Runs in the Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood and Belonging Zibby Media Zibby Owens

Published:

June 03, 2025 ['{"currentVariantId":"48401212539196","currentType":"single_line_text_field","currentKey":"publish_date_variant","currentProps":{"badgeWidth":28,"badgeHeight":28,"showDate":true,"dateFormat":"%m-%d-%Y","showTime":true,"timeFormat":"%I:%M %p","showTimezone":true,"showUnit":true,"showMaxScale":true,"trueValText":"TRUE","falseValText":"FALSE","linkToUrl":true,"linkText":null}}',[{"description_variant":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"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.","bold":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Runs in the Family","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nAmid 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.\n\nAfter 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.\n\nBased on Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain’s viral ESPN article,"},{"type":"text","value":"Runs in the Family","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"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."}]}]},"dimensions_variant":"228.6 X 152.4 X 30.5 mm","ean_upc_variant":"9781668036280","language_variant":"English","publish_date_variant":"June 03, 2025","type_variant":"Hardback","_of_pages_variant":320},{"id":50697029845308,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781668036280","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Runs in the Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood and Belonging - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":3000,"weight":454,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":null,"barcode":"9781668036280","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},], ]

Pages:

320

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Dimensions:

228.6 X 152.4 X 30.5 mm ['{"currentVariantId":"48401212539196","currentType":"single_line_text_field","currentKey":"dimensions_variant","currentProps":{"badgeWidth":28,"badgeHeight":28,"showDate":true,"dateFormat":"%m-%d-%Y","showTime":true,"timeFormat":"%I:%M %p","showTimezone":true,"showUnit":true,"showMaxScale":true,"trueValText":"TRUE","falseValText":"FALSE","linkToUrl":true,"linkText":null}}',[{"description_variant":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"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.","bold":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Runs in the Family","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nAmid 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.\n\nAfter 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.\n\nBased on Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain’s viral ESPN article,"},{"type":"text","value":"Runs in the Family","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"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."}]}]},"dimensions_variant":"228.6 X 152.4 X 30.5 mm","ean_upc_variant":"9781668036280","language_variant":"English","publish_date_variant":"June 03, 2025","type_variant":"Hardback","_of_pages_variant":320},{"id":50697029845308,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781668036280","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Runs in the Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood and Belonging - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":3000,"weight":454,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":null,"barcode":"9781668036280","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},], ]

Language:

English ['{"currentVariantId":"48401212539196","currentType":"single_line_text_field","currentKey":"language_variant","currentProps":{"badgeWidth":28,"badgeHeight":28,"showDate":true,"dateFormat":"%m-%d-%Y","showTime":true,"timeFormat":"%I:%M %p","showTimezone":true,"showUnit":true,"showMaxScale":true,"trueValText":"TRUE","falseValText":"FALSE","linkToUrl":true,"linkText":null}}',[{"description_variant":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"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.","bold":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Runs in the Family","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nAmid 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.\n\nAfter 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.\n\nBased on Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain’s viral ESPN article,"},{"type":"text","value":"Runs in the Family","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"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."}]}]},"dimensions_variant":"228.6 X 152.4 X 30.5 mm","ean_upc_variant":"9781668036280","language_variant":"English","publish_date_variant":"June 03, 2025","type_variant":"Hardback","_of_pages_variant":320},{"id":50697029845308,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781668036280","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Runs in the Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood and Belonging - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":3000,"weight":454,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":null,"barcode":"9781668036280","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},], ]

Format:

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EAN / UPC:

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Zibby Media / Book

Runs in the Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood and Belonging

Name: Runs in the Family: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood and Belonging
Brand: Sarah Spain and Demand McCullough
SKU: 9781668036280
Price: 30.0 USD
Availability: InStock

by Sarah Spain

Format

$30.00

Coming

June 03, 2025

Free gift with purchase: Order the deluxe signed limited edition hardcover and receive a letterpress print of one of the poems! While supplies last.

Description

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 Familyfollows 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 Familyis 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.

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A revelatory examination of the choices we make as parents and children, told through the eyes of a Black man on a journey to find his biological family and discover where and to whom he truly belongs. Based on Sarah Spain’s viral ESPN article.

Football coach and father of four Deland McCullough’s world was forever changed when his adoption records were unsealed, revealing a hidden past that would profoundly shape his understanding of himself and his family. The journey that ensued uncovered a surprising connection: his biological father had unknowingly been a key figure in his life for three decades. Deland’s journey of self-discovery and the search for his identity were transformative experiences, deeply impacting his future by shedding light on his past.

In 1972, sixteen-year-old Carol Briggs gave birth to Jon Kenneth Briggs during a snowstorm in Pittsburgh and decided to place him 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 disrupted by his adoptive parents’ turbulent divorce and his mother’s subsequent abusive relationships. In the midst of this chaos, he learned of his adoption and found football as a sanctuary, providing him with a sense of belonging and mentorship.

Deland’s passion for football propelled him into a professional career and later into coaching. When he became a father, his desire to uncover his origins intensified. He was tired of not being able to fill out a family medical history form and he decided to do something about it. What ensued was an unraveling of identity, an examination of family in all of 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 article for ESPN, Runs in the Family is a staggering portrayal of parenthood—the choices we make, the sacrifices we endure, and the intentional nurturing that shapes us and our loved ones. It is a heartrending story that testifies to the profound impact of family, identity, and the enduring bonds formed through both blood and mentorship.