Deaf Seattle Seahawks Player Gives Super Bowl Tickets to Deaf Twins

Earlier this month, Duracell produced a commercial featuring the deaf Seattle Seahawks player, Derrick Coleman. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a must watch. And if you have seen it, watch it again. We filled you in on Coleman’s back-story when the Duracell ad was initially released:

The 23-year-old California native defied the odds by pursuing sports despite coaches who couldn’t communicate well with him, and people who picked on and didn’t understand him. Coleman completed incredible football careers in both high school and college (UCLA), but his first try at the NFL after college didn’t work out.

But Derrick didn’t give up, trying again the following year. Ultimately, his aspiration of playing in the NFL became a reality – not because of luck, but because of drive and dedication.

After seeing the ad for the first time, twin sisters Riley and Erin, wrote to Coleman and told him that he was their inspiration, and that they knew how he felt being deaf. They, too, use hearing aids and know what it’s like to live with a hearing disability.

Derrick received their letter, and paid a surprise visit to the girls on-camera. Coleman obtained Superbowl passes, thanks to the support of Duracell, for the girls and their entire family, and they will now be able to attend the game with their parents and brother.

ABC News’ Rich McHugh and Katie Conway report: There will be two very special guests at this Sunday’s Super Bowl game in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium thanks to one of the game’s biggest stars. Seattle Seahawks’ fullback Derrick Coleman became a viral star after a Duracell commercial showed his unlikely path from legally deaf child to the first legally deaf offensive player in the National Football League.

1 posted on 01/31/2014 3:17:31 PM PST by NYer

Tearjerker!

2 posted on 01/31/2014 3:41:52 PM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)

Great story that has had legs for about three weeks. And he is a local kid, Fullerton, Troy HS, UCLA Bruins BABY!

3 posted on 01/31/2014 4:50:44 PM PST by DAC21

I was unaware of his background until I read a heartwarming story about him earlier today. As a Trojan myself (and being employed in Fullerton), I'm not letting his alma mater dissuade me from pulling for him. I'll watch for him on Sunday.

4 posted on 01/31/2014 5:28:07 PM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)

"D A C 21"

You're not related to Derrick Coleman, are you?

5 posted on 01/31/2014 5:32:06 PM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)

gee that’s kind of audiophobic of him.

6 posted on 01/31/2014 6:21:41 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)

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