The intersection of sports, family, and divine providence rarely manifests in such extraordinary ways. What began as a typical college football recruitment transformed into one of the most remarkable father-son stories in NFL history, spanning three decades before the truth came to light.
From recruitment visit to lifelong bond
Sherman Smith arrived at a home in Youngstown, Ohio, with a singular purpose: to recruit 17-year-old Deland McCullough to play football at Miami University in Ohio, where Smith served as running backs coach. Deland had been raised by his adoptive mother, Adelle Comer, after being orphaned at birth.
Smith had developed a distinctive coaching philosophy that emphasized mentorship beyond the playing field. He would tell his players, “You may not be looking for a father, but I’m going to treat you like you’re my son.” For McCullough, this promise would prove prophetic in ways neither man could have imagined at the time.
The relationship deepened when McCullough faced a career-ending knee injury during his final preseason game, effectively ending his NFL aspirations. Smith provided emotional support during this devastating period, offering words of encouragement: “This is just a setback for a great comeback.”
Parallel lives in the world of football
The parallels between the two men’s lives were striking and numerous. Both earned induction into Miami of Ohio’s Hall of Fame. Both advanced to professional football careers. Both experienced career-ending knee surgeries that forced them into early retirement. Both transitioned into coaching roles. Both reached multiple Super Bowls in their coaching capacities. McCullough later quipped about their shared experiences, “Unfortunately, both of us lose to Tom Brady.”
A decade-long search for identity
After marrying and starting his own family, McCullough initiated a search for his biological parents in 2017. He successfully located his adoption records and made a startling discovery: his birth mother resided only ten minutes from his current location. Following their initial meeting and conversation, McCullough posed the question that had haunted him throughout his life.
“Who is my dad?” he asked her.
Her response was earth-shattering: “Your dad is a man named Sherman Smith.”
The revelation that defied coincidence
The revelation meant that the man who had mentored, coached, and served as a father figure to McCullough for more than three decades was his actual biological father. Smith had been romantically involved with McCullough’s birth mother during their teenage years but had no knowledge of the pregnancy or subsequent adoption. The information came as a complete surprise to him.
The first meeting between father and son in their new capacity carried profound emotional weight. McCullough recalled the moment vividly: “He opened the door and just opened his arms and said, ‘My son.'”
Smith reflected on the improbable nature of their intertwined lives and the countless connections that had occurred naturally over the years. “There’s no way you could write this and all these connections,” Smith said. “You just have to believe this is God directing our steps.”
The extraordinary journey has been documented in a book titled ‘Runs In The Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging.’ The story has attracted Hollywood interest for potential film adaptation.
The narrative demonstrates how relationships can develop organically before the full context becomes apparent. McCullough found the guidance and support he needed at a critical juncture in his life, decades before discovering the biological connection that had existed all along. The story illustrates how meaningful bonds can form independent of knowledge of blood relations, and how those connections can prove even more significant once the complete picture emerges.
