Picture this: A young TJ Hockenson, barely out of diapers, swinging a plastic Bamm-Bamm bat at Wiffle balls hurled by his older brother. It’s a scene from the late 1990s, straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, if Rockwell had a penchant for chaos and flying projectiles.

This isn’t just another tale of backyard shenanigans. It’s the origin story of an NFL star, shaped by the love, tough lessons, and occasional bruises doled out by his siblings. Hockenson, now a standout tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, owes much of his success to his brothers Andy and Matt, and sister Kelsey.

Andy and Matt Hockenson’s influence on TJ’s career

Growing up in Chariton, Iowa-a town so tiny that it does not have a traffic light–the Hockenson children made their fenceless backyard into a combination of many sports. Andy, T.J.’s senior brother by 15 years and Matt, his older brother by 11 years, did not think it wise to go too easy on their younger sibling.

“We treated him like he was one of us,” Andy recalled in a 2019 interview. Their training method? Launching “moonballs” across multiple backyards, making young T.J. sprint to catch them or face the dreaded punishment: a lap around the block. Talk about a high-stakes catch!

This brotherly boot camp paid off. T.J.’s exceptional hand-eye coordination and knack for difficult catches? Credit those endless backyard sessions. As Andy put it back then, “That’s 100% him wanting to be in the middle.”

Fast forward to 2024, and TJ Hockenson is now a key player for the Minnesota Vikings. However, his journey hasn’t been without challenges. In late 2023, Hockenson suffered a serious knee injury, tearing his ACL and MCL. As of early 2024, he’s been providing updates on his recovery.

Despite busy schedules, the Hockenson brothers have a way to stay connected. They are business partners. Flipping houses in Kansas City. And just like his brothers, TJ also has a special relationship with his sister.

TJ’s bond with sister Kelsey

TJ’s relationship with his younger sister and owner of the dog, Lilo, made him less “macho”. Just four years apart, they share a bond that’s evident in unexpected ways. For instance, TJ named his dog Lilo after the Disney movie called “Lilo & Stitch” because of Kelsey.

“She got me into Disney, because of all the princesses and all that,” TJ confessed during a 2021 interview. “I watched all those movies growing up. I had all the cars, the (Hot Wheels) and all those, but then I’d also have a little spot for the princess toys.”

This would shock some fans of the NFL but it just goes to show another side to the well-rounded person that TJ has become through various influences from his siblings. Kelsey, at 27 years old, remains an important part of TJ’s life, helping him deal with things like email contacts away from football.

The family support is still evident in TJ’s praises. In 2021 he said, “They’re awesome. They’re so much fun to be around. My family will never ask me for anything. They’ll never ask me for a penny.”

Now, at age 31, TJ Hockenson is not just another football player. He is still the little kid who would run across the fields when he saw the frisbee flying towards him only now with his dog Lilo alongside him. The Hockenson kids have crafted an American success story filled with unique warmth from moonball catches to house flipping, Disney movies to NFL touchdowns.