Rodney Peete is a former American football player who had a successful 16-year career in the National Football League (NFL). He played for six different teams, including the Detroit Lions, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Carolina Panthers. He was also a star quarterback at the University of Southern California (USC), where he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1988.
After retiring from football in 2004, Peete pursued a career in broadcasting and hosting. He has appeared on various NFL and college football shows for Fox, Fox.com, and ABC. He also co-hosted the talk show For Peete’s Sake with his wife, actress Holly Robinson Peete, on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
Peete is also known for his philanthropic work and his involvement in various causes. He and his wife founded the HollyRod Foundation, which provides support and resources for families affected by autism and Parkinson’s disease. Peete himself has a son with autism, Rodney Jr., who inspired him to write a children’s book called Not My Boy!
In this article, we will explore Rodney Peete’s life story, his achievements, his net worth, his salary, his career, his partner, and his biography. We will also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about him.
Early Life and Education
Rodney Peete was born on March 16, 1966, in Mesa, Arizona. His father, Willie Peete, was a football coach and an assistant at the University of Arizona. His mother, Edna Peete, was a homemaker. He has an older brother named Skip Peete, who is also a football coach in the NFL.
Peete was athletic from an early age and played various sports in high school. He attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona, where he led his teams to state championships in basketball and baseball. He was also an outstanding football player and was named Arizona High School Athlete of the Year and Academic All-American.
Peete was also drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 30th round of the 1984 Major League Baseball draft, but he decided to attend college instead. He chose USC as his alma mater and became one of the best quarterbacks in the school’s history.
College Football Career
Peete played for USC from 1985 to 1988 under coach Larry Smith. He was a four-year starter and set several school records, including passing yards (8,225), touchdowns (54), completions (630), and total offense (9,376). He also led USC to three consecutive Rose Bowl appearances and two Pac-10 titles.
Peete’s best season was in 1988 when he threw for 2,812 yards and 18 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He also ran for 223 yards and three touchdowns. He was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State. He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top senior quarterback.
Peete graduated from USC with a degree in communications in 1989. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.
NFL Career
Peete was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 1989 NFL draft. He spent six seasons with the Lions as their starting quarterback from 1990 to 1993 and as a backup from 1994 to 1995. He led the Lions to two playoff appearances in 1991 and 1993. His best season with the Lions was in 1993 when he threw for 2,776 yards and 13 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Peete then played for five more teams in his NFL career: the Dallas Cowboys (1996), the Philadelphia Eagles (1997-1998), the Washington Redskins (1999), the Oakland Raiders (2000-2001), and the Carolina Panthers (2002-2004). He mostly served as a backup or a mentor for younger quarterbacks such as Troy Aikman, Donovan McNabb, Rich Gannon, and Jake Delhomme.
Peete’s last season as a starter was in 2002 with the Panthers when he threw for 2,630 yards and 15 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. He helped the Panthers win their first division title since 1996 and reach the NFC Championship Game where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Peete retired from football after the 2004 season at the age of 38. He finished his NFL career with 16,338 passing yards, 76 touchdowns, and 92 interceptions. He also ran for 1,005 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Broadcasting and Hosting Career
After retiring from football, Peete pursued a career in broadcasting and hosting. He has worked as an analyst and a commentator for various NFL and college football shows for Fox, Fox.com, and ABC. Some of the shows he has appeared on include The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Fox NFL Sunday, Fox College Football Saturday, and ABC’s Sports Zone.
Peete has also co-hosted several talk shows with his wife, Holly Robinson Peete. They hosted the syndicated show The Rodney Peete and Holly Robinson Peete Show in 2006. They also hosted the reality show For Peete’s Sake on OWN from 2016 to 2018. The show followed their family life and their involvement in various causes.
Peete has also made guest appearances on other shows such as The Celebrity Apprentice, Celebrity Family Feud, Celebrity Wife Swap, and The Masked Singer. He has also acted in a few movies and TV shows such as Why Did I Get Married Too?, Speed-Dating, and The Soul Man.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Peete married Holly Robinson Peete, an actress and a singer, on June 10, 1995. They met in 1993 when Peete was playing for the Lions and Robinson was starring in the sitcom Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. They have four children: twins Ryan Elizabeth and Rodney Jr., born in 1997; Robinson James, born in 2002; and Roman Matthew, born in 2004.
