Douglas Coleman III Bio
Douglas M. Coleman III is an American professional football safety who has competed in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders before beginning his professional career. Coleman has been a member of the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears of the NFL, and the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 200 pounds, Coleman is recognized for his positional versatility, having lined up at defensive back, nickelback, safety, and linebacker across his career. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors during his senior season at Texas Tech.
Early Life and Background
Douglas M. Coleman III was born on June 28, 1998, in Zachary, Louisiana. He grew up in the same community where he would later become a standout high school athlete. Zachary is a small city in East Baton Rouge Parish, and Coleman developed his football roots there from an early age.
He attended Zachary High School, where he played football as a wide receiver and defensive back. During his senior year, Coleman caught 62 passes for 1,482 yards and 15 touchdowns, establishing himself as a dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball. His high school production drew the attention of college programs looking for athletic defensive backs.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Zachary High School, Coleman committed to play college football at Texas Tech, joining the Red Raiders program in 2016. He made an immediate contribution as a freshman, appearing in 11 games with three starts and earning Athlon Sports second-team freshmen All-Big 12 Conference honors. That debut season gave him a foundation at the collegiate level.
Over the next three seasons, Coleman expanded his role. He started four games in 2017, six games in 2018, and then transitioned to safety full-time as a senior in 2019. His positional development and production at Texas Tech positioned him for a professional opportunity, even though he went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft.
Douglas Coleman III Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Coleman’s early college career at Texas Tech was marked by steady progression. As a freshman in 2016, he recorded 26 tackles, one sack, one interception, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery while playing primarily at nickelback. His ability to contribute in multiple phases of the defense hinted at the versatility that would define his career.
During his sophomore and junior seasons, Coleman continued to develop. In 2017, he totaled 22 tackles, one interception, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. The following year, he recorded 30 tackles, one interception, and seven pass breakups, building a reputation as a reliable defensive back.
Denver Broncos (2020)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Douglas M. Coleman III signed with the Denver Broncos on April 29, 2020. The signing gave him his first opportunity in the NFL following a productive college career at Texas Tech. He joined a Broncos roster looking for depth in the secondary.
Coleman’s time with Denver was brief. He was released by the Broncos on September 5, 2020, before the start of the regular season. Despite the short stint, the experience provided him with valuable insight into the professional level.
Ottawa Redblacks (2021–2023)
Following his release from Denver, Coleman signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League on October 11, 2021. He was moved to the practice roster shortly after and did not appear in any games during the 2021 season. He signed a futures contract on November 20, 2021, to remain with the organization.
In 2022, Coleman transitioned to linebacker and was moved between the practice roster, active roster, and injured reserve throughout the season. He ultimately played in five games, all starts, totaling 18 tackles on defense and one sack. The 2023 season became his breakthrough year in the CFL, as he was named to the CFL’s Week 4 Honour Roll at linebacker and to the monthly Honour Roll for June. He appeared in 17 games, all starts, recording 60 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, one interception return touchdown, and one fumble return touchdown.
Chicago Bears Era (2024–Present)
Douglas M. Coleman III returned to the NFL when he signed with the Chicago Bears on January 10, 2024. The move brought him back to the league after three seasons in the CFL and reunited him with the highest level of American football competition.
During a preseason game on August 22, 2024, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Coleman was injured on the first play of the third quarter. After making a tackle on wide receiver Cornell Powell, he was unable to move any of his limbs and was placed on a stretcher before being rushed to a hospital. Bears coach Matt Eberflus stated after the game that Coleman had movement in his limbs, and he was released from the hospital the following day. He was waived with an injury designation on August 24, 2024, and reverted to injured reserve on August 28, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Coleman’s career has been defined by versatility and adaptability. He has lined up at wide receiver, defensive back, nickelback, safety, and linebacker, demonstrating the athletic range that has kept him in professional football. His coverage instincts, tackling ability, and playmaking production, including multiple interceptions and return touchdowns, have been central to his value at every level.
Notable Events and Milestones
A defining moment of Coleman’s career came during the 2023 CFL season, when he earned selections to both the Week 4 Honour Roll and the June monthly Honour Roll at linebacker. His 2023 stat line of 60 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns underscored his impact. The 2024 preseason injury in Chicago was another significant event, drawing attention across the league before his recovery.
Douglas Coleman III Career Wins
Douglas M. Coleman III has built a professional career around consistent playmaking rather than championship victories. Across the NFL and CFL, his statistical contributions have been the primary measure of his impact on the field.
Canadian Football League Highlights
Coleman’s most productive stretch came with the Ottawa Redblacks in the Canadian Football League, particularly in 2023. That season, he started 17 games at linebacker and produced 60 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, one interception return touchdown, and one fumble return touchdown. He was recognized with selections to the CFL’s Week 4 Honour Roll and the June monthly Honour Roll at linebacker.
Other Wins and Performances
During his senior season at Texas Tech in 2019, Coleman started 12 games at safety and recorded 63 tackles, eight interceptions, and two pass breakups, earning first-team All-Big 12 recognition. His high school career at Zachary included 62 receptions for 1,482 yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior year, marking him as one of the top playmakers in Louisiana.
Douglas Coleman III Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Douglas M. Coleman III’s immediate family is limited. What is documented is his deep roots in Zachary, Louisiana, the community where he grew up and played his high school football. His development in that environment shaped his path to collegiate and professional football.
Personal Life
Details about Coleman’s personal life, including marital status, are not widely documented in verified sources. His professional timeline, from Texas Tech to the NFL and CFL, has been the primary public focus of his biography. He continues to be recognized for his resilience following the 2024 preseason injury.
2025 Season Performance
As Douglas M. Coleman III moves into the 2025 season, his status follows the August 2024 injury that placed him on injured reserve with the Chicago Bears. The timeline of his recovery and potential return to active play has been a key storyline for his career. His previous production in the CFL and his positional versatility give him a foundation to contribute if he returns to the field.
The 2025 outlook depends heavily on his recovery progress and roster decisions by the Chicago Bears. Coleman’s track record of adaptability, having played cornerback, safety, and linebacker, provides teams with flexibility in how he might be deployed. His 2023 CFL production demonstrated that he can still deliver at a high level when healthy.
Should Coleman resume his career, the 2025 season will represent an opportunity to re-establish himself in the NFL. His journey from undrafted free agent to CFL standout and back to an NFL roster reflects a career defined by persistence. The upcoming season will be a critical chapter in his professional story.