Tevin Coleman
As a running back for San Francisco, 30-year-old Tevin Coleman speaks often about his underdog status. Born three months early, Coleman weighed just three-and-a-half pounds. “I’ve literally been a fighter since I’ve been born,” he said. “It reminds me that I can never give up. God has blessed me to be here on this earth.”
The child of Liberian immigrants, Coleman grew up singing in a church choir. He has performed mission work in Africa and hopes to build schools there after retiring from the NFL.
Coleman, who was diagnosed with sickle cell trait while playing college football at Indiana, has a daughter with sickle-cell anemia. The athlete says he’s open about his family’s experiences in order to help others. “I’m just giving them my light, sharing my situation, my story, and giving them hope,” he said.
Of his daughter, 6-year-old Nazaneen, Coleman said, “She’s strong; she’s real strong. Just like me. God definitely picked her to handle this.”
