Peete was born in Mesa, Arizona. He attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson. Peete was a three-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was named the Arizona High School Player of the Year and an Academic All-American as a junior. He also contributed to his teams winning state championships in basketball and baseball.
Peete accepted a football scholarship from the University of Southern California, because head coach Ted Tollner had given him an opportunity to play quarterback. As a redshirt freshman, he began the season as a backup quarterback behind Sean Salisbury. In the fifth game against Stanford University, Peete replaced Salisbury in the fourth quarter and led USC to its only touchdown in the second half, sealing a 30–6 win. Salisbury would struggle to a 4–4 record and was replaced with Peete as the starter in the ninth game, against the University of Washington, which was a 20–17 loss. In the next game, he contributed to a 17–13 win against UCLA. Peete finished the season with a 2–2 record earning 50-of-85 completions (58.8%) for 566 yards, five passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 49 carries for 78 yards, and one rushing touchdown.
As a sophomore, Peete started all 12 games, while contributing to a 7–5 record. He completed 160-of-305 attempts (52.5%) for 2,138 yards, 10 passing touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 103 carries for 124 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
As a junior, Peete started all 12 games, while contributing to an 8–4 record. He set a school record with five touchdown passes against the University of Oregon. The team played in the 1988 Rose Bowl, losing 20–17 to Michigan State University.[1] Peete's statistics on the season were: 197-of-332 completions (59.3%) for 2,709 yards, 21 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 70 carries for 145 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
As a senior, Peete started all 12 games and had a 10–2 record. He posted 223-of-359 completions (62.1%) for 2,812 yards, 18 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 68 carries for 68 yards and five rushing touchdowns. His teams would win both head-to-head matchups in the UCLA–USC rivalry against Troy Aikman's UCLA teams, with the 31–22 win being notable in that Peete was stricken with measles the week before the game and had been hospitalized.[2] The Trojans lost 22–14 in the 1989 Rose Bowl against the University of Michigan.[3] For his efforts, he was the second player ever and the first Trojan to win the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation's best senior quarterback (since earned by Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart as well). He was second to Barry Sanders and ahead of Aikman in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Peete finished his college career as the school's all-time leader in pass attempts (1,081), completions (630), passing yards (8,225), total offense (8,640) and starts (40). He also had 54 passing touchdowns, 42 interceptions, 290 carries for 415 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
In baseball, Peete played second base and shortstop as a freshman; although he was limited with a strained hamstring, he batted around .260 as part of a losing team. As a senior, he was the starter at third base, hitting .338 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs, while receiving All-Pac-10 honors. In his three seasons of collegiate baseball, Peete batted .297 with 18 home runs and 84 RBIs. He was drafted three different times while at USC; in the 1988 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics in the 14th round (359th overall), the 1989 MLB draft by the Athletics again in the 13th round (348th overall) and the 1990 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers in the 28th round (742nd overall).[4]
In 2009, Peete was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2014, he received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award.[5]
Peete was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 6th round (141st overall) of the 1989 NFL draft, after dropping because he was not considered to have the size or the arm talent needed to succeed in the NFL.[8] He also joined Barry Sanders on the team.
As a rookie, Peete was scheduled to start the season opener, but sprained his knee in the final preseason game, against the Los Angeles Rams, missing the first three games of the season and being replaced with Bob Gagliano. He would have been the first rookie quarterback to start for the Lions since 1968 when Greg Landry started. Peete completed 17-of-31 for 268 yards, one passing touchdown, 10 carries for 78 yards, and one rushing touchdown in a 17–16 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that earned him NFC Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors. He finished with eight starts, while completing 103-of-195 attempts for 1,479 yards and five passing touchdowns.
In 1990, Peete registered 142-of-271 completions (52.4%) for 1,974 yards, 13 passing touchdowns, 48 carries for 365 yards (second on the team), and six rushing touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the NFC with 79.8 rating points and his interception percentage (3.0%) was the second lowest in franchise history. Peete had a career-high eight carries for 97 rushing yards, including 17-of-26 completions and one rushing touchdown in the third game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He suffered a pulled hamstring in the fourth game against the Green Bay Packers, which forced him to miss the next two contests. Peete returned in the seventh game, against the New Orleans Saints, contributing to a 27–10 win with 16-of-25 completions for 246 yards, one passing touchdown and 38 rushing yards. He suffered a left pulled hamstring in the next game against the Washington Redskins, leaving with a 35–21 lead that the team could not hold, losing 38–41 in overtime. Peete missed the next three contests and returned to action in the fourteenth game, against the Chicago Bears, helping the team score 21 first quarter points (franchise record), while throwing a career-high four touchdowns.
