NFL stars from Youngstown speaking on mentorship, fatherhood at East High School
NFL players Sherman Smith and Deland McCullough, both Youngstown natives, will make an appearance at East High School to share an “inspirational” message on “mentorship and the importance of fatherhood.”
The professional athletes are set to appear at Youngstown City School District’s Parent Pathways event set for 6 p.m. Friday, July 8, at the high school, 474 Bennington Ave.
Doors open at 5:45 p.m. The event is open to district students, their families and the community, according to a news release.
“Youngstown City Schools provides opportunities during the summer break for scholars and their families to participate,” Superintendent Justin Jennings is quoted in the release. “We want to make certain that there are outlets to join together by offering programming that keeps us connected to our families and community.”
McCullough was raised in Youngstown by adoptive parents and graduated from Campbell Memorial High School.
McCullough was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1996 and also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He went on to become running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, the year the team defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. He now coaches for the University of Notre Dame.
Smith graduated from North High School.
Smith started his NFL career as a running back for the Seattle Seahawks between 1976 and 1983, and later played for the San Diego Chargers. He also went on to coach for several NFL teams as well as for Miami University in Ohio.
“McCullough and Smith’s paths crossed many times throughout their careers,” reads the news release. “While working at Miami University, Smith recruited McCullough to play for the Miami Redhawks. Smith was McCullough’s mentor, but soon, McCullough discovered their connection was much more profound. After connecting with his biological mother in 2017, she expressed who his biological father was: Sherman Smith.”
Their story was the subject of the 2021 documentary “Show Me the Father.”