The family behind Houston Texans wide receiver Braxton Berrios is as athletic as it is close-knit, spanning two marriages, five boys, and a shared devotion to sport. His parents, Rico Berrios and Lee Smothers, met as college athletes at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, where they both played — Rico on the soccer pitch and Lee on the softball diamond. The couple had two sons before divorcing in 2002, yet both have continued to play active roles in Braxton's life and career.
Braxton Berrios at a glance
Braxton was born on 6 October 1995 in Raleigh, North Carolina. As of September 2026, he is 31 years old and a Libra. He stands 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and weighs 185 pounds (84 kg), with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is a Christian of mixed ethnicity, with Puerto Rican roots traced through his paternal grandfather, according to Essentially Sports. He attended Leesville Road High School and later the University of Miami, where he developed into a professional football player. Today he plays as a wide receiver and return specialist for the Houston Texans in the NFL. His net worth is estimated at $7 million, and he currently resides in Houston, Texas. He is dating Alix Earle.
Family roots: a college romance and two marriages
Braxton's parents, Rico Berrios and Lee Smothers, met at Campbell University, where Rico played soccer and Lee played softball. Their first son, Austin, was born in August 1993, followed by Braxton in October 1995. The family settled in Raleigh, where the boys grew up. Rico and Lee divorced in 2002, leaving Lee to raise their two sons primarily. Both parents later remarried: Rico wed Jessica Jackson in September 2009, and Lee married Chad Smothers in 2014. These unions expanded the family with three more boys — Jackson, Carson, and Brooks — all from Rico's second marriage.
Rico Berrios: a father who trained his son in the rain
Rico Berrios is a former soccer player who played for Miami Southridge High School in 1985 and later for Campbell University. After his divorce from Lee, he married Jessica Jackson, with whom he shares three sons. Rico has been a constant presence in Braxton's athletic development. According to the Patriot News, he told the Miami Herald about training his young son in their backyard every day. One rainy day, when Braxton was six, a neighbor yelled, “Rico, you're crazy! You're going to kill this kid.” But the neighbor's wife predicted otherwise: “No, he's not killing him. That boy is going to play in the NFL one day.” That prediction proved accurate.
Lee Smothers: a mother who asked for nothing
Lee Smothers, a former softball player at Campbell University, later studied law at Wake Forest University School of Law. According to her Facebook profile, she works at Icon Plc, a pharmaceutical clinical research company. Braxton has always been close to his mother. He once posted a photo of the two of them on a beach on Instagram with the caption: “You never ask for anything, Mum, and that's why I plan on giving you everything.” After her divorce from Rico, Lee remarried Chad Smothers, a retired athletic director and coach who had coached Braxton in high school.
The Berrios brothers: from Austin to Brooks
Braxton has one older full brother and three younger half-brothers. The profile summary in the original article lists a total of five siblings, but the detailed account describes four brothers. This discrepancy may stem from a miscount in the family tree, but the named brothers are clear. Here's a look at each.
Austin Berrios
Austin, born in August 1993, is the eldest of the Berrios children. He was a wide receiver at Leesville Road High School, graduating in 2012, according to ESPN. A key takeaway from the original profile notes that Austin played baseball at East Carolina University, while his detailed biography mentions he attended NC State University. He works as a Regional Sales Manager at CoAdvantage. Austin is married to Jessica Clancy, a director in national accounts at Dixie Interiors, and they have three children: a son and two daughters.
Jackson Berrios
Jackson, born in February 2010, is the first child of Rico and his second wife, Jessica Jackson Berrios. As of September 2025, he is 15 years old and in 9th grade. Jessica shared a photo of the three half-brothers on their first day of school with the caption: “Off to 9th, 8th and 5th! Not sure how it happened so fast, but here we are with a high schooler and no more babies in elementary. Have the best first day, B boys!”
Carson Berrios
Carson, born in October 2011, is in 8th grade. Like his older brother Braxton, Carson has an interest in football, often seen holding a helmet in photos shared by his mother. He attends Braxton's games with his parents and other siblings.
Brooks Berrios
Brooks, born on 4 November 2014, is the youngest of the Berrios boys. As of September 2025, he is 10 years old. He completes the trio of half-brothers from Rico's second marriage.
Frequently asked questions about Braxton Berrios' family
Who are Braxton Berrios' parents? His mother is Lee Smothers, and his father is Rico Berrios. Why did they divorce? The couple divorced in 2002, after which both remarried. Who are Braxton's siblings? He has one older brother, Austin, and three younger half-brothers: Jackson, Carson, and Brooks. What is Braxton's ethnicity? He is of mixed ethnicity, with Puerto Rican roots through his paternal grandfather, as reported by Essentially Sports.
An unbroken bond
Despite the divorce and the formation of new families, the Berrios clan remains tightly connected. Braxton's parents have supported him throughout his NFL journey, and his siblings often attend his games. As he continues to shine with the Houston Texans, his family's influence is undeniable. The rain-soaked training sessions, the encouraging words from a neighbor, and the love of a mother who asked for nothing have all shaped the player and person he is today.
