Being a veteran NFL kicker, former Minnesota Vikings’ Greg Joseph has a career field goal percentage of 82.6%. However, his faith and strength lie in the upbringing provided by his parents, which has helped him overcome challenges throughout his life.

For instance, when he was dealing with pressure of being a kicker, it was his roots stemmed by his parents which helped the athlete to battle against the struggles with confidence.

Who are Greg Joseph’s parents, Illana and Glen?

Born on August 4, 1994, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Greg Joseph is the first child of Illana and Glen Joseph. In addition to Greg, the couple has two other sons, Marc and Dylan. The Joseph family practices Judaism, with their heritage tracing back to Eastern Europe. This connection led Greg to partner with the Jewish Community Relations Council and take the opportunity to “tour the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.,” as his Holocaust heritage comes from his mother’s side of the family.

On first tour, the Giants‘ placekicker experienced the “post-war life for Jewish people and others most heavily impacted by the atrocities” in the museum with his mother. In the next tour, he brought his father, Glen, to the place, calling it a “special” moment for the two, as the athlete mentioned about his father, “We both love history. I think I get my sense of wanting to learn and curiosity from him. I think we both read as much as we possibly could before we tapped out and couldn’t take in any more information. It was interesting to see how different parts of exhibits impacted us each differently.”

But not only this! His Jewish faith stemmed stronger when after immigrating from South Africa, he attended Jewish schools in Florida. And the teachings of the school and his parents helped him to deal with the pressure of being a kicker, especially after what he heard about his mother’s holocaust lineage.

What is Greg Joseph’s Holocaust Heritage?

Greg Joseph is a proud Jewish man with roots in Eastern Europe and a deep connection to his family’s history. His story traces back to his great-grandparents, who fled Lithuania due to the persecution of Jews during World War II, seeking safety far from home.

His great-grandmother, Minnie, left for South Africa after spending years in Kyiv, while his great-grandfather, Boris, made the long journey from Lithuania to London, and later to South Africa in 1929. Greg has seen documents bearing his great-grandfather’s name on the ship’s manifest and has visited Holocaust museums to deepen his understanding of his roots.

In 2022, during an NFL goodwill tour, Greg extended his stay in Poland to visit sites linked to his family’s past. Although parts of his family history remain unresolved, Greg’s determination to uncover it all highlights his strong connection to his heritage.

So, besides loving soccer, football, and his family, Greg Joseph also loves to stay connected with his roots!

With that being said, do check out our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Doug Sanders. It’s packed with insights on the current NFL season, college football, NIL, and much more.