Dont’e Thornton Jr. (aka Big Macc) didn’t have a magic carpet ride out of Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood. From early on, he was grounded by the hard realities of his environment. He lived in a place filled with Section 8 housing projects where “crime wasn’t rampant, it was just a way of life.”

But Baltimore shaped his mindset and molded him into a resilient, fast, and focused young man poised to make his mark on football’s biggest stage. “I will never forget where I came from and knowing that I was one of the people that made it out.” Now, to truly understand the man behind the athlete, let’s take a closer look at his family.

Who is Dont’e Thornton Jr.’s father, Dont’e Thornton Sr.?

Growing up, his dad, Dont’e Thornton Sr., was largely absent, incarcerated for much of his son’s childhood. Thornton Jr. has spoken openly about how his father was in prison when he was just nine years old, a turning point that made him step up as the oldest brother. “I’d say it was just me being the older brother and just trying to help my mother and make things easier for her,” Big Macc said. 

“My dad was in prison when I was 9, so I guess you could say it started from there on.” But despite the distance, the relationship with his father remains strong. When not incarcerated, Dont’e Sr. worked in a warehouse for a bread company, embodying a steady work ethic.

By the time Thornton Jr. was preparing for the NFL Draft, his father was out of prison and present, supporting from the sidelines. During the draft celebration dinner, Dont’e Sr. was there, along with other family members. Thornton Jr. says he “has a very strong relationship” with his dad. The man who spent years behind bars now works hard alongside his wife and son’s success story.

Who is Dont’e Thornton Jr.’s mother, Taria Felder?

Taria Felder, the woman who held the family’s fabric together while her husband was away. Raising five kids mostly on her own, she juggled two jobs: a hairstylist and a warehouse worker shipping packages. 

Thornton Jr. credits his mother heavily for shaping him. “My mother took care of us, she did a great job of taking care of us, but I was just doing whatever I could to help make it easier on her throughout that process,” he said. When his dad went to prison, young Dont’e didn’t just sit around; he helped his mom raise his two sisters and two brothers. That responsibility forced him to grow up quickly, but made him the man he is today. 

What ethnicity are Dont’e Thornton Jr.’s parents?

Dont’e Thornton Jr. was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he grew up in the Cherry Hill neighborhood. His parents, Dont’e Thornton Sr. and Taria Felder, are American. Thornton’s mother, Taria, has Baltimore ties through her family in the city, and the family’s life is rooted in this urban environment.

There isn’t much detailed public information about the deeper ancestral origins of the family, but both sides identify as African American. Their background comes from living in historically significant urban areas like Baltimore, a city known for its tough spirit and strong community presence.

Dont’e Thornton Jr.’s relationship with his parents

Family means everything to Dont’e Thornton Jr., no exceptions. Big Macc is the oldest of five siblings. Growing up in his single-parent household in Baltimore, he helped raise his four younger brothers and sisters. 

His mother, Taria, is his rock. When his dad was serving time, the young athlete became a co-parent to his four younger siblings, helping to ease the burden on his mother. Felder’s unwavering support and hard work pushed him. He promised to take care of her once he starts making NFL money, aiming to buy her a house. “I will save half of my money,” Thornton shared. “For me, one of my lifelong goals was something that always kept me driving for football, to get my mom in a house. So, I’m definitely going to do that.”

So, Thornton Jr’s journey from Baltimore’s Cherry Hill to the bright lights of the NFL is fueled by love, sacrifice, and a promise to give back. He learned early what it means to carry responsibility on and off the field. Family is his everything, the driving force behind every catch, every yard, and every moment he’s fought to earn.