Christine Barnett is NFL player Derek Barnett‘s mother. As a single mom, she raised the NFL star and his two older siblings taking up three jobs. The hard work paid off ultimately- Derek is now a proficient football player and plays as a defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles.
No wonder why Derek considers his mother a superhero. What sacrifices did she make? What is she doing now? We will answer these questions in this article.
Key Takeaways:
- Christine is the mother of the Eagles defensive end, Derek Barnett.
- She raised her three children alone.
- Christine worked three jobs to provide for her family.
- She lost her eldest son to a car crash.
- She is the source of inspiration for her son Derek.
Raised Her Three Kids As A Single Mother
Derek’s father is not known to the public. He was not in the picture when Derek was growing up. Christine filled the role of both parents to her kids growing up.
Raising three kids on her own was very tough for her. There was no child support, so all the financial burden fell on her shoulders alone. To provide for the family, poor Christine had to work three jobs.
From waiting tables as a waitress to cleaning houses and hustling at UPS, Christine had to do it all. She had two jobs at one time and temporarily took on a third job just so that her son Derek could pay the fees for summer football camp.
Her job at UPS started at 10:30 p.m. and she worked all night until 3:30 a.m. the next day. Even on the weekends, she worked at restaurants. Christine is the source of inspiration for her son Derek.
Derek once said, “She’s a hard worker, so I think I get that from my mom. At a young age, I saw how hard she worked. That instilled in me a work ethic. I felt I needed to match her- or do better.” Even after his NFL star son Derek’s success, she still liked working and did a warehouse job.
Christine Is Derek’s Superhero
Derek is inspired by his mother’s work ethic. She has helped him become the successful football player he is today. Her main goal for Derek was to get his college degree and be a productive citizen. Derek has undoubtedly achieved it.
“My mom always told me, ‘Stay humble and put your head down and just work’. I think I get that attitude from her.”
Showing his love, Derek gifted his mom Christine with a new car in 2017. He came in a brand new Tahoe in front of his mother’s house and handed her the keys. It was a thoughtful gift from Derek, as Christine had difficulty visiting her grandchildren. Derek bought himself an older model a few weeks later.
Derek Was Drafted by the Eagles
Derek, the youngest son of Christine currently plays as a defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles. Derek, born on June 25, 1996, was fond of American football from his early life. He played for Brentwood Academy and the University of Tennessee during his school and college days.
In 2017, he was drafted by the Eagles as the 14th overall pick. Derek has become a strong asset to the Eagles. He was a part of the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017 and also won the Super Bowl LII with the Eagles in the same year. He has faced some injuries in the later seasons though.
Her Eldest Son Died In A Car Accident
Christine had three kids, Derek and his two elder siblings. One of her sons, David Barnett was 33 years old when he had a fatal car crash in December 2018.
According to the news, he was hit by a drunk man who left the scene and didn’t help David. David unfortunately passed away that morning. David’s death left a big hole in Derek and Christine’s hearts.
