The Undefeated

Shon Coleman and the Fight of his Life

Selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 76^th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Shon Coleman’s career with the NFL has just begun. Yet the journey for Coleman hasn’t been easy. Coleman had to go through a lot to get to where he is today, and his story is an inspiring one.

Soon after signing to play for Auburn in 2010, Coleman was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. That diagnosis could have knocked him out, but with the help of his family, doctors, fans, and coaching staff, Coleman rallied. 

Despite the long lay-off and the difficult cancer treatment he had to endure, Coleman never gave up on his dream of playing football. Throughout more than two years of treatment, he made every effort to stay healthy, continued to work out, and kept believing. That determination paid off, because he beat the disease, and was eventually able to make his debut for Auburn in the fall of 2013.

Coleman grasped with both hands the opportunity to take over as starting left tackle at Auburn in 2014, working hard to ensure a standout season.  He’s the first to admit that the challenges he’s faced have made him wiser and more resilient –“just getting back on the field, now I don’t take life for granted. … It can get taken away from you as quick as that.”

During the 2015 season he had to deal with a partially torn medial collateral ligament, but he’d faced worse, and he persevered and worked hard to get back in the game.

There’s no denying that Coleman has learned a lot on and off the field during the last five years and he’s happy to share that experience to inspire the kids at St. Jude’s to continue fighting for their dreams. Having survived the fight of his life, Coleman is grateful, happy, and ready to take up his next challenge with the Browns.