Peete and his wife are both involved in various philanthropic causes. They founded the HollyRod Foundation in 1997 to provide support and resources for families affected by autism and Parkinson’s disease. Peete’s father, Willie, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1980 and passed away in 2017. Peete’s son, Rodney Jr., was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.
Peete and his wife have written several books to raise awareness and share their experiences with autism. Peete wrote a children’s book called Not My Boy! A Father, A Son, and One Family’s Journey with Autism in 2010. He also co-wrote a book with his son called Same But Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express in 2016. His wife wrote a book called My Brother Charlie in 2010, which won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work.
Peete is also a supporter of other charities and organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the United Way, the American Diabetes Association, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Rodney Peete Salary And Net Worth
Peete has an estimated net worth of $5.5 million as of 2023 . His primary source of income was his career as a professional football player, as well as his numerous business ventures, including his Rodney Peete Enterprises company.
However, his salary is not publicly known. According to Spotrac.com, Peete earned a total of $21.1 million from his NFL contracts from 1989 to 2004. His highest annual salary was $3 million in 2002 with the Panthers.
Conclusion
Rodney Peete is a former American football player who had a long and successful career in the NFL. He played for six different teams and set several records at USC. He is also a broadcaster, a host, an author, a philanthropist, and a family man. He is married to actress Holly Robinson Peete and they have four children. He is the founder of the HollyRod Foundation, which helps families affected by autism and Parkinson’s disease.
Peete is an inspiring figure who has overcome many challenges and achieved many goals in his life. He is also a generous person who gives back to his community and supports various causes. He is a role model for many people who aspire to follow their dreams and make a difference in the world.
Most Asked Questions About Rodney Peete
- How old is Rodney Peete?
- Rodney Peete is 57 years old as of 2023. He was born on March 16, 1966.
- How tall is Rodney Peete?
- Rodney Peete is 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall.
- Who is Rodney Peete married to?
- Rodney Peete is married to Holly Robinson Peete, an actress and a singer. They have been married since 1995.
- How many children does Rodney Peete have?
- Rodney Peete has four children: twins Ryan Elizabeth and Rodney Jr., born in 1997; Robinson James, born in 2002; and Roman Matthew, born in 2004.
- What teams did Rodney Peete play for in the NFL?
- Rodney Peete played for six different teams in the NFL: the Detroit Lions (1989-1995), the Dallas Cowboys (1996), the Philadelphia Eagles (1997-1998), the Washington Redskins (1999), the Oakland Raiders (2000-2001), and the Carolina Panthers (2002-2004).
- What awards and honors did Rodney Peete receive in his football career?
- Rodney Peete received many awards and honors in his football career, both in college and in the NFL. Some of them are:
- Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (1988)
- Consensus All-American (1988)
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (1988)
- Heisman Trophy Runner-Up (1988)
- USC Athletic Hall of Fame (1999)
- NFC Offensive Player of the Week (1991, 1993, 2002)
- Ed Block Courage Award (1993)
- Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Nominee (2004)
- Rodney Peete received many awards and honors in his football career, both in college and in the NFL. Some of them are:
- What is Rodney Peete’s net worth as of 2023?
- According to various sources, Rodney Peete has an estimated net worth of $5.5 million as of 2023. His primary source of income was his career as a professional football player, as well as his numerous business ventures, including his Rodney Peete Enterprises company.
- What is Rodney Peete’s salary as of 2023?
- Rodney Peete’s salary as of 2023 is not publicly known. However, according to Spotrac.com, Peete earned a total of $21.1 million from his NFL contracts from 1989 to 2004. His highest annual salary was $3 million in 2002 with the Panthers.
- What is Rodney Peete’s current occupation as of 2023?
- Rodney Peete’s current occupation as of 2023 is a broadcaster, a host, an author, a philanthropist, and a family man. He has worked as an analyst and a commentator for various NFL and college football shows for Fox, Fox.com, and ABC. He has also co-hosted several talk shows with his wife, Holly Robinson Peete, including For Peete’s Sake on OWN. He has also written several books to raise awareness and share his experiences with autism and Parkinson’s disease. He is also the founder of the HollyRod Foundation, which helps families affected by autism and Parkinson’s disease.