The Seahawks’ “12th Man” is sure to be loud during Saturday’s divisional-round playoff game against the New Orleans Saints, but there was a time when Seattle fullback Derrick Coleman wouldn’t have been able to hear them.
Coleman is the first legally deaf person to be part of an NFL offense, according to Sporting News, and he has battled deafness since he was 3 years old. Coleman overcame the setback with his ability to read lips and the help of hearing aids, which he uses when playing football.
No stranger to adversity, Coleman made the Seahawks’ roster as an undrafted second-year pro, and he’ll line up with his teammates at CenturyLink Field as part of a 13-3 team that many held all season as the Super Bowl favorite. The last time the Seahawks took on the Saints, Coleman scored his first career touchdown.
Coleman’s inspiring story now is being told as part of Duracell brand batteries’ #TrustYourPower campaign. If the video below doesn’t stir some kind of emotions, you probably should check your pulse.
