Twin brothers Sydney and Chase Brown have taken the next step on the way to their childhood dream of playing in the National Football League. The 2018 Saint Stephen’s graduates were selected in the three-day NFL Draft, held April 27-29 in Kansas City, Mo. Sydney, a defensive back, was chosen in the third round, 66th overall, by the Philadelphia Eagles. Chase, a running back, was the Cincinnati Bengals’ fifth-round selection, 163rd overall. They became the first brothers since Tiki and Ronde Barber in 1997 to be selected in the opening five rounds of the NFL Draft, and just the sixth set of twins ever chosen in the same draft. Natives of Canada, the Browns put together star-studded careers as student-athletes and graduates of the University of Illinois. They were members of back-to-back independent state championship teams at Saint Stephen’s in 2016 and 2017. The Falcons never lost a game during the time the twins were members of the football roster. Both were also key contributors on the SSES state championship boys’ track and field team in 2017.

One of the Browns’ former teammates, Josh Stevens, is also vying for a professional football career. The 2017 Saint Stephen’s graduate has been invited to participate as an undrafted free agent in the rookie minicamp of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Stevens played four seasons on the offensive line at Georgetown University and then spent his final year of eligibility as a grad transfer at the University of Delaware.