In 1991, Peete started the first eight games, before suffering a season ending Achilles tendon injury against the Dallas Cowboys. Peete had guided the team to a 5–2 record. He had career-highs of 25-of-38 completions, to go with 271 yards and one passing touchdown in the 23–14 win against the Green Bay Packers. He was replaced by Erik Kramer, who led the team to the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Redskins. Peete was placed on the injured reserve list on October 30.[9]
In 1992, Peete started 10 games, making 123-of-213 completions (57.7%) for 1,702 yards and nine passing touchdowns. In the fourth game, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had 20-of-31 completions for 323 yards (career high) and one 78-yard touchdown pass. Peete passed for three touchdowns in the seventh game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 1993, Peete had a career-high 62.3% completion percentage (second in franchise history), while starting 10 games. He suffered an injury in the third game that forced him to miss two contests. Peete still was able to lead the team to six wins in his first seven starts. Peete had 20-of-28 completions for 273 yards, scoring 17 fourth quarter points to overcome a 13–27 deficit and also completed a 93-yard touchdown pass (career high) in the eighth game, against the Minnesota Vikings. He was the team's third-string quarterback behind Kramer and former Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware for the last four regular season games.
Dallas Cowboys
On May 3, 1994, Peete signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, to replace Bernie Kosar as Troy Aikman's backup.[10] In the seventh game, against the Arizona Cardinals, Aikman suffered a concussion on the first possession and Peete replaced him, throwing two touchdown passes in a 28–21 victory. In the eleventh game, against the Washington Redskins, he substituted an injured Aikman (sprained left knee), but suffered a sprained right thumb and also had to be replaced, with third-string quarterback Jason Garrett in the 31–7 win. In the thirteenth game, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Peete started in place of an injured Aikman, tallying 172 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 31–19 win. In the season finale against the New York Giants, he entered the game with 4:49 minutes left in the first half, making 6-of-8 completions for 50 yards and no touchdowns in a 15–10 loss.
Philadelphia Eagles
On April 22, 1995, Peete was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles.[11] New head coach Ray Rhodes, implemented the West Coast offense and named Peete the starter over quarterbackRandall Cunningham, after the team got off to a 1–3 start. He would go on to start in 12 games with a 9–3 record, posting 215-of-375 completions (57.3%) for 2,326 yards, eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
On March 14, 1996, Peete re-signed with the Eagles.[12] He lost his starting job to Ty Detmer, after he tore his patella tendon. Peete started five games (3–2 record), making 80-of-134 completions (59.7%) for 992 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.
In 1998, Bobby Hoying was named the starter and the team got off to a 1–6 start. The rest of the season, Koy Detmer and Peete split time at quarterback.
In 1999, Peete was the back up quarterback behind Brad Johnson. He appeared in three games, collecting 8-of-17 completions (47.1%) for 107 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Peete became the first quarterback to throw a regular season pass for three different NFC East clubs.
On September 2, 2001, Peete was released after being passed on the depth chart by rookie Marques Tuiasosopo. On September 29, he re-signed with the Raiders, after Hoying injured ligaments in his throwing elbow.[15] Peete appeared in one game and did not register any statistics.
Carolina Panthers
On March 28, 2002, Peete was signed as a free agent by the Carolina Panthers.[16] At 37 years old, Peete's career appeared to be over until he was named the starter over Chris Weinke, leading the team to a 3–0 start and ultimately finishing with a 7–9 record, an improvement over 1–15 the year before.[17] He registered career highs of 14 starts, 223-of-381 completions, 2,630 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a passer rating of 77.4.[18]
In 2003, after a weak showing in the first half of the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach John Fox replaced Peete in the third quarter with Jake Delhomme, who then led the Panthers to a comeback victory. Delhomme replaced Peete as starting quarterback for the rest of the season, leading the team to an 11–5 record and the Super Bowl XXXVIII game against the New England Patriots.[19]
On February 28, 2005, Peete was released for salary cap reasons, but he chose to retire instead of re-signing with the Panthers for another season with a lower salary.[20][21] Peete finished his career with the most NFL career passing yards among quarterbacks from USC, a record that was eventually eclipsed by Carson Palmer.[citation needed]
Peete finished his career with 1,344 completions in 2,346 attempts, for 16,338 passing yards, 76 passing touchdowns, 92 interceptions and a passer rating of 73.3.
