STEFAN LE FORS: "FAMILY INTERPRETER"

by Stan Griffin

Biographical stories appearing on this website are usually about deaf men and women who are achievers in a hearing world. This one is a bit different.

Stefan LeFors was a nationally known quarterback for the University of Louisville (Ky.) football team. In his senior year (2004) he led his team to a 11-1 record, a national ranking in the Top Ten, and a Liberty Bowl victory over Boise State. He was "Conference USA" Player of the Year during his last two seasons at Louisville. LeFors was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2004. (This is given each year to the outstanding senior quarterback in college football and was established in the name of a Hall of Fame quarterback. Unitas, like LeFors, played at Louisville.)

"The numbers he (LeFors) put up (statistics such as passes attempted, completed, touchdowns, etc.) are just as good if not better than any quarterback’s in the country ...one of the nation’s best ..."

Further comments about LeFors:: " ... (he) is an effective runner ...(with) excellent athletic ability ... (throws) with accuracy (and can) ... throw the ball on the run ..." In a prestigious post-season all-star contest (the East-West Shrine Game), LeFors led his team to victory, throwing three touchdown passes.

At the annual NFL (National Football League) draft held in April, 2005, LeFors was chosen by the Carolina Panthers. Currently he remains on the roster as one of their "backup" quarterbacks.

LeFors is the sole member of his family who can hear. His parents, grandparents, brother, aunts, and uncles are deaf. He was born on June 7, 1981 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His father, Larry LeFors, was born deaf like his parents. Susan LeFors, his mother, was born with hearing but became deaf after contracting mumps. Older brother Eric was also born with hearing, but he lost it in the same way as his mother.

This left Stefan with an important family responsibility: communication between them and the hearing world. It thrust him into the center of attention. From an early age, he took on the role of "family interpreter," whether in public or at home on the telephone. He would go to school where he spoke. Then he would come home and not speak; instead he would use sign language.

Stefan began playing football in his backyard almost as soon as he was old enough to run. He learned from his father and his brother. Eric was quarterback on the team at Louisiana School for the Deaf, setting national records while there. He was an inspiration to Stefan and the reason he chose to play the same position.

Stefan played his high school football at Christian Life Academy and "put up big numbers." Unfortunately, he was being overlooked by major colleges; so Mr. LeFors put together a videotape that highlighted Stefan as a prospect and sent it out to a dozen schools. One was the University of Louisville. They liked what they saw and offered him a scholarship.

Louisville Cardinals

Then came a successful college career at Louisville, the NFL draft, and the Carolina Panthers.