wasn't cool enough, his cousin is also former Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall.
Let's learn more about Knight Jr,'s connection to the singing legends and three-time Pro Bowler.
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Demetrius Knight Jr. family tree
The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero mentioned Knight's interesting family tree shortly after he was drafted on Friday night:
Midnight train to Cincinnati: The #Bengals have selected South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr. -- distant cousin of R&B legends Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin, and cousin of DeAngelo Hall -- at No. 49.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2025
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According to Knight's South Carolina bio, Knight is listed as a "distant cousin" of both Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin. Although Franklin and Knight are not blood related, the two were close friends throughout their lives. Knight, who played at Georgia Tech, Charlotte, and South Carolina in 2024, is also a cousin of Hall, who played 14 years in the NFL, spending most of his time in Washington. He made three Pro Bowls and finished his career with 43 INTs and five return TDs.
"That is correct," Knight said in January of his relation to all three. "We branch out quite a long way in our family. I haven't seen any of those people in a very long time, probably since I was a very small child, a baby almost. The family dynamic is crazy, though. We have athletes and we have singers."
Knight accounted for 229 tackles with 17 for loss and 4.5 sacks along with five forced fumbles during his six collegiate seasons.
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