Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Staal grew up playing ice hockey with his three brothers on an outdoor rink built by their father Henry. All of the Staal brothers have played in the NHL. Older brothers Eric, drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003, and Marc, drafted by the New York Rangers in 2005, both play with Jordan in the NHL, while younger brother Jared was drafted in 2008 by the Phoenix Coyotes, has played 2 NHL games and is currently an assistant coach with OHA Edmonton of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. His cousin Jeff Heerema was drafted by the Hurricanes in the first round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.