Derrick Lamont Coleman (born October 18, 1990) is a former American football fullback who is an assistant to player engagement for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). 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 with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 | |||||||||||
| Green Bay Packers | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Assistant to player engagement | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | October 18, 1990 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||
| As a player: | |||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| As an executive: | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||||
Early life edit
Coleman became deaf when he was three years old; he primarily uses lip reading for communication.[1][2] He attended Troy High School in Fullerton, California, and played college football for UCLA.[3]
Playing career edit
Minnesota Vikings edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
On May 9, 2018, Coleman signed with the Arizona Cardinals.[11]
On November 19, 2020, the Las Vegas Raiders hosted Coleman for a workout.[12]
Executive career edit
On April 18, 2023, Coleman was hired by the Green Bay Packers as assistant to player engagement, serving under Grey Ruegamer.[13]
Personal life edit
In January 2014, Coleman was featured in a widely praised commercial for Duracell batteries.[15][16] 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.[17]
On October 15, 2015, Coleman was reportedly driving his Dodge Ram erratically in Bellevue, Washington. It is alleged that Coleman fled the scene 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. In the NFL, Coleman served a four-game suspension which commenced on October 14, 2016.[18]
References edit
- ^ Condotta, Bob (August 15, 2013). "Seahawks' Derrick Coleman makes his mark despite hearing disability". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company.
- ^ Farmer, Sam (January 16, 2014). "Seahawks' Derrick Coleman thrives despite his hearing impairment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ "Following Derrick Coleman's lead". NFL.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Derrick Coleman 8-yard touchdown". Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ^ "Seahawks immediately suspend Derrick Coleman after accident investigation", Yahoo.com, October 15, 2015.
- ^ "Seahawks' Derrick Coleman reinstated after team views police interviews", ESPN.com, October 19, 2015.
- ^ Jackson, Curtis (March 21, 2017). "Falcons Sign FB Coleman, G Thornton, and FB Vainuku". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2017.
- ^ "Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears - September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
- ^ Smith, Michael David (May 9, 2018). "Cardinals sign Derrick Coleman". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
- ^ "Former Seahawks FB Works Out for Raiders". November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Packers hire Derrick Coleman as assistant to player engagement". packers.com. April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ "Deaf NFL Seattle Seahawks Player Derrick Coleman Inspires Millions in Viral Duracell Ad - 'I Always Say God Blessed Me' (VIDEO)". January 15, 2014.
- ^ Tim Nudd, "Deaf NFL Player Derrick Coleman Tells His Story in Terrific Duracell Ad", Adweek, January 13, 2014.
- ^ Vinnie Iyer, "Hear this: Seahawks FB Derrick Coleman has one inspiring story" Archived January 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Sporting News, January 10, 2014.
- ^ Deaf Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman invites hearing impaired girls to Super Bowl, Daily News (New York), January 30, 2014.
- ^ Sara Jean Green (October 6, 2016). "Ex-Seahawk, Derrick Coleman, Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Assault, Hit in Run, in Bellevue Crash". Retrieved October 17, 2016.