Derrick Coleman Net Worth

What is Derrick Coleman's net worth?

Derrick Coleman is an American football player who has a net worth of $1 million.

Derrick Coleman became widely known as one of the most inspiring athletes of his generation. Legally deaf since childhood, Coleman overcame severe hearing loss, bullying, and doubts about whether he could function in a football environment built around verbal calls and split-second communication. After a strong college career at UCLA, he went undrafted in 2012 but eventually made the Seattle Seahawks' roster and became the first legally deaf offensive player in NFL history. Coleman contributed as a fullback and special teams player during Seattle's dominant 2013 season, which ended with a victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. That win made him the first deaf player to win a Super Bowl. His story reached an even wider audience through a viral Duracell commercial that highlighted his childhood struggles and football perseverance. After later stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals, Coleman transitioned into advocacy, writing, motivational speaking, and player-development work.

Early Life

Derrick Lamont Coleman Jr. was born on October 18, 1990, in West Los Angeles, California. At age three, he was diagnosed with severe bilateral hearing loss and was fitted with hearing aids. He is legally deaf.

Coleman's hearing loss shaped much of his childhood. As a toddler, he became largely mute for a period after realizing that he was losing his hearing. As he got older, he was bullied and often picked last in playground games, not because he lacked athletic ability, but because other children saw his hearing aids and deafness as a weakness.

With support from his parents, Coleman was mainstreamed in public school and worked hard to adapt. He went through extensive speech therapy through the eighth grade and became a skilled lip-reader. That ability became crucial later, allowing him to communicate in loud football stadiums and follow instructions from coaches and teammates.

Coleman attended Troy High School in Fullerton, California, where he refused to let his hearing define him. As a tailback, he became one of the most productive players in school history, rushing for 5,214 yards and 86 touchdowns over three seasons as a starter.

College Career

Coleman earned a scholarship to UCLA, where he played for the Bruins and majored in political science. He appeared in 48 games and developed into a tough, versatile running back and special teams contributor.

His best season came as a senior in 2011. That year, Coleman rushed for 765 yards and 11 touchdowns, showing the power, balance, and physicality that later helped him transition to fullback in the NFL. He also made an impact on special teams and won UCLA's Tommy Prothro Award as the team's Outstanding Special Teams Player.

Coleman was named Second-Team All-Pac-12 in 2011. Despite his production, toughness, and versatility, he was not selected in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

NFL Career

After going undrafted, Coleman signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He was waived before the regular season, but his NFL opportunity did not end there.

In December 2012, the Seattle Seahawks signed him to their practice squad. By the 2013 season, Coleman had earned a spot on the 53-man roster as a fullback. In doing so, he made history as the first legally deaf offensive player in NFL history.

Coleman became a valuable contributor on special teams and as a blocking fullback for one of the best teams in football. The Seahawks, led by a dominant defense and a young Russell Wilson, finished the 2013 season by overwhelming the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Coleman's role was not glamorous, but it was meaningful. He did the physical, low-visibility work that helped Seattle function as a complete team.

With Seattle's Super Bowl victory, Coleman became the first deaf player to win a Super Bowl.

His profile rose dramatically before the game when he appeared in a Duracell commercial that told the story of his hearing loss, childhood bullying, and journey to the NFL. The ad went viral and made Coleman a symbol of perseverance for deaf and hard-of-hearing children around the country.

Coleman's Seahawks career was interrupted in 2015 after a hit-and-run incident. He was suspended by the team and later pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and hit-and-run charges. After leaving Seattle, he returned to the league with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 and the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.

Contracts, Salaries & Career Earnings

Coleman's NFL earnings were significant compared with the average worker but modest by professional sports standards. Unlike superstar players who sign massive contracts with large guarantees, Coleman built his career as an undrafted free agent, practice-squad player, fullback, and special teams contributor.

His first NFL income came in 2012 with the Minnesota Vikings, where he earned only a small offseason amount before being waived. After joining Seattle, his earnings increased as he made the active roster. He earned approximately $405,000 in 2013, around $390,883 in 2014, and roughly $550,588 in 2015 with the Seahawks.

After a year away from the NFL, Coleman earned approximately $690,000 with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 and around $790,000 with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.

Altogether, Derrick Coleman's NFL salary earnings are estimated at approximately $2.83 million. Because NFL salaries are subject to taxes, agent fees, training expenses, and other costs, that figure should not be confused with take-home pay or net worth. Popular online estimates have sometimes placed his net worth around $3 million, but that number should be treated cautiously given that his known NFL salary earnings totaled slightly less than that before taxes and expenses.

Book, Advocacy, And Post-Playing Career

Coleman turned his football journey into a larger platform. In 2015, he co-authored "No Excuses: Growing Up Deaf and Achieving My Super Bowl Dreams," a book about his childhood, hearing loss, football career, and determination to overcome obstacles.

He also became a motivational speaker and advocate for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth. Through the Derrick L. Coleman Jr. Foundation, also known as the No Excuses Foundation, he has worked to empower young people with hearing loss and encourage them to pursue their goals without allowing disability or outside doubt to define them.

Coleman later found a new role in football off the field. In April 2023, the Green Bay Packers hired him as assistant to player engagement. The position allowed him to help current players navigate life in the NFL, drawing on his own experience as an undrafted player who had to overcome unusual challenges to earn a roster spot, win a Super Bowl, and build a meaningful life after football.

Who's Richer?

Derrick
Coleman

Compare!

Paris
Lenon