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Runs in the Family
An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging
By Sarah Spain and Deland McCullough
Table of Contents
Featured Content
About The Book
A revelatory examination of the choices we make as parents and children, explored through the true story of an adopted Black man on a journey to find his biological family and discover where and to whom he truly belongs.
Runs in the Family follows the remarkable true story of Deland McCullough, a football coach and father of four whose life was forever changed by the unsealing of his adoption records. His hidden past harbored an astonishing secret.
In 1972, sixteen-year-old Carol Briggs gave birth to Jon Kenneth Briggs during a snowstorm in Pittsburgh and made the difficult decision to put him up for adoption, hoping he would land in a stable, two-parent household. Adopted by a well-known Youngstown, Ohio, radio DJ and his wife, Jon was renamed Deland McCullough. Deland’s childhood was far from idyllic, disrupted by his adoptive parents’ turbulent divorce and his mother’s subsequent abusive relationships.
Amid this uncertainty and instability at home, football became a sanctuary, providing Deland with mentorship and a sense of belonging. He learned to channel his insecurities and feelings of disconnection into an unrelenting drive to prove his doubters wrong and surpass the expectations others had for him.
After making the transition from professional player to respected coach, Deland’s longing to understand his origins intensified, driven by a desire to fill out his family medical history and piece together the fragmented parts of his identity. The search that ensued led to a life-altering discovery, an examination of family in all its forms, and an exploration of all the ways we inherit, learn, and disrupt generational trauma.
Based on Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain’s viral ESPN article, Runs in the Family is an emotional examination of the sacrifices, choices, and nurturing that shape us and our loved ones. It offers a heartfelt testament to the profound impact of family and the kind of love and mentorship that can forge enduring bonds that transcend biology.
Runs in the Family follows the remarkable true story of Deland McCullough, a football coach and father of four whose life was forever changed by the unsealing of his adoption records. His hidden past harbored an astonishing secret.
In 1972, sixteen-year-old Carol Briggs gave birth to Jon Kenneth Briggs during a snowstorm in Pittsburgh and made the difficult decision to put him up for adoption, hoping he would land in a stable, two-parent household. Adopted by a well-known Youngstown, Ohio, radio DJ and his wife, Jon was renamed Deland McCullough. Deland’s childhood was far from idyllic, disrupted by his adoptive parents’ turbulent divorce and his mother’s subsequent abusive relationships.
Amid this uncertainty and instability at home, football became a sanctuary, providing Deland with mentorship and a sense of belonging. He learned to channel his insecurities and feelings of disconnection into an unrelenting drive to prove his doubters wrong and surpass the expectations others had for him.
After making the transition from professional player to respected coach, Deland’s longing to understand his origins intensified, driven by a desire to fill out his family medical history and piece together the fragmented parts of his identity. The search that ensued led to a life-altering discovery, an examination of family in all its forms, and an exploration of all the ways we inherit, learn, and disrupt generational trauma.
Based on Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain’s viral ESPN article, Runs in the Family is an emotional examination of the sacrifices, choices, and nurturing that shape us and our loved ones. It offers a heartfelt testament to the profound impact of family and the kind of love and mentorship that can forge enduring bonds that transcend biology.
About The Authors
Photography by James Gustin
Sarah Spain is an Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist, the host of the iHeart daily women’s sports podcast Good Game with Sarah Spain and an ESPNW contributor. She has been a jack of all trades in her fourteen years at ESPN, as a radio and podcast host, television personality, producer, and writer. Spain is a graduate of Cornell University, where she competed as a heptathlete and served as cocaptain of the track and field team. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Brad, and their three rescue dogs.
Photography by Notre Dame
Deland McCullough is a celebrated football figure, excelled as both a player and coach. A four-year starter and the all-time rushing leader at Miami University (Ohio), he was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame. After he led the NFL in preseason rushing with the Bengals, knee injuries ended his pro career, which included stints with the Eagles and the CFL’s Blue Bombers, where he was a 1999 All-Star nominee. Transitioning to coaching, McCullough became one of football’s premier RB coaches, helping nearly twenty RBs to 1,000+-yard seasons. A five-time national finalist for top RB coach, he played a key role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV win. An author and part of the team that created the Emmy Award–winning E:60 feature Identity, McCullough resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, as RB coach for the Raiders.
Product Details
- Publisher: S&S/Simon Element (June 3, 2025)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668036280
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Raves and Reviews
“The story of Deland McCullough is a break-your-brain/explode-your-heart story. Skillfully woven throughout, Runs in the Family is paradigm-shifting wisdom about mentorship, generational trauma, emotional DNA, and the transformational power of parenthood in all its forms. Like all our stories, Deland’s is one about family secrets, breaking cycles, and how the truth first hurts us and then heals us.” —Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed
“The best sports stories have a beating heart you can feel, and the best sports reporters know just where to put the stethoscope. I didn’t know Deland McCullough had one of those stories, but I do know that I’ll always place my attention wherever Sarah Spain places her caring, craftsmanship, and compassion. In everything from her eye to her empathy, Sarah accompanies Deland with grace toward vulnerable discoveries that can sometimes be too much for even our toughest gladiators and conquerors. There’s real intimacy when a fighter and a writer team up to take us, like all the best stories in the arena do, to the roots of the human condition.” —Dan Le Batard, award-winning sportswriter, television personality, and podcast host
“Deland McCullough’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and family. In Runs in the Family, he mixes his personal growth with personal failures and poor choices. He persevered and matured to find his identity through it all. This story has football principles dealing with and overcoming the ups and downs of life and finding a way to be successful.” —Andy Reid, three-time Super Bowl champion and head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs
“Runs in the Family is one of the most remarkable sports stories I’ve ever read. It’s a tale that seems almost too unlikely to be true, but as Sarah Spain and her coauthor Deland McCullough describe in moving detail, the coincidence that drives the central mystery of this gripping narrative is only a small part of what makes this book so unforgettable. It’s about serendipity, to be sure, but it’s also about resilience, identity, and, above all, love.” —Mina Kimes, award-winning ESPN journalist
“Deland McCullough’s journey is a remarkable testament to the unexpected bonds that football can forge. Runs in the Family shows that football can be the catalyst to a miracle, and this book beautifully captures karma and good fortunes.” —Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders head coach, Super Bowl champion, NCAA Football champion
“A beautiful playbook that illustrates the universal truths about grace and mercy.” —Dan Quinn, head coach of the Washington Commanders
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Runs in the Family Hardcover 9781668036280
- Author Photo (jpg): Sarah Spain Photography by James Gustin(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
- Author Photo (jpg): Deland McCullough Photography by Notre Dame(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
