Some stories are made for the big screen. The kind that makes you sit up, lean in, and hold your breath. Derick Hall’s journey? It’s one of them.
Think about it—how often do you hear about someone who wasn’t even supposed to be here defying every odd imaginable? Hall, the Seahawks’ LB, tackled his way up to the pro-level. He was an underdog in life. Born four months premature, he was given just a 1% chance to survive. Fast forward 24 years, and not only is he thriving, but he’s also inspiring an entire generation. And on his birthday, the franchise made sure to remind everyone just how miraculous his story really is.
“Against all odds.” That’s how the Seahawks’ official X account captioned their birthday post for Hall, alongside a picture of a young fan holding a banner that read:
“I was born at 24 weeks. Derick Hall, you remind me I can do anything! Your mama inspires my mama! Go Hawks.”
If that doesn’t hit you right in the feels, check your pulse.
Hall was once a fragile newborn clinging to life in a Mississippi NICU… Now, he’s the epitome of hope for kids who started their journey just like him. His mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, who fought tooth and nail to keep him alive, now finds herself in stadiums, watching him dominate on the field.
Against all odds.@derick_hall9 was born four months premature with a 1% chance to live. 24 years later, we’ll continue to share your story. Happy Birthday, D-Hall. pic.twitter.com/BZhHmBfh0T
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) March 19, 2025
“I sit in awe sometimes in the stadium like, ‘I just can’t believe this is our life,’” she told The Seattle Times. “To know all the adversity that he faced and the grit and the hard work and the dedication that he had just to be great. Sometimes I just sit in the stadium and I’m like, ‘God, how did we get so blessed?’”
Let’s take you back 24 years in the past… Sit tight. Gooden-Crandle was eight days shy of her 27th birthday when Hall was born. She had already lost a baby at 19 weeks. Another child, R’hana, had been born prematurely at 27-and-a-half weeks. Then came Derick—unexpectedly and dangerously early.
Doctors handed her a form. In short? They wouldn’t intervene to save him unless she signed.
“We elected not to sign the form, so Derick was placed on life support,” she recalled.
For five days, machines did the work his tiny body couldn’t. Slowly, he showed signs of life. At three months, doctors finally felt confident saying, “Okay, he’s out of the woods.” But the fight wasn’t over. Brain bleeds, lung issues, and constant medical checkups followed him into his teenage years. Yet, somehow, this kid—who doctors weren’t even sure would walk—was about to strap on a helmet and play football.
Okay, let’s call this transition: from fragile to fearless!
At four years old, Derick Hall all was already a handful. Rambunctious. Energetic. A family friend suggested flag football. Seemed harmless enough. But by six, Hall wanted to hit. Full-contact. Tackle football. The doctors cleared him—barely. He’d need a special helmet, and his coaches would carry inhalers in case his underdeveloped lungs gave out.
“It was just a way to get out and do something and kind of have that normality and feeling like a child again,” Hall recalled.
Normal? Maybe. But what came next was anything but.
By high school, Hall was an athletic anomaly. He wasn’t just playing football; he was dominating. At Gulfport High, he was a state finalist in the 200 meters, ran hurdles, and long-jumped nearly 22 feet.
A linebacker built like a freight train but fast enough to keep up with wide receivers? Yeah, he was special.
Even still, Hall never fully grasped just how miraculous his journey was—until college. That’s when his mom finally showed him the photos from his NICU days. “When she showed me those pictures, I was like, ‘That’s me?’ and her response was, ‘Yes.’ I was like, ‘There is no way,’” he said.
By then, he was a star at Auburn, a future NFL prospect. And for the first time, he realized his story wasn’t just about football—it was bigger than that. By the time the 2023 NFL Draft rolled around, Hall and his family made a decision: it was time to share his story.
“There are a lot of families that go through having babies that are premature,” Hall said. “So being able to go through that and knowing I can use my story to help impact others is a huge, huge thing that I am very happy and proud about.”
That’s why he launched the Derick Hall One Percent Foundation, named after the odds he was given at birth. It supports premature babies, fights food insecurity, and promotes youth fitness. Hall didn’t just make it—he’s making sure others do, too.
Derick Hall’s stocks are rising and he’s giving it back to the society
A rookie afterthought in 2023, Derick Hall came roaring back in 2024 with 8 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and a defensive touchdown. By the season’s end, the experts already touted him as the ‘Most improved Hawk’. And I see why! He was a problem for opposing QBs. But the thing is, ‘problem’ is an understatement. For something better, you might have to reload the tapes.
However, it might be because of his always in the present attitude. Ask him about his journey, and he won’t dwell on the struggles.
“I try not to think about it as much as I can because it’s still very emotional for me and obviously my family,” Hall admitted. “I don’t think that’s something that will ever get old. But just being able to be here after going through all that and defying the odds… A lot of guys really don’t have this opportunity.”
Maybe that’s why Hall is making sure his story means something. On Valentine’s Day this year, he returned to Memorial Hospital in Gulfport—the same place where doctors gave him less than a 1% chance to live. This time, he wasn’t fighting for his life. He was giving back.
Through his Derick Hall 1% Foundation, he’s supporting premature babies and their families, turning his survival into a mission. His mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, has been with him every step of the way.
“Our lives started here,” she said. “Even though most of the staff that took care of Derick is no longer here, it’s still a way to pave a road to show other families that when you give, so much is given back to you.” They know, Derick’s is one such story out of many in the world. So, the Halls are trying to just narrow that ‘many’ down. As much as they can. It’s the thought that counts… The action that changes lives.
Meanwhile, Derick’s story doesn’t stop here. Hall’s rise in the NFL is only beginning. His platform is growing. His impact is undeniable. He’s proving, both on and off the field, that the 1% can become the difference-makers.
If there’s one lesson from Hall’s journey, it’s this—never count out a fighter. Because sometimes, they don’t just survive.
They win.
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