Salford star Tyler Dupree reveals superb family background as he makes his name in Super League
WHAT DO you get if you cross a Superbowl winner with an American blues singer and prisoner of war, as well as a children’s support worker? Salford’s Tyler Dupree.
For the Red Devils star has lifted the lid on his spectacular family background that almost sounds too good to be true.
Having an NFL champion, Billy Joe – who won with Dallas Cowboys in 1978 and lost out in 1976 and 1979 – as your great uncle sounds exciting enough.
However for him, that pales into insignificance alongside his grandfather, ‘Champion Jack’ Dupree – a former US Navy officer who toured as a blues singer, met his grandmother in London and settled in Halifax, West Yorkshire!
Dupree said: “Grandpa’s brother played in the NFL but I’m not too interested in American Football if I’m being honest. We focus more on my grandpa as it’s a side of the family we don’t really see.
“But it’s weird as I’m the biggest one from my family. My grandpa, who was a blues player in New Orleans, was only 5ft 10ins.
“He was a Navy chef, got captured by the Japanese, was a prisoner of war for two years, came out and did boxing, so he got the name Champion Jack Dupree, which was also his stage name.
“His real name was William Thomas and took Dupree as it was a French slave name. If you went far back enough in my family tree, the surname would be Thomas.”
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Now Dupree is making a name for his own in Super League after joining Salford from Championship side Widnes.
But it is only because of mother Jackie he is there at all after falling out of love with the game after being released by Leeds and finding season disrupted by Covid-19.
And his move meant giving up a full-time job he still helps out with when he can.
The 22-year-old prop, who faces Warrington today (Sun) added: “I was working in a children’s home at the time but getting back full time was always the priority and when the opportunity came, I snapped Salford’s hand off.
“It was for looked after kids and I still do bits and bats on my day off. I got a couple of tickets for some of the kids to come to the Wakefield game – rather than them get into trouble, I’d rather they came and watched.
“Playing for Oldham really helped me get my love for rugby league back. It gave me the hunger to strive for more.
“At one time, I had to think about the bigger picture but I stuck with it, I listened to my mum and here I am.
“She said, ‘If you give up now, it’ll be something you’ll regret and you’ll live your life with regret.’
“In my first week, I felt a little out of my depth because of the speed difference but I feel like I’m finding my feet now.
“And the coaches haven’t sold my a dream. They’ve kept it real and I like the honesty.”