Jamal Anderson was a household name back in the nineties. If we are a little more precise, it was the Atlanta Falcons‘ top-notch offense during the late nineties that caught attention all across the nation. Anderson was a gifted running back who’s remembered for his over-the-top running style and his epic “dirty bird” touchdown dance, which he would do after every touchdown he did. He made waves in his eight years of NFL career, but now a young Anderson is making waves in college football as a linebacker for the Clemson Tigers. Meanwhile, fans are confused about whether he’s related to the NFL running back.

The answer is a big yes! Jamal Anderson Sr., often referred to as “Mr. Dirty Bird” by his fans, played at the University of Utah for two years before his selection in the NFL. Atlanta Falcons selected him in the seventh round of the draft in 1994. After a slower start in his career, Anderson caught full speed. Given his extraordinary play, he became the face of the Falcons’ offense and led them with 1000 rushing yards during four seasons. When his career started flourishing the most, he faced an unfortunate event. He suffered a knee injury that resulted in him skipping 1999’s entire season.

If you look at his career stats, you will know why he gained so much popularity in his day. He rushed for 5336 yards on 1329 carries. Additionally, the running back had 1645 receiving yards on 156 passes. On top of that, he did the famous dirty bird dance 41 times, the number of times he had a touchdown. Falcon’s matches were incomplete without him performing the bird dance by flapping his arms in a rhythm. Besides his father, Jamal Anderson is close with his mom, Anna Anderson.

Jamal Anderson Jr. does the dirty bird dance

Jamal is not the only one who followed his father’s athletic legacy; his sister Mia Anderson is a well-known athlete who’s enrolled with the Georgia Bulldogs athletic team. Jamal Anderson is keeping up with his dad’s legacy and is determined to make a name for himself. Although he followed in his dad’s footsteps, to make his own decisions, he’s following what his heart desires, and his dad also respects his decisions.

While he was still a high schooler, Jamal Anderson received offer letters from over 33 programs, including his father’s alma mater, Utah. But young Anderson goes on his collegiate journey with the Clemson Tigers. Right after coming to Clemson, he helped his team with six tackles in 45 defensive snaps in the 13 games that he played. Meanwhile, he created a surge while playing on the gridiron.

After having a remarkable play, referring to a touchdown he scored, Jamal said, “I scored, and I ran over to the sideline, and coach Swinney looked at me and said, ‘You know how to do the dirty bird!’ and I’m like, I’ve got to do it now.’ It was awesome.” It showcases how he loves to honor his father’s legacy.

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