Kobe Bryant's widely touted nephew commits to Oregon in college football splash
Though he bears a different last name and stars in a different sport, Jett Washington is carrying on the athletic legacy of his late uncle, Kobe Bryant.
Washington announced his commitment Thursday night to play college football at Oregon.
The top-ranked safety in ESPN's class of 2026 recruiting ranks, Washington is the highest-rated four-star recruit and holds the No. 22 spot in the entire class. Per 247Sports, he is a five-star recruit and holds the No. 18 spot in the 2026 class.
4 Jett Washington committed to Oregon to play his collegiate football.
Jett Washington / Instagram
Washington's commitment makes him Oregon's top-ranked defensive player in its 2026 class.
He chose the Ducks over the likes of Alabama and USC, where he also took official visits.
'I have that great time with [Oregon defensive backs coach Chris Hampton] and the coaching staff,' Washington told ESPN. 'I loved the way they treated me out there. My relationship with them has been going the right way ever since I started talking to them.'
4 Jett Washington posing in an Oregon uniform on a visit to the program.
Jett Washington / Instagram
Washington hails from Las Vegas, where he is entering his senior season for the football powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School.
In his junior year, he racked up 38 tackles and five interceptions.
The youngster was practically destined to be an athlete, and not only because of his uncle.
4 Washington rocked a football-cleat version of his uncle's iconic Kobe 6 basketball shoe in his photoshoot with Oregon.
Jett Washington / Instagram
His father, Jerrod Washington, played running back at Virginia for four years before being drafted by the New England Patriots in 1994. His mother, Sharia Washington (Bryant's oldest sister), was a volleyball player at Temple.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 210 pounds, Washington has some basketball-like size, which he not only utilizes on the football field.
Like his uncle, Washington also has talent on the basketball court, as he helped lead Bishop Gorman to a second straight Nevada Class 5A state basketball title earlier this year.
Washington was close with both Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, who were among the nine people tragically killed in a 2020 helicopter crash in California.
4 Jett Washington as a child smiling for a photo with his uncle, Kobe Bryant.
Oregon Ducks / Instagram
Washington wears No. 2 on the basketball court, just as Gianna did, and would go to his uncle for advice often.
'Jett was Kobe's guy,' Washington's father said. 'Kobe used to tell me, 'I need him every summer to come work with me.' He would give Jett words of wisdom. Anytime Jett would play in something, he'd send his uncle a clip, and Kobe would make a comment. Kobe would send him back emojis or tell him to make this adjustment or that adjustment. They were close.'
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