Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall and his mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, have come forward to share the remarkable story of Hall’s early arrival into the world, detailing a harrowing journey that began with a fight for survival. Hall’s birth was anything but typical, occurring at just 28 weeks into Gooden-Crandle’s pregnancy when her waters broke unexpectedly.
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On the night of 19 March, 2001, Hall was born at 11:23 PM, moments when doctors were preparing Gooden-Crandle for the worst. In an emotional account, she recalled that while he insisted on entering the world, her son arrived without a heartbeat and required immediate resuscitation. “He was born dead,” she stated. “He had to be put on life support, and for a while, it was really touch-and-go. They told me he had only a one percent chance of survival for the first two weeks.”
Despite the odds stacked against them, Gooden-Crandle clung to her faith during this tumultuous time. “I was nervous, but I’m a faith-based woman, and I felt like if God brought me to it, he could bring me through it,” she explained. Her unwavering hope and prayers for her son—a “little fighter,” as she affectionately calls him—became a source of strength. Each minor victory, whether it was Hall coming off life support or having feeding tubes removed, was marked by celebrations of his progress.
Today, Derick Hall stands as a testament to resilience through adversity, now a professional football player with the Seattle Seahawks. He is featured in the Huggies “Natural Born Fighters” campaign, highlighting the journeys of babies who endure challenging beginnings in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Gooden-Crandle attests to the unique challenges faced by parents of premature infants, recalling the ongoing struggles even as Hall grew older. “Every winter, we would go to the hospital because his lungs couldn’t take the cold air,” she said.
Airway issues and underdeveloped lungs from his premature birth made Hall’s childhood difficult. He remembers frequently questioning why he couldn’t join friends for outdoor play. “When I was a kid, I always wanted to go outside, but I couldn’t. I would ask my mum, ‘Why?’, and she would say, ‘You just can’t right now,'” he recounted. Hall eventually received medical clearance to participate in sports, a moment he describes as the “best day of my life.”
Hall’s passion for football blossomed despite his mother’s attempts to steer him towards safer pastimes. “I started playing flag football, and from that point forward, I just fell in love with the game,” he shared. Gooden-Crandle ultimately realised that while her initial fears were valid, supporting her son’s dreams was of paramount importance. “I just had to support his dreams,” she said.
Hall expressed profound gratitude for his mother’s unwavering backing. “She’s never missed a game, never missed an event—she’s always been there,” he said, acknowledging the rarity of such steadfast support. Their bond is one of mutual admiration and love, forged through hardship and perseverance.
Now weighing in at 265 pounds, Hall has come a long way since his rocky start, inspiring not just those around him but also serving as a beacon of hope for families facing similar challenges. His mother reflects proudly on his journey, highlighting the duality of his profession as both dangerous and immensely rewarding. “It shows families: look at where he started and how far he has come,” Gooden-Crandle stated.
The culmination of Hall’s journey reached a remarkable milestone when the Seattle Seahawks triumphed in the Super Bowl on 8 February 2026. After the final whistle, Hall and his mother shared an emotional embrace. Gooden-Crandle expressed her gratitude, exclaiming, “I just hugged him so tight, and I was just so thankful to have him. I told him, ‘You did it, you did it!’ and he said, ‘No, we did it.’”
In 2023, the Seahawks selected Hall as their 37th overall pick in the draft, marking the start of an exciting chapter in his professional career. As he embarks on his fourth season in the league, Hall’s story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, love, and family support through life’s unpredictable challenges.