Etienne vs Etienne NFL’s Next Star Brother Rivalry Kicks Off in Panthers Jaguars Week 1 Battle

“As soon as we found out the big news, we already were excited about playing each other this year,” Trevor told Panthers.com. “And then come to find out that it will be Week 1. It’s even more exciting, and we all can’t wait.”

Their mother, Donnetta, is preparing for a different kind of competition. Inspired by the NFL’s growing legacy of sibling duels — from the Kelces to the St. Browns — she’s putting together a custom split-jersey to rep both her sons on the field.

“She’s adamant about getting this split jersey done for the game,” Trevor said. “I think she got in touch with Amon-Ra St. Brown’s father… and got some pointers and tips on how to handle that.”

While the Week 1 matchup is a feel-good story for fans, the reality for both Etiennes is that it’s also a high-stakes proving ground.

For Travis, 26, it’s shaping up to be a pivotal season. He’s coming off a career-low 558 rushing yards and now faces competition in Jacksonville’s backfield from second-year runner Tank Bigsby and rookie Bhayshul Tuten. New head coach Liam Coen publicly supported Travis this offseason, denying trade rumors, but the message is clear: nothing is guaranteed.

For Trevor, 20, it’s all about learning — and earning snaps. He enters a crowded Carolina backfield behind Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, both of whom topped 1,000 rushing yards last season.

“So I come in, I’ll be a sponge and learn what I can from them,” Trevor said. “Watch how they go about their day-to-day process… and try to take it and incorporate it into my game.”

The Etiennes never had the chance to face off growing up. The age gap kept them from ever being teammates or opponents in youth or college football. Now, their first on-field meeting comes under the bright lights of the NFL.

And with their family watching — one jersey, two names — the league may just witness the birth of its next must-watch sibling rivalry.