Usually when someone mentions the name Derrick Coleman, the response is: Who?
Coleman is a professional football player for the Seattle Seahawks. At the age of 3, he became deaf in both ears. His medical condition didn’t put a stop to his dream of playing football, however. Coleman played football for the University of California, Los Angeles. Playing the game was never easy for him, though; coaches felt that they couldn’t connect with him, as communication was difficult due to his hearing loss.
Despite his challenges, Coleman was signed to the Seattle Seahawks in December of 2012, becoming the first deaf offensive player in the National Football League (NFL). His hearing aids help him regain about 60 to 80 percent of what people unaffected with hearing loss can hear, and Coleman has also learned to read lips.
In January 2014, Coleman was featured in the widely known Duracell batteries commercial. The ad recounts Coleman’s emotional journey as a football player, and how he was constantly told to quit the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2HD57z4F8E
But his perseverance wasn’t in vain; Coleman will be playing in the Super Bowl XLVII for the Seattle Seahawks. Tune in to The Hewitt Times’ live stream of the Super Bowl to see how well he plays his game!