
Terry Jeffords, portrayed by Terry Crews, is a beloved character in the American sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Terry's brother-in-law, Zeke, is a recurring character in the series, known for his obnoxious behaviour and constant mockery of Terry. Zeke, portrayed by Jamal Duff, is an unemployed former NFL player who often belittles Terry for his height and police work. With an intimidating physique, Zeke towers over Terry, earning him the nickname Tiny Terry. Despite their differences, Zeke occasionally shows respect towards Terry, especially when he views Captain Holt as a jerk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Terry's brother-in-law | Zeke |
| Actor | Jamal Duff |
| Profession | Actor and former NFL player |
| Personality | Disrespectful, demeaning, condescending, mean, insulting, obnoxious, bullying |
| Physique | Intimidating and tall |
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What You'll Learn

Jamal Duff plays Terry's brother-in-law, Zeke
Jamal Duff is an American actor and former NFL player who played the character of Zeke, Terry Jefford's brother-in-law, in the popular TV series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Duff was born in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Tustin, California, as a child, where he played football for Foothill High School. He played college football at San Diego State University, where he was named the Aztecs' Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.
Duff went on to play in the NFL, being selected in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft by the New York Giants. He played in all but one of New York's 16 regular-season games and started two at defensive end, recording four sacks. After a foot injury, he signed with the Washington Redskins, playing 26 games over two seasons and recording five sacks.
Following his NFL career, Duff moved into acting, appearing in various TV shows and films, including S.W.A.T., Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Better Call Saul. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, his character, Zeke, is portrayed as disrespectful and demeaning to Terry, constantly mocking him for his height and muscle mass, and even stealing his food. Zeke is unemployed and abuses Terry's hospitality, staying with him for Christmas and belittling him for prioritising police emergencies over family gatherings. Despite his obnoxious behaviour, Zeke does show occasional moments of awe and respect for Terry, especially when he views Captain Holt as a jerk, which temporarily eases the tension between them.
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Zeke is a former NFL player
Zeke, Terry Jefford's brother-in-law in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, is portrayed by Jamal Duff, a former NFL player. Duff was born in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Tustin, California, as a child. He played football in high school and college, and in 1993, he was named the Aztecs' Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. In 1995, he was selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the New York Giants. Duff played in all but one of New York's 16 regular-season games, starting two at defensive end and recording four sacks.
After spending the 1996 season on injured reserve, Duff signed with the Washington Redskins, playing 26 games over two seasons and recording five sacks. Following his NFL career, Duff transitioned into acting and has appeared in various television shows and films, including S.W.A.T., The Rundown, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Zeke is portrayed as disrespectful and demeaning to Terry, often mocking his police work and physical appearance. He is taller and more intimidating in stature than Terry and frequently calls him nicknames like "Tiny Terry" and "Lil Dum-Dum." Despite their differences, Zeke occasionally shows respect towards Terry, especially when he views Captain Holt as a jerk.
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He is taller than Terry
Terry Jeffords, portrayed by Terry Crews, is a supervisor at the 99th Precinct in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Terry's brother-in-law, Zeke, is played by Jamal Duff, who is taller than Terry.
Jamal Duff is an American actor and former NFL player, standing at 6'6" (78 inches). Duff played for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins before moving into acting. He has appeared in several TV shows and films, including S.W.A.T., Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Better Call Saul.
In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Zeke is portrayed as disrespectful and demeaning to Terry. He often mocks Terry for his height, calling him "Tiny Terry" and "Lil Dum-Dum." Zeke's intimidating physique and height are emphasised in the show, with Terry even seeking help from Captain Holt to deal with his brother-in-law's taunts.
Terry Crews, who plays Terry Jeffords, is also an imposing figure, known for his bodybuilding and large stature. However, Zeke's height and build are highlighted as being even more significant than Terry's, contributing to the dynamic between the characters.
The height difference between the two characters is a recurring theme in the show, with Zeke's towering presence over Terry being a visual representation of their complex relationship and the power dynamic between them.
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Zeke is unemployed
Zeke, Terry Jeffords' brother-in-law in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, is unemployed. Zeke, played by Jamal Duff, is a former NFL player who has been unemployed for years. Despite his unemployment, Zeke has a condescending and disrespectful attitude towards Terry and the NYPD. He often mocks Terry for his height, calling him nicknames like "Tiny Terry" and "Lil Dum-Dum".
Zeke's unemployment is a source of tension in the show, as he takes advantage of Terry's hospitality while simultaneously bullying him. In one episode, Terry is annoyed that Zeke wants to take him out to dinner before his flight, and in another, Zeke stays with Terry for Christmas and mocks him for focusing on his job. Terry, frustrated with Zeke's behaviour, yells at him to get a job.
Zeke's unemployment also allows him to be a constant presence in Terry's life, which adds to the comedic dynamic between the two characters. In one episode, Terry doesn't want to go home because Zeke is there, constantly making fun of him. However, despite their differences, Zeke occasionally shows moments of respect for Terry, such as when he expresses sympathy for him after mistaking Captain Holt for a mean boss.
Jamal Duff, the actor who portrays Zeke, is a former NFL player himself. He played for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins before pursuing a career in acting. Duff has appeared in various television shows and films, including S.W.A.T., The Rundown, and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
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He bullies Terry
Terry Jeffords, played by Terry Crews, is an avid bodybuilder and a sergeant in the 99th Precinct of the New York Police Department. He is known for his intimidating size and appearance, but also for his gentle and parental nature. Terry is devoted to his family, which includes his wife and three young daughters.
Terry's brother-in-law, Zeke, is portrayed by Jamal Duff, who, like Terry Crews, is a former NFL player. Zeke has an even more intimidating physique than Terry and is significantly taller. He often bullies Terry, making fun of his height and muscle mass. Zeke calls Terry names like "Tiny Terry" and "Lil Dum-Dum" and views him as a weakling due to his towering height. In one episode, Zeke stays with Terry for Christmas and mocks him for being focused on his job instead of paying attention to his family. Terry, facing a life-and-death situation at work, gets fed up and yells at Zeke, telling him to get a job.
Zeke is condescending and disrespectful not just to Terry but also to the NYPD, claiming that all they do is wait for criminals to turn themselves in. In another episode, Terry doesn't want to go home because Zeke is there, constantly mocking him and making him feel inferior. Terry's colleague, Captain Holt, even makes up a police case to trick Zeke and prevent Terry from having to spend time with him. Despite his bullying behaviour, Zeke doesn't hate Terry and occasionally shows him respect, such as when he views Captain Holt as a jerk, temporarily easing up on Terry.
The dynamic between Terry and Zeke adds a layer of complexity to Terry's character, highlighting that even the most physically imposing person can be bullied and pressured. It showcases the importance of not judging someone's strength solely based on their appearance and sends a message that anyone can be vulnerable to bullying.
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Frequently asked questions
Jamal Duff plays Terry Jeffords' brother-in-law, Zeke.
Zeke is a bully to Terry, often mocking him for his height and muscle mass. He is also disrespectful to the NYPD. Zeke is unemployed and abuses Terry's hospitality.
Duff is a former NFL player. He has also acted in other TV shows such as S.W.A.T., The Rundown, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Revenge, Two and a Half Men, and Better Call Saul.
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