With Miami’s national championship game right around the corner, the new-gen Hurricanes fans and even fans in general have started connecting the dots with curiosity, asking whether Kiko and Francis are actually brothers or one of many obvious coincidences of sharing the same name.

Yes, Francis and Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa are indeed brothers.

Who is Francis Mauigoa?

Francis is actually the “little” brother in the family, though he stands around maybe 6’6″ and weighs in at well over 330-ish pounds. Truth be told, he is anything but small in the eyes of the opponents. Francis arrived at the University of Miami as a highly coveted five-star superstar out of IMG Academy. He became the starting tackle since his very first day on campus.

It’s safe to say he’s recognized as one of the best offensive linemen in the country, if not the best. The NFL scouts have him as a top 10 NFL Draft pick because of his rare ability to completely shut down elite pass rushers.

Who is Francisco Mauigoa?

Then you have Francisco, who most people affectionately call “Kiko,” the older and more experienced of the two. Unlike Francis, this one plays the linebacker position like there’s no tomorrow.

However, Kiko took a slightly unconventional, or some would say longer, path to stardom. Initially, he started his collegiate career at Washington State before making the bold move to transfer to Miami specifically to reunite with his family and team up with his Francis.

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He became the undisputed heart and soul of the Hurricanes’ defense, leading the entire team in tackles and earning multiple All-ACC honors before eventually wrapping up his college career to pursue his dreams at the professional level.

Are Francis Mauigoa and Francisco Mauigoa related?

Yes, once again. As much as they’re fearsome, their close bond is a big reason for their success. The bond goes back to the COVID-19 era, when both brothers used to play on the D-line in high school in American Samoa. Both brothers were competing over who would get the sack first. As Mother Nature’s rules go, the big bro was always one step ahead of Francis.

“I was like, ‘Of course it’s this guy,’” he said. “We were always competing. I was on the D-line, he was at linebacker, and we both wanted to get to the ball first.”

Four years later, they decided to play together in Miami. It was an important family decision so they could look after one another and have each other’s backs. Having Kiko there helped Francis get used to college life much faster.

During practices in Florida, they ran snaps and competed against each other, with Francis protecting the offense on the line and Kiko on the D-line. Even when they lost to Florida State back in 2023, it was hard on Francis mentally, as it was his first rivalry loss. Even then, Kiko was by his side to make him feel like he was never alone.

“That’s what a brother does, just being there for those moments with you, whether it’s a loss or a win,” Francisco said in the post-game presser. “You know you’ve always got people to fall back on.”

They even used their fame for good, launching a joint merchandise line where 100% of the profits were donated to the Ronald McDonald House. It makes sense when you come from a financially challenged background.

The Mauigoa Family and football roots

The Mauigoa roots go back to the village of ‘Ili‘ili in American Samoa, where they grew up with a deep love for the game despite having very little. They’ve talked about seeing kids use cut-up slippers as thigh pads because gear was so hard to find, which gave them a ‘never give up’ attitude they’ve carried all the way to Florida.

Speaking of Florida, their parents, Fa‘alialia and Telesia, actually moved from American Samoa to Miami to be close to them. They live just minutes from campus, which means the brothers get to have regular family dinners and go to church together every Sunday.

As we look at 2026, the brothers are officially in different stages of their careers, but are still both killing it. Kiko is currently a professional, having been drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, little brother Mauigoa is just one game away from joining his brother in the NFL next season.