Derrick Coleman started appearing the media recently with the tagline as the first deaf player to play for the National Football League team, the Seattle Seahawks. He plays fullback and graduated from UCLA, he was signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad December 2012. Derrick started playing football in the seventh grade and has been with it ever since.
The NFL has had two deaf players: Cardinals defensive lineman Bonnie Sloan, who played four games in 1973, and Broncos defensive lineman Kenny Walker, who played 31 games in the 1991 and 1992. Derrick is making waves in Seattle and just might be the third deaf person to play in the NFL.
With his steadfast training skills and impeccable commitment to listening to feedback, Derrick continues to amaze his fellow teammates and coaches who work with him. Fullback Michael Robinson believes, “He’s a great example of the ‘no excuses’ mantra we have around here.”
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) gives monthly #NADHandwaves to people in our community. This is a great opportunity for the NAD to recognize people who do the work they do. With such great people, the world continues to move. If you know someone who you’d like to nominate for a #NADHandwave, you can submit your suggestion on www.nad.org/contactus!
The NAD was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more.
From the NAD, we wish you many great wins Derrick!