According to baseball books I have found in libraries, there was an outfielder named William Hoy for the Cincinnati Reds, and a pitcher named Luther Taylor for the New York Giants, both around the beginning of the 20th Century and both quite deaf. Both were called “Dummy,” as was apparently common at the time but would be unthinkable these days. But there must have been deaf or hard-of-hearing players in other sports, and in later eras. I have never read of any, however. Any information?
Jim Kyte played a long career in professional hockey, including many years in the NHL. Wikipedia states he was the first, and so far only, legally deaf player in the NHL.
Gertrude Ederle, the first person to swim across the English Channel, suffered hearing loss at an early age.
First *woman *to swim the Channel.
Lou Ferrigno probably deserves mention.
Curtis Pride was deaf from birth due to rubella, and played Major League Baseball for several seasons.
Derrick Coleman is an active NFL player, and has been legally deaf since the age of 3. He’s a fullback, and QB Matt Ryan turns to look at him if he audibles a play so Coleman can read his lips.
Kenny Walker was a star defensive lineman in college who stuck for a year with the Denver Broncos but didn’t really pan out in the pros.
All players on all teams at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC have been deaf. The football huddle was invented there to keep opponents from reading their sign-language calls.
Yeah he was a Seahawk until he got into a bad car crash that he ran away from. They cut ties with him at that point.
He later pled guilty to vehicular assault and hit-and-run while under the influence of drugs.
It’s a shame, he seemed like a great guy.
I’m glad other teams gave him a chance.
As well as the Arkansas School For The Deaf
Bonnie Sloan was the first deaf player to play in the NFL. He played for the (then St Louis) Cardinals back in the early 70s.
Thanks to all. 
I even saw in the Life Science Library (A set of books I bought all at once) a picture of the quarterback on the Gallaudet football team giving signals in ASL.
There’s even been a blind football player (long snapper) in Div-1 football.
There was a tennis player, I think South Korean, who was deaf, and who was doing pretty well a couple of years ago. (Brief spotlights on the Tennis Channel.) I don’t know if he’s still playing but I haven’t heard much about him lately.
Lee Duk-hee perhaps?
Others listed in this recent article on the topic:
- Ashley Fiotek (motocross)
- Jeff Float (swimming)
- Tamika Catchings (basketball; the article indicates that she was born with “severe hearing deficiency,” but it appears that she may not be entirely deaf)
Larry Brown, RB for the Redskins and 1972 NFL MVP is mostly deaf in one ear and had a hearing aid fitted inside his helmet.
Reed Doughty, S for the Redskins in the 2000’s is mostly deaf.
Flozell Adams, OT for the Cowboys and Steelers, is partially deaf in his right ear.
That’s the one.
Lance Allred - Wikipedia Former basketball player