Coleman takes a back seat

As part of a team that won a Super Bowl, as well as becoming an international inspiration to the hearing-impaired community,  Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman has had a remarkable share of big moments lately.

He had a small moment Sunday that meant as much as anything to him, and to those who witnessed it. Aboard a flight heading into Seattle, Coleman had a comfy first-class seat – a good thing when you’re six feet and 233 pounds.

Coleman,  who grew up knowing a little something about being overlooked,  stopped reading his iPad and saw a young Marine waiting for the restroom. Coleman stood, shook his hand and chatted.

“As a kid, I always wanted to be an Air Force pilot, but that wasn’t going to happen, and I turned to athletics,” Coleman said Monday after practice. “I think about people in the armed forces, especially around Memorial Day, and how much they’re sacrificing so we can maintain our good lives.”

Coleman said he asked the Marine if he would switch seats. The young man smiled and said no, he couldn’t do that. Coleman kept talking.

“I asked him if he would allow me to give him this small appreciation for what he’s doing for me and all of us. Hey, it’s just a couple of hours in an airplane.”

Stoney sheepishly agreed. They switched seats.

“After we landed, he waited for me at the gate to thank me,” he said. “I gave him an autograph. One of the flight attendants handed me a note and said with all the good food and drinks, he never stopped smiling the whole flight.”