When Derick Hall stepped onto the field during Super Bowl LX, few knew the extraordinary journey that brought him there. The Seattle Seahawks linebacker defied medical odds that seemed insurmountable, transforming from a premature infant with virtually no chance of survival into a professional football champion whose faith became the cornerstone of his remarkable life.
Born at just 23 weeks—four months premature—Hall entered the world without vital signs. Medical professionals gave the infant a mere 1% chance of survival, and he suffered a brain bleed that threatened to end his life before it truly began.
Doctors said he had no chance
“I wasn’t born… breathing,” Hall told Fox News Digital. “I was born dead.”
The grim prognosis would have shattered most families, but Hall’s mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, placed her hope in something beyond medical statistics. “I just trusted that God would work everything out,” she said, reflecting on those harrowing early days.
Gooden-Crandle described their shared faith as “probably the most important thing that we share.” She explained: “We are people of faith and have been for most of my lifetime. I joined church when I was 16 years old, and I’ve just grown up as a woman of faith. I’ve raised my children in the church and instilled faith in them and just allowed them to flourish in their faith in their walk with Christ.”
A childhood marked by physical limitations
Hall’s early years were defined by severe physical restrictions. Between the ages of four and thirteen, he could only engage in outdoor play for five-minute intervals before needing an hour of rest to allow his underdeveloped lungs to recover. This respiratory limitation remains with him permanently.
Despite these challenges, Hall discovered football, which became his pathway to normalcy. “It was the first thing that I was able to do to make me feel like a normal kid,” he said.
His mother took extraordinary precautions, ensuring every coach had access to asthma pumps and rescue inhalers. She initially enrolled him in flag football while continuing regular visits to a neurologist to monitor the effects of his brain bleed.
During this challenging period, Hall received encouragement from his pastor that would shape his perspective: “You weren’t dying for this, you are blessed to be in this position and God has something greater for you.”
Rising through the ranks of football
Hall’s athletic talent became undeniable. He received his first college scholarship offer while still in eighth grade, eventually becoming a standout player at Gulfport High School in Mississippi. At Auburn University, he established himself as a defensive force, recording 147 tackles and 19.5 sacks. The Seattle Seahawks selected him with the 37th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
However, the 2025 regular season tested Hall’s patience. Despite consistent effort, he managed only two sacks across 14 games. “I was steady getting hits… I’m getting pressures,” Hall said. “But I can’t get the sack… I’m like, Lord, whatever you got planned, let it reveal itself.”
Breaking through on the biggest stage
Super Bowl LX proved to be Hall’s defining moment. He recorded two sacks, forced a fumble, and delivered a crucial strip sack that changed the game’s momentum. Seattle defeated their opponent 29-13, and Hall’s performance was instrumental in the victory.
“I got to that Super Bowl and I got both sacks, and I’m like, man, ain’t no time like God’s time,” he said.
Hall consistently emphasizes his faith when discussing his achievements. “I always speak to my faith because obviously I’m a miracle child, and I don’t say I’m doing good, I say I’m blessed, I can’t complain, I’m above ground and I’m blessed.”
He offers a powerful perspective on his unlikely journey: “You can’t tell me that a child with a one percent chance to live and not supposed to be walking, not supposed to be talking, not even supposed to be alive, ends up being a Super Bowl champion one day without the Lord being in their lives. That’s a miracle in itself.”
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11
WATCH: Derick Hall’s Miraculous Story (2023)
