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Spadaro: Adam Berry hopes to have the last laugh over twin brother, Browns GM Andrew, this Sunday

The Berry Family at the 2023 Eagles-Browns joint practice
The Berry Family at the 2023 Eagles-Browns joint practice

This is a full-circle moment for Adam Berry, the Eagles' Vice President of Football Operations and Strategy, who on Sunday will again be in competition against his twin brother, Andrew, the Cleveland Browns' General Manager. It has been this way for their entire lives – love intertwined with full support, admiration, encouragement, and, of course, the game of football.

More than anything, though, competition. Intense competition.

"It's kind of always been that way with us," Adam says, laughing in his office at the NovaCare Complex. "We have that in us."

Both were collegiate football players – Adam a wide receiver at Princeton and Andrew a cornerback at Harvard – who played against each other for four seasons and who went at it every time they had a chance, just like they did as kids in Bel Air, Maryland. Once, the legend goes – and every bit of it is true – Adam delivered The Block in the 2006 season against Andrew and helped Tigers wide receiver Brendan Circle on a catch-and-run touchdown that won the game against Harvard.

"It was a really tight game and I was downfield between the receiver and Andrew and the end zone and I got a clean lick on him," Adam Berry says, laughing. "I decleated him and we scored the touchdown and won the game. I know his friends gave him a lot of grief on that. Andrew was a really good player and a really good corner – he had the more distinguished career – so I'm not taking anything away from him, but I will always hold that over him a little bit."

Adam Berry (black jersey) looks for the pass against his twin brother Andrew during a Princeton-Harvard game. (Photo courtesy of Beverly Schaefer, Princeton Athletics)
Adam Berry (black jersey) looks for the pass against his twin brother Andrew during a Princeton-Harvard game. (Photo courtesy of Beverly Schaefer, Princeton Athletics)

There will be 35 members of the Berry family in the Lincoln Financial Field stands on Sunday, in from around the United States, to celebrate the moment. Andrew – in the NFL with Indianapolis, Philadelphia (in 2019), and in his second stint with Cleveland -- served as Adam's role model and played into the decision for Adam to leave Goldman Sachs after 14 years and join the Eagles. Adam Berry's responsibilities include pro and college player evaluation, salary cap and resource allocation strategy, contract negotiation/structuring, integrating analytics into roster management, and player development.

The journey continues.

"I'd say Andrew had a big hand in the decision to change careers," Adam said. "Going into football was not something that had been on my radar. I was really blessed and fortunate to have Andrew as someone who I could lean on and pick his brain and his knowledge of the league and its myriad of roles, but also the Eagles and everything here. Andrew has been a tremendous resource for me and he has always been there for me to provide guidance and advice and answer any questions.

"Growing up, football was always our number one sport and something we lived and breathed. It's funny how life works out, that we can continue that as adults."

As adults, as brothers, and, on Sunday, as competitors.

"The family is having a lot of fun with it and having Andrew on the other side adds some juice to the fire. It's exciting because we haven't had something like this since college, where our whole family is involved and it's a pretty cool experience for everybody.

"We probably have talked less this week than any week during the season, but I will make sure to see him when he gets into Philadelphia, and I will see him after the game – a lot of conversation and maybe trash-talking after the game, and hopefully that's coming from my side."

Adam Berry watches practice on Wednesday.
Adam Berry watches practice on Wednesday.

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