Chase Brown and Sydney Brown were back where it all started Saturday, leading a free football camp for local youth at Western Alumni Stadium. The identical twin brothers, both drafted into the NFL in 2023, hosted approximately 250 campers from Grades 1 through 8, guiding them through drills focused on the fundamentals of the game. For the London natives, the day carried special meaning. “We grew up playing football on this field. Practices, games, you name it. So, we able to come back and host our first camp in Canada, in our hometown is — it’s an amazing feeling. Surreal in a way,” said Chase. “So, you know, just a way to give back. It was a free camp, and just having fun, kids.” Sydney said the focus of the camp was simple: keep the game enjoyable. “I think the main thing about football and why kids stay in football is because it’s fun. That’s why I play the game today,” he said. “So, I was out here doing some drills, doing some basic stuff, catching the ball, just be running around — having fun.” He added the event could be the start of something bigger in the community. “It’s cool to be able to interact with kids and community. And now it’s cool because these kids are the foundation. They’re building the foundation for our first one, and we’re just going to see where it goes from here,” he said. Sydney was selected in the third round, 66th overall, in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and now plays with the Atlanta Falcons. Chase was drafted in the fifth round, 163rd overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals. The brothers became one of the rare sets of twins drafted into the NFL in the same year. The camp was organized in partnership with ProCamps, which specializes in connecting professional athletes with youth through sports programming.
