Discussion on Family Dynamics in Sports
The father of Detroit Lions player Amon-Ra St. Brown, John Brown, sparked online conversation recently while discussing his approach to raising three sons in a new podcast episode.
John and his wife, Milam, are parents to three sons, including Amon-Ra, Equanimeous, and Osiris. Interestingly, both Equanimeous and Osiris were Division I athletes. Equanimeous, a wide receiver drafted in the sixth round in 2018, played for the Saints last season, while Osiris, who played as a wideout at Stanford, didn’t pursue a professional sports career due to long-term leg injuries.
In a clip shared from the “St. Brown” podcast, John, a former competitive bodybuilder, shared his views on “breeding” and raising his athletic sons.
“I believe in breeding,” he stated. “You have to choose the right girl and the right guy… look at you both, you’re good athletes. I’m Black and my mom is white… if you ruin it one time, you weaken it. You can’t keep cutting it.” His comments seem to touch on genetics and the importance of background when considering potential partners.
He continued, reflecting on his identity: “You have to be careful. I’m excited about my bloodline and I need to find someone compatible.” These remarks have drawn mixed reactions; while some listeners were taken aback, others found them racially insensitive.
This isn’t the first time John has shared his candid thoughts on the subject. In an earlier podcast episode from August 2024, he discussed how he advised his sons to consider marrying within their racial background for the sake of athletic potential.
“You can’t cut that Blackness… it’s important,” he mentioned. “I recommend marrying a Black girl because it can help keep that athletic line strong…” He showed a keen interest in the importance of physical attributes, emphasizing things like body alignment and family sports backgrounds when thinking about future partners.
Overall, John Brown’s views on family and breeding in sports not only reveal his beliefs but have also ignited a broader conversation about identity, race, and genetics in athletics.
