Before OG Aunoby Became an NBA Star, His Older Brother Was Chasing NFL Dreams
OG Anunoby has become one of the most respected two-way players in the NBA. As a forward for the New York Knicks, known for his elite defense and steady scoring, he helped guide the team deep into the 2026 NBA Finals and earned a reputation as one of the league’s toughest defenders.
Yet basketball is not the only sport that runs in his family. Many fans have started asking about OG Anunoby’s brother, who carved out his own path in professional football. So who is he, and what did his NFL journey look like?
The answer is Chigbo Anunoby, OG’s older brother, who pursued a career in the NFL as a defensive lineman. While OG rose to fame on the hardwood, Chigbo chased his dreams on the gridiron, making the Anunoby family a rare household with talent across two major American sports.
Who Is Chigbo Anunoby?
Chigbo Anunoby is the older brother of the Knicks star and was the first of the two siblings to reach the professional level in sports. He played college football as a defensive tackle, a position that demands size, strength, and toughness in the trenches.
He began his college journey at Lincoln University in Missouri, the same school where his father worked, before transferring to Morehouse College, where he continued to develop as a football player.
After his college career, Chigbo set his sights on the NFL. In 2012, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent, taking the difficult route that many hopeful players face when they are not selected in the draft.
From there, he spent time with several NFL organizations as he tried to establish himself at the highest level of the sport. Reports have connected him to teams including the Cleveland Browns, the Tennessee Titans, and the Minnesota Vikings during his time pursuing a pro football career.
Although Chigbo did not become a long-term NFL star, simply reaching that level reflects the dedication and athletic ability that runs in the family. Interestingly, he later showed interest in pursuing medical school, a sign of the strong academic values that shaped both brothers, even if he ultimately chose a different path.
A Family Built on Sports and Education
The story of the Anunoby brothers is rooted in a household that valued both achievement and learning. The family moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, when OG was very young, after relocating from London.
Their father, Ogugua Anunoby Sr., worked as a professor at Lincoln University and was a firm believer in education. He reportedly required his sons to read for an hour each night, while also encouraging their athletic pursuits from an early age.
That balance between books and sports clearly paid off. Both brothers grew into talented athletes, with Chigbo heading toward football and OG eventually focusing on basketball after stepping away from other sports in his youth.
OG has spoken about the challenges of growing up after losing his mother, while crediting his father for doing an excellent job raising the family during difficult times.
Today, the Anunoby name is most closely tied to OG’s success in the NBA, including his championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and his rise with the Knicks. Still, the family’s athletic legacy is bigger than one sport.
Chigbo’s NFL journey is an important part of that story, showing that the drive to compete at the highest level was something shared by both brothers.
For anyone curious about OG Anunoby’s brother and his NFL career, the picture is one of a determined athlete who reached the professional ranks in football and helped make the Anunoby family a true multi-sport success story.