Rodney Peete and his wife Holly Robinson Peete star in Lipozene commercials on television.
In 2019, Rodney Peete co-hosted the Hallmark Kitten Bowl.[citation needed]
Rodney Peete currently serves as co-host (alongside former KNBC sportscaster Fred Roggin) of Roggin and Rodney, on Los Angeles sports radio station KLAC radio (570AM), focusing on Southern California sports.[23]
Personal life
Rodney Peete with his wife Holly Robinson Peete in 2010
Peete has been married to actress Holly Robinson Peete since 1995. They have four children. One of their children, Rodney Peete Jr., was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age three.[24] He discusses his relationship with his autistic child in the June 2010 issue of Men's Health.[25] As of 2023, Rodney Peete Jr. is now working for the Dodgers.[26]
LaVonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft. Carter played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. Outside the NFL, he also was a member of the Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings, Kansas City Brigade and Abilene Ruff Riders. Additionally, from 1996 to 1999, he was in the Chicago Cubs minor league baseball organization.
Carson Hilton Palmer is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football for the USC Trojans, winning the Heisman Trophy as a senior in 2002.
Ty Hubert Detmer is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He won the Heisman Trophy in 1990 while playing college football for the BYU Cougars. Detmer broke numerous NCAA records with BYU, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. A late-round pick in the 1992 NFL draft, Detmer played for six NFL teams over 14 seasons, mostly in a backup role. He is currently the Athletic Director at American Leadership Academy – Gilbert North High School in Gilbert, Arizona.
Stephen John Walsh is an American football coach and former player. He played as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Indianapolis Colts. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning consensus All-American honors in 1988.
Anthony Lavon Wright is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
John Joseph Concannon Jr. was an American professional football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions. He played college football at Boston College.
Norman Bailey Snead was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and was the second overall selection of the 1961 NFL draft.
William Erik Kramer is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He attended John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California. After attending Pierce College and playing as their quarterback, Kramer transferred to North Carolina State University. He was not drafted by an NFL team, but did see action in 1987, when he played for the Atlanta Falcons as a replacement player during the NFL players strike. He would then spend some time in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders. Kramer would return to the NFL in 1991, when he became a surprise starter for the Detroit Lions after injuries sidelined Rodney Peete. Kramer played in 13 games, led the Lions to a 12–4 record, their first playoff victory since 1957, and a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
Clifford Lewis Stoudt is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL). Stoudt played college football for the Youngstown State Penguins. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL draft by the Steelers.
Hugh Breedlove Millen is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football for the Washington Huskies.
Isaiah Ramon Stanback is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a quarterback for the Washington Huskies. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played in the NFL for the Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Craig Marion Kupp is an American former professional football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Pacific Lutheran University.
Christopher Sanders is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for SMU and Chattanooga. He signed with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL) after going undrafted in the 2001 NFL draft. He primarily played arena football.
Michael David Elkins is an American former professional football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and the World League of American Football (WLAF). In the NFL, Elkins played in one game for the Kansas City Chiefs, and then later spent time with the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Oilers, but did not take the field for them. In between his time in the NFL he played one season in the WLAF where he played for the Sacramento Surge.
The 1988 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Larry Smith, the Trojans compiled a 10–2 record, won the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 370 to 184.
Samuel Richard Darnold is an American professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, winning the Archie Griffin award in 2016, and was selected third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL draft.
Brian Allen Bedford is an American former professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts and BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of California.
Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson, also known by his initials DTR, is an American professional football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was a two-time second-team all-conference selection in the Pac-12. He was selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Benjamin Anthony DiNucci, is an American professional football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at James Madison and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Caleb Sequan Williams is an American professional football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Oklahoma Sooners, he played for the USC Trojans and won the 2022 Heisman Trophy after setting single-season school records in passing yards and touchdowns. Williams was selected first overall by the Bears in the 2024 NFL draft.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
