Nationwide — Deland McCullough spent years searching for his biological parents before discovering that the man he had long seen as a mentor and father figure — his former football coach Sherman Smith — was actually his real father. Their extraordinary story later became a book and may soon be a movie.
Now 52, McCullough played for the Cincinnati Bengals before becoming a respected coach, working with the Kansas City Chiefs and recently joining the Las Vegas Raiders. His search for his roots began in 2017, after he became a father himself.
Raised by his adoptive mother, Adele, McCullough grew up without knowing his biological parents, according to People. At 17, he was recruited to Miami University by Smith, a former NFL player and running backs coach. McCullough immediately felt drawn to him, describing Smith as the stable father figure he never had.
Smith, now 70, was known for telling his players, “You may not be looking for a father, but I’m going to treat you like my son.” That bond deepened when McCullough suffered a serious knee injury. Smith offered support both on and off the field, unaware of their hidden connection.
Decades later, McCullough’s search for his birth parents led him back home. His biological mother, who lived only ten minutes away, revealed that his father was Sherman Smith. Shocked, McCullough arranged to meet him. When Smith opened the door, he welcomed him with open arms and said, “My son.”
Smith said he never knew the woman he once dated had given birth to his child. He called the discovery “divine,” adding, “There’s no way to write this. You just have to believe this is God.”
The two share striking similarities. Both played football at Miami University, joined the NFL, and later became coaches. Their careers even ended for the same reason — knee injuries. McCullough joked that their paths continued to overlap, saying both men reached the Super Bowl multiple times and lost to Tom Brady.
McCullough later chronicled their journey in his memoir Runs In The Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging. A film adaptation may follow, and Smith jokingly said, “I want Denzel Washington to play me.”