Derrick Coleman (American football)

Derrick Lamont Coleman (born October 18, 1990) is a former American football fullback. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. He played college football for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Coleman is the first legally deaf offensive player in the NFL.[1]

Derrick Coleman
Coleman with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015
No. 40, 48
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1990-10-18) October 18, 1990
Los Angeles, California
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:Fullerton (CA) Troy
College:UCLA
Undrafted:2012
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2018
Rushing yards:46
Rushing touchdowns:0
Receptions:15
Receiving yards:128
Receiving touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life

Coleman became legally deaf when he was three years old.[2] He attended Troy High School in Fullerton, California, and played college football for UCLA.[3]

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

Coleman went undrafted, then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings on April 28, 2012.[4] He was waived by the Vikings in August.[5]

Seattle Seahawks

Coleman was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in December 2012. He made the 2013 season cut after the fourth preseason game and thus was added to the 53-man roster. In week one's game between the Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers, Coleman had three catches for 30 yards. Coleman scored his first NFL touchdown on December 2, 2013 on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints off of a ricocheted ball from Kellen Davis. Coleman was a part of the Seahawks Super Bowl XLVIII championship team.[6] On October 15, 2015, Coleman was suspended indefinitely after an arrest on hit-and-run charges,[7] but the suspension was lifted on October 19, after a team investigation.[8]

Atlanta Falcons

On March 21, 2017, Coleman signed with the Atlanta Falcons.[9] On September 10, he made his Falcons debut in the 23–17 victory over the Chicago Bears.[10]

Arizona Cardinals

On May 9, 2018, Coleman signed with the Arizona Cardinals.[11]

Personal life

In January 2014, Coleman was featured in a widely praised commercial for Duracell batteries.[12][13] The commercial inspired twin sisters Riley and Erin Kovalcik, who also wear hearing aids, to write him a letter of support. After exchanging letters, Coleman and Duracell decided to invite the Kovalcik family to watch the Super Bowl XLVIII in person on February 2, 2014.[14]

Coleman is a Christian and has spoken about his faith, saying, "I always say that God blessed me this morning and I can do what I do."[15]

On October 15, 2015, Coleman was reportedly driving his Dodge Ram erratically in Bellevue, Washington. After accelerating to over 60 mph, he slammed into the back of another vehicle, injuring 56-year old driver Kristopher Fine. It is alleged that Coleman fled the scene of the accident on foot but was spotted and detained by police within 10 minutes. Police reported that Coleman claimed to have smoked spice, a synthetic form of marijuana, about an hour prior to the incident. On October 6, 2016, he pled guilty to vehicular assault and hit-and-run charges. On October 15, 2016, he was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service and was required to be under community supervision for 12 months. Under the agreement, he was also required to pay the victim restitution and property damages. After being sentenced, Coleman was notified that should he sign with a team in the NFL, he would be required to serve a four-game suspension, which indeed later commenced on October 14, 2016.[16]

References
  1. Farmer, Sam (January 16, 2014). "Seahawks' Derrick Coleman thrives despite his hearing impairment". LATimes.com. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  2. Condotta, Bob (August 15, 2013). "Seahawks' Derrick Coleman makes his mark despite hearing disability". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company.
  3. "Following Derrick Coleman's lead". NFL.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  4. Pelissero, Tom (April 28, 2012). "Six D-Linemen among 15 Undrafted who Agree to Terms with Vikings". KSTP. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  5. Pelissero, Tom (August 25, 2012). "Vikings Waive 15 Players, Including Solomon Elimimian, Derrick Coleman". KSTP. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Seahawks immediately suspend Derrick Coleman after accident investigation", Yahoo.com, October 15, 2015.
  8. "Seahawks' Derrick Coleman reinstated after team views police interviews", ESPN.com, October 19, 2015.
  9. Jackson, Curtis (March 21, 2017). "Falcons Sign FB Coleman, G Thornton, and FB Vainuku". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2017.
  10. "Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears - September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  11. Smith, Michael David (May 9, 2018). "Cardinals sign Derrick Coleman". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  12. Tim Nudd, "Deaf NFL Player Derrick Coleman Tells His Story in Terrific Duracell Ad", Adweek, January 13, 2014.
  13. Vinnie Iyer, "Hear this: Seahawks FB Derrick Coleman has one inspiring story", Sporting News, January 10, 2014.
  14. Deaf Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman invites hearing impaired girls to Super Bowl, Daily News (New York), January 30, 2014.
  15. "Deaf NFL Seattle Seahawks Player Derrick Coleman Inspires Millions in Viral Duracell Ad - 'I Always Say God Blessed Me' (VIDEO)".
  16. Sara Jean Green. "Ex-Seahawk, Derrick Coleman, Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Assault, Hit in Run, in Bellevue Crash". Retrieved October 17, 2016.
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