SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As Derick Hall hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, he was unaware that it weighed over twice what he did at birth.
At 24 years old, the Seahawks linebacker, who came into the world prematurely at just 23 weeks weighing 2 pounds, 9 ounces, and was given a mere 1 percent chance of survival, reached an incredible milestone. On Sunday, Hall not only recorded two sacks but also delivered the decisive takeaway in the Seahawks’ 29-13 triumph over the Patriots in Super Bowl 2026.
“Reflecting on what it took for me to reach this point and simply be alive, I owe it all to God,” Hall expressed after sharing an emotional embrace with his tearful mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle.
“Mom deserves all the credit. She’s the quiet hero in this journey, always fighting for me,” he added.
If one player epitomized “The Dark Side’s” formidable defensive effort, it was Hall, though he was supported by teammates like Devon Witherspoon, Byron Murphy, Ernest Jones IV, Uchenna Nwosu, and others.
“Every kid dreams of moments like this, but I initially started playing football just to improve my lung capacity,” explained Hall, who began the sport at 4 years old. “I wanted to run around a bit, and I fell in love with the game. It let me experience life like any other kid. Watching others play outside, I wanted to join in, and that passion led me here today.”
The Seahawks already had sacked Drake Maye four times in the building of a 12-0 lead, but there was an unrest that the Patriots were just one big play away from making it a game that they could steal.
That changed when the 250-pound Hall punched the ball out of Mayeâs hand as he wrapped him up for sack. The Seahawks turned the gameâs first turnover into the gameâs first touchdown.
âI was able to power the tackle and get the strip-sack,â Hall said, crediting Leonard Williams for clearing his path to the quarterback.
Just like that, the seven-pound trophy for the Super Bowl champions was all but Seattleâs.
âThatâs crazy,â Hall said of the weight comparisons. âItâs truly a blessing.â
The neonatal intensive care unit that helped save his life on March 19, 2001, reportedly printed up flyers this week celebrating Hallâs journey:
âGood luck Derick Hall & the Seattle Seahawks. Weâre cheering you on from the NICU at Memorial Hospital.â
Hall was removed from life support for the first time at about 3 weeks, when doctors decided it was time to âsink or swim,â his mother said. He breathed on his own and swam all the way to the top of his profession.
