Terry McLaurin is indeed making his parents proud! The Indianapolis native is making a solid name for himself as a dynamic WR since he was drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. With multiple accolades to his name for delivering impressive performances, including the four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, he is truly living up to his nickname “Scary Terry.”

Making a “hell of a play” these days with Commanders, as his teammates note, McLaurin’s NFL stardom is winning the hearts of the fans. But, more than that, he never fails to acknowledge the role of his parents Terry McLaurin Sr. and Grace McLaurin, who have helped him to make his dreams come true.

Who Are Terry McLaurin’s Parents, Terry McLaurin Sr. and Grace McLaurin?

Both of Terry’s parents are American, as his father was born in Indianapolis, while his mother in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Terry McLaurin Sr., the NFL star’s father, who worked as a dedicated sales professional had made a staunch promise with a special rule.

Despite the demands of his career, he made sure to prioritize his son’s football journey. Reflecting on this, Terry adds, “My dad balanced a sales job, but he only missed one game.” He added, “Even in Columbus when he moved from a couple of dealerships here or there, he said my only rule is Saturday I have to see my son play.”

Terry’s dad worked extra hard to meet his sales demand, as he was outselling everybody while trying to support his son. Terry further adds, “…so I’ve always thought that was pretty sweet.”

And, while he was still young, McLaurin Sr. offered key advice to his son. Terry recalls, “My dad suggested I switch to a wide receiver in the 7th grade.” Indeed this laid down the foundation of his future success. Terry McLaurin Sr. is no longer alive, but his son carries on his legacy. But even his mother played an elemental role in shaping his career.

McLaurin’s mother, Grace, instilled a strong sense of discipline and faith in McLaurin. And, the way Terry is so grounded and driven, the credit goes to his mom. Even his high school coach, Rick Streiff, took to acknowledging her impact, adding, “Terry’s no-nonsense, old-school work ethic is a reflection of his parents, particularly Grace, who instilled faith and discipline in him.”

As a single mother, Grace became Terry’s “greatest motivation,” as he recalls.  She worked as an IT programmer to support the family. “My mom is my biggest inspiration; she made sure we never went without and always pushed me to dream big,” he adds.

How has Terry McLaurin helped to carry forward his father’s legacy and make his mother proud?

Terry’s dad, McLaurin Sr. was himself a professional football player himself. And, owing to this, he taught his son the values of self-improvement. As McLaurin adds, “My dad always told me, ‘Stay humble and focus on yourself. What can you do to improve?’” And, this became the guiding principle for his career.

At his breakout performance at Ohio State, Terry clearly vouched for his team-first mentality, which was instilled in him by his parents. “My parents taught me that individual success doesn’t matter if your team isn’t winning. It’s always about the team.” And, he learned to not only put faith in himself but also in God, to get the courage and push himself to make anything happen.

Both hard work and consistency became the cornerstone for Terry, as he was taught by his parents. Their combined influence helped him take off into the world of the NFL. As McLaurin’s high school coach noted, “The reality is he took a set of skills from here, went to Ohio State and improved. He had his back to the wall, but he never wavered because of the foundation his parents provided.” And, with these values, he has indeed made a historic name for himself.