When the Seattle Seahawks take the field on Super Bowl Sunday, Derrick Young won’t just be carrying a helmet, he’ll be carrying years of sacrifice, faith and belief from his home state of North Carolina.
For his mom, the moment still feels unreal.
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“It’s so surreal,” said Toinette Young, Dalek’s mother. “I still have to pinch myself some days.”
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young warms up before an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on December 28. Rusty Jones
Dareke Young, who grew up in southeast Raleigh and graduated from Middle Creek High School in Apex, had an unconventional path to the NFL. He then played college football at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a Division II program in Hickory, which typically stays away from the national spotlight.
“It wasn’t something he talked about growing up,” his mother said. “It was like, ‘I want to be a professional football player.’ It probably wasn’t until his junior year in college that he started to think that could be a reality.”
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He told me it might not feel real until he steps on the court. It’s probably the same for me.
What never wavered was his work ethic. After being drafted by Seattle in the seventh round, Young faced a new challenge – traveling across the country and adapting to the speed and pressure of the NFL.
“That was an adjustment in Seattle’s drafting,” she said. “He was only two and a half hours away from home in college. Now he’s across the country, adapting to a faster pace and a completely different level of football.”
This transition was not easy, but his faith supported him through it.
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“He was indoctrinated into faith at a very young age,” she said. “I think he was playing with a lot of insecurity – coming from a D-2 school, being drafted in the seventh round. He had to believe in himself and push himself.”
Now, Young is a wide receiver and key contributor on special teams, making plays in key moments — including a fumble recovery in the NFC Championship Game that helped propel Seattle to the Super Bowl.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young catches a fumble return from Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith during the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 25 in Seattle. Lindsay Watson
“Me and my mom were watching the game,” she said with a laugh. “We were completely crazy. Everyone around us was crazy too.”
As a soccer mom, Sundays are still nerve-wracking.
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“I was nervous,” she admits. “I think it will be better once I fly out on Friday and get around the other moms. We’re all so nervous and excited.”
This connection among Seahawks moms has become a support system for the Seahawks themselves.
“We have a group prayer every game day,” she said. “We chat a lot. It’s very helpful – it helps to connect other people who are going through the same thing.”
As Super Bowl week unfolds, balancing has been the biggest challenge – continuing with daily life while preparing for the biggest game of his son’s career.
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When kickoff finally comes, reality may hit them both.
“He told me it might not feel real until he steps on the field,” she said. “It’s probably the same for me.”
Back home, Raleigh was ready. Watch parties are planned across the region and support has not gone unnoticed.
“When I tell you Raleigh really supports my family — it’s unbelievable,” she said.
When asked about predictions?
“We’re going to be on the confetti side,” she said with a laugh. “Seattle.”
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