Derrick Coleman inspires many as first deaf NFL player to play in a Super Bowl

By Jillian Winn
Sunday, February 9, 2014

Check out this Duracell commercial about deaf NFL player Derrick Coleman.

NOTE: We by no means are promoting (or not promoting) the use of their batteries or hearing aids in general, just want to make sure that you did not miss this inspirational story.

Derrick Coleman is the first deaf NFL player to ever play in the Super Bowl. Previously, there were two deaf defensive players in the NFL - Bonnie Sloan was the first deaf player to play in the NFL in 1973 for St. Louis and defensive player Kenny Walker joined Denver in 1991.

Coleman attended public school where he played sports. Instead of giving up when other kids made fun of him and others told him he wouldn’t be able to do something, he turned his hearing aids off, and as he says in the Durecell commercial about himself, “I’ve been deaf since I was 3, so I didn’t listen.”

Coleman wears a skull cap under his helmet to secure water-resistant hearing aids during games and quarterback Russell Wilson takes his mouthpiece out during huddles so Coleman can read his lips. Coleman repeats the play to his teammates or asks for clarification if needed, he’s not afraid to ask for help.

His success on the field has made him an inspiration to others, but his actions off the field, have made him a role model. He says that the reason he wanted to do the Durecell commercial was so he could share his story with kids in the hard of hearing and deaf community and to encourage them to fight for their dreams.

“Nobody is perfect. I wear a hearing aid, some people have glasses, some people have depression. Everybody has something. But as long as you don’t let that get in the way of what you want to do, you can do anything you want to do.”

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