Runs in the Family

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.

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. 